Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Ilang segundo pa bago rumehestro sa utak ni Eleanor na ang babaeng nasa harap nya ngayon, ay ang nakababatang kapatid ni De Salvo. And for sure, that it's De Salvo's group who's outside- attacking this hideout to get his little sister. 

Naisip nya kung gaano ka tarantado ang Fortéz na yun. Pagkatapos nyang makipagsangkot sa pagpatay ng dating Emperor ng Scarletti at sa asawa nito. Ngayon naman ay pagkidnap ng kapatid ni De Salvo- the second leading mafia.

"Cloud, are you there?" Kalmadong tawag nya.

"Yes, El." Sagot ni Cloud.

"Connect me with Fourth Ycarius De Salvo." Utos nya. Naisip ni Eleanor na naririto rin si Fourth. And she can't handle his sister. Tudo ang panginginig nito at hindi makagalaw sa tuwing umalingaw-ngaw ang putukan ng baril.

"One.. Two.. and connected!" 

"Thank you." She said.

"Who's this?!" Malakas na sigaw ni Fourth sa kabilang linya. Dinig rin mula doon ang barilan.

"Your sister's with me." Kalmadong saad ni El. "And she's trembling because of the gunshots. But she's safe." Wika nya.

"E-eleanor?" 

El was stunned. Napatigil sya sa pag-alo kay Sophia ng marinig nyang banggitin nito ang pangalan nya. 

'Paano nya nalamang ako to?' tanong nya sa isip. Did he recognized her voice?

"Eleanor? Are you still there?! Where's my sister?!" He exclaimed.

"S-she's with me." Nautal nyang sagot.

"Clean our way out immediately. She can't move with the gunshots. Nasa third floor kami. We'll get out now." 

"O-ok" simpleng sagot nito.

Nawala ito sa linya at pumalit ang boses ni Cloud.

"He recognized you?"

"He knew me as Eleanor. Don't worry." Sagot nya.

"Saan nanggaling yung kinakausap mo?" Sophia suddenly asked. 

"Uhm... My earing?" Sagot nya. "Sophia, we need to get out of here ok? Your brother's outside. He's waiting for us." Aniya.

"B-but the gunshots. T-they're s-scary." Nanginginig niyang saad.

"You can do it! We'll get out, you'll help me right?" Mahinang tumango ang dalaga sakanya.

She held her hand as they took the stairs. Humina na ang tunog ng barilan habang pababa sila mula sa third floor. May mga lalaki ring nakaratay sa sahig sa ilang dinaanan nila. The gunshots became bearable on Sophia's ears. Kaya hindi na ito masyadong nanginginig habang tinatahak nila ang daan palabas. 

On their way out, Eleanor noticed something. Nakakapagtaka ang mga bagay na nakita nya sa daan. But she finally realized it.

Everything was a trap. 

Mautak din ang Fortéz na iyon. Buo talaga ang plano nito na pabagsakin ang De Salvo. 

Eleanor stopped taking another step, when a bullet passed infront of her. Tumama ang bala sa maskara niya, dahilan para masira ito. But that was close! If that didn't missed. For sure ay headshot na ang tama nya.

But her mask falled off- her cover was blown. Pero hindi na importante yun sa ganitong sitwasyon. What's more important is, getting this girl and herself out of this mansion before something bad happens.

In one swift, she raised her gun and shoot the man who broke her mask. Napabaling sya sa kasama at kita sa mukha nito ang pagkagulat at takot.

"I-i'm right." Bumaling ang tingin nila sa direksyon ng boses. Eleanor's eyes widened. "Eleanor. It's really you." Kumbinsidong wika nito.

Damn! Kung hindi lang sana nasira yung maskara ko! I could've a chance to deny that I'm Eleanor! 

But it's too late for regret. Bistado na sya.

"Kuya!" Sophia called out for her brother. Mabilis itong tumakbo papunta sa direksyon ng nakakatandang kapatid.

"We need to get out of here.." Madiing wika ni Eleanor. "Immediately." 

"Is there something wrong?" Kunot noong tanong ni Fourth.

Eleanor told them everything she saw as they walk their way out of the house.

"Bombs." Aniya. "Fortéz planted bombs here to eliminate you."

"What?!" Fourth exclaimed.

"On our way here..." Panimula nya. "I saw bombs disguised as simple cases. Nakakalat ang mga ito sa bawat parte ng mansyon. This place will blow up in a minute."

Napasinghap ang lahat sa sinabi nya. Their faces are in panicked mode.

"Calm down everyone. Let's get out of here. Move, now!" Utos ni Fourth sa mga tauhan nya. 

