CHAPTER 50

IT WAS TEAM HAPPINESS versus Team Oldies that day. Nasa pahaba silang hapagkainan na labindalawalang tao ang puwedeng umupo. Nakaupo sa kabilang dulo ang ama niya, habang siya naman ay nakaupo sa kabilang dulo rin. At sa magkabilang gilid ng kanilang kinauupuan ay nandoon ang hippeis, butler, personal ultor at tracker nila pareho ng kanyang ama.

Team Happiness were:

Happy Quinn-Vitale, the second Arkhon.

Blaze Vitale, Happy's hippeis. He was back in the team.

King Zabat, Happy and Blaze's butler.

Yrozz, Happy's tracker.

Kane Spiros, Deth and Lyf Romanov, Happy's personal ultors.

While on her father team, the Team Oldies as King called them were:

Dominick Quinn, the former second Arkhon.

Duke Von Per Vitale, her father's hippeis.

Klaus Zabat, her father and Daddy Von Per's butler.

Viscount Ruthgar Wright, her father's tracker.

Vent Romanov, her father's personal ultor.

Two of her father's team members were royalties. Duke Von and Viscount Ruthgar. While Vent Romanov was a well-known businessman in Russia. And of course, Klaus Zabat, the owner of Zabat Empire.

"Who will preside?" tanong ng ama ni King nang makaupo silang lahat.

Lyf spoke. "Out of respect, the oldies should."

The five members of Team Oldies looked at them flatly.

"Lyf, son." It was Uncle Vent, Lyf's father. "Do you want to be the perfect example of the song 'Young, Dumb and Broke'? Especially the broke part? I can make that happen."

"Dad!" Agad na umangal si Lyf, saka bumulong. "I was telling the truth. You're all oldies."

"Shut up, Lyf." It was Uncle Vent again. "If you don't want your own father to go 007 in you're ass."

"Daniel Craig style," dagdag ng ama niya na nakangiti. "I'm more handsome than him though."

Agad na sumabad si Daddy Von. "Please, Dominick, stop lifting that chair of yours. We all know that you're ugly looking."

Her father glared at him. "At least I don't look like a jackass."

"Yes. Because you look like a dick," Daddy Von retaliated.

"Enough." Namagitan na ang ama ni King. "Enough. We're here to talk." Then he glared at Sir Ruthgar who was drinking a rum. "Stop drinking or I will shove that rum into your ass!"

Nabitin sa pag-inom si Sir Ruthgar. "You're still no fun, Klaus."

"Says the guy who drank fifteen bottles of rum yesterday," sabad ni Uncle Vent.

Sumabad si Deth sa usapan. "Dad, it was out of respect that you preside. You're all in your fifties and—"

Tiningnan ng lima nang masama si Deth na agad na tumahimik.

Happy sighed and slapped the table to get everyone's attention. "We're here to have a meeting. For once, be serious. I'm not kidding!"

Her dad immediately whispered to his teammates. "My princess is pregnant. That's hormones talking plus she's really a bully so she's more than scary now—"

"Silence please." Hinilot niya ang sentido. "Huwag n'yong painitin ang ulo ko!" Bumaling siya sa tracker niya. "Yrozz, the Triad system, how far can you go to infiltrate them?"

"Depends on their security system." Itinuro nito ang laptop na nakuha ng mga ito sa isa sa mga raid. "This baby can help with the hacking."

"I can crack it in three minutes," nagmamalaking sabi ni Sir Ruthgar.

Yrozz smirked. "Give me two?"

"How about you help each other and make it one minute?" suhestiyon niya dahilan para mapatitig sa kanya ang dalawa. "I'm serious. Do it."

Agad namang nagtabi ng upo sina Sir Ruthgar at Yrozz habang parehong nakaharap sa laptop na nakakonekta sa laptop na nakuha ng mga ito sa isa sa mga Triad's HQ.

"Look at my princess, Von Per," bulong na naman ng ama niya na mangiyak-ngiyak pa pero naririnig naman niya. "I'm so proud. She's shouting at us angrily. I raised her very well."

Uncle Vent handed a napkin to her father. "Don't cry, asshole, you're such a baby."

