Chapter 7: Dos and don'ts

DAYS have passed and Levin started to made my heart attached to him. He was like my younger brother, not by blood but by bond.

Napakagaan ng loob ko sa kaniya. Nakokonsensya na rin ako minsan kapag pasimple kong tinatanong ang mga bagay patungkol kay Agon at mga pangilan-ngilang impormasiyon sa mga kaibigan nito. Pero bata naman 'yan, hindi naman makahahalata yata 'yan.

Levin was playing basketball along with Agon's men. Ipakita ko man ang disgusto sa paraan ng pagiging mabait nilang lahat kay Levin ay hindi ko pa rin iyon magagawa. I can't do that unless I wanted to exchanged my life for that act.

Hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip kung paano niya nalaman na mafia boss ang kapatid nito. For pete's sake, he was just a 9-year-old boy who knows nothing with cruelty in this vast world.

Hinahangaan pa nito ang kuya nito dahil mafia boss siya. Parang artista ang tingin niya kay Agon not knowing that he was a man full of sins.

I wonder if Levin knew what does a mafia boss mean, I doubt it if he would idolized his brother. Sa tono kasi ng boses ng pagkakasabi nito sa akin ay parang proud na proud pa siya at tuwang-tuwa, paano na lang kung malalaman niyang mamamatay tao ang kuya niya? Na isang kriminal? I didn't know what to feel. Naiinis ako na nalulungkot na ewan for that kid's sake.

I wanted to tell Levin what a mafia boss was, kaso, baka kinaumagahan ay makita na lang ang katawan ko na palutang-lutang sa ilog at wala nang kahit anong bakas na nabuhay pa ako sa mundo.

At hindi ko kayang kunin ang sayang nasa mata ni Levin habang nagkukwento about sa Kuya Agon niya. He'd always boast na mabait ang kuya niya at tumutulong sa kap'wa. Gusto kong basagin ang imaheng iyon na pinapaniwala nila sa bata pero natatakot ako. I was so scared that it would break Levin's heart. That was the circumtance that I want to avoid by any means.

"Ate!"

Napabaling ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses pero ang sumalubong sa akin ay ang palapit na bola na kani-kanina lang ay nilalaro nina Levin at mga tauhan ni Agon.

My heart beat fast and my instict said to dodge it but my body can't do it. Sobrang lapit na ng bola sa akin kaya imposible na itong ilagan pa. Napapikit na lang ako at hinanda ang sarili sa impact no'n sa katawan ko, pero makalipas ang ilang minuto ay wala pa rin ang hinihintay kong sakit sa katawan.

Napadilat ako para alamin kung bakit hindi tumama ang bola sa akin. When I opened my eyes again, likod ng isang lalaki ang bumati sa akin.

I was amazed by his broad shoulders and towering height. I secretly sniffed his manly scent that made me take a step closer to him. Natigil lang iyon nang maglakad ito papalapit sa bata. He was now dribbling the ball he got.

"You are so cool, kuya! I thought it would hit, Ate Jeyk," manghang salaysay ng bata sa kaniya. Bumaling ito sa akin. "Ate Jeyk, are you all right po?"

Napatango at ngumiti pero hindi pa rin mawala-wala sa sistema ang kaba kanina. "Yes, Levin. I'm all right. Thanks to your Kuya Agon."

I stared on his back, inaasahang hindi ito lilingon but to my surprise, he shot me a serious look. Subalit, kalaunan ay ngumisi ito nang panandalian saka binalik ang tingin sa nakababatang kapatid.

Bago magsalita si Agon,  ay may sinenyas ito sa mga tauhan kaya nagsitayuan sila ng tuwid at bumalik sa kani-kanilang puwesto.

"Playing was over, little kid. Go upstairs and take a bath. Your yaya was there, waiting for you," he commanded but in a soft way. Ginulo niya rin ang buhok ng bata nang maabot ang kinalalagyan nito.

Levin stared at me, trying to asked help na ayaw pa nitong umalis sa paglalaro. Napailing ako.

Binalik din niya naman ang tingin sa kapatid at ngumuso. "But, kuya! I'm not yet done playing," Levin reason out.

Agon bended his knees, leveling to Levin's height. He then put his hands on Levin's shoulder. "Levin, remember what I told to you" Napatango ang bata. "Then what did I say?"

