บท 11: 10: Black Card's Identity
*CHAPTER TEN*
It was already two days mula nung mahuli ng mga pulis ang isa sa mga most wanted killers na si Henry Damper at ang Branch leader ng isang well known mafia na Golden Circle.
I thought na useless yung taong yun, but it turns out na malaking figure din pala sa underground society.
Heath warned me to lie low dahil alam nyang isang hidden organization ang Golden Circle na nag-o-operate in the Dark Web. I didn't know where did he got those information, but he's resourceful and well connected, kaya sinunod ko yung advice nya.
He even made an arrangement na mailipat agad sa maximum security prison ang dalawang nahuli ko at sinigurado nyang walang makakapag-usap dito from outside.
As for my issue with Sunny which made quite a commotion in the Academy, hanggang ngayon pinag-uusapan parin ng karamihan. Some students shared their respective theories about me hiding my real strength to keep a low profile. Some even linked me to the Phantom Hero. At dito ako kinabahan, dahil may iilang naniniwala at nag investigate upang makakita ng connections between me and the Phantom Hero.
Well, I guess they won't be able to find one. Unless, the Smiths will spill the beans.
Kaya I decided to lie low dahil baka mahalata pa ako. But I will still use my abilities as the Phantom Hero when time required me to do so.
Di na muna ako mambubugbog ng mga bully. Total wala naman nang nambubully sa akin lately lalo na nung nalaman nilang napatulog ko sa isang move lang si Sunny at ang dalawa nyang kasama.
For some unknown reason, the school was quiet about it and claimed that that was just a martial arts showdown between students.
Ahh wala naman talaga silang pakialam. Hindi nga sila nag take action dati nung palagi akong binubully, eh.
"Hey Birthday Boy. Happy Birthday!"
Bumalik sa kasalukuyan ang aking ulirat nang marinig ko ang malamyos na boses ni Kelly mula sa aking likuran.
Ahh! I forgot, Birthday ko nga pala ngayon.
"Ahh thank you, Kelly. Thanks that you remembered." Sabi ko habang nakangiti.
I was just sitting here in the rooftop of our school building. Katatapos lang kasi ng huling subject namin. At dahil gusto kong tumingin ng sunsets, dito ako palaging tumatambay kapag ganitong papalubog na ang araw.
I never Kelly would come just to greet me. It was very heart warming kasi na may mga taong nakakaalala sa yong espesyal na araw.
Except my roommates, si Kelly lang ang naggi-greet sa akin tuwing kaarawan ko. Not that I want to be greeted by everybody, but the idea that there were a lot who will greet you during your special day is kind of great and comforting.
Well, nevermind that. I am already contented with this little crowd I have. At least they're true to me, and that matters the most.
"Let's go. I and your roommates have booked a private room in an exclusive karaoke bar to celebrate your special day. Minsan lang to, kaya dali na." Sabi niya sabay hawak ng aking kamay at kinaladkad ako patungo sa direksyon palabas ng school building.
Nag-upgrade yata sila ngayon, to think na dati ay sa cafeteria lang kami. Minsan sa room nga lang namin, eh.
Their efforts were very heartwarming dahil nga sanay akong mag-isa. Ako kasi yung tipong palaging naiiba sa lahat. Kaya kahit nagtataka sa bagong gimmick nila, ay sumunod nalang ako kay Kelly.
Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, huminto sa isang luxurious karaoke bar ang aming sinakyang taxi.
"Dito kayo nagpa-book?" Takang tanong ko sa kanya. By the look of the place kasi alam mo nang isa itong mamahaling bar. Bihira rin kasi sa mga karaoke bar ang bukas kapag ganitong mga oras. Kadalasan kasi gabi na magbubukas ang mga ganitong lugar.
"Yes. And you don't have to worry about anything dahil kami nang bahala dun." Kaswal na sabi ni Kelly sa akin sabay baba ng taxi at binayaran ang driver.
These guys. They really made an effort this time. Ilan kaya ang magagastus nila nito? Alam kong sa booking fee palang, masakit na yun sa bulsa. Paano pa kaya ang mga pagkain at bayad sa rooms?
