Chapter 36

TRIGGER WARNING(s): Words like rape and drugs are mentioned in this chapter. Read with caution. 

"What do you mean by he used to be a doctor for the Costa Mafia?" I asked, still surprised about what he just said.

"It's a bit of a long story," he says, habang sinusuot ang seatbelt nya. "I hope I won't bore you." he added, "but he can definitely help you get that microchip removed."

"Don't worry, Detective. I am all ears for this. Besides, if I opt to keep doing this undercover job, then I have to learn. I certainly do not want to disappoint." I explained. Well, making coffee is still tricky, but I can learn.

"To be specific, he's a friend of mine." there's a sad look on his face. "He got mixed up with some loan sharks in the past and had trouble getting out." he muttered, "Once you owe the Mafia, you owe them forever until payment is delivered."

"And by payment, you mean money, right?" I assumed, or could it mean something else?

"In most cases, yes. Money. In the worst cases, the payment could be your very own life or the life of the people who matters to you" 

My mouth fell open. I do not know much about the Mafia, but I find it surprising they're still around when things have changed so much over the years. Yet, it is not shocking, the Mafia is one of the most powerful crime syndicate. Eradicating them wouldn't be that easy. 

"Eli, my friend, always wanted to be a doctor, but his family couldn't afford it. He's not the type of guy to give up on his dreams." he turned his head to look at me to give me a half-smile, then his eyes are back on the road. And at that moment, he looked so much older although he's only in his early 30's. 

The traffic is heavy but bearable. We left around 3 pm, I don't know how much longer it will take for us to arrive at Eli's house. "Eli can't afford to go to medical school, and one of the things I admire about him is his perseverance. Lagi syang may solusyon sa mga bagay-bagay. He's smart and has a bright future ahead of him." A smile on his face as he recalls his old friend.

He gripped the steering wheel. "That's when things started to change. I don't know how and when, or maybe I knew, but I didn't bother to check on him." Detective Michael's expression hardened.

"Perhaps, I knew deep down what's going on pero binalewala ko pa rin. Eli borrowed money from a loan shark para makapasok sya sa medical school what he didn't know is he sold his soul to the devil. During the early years, everything was good. He got into his dream school, he's one of the top students, and he had good friends. Everything was perfect until his residency years."

He pressed his lips together, and I waited for him to continue. Parang nakikisabay din ang panahon ngayon, I glanced outside to see dark skies. May bagyo ba?

"Eli started dealing drugs to repay his debts. Ang dami nyang buyers. Patients, nurses, and doctors. Things got worse the following years noong nalaman niya na ang loan shark na nagpahiram sa kanya ng pera ay miyembro ng Mafia. At hindi ito ordinaryong miyembero, isa itong Capo."

Capo? I remember Ivo mentioning this word when he told me Severin's story.

"He knew he fucked up big time pero kagaya ng sabi ko sa oras na hawak ka na ng Mafia ay mahihirapan ka ng makawala. They asked Eli to insert microchips inside the slaves they bought from an underground auction. Kasama na rin dito ang mga babaeng binebenta nila sa  auction."

My hand automatically reached my neck, where a microchip tracker placed deep under my skin. "You can tell it took a toll on his mental health. He told me once how he had a dream of this girl begging him to let her go, but he didn't listen to her instead, he kept recording."

"Recording?" I whispered, afraid of what Detective Michaels will say next.

"Eli recorded women get raped and drugged. Those kinds of videos sell pretty well in the underground business."

Hindi ko masikmura ang sinabi ni Detective Michaels. Pakiramdam ko ay masusuka ako. I can't fathom what those poor girls have been through. "Eli saved all his money he got from drug dealings and paid the loan shark pero pinagpatuloy niya pa rin ang pagtra-trabaho para sa mga Costa."

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko para kay Eli. The guy let those girls get raped and drugged. He also micro-chipped people. I can't help but ask, "Did he try to get away?"

Detective Michaels glanced sadly my way, "He did, Ms. Vielle, but then his entire family got killed. The Costa Mafia threatened him to kill anyone he is associated with if he tries to run away again. Siguro naisip niya na wala na rin naman siyang babalikan kaya hinayaan niya nalang ang sarili niyang magpa-alipin."

I'm speechless. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. I didn't expect things to be this bad. Ano bang adjective ang nararapat para sa Costa Mafia? Vile human beings? Monsters? Savages? Pero isa lang ang nasisigurado ko, wala silang puso.

"How did he get away?" I don't know if he heard me or not kasi hindi sya sumagot. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kalangitan. My heart is heavy. I wanted to hate Eli. I really do, but then naisip ko na kung paano sa akin nangyari iyon?

He was a dreamer. All he wanted was to get into medical school and fulfill his dreams. Maybe he thought he finally found the answer to his prayers and grabbed the chance when it presented itself, what he didn't know is it was the devil disguised as an angel.

