SPENTICE and the FIERY PRIEST

SATFP: Chapter 26

"Hoy g*go, ano 'yon?!" sigaw ni Tristan.

"Fiery priest! What the f*ck?!"

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa kinalalagyan ni Dad at Father Josiah. Sumunod naman sa 'kin si Tristan.

Hindi ko inaasahan ang pagsugod at ginawa ni fiery priest sa tatay ko. He just punched my father twice and now he's grabbing my father's collar!

I'm afraid to the consequence he might face from what he did to my father! You are not in your right mind, fiery priest!

Akala ko ba umalis na siya? Ang bilis niya naman makarating? O baka hindi naman talaga siya umalis? Pero kung ano man 'yon, hindi iyon ang dapat isipin ngayon.

It's the situation right here in front of us.

"Ano?! Sumagot ka! Mafia boss ka 'di ba?! Baka may kinalaman ka sa pagkamatay ni Father Jacob?!"

Oh f*ck! Father Josiah really lost his mind!

How can you accuse my father without any evidence?!

Hindi ko mabasa kung ano'ng nasa isip ni Dad at ano'ng reaksyon niya dahil nananatili lang siyang walang pinapakitang emosyon at nakatingin lang ng maigi kay Father Josiah.

I know that my Dad has his own duality. Sometimes childish and sometimes serious with his powerful presence. But now, he just has a straight face which I don't think is good.

"Bakit hindi ka makasagot?! May kinalaman ka ba?! Kayo ni Spentice?! Is this the real planned?!"

"Pigilan mo si Father Josiah," utos ko kay Tristan na agad niyang sinunod.

"Father! Tigilan mo 'yan!" sigaw niya habang pilit na nilalayo si fiery priest kay Dad

Napabuntong hininga ako bago lumapit sa kanila at pumagitna.

"This is not the right time to act like that, Father Josiah!" I said at pinilit na tinanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa damit ng tatay ko.

Why the hell is this happening?!

"Huwag kang makialam dito! Hinding-hindi na ako makikinig sa 'yo! Your lies is enough! I will not trust you anymore!"

Hindi niya ako hinayaang tanggalin ang pagkakahawak niya sa tatay ko.

This priest! Napakatigas ng ulo mo!

"Stop it, fiery priest! Think about Father Jacob! He doesn't want this at his funeral! Get your f*cking hands off to my father!"

Sa sinabi kong 'yon ay para siyang natauhan. Napatigil siya at napatingin sa loob ng simabahan kaya natanggal ko ang mga kamay niyang naka-kwelyo kay Dad.

Napabitaw naman na si Tristan kay Father Josiah. "Hoo! Sa wakas tumigil na rin."

Hinimas-himas niya ang braso niyang napwersa ata sa paghila at pagpigil kay fiery priest.

"Dad..."

"Are you done, priest kid?" My father asked in his monotone voice.

Napasapo ako sa noo ko. You better apologize for what you did, Father Josiah.

I can't predict what my Dad is thinking that's why I'm getting nervous on what he will do to fiery priest.

Dahan-dahan namang napabalik ang tingin ni fiery priest sa tatay ko. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang si Dad ay diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata niya.

"Bring it on kung ano ang gusto mong gawin. Tutal mataas na kriminal ka naman, wala kang dapat ikatakot."

Napangiwi ako sa naging sagot niya.

"Patay na," saad ni Tristan na nasa tabi ko na at pinapanood lang din ang nangyayari.

Gusto kong pigilan si fiery priest sa tapang niya dahil hindi niya kilala kung sino ang kaharap niya. Tiklop 'yang tapang mo kapag ang Viglianco mafia boss ang kaharap mo. Sa 'kin lang naman tumitiklop si Dad dahil ako ang nag-iisa niyang anak.

Nagkibit balikat si Dad bago mabilis na lumapit kay Father Josiah at kinwelyuhan din.

"Sh*t! Dad!" sigaw ko na gulat na gulat sa ginawa niya.

Ano na lang ang sasabihin ni Father Jacob kapag nakikita niyang ganito ang ginagawa ng dalawang taong importante sa kanya? They're fighting at his funeral and that is unrespectable!

And worst, them making a scene attracts many people attention!

"This is how you grab someone by collar, priest kid. Use full power and strength. Make sure he cannot do any counterattack. You understand?" madiing saad ng tatay ko.