Napailing naman si Daddy Von at hindi makapaniwalang nagtanong, "Your daughter is shouting at us and you're happy?"

"Of course!" her father exclaimed. "We're listening to her command and that only means one thing, her presence and personality is authoritative. Look at Ruthgar, he's listening to my daughter when he doesn't even listen to me without a bribe—"

"Dominick told me that I'm more genius than you," sumbong Sir Ruthgar kay Daddy Von.

Agad namang inagaw ni Daddy Von ang kutsilyong nilalaro ni Uncle Vent, saka inilapit iyon sa leeg ng ama niya. "Where do you want get stab?"

"Ahm..." Nag-isip talaga ang ama niya bago sumagot. "Definitely not in the face because it's one of my assets. I'll die if it's the heart, I will be severely injured if it's the stomach and if it's my groin, Reitta will not be very happy. Hmmm... maybe legs?"

Umangat ang kamay ni Daddy Von para saksakin sa paa ang ama niya pero agad na takot na tumayo ang daddy niya at nagsumbong kay Uncle Klaus.

"Klaus! Look!" Itinuro pa talaga ng ama niya si Daddy Von na masama ang tingin. "He's going to stab me because he's so bitter."

"And why the fuck would I be bitter?!" Daddy Von hissed.

Her father smiled teasingly. "Because Beth doesn't like you."

"Dominick!" sigaw ni Daddy Von at hinabol ang ama niyang kumaripas naman ng takbo.

Napailing na lang si Happy. Her father was such a child!

She tsked. "May pa-meeting-meeting pang nalalaman. Hindi naman seseryosohin. Babarilin na talaga kita, Daddy!"

"I'm sorry, princess!" sigaw ng ama niya na hinahabol pa rin ni Daddy Von. "But I will not die in the hand of a jackass who can't make a woman say yes. I mean, come on, Von Per! I have slain you!"

Happy grunted. Actually, paikot-ikot lang ang dalawa sa mesa. Naghahabulan na parang mga bata.

Blaze sighed while looking at their fathers. "Sino'ng mag-aakala na 'yong mga halimaw sa giyera na nakasama ko kahapon ay ganito na ngayon. Mas masahol pa sa mga baliw."

Happy sighed too. "They're stressing me out."

Pinagsalikop ni Blaze ang kamay nilang dalawa. "Is my baby okay?"

Itinuro niya ang ama nilang dalawa. "They're stressing me out."

Uncle Vent stared uncaringly at the air before singing heavily. "Don't be stress, Young Miss. Your father is a lunatic. But... there is one thing to stop them." Tumingin ito sa ama ni King." Klaus, can you play my favorite song in your phone?"

"Of course," sabi ni Uncle Klaus na agad na inilabas ang cell phone at nagpatugtog.

Truth to Uncle Vent's words, her father and Daddy Von stopped the cat and mouse game.

But... they started dancing and they were even singing along!

"Young dumb, young, young dumb and brooooke..."

Of course, her father edited the lyrics while pointing his finger at Daddy Von. "Your old... your dumb... and brokenhearted..."

"Dominick!" Daddy Von hissed.

And they were at it again. The cat and mouse chase. Her father was the annoying mouse.

"Why is my father like that?" problemado niyang tanong kay Blaze.

"I'm asking the same thing about my dad," her husband replied before sighing heavily with her. "Mas masahol pa sila sa mga baliw kong kaibigan."

"I can't believe Master Dominick, the monsters in hand-to-hand combat and guns is like this," sabi ni Lyf na napapailing pa. "When I was watching him fight yesterday, he was amazing as fuck. He became my idol in an instant... but this... this just ruined it."

Tumango si Deth. "He fought ten men at the same time like it's nothing but he's now being chased by Master Von with only one knife. I don't know what to say."

"Maybe they're just getting old," sabad ni King.

"They're already old." Happy tsked.

"Change music!" biglang hiyaw ni Uncle Vent at nagpalit naman agad ng kanta si Uncle Klaus.

And every member of Team Oldies went into a rocker mode with matching head banging and playing an imaginary guitar as the instrument played on the song "Back in Black" by AC/DC. A very classic rock. Her dad liked listening to that and now, he was singing it.

Back in black, I hit the sack,

I've been too long, I'm glad to be back.