Everyone moved in a swift. De Salvo's men sorrounded their master. Eleanor walked with them. Wala na silang nakasalubong na kaaway palabas ng mansyon.

Sophia bid her goodbye to Eleanor, as she get inside her brother's car. Paalis na sana si El, para sundan ang kinamumuhian nyang si Fortéz. But she stopped midway when Fourth Ycarius suddenly grabbed her hand that made her stop.

"W-where are you going? You can come with us." He offered.

Bahagyang umiling si Eleanor para tanggihan ang binata. Binawi nya ang kamay nyang hawak ni Fourth, at itinaas ang isa nyang kamay na may hawak ng baril. Everyone's eyes widened in shock. Nagtataka sa ikinilos ni Eleanor. Fourth De Salvo's men raised their guns and aimed it to Eleanor too.

"W-what are yo-" 

A loud bang came from Eleanor's gun after she pulled the trigger. Rinig mula sa kinaroroonan nila ang pagbagsak ng sniper na nakapwesto sa hindi kalayuan. That sniper was supposed to shoot Fourth, pero inunahan ito ni El. 

Bumaling doon ang mga mata ng lahat. Dahan-dahang ibinaba ng mga lalaki ang baril nilang nakatuon kay Eleanor. 

"Order your men to check your cars." Anito kay Fourth.

"C-check the cars!"

Kahit na nagtataka ay sinunod ni Fourth ang sinabi ni El. His men checked the cars thoroughly.

"M-master!" Tawag ng isang tauhan nya. Napunta ang mga tingin nila sa hawak nito. "Bomba po ito." Aniya.

Fourth's eyes angered. 

"Sophia! Get out of my car!" Utos nito sa kapatid. "Check everything again to make sure!" 

Bahagyang lumayo si Eleanor roon at tinawag si Cloud mula sa communication device. As expected, Cloud immediately responded.

"El?"

"Send a chopper here." Bungad nya. "The De Salvo's must have a safer ride home." 

"The chopper will be there in a minute."

"Thank you-"

"Eleanor? Sinong kausap mo?" Bumaling ang tingin nya kay Fourth.

"Paparating na ang chopper na susundo sa inyo." She said calmy. "You'll be more safer if you'll ride that home." Dagdag nya.

"Eleanor." Fourth uttured. "Who really ar-"

Naputol ang sasabihin nito ng marinig ang malakas na tunog ng pababang chopper. Kita mula sa tatak na nasa chopper ang pagkakakilanlan ng grupo. 

The symbol of the Golden Sun. 

The number one leading mafia.

The Scarletti.

"Y-you." Turo ni Fourth kay Eleanor. "Y-you are Sc-"

"I'm Scarletti's number one assassin." 

'Wew, good job on lying El.' she praised herself.

"A-assassin?"

"Y-yeah?" 

Maniwala naman sana sya diba? 

"EL!" 

Eleanor turned around and faced Sky Cristos. Tinawag agad sya nito pagkababa ng sasakyan niya. Naglakad naman kaagad si El para salubungin ang binata.

"Sky! Where is he?!" She asked, looking for Fortéz.

Napunta ang tingin ni Sky sa mga taong kasama kanina ni Eleanor- the De Salvos. Napatingin rin doon si Eleanor bago bumalik sa isa't isa ang tingin. She gave him an asking look. Napakunot ang noo ni El ng bahgyang umiling si Sky.

"It's not the right place to talk about it." Wika ng binata at tumingin sa direksyon nina Fourth. 

Nakatingin rin ang binata sakanila, when they looked at him ay umiwas kaagad ito.

"Ate El!" Biglang pagtawag ni Sophia sakanya. Tumakbo ito papunta sakanya at bigla syang niyakap.

"Thank you po ulit!" She said.

Marahang tinapik ni Eleanor ang balikat nito tsaka kumalas sa yakap.

"It's nothing." She smiled to her. "Go now... This place will explode in a minute." Baling nya kina Fourth at Sky, tumango naman ang dalawa.

"Eleanor.." Fourth's manly voice called out for her. "Thank you very much." 

Tipid syang ngumit at tumango rito. 

They heard a loud bang coming from the mansion. Kita rin doon ang usok mula sa pagsabog.

"Let's go." Saad ni Sky.

Ng magsimula ng umangat ang chopper na kinaroroonan nina Fourth, Sophia at ng mga tauhan nito ay pumasok narin si Eleanor sa kotse ni Sky. Before the chopper totally lift up, she saw Fourth's eyes looking at her. At hindi naman sya namamalikmata. Hanggang sa tuluyan ng lumayo ang chopper at umandar narin ang kotse ng kaibigan nya.