This is not good.

Kita ko kung paano unti-unting inangat ni Dad si Father Josiah at ang paglutang ng mga paa nito sa ere. Kita ko rin na nahihirapan na si Father sa sitwasyon niya.

"Spent, tulungan mo si Father! Baka dalawang pari ang paglamayan ngayong araw!"

I glared at Tristan who is not helping.

"S-S-Spent..."

Napabalik ang tingin ko kay fiery priest nang nanghihina niyang tawagin ang pangalan ko.

Napahawi ako ng buhok ko paitaas. Let's stop this bullsh*ts.

"Dad! Stop that! I'm warning you!" I shouted. Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang braso niya. "Stop it or else your golds will—"

"Okay, I'm stopping," sagot niya na pinutol agad ang sasabihin ko.

Pabagsak niyang binitawan si Father Josiah na diretsong napaupo sa sahig at nanghihina.

Agad kong dinaluhan si fiery priest at inalalayan.

"Look at what you did, Dad!" singhal ko.

"What? I didn't start it first, my pretty daughter. He started it and I just finished it," he casually said like nothing happened.

"Still! He's a priest, Dad! A priest just like Father Jacob!"

"And he's not Father Jacob, Spentice. Father Jacob is an honorable priest and meant to be respected unlike that priest." Tinuro niya pa si fiery priest habang inaayos ang damit niyang nagusot.

"Dad! What the hell?!"

"Okay, okay! Fine! I'm sorry! Don't be angry at me, Spent. Don't you miss me?"

"As if, Dad. Go and see Father Jacob inside. Your priest friend needs you and I know you have a lots to say to him."

"Right." Lumapit sa 'kin si Dad at hinalikan ang noo ko pagkatapos ay tumingin siya kay Father Josiah. "If you'll going to attack someone, make sure first that you know your opponent."

Nakuha niya pa talagang magbigay ng advice bago siya tuluyang umalis at dalawin na si Father Jacob.

I saw his four bodyguards surrounds at the main entrance of the church when he finally goes inside.

"Kakaiba talaga ang tatay mo, Spent. Walang katulad! His aura and presence says them all that he is a powerful man," saad ni Tristan na namamangha sa tatay ko.

Napailing na lang ako.

"Teka lang, I think Mr. Viglianco needs another bodyguard inside. I'll gonna go and assist him, Spent."

"Do whatever you want," I said while looking at fiery priest.

Kanina ko pa binabasa kung ano ang nasa isipan niya at ano ang balak niyang gawin. And I'm kinda worried about him too.

Tuluyan nang umalis si Tristan at pumasok sa loob ng simbahan para samahan ang tatay ko.

"Fiery priest, can you stand up?" I asked.

Ilang minuto bago niya nakuhang sumagot at magsalita. "Your father... is really strong. Strong like a mafia boss."

"He is."

Nagtama ang mga paningin namin nang lumingon siya sa 'kin. We still at the ground. Nakaupo siya rito at ako naman ay nakaluhod ang isang tuhod at patuloy pa rin siyang inaalalayan.

"Gano'n ka rin kaya? Tatay mo siya, anak ka niya. I bet you're as strong as your father."

"You're not sure." Tumayo na ako at pinagpag ang damit ko bago iabot ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"No. I'm one hundred percent sure. And I think..." Tumingin siya ulit sa loob ng simbahan bago sa kamay ko. By that, I can see sadness and pain in his eyes. "...I need to hear your explanation, your side, Spentice."

I smiled at him. "We can talk about that later."

Inabot niya ang kamay ko kaya hinila ko na siya patayo.

"Sorry for what happened. Hindi ko nakontrol ang sarili ko kaganina. Punong-puno ng galit."

Umiling ako. "It's okay. I know what you feel."

Niyaya ko siyang umupo sa bench na nandidito sa labas ng simbahan.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang nakaupo at parehong malayo ang tingin. Nakikita kong nakatingin lang siya sa simbahan at pinagmamasdan ito. Samantalang ako ay nakatingin sa langit at sumusulyap-sulyap kay fiery priest.

Alam kong sa lahat, siya ang pinaka-nahihirapan sa sitwasyon ngayon. Marami siyang iniisip bukod sa pagkamatay ni Father Jacob. Idagdag pa ang mga nalaman niya tungkol sa 'kin, which is still unclear to him.