"Na huwag matigas ang ulo kapag over na ang playing time." Napayuko si Levin kaya dinaluhan ko na lang ito. I don't want to see his sad eyes.

"Sige na, Levin. Punta ka nang kuwarto mo. Pawis na pawis ka na, oh. You need to change your clothes na, okay?"

Napaangat ng tingin si Levin sa akin at medyo nag-lighten up na ang mood. "Will you go to my room, if I'm done?"

"Of course!" alanganing sagot ko at napatingin kay Agon na nasa likod. He eyed me sharply but when Levin stared at him, he smiled.

This prententious, a*shole! If I can just shattered the beautiful image he made on Levin's mind, he would regret that I am sold to him.

"Kuya, p'wede po?" nagbabakasakaling tanong ng bata.

Ginulo ni Agon ang buhok ng kapatid na naging dahilan para mabuga ako ng hangin. Siniringan niya ako pero umirap lang ako sa kaniya.

"If that's what can make you happy, go on." He smiled again and gazed on my direction. "But, before that happens, we would talk something important," he said pertaining to me.

Hindi ako umimik, nilabanan ko lang ang tingin nito pero nawala ang palaban kong mukha nang bumaling si Levin sa akin kaya mabilis akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Ate, punta ka upstairs, ha? May ipapakita ako!" excited na aniya at nagpaalam.

Nang mawala si Levin ay roon na bumalik ang seryosong paligid. Agon's men was back to normal and when I said normal—no smiling face, just a straight face looking from nowhere, of course, including that ruthless mafia boss with his surging aura of authority.

"I will get straight and hit the point of hell. Stop using that kid with your personal purposes."

I really don't have a way out on his sharped eyes. He was like calculating my every move in just one stare. I didn't let that phrase affects me and remained calm in front of him.

My forehead knotted and didn't say anything for a second but later on I arched my brow when I realized something. Did he just addressed his younger brother in a different way?

That kid? He was saying it like Levin was not his sibling! P'wede niya namang tawaging kapatid o sa pangalan nito!

"Before you conclude something in that sh*t head of yours, make sure that you are 100% sure that I'm using him!" I glared.

He take a step that made me step back. "I'm certain for the words that coming out to my mouth, lady. I'll bet my life for it," mapanghamong tugon nito na naghalungkat ng kaba na nasa loob ko.

I stood my grounds firmly and pretended that his words doesn't affects me. I kept my eye contact on him and said, "Confident, aren't you?"

He smirked but he didn't say anything. Unti-unti na siyang lumayo sa akin at sumenyas sa mga tauhan nitong umalis at kamung dalawa na lang at isang katulong ang naiwan.

Pinagmasdan ko lang si Agon sa ginagawa nito hanggang sa maupo ito sa sofa. Pinagkrus nito ang mga hita at pinagsalikop ang dalawang kamay.

He was sitting like a king and I admit that he was hot on that seat. Kahit nakaupo ay malakas ang appeal nito. Mapapansin mo talaga dahil sa mukha nito.

Nakaabang naman ang matandang tagasilbi nito sa kung anumang sasabihin ng kaniyang amo. Sumenyas si Agon ngunit hindi ko nakuha ang ibig nitong pakahulugan pero yumuko ang matanda at pumuntang kusina.

Ah. Coffee.

Ilang segundo lang ay may dala na ang katulong ng isang tasa at nilagay sa center table. Kinumpas ulit ni Agon ang kamay kaya umalis na ang matandang katulong papunta sa maid's chamber.

"I have a rule that you must do and must not do when you are with Levin," simula nito at kinuha ang tasa ng kape sa center table.

Napakunot ang noo ko pero nanatili pa rin ako sa kinatatayuan. He was a rule obsessive man. Lahat ng bagay ay may dapat sundin at hindi dapat gawin. No doubt that he was a mafia boss. Lahat ay dapat naayon sa kaniya.

"You need a bodyguard when you go out in the vicinity. Levin will surely go out today and don't you dare escaped," he warned and sip his coffee again.

Mabulunan sana at hindi na makahinga!

"Stop staring at me with that murdurous intent, lady," tugon niya habang nakatungin sa yasa ng kape.

Bigla akong napalunok. Ilan ba ang mata nito? Was he a pineapple? Pati yata sa ulo nito ay may pares ng mga mata para makakita ng mga ganitong sitwasyon!