Well, hindi naman ako nag-alala na hindi sila makakapagbayad dahil mukhang kaya naman nilang bayaran yun.
Pumasok kami ni Kelly sa loob ng luxurious bar at dumiretso kami sa isa sa mga private rooms.
"Happy Birthday Gale!"
Pagkapasok na pagkapasok namin ay bumungad agad sa aking paningin ang nakangiting mukha ng aking mga roommates at ilang classmates namin ni Kelly.
"It's our little surprise to you. Sana magustuhan mo." Kelly said to me with her beautiful smile.
"This.. this is too much." Tugon ko naman habang nahihiyang ngumiti sa mga taong nasa aking harapan.
There were about twenty persons inside the private room. The room is wide, about 40 square meters, kaya kumasya lang kaming lahat. There's a tarpaulin with my picture and the words 'Happy 20th Birthday Gale' in the mini stage of the room. It was decorated with flowers and blue and red balloons.
In the middle of the room, there was a long table with ten chairs in its both side. There were also three waiters in the right side of the room, in front of them is a table full of different dishes of delicious looking foods and drinks.
"It's all your classmates' idea." Sabi ni Melchor sa akin.
"We want to make you happy in your special day, Gale. We're sorry for not treating you nice before." Sabi ni Mary, isa sa mga ka klase namin ni Kelly.
"Happy Birthday, Gale! We hope that you can forgive us all." Sabay-sabay namang sabi ng iba pang ka-klase namin.
I can see sincerity in their eyes as they said those things.
"Don't sweat it guys, we're good. At saka hindi nyo naman ako binubully dati." Pangiti ko namang tugon sa kanila. "Thank you so much for these all. I am very happy." Dagdag ko pa habang pinigil ang aking mga luhang tumulo.
This is the first time that I celebrated my birthday with a lot of people.
At totoo naman na yung mga classmates kong nandito ay hindi nambubully sa akin. They're just one of those persons na tahimik habang binubully ako dati ng iba. Siguro ayaw lang nilang madamay, lalo na at mga mayayaman ang nambubully sa akin, kaya ganun. At naiintindihan ko naman sila. Kaya wala akong sama ng loob sa kanila.
I learned a lesson with my experience in fighting against Gin Lopez. Mahirap na kalabanin ang mayayaman, lalo na kapag mababa ang status mo sa buhay. Kaya ayaw na nilang makisawsaw sa kung anong ginagawa sa akin ng mga bully noon for that very reason.
"Okay. Enough with that, let's begin our small program." Sabi ni Kelly maya-maya lang.
Kaya nagsiupuan na kaming lahat. At of course nasa harapan ako.
The program they prepared is simple. It was opened with a prayer from Melchor, followed by their short messages and wishes for me. Pagkatapos ay kumain na kami.
Everybody is happy, lalong lalo na ako. Hindi mauubos ang pasasalamat ko sa kanilang ginawa.
Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagsimula na ang pagsasaya ng lahat. May mga kumakanta habang umiinom ng alak. May ilan naring sumasayaw na.
Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas ay halos lasing na kaming lahat. Nagsimula nang maging wild ang ibang ka-klase namin.
Enjoy na enjoy na kaming lahat nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng private room na kinaroroonan namin. Ako agad ang unang nakapansin nun dahil ako lang yata ang hindi pre-ocupied sa kasiyahan.
Kumunot agad ang aking noo nang makilala ang dalawang lalaking pumasok dito. Parang balisa ang mga ito at pawis na pawis habang hinihingal.
The two guys were none other than Sanjo and Gin, ang mga bully na magpinsan.
Curious about the reason why these two bullies looks like scared cats, I slowly made my way towards them. Pero hindi pa ako nakalapit sa kanila nang may apat na lalaking malalaki ang katawan na pumasok sa sa pinto ng private room.
Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ng mga ito ay nilapitan nila ang magpinsan at pinagtatadyakan.
"Help us! Ahh!" Sigaw ng dalawa dahilan upang mapahinto sa pagsasayaw at pagkanta ang aking mga kasama. Pinatay narin nila ang malakas na tugtog nang mapansin na nagkagulo sa may entrance ng room.
"Si Gin at Sanjo yan, ah."
"What happened? Bakit sila binubugbog ng mga lalaking yan?"
