Vows under the Gun

Chapter 2 Isla Verona

ETHEL

A horse just queitly sitting on the side of the board as if not making any relevance to the whole thing but silently trying to make its way to the victory is one of the deadliest move waiting for its enemy to make one wrong move and everything will be gone.

Sacrificing the bishop, I ate the horse. Ngumitimg tagumpay ako kay Mr.Villafuerte at sumimsim sa iniinom kong jasmine tea.

His piece ate my bishop but it does not matter, I eliminated the threat.

"You saw my move and didn't hesitate to lose yours to risk for a win. You're good." Tumawa pa ito. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa isang private room ng isang Japanese Restaurant dito sa isang mall.

"You flatter me but the game is not over yet." Sabi ko at umabante ng isang hook. We're playing a game of chess.

"Winning or losing doesn't make someone a winner or a loser. It's how you play the game to recognize a winner." Sabi pa nito. Ngumiti ako ng matamis at tumango.

"Pietro Hughs is not in the country but seeing how the lady of the family does her work, it quite reassure me. Narinig ko na ikaw ang nagmamanipula sa Visayas Region ngayon. That's a bold move, but I dare not provoke the devil of Navarro."

Nawala ang ngiti sa aking labi.

"We never make peace unless one is willing to compromise. In my case, I don't compromise. Money, Power, I don't want mine below others. Provoking a devil take a devil herself." I confidently said. Tumitig saakin ang matanda ng puno ng paghanga.

"I can tell how the Verona raised you." Sabi nito at napailing-iling pero nakangiti.

"So, would you do it for me?" Diretsong tanong ko.

Bigla nitong inilahad ang kamay.

"I will bet on you with this. Just this time, alright? Helio Navarro is hell himself. I will wage on him if I see you fret." Sabi nito.

Malapad akong ngumiti at tumayo at nagkamayan kami.

Huminga ako ng malalim nang makalabas kami ng restaurant at nakasunod saakin ang mga alalay ko. Dalawang kasambahay at apat na mga tauhan.

Marami ang mga taong tumitingin saakin. I care no less. They're feasting their eyes with such a rare sight. I carry my Hermes with elegance and power, a scene not everyday can be seen.

Napapatingin ako sa mga stall na dinaraanan namin.

"Should I shop?" Bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Nothing is catching my eye yet. Nang biglang mahagip ng mata ko ang isang stall. A luxury brand and its entrance is being watched by few men not wearing security guard clothes.

Someone important is inside.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ang lakad ko nang biglang mahagip ng mata ko ang isang lalaking matangkad at sinusukatan ito sa loob. He was looking at his measurements when he raised his head and met my gaze just right before I walk passed the store.

My heart jump for a second.

Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang pares ng mga matang iyon. Pero imposible, baka guni-guni ko lang iyon. There's no way Elias will be here. In an invite-only store. Sure he can be successful but not to this extent.

Although there's nothing impossible. May kapangalan nga siya sa kalaban naming pamilya. The Mafia Boss himself, Helio Navarro. How fate plays it out with me, kapangalan pa siya ng lalaking dati kong minahal.

But now I'm sent into a mission to bring him down. To defeat him, and kill him. Only then will I survive this not-so-bitter life of mine. It's a kill or be killed.

It is the sole reason why I'm here in this City. To meet him. I heard how cunning he was, if I'm making my right moves, he shall initiate a meeting with me sooner or later. I've been casually moving his pawns on my own accord and it's time he makes his moves.

Paglabas namin ng mall ay saka may iniabot na cellphome saakin ang isa sa mga alalay ko.

"Yes? Isla speaking." Umpisa ko sa kabilang linya habang papasakay ako sa kotseng pumarada sa harapan ko.

"You're invited to a small Jewelry auction at the Cloud Tower. Navarro are the host. I heard big businessmen and politicians will be there."

Napangisi ako. Nice move. He's not disappointing me. That renown devil of Navarro.

"Alright, confirm our attendance." Utos ko at ibinaba na ang tawag.

Tumingin ako sa labas habang umugong ang sasakyan at tila maulan nang biglang kinaliwa ng driver ang stirring wheel ng marahas dahilan para mapukpok ang ulo ko sa bintana.

Galit ko itong tiningnan nang bigla bumilis ang ugong ng sasakyan at napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana. There's a black car trying to rival our speed and is gliding against us.

"May nag-aamok satin Madam." Pagpapaalam saakin ni Amor, ang driver ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko at kinuha ang baril sa bag ko habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana at likod ng kotse para sipatin ang itim na sasakyang umaaligid saamin.

"Banggain mo." Utos ko at humawak sa hawakan bilang pagsuporta sa impact na nagawa ng pagggas-gas ng mga kotse habang nasa daan.

"Harangan mo." Utos ko. Bumilis ang pagpapatkbo ni Amor pero nangunot ang noo ko at mas bumilis ang pagpapatakbo ng kotseng humahabol saamin at isa pang panggagas saamin ng malakas ay napatigil si Amor sa pagmamaneho na siyang muntik ko nang ikaumpog sa harapang upuan pero naiwasan ko. Mabilis na nawala sa paningin namin iyong kotse.

Lumabas ako ng kotse para tingnan iyong kotseng naglaho na. Napatigil din ang iilang kotseng lulan ang mga bodyguard ko. Hawak ko parin ang baril nang ilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid.

"Madam! Ayos ka lang?" Tanong ng mga tauhan ko.

Galit ang mukha ko.

How bold of them.

"Isa iyong babala mula sa mga Navarro. Doblehin niyo ang seguridad at pag-iingat. Their leader was not renowned devil for nothing." Bilin ko at muling sumakay ng kotse.

Now I'm more than eager to meet him. That man who carries the same name of my past lover.

Itinago ko na ang baril sa bag ko at umayos ng upo . Ikinalma ko ang sarili ko habang hindi mawala sa isipan ko kung ano ang magiging katauhan ni Helio Navarro. He's straightforward like this, sending someone to send a straight warning. He's not one to work in shadows.

He's already watching me.

If I succeed on killing him, I will be given the freedom to stay here in this city without being watched by the Verona's. They will think that I completely submitted to them. Finally eliminating one of their biggest rival, after so many years, they've seen what I can do and this is so far the biggest one.

10 years ago. Akala ko ay katapusan ko na nang may mga taong kumuha saakin. Totoong sindikato sila. Mga mafia. Nakakatakot, mga mamatay taong ganid sa pera. I thought they will extort me, use me, kill me, sell my organ to the market, but they did not.

They just killed Ethel Galvez and I gave life to Isla Verona. A mafia Heiress of the Verona Mafia who's been long dead since she was a child but the family needs an Heiress. They gave it to me, so I lived, I survived.

I'm now Isla Verona. Married, and there's only one thing I have yet to achieved.

Freedom. That's what I am fighting for. I've seen people killed. I've witness injustices, immoral things for 10 years and I never regretted a thing in my life. The only thing I want is peace. I am secretly building my own accounts. I will save enough billions to fake my death and live in peace. But that would only possible if I gain the Hugh's trust in me and give them something in return.

Kaya tinataya ko ang buhay ko rito para sakanila. Gagawin ko ang gusto nila at tutulungan ko sila para mawala na ang duda nila saakin, para magawa na nila akong pakawalan kahit na pekehin ko ang pagkamatay ko.

I want to live in peace. Far from killings, far from injustice.