The Mafia Boss Pretending Wife (TagLish)

A year before the main story…

    

“What the heck, bro. You looked like shit,” wika ni Kaizer. Kinuha niya sa kamay ni Louis ang hawak nitong rum. It’s been a couple of days na ganito ang pinsan niya.

    

“Don’t mind me. I’ll pay for all of this,” sagot ni Louis habang nagsisindi ng sigarilyo.

    

“Yeah, you’re paying, but if Tito Izaak knew that you’re just lurking around here, surely he will cause a lot of damage in my bar. I don’t want that to happen, so how about going home for now?” sambit ni Kaizer. Halata sa tono niya ang inis. Tiningnan lang siya nang masama ni Louis na parang may nasabi siya na hindi dapat.

    

“Stop ordering me around, Kai. I’m still a shareholder of this bar. Besides, I don’t want to go home,” usal ni Louis. Tumayo ito at kinuha sa kamay ni Kaizer ang rum.

    

“Okay, but why? Did something happen? I don’t want to know the full details, so make it short. As someone who is older than you, baka may maipayo ako nang makalayas ka na rito,” usal ni Kaizer. Hindi naman siya pinansin ni Louis na dire-diretsong naglakad upang mahiga sa sofa.

    

“I don’t know that you’re so concerned about me. Should I be touched?” wika ni Louis na ikinataas ng kilay ni Kaizer.

    

“Is that a joke? Kung ayaw mo, edi ’wag. Makaalis na nga,” sambit ni Kaizer at nagsimula nang maglakad.

    

Natigil siya sa paglalakad nang magsalita si Louis, “She broke up with me. I know there’s something off. I’m waiting for her to tell me, but it didn’t happen. I think she doesn’t trust me that much.”

    

“Who is she?” tanong ni Kaizer na parang hindi alam ang tinutukoy ni Louis.

    

“Asshole, I shouldn’t have told you!” sigaw ni Louis at inihagis ang rum. 

    

Kaizer chuckled.

    

***

“Let’s break up,” wika ni Mariella habang tinatanggal ang kamay ni Louis sa bewang niya.

    

“What? What did you say?” tanong ni Louis na parang hindi nag-process ang sinabi ng dalaga.

    

“I want to be free from you, Louis. Can you let me go?” pakiusap ni Mariella. Halata naman ang gulat sa mukha ni Louis sa kakaibang inaakto ng dalaga.

    

“Did my parents say something to you or what? Tell me the reason first, and I will fix it. No need to be like this,” usal ni Louis, pero nagsimula lang humakbang ang dalaga.

    

“You can’t fix everything, Louis. I just want to end our relationship,” usal ni Mariella, pero hindi naniniwala si Louis na gusto lang nitong makipaghiwalay. There must be a reason. A deep one.

    

“You want to end it, and for what reason? We loved each other, I can–”

Pinutol ni Mariella ang sasabihin ng binata at sumigaw, ”Stop it. You want to know the reason? Sure, but after this, I don’t want to see you anymore. I found someone new. That someone makes me feel like I’m fit in his world, and doesn’t need to fight for our love because his parents accepted us. You’re too much for me, please do me a favor and forget about me. Move on, it’s better if you follow what your parents want and marry her–the one they want for you,” wika ni Mariella at sumakay sa sasakyan para makaalis habang naiwan namang tulala si Louis.

    

***

    

“Maybe, you loved this woman too much. Look at the brighter side, you don’t need an emotional attachment because you’re destined to marry,” wika ni Kaizer. Tumayo naman si Louis at kinuwelyuhan siya.

    

“Do I look like I want to get married with someone I don’t know?” usal ni Louis. Itinaas naman ni Kaizer ang dalawang kamay niya.

    

“Then why don’t you try to get to know your soon-to-be bride? Maybe you will learn to love her. Easy peasy,” wika ni Kaizer.

Ngumisi naman si Louis. “You’re the one to talk, but you can’t even apply it to yourself. Why don’t you marry Avery? Then I’ll try to think about what you said, hmm?” usal ni Louis.

Umigting ang panga ni Kaizer. “Our situation is different.”

    

“Ha. Bullshit, our situation is just the same.”

