DRAGON 3

C H A P T E R 3: P L A N O

Ｉｃｅ Ｑｕｅｅｎ ＰｏＶ'

"What are you doing here?"

That is how he greeted me upon entering his office. The coldness in his voice can make you freeze and rooted on your place. As expected. I gritted my teeth and sat beside him, taking a piece of cigarette on his golden packet.

I lit the cigarette using the silver lighter and puffed on it. Yes, I do smoke. I started this habit of mine since when I was thirteen. He actually trained me to be like- no, cut it. He's actually the reason why I'm smoking ever since I woke up from coma.

Alam kong masama 'to sa kalusugan, pero kapag na tikman mo, hindi mo mapigilan tumikim ulit na para bang isang droga na uulit-ulitin mong tikman.

Ngumiti ako nang mapait, wala man akong pakiramdam subalit masakit sa parte ko kung paano ako nito tratuhin bilang anak niya. 

Gano'n nga talaga kapag nagmamahal ka, masasaktan at masasaktan ka. Hindi mo ito maiiwasan dahil nakaakibat ang sakit sa pagmamahal, na parang kakambal nito ang na sabing emosyon at ang pinakamasaklap,  yung taong inaasahan kong tutulong sa 'kin ay siya ring unting-unting pumapatay sa akin.

Kahit anong pagkukunwari kong malakas ako, hindi pa rin talaga maiiwasan na hindi ako masaktan dahil siya na lang ang natitira sa akin. Kapag iniwan ko pa siya, wala rin akong pinagkaiba sa aking ina, na iniwan kami para sa ibang lalaki.

I know how much he loathes me. But I can't hate him back. I just can't.

Kahit gaano pa siya ka demonyo. 

After such a long period, this is the first time we ever faced each other again.

Wala akong narinig mula sa kanya. Pero kahit gano'n hindi ako kailanman nagreklamo mas minabuti ko na lamang na hindi magsalita at manahimik.

Nakakatawa, hindi ako nakakaramdam ng ano mang klaseng emosyon pero pagdating sa kanya, nakakaramdam ako.

But anyway, I'm not here for bullshit. I'm here to find out what exactly happened twelve years ago.

Narito kami sa opisina niya ngayon. Ang ikatlong palapag ay ang buong opisina niya. Nakaupo kami ngayon sa mahabang lamesa kung saan sakto ang tatlumpong katao rito rin nagpupulong ang mga Ministro tungkol sa Mafia world at negosyo. 

Ang mga dingding ay gawa sa purong salamin kaya naman makikita mo rito ang bundok at ang kapatagan, malaya mong makikita rito ang labas ng palasyo. Isa rin ito sa rason kung bakit mas gusto niyang magpalipas oras dahil sa magandang tanawin na makikita.

Nasa labas ng palasyo ang kanyang paningin, pinagmamasdan ang mga bituin na malayang kumikinang sa kalawakan.

The office itself has its own uniqueness yet it will make you astonished just like the other places of the palace. The set of couch located on the center is made of the finest leather, the gray color matching the white center table and beneath it is a black carpet made of fur. No too far away is father’s massive office table, atop it was where his laptop and MacBook are placed, along with several paper documents and pens.

"Why? Am I not welcome here?" I asked bitterly as my brows furrowed together.

He puffed his cigarette first before speaking, "I know you, Anastasia. You’ll not go back here without a reason," he rhetorically said, as cold as he have ever been.

I grinned, showing my perfect teeth and puffed smoke from my cigarette. It casually flew in the air, disappearing like it hasn’t even existed.

"I am aware that you know everything. Don't you even dare try to defeat me because you will never win against me, young lady," seryoso ang mukha nito habang seryosong nakatingin sa akin. Ang mga mata nito’y tila sa isang tigre na handang atakihin ang kanyang biktima.

Makikita mo sa mukha niya na nakapaskil na ang seryosong ekspresyon nito.

Around me, he is always the same cold man. Whatever I do, he never show any kind of emotion towards me, not even a bit of his smile. But when it comes to other people, expect that this rock will soften and transform into what seems like a tamed lion. Such a great façade he have.

Sadyang ayaw niya lang sa akin at nagiging matigas ito. Buti pa ang ibang tao, nagagawan niyang ngitian, samantalang yo'ng anak niyang uhaw na uhaw sa pagmamahal ay hindi man lang niya malaanan ng kahit kakarampot na oras at atensyon.

I don’t know, but when it comes to my father, I always felt like there was a hole in my chest. A void which cannot be filled with anything, but only with my father’s affection.

This earned him a sarcastic laugh from me. I bit my lower lip, "What if I can?" I muttered in a challenging tone. His stare turned deadly, as if ready to take the life out of me.

"Watch your words, young lady. You're still carrying my name. Another disrespectful word from you and I'll make sure that you're going to regret it," he warned me. Every bit of his words trying to poison me.

I placed my cigarette on the ashtray and directly looked at his orbs, the orbs which I long to look at me softly, to look at me with pure love. "Are you trying to threaten me?" I firmly asked.

