Chapter 2: A lullaby for the Diablo

Chapter 2: A lullaby for the Diablo

Sabrina's P.O.V.

MY eyes sting. I blinked twice already para hindi matuloy ang mga nagbabadyang mga luha mula sa aking mga mata. Tumitig ako sa labas ng eroplano na aking sinasakyan. The clouds looked soft and happy together with the bouncing sunlight opposite of what I'm feeling right now. 

Sinundan ko si Marlon sa Canada para sana suyuin siya dahil bigla na lamang siyang nakikipag break sa huling mensahe nito sa akin sa text.

From: Babi,

I think we should break up. 

One sentence. No explanation, kaya kahit nasa kalagitnaan ako ng trabaho, nag book ako ng flight papunta sa kanya. Pero bigo akong makita siya. Wala na siya sa dating niyang tinitirahan, iba na ang nakatira ro'n at hindi ko na alam kung saan ko siya hahagilapin pa. Hindi ko siya ma-contact sa kahit anong social media platform dahil he blocked me. Hindi ko siya mahanap.

We were lovers for 4 years. He's understanding and faithful. Busy kami parehas pero lagi niya akong binibigyan ng time. Continuous video calls, chats, and sa apat na taon na pagiging magkasintahan lagi siyang nandyan. Kahit na kailangan naming mag LDR para makaipon kami dahil balak naming magpakasal this year, umuuwi siya every 3 months just to be with me.

Kaya nasaan ang mali? Bakit biglang ganito? He's my endgame. Siya 'yong gusto kong makasama habang buhay. Kaya ako nagsusumikap para makasama siya sa iisang bubong balang araw.

Ito na ata ang pinakamasakit pagdating sa breakup, 'yong hindi mo alam 'yong rason. Hindi mo alam kung anong sasabihing mong rason para kumbinsihin ang sarili mong mag move on. 'Yong tipong inaasahan mong makakausap mo pa siya kinabukasan kasi wala namang problema. 

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pang magsimula at magmahal ulit.

I let my tears drown my face, and I didn't hold my sobs anymore. Kahit alam kong pinagtitinginan ako ng ibang pasahero dahil sa lakas ng iyak ko. Wala akong pakealam. Nagbayad naman ako. May lalaki pang nagbaba ng newspaper sa kabilang aisle at tumingin sa akin.

"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo diyan, gusto mo tinidurin ko mata mo?!" Pagbabanta ko.

Hanggang sa makabalik ako sa Pilipinas at sunduin ni Paris, our family Driver. She's been with us since I was in grade school.

I'm more comfortable with her than anyone else. Maybe because she's a woman. Or because I know I can trust her. 

Tumigil ang sasakyan sa isang stall na nagtitinda ng prutas at walang pasabi na bumaba si Paris para bumili ng strawberry.

Strawberries are my all-time favourite. It appease my gloomy state whenever I eat or just look at those tiny reddish fruits. Binigay niya sa akin ang supot ng strawberries nang bumalik siya sa saksakyan. Memorised na talaga niya ako

Pagkabalik namin sa bahay ay kumalma naman na ang pakiramdam ko kahit papaano. Sinigurado kong walang bakas ng lungkot o luha ang mukha ko. 

AS SOON as our modern wooden pivot double door spread out, a pair of arms welcomed me into a warm embrace. Iiyak na sana ako, pero naunahan akong humikbi ng taong yumakap sa akin na walang iba kundi ang pinsan kong si Kate.

"Ate Sabrina, " She called out between cracking sobs. Ilang taon lang ang agwat namin sa isa't-isa pero parang magkapatid na  ang aming turingan. Hinila ko siya papunta sa aking silid sa pangalawang palapag ng bahay. 

"What happened Katie, mmmh?"

"Ate...ipapakasal ako nila grandpa sa isang criminal." Paninimula niya, "Ate ayoko," she shook her head while crying, "Ate, please help me. Convince them. I don't want to marry a Moschelli, please ate."

I turned pale when I heard that family name. No. It's not just a simple family surname because Moschelli are dangerous and unscrupulous, high-profiled mafia organization and one of the most merciless families under The Commission.

"Ate, may isa pang problema," Tumingin ako sa kanya at hinaplos ang kanyang buhok, "Buntis po ako Ate," she confessed, "Ate don't tell papa, please."