    

Pagkayaring umalis ni Louis sa bar ay nakita niya si Tyron. ”Do you have anything to report on?”

    

“Yeah, I followed her just like you said. Mariella is with someone, they will go to Florida,” wika ni Tyron. Hindi naman maiwasang suntukin ni Louis ang puno sa galit.

    

“Continue to follow her,” usal ni Louis na ikinatango ni Tyron. Nang makaalis ito ay kinuha niya ang sigarilyo at sinindihan ito.

    

Pumasok sa isip niya ang sinabi ni Kaizer, it made sense, pero at the same time, bullshit. 

    

Tinawagan niya ang ama, ”Louis, where are you? Your mom is worried.”

    

“What’s her name?” diretsahang tanong niya.

    

“Huh? What are you saying?” 

    

“The lowly woman that I’m marrying. Where is her home?” usal ni Louis.

    

“What are you planning? Don’t you dare.”

    

“Chill, Dad. I just want to know more about my future bride. Maybe I will try to consider your offer.”

    

“Her name is Elaine Natividad.”

    

Nang matapos ang call ay sinubukan niyang sundan si Elaine. Tinatanong ni Louis ang sarili kung ano ang espesyal sa dalaga. May utang ang pamilya nito sa kanila, pero bakit kinakailangan niyang pakasalan?

    

Sa ilang araw niyang pagsunod sa dalaga ay alam niya na ang routine nito. Pagpasok sa eskuwelahan ay may hinihintuan itong mga bata upang bigyan ng pagkain. Masasabi niya na masyadong mabait ang dalaga at hindi nabibilang sa kanila.

    

Itinigil na ni Louis ang pagsunod rito at sasabihin niya sa kaniyang ama na hayaan na ang dalaga, pero kung sinusuwerte nga naman ay tumatakbo siya ngayon upang magtago sa kalaban. Sa eskinita kung saan laging dumadaan si Elaine siya nagtago. Hindi niya na kinakayang lumaban dahil marami ang mga ito at may tama na rin siya ng bala sa hita.

    

“Ah!” 

    

Mabilis na hinatak ni Louis ang kamay ng dalaga at tinakpan ang bibig nito. Black wavy hair, kahit hindi niya masiyadong matanaw ang mukha ni Elaine ay alam niyang naka-nerd na salamin ito. Hindi niya mapigilang ngumiti dahil ilang araw niya nang sinusundan ang dalaga, pero ngayon niya lang ito nalapitan.

    

“Don’t scream. They’re still lurking around,” bulong niya habang nararamdaman na ang panghihina.

    

Hindi nagsasalita si Elaine, pero naririnig niya ang kabog ng dibdib nito. Sino ba naman ang hindi kakabahan kung nasa ganitong sitwasyon?

    

“I’m harmless. There are people who are looking for me, just don’t tell them where I am. After that, you can leave me here. Just an hour,” wika ni Louis. Nagulat siya nang may kuhanin sa bag si Elaine na damit.

    

“An hour, sir? But you’re bleeding. At this rate, puwede kang mamatay. We need to make it in the hospital,” usal ni Elaine habang tinatalian ang dumudugong parte na hita ng binata. Hindi niya maiwasang mamangha sa ipinakitang side nito.

    

Iniabot niya ang pisngi ni Elaine. ”I know it. You’re so kind. Someone who does not belong in our world.”

    

“Can you hold a gun?” tanong ni Louis na ikinailing ni Elaine. ”But I will try.” 

    

Iniabot ni Louis ang isang baril at ikinasa ito. ”Just pull the trigger, they are loaded.”

    

Nang magising si Louis ay nakita niya ang puting kisame habang nasa gilid niya si Elaine. Mukhang hindi naman sila nasundan habang papunta sa hospital. Nasa table ang baril at loaded pa rin ito.

    

Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo upang hindi magising ang dalaga. Mas mabuti kung hindi siya makilala nito.

    

Pagkauwi ni Louis ay tumambad sa kaniya ang ama.

    

“I heard that someone ambushed you. Luckily, you’re still alive. What do you want to talk about? If this is about your betrothed, you will still marry Elaine,” wika ni Izaak habang diretsong nakatingin kay Louis.

    

“Yeah. I will marry Elaine, but I want to approach her myself, Dad.”