CHAPTER 2

“What now?” I snapped impatiently.

“Give me the money first.” I rolled my eyes. I took out my check from the pocket of my suit. I grabbed the pen and signed it without hesitation, then placed it in front of her. I also wrote down the amount of money on the check. “That's an original check. Kahit ipatingin mo pa sa mga eksperto ‘yan.”

Her heart seemed to skip a beat as she took the check and quickly signed the contract.

“Your daughter is mine?” I grinned and bit my lip as I fantasized about Apple in my vast imagination.

Apple’s skin, Apple’s body. Damn! I want to touch her. I want to destroy her inside. I would love to see her in a see-through dress with a crown.

I shook my head. Enough of this obsession, Adrious Caesar Tuazon.

Masyado kang bastos. Be gentle to Apple.

“My daughter is all yours, Mr. Handsome.” She kissed the check that contained five billion pesos. “Please, take care of her. Don’t let others touch her. If ever magkababy kayo, papasyalan ko siya.”

“I guess I’ll be leaving now. I won’t thank you for selling me your daughter,” I remarked and left the restaurant where we had our conversation.

I stared at the contract with a smile on my lips, reveling in the success of buying the woman who drove me crazy for several months. Yes, MONTHS. Ganun ko katagal hinintay ang pagkakataon na ito. The woman who captured my heart. The woman who will become my queen and wife.

“I’ll see you, my queen.”

Without breaking the smirk from developing on my lips, I get into my car. Nasa likod ko ang mga bodyguards ko.

May kikitain akong babae ngayon sa isang restaurant.

Kailangan ko ng putulin ang namamagitan sa amin ng pansamantalang girlfriend ko na nais akong pakasalan, Agatha Christie Guevarra. “What will you do to convince me, Agatha?” I hummed as I told myself. Ang babaeng ‘yon ay anak ng nag-traydor sa akin. Ang ama niya dati ay kabilang sa Treacherous Mafia family, but he betrayed me. He is a spy. Nagnakaw siya ng maraming weapons at kayamanan ko na nakabaon sa lupa.

Napangisi ako nang maisip ko ang hitsura niya. It’s been four years since the betrayal. Sinadya ko na hindi muna maghiganti dahil gusto ko muna siyang magsaya. I am still using his daughter against him. Alam ko na alam niyang nagkikita kami ng anak niya at hindi malayong iisipin niya na mayroong namamagitan sa aming dalawa.

Well, meron naman. Parausan ko siya. Hanggang doon lang.

He was obsessed with my island—I mean, anyone is obsessed with my island. Malaki na at marami pang mga kayamanang nakatago sa mga bato ng isla ko.

Malakas ang kumpyansa niya sa kanyang sarili na magiging mafia queen ang anak niya. Oh, well, she needs to satisfy me first by giving me the hidden treasure of her father so that I can ‘marry’ her.

The benefits of being a mafia queen are indeed good. First, you will earn the respect of many people because she will be the wife of the King they respect. Second, half of my weapons will be in her hands, my weapons are not ordinary and cost thousands, they are millions. Third, I will give her a box of gold, jewelry, and ten drums of money full of cash. And fourth, I will give her a name in my mansion so she can have the right to decide whether anybody can enter or not. That’s why in my ten years of being a Mafia King on this island, I never had a queen. Mapili ako kung mapili. Ayaw ko lang na power lang at ang yaman ko ang habol nila.

Apple should be thankful because thousands were rejected. She was chosen without trying. I already have her in my hands and I surely will guide her in everything. If she needs to be forced to behave, I will do it.

Kapag naging asawa na niya ako ay hindi na ‘yon biro.

She must learn to handle weapons, especially guns. I would love to watch her fight with my men while training. I’ll be her personal trainer.

Nahuli kong nakatitig sa akin si Agatha pagkapasok ko pa lang sa lugar kung saan nagpahanda siya ng isang date. I just raised my eyebrows. Maganda naman ang kanyang inihandang surpresa para sa akin pero hindi siya ang babaeng gusto kong makadate.

“Agatha,” I said. Lumawak ang kanyang ngiti at tumayo upang bigyan ako ng isang halik sa pisngi.

“It is a pleasure to see you here, accepting my invitation, my soon-to-be husband.” Gross.