Hindi ko alam na may ipuputla pa pala ang mukha ko sa mga rebelasyon niya."Is the father of your child aware that you're pregnant?" Malumanay kong tanong. Umiling lamang siya.

"Natatakot ako Ate. Our family will disown me. But I want to keep this child," humawak siya sa kanyang sinapupunan. "At kung malalaman ng mga Moschelli ang pagbubuntis ko Ate, baka magalit sila sa pamilya natin. Ate hindi ko na alam gagawin ko," 

"Pakalmahin mo muna ang sarili mo. I'm here. I got your back. Hindi ako galit na magkakaanak ka at tanggap na tangap ka ni Ate, mmmh? We'll figure this out together. Regarding the wedding, I'll talk to Tito. I'll try to convince them to discontinue your wedding. For now, ang iisipin mo lang ay ang kalusugan ng baby mo, okay?" I cupped her face and helped her wipe her tears.

NANG sumapit ang gabi, pagkatapos ng aming hapunan, pumunta ako sa office ni papa na nasa loob rin ng bahay. Sakto namang nandoon rin si tito Hugo, ang ama ni Kate.

"Pa, can we talk for a while?"

"Sige lang hija. Tell me, what's your concern?" Tanong ni papa habang sumisim siya ng alak.

Nagpalipat-lipat muna ang tingin ko sa mukha ni papa at mukha ni tito Hugo bago magsalita.

"I heard you arranged a marriage between Kate and the Moschelli. Hindi po ba parang sobrang bilis naman po ata? Tsaka Kate is too young to get married," paninimula ko.

"The Commission already agreed with this arrangement, Shortcake." My Papa explained.

"And besides, Kate is in her second year of College," dagdag ni tito Hugo, "Malaki ang utang na loob natin sa mga Moschelli. Without them, we'll be buried into mud,"

Our family business revolves around making  toys for children. They named it based on our family name, Congero, and came up with a brand name, Congeroo Kids Inc.

"But, we are not part of their nonsense Alliance, and my cousin is not a criminal princess," I opposed.

"Short cake, please stay out of this matter. Please." My father warned. So, I have no choice but to walk out from his office and think of a solution on my own.

Katulad ng  dating nakasanayan namin no'ng maliliit pakami, tabi kaming matulog ni Kate. Hinintay ko siyang makatulog and I even hum her a short lullaby. Hindi rin ako makaidlip kahit na nakapikit ako ay ang daming gumugulo sa isip ko.

Kaya naisipan kong pumunta sa dating kong music room. Ngunit, imbes na malibang, nakatitig lang ako sa aking white violin o kaya naman sa ruffles ng aking puting vintage style long sleeves night gown. Alas tres na ata ng madaling araw nang naisipan kong gumalaw at tawagan ang kilala kong Police Agent and Detective na si Jean.

Nakailang ring bago niya sagutin pero boses babae ang sumagot.

"Hello?" Parang kakatapos lang nila base sa tono ng boses ng kung sinong babae ang kausap ko ngayon.

"Mon rêve, let's go back to sleep. Please, mmmh?" Jean's baritone voice echoed, followed by the sound of their kisses. I rolled my eyes. 

Yuck!

I ended the call and just texted him to investigate the Moschelli and the old, bald, fat ass mafioso that my cousin will marry.

PAGKALIPAS ng ilang araw, nakuha ko rin ang impormasyon. I printed all his information and glued it against a plain wall inside my music room.

Zechariah Santino Adriel Moschelli

Ang pangalan ng amoy lupang 'yon? Too long, too holy, and too biblical. Plano sigurong gawing Pari paglaki ng mga magulang pero hindi sila nagtagumpay at pinayagan na lang nilang magtayo ng drug Cartel ang kanilang anak.

He's 6' 4 tall and his weight is over 200 pounds. Well, his weight and height are just estimations, pero siguro naman accurate

The first grandchild of Don Carlito. Hobbies are: pottery, sculpting. and fishing. Mmh, his hobbies don't match his clan's background. He also has a chocolate factory and company. A company who mix drugs with their chocolate products and ship it outside the country. He donated a huge amount of assets to churches and to children living in an orphanage.

Napataas ang kilay ko sa isang impormasyon, "Bukod sa puti ang kanyang buhok, bulag na rin siya?" 

Jean didn't send any image of his face, just hints of his features. No social media, no contact details, or email address. Just the name of their company named Mozzafiato and its company email.