Finally, Detective Michaels spoke, "We raided one of the warehouses owned by the Costa Mafia. I found him at the corner of a laboratory, he was all skin and bones. His eyes lost its light. Eli wasn't Eli anymore. Perhaps I wanted to make it up to him because I was a bad friend. I hid him from the police."

His answer didn't even surprise me. Hindi ko alam kung gaano sila kalapit sa isa't-isa pero he was probably willing to lose his license when he did it, to save his friend.

"Does the Costa Mafia knows what happened to him or that you are helping him hide?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I am not sure. They're probably assuming Eli died at the raid." Simple nyang sagot. Biglang kumanan ang sasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami ngayon pero all I see are trees and a mountain from afar.

"Should you be telling me this? I'm an outsider. How sure are you that I won't snitch about you hiding Eli when he should be in jail?" I say, challenging him.

He gave me a lopsided-grin, "I know you want my help to uncover the truth about your parents' death. Isn't that right?"

And he is right. Keeping Detective Michaels' secret wouldn't even be a problem. I know he had his reasons, and I do not want to be a hypocrite because I'm sure as hell that if our situations are reversed, I would definitely do the same thing to save my closest friend.

I smiled, "How's the progress on that?"

"We're about to get some progress once you meet Eli." Simple niyang sabi, hindi ko alam kung anong kaugnayan ni Eli sa mga magulang ko and I'm about to find out soon. "You should sleep. It's still about 2 hours before we get there"

Tumango ako sa kanya, "Okay," ani ko sabay hikab.

           The sound of a slamming door woke me up. I glanced to my left, only to see Detective Michaels gone. I rubbed my eyes, I saw two men standing not too far from the car arguing about something. I scanned the area with my tired eyes, I can tell the place is pretty secluded. From what I can tell, Eli lives at the foot of a mountain. Malayo sa mga tao, polusyon, at ingay. May WiFi ba dito?

I turned my eyes back to Detective Michaels. He's still arguing to this guy who I'm assuming to be Eli. I bet we came uninvited. Binuksan ko ang pinto ng passenger seat at sabay naman silang napatingin sa akin. I hugged myself because of the cold breeze.

Eli looks to be around the same age as Detective Michaels; he has a beard that he probably hasn't shaved for months. He's wearing khaki shorts, white shirts, and the guy is scowling at me.

"Hi," ani ko nang makalapit na ako sa kanilang dalawa.

"What the fuck are you thinking, Michaels?" Eli rubbed his face with his hands, "I told you I'm done with the Costa's!" he yelled.

"Calm down, Eli. Skyla needs your help. She has a microchip inside her. You're the only person I know who can remove it." Detective Michaels explained.

Eli glanced at me. His eyes softened for a moment. He then sighed, "Look as much as I wanted to help her. I can't. Bad things tend to happen to me every damn time I associate myself with a Costa." 

Detective Michaels and I looked at each other confused. Anong sinasabi nya? "I'm not associated with the Costa Mafia if that's what you're implying." I reasoned to Eli.

I can understand if he's scared. It seems like he has a good life here. Baka natatakot siyang masira ang katahimikan na ito. Sana man lang ay nag-text o kaya tumawag si Detective Michaels kay Eli para na-inform sya.

"What she said is right, Eli. She's not associated with the Costa Mafia. Gusto niya lang ng tulong mo. Come on, man, don't be heartless." Dagdag naman ni Detective.

"Akala ko ba Detective ka? Sigurado ka bang ginagawa mo ng tama ang trabaho mo?" he angrily asked Detective Michaels, a vein popped out in his neck.

"Alright, I'm sorry that we came unannounced, but we do not have any more time to waste." Mahinahong sabi ni Detective Michaels.

"That's not the point, man. Ang punto ko ay bakit ka nagdala ng isang Costa sa pamamahay ko na alam mo naman ang mga dinanas ko." His voice broke, but I can't ignore what he just said.

"What did you say?" I gave Eli a dirty look, "Kakasabi ko lang kanina di'ba? I'm not associated with the Costa Mafia." I'm getting angry, and this argument is pointless. Maybe he has gone crazy pati comprehension nya ay naapektuhan na.

Eli's fuming now. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay matanggal ang microchip na ito sa loob ng katawan ko. Hindi ako pumunta dito para maakusahan na miyembro ng Costa Mafia.

"Leave." He gritted his teeth.

What did he say? Leave? Ganoon nalang? No, hindi ako aalis dito hanggat hindi ko nakukuha ang gusto ko. I don't care if I have to sleep outside for Eli to change his mind.

"No, I am not leaving until I get this thing off my body!" I screamed, frustrations, and anger clouding my head.