Nagbago na ang isip ko, hindi na dapat ako nakikipagkita sa kanya. I can get the treasure without her. I hate those desperate people like Agatha. And I am sorry for Apple. Hindi niya kailangang magselos sa iba. Only she could only fit into my heart.

Marami man akong babaeng natikman, siya lang din ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagsasarili palagi.

“So, Agatha. I met up with you because I have two reasons to tell you why you were rejected,” pandederetso ko pag-upo ko.

“What?” She stood up irritably from her seat. I crossed my arms over my chest to stare at her from head to toe. “R-Rejected? What do you mean?”

“What ‘what’ huh?” Itinaas ko ang kilay ko.

“You can’t look for someone else! I will be your only wife, Adrious!” Kumunot ang noo ko sa itinawag niya sa akin.

“Don’t call me Adrious!” I slammed the table, causing all the breakable items on top of the table to fall. “No one can call me Adrious. Not you.”

“It doesn’t matter! Bakit mo naman ako nirereject ngayon? Napag-usapan natin na ako ang pakakasalan mo, ‘di ba?” Natawa ako ng mahina sa kanyang isinambit. Tumayo ako upang pantayan ang kanyang mukha.

“Did I say that? Desperada ka lang na makuha ako for my money. Well, I found someone else. Mayroon na akong napili.” Inilagay ko sa magkabilang bulsa ko ang pareho kong mga kamay. “She’s lucky that I love her.”

Sinuntok niya ang mesa. She bit her lip and approached me while closing her fists.

“You love her? Sino? Sino?!” She gripped my collar tightly. Hinawakan ko ng may diin ang kamay niyang nasa kwelyuhan ko at hinawi ‘yon. After cleaning my sleeves off, I slid my hands into my pockets.

I moved toward her and asked, “How dare you do that to me?” as she retreated. “I feel disrespected when I am touched inappropriately, and I detest it so much.”

Nakita ko ang kanyang takot. Napalunok pa ito. I chin up while wrinkling my forehead. “I’m sorry. Hindi ko lang na matanggap na may iba kang pakakasalan. Umasa ako, Caesar. Paano mo naman nagawang humanap ng iba? Am I not qualified as your wife? I’ll do everything. I want you to be my husband. I don’t care about your money and things. Just you what I want,” desperada nitong pahayag habang iniaabot ang ng kanyang kamay ang braso ko.

“As far as I know, you are just a woman who wanted to marry me, not a person who must ask my decision. Thanks for this wonderful date.” Napailing ako at tinalikuran na siya kahit na tinatawag niya ako.

No one can have me except Apple. If only I could blow her head up, I already do it. Pero gagamitin ko pa siya kaya hindi pa siya pwedeng mamatay. Gagamitin ko pa siya sa ama niya.

A vehicle I saw had its windows down. Gunfire could be heard as I returned inside to find the table set.

Stupid. Isaah group. Kahit nakapikit ako presensya lang nila ay alam ko kung kaninong grupo itong armado na ‘to. Kahit magsitakip pa sila ng kanilang mukha ay alam na alam kong miyembro niya ang mga ‘to.

“Agatha, come on, let’s go.” I grabbed her arm as she started to cry. She gave me a quick arm hug. I rolled my eyes. I would have left her alone kung hindi lang delikado para sa kanya ang mga armadong miyembro ni Isaah.

Kinuha ko kaagad ang baril ko upang makipag-sabayan sa kanila. Nasilayan ko ang mga bodyguards ko na nakikipag-laban na pala. Itinulak ko na papasok si Agatha sa kotse ko at nilisan ang lugar na ‘yon.

Wala ako sa mood makipagbarilan. Isa lang ang baon kong baril. Gusto ko ‘yung madugong laban tapos walang tigil hangga’t walang nauubos na tauhan.

“Who will be your queen?” she asked. I gasped and rolled my eyes once more.

“You don’t know her because she’s more beautiful than you.”

“How dare you!” she cried suddenly. “I am your girlfriend!” I laughed at the back of my mind.

“Tinatapos ko na kung ano ang namamagitan sa atin.”

Cry and cry and wait for your death with your father, Agatha. “I’ll make sure that woman will suffer!”

“Try, Agatha, and you’ll die.”