Bibigyan pa talaga nila ng alagain ang pinsan ko. 

Napangiti naman ako nang may makita akong impormasyon na pwedeng maging susi  ko para makalapit ako sa kanya.

Every Saturday may pupuntang violinist sa kanila para lang tugtugan siya ng musica. Weird. He's weird, but this is my chance, and I'll grab it. If I can't persuade my family to knock off the engagement, I will negotiate to the other party.

I VISITED my trusted salon to enhance my strawberry brown hair. I also went shopping and got some full body massage because this is how I console and heal myself from an emotionally draining breakup.

I bought some weapons as well, based on my plan. Hindi man ako makalabas ng buhay sa territory ng Moschelli at least lumaban ako, hindi ba?

Saturday came, and my nervousness switched on. I'm wearing a long, flowy, cream dress paired with a baby pink cardigan and flat sandals so it's easier to run later. I clipped some portion of my strawberry shaded hair with a light pinkish bow.

Did I tell you that I'm also wearing a white eye-patch to cover my left eye? 

I have this condition that my left eye is often not aligned or going in an outward direction. I think others call it wall-eyed or Strabismus Exotropia.

I arrived at Moschelli's Manor 30 minutes before the call time.The place was a gigantic, old-fashioned mansion like in some of the horror movies. Yet, heavily guarded by men in their comfortable suits. 

Pansin ko lang puro kalbo o naka clean cut ang mga guards nila. Hinarang nila ako sa gate pa lang at kinapkapan ng isa sa kanila.

"Hep! My breasts are off limits," pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata para hindi dumako doon ang kamay niya. 

Sinamahan ako ng isa pang guard sa loob papunta sa kung anong kwarto ni Zechariah Santino Adriel. 

Ang haba no?

Pagkarating ko sa loob ng kwarto niya. It was —how do you call it?

 Classic.

A red classic leather big sofa carrying a grown-up man. His face was covered with a black face towel.The room was full of several types of liquor bottles, and ancient crafts.

I gulped and find the courage to speak, "Hi." I mumbled. 

"Uhmmm. What should I play for you...today, Sir?" I spoke again. I couldn't clearly see his face.

"The usual," His voice is deeper than the Pacific Ocean. 

"You mean, The Usual by: Sam Fischer?" I don't think there's a violin version of that song yet.

Instead of answering me his tongue made a clicking sound.

So it's not it. Shit. Huminga ako ng malalim, at sinimulang tugtugin ang musikang alam kong napaka-peaceful pakinggan.

The violin version of Turning page by: Sleeping at last.

The warm and caring symphony of the strings glides through the air as I start to play the introduction. I didn't hear any objection from him, so I let my nerves calm down and feel the rhythm that my fingertips are creating.

It's been a while since I last played the violin. I was busy working as an accountant and accomplishing my plans with Marlon that I forgot myself. Playing this instrument has been part of my entire youth. I am that little Sabrina who only cares about how she will end a song perfectly and wasn't anxious about how hostile the reality was.

I was closing my eyes the whole time I'm playing the wooden instrument so, I have no clue if this criminal right in front of me is cringing, or if he thinks the sound is clearly awful or not.

As the song came to an end, the room was instantly quiet. Ang sabi lang naman sa mga files na binigay sa akin ni Jean ay bulag 'tong taong 'to. Hindi namang niya sinabing deaf or mute, right?

Pinagmasdan ko siya mabuti. There are blots of blood on his chalky white button down shirt, and suddenly, I feel drained and cold.

Am I playing the violin in front of a dead man?

"Mr. Moschelli." 

Still no answer. Dahan-dahan kong kinuha yung maliit na baril sa loob ng violin case ko bago ko siya lapitan. Abot langit ang kaba ko.

What if naghihingalo na pala siya kanina tapos last song na ng buhay niya ang tinugtog ko kanin? O baka nga nakatulog kasi napakaganda ng musika ko?

As soon as I lifted the towel away from his face, his smirking face greeted me. His eyes are closed but his smirk that shouts the word 'triumph' caught me.

He got me.

His cornea met mine. I can see full darkness through his lenses. But what really shocked me is that he can see.

I know he can see things and me. Alam mo naman kung bulag ang isang tao o hindi diba? From the movements of his eyes, the way he blinks and all. Hindi siya bulag.

"Hindi ka bulag?"

He's not blind. His hair is not white either.

_____