DETECTIVE FILES. File 2 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 48: BARE TRUTH

Chapter 48: Bare Truth

"Hello Athena", Dra. Preciosa said and smirked at Mom. I saw Mom's fist tightened at bumakas ang galit sa mukha nito. Unlike the first time that they met, Mom's reaction is clueless then but now anger filled her. She must have remembered already her wickedness. Only Mom knows how evil those three are.

"Andromeda", Mom said. "It's nice to see you again. Maging kayo Pan, Ganymede", she said. Kahit halos manginig ito sa galit ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagsasalita ni Mommy. She delivered her words with enough emphasis.

No one dared to move, kahit ang mga reapers. Dad is just holding Mom by the arm, ready for any possible harm na maaaring gawin ng mga intruder.

The reapers are also watching silently habang pinoprotektahan kami, si Ryu, si Cooler, si Gray and Cronus. Nasa gilid naman ang ibang mga bisita and no one dared to speak. Marahil ay natakot sila sa dala-dalang armas ng babaeng nakaitim at lalaking may peklat. The Gothic girl reminded me of Phobie.

Hindi naman makikitaan ng pagkabahala si Cronus. Nakamasid lamang ito na tila amused sa pagdating ng mga hindi inaasahang bisita.

"It's been a long time old reapers", bati nito. "It's been nineteen years since the betrayal."

"Ah, Cronus", the scarred man said. "Yes and I am still grateful to you for giving me this Koch", wika nito at bahagyang ginalaw ang braso na may dalang malaking baril.

"That's my gift for you so you can have that despite the betrayal."

I'm sure hindi sila nagpunta dito upang pasalamatan si Cronus para sa malaking baril o kaya naman ay batiin ni Dra. Preciosa si Mommy. They must have come for another reason. Kung sila lang tatlo ang nagpunta dito, they must not meant to start a war between the Genesis and Vander Mafia. It's a suicide mission for the three of them para pumunta doon na mga machine gun lamang ang dala ng dalawa and Dra. Preciosa wearing a long gown. They maybe just want to crash our welcome party.

"I know about your new organization", Cronus said. He looked at me bago tumingin sa iba pang mga naroon. "The kids have encountered you not just once."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi nito. All this time ay akala ko na iilan lamang kaming nakakaalam sa Genesis. I didn't tell them everything about the organization. Mukhang tama ngang sabihin na huwag maliitin ang mafia. They act even before I knew it. Hindi lamang ako ang nagulat, maging ang sina Ryu, ngunit saglit lamang iyon.

"I'm not surprised. You wouldn't be the mafia boss for nothing. So how do you know about us? Do you know too that we are operating?"

Sumingit naman sa usapan si Rionessi. "Don't you think this is not the perfect time to talk with us about it? You see, may kasiyahan kami para sa pagbabalik ng asawa at anak ko", he said. If I remember it right, he was the reason why Dra. Vergara hated Mom so much. Mukhang minahal nila ang iisang lalaki, which is Rionessi. "Isa pa ay nasa kuta namin kayo, don't you think it's dangerous?"

"About it, we have a bomb inside our car at ang isa niyon ay nasa main door ng mansion. If you would do anything against us ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na pasabugin iyon at matutusta tayong lahat dito. But if not, I will keep my word. Nandito lamang kami upang dumalo sa pagtitipon."

Saka ko lamang napansin na tila nanginginig si Ryu sa kanyang pwesto. His fist is clenched, he's sweating at halos nangungugat na ang leeg nito dahil sa pagpipigil. His eyes are filled with anger at parang kahit anong oras ay sasabog ito. That's when I decided to strode across the hall upang pumunta sa pwesto niya, sanhi upang mapatingin ang lahat sa akin. I was the only one who dared to move that much.

Nang makalapit ako sa kanya ay hinawakan ko ang mga nakakuyom niyang palad. I don't know what forced me to do it, maybe I just did it voluntarily. I am afraid. Afraid of whatever possible thing that Ryu may do. Hindi ko alam ang dahilan niyon but all I see is a mad man. The presence of these three people here must have evoked a painful past for him.