Then Daddy Von continued singing like they were in a freaking band.

Yes, I'm let loose from the noose

That's keep me hangin' about

Sir Ruthgar followed busy in the keyboard but still singing like a rockstar.

I'm just lookin' at the sky cause it's getting me high

Then Uncle Vent sang.

Forget the hearse 'cause I'll never die.

"Klaus! Take over!" sabi ng ama niya na naka-imaginary guitar pa rin.

I got nine lives, cat's eyes

Usin' everyone of them and runnin' wild!

Then the five of them sang the chorus together.

'Cause I'm back

Yes, I'm back

Well, I'm back

Yes, I'm back

Well, I'm ba-a-a-a-ck

Well, I'm back in black

Yes, I'm back in black! Oooh!

Tahimik lang silang mga anak na pinapanood ang mga ama nilang may sari-sariling concert.

Looked like it was their jam because every member of Team Oldies were singing, and they were seemed to be having fun while playing a imaginary guitar and drums. Her father was even holding an imaginary microphone.

Lyf sighed. "This meeting sucked."

They all nodded in unison except for Yrozz who was busy and frowning.

King tsked before pulling his phone out from his pocket. "You know what... they're not the only one who can have fun." He played a song on his phone, rivalling the sound of music from the Team Oldies.

And their music was old as well.

It was "Mambo No. 5"

"Really?" natatawa niyang tanong kay King na gumagalaw na ang baywang sa saliw ng musika.

Mapapasayaw ka naman talaga sa "Mambo No. 5" at sinabayan pa ng mga kasama niya ang kanta na parang enjoy na enjoy.

King sang first.

One, two, three, four, five

Everybody in the car so come on let's ride...

Then Deth sang the second verse.

Beer buzz like I had last week

I must stay deep cause talk is cheap...

Then everyone looked at Kane and Kane looked back at them with no clue on what to do or say. The third verse passed without anyone singing along.

And when it hit the chorus, Lyf and King sang together.

A little bit of Monica in my life

A little bit of Erica by my side

A little bit of Rita's all I need

A little bit of Tina's what I see

Then Lyf and Kane pointed at Blaze to continue singing along and Blaze did, though he edited the lyrics while looking at her.

A little bit of Happy in the sun

A little bit of Happy all night long

A little bit of my baby here I am

A little bit of you makes me your man

And Blaze ended it by winking at her making her chuckled and shook her head.

"This is not a meeting," sabi niya. "This is craziness and childishness altogether."

Tumawa ang lahat pero si Kane, tahimik lang habang hinahaplos ang mga letrang nakasulat sa T-shirt nitong ipinagawa niya para dito.

"Nagustuhan mo ba?" tanong niya kay Kane.

Kane nodded. "Yeah. It's pink though..." Tumingin ito sa kanya. "Do you like pink, Lady Happy?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "One of my favorite colors."

"Then it's okay. I like it since you like the color."

Napangiti si Happy. "Ayos lang sa iyo ang nakasulat diyan?"

Kane nodded. "Yes. It is true. I am a virgin. I just don't see the important of sex, even though King said it's very important and life changing. I rather take down Triad's HQs, so you won't have problems anymore."

Yes, Deth and Kane were virgins, but Kane was innocent while Deth was not really.

Pinanggigilan ni Happy ang pisngi ni Kane na nakatingin lang sa kanya. "You're such a cutie! Na-miss kita noong nasa 'Pinas ka."

"I missed you too, Lady Happy," sagot ni Kane sa napakaseryosong boses.

Natawa siya, saka napatingin sa Team Oldies na tumigil na ring mag-concert at mga seryoso na dahil kay Sir Ruthgar.

"We're in," sabi ni Yrozz. "We only have a minute though before their security system can tag us. Hurry up. What am I looking for?"

"Pulled up Cassie's file," utos ng ama niya na ngayon ay seryoso na. Wala nang bakas ng kabaliwan nito kanina.

Sir Ruthgar spoke. "Okay. Here it is. Yep. She's fake. Confirmed."

"Who ordered to change the face?" ranong ni Daddy Von.

Sir Ruthgar sighed before looking at her father. "Your bitch ex-wife."

Hinilot ng daddy niya ang sariling sentido. "When was it ordered?"

