2 – DECISION

“YOU’RE going back to Beijing, Alessia. Your job is done.” Paul Chan ordered his daughter.

“No, Papa! You lied to me. Why did you let me kill her without giving me her real background? You said we do not kill women and children!” Nanlilisik ang matang wika ni Alessia. Her phoenix eyes filled with so much rage. She overheard his conversation with Zhan, her fellow assassin. Malinaw ang kanyang pagkakarinig na binago ng ama ang background ng target niya para hindi siya mag-alinlangan na tapusin ang buhay nito. Knowing her, she only killed bad people.

“This is a special case, Ali. It has to be done!”

“I did everything for you, Papa. I killed mercilessly for the organization. But this time, I want to quit!” Huli na para bawiin niya ang mga sinabi.

Paul Chan was a Filipino-Chinese and her adoptive father. She had been thankful for him for rescuing her when she was ten—the night when her parents were brutally murdered. Malapit na kaibigan ito ng ama at tinuruan siya nitong lumaban at tugisin ang mga taong may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang.

“You’re quitting all of a sudden?” Paul chuckled in disbelief. “Hindi kita pinalaking duwag, Ali. Sa dami ng pinagdaanan mo, ngayon ka pa ba magkakaganito? That woman had to die! The La Guardia Mafia is expanding their operations in the Philippines. Malaking insulto iyon sa ating organisasyon, at ang babaeng pinatay mo ay malaking kawalan sa kanilang samahan. Serves them right!”

Alessia scoffed. “I thought you trust me, Papa? I feel betrayed. Kung hindi ko pa narinig ang pinag-uusapan n’yo ni Zhan, hindi ko pa malalaman.”

“Enough! What is done is done. Umuwi ka muna sa China para magpalamig. Tiyak na gaganti ang kalaban at ayaw kong mapahamak ka.”

“No, Papa. I quit!”

“Alessia, how dare—” Ikinumpas ng may katandaang lalaki ang kamay at wari ay sasampalin siya. Pero mabilis na lumapit si Zhan sa kinaroonan niya. He had been observing them for a while now.

“Uncle, calm down.” Pumagitna ang binata sa kanila.

Namumula ang mukha ng ama at galit na nagmartsa palayo. Habang panay pa rin ang pag-itaas at baba ang dibdib ni Alessia habang hatid ng tanaw ang ama. Hindi talaga siya nagbibiro sa sinabi. Siguro panahon na para talikuran niya ang maruming pamumuhay na ito. Although it wouldn’t be easy, but with her skills, it could be doable.

Umangat siya ng tingin at sinalubong ang kalmadong mata ni Zhan. “I can’t believe you would side with Papa.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you this emotional, Ali. Forget about it, as you used to after your every mission.”

“Forget? How could I? I killed a pregnant woman, Zhan! Aminado akong hindi ako mabuting tao, pero hindi ako kasing sama na papatay ng batang walang kamuwang-muwang.” Ito ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagagalit. She had learned that her target was three-months pregnant, and it was not visible in her figure yet.

Tinapik ni Zhan ang balikat siya. “Loosen up. Would you like to hang out? I’m free, I’ll give you company.”

She gave him a side glare. “I’m leaving. I’m sick and tired of this life.”

Hindi kumibo si Zhan at pinagmasdan na lang ang dalaga. Parang kailan lang mga bata ba sila. Just like Alessia, he was also an orphan. He was pure Chinese, but he was raised in the Philippines. They trained together at a young age, and he was three years senior than her. Sila rin ang madalas magkasama sa mga assignments na ibinibigay sa kanila ng organisasyon. They were widely known in the mafia world as Medusa and Zeus—the twin assassins.

“All right, I won’t argue anymore. Just be careful.” Itinaas ng binata ang dalawang kamay tanda ng pagsuko.

“I will never forgive you and Papa.” Tiim ang kanyang mga bagang at hindi niya napigilan ang pamamasa ng mata dahil sa matinding galit. Kaya mabilis niya itong tinalikuran at tinungo ang sariling silid.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa mansion ng mga Chan sa Naples. Magkakaroon ng convention bukas ang mga lider ng organisasyon at ang ama niya ang host. Tamang-tama sa binabalak ni Alessia. Everyone would be busy, while she would vanish without them knowing.

ISANG marahas na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Caio nang mag-landing ang sinasakyan niyang private plane sa airport. He had to endure the long hours of travel to be back home. Nagmadali talaga siyang makabalik sa Pilipinas dahil inaatake siya ng matinding lungkot kapag nagtagal pa siya sa Italya.

Isabella… He silently swallowed. Mariin niyang naikuyom ang kamao. Their vacation to Italy was supposed to be the happiest days of their lives, but it turned out to be a tragedy. Hinding-hindi niya mapapatawad ang gumawa niyon sa babaeng dapat sana ay pakakasalan niya.

He was in the midst of a business conference in Naples when he found out Isabella was killed by a sniper. Caio refused to believe it at first. Kaya imbes na puntahan ito ay nagpakalunod siya sa alak nang gabing iyon para dayain ang sarili na isang masamang panaginip lang ang lahat.

“We’re here….”

Napapitlag si Caio nang marinig ang boses ng kanyang lalaking sekretaryang si Giovanni. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala pero hindi iyon isinatinig.

Caio peeked at his wristwatch. “Let’s go.”

Tumango si Giovanni. Inayos niya ang katamtamang laking maleta na naglalaman ng mahahalagang gamit ni Caio. They got out of the private plane and went in the car waiting for them.

Walang kibo si Caio habang nasa biyahe. Tulala pa rin siya habang paulit-ulit na umuukilkil sa isip niya ang sinapit ni Isabella. He just proposed to her, and they celebrated as they found out she was carrying his child. Pero iyon na pala ang huling gabing makakasama niya ang babae.

He had to wait until her body was cremated. Caio swore that he would do anything to avenge her death.

Damn it! Lalong nag-igting ang kanyang panga. Masyado siyang nagtiwala sa kanyang mga itinalagang bantay habang wala siya sa tabi ng dalaga.

How can you be so careless? This is all your fault! Patuloy niyang sinisisi ang sarili. He lived in a dangerous world, and if he didn’t drag Isabella into his mess, she wouldn’t die.

“There’s a bidding tomorrow. Are you going to attend, or shall I take your place?” untag ni Giovanni. Napansin nito marahil na kanina pa madilim ang kanyang mukha.

“I’ll attend. My presence is crucial during this time,” walang bakas ng anumang emosyon na sagot niya.

Giovanni tilted his head and remained silent until they reached their destination. Mabilis na bumaba ang driver at binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan. Tumambad sa kanila ang maaliwalas na paligid ng mansyon ng mga Alfieri. Naroon iyon sa kilalang esklusibong subdivision sa Makati. Mataas na ang araw kaya kahit malakas ang simoy ng hangin ay medyo maalinsangan na.

“Dios ko, hijo! Mabuti naman at nakabalik ka na.” Isang matandang babae ang sumalubong sa binata. Bakas ang matinding pag-aalala sa mukha nito. Malamang alam na nito ang madugong sinapit ng kasintahan niya.

“Yaya Glo.” Tipid siyang ngumiti. Sa kanila na ito tumanda sa paninilbihan. Ito na rin ang caretaker ng bahay at kahit lagi siyang wala ay mapagkakatiwalaan ito.

“Maghahanda ako ng masarap na pagkain.” Mabilis na tumalikod ang matanda at pumasok sa malaking bahay.

Walang nagawa si Caio kundi ang magbuga na lang ng marahas na hangin. Isabella was murdered mercilessly. He organized a manhunt to catch the culprit no matter what.