So, I think I need to introduce myself again. The real me that I don't know if he'll accept who I am.

Since he already know about the golds and why I'm here, it's time to explain about myself.

I cleared my throat to ease the awkwardness before speaking.

"I am Spentice Viglianco, half-Filipino and half-Italian. The only daughter of the Viglianco Mafia boss who you just met earlier," I started.

Dahan-dahan siya napatingin sa 'kin, confuse on what I'm saying.

Hindi ko 'yon pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang pagpapakilala ko.

"As a mafia daughter, I became part of our mafia. My father trained me to be the best and be like him. I did mafia works, dealing, fighting, and of course, killing. You know how the mafia works, right? We are like any other criminals but with class. That's all."

Hindi siya nagsalita matapos kong magpakilala at nanatiling nakatingin lang sa 'kin. Hinayaan ko lang siya at baka hindi pa na-absorb ng utak niya ang mga sinabi ko.

Narinig kong malalim siyang napabuntong hininga.

"I can't believe that you're part of a mafia. And a mafia boss daughter."

Tipid akong ngumiti at hinintay ang mga sunod niya pang sasabihin.

"Kaya nagtataka talaga ako kung bakit nagkaroon nang mga ginto ang tatay mo. Kaya pala, isa siyang mafia boss. The golds that kept in here and Father Jacob protected over a long time is a mafia golds."

Mafia golds? Sabagay, those golds are from the hardwork of my father in our mafia.

"Na kukunin ko na sa lalong madaling panahon. Kapag sapat na ang planong naiisip ko at nabuksan ko na ang vault. Huwag ka mag-alala dahil mawawala na ang mga ginto na nasa ilalim ng simbahan niyo," I said.

"Paano kaya napapayag si Father Jacob na rito itago ang mga ginto at protektahan ito?"

"My father and Father Jacob are really a good friends. Despite of their differences."

"Spent, you introduced yourself as half-Filipino and half-Italian. Ibig bang sabihin nasa Italy ang mafia niyo?"

Tumango ako. "Yes."

"Is it good to be in a mafia?"

Hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niyang iyon kaya hindi ako nakasagot agad.

"Hindi, huwag mo na sagutin. I'm not into criminal works especially killing," bawi niya sa sinabi niya.

"Being in a mafia is not easy. Our life is always at danger to enemies who'll attack suddenly. There's an advantage and disadvantage on it," I answered kahit na binawi niya na ang tanong niya.

Tumango siya at nag-cross arms.

"You being a lawyer, is that true?"

"Yes. Nakita mo naman ang ID ko, I am a registered lawyer. But to be exact, I also work in our mafia as their lawyer. I am a mafia lawyer."

"Mafia... I don't really expect that I'd meet one that belongs to a mafia. Sa dami ng mga kriminal na napakulong ko, hindi ko alam kung mapapakulong ko ba kayo. Knowing your capacities, alam kong mababalewala lang ang gagawin ko."

Palihim na napataas ang isang kilay ko. Balak niya kaming ipakulong?

Pero hindi mo kami mapapakulong, Father Josiah. Our mafia is not planning to be at jail. We still have more missions, transactions, and allies to come in the future.

"Maybe you can think of it some other time. Now, we need to focus on how to catch Father Jacob's culprit. Handa ka pa rin bang tulungan ako? Kasi kung hindi—"

"Pag-iisipan ko. Huwag ka munang mag-umpisang mag-imbestiga hanggat wala pa akong sagot sa tanong mo."

"But if I will not start the investigation right now, the culprit may run away and worst we can't catch him."

"Basta. Pakinggan mo muna ako kahit ngayon lang. Gusto ko rin na mahuli ang may gawa nito kay Father Jacob. I hope you can wait for my decision."

Wala na rin naman akong nagawa kundi tumango at sumang-ayon sa kanya.

I just hope that he will made his decision quick.

"Did the police already start their investigation?" I asked.

"Maybe. I have no idea pero tingin ko ay inasikaso na rin 'yon ng pamilya ni Father Jacob."

"Wait for my decision, Spent, before starting your own investigation. Just give me time to think."

I nodded and gave a smile to him. "Go on, take your time, fiery priest."

He needs time that's why I gave it to him. I know he's too exhausted.

Tumango siya at napahilamos sa mukha niya.

I tapped his back to cheer him up.