"Should we help them?"
"Kasama nyo ba ang dalawang ito?" Maya-maya'y tanong nung isa sa apat na lalaki sa amin matapos na tumahimik ang buong silid.
"Classmates namin sila! Aray! Ahh!" Kahit na binubugbog ay nagawa paring magsalita ni Sanjo.
"Good. These guys booked a VIP room in this bar and ordered a lot of luxurious foods and drinks, and they paid us an empty card." Sabi ng lalaki.
"Their total bill is 134,000.00. Gusto nilang takbuhan ang bayaring yan kaya napilitan kaming habulin sila. And since they're your classmates, maybe you can pay for them." Patuloy pa nito.
"What?! Ang laki naman ng bill na yan!"
"What kind of foods and drinks they ordered? Bakit ganyan kamahal?"
"They're both rich! Bakit empty yung card nila?"
Iba-iba ang naging reaksyon ng aking mga kasama matapos malaman ang dahilan kung bakit binubugbog ng mga lalaki ang magpinsan.
"They're our classmates but we have nothing to do with them." Kalmadong sabi ni Kelly sa lalaking kumausap sa amin. "Besides, they're rich and we're just poor. They used to bully us for being poor. So don't expect us to pay for the things that they enjoyed for themselves." Dagdag pa nito.
"Haha! What a brave beauty." Patawang sabi nung lalaki pagkatapos ay nilapitan si Kelly. "Unfortunately, if you won't pay for their bill, you can't get out from here. You know that Boss Jude Jones owns this place, right? And you know what he's capable of." Seryosong sabi ng lalaki.
Natahimik agad si Kelly matapos marinig ang sinabi ng lalaki. Her calm and unbothered face became white all of a sudden.
"Jude Jones. The notorious Gangster Boss in Santa Mesa." Nanghihinang sabi ni Kelly sabay hawak ng mahigpit sa aking kamay.
"Ahh! How about this? Since your beautiful and maybe our Boss likes you. Your friends can go, but you and these bastards remains until our boss let's you go?" Sabi ulit ng lalaki lalaki sabay tadyak kina Gin at Sanjo na ngayo'y nakahiga na sa sahig.
"You can't do that! We're going to report you to the police." Tugon naman agad ni Kelly.
"Hahahaha!" Napatawa naman ang lalaki nang marinig ang sinabi ni Kelly. "Seriously?! You think our boss is afraid of that?!" Sabi nito sabay hawak sa braso ni Kelly. "Let your friends report to the police, but you remain here until you satisfied our boss."
"I guess this is too much, Sir." Mahinahon kong sabi sabay alis nung kamay ng lalaki sa braso ni Kelly. I'm stronger kaya madali kong naalis yun.
"You.." Inis na sabi ng lalaki pagkatapos ng ginawa ko.
"Let me talk to your boss." Kalmadong sabi ko.
"Pah! Who do you think you are kid? You're not even qualified to lick his shoes!" Pagalit na sabi ng lalaki sabay dura sa akin.
Arrggh!
I tried to lie low, but I guess time doesn't want me to. Kasi palagi nalang inuubos ng mga ganitong klaseng tao ang pasensya ko.
Without saying a word, I swiftly hold the man's throat and held him up. He was caught off guard with my sudden attack, and before he could react I forcefully pin him against the wall and then brought him down to the floor.
"I guess that makes me qualified, what do you think?" Kalmadong sabi ko sabay hablot ng kanyang damit dahilan upang mapunit ito. Hinugasan ko ang aking mukha na dinuraan nya gamit ang tubig na nasa table malapit sa amin. Tapos ay pinunasan ko ito gamit ang parte ng damit ng lalaki na pinunit ko.
"Sir Jiggy!" Sabi nalang nung tatlong kasamahan ng lalaki matapos makita ang ginawa ko.
Matagal bago makatayo ang lalaking tinawag nilang Sir Jiggy. Hawak-hawak nito ang leeg at batok na nasaktan dahil sa ginawa ko habang inalalayan sya ng kanyang mga kasama. "Y-you.. You dare touch me?! I'll see what you can do in front of our boss." Galit na galit na sabi nito sa akin. Pero nakikita ko sa kanyang mga mata ang takot.