She looked back at the mansion. Tuloy tuloy ang pagsabog ng mga bomba doon. Mabuti nalang at walang ibang bahay sa paligid ng mansyong to, kaya walang inosenteng madadamay sa katarantaduhan ni Bermant Fortéz.

'Speaking of that bastard....'

"Where is he, Sky?"

"We chased him. Napalibutan sya ng grupo ko bago makarating ang kotse nya sa airport. But...."

"But what Sky?" Madiin nyang tanong.

"But he shoot himself."

Natawa si Eleanor sa sinabi nito. 

"Killed himself?" She chuckled. "Haha! What a great escape!" She exclaimed.

"Anong sunod nating gagawin?" Tanong ni Sky, habang nasa daan ang tingin.

"What I want to do now, is to drink a cold water and sleep. Nakakagago ang Fortéz na yun! Pagbayaran nya sa impyerno ang kasalanan nya." She bit her lower lip to contain her irritation. 

"Let's go home then."

Fortéz's mansion is a bit far from the Scarletti HQ. Pero dahil sa driver nyang kung makadrive ay parang hari ng kalsada- they arrived at the HQ in a blink. 

Wala sa mood na pumasok si Eleanor sa malaking building ng Scarletti. She's still irritated. Mukhang mas takot pa ata ang Fortéz na yun sa parusang ibibigay nya kesa sa kamatayan. It's easy for him to end his own life ey? She pity his family that he left behind- a very selfish act. 

"Eleanor!" Masiglang pagbati sakanya ni Tanda. But the old man's smiling face faded in a second, as he saw the a not so good mood plastered on Eleanor's face.

"Guess you're on a bad mood, ey?" He stated the obvious.

"Halata naman ata, Pa." Sky chuckled.

Napairap nalang sin Eleanor. Saka walang ganang umupo sa sofa ng office ni Tanda.

"Ain't you happy?" Wika ni Tanda at inabutan ng maiinom si El. "Fortéz is dead... Napaghigante mo na ang mga magulang mo."

"Not yet, Tanda...." Iling nya. "And it's not the revenge, that I wanted. But the justice. Pero tinakasan nya yun.... by killing himself, tsk." Asik nya.

"We'll..... We can't change that anymore." Ani Tanda. 

"What's more important now Empress is...." Sabat ni Sky. "We only have one mafia left to chase.... and destroy." 

Isa pa yun sa nagpapasakit ng ulo nya. It's been years of searching and chasing. But which mafia is the mastermind of her parent's death? 

Bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin nila matukoy ang ulo ng kaganapang yun? 

That makes her more irritated! 

"So... What's your next plan?" Tanong ng ama ni Sky.

"For now let's lie low..." Sagot nya. "And prepare for something bigger..."

Tumango lang ang dalawa sakanya. 

"Since we are somehow.... free." Usal ni Tanda. "Why not talk about your upcoming debut?" 

Bahagyang natawa si El. 

"It's still months away, Tanda." Napakunot ang noo nya ng tumingin sa ekspresyon ng lalaki. "Why? Is there something else coming with my debut?" Aniya.

"How should I say this...." Pina ikot ikot ng matanda ang hawak nyang ballpen. 

"What if I tell you.... That your father arranged a marriage for you?" 

The whole room was filled with Eleanors laughter after he said those. 

"You must be kidding me tanda." Natatawa nyang usal.

"I hope I am kidding." Madiing wika nito.

"N-no way.." Di makapaniwalang ani Eleanor. "L-let's talk about this someother time, Tanda. I want a cold bath now." Aniya saka diretsong naglakad palabas ng opisina.

She walked like a zombie all her way to her room. Mas lalo talaga syang nawalan ng mood. And she guessed, that Tanda is not messing with her. 

But an arranged marriage?! Uso talaga yun sa mundo nya. Lalo na para sa pagpapalakas ng mga mafia group. Pero ba't kailangang pati sya?! 

Dagdag sa iisipin na naman, hayst.

First, an enemy made a way to escape. Pangalawa, hindi parin nila natukoy nung sino ang mastermind ng ambush years ago. Third, a fucking arranged marriage! 

At oo nga pala!

Hindi nya natulungan si Flare sa project nila! Hayst naman! 

'You'll have white hairs if you stress yourself too much, Healia Eleanor.' wika nya sa sarili. 'Masisira buhok mo, segi ka.' she sighed.

Ba't ba kasi may arranged marriage pa?! Hayst! 

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