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KABANATA 10

Author: Eyah
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-11 08:26:24

1 WEEK LATER

"WOW! I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SAME HOUSE WE VISITED JUST LAST WEEK! ANG GANDA! PARANG HINDI MAN LANG NAABANDONA NOON!”

I am in all smiles as I proudly listen to Pamela's compliment. Alam ko naman kasi na totoo ang sinabi niya. Isang linggo pa lang ang nakalilipas ay marami na ring nagbago sa bahay ko. Well, not necessarily 'marami' dahil ang majority ng itsura ng bahay ay pinili ko pa ring i-keep. Maganda naman kasi at aligned din sa taste ko. Isa pa, isa iyon sa mga primary ko na dahilan kung bakit ako na-fall sa lugar na ito in the first place.

"Pero parang ang laki naman nito para sa iyo. Hindi ka ba… you know? Natatakot or whatsoever?” usal niya.

Sa sinabi niyang iyon ay hindi ko na napigilan na matawa.

"What? Papasok mo na naman ba ang mga presumption mo tungkol sa bahay na ito? I've been here for three days now, Pam. And so far, wala pa naman akong nae-experience na kakaiba. Plus, sobrang peaceful kaya rito,” litanya ko. "Tsaka sino bang nagsabi na mag i
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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 11

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 12

    AFTER HAVING A WORD WITH THAT PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, I FELT THE URGE TO LESSEN THE ANXIETY THAT I AM FEELING ALL OF A SUDDEN. SO, I WENT TO MY ART ROOM AND STARTED PAINTING SOME STUFF. THEN I SLEPT AND NOW, I WOKE UP NOT KNOWING WHAT THE TIME ALREADY IS.Natapik ko pa ang noo ko nang mapansin ko ang bahid ng mga pintura na kumapit na sa bedsheet, pillow case, at kumot ko."Damn. I swear, hindi ko na uulitin 'to. Ang matulog o kahit humiga lang sa kama right after I painted and not washing myself first? Never again,” anang isip ko.I was about to head on the bathroom to finally clean myself after hours of being dirty when suddenly, I remembered something. Naiwan ko pa nga pala na makalat 'yung art room ko kanina.Kaya naisipan ko na linisan muna 'yon bago ko linisan naman ang sarili ko. In my messy state, I got off my feet and started walking towards the art room.Handa na akong harapin ang sandamakmak na kalat na naiwan ko sa art room. But to my surprise, I walked into a clean, tidy ar

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 13

    WITH THE ADDRESS COMING FROM INVESTIGATOR GOZON, MY FATE LED ME TO A TINY APARTMENT ONLY A FEW METERS AWAY FROM THE DUMP SITE.Lumang apartment na iyon—sobrang luma na hindi nga ako sigurado kung macla-classify pa ba as "apartment" ang lugar na iyon dahil sa itsura nito. Sobrang liit lang ng lugar na iyon kung titingnan mula sa loob. It was just like a small room. Gawa sa pinagtagpi-tagping yero at mga sako ang pader. 'Yung bubong naman ay yero rin pero kinakalawang at sira-sira na. Its doors are made of wood scraps. Pinagtagpi-tagpi lang din 'yon para maging pinto. And just like what I've said, ilang metro lang ang layo nito mula sa tapunan ng mga basura at kung anu-ano pang dumi. Marami ring kadikit na bahay ang lugar na tinitirahan daw ni Ayi Hana. But all those houses just looks the same. Maliit, pinagtagpi-tagpi, at… marumi.Sigurado ba talaga 'yung imbestigador na 'yon na dito nga nakakita si Ayi Hana?Never in my mind na naisip kong titira sa ganitong klaseng lugar si Ayi. At l

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 14

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 15

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 16

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 17

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   EPILOGO

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  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 112

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe air in the hospital waiting room crackled with tension. Mabilis lang natapos ang operasyon kay Ayi Hana and it was successful. Mabilis lang at walang naging kahit anong aberya kaya hindi ko na kinailangang mamroblema. Kung may pinoproblema man ako ngayon, 'yun ay si Niccolo at si Calvin na bigla ring lumitaw dito sa ospital. I could have understand kung sa ospital sa Pilipinas lang sila biglang sumulpot nang halos sabay. But no! It was Hong Kong, for crying out loud! And since they met each other, I could already sense a silent storm brewing between them. I stood between them, a fragile bridge over a chasm of hurt and unspoken words. Niccolo, his face etched with regret and a desperate hope, looked at me, his eyes pleading for a chance, a second chance. But Calvin, his face a mask of icy resolve, stood firm, his gaze unwavering."Niccolo," Calvin said, his voice low and dangerous, "You think you can just waltz back into her life, after all this time and expect

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 111

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe sterile white walls of the hospital waiting room seemed to amplify the silence between us, a silence thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Niccolo stood before me, his face a canvas of regret and longing, his eyes pleading for a chance, a second chance. But the chasm between us, carved by years of silence and the bitter sting of betrayal, seemed insurmountable.Ilang beses ko na s'yang pinaalis pero mukhang wala s'yang balak na makinig. Lalabas at papasok na lang ulit ako sa hospital room ni Ayi Hana ay nandoon pa rin s'ya sa labas—naghihintay. Kaya para matigil na s'ya sa ginagawa n'ya, naisip ko nang harapin s'ya for once and for all. "Cali," he began, his voice husky with emotion, "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I've changed. I've spent years regretting my choices, wishing I could turn back time." His words washed over me, a tidal wave of regret and longing. I knew he was sincere, I could see it in his eyes, in the way his shoulders