"Weeks before Happy set foot in the Philippines."

Happy frowned. "For what reason? Blaze and I still don't know each other by then. What is that? Advance siyang mag-isip?"

"I think I know," sabad ni Daddy Von na napailing pa. "That was the time when my sons knew the existence of their mother. And because Beth was alive, the Triad or Helena thought that they can use it to their advantage by making a fake Cassie—making it look like she's alive as well—to confuse my son Blaze and of course, get him to their side because he loves Cassie before. What Helena didn't see coming was Happy and Blaze falling in love. Fuck. This is a personal war and vendetta, Dominick. Your bitch ex-wife is attacking us personally."

"And my child with Cassie?" Blaze asked.

"Give me five seconds..." sabi ni Sir Ruthgar. "One, two, three, four—nope, the autopsy is not in the system. Looks like it was done manually, computers are rare things ten years ago. But according to our test on her before she got kidnapped, she's not pregnant. It was a blood test and it was negative."

Umiling si Blaze na parang hindi naniniwala. "T-that's not... no... s-she would never lie to me about that."

Sir Ruthgar looked at him, "I'm sorry but I'm just basing my answers on the test results I'm reading."

"Let's exhume the body then," Uncle Vent suggested. "To get answers."

"Please don't," pigil siya sa mga ito dahilan para mapatitig sa kanya ang Team Oldies at si Blaze. "Don't exhume Cassie's body just to check if she's telling the truth or not. I feel like we're embarrassing her or something. I don't know... maybe it's just me. But can't we just let her be... let her be at peace? She deserve to be respected, her body deserve to be respected. She had been through enough to be exhumed again and be tested just so we can prove if she's lying or not?" She looked at Blaze. "I owe her my life, Blaze, at parang hindi maganda na hukayin siya para lang mapatunayan natin kung nagsinungaling ba siya o hindi. I know you want closure about the baby but... I feel like we'll be disrespecting her if we exhumed her just to prove something."

Sumang-ayon si Daddy Von. "Happy is right. Let Cassie be. That girl had been through too much already. Let's stop poking around at what she did in the past and let's focus on the present. The Triad is using Cassie, no... they are tarnishing Cassie. Why don't we give Cassie the respect she deserve by killing that fake bitch? And then let's end there. Let her be at peace."

Everyone nodded in agreement, so did Blaze.

"Okay lang ba sa iyo?" tanong niya sa asawa, saka pinisil ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kamay niya. "Pasensiya na kung sa tingin mo pinakikialaman kita at pinangungunahan sa gusto mo. It's just my opinion. Ikaw pa rin ang masusunod."

Umiling si Blaze. "Tama ka naman. I'll be disrespecting her memory and her body just to prove something. It doesn't feel right."

May gusto pa siyang sabihin pero narinig nila ang sunod-sunod na pagmumura ni Yrozz habang mabilis na tumitipa ang kamay nito sa keyboard ng laptop.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Yrozz hissed as his face darkened. "Fuck!" Mabilis na pinindot nito ang enter bago napasabunot sa sariling buhok habang umaasang nakatitig sa screen ng laptop. Then he smiled. "Fuck yeah!"

"What happened?" Lyf asked.

"The Triad..." sabi ni Yrozz, saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga. "I caught them snooping around my laptop. Looks like they used our connection to their system to hack us as well."

Sir Ruthgar sighed. "Check again if they manage to get and copy some of your important files. Fuck it."

"Yes." Kapagkuwan ay nagsalita si Yrozz. "No... no files. I caught them just in time and kick them out of my baby."

"Good. Make your security strong so they can't hack back," sabi ni Sir Ruthgar.

"Yes. I will."

Her father let out a loud breath. "What are we going to do now? Anyone has a plan?"

"Look for Helena and the fake Cassie," sagot niya. "The plan? Kill them before they harm any of us."

Sir Ruthgar nodded. "I'll track them down."

"I'll help," sabad ni Yrozz.

"So... no one to kill as of the moment?" Uncle Vent asked.

Ruthgar answered by giving an address. "Another Triad HQ in Canada. They need cleaning."

Uncle Vent smiled. "I love cleaning." Tumayo ito. "Come on, boys," aya nito kina Deth at Lyf. "Let's clean up some garbages."