He took one piece of cigarette and lit it, "Stop wasting my fucking time, young lady. I'm not here to deal with your bullshits. Tell me your fucking plans," he commanded as he puff his cigarette.

He's talking about those papers I've read. The adoption papers. Yeah. I, along with my mother, we’re adopted by this man whom I treated like my real father. Back then, my mom was already pregnant when they crossed paths. But because of the love he has for my mother, he is willing to become the father of the baby, which is me. He then declared that the baby is his own, an evidence of how deep is his love for my mother. He is willing to face everything just for the sake of keeping the woman whom he cherish and adored.

But when my mom left us, everything changed. A turning table. My dad transformed into a merciless beast after losing his beloved Queen. As a result, the beast put the blame on his child, he tortured the kid until he felt satisfied. It seems like a miracle for that child managed to survive after several years of molestation. Little did he know, he made that child into a monster. A heinous monster.

The child cannot do anything but to accept everything since she greatly loves her father. Even if it hurts like hell, 'till that kid lose her breath, she'll still love him. However, it wasn't enough because an enormous damage has been done. The child just couldn't calm the beast---only when the Queen returns.

Why does it hurt so much? Enough to burn me from the inside. Being ignored by the one whom you considered so special feels like a torture from hell. As if the demons condemned me into an eternal damnation in the deepest part of their paradise.

Darn this pain. How ironic. I am called Ice Queen, but in fact, my heart is fragile. A glass easily broken.

"Why do I even need to tell you my plans?"

Go ahead, Anastasia. Bring out your cards. Play tough as much as you want. Hide your emotions. Ace this confrontation with the beast.

"I'm still your father, it won't change the fact that you're my daughter," he said in bored tone. His free hand found its way on his table, casually playing with the pen laying beside his paperwork’s.

I didn't speak. I remained quiet. I don't have any intention about finding my biological father. For what? Tsk. I'm contented with what I have right now.

At isa pa, kahit anong klaseng hanap ang gawin ko sa kanila, hindi ko pa rin makita ang mga ito.

Ika nga nila,'Mahirap mahanap ang taong ayaw magpahanap.'

I just need to find the people behind these tattoos on my body. I lost my memories which means I don't remember any single information about what happened twelve years ago. Well, there's some short events but it's unclear and blurry.

Parang puzzle na walang larawan na hindi ko alam kung ano ang kalalabasan, at kung paano ito sisimulan. Gano'n kalabo at kagulo.

Only, if you can solve the puzzle without the picture.

Isang misteryosong pangyayari pero titiyakin nitong sisirain ang utak mo hanggang sa masiraan ka na nang bait.

But I'm trying- solving that puzzle. Little by little.

Kahit ang dahilan nito'y pagsira ng aking ulo, tatapusin at tatapusin ko pa rin 'to hanggang dulo. Kahit walang kasiguraduhan.

Back when I was in U.S.A, something weird  happened to me. That's why I really need to know who's behind this tattoos. An occurrence that made me wonder. A turn of event which led me to dig my past and search for answers.

"So, tell me your plans?" he asked. I put the cigarette on the ashtray and get another stick. And again, I ignited it with the lighter. I puffed the cigarette first before answering him.

"I'm going back to school," I replied in a bored tone, turning my gaze away and looked at the breathtaking scenery before me. The stars shine brightly against the dark curtain of clouds while the moon seems truly fascinating, a decoration of night time which I will always appreciate. I turned back my sight at the man before me who is now holding a black porcelain mug on his right hand.

He sipped his coffee.

I'm waiting for him to talk but he remained looking straight. I know he won't disagree nor agree with me. I already did what he asked me to. Our Mafia now is on the highest ran, the same position as the Red Dragon. But because we're unknown, they don't know about us. We work silently.

Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya na babalik na sa kwarto dahil nakaramdam na ako ng pagod. Kating-kati na rin ako, marahil wala pa akong ligo. Kailangan ko nang mahabang pahinga. Wala naman itong imik, kaya umalis na ako.

I reached for the door handle and stepped out of my father’s office. I paced towards the grand staircase, pausing right at the top step of it. I travelled my gaze on the entirety of the palace, savoring its majestic beauty by appreciating every details of it. This place never fails to amaze me.

Palasyo de Mondragon is very spacious and massive. It is consisted of various rooms, may it be for leisure, fitness, sports, etc., which are also vast in size. Numerous expensive artifacts and frames can also be seen at different spots of the palace. Those extravagant pieces originally came from China, and will probably cost a fortune. A certain room was made for the guests itself and it is also where my father held gatherings for different occasions.

To be honest, you can found everything you need inside to the point that you wouldn’t even have to go at the market to shop. However, it is a must that you memorize each hallway.

Sadyang napakarami ang pasikot sikot na mayroon sa loob kaya naman maaari ka talagang maligaw dito.

And here, where I stand, is the grand staircase. The handles are covered with sophisticated figure of dragons, which are made with the finest of gold. I rarely use this staircase for it consist a hundred steps before reaching the end, main reason why I prefer using the elevator instead.

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