"Michaels, you have to leave and bring this girl with you." Eli then turned his heels papasok sa loob ng bahay niya.

I don't know what possessed me, but I am desperate. I won't feel free of my Uncle's grasp until I get this microchip out of my body. Detective Michaels tried to hold my arms, but I didn't let him.

"Come on, Ms. Vielle. I'm sorry this happened." Detective Michaels says. Sadness clouded his features.

"No!" sigaw ko. "We didn't drive for almost 3 hours here for me to go home and gain nothing. I am not going anymore."

Instead, I followed Eli before he can enter his house and lock his door. I walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. When he turned to look at me, I connected my hand with his cheek, the sound echoed at the quiet night.

He was caught off guard. Hinawakan nya ang pisnge nya kung saa ko sya sinampal. His eyes turned saucers, and then he glared at me, but I glared back at him. "Think about the girls you could have saved if only you were brave enough. Make it up to them by removing this damn microchip inside me, Eli. I'm begging you." I sobbed.

His eyes softened, and his lips quivered. I know I shouldn't have said those words and use them against him, but I'm hopeless. "Okay," he whispered.

Para akong nabuhayan sa sinabi ni Eli. Hindi mawala sa labi ko ang ngite at ang kasayahang nadarama ko ngayon. "For real?" tanong ko ulit.

Eli nodded bago ko pa man mapigilan ang sarili ko ay niyakap ko na siya, "Thank you! Thank you!"

Bumitiw si Eli agad sa akin at lumayo ako ng konti. Mukhang hindi pa sya masyadong sanay sa human contact. "Sorry," dagdag ko. I wiped the tears on my face and smiled brightly at him, "Thank you." I hope he can feel how sincere I am.

He stared at me as he saw me for the first time what he said next drained the color of my face, "You're the spitting image of your mother." Eli paused. Akala ko ay wala nang kasunod, but then he says, "You're certainly the daughter of Isabella Costa."

What? I couldn't find my voice. Huh?

"You're certainly the daughter of Isabella Costa."

"You're certainly the daughter of Isabella Costa."

"You're certainly the daughter of Isabella Costa."

Parang sirang plakang paulit-ulit ang utak ko. Then my brain started playing the scenes earlier. Eli telling Detective Michaels he didn't want to associate himself with a Costa. His anger when he saw me and his reason why he wanted us to leave.

I swallowed, "No, my mom's name is not Isabella. Her name's A-mel-ia." Halos hindi ko masabi ang ng maayos ang pangalan ng sarili kong ina.

"She changed her name to Amelia when she married your father." Kalmadong ani ni Eli.

I looked at him like he has gone mad, but his eyes didn't indicate that he's crazy or lying. I frowned at him, "No, no."

My feet automatically took a step back. I didn't notice I stepped on a stone and almost lost my balance if it wasn't for Detective Michaels. I can't tell what he is thinking. He then handed me a white envelope. Hindi sya nagsalita at binigay lang ito sa akin.

"He's lying, right?" I asked him. I looked at the white envelope, confused. Binigyan niya rin ako ng brown envelope pero naiwan ito sa kotse at hindi ko alam kung ano ang laman nito.

Detective Michaels didn't answer my question and only gestured for me to open the white envelope. I can feel both of them watching me. Halos nanginginig ang mga kamay ko nang buksan ko ito.

A photo of a beautiful woman smiled before me. Her long black hair flowed elegantly on her chest. She's smiling so brightly, and her eyes spoke nothing but kindness and love. She's wearing a floral dress, and it matches the crown on her head. This woman feels familiar to me, although this is the first time I've seen her.

Uncle Bern didn't save any pictures of my parents after they died. According to him, he doesn't want such tragic memories to resurface. He said he only wanted to protect me, and he doesn't want me to get hurt again.

He never shared stories about my parents, although he did mention my father at times pero never niyang nabanggit ang aking ina. There were times I wanted to ask him about my mother, but before I could ay laging iniiba ni Uncle ang usapan.

Naisip ko na baka ayaw niyang alalahanin ang mga alaala ng mga magulang ko dahil malapit sya sa kanila. Perhaps that's why I stopped trying, or maybe I didn't try enough. O baka naman ay may iba pang dahilan si Uncle Bern para itago sa akin ang katotohanan. Something he didn't want me to find out.

A sob broke from me. I don't know if I should be happy or not. Isn't this what I've always wanted? I wanted to see how my mom looks like. I grew up without knowing much about my parents or how they even looked like. I used to be jealous when kids around my age are with their parents strolling around the mall, eating outside, or being silly.

I am happy to finally get the face of the woman who gave birth to me, but another part of me tells me that I shouldn't be happy when the Costa blood is running in my veins too.

Those savages have tortured, raped, and drugged innocent women. Sold them like they were nothing but properties they own.

I didn't think my world would shatter in just a day. 

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