CONSPIRACY 5: Vengeance is Mine

Jazz, lunch is ready. Is your dad here already?” Mom shouted from the kitchen. I could smell the aroma of pork barbeque and carrot-mongo sprouts lumpia. Filipino recipes that mom learned from grandma. Mom also cooked fried red rice with green peas and sweet corn toppings. Of course, there was always a red wine served for dad. Dad said that red wine had a good amount of antioxidants for the body. He was correct in some way but dad was using the red wine as a brain booster. He could be compared to Edgar Allan Poe whose brain worked excellently when intoxicated but dad managed taking wine. I never saw him like a drunken master. When it comes to the kitchen, mom always knew best. She was tetchy mom in the kitchen. It was in mom’s blood. Grandma was a great cook itself.

“I am here honey. Hmm the foods smelled so exotic. You always pampered me with exotic Asian foods.” Dad touched his stomach with his right hand in a rotating manner, signifying that he was really starving. Dad for sure was starving. He worked likely for 8 hours with no rest at all. He was workaholic. In between works, he never ate solid foods. Just juice or plain water would do good to him. He was extremely precise and careful with every project he devoured. Very perfectionist! He doesn’t like to commit mistakes for he knew that project would be aborted. It was his source of earning. He was paid in millions which he safely deposited in a bank.  If there was an error, he made sure that it could be rectified right away.  For the entire years of his marriage life, dad was a chameleon. He lived in camouflage. All mom thought that we were poor.

Dad kissed mom on her forehead. Mom reciprocated dad by hugging him tightly around his waist. They were sweet and romantic couple all these years. Along their marriage life, they had shortcomings like such any other couples also but dad always made sure that whatever the cause would be patch-up. Dad hated divorce. He grew-up with strong conviction that marriage works when both parties knew how to give and take.  I guess with dad’s age, he was more mature and logical in dealing with relationship. Mom was young and tends to be emotional sometimes. Despite of their age gap, dad knew mom’s Achilles heel. Knowing mom's weakness, she could be easily appeased. Besides, dad loved mom so much.

“You better take a bath before eating. You smell stinky.” Mom instructed dad.

"I need a second opinion."

“Jazz, come here. Do I smell stinky?” asked dad.

Before I could answer, mom winked at me which meant I should agree with her

“Yah papa, you smelled like you have not taken a bath for years.” I almost giggled.

“My gollies, both of you are conspiring.” Dad raised both of his arms and fled straight to the bathroom.

While we gleefully ate our lunch, dad was discussing the possibility to mortgage a house and lot in a due time after he was done with his contract with Mr. Richards. We stayed in the 20 acres of land of Mr. Richards for 2 years. The lot was barricaded with 10 feet walls. Closely well-guarded and closely monitored by CCTV camera. Mr. Richards hired private bodyguards for his safety and that of his family. Although, Mr. Richards does not intrude into our privacy dad felt that I need to have sense of belonging. Although, I was an extraordinary kid, dad felt the urgency for me to breathe life outside of the walls. Go to school, gain friends and live a normal life.

“I had a private conversation with Blue that once I am done with the project and the contract ended, we will find our own place under the sun. We need to have our own privacy. At first, Blue was forlorn to hear about this plan. He much relies on my abilities but he said that he understands whatever decision I make. He further said that the wind blows where it pleases. He embraced me tight with teary-eyed.”

Dad paused for a moment and took a piece of fresh lumpia in his mouth. “Magnifico. El almuerzo fue muy delicioso"

After gulping the lumpia, dad continued, “Blue has the delusion to be the richest man in USA and the world. He is giving signs to the perpetrators of his parents that time will come that he’ll have his vengeance. He believes that the government had something to do with his parents’ death. A CIA conspiracy.”

“A CIA conspiracy theory? What has the government do with his parents death? Sounds scary enough that it pushes adrenalin to my brain! What made him suspect that?” questioned mom.

“Because of the pot of gold in the oil mine hidden below the ocean.  The information leaked to the government. The government had a keen interest and wanted to confiscate the bullions of gold deposited below the ocean. Blue’s father opposed this. He concealed the map. Before the incident, his father stored the information in a microchip and gave it Blue. Blue kept the microchip for years without the hint of being suspected.”

“The story sounds preposterous that I only see in the movie but it blew off my mind. If there is a kernel of truth to this, then Blue’s life is at stake too like his parents. Apparently, if he wants the CIA or whatever not to be suspicious then better not haul those bullions of gold. For what does it profit a man if in gaining the whole world, he loses his own soul.” Mom had to quote a passage from Mark 8:36.

 Mom had a point. Dad was about to add more but opted to shut his mouth in order not to make the story long. There were some truth behind that mom did not need to know. Maybe at the right time. But I knew because of my telepathic memory. I was reading dad’s mind. It stigmatized him that he had to invoke me.  “Stop reading my mind.” It was transmitted to me without uttering any words.  I bowed my head and continue eating.

“Something wrong, Jazz?  Mama seemed to notice.

“No mama.” I lied and pretend not to hear their discussions.

“If we leave what about the lot my parents own? There was a concern in mom’s voice.

“Honey, you have to forget about the lot. We have to get out of here after my contract ended for Jazz sake. We cannot stay here for the rest of our lives. We need to have our own that we can call HOME.” Dad’s tone of voice rose.

Mom was silent for a moment.                                           

“I don’t mean to raise my voice honey. You must understand. I don’t want to get entangle if ever the government would be suspicious about Blue shenanigans.” Dad was apologizing. Dad and mom disagreed to one point sometimes but mom knew dad was right. His instinct was always right. Dad was an expert in psych war being at that an ex-military man.  

In whisper mom said, “Yes, we’ll leave.”