Kabanata 2

Tahimik na kinuha ni Miguel ang gamot at saka bumalik sa ginagawa niya. Renzo clicked his tongue because of his lack of reaction. Hindi ko alam kung bakit palagi siyang naiinis si Renzo kay Miguel.

“Get me a drink,” utos ni Renzo kay Miguel. Humalukipkip siya at saka madilim na tiningnan si Miguel.

“We have people you can order around,” baling ko kay Renzo.

“Miguel wants money. I'm paying for his service,” he said with a playful smirk. “Besides, he asked for a job in the cellar.”

Nagtiim-bagang ako.

Miguel is one of my cousins, on my father's side, but he is my least favorite. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya pa ang kasama ko noong maaksidente ako. Now, I feel like I have a responsibility toward him for losing his damn memories.

Wala na siyang mga magulang. My father, who was his uncle, also died. Ang sabi ni Mama, mahilig sila sa gulo kaya namatay ang ibang pamilya niya.

Isinama siya ni Mama dito para ipagamot din, but since he is not a Romano, he is not welcome here.

Nang hindi kumibo si Miguel, tumawa si Renzo at saka kinuha ang wallet niya sa bulsa. Binuksan niya ang wallet niya at saka binunot ang 200-euro bills niya.

“Here, get me a drink. Instant money,” he taunted.

Iritadong bumaling si Miguel sa amin. Tumaas ang kilay ko.

Ano? Hindi pa sapat ang 200 euros sa kanya? That's almost fifteen thousand in his country!

Kumuha ako ng isa pang 200 euros sa wallet ni Renzo. Hindi niya naiwas agad ang wallet niya kaya nakakuha ako.

Wala pa ring kibo si Miguel kahit may pera na sa unahan niya.

Renzo chuckled darkly. Halata ko ang iritasyon niya.

“Just because you're Chloe's cousin doesn't mean I'll be casual with you. Get me a fucking drink!” he ordered menacingly as he threw the money at him.

Umawang ang labi ko. “Renzo!” inis kong sabi.

“He's not listening to me. I hate it when someone doesn't follow orders. It makes me want to pull the trigger,” aniya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “You already know he doesn't listen to anyone! He doesn't listen to Mama. Why would he listen to you?”

“Exactly! Why wouldn't he listen to me? He lives in Romano territory. He should know better than to disobey my orders. If he keeps testing my patience, I'll put a bullet straight through his head,” banta ni Renzo. Hindi siya mukhang nagbibiro.

For some reason, I got scared for Miguel. Kahit na ayaw ko sa kanya, he's still family.

Bumaba ang mata ko sa gilid ng pants ni Renzo. Sure ako na baril ang nakita ko kahapon. Pero wala siyang dalang baril ngayon.

Natigilan ako sa paninitig sa gilid ni Renzo nang biglang pinulot ni Miguel ang pera. It earned a satisfied laugh from Renzo.

“Go on. Don't make me wait,” tuwang-tuwa niyang sabi.

Igting ang panga ni Miguel. He looked at Renzo for a few seconds before he looked at me.

Muntik na akong mag-iwas ng tingin. Pero buti at napigilan ko.

“Here's another 200 euros. I also want a drink,” utos ko.

Bumaba ang mata niya sa kamay ko. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at saka ako nilampasan. Hindi niya kinuha ang pera.

Nang mawala si Miguel ay saka pa sumeryoso si Renzo.

“He should know how to follow orders,” he said with a serious face. Nasa malayo na ang tanaw niya.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganoon ang trato nila kay Miguel. Ang ibang tauhan naman ay takot sa kanila. Isang utos lang ay nagagawa na.

“You should also understand that Miguel is suffering from amnesia. Maybe he doesn't follow orders? And he's not from here. Stop terrorizing him!”

“Coming from you, who also hate him,” he said, smirking.

Umirap ako sa kanya. They wouldn't understand why I have to hate him. No one will understand it!

I have to hate him! Really badly!

Aalis na sana ako dahil gamot lang naman ang sadya ko kay Miguel. Kaso hindi pa umaalis si Renzo. Baka kung ano ang gawin niya. At least I can still stop him if he does something to Miguel.

Kaya naghintay ako. Nang dumating si Miguel, may dala siyang dalawang baso. Isang basong liquor para kay Renzo at isang basong juice para sa akin. Gusto kong magprotesta na bakit juice pero hinayaan ko na.

Bumalik siya sa ginagawa niya matapos niyang ibigay sa amin ang mga inumin namin. Akala ko ay manggugulo ulit si Renzo pero nang mag-ring ang cellphone niya at nakita niya ang tumatawag, kita kong nandilim ang mukha niya at mabilis na umalis.

Naiwan ako kay Miguel. And I suddenly felt so restless.

“Here's the pay for your service.” Nilahad ko sa kanya ang pera pero tiningnan lang niya iyon.

“I don't need it.”

Lumapit ako sa kanya at saka siniksik sa bulsa niya ang pera.

“Don't be stubborn! Walang magagawa ang pagiging matigas ang ulo.”

Tinanggal niya ang pera sa bulsa niya at saka ibinalik sa akin.

“I don't need your money,” he said in an offended tone.

“If you're refusing because I'm your cousin, I'm paying as a Romano! Now get the money!” naiinis kong sabi.

Miguel sighed heavily. “Even if you're paying as a Romano, I still don't need your money,” mariin niyang sabi.

I almost groaned. “Tanggapin mo na! Hindi ganito na ako ang ipinapahiya mo! If you need money, bakit hindi ka na lang mangutang sa akin? Why ask for a job in a cellar?” iritado kong sabi.

“I just want to buy something.”

“Then get the damn money!”

“Allyana!” he snapped. “I need money but I don't need it coming from you!”

Umawang ang labi ko at natigilan. His irritated and annoyed face made me remember my many wet dreams about him.

Isang beses akong umatras. Nagsimulang kumalabog ang dibdib ko. This is exactly why I hate him.

Because he is my damn cousin.

I glared at him.

“You disgust me! Kaya ka pinaglalaruan nina Renzo eh! You don't know how to follow the rules. You're a nobody here, Miguel. In this territory, you follow the Romanos!”

I bit my lower lip as I went back inside the mansion.

I don't know what to do other than hate him.

…