"Let me talk to him then." Sabi ko naman.
"Bring him and the two bastards." Sabi nito sa tatlong kasama sabay labas ng private room.
Sumunod naman agad ako sa kanya habang yung tatlong lalaki ay kinaladkad sina Gin at Sanjo pasunod sa amin.
"Gale." Tanging sambit ni Kelly nang tuluyan na akong lumabas kasama ang mga lalaki.
"Don't worry about me. You guys just stay here. I can handle everything." Kalmadong sabi ko sa kanila.
Dalawang minuto kaming naglalakad sa pasilyo nang bar hanggang sa narating namin ang dulo nito kung saan naroon ang opisina ng kanilang Boss. Kumatok agad yung Jiggy sa pinto, at maya-maya lang ay binuksan na ito ng isang lalaki na nakasuot ng itim na suit at madilim na salamin.
"Boss. Ito po yung mga taong nag-order ng mamahaling pagkain at inumin tapos binayaran kami ng empty card." Sabi ni Jiggy habang nakayuko sa lalaking nakaupo sa isang swivel chair kaharap ang mesang nakapwesto sa gitna ng silid.
"Ahh! So it was Gin Lopez and his loser sousin Sanjo Cruz." The boss said while smirking. "You dare to cause trouble in my place after your family suffered a huge downfall?" Patawang sabi nito sabay lapit kina Gin at Sanjo na ngayo'y nakaupo na sa sahig. Parehong duguan ang labi ng dalawa at puno ng pasa ang mukha.
"The good for nothing son of the once super rich Lopez family. Who do you think you are to cause such trouble to us?" Sabi nito sabay sampal ng malakas sa pagmumukha ng dalawa.
"Gin! Call your father! Why did you let these scums touch us?!" Sigaw ng isang babae mula sa gilid.
"Hey bitch! Are you not informed that their businesses have gone into bankruptcy after the Welmart's Group withdrew their support to the Lopezes?" Malakas na sabi ng Boss habang nakatingin parin kina Gin. "They're a huge figure before, but now, they're nothing but a bunch of useless businessmen." Sabi pa nito.
"Now, tape her mouth!" Utos nito sa isa sa kanyang mga tauhan sabaw turo sa isang gilid ng silid.
Nang tumingin ako sa banda roon, nagulat ako nang makita si Sherly na nakaupo sa isang upuan habang nakatali ang mga kamay, katabi nito ang kanyang kaibigan na palagi nyang kasama sa paaralan, Dana ata ang pangalan nun.
"And who's this trash?" Sabi ulit ng Boss sabay turo sa akin.
"Boss, kaklase yan nina Gin. Sinubukan naming pagbayarin sila sa bill nina Gin pero binugbog ako ng isang yan kaya dinala ko narin dito." Sabi naman agad nung Jiggy habang nakayuko parin.
"What?! A trash beat you?" Gulat na tugon ng Boss sabay lapit kay Jiggy at sinampal din ito.
"I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here to make it clear that we have nothing to do with Gin and his group." I calmly said while staring the guy they called Boss in his eyes. "Now, if you're not busy, I want to settle our bill." Sabi ko sabay pakita ng black card na binigay ni Abegail sa akin.
Nang marinig nito ang sinabi ko ay biglang nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa galit at nilapitan ako sabay sabi. "Who do you think you are to talk to me like--.. that.."
Pero hindi nya na natapos ang sasabihin nang napatingin sya sa aking kamay na may hawak ng black card.
"This.. this card. Where did you get it?" Parang nanginginig na sabi nito sabay kuha ng card sa aking kamay at tiningnan itong maigi.
Pagkatapos makita ang card ay binalik nya ito sa aking kamay sabay luhod sa aking harapan.
"Sir, I'm so sorry for being blind. Please spare me. I am such an ignorant for not recognizing you." Mangiyak-ngiyak sabi nito habang lumuluhod at nagpatirapa sa aking harapan.
Everyone, including me, froze in our place.
The once arrogant Boss was now kneeling in front of me, as if his life is in my hand.
— ตอนใหม่กำลังมาในเร็วๆ นี้ — เขียนรีวิว
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