Agad namang sumunod ang dalawa at akmang susunod din si Kane nang pigilan niya ito.

"Kane, may sugat ka pa sa likod," pigil niya rito. "King told me."

Kane looked at her. "Am I not allowed to go?"

"No. You rest. Ayokong may mangyaring masama sa iyo."

Kane nodded. "Yes, Lady Happy. I'll rest now."

"Thank you." She looked at her father. "May pag-uusapan pa ba tayo?"

Umiling ang ama niya. "Wala na. 'Yon lang naman."

Tumango siya, saka hinawakan ang kamay nina Blaze at Kane. Naging sunod-sunuran naman sa kanya ang dalawa hanggang sa sala.

Then she faced Blaze. "Please check his wound. I'm worried."

Tumango si Blaze at pinaupo sa mahabang sofa si Kane habang nakaupo naman si Blaze sa likuran ni Kane at sinusuri ang sugat nito.

Blaze tsked. "Bakit hindi mo sa akin sinabing nasugatan ka?" tanong nito.

"I don't want to burden you," sagot ni Kane sa mahinang boses. "And Lady Happy."

Happy sighed before sitting on the single sofa, in front of Kane. "Kane, you can never burden us. I told you. You're like a baby to me, my baby, and I always take care of my baby."

Kane stilled and looked back at Blaze over his shoulder with fear in his eyes as he explained. "L-Lady Happy means infant."

Blaze chuckled. "I know, Kane. I know."

Kane stilled again. "H-hindi ka galit, Your Highness?"

"Nope." Kumuha ng first-aid kit si Blaze at nang bumalik ay agad na nilinis ang sugat ni Kane.

"Bakit hindi ka galit?" Kane asked in curiosity.

"Because..." Blaze put a gauze over Kane's wound. "You look at her like a mother and she treats you like an infant. Get me now?"

Napatango-tango si Kane. "That is true. Lady Happy cares for me like a mom would. I mean, she worries of me like a mom should. But I'm not so sure though because I don't have a mom growing up."

Nalulungkot na hinaplos ni Happy ang kunot na noo ni Kane. "Then I'll be your mom and I will take care of you as a mom should, so you'll know what it feels like. Since you're also my baby, that's easy." She smiled. "At sa tingin ko pinaglilihian kita. Parang gusto kong marinig na tawagin mo akong 'Mommy.' You're just too cute and innocent."

Kane frowned. "Pero malaki na ako. You're just a bit older than me."

"So?"

"That would be awkward." Kane sighed. "King said I can't make you feel bad because you're pregnant. Sasama ba ang loob mo kapag hindi ko ginawa ang gusto mo?"

Agad siyang tumango.

"Okay..." Kane took a deep breath before saying. "Mommy."

Happy laughed and pinched his cheeks before looking at Blaze. "May panganay na tayo."

"Please don't call me daddy," pakiusap ni Blaze kay Kane. "I beg you. Don't."

"Don't worry," sabi ni Kane na umiling pa. "You're not pregnant, so no I won't call you that."

Blaze sighed in relief. "Thank God males don't get pregnant."

Natawa siya, saka pinanggigilan na naman ang pisngi ni Kane. "You're so cute."

"Pinaglilihian ka niya," bulong ni Blaze kay Kane. "Be cute, okay? Kailangan maging cute ang anak namin."

Kane nodded earnestly. "Yes, Your Highness."

Natawa si Happy, saka inayos ang buhok ni Kane. "Gusto mo bang pagawan kita uli ng shirt?"

"I would love that."

"Even if it has #TeamVirgin in it?"

Tumango si Kane. "Kahit ano'ng gusto mo, Lady Ha—I mean, Mommy."

Pinanggigilan na naman niya ang pisngi ni Kane hanggang sa mabilis siyang napatayo nang makarinig ng malakas na pagsabog mula sa labas ng bahay nila.

"What was that?!" sigaw ng ama niya na tumakbo palabas ng bahay.

Agad naman silang sumunod palabas.

And there it was... a car... Henreitta's car! Wrecked and burned. And someone was inside!

"No..." The fear in his father's voice.... it seeped through her. "Reitta!"

CECELIB | C.C.