Chapter 2

Bayan ng Sta. Cruz

Sanay si Tor na gumagawa ng plano. First, he filed for a sabbatical leave from the hospital. Every step he takes is calculated at hindi siya sumisira sa timeline. He did his research at nalaman niya na hindi isang simpleng tao si Octavio. Mayaman ito noon pa, pero hindi niya akalain na may ibang mga aktibidades ito sa gilid. He is involved in one of the biggest syndicate in the country at bukod sa drugs ay money laundering ang isang business ng mga ito. He wondered if Iris knew about it. One thing is for sure, hindi niya ito pwedeng bawian na siya lamang mag-isa. He needs back up. Something big... and powerful.

And he knows the right person who can help him.

Bago siya umuwi ng Pilipinas ay tinawagan niya si Ale pero cannot be reached na ang mobile number nito. As much as he wants to visit his house, hindi basta ang pagpunta sa bahay ng mga Gambino. It's secured and guarded because of the business they're into. Nag-email siya kay Ale at sumagot naman ito kinabukasan. Nalaman niyang halos dalawang taon na itong wala sa New York at naninirahan na sa Pilipinas.

Nagkakilala sila sa New York nang minsan na mabaril ito years ago. Tor saw him in the alley and took him to his apartment. Resident pa lang siya sa hospital pero may alam na siya sa medisina kaya natulungan niya. Ayaw kasi ni Ale na magpadala sa hospital. Nang malaman niyang isa itong Gambino, he realized na hindi basta-basta ang pamilya ng taong iniligtas niya. Ale promised to return the favor when the time comes. Magsabi lang daw siya at darating ito.

Upon discovering a black envelope at his doorstep one night, he was immediately captivated by its mysterious allure. The envelope, elegantly adorned with an embossed insignia in shimmering gold, depicted a sparrow embellished with three radiant stars above. He looked at it more closely and found that his full name was inscribed with meticulous precision. It was not a mere coincidence, but instead an invitation of significant importance.

Inisip niya ito buong gabi. Kakampi ba o kaaway ang nagpadala nito sa kaniya? His intincts were telling him that the letter meant no harm. Tinawagan niya ang numero na ibinigay at narinig niya ang isang recorded message. Susunduin siya tatlong araw mula sa araw ng tawag ng isang kotseng itim at magbibigay ng pagkikilanlan ang driver sa may palapulsuhan nito.

Tomas Joaquin Rios was the one who sent the invite. He didn't know that his father was involved in a secret society— The Black Sparrows. He didn't have to do anything special, except to pledge his loyalty. He was afterall a legacy. Nagulat siya nang makita si Ale roon at mahigit isang taon na rin pala itong miyembro. 

When he was told it's time to mark them, he thought it was just ink— a tattoo, but no. He was wrong. The society marks their members using a hot branding iron and the insignia is placed just below the nape. It took him six weeks to heal. Hindi niya alam kung ganoon rin kabilis naghilom ang sa mga kasabay niya. Estefano was there along with Lucian and Konstantin. They all have one thing in common— their fathers were old friends with Rios.

***

Dalawang palapag ang building na nasa harap niya. Tor bought it several months ago and did some renovations on it. His clinic is on the second floor and the ground floor has a couple of businesses— coffee shop and pharmacy.

Tor arrived early in the clinic. Unang araw niya sa trabaho bilang general practitioner. As much as he wants to be an anesthesiologist, mas magiging effective ang plano niya kung nakapirmi siya sa isang lugar. Makikita niya nag routine ng mga target niya. He would seem like a harmless doctor in town, when it truth— he's a dangerous man.

He parked his black SUV at nang

"Good morning, Doc!" nakangiting bati ng morenang babae sa kaniya. Nakasuot ito ng uniform ng coffee shop kaya alam niyang doon nagtatrabaho ang babae. Sa tantiya niya ay nasa late twenties na ito. Todo ang make up nito at sobrang pula ng labi. Ganoon pa man ay friendly kaya hindi niya sinungitan.

"Good morning." Ngumiti siya. "You can call me, Tor."

Napahagikhik ang babae. "Grabe naman, Tor. Meant to be tayo. Ako si Jak. Short for Jacklyn." Tor looked clueless. "Tsk. Hindi mo gets?" Pinandilatan siya nito. "TorJak!" Now Tor is lost at kung hindi pa lumabas ang isang babae ay hindi ito titigil sa pagpapaliwanag kung ano 'yong torjak.

"Jacklyn, pumasok ka na sa loob at gumawa ka ng kape para kay— Doc." The woman smiled and it hit Tor home. Sumunod naman si Jacklyn at naiwan silang dalawa.

Tor just kept staring at her. Twenty years na ang lumipas pero lalong gumanda si Iris. Naroon pa rin ang mga biloy sa magkabilang pisngi. Tuwang tuwa siyang makita 'yon noon kapag ngumingiti ito.

"So it's true. You're back." Buong akala niya ay galit ito dahil bigla siyang umalis noon. Hindi siya sumulat o tumawag. He never contacted her. Pero heto, maayos pa rin ang pakikipag-usap sa kaniya.

"I am."

"You looked— good." Iris looked nervous. "You're a doctor now. That's great. But... why would you choose to have your clinic here? Pwede naman sa Maynila."

Nagkibit balikat si Tor. "I grew up here so I thought it would be nice if I can help the town. Ikaw? Didn't you want to become a nurse?"

"Hmm. I still am. But it's so tiring so I thought I'd put up a coffee shop. Nangutang ako sa bangko para sa capital. Kumukuha pa rin ako ng shifts sa hospital paminsan-minsan."

Naisip ni Tor ang sinabi ni Iris. Bakit nagloan pa ito ay mayaman naman si Octavio? Ibig sabihin ay hindi alam ni Iris ang tungkol doon?

Jacklyn came and gave him coffee at umalis rin kaagad dahil may customer na.

"It's black. I figured that's how you take your coffee. Kung gusto mo ng creamer or milk saka sugar, mayroon sa loob—"

"Black is fine. Thank you."

Iris nodded and scratched near her left eyebrow. Noon niya nakita  ang suot na engagement ring nito. He needs to find out kung sino ang fiance ni Iris. His plan would fail if he's with someone. Not that he can't get her— because he can. Paiibigin niya ito at saka bibitawan kapag sawa na siya.

"It's nice to see you, Salvo. Have a great day." Nagpaalam na si Iris at bumalik sa loob ng coffee shop nito.

Salvo. Tinawag siya nitong Salvo. Tatlo lang tumatawag sa kaniya ng ganoon— ang Papa at Mama niya... saka si Iris.