"Listen. Huwag na huwag mong kukunin ang paningin mo kay Levin," tinapunan niya ako nang nagbabantang tingin.

Paano ba siya makasisiguro na lalabas ang kapatid niya? Ang over acting niya masyado. May mga bodyguard naman siya, ah? Bakit pati ako? I mentally rolled my eyes para hindi niya makita. Bubuka pa sana ang bibig nito ng marinig namin ang excited na sigaw nu Levin.

"Kuya! I will go out today! P'wede po?" masayang aniya at nagtatalon.

"Sir Levin, huwag po kayong tumakbo at baka madapa kayo!" paalala ni Karen habol-habol ang bata.

Napakurap ako ng ilang ulit. Agon was right. Levin will go out today. He smirked at me that shows he was right. He look at me as if he was warning with that blazing stare before his eyes darted on Levin.

Naabot na ng bata ang kinaroronan namin. Tumatalon ito sa sobrang saya. Napayuko naman si Karen nang makaharap si Agon.

Agon smiled and patted Levin's head. Naupo rin ito para lumibel sa height ni Levin. "Are you done?"

"Yes, kuya! Can I go out today po?" nagbabakasakaling turan ng bata. Levin was hoping, his eyes was full of happiness and trust that Agon will grant it.

Napabaling bigla si Agon sa akin kaya napaayos ako ng tayo. Hindi ko iniwas ang tingin sa kaniya. He smirked at me as if he was saying thay he was right about his statement a while ago. I  stop myself to rolled my eyes on front of him but I can't help and murmured bad words.

His brow arched as if he heard what I just said. Shitty head! Narinig niya pa iyon?! E, wala ngang tinig ang pagkakasabi ko no'n! Kalahi niya yata ang mga aso, 'lakas ng pandinig!

He diverted his attention to his younger brother and patted his head. He  smiled and said, "Of course! Kuya will loved that Levin will go out. Take care, okay? Basta tandaan mo lang 'yong sinabi ko, hmm?"

Levin nodded mulyiple times. "Yes, kuya! I will not be a makulit na bata kapag lalabas. Huwag akong lalayo sa mga boduguards mo at huwag sasama sa taong hindi ko naman kilala. I always keep that on mind, kuya!" proud na sambit ni Levin sa kuya nito.

Sumilay ang isang ngiti sa labi ni Agon and I was taken a back with that view. Ilang ulit akong napakurap. It was a genuine smile came from him I saw so far dahil lahat ng nakikita kong ngiti sa labi nito ay delikado at peke.

All of his smile that I've seen have a hidden agenda behind it. Hindi ko lubos maisip na makangingiti siya ng ganito considering that he was killing people multiple times in just a flick of a finger.

But that smile will not changed how I see him as person. He was a total monster in my eyes. No mercy and just a vessel filled of evilness.

"Are you listening to me, lady?"

Naputol ang iniisip ko nang marinig ko ang malamig at naiinis nitong boses. Nilukob ng kaba ang sistema ko nang mapatingin ako sa nagbabantang tingin nito.

His was was full of annoyance because I didn't pick up what he said. Paano ko naman makukuha kung hindi ko naman pinakinggan, 'di ba?

Gusto kong batukan ang sarili at napakagat-labi na lang. He was out of patience but he can't do anything because Levin was with us. Parang blessing in disguise rin naman iyon dahil kung hindi, baka may nakabaon ng bala sa katawan ko kung nagkataon.

He take one step closer to me kaya napalunok ako. Napabaling ang tingin ko sa gilid ng sofa at laking gulat kong na roon nakaupo si Raji na nakadekuwatro, iiling-iling sa akin, as if he was saying that I'm doomed. Was he mocking me?

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at iniwas sa kaniya ang tingin. Tinuon ko iyon kay Agon, nagtitimpi sa kung ano mang lalabas sa bibig nito.

Magsasalita na sana siya when Levin ran towards me. "Ate Jeyk, tara na po?" excited niya akong hinila kaya nagpatianod na lang ako.

Parang nawala ang isang malaking bato na nakadagan sa dibdib ko ng malayo ako kay Agon. Wala na siyang magagawa dahil si Levin na ang kasama ko. Napabuga ako ng hangin. It was a closed call, shitty head!