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 110

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe whirring of the airplane engine was a constant hum, a lullaby against the backdrop of my anxiety. Beside me, Ayi Hana slept, her hand clutching my own. Her face was peaceful, oblivious to the turmoil swirling within me. It was a journey I’d never imagined taking, a pilgrimage fueled by guilt and a desperate hope. I was taking her to Hong Kong, not for a holiday, but for a miracle. I had arranged everything for Ayi Hana’s surgery, a chance for her to see the world again after years of darkness. Dahil oo, nabulag s'ya. It was an accident—pero aksidente na alam kong sinadya ni Margaret ng anak n'yang demonyita na si Monica.The flight was long, filled with a mix of anticipation and dread. Finally, Hong Kong. The air was thick with humidity, the city a symphony of honking taxis and bustling crowds. I felt a strange sense of displacement, a feeling of being both a stranger and a strong, independent woman who is willing to do everything for the woman who stood as her

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 109

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe air hung heavy with the scent of jasmine and the soft murmur of prayers. I stood at the threshold of Ayi Hana's room, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. It had been months since I last saw her, years since the scandal that had ripped our family apart. Months since I had last called her "Ayi."She sat by the window, her frail hands clasped in her lap, her face etched with a weariness that spoke of years of sorrow. Her eyes, once bright and welcoming, were now clouded with a milky film, the light of life dimmed. "Ayi Hana," I whispered, my voice trembling.She turned, her head moving slowly, her lips curving into a faint, sad smile. "Cali," she said, her voice a raspy whisper. "You've come."I stepped into the room, the worn, familiar scent of sandalwood and incense washing over me. I knelt beside her, my hand reaching out to touch hers. It was cold, frail, a stark contrast to the warmth I remembered."I'm so sorry, Ayi," I said, my voice choke

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 108

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe reconciliation with my father was a fragile thing, a delicate balance of forgiveness, understanding, and a shared grief. After years of estrangement, of resentment, of unspoken accusations, we finally stood together, embracing, our bodies trembling, our emotions raw. The weight of the past, the burden of the years, the pain of the separation— it all seemed to lift, to dissolve, to fade.“Calista,” my father whispered, his voice thick with emotion, his arms wrapped tightly around me. “My Calista. Anak ko, I’m so sorry.”“I know, Dad,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper, my own tears streaming down my face. “I know.”“I was wrong,” he continued, his voice laced with a genuine remorse. “I was blinded by Margaret, by her lies, by her manipulations. I didn’t see what she was doing. I didn’t protect you. Kayo ng mommy mo. I failed you. I failed our family.”“It’s okay, Dad,” I said, my voice soft, my tone reassuring. “It’s over now. We’re together again. And promis

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 107

    CALISTA'S P. O. VThe courtroom was a pressure cooker, the air thick with tension, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. Margaret’s trial had been swift, the evidence overwhelming, the verdict inevitable. Multiple charges, multiple convictions— she was facing a lifetime behind bars, a fitting punishment for her crimes. Monica, her accomplice, her equally culpable daughter, was also being sought, her complicity in Margaret’s schemes now undeniable.The inquest was a formality, a mere procedural step in the larger process of justice. But the tension in the courtroom was palpable, the atmosphere charged with a volatile energy. And then, chaos erupted. Men, their faces masked, their weapons drawn, stormed the courtroom, gunfire shattering the tense silence, sending the room into pandemonium. Margaret’s new boyfriend’s men, I realized with a chilling certainty. Their objective was clear— to make Margaret be able to escape.The scene unfolded in a blur of motion, a chaotic ballet of

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 106

    CALISTA'S P. O. VTwo days. It had only taken two days. Two days since I’d sent the evidence to Calvin, two days since I’d confronted Margaret, two days since I’d resolved to channel my anger into action. And now, the call came, Calvin’s voice crisp, his tone controlled. Margaret had a warrant. Her arrest had been swift, almost too easy, facilitated by her very presence in my home. The irony was not lost on me.The details of her interrogation were chilling, the confession even more so. It had been Margaret, my stepmother, the woman who had pretended to care for my father, who had orchestrated my mother’s death. And she’d confessed, not out of remorse, not out of guilt, but out of a chilling, almost gleeful sense of triumph.Her voice, cold and devoid of emotion, echoed in my ears, her words a venomous sting that pierced my heart, ignited my fury. “You’re so clever! Hindi ko naisip na magagawa mo 'to. In fact, hindi ko inisip na ikaw pala ang makaka discover ng mga ginawa ko,” she

  • To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss   KABANATA 105

    CALISTA'S P. O. VKinabukasan. Sa office. May mga dumating pang bagong ebidensya galing kay Rexia. The digital copies of the evidence arrived as promised, a weighty collection of documents that confirmed Rexia’s account, solidified my suspicions, and fueled my anger. The photographs, the financial records, the communication logs— they were all damning, all irrefutable. Margaret’s treachery, her greed, her ruthlessness— it was all laid bare, exposed, undeniable.Without hesitation, I made copies of everything, ensuring I had a backup before sending the originals to Calvin. He’d promised to review the evidence and take appropriate action, his assurance a reassuring balm to my simmering anger. The weight of responsibility, the burden of expectation— it was heavy, but I carried it with a newfound resolve, a steeled determination.Returning home, I found Margaret and Monica waiting, their presence a stark reminder of the simmering conflict that lay beneath the surface of our uneasy truce.

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