The Moonlight Daughters

Mid-day

"AHAHAHHAHA!" Ceres laughed so hard. He was listening to his sister's story - about what happened at the mansion. They were inside Nime's home. They were in the kitchen, having their mirienda.

"Damn it! That's really embarrassing," she rubbed her eyes with her palms.

"Is it huge?" he continued to laugh.

"You dirty bastard!" she threw a rag on him.

"Hoy! That's dirty," he complained.

"It almost got into my cup."

"Oh my God. I am so doomed," she whined.

"So what's Mr. Ian's reaction?" he asked.

"Nothing, he laughed at us. I apologized but he told me that he understands. "

"I see, Sir Ian really is a kind person," he said. "You are lucky he didn't fire Auntie Nime because of you."

"But his son. He is my problem because....you know....he is the one who I accidentally saw naked."

"Yeah," he shrugged.

"How can I get over after that?" She rubbed her hair. "He is so upset."

"Boys..." Ceres looked away as he muttered.

"Don't worry as long as you didn't see his manhood. You didn't see his p***s, did you?" he told her.

"Oh, God. Hell no," she answered.

"Good. He will get over it." Then he grinned.

"I am so embarrassed to get back in the mansion. I am not going to help Aunt Nime anymore."

Nime entered the kitchen. She was listening to what they were talking about in the living room. The living room and the kitchen are separated only by a concrete wall.

"You are going back there whenever I wanted to call you," she suddenly spoke. Which immediately made the siblings startle.

"Do not get surprised anymore every time you go there. Ramsel, that boy, always enjoys being naked. Sometimes, he comes out of his room wearing only his boxers. It's good that he doesn't do that if there are visitors. We are always reminding him to wear his clothes every time he does that. He is lucky he is a handsome young man."

"That's intriguing," Ceres slowly nods his head.

"Eww.." she reacted.

"You can't blame him, anyway. He is a male after all," Ceres said.

"Still ew."

****

At the field near Benjie's home...

There's a stranger. One of the five authorized agents from the association- the ones who hired Gisway . He was alone standing quietly while enjoying the view of Mount Kabuyao from afar. He was patiently waiting for Benjie to come and speak to him.

Meanwhile, Benjie was walking as fast as he can as he heads toward the direction he was in. When he sensed that Benjie was getting closer to him, he turned around gently to face him.

"What do you want?" Benjie asked.

"Like every visit, Benjie," he answered.

"I refuse to give you the key."

"Benjie, you and your brother's life are at stake. I know that the Idarugans have been spying on you all this time. We will never know when will they strike just to get the stone. You can't always have the strength to protect your brother. "

"Don't you dare tell me what to do to keep him safe," Benjie insisted. "They'll hunt us even if I give the key to you. And if ever I gave it to you, would you tell them not to hurt us because your organization have it? No, right?"

"We'll protect you, Benjie. You and your little brother."

"Like I always tell you, I will never trust a backstabbing person like you," Benjie told him.

"My God, Benjie..." he raised his voice. "I work in an organization that aims to protect 'monsters' like us. Can you just give me a chance to prove it to you?"

"Never," he spoke softly. Then he smirked just for a second. He took a step closer to the Association's head.

"If you want me to trust you... tell the judges that you killed my parents."

He took a step back. He turned away from him and he began to walk towards the house yard. Benjie left him speechless after he said that statement. Although, while Benjie was getting closer and closer to the gate, the man spoke.

"We might not tell you why I was the one to blame. I just wished that I could."

Benjie sighed. He heard what he'd said but he ignored it, his heart was burning in anger that moment. But that anger burning inside suddenly burst out.

He looked towards the stranger from the distance.

"f**k you!" he shouted.

****

Benjie had entered their front yard. Cainnick came running to meet him.

"Kuya. Who was that?" Cainnick asked.

"Just pretend you didn't see me talking to someone, okay?" he responded. Then, he grabbed both Cainnick's shoulders and massaged them.

"Cainnick. For your sake, I beg you not to go to school."

"What? But kuya--"

"Stay here with me until this crisis is over. Don't make me worried again. Later, pack your clothes. We'll go out of town."

Without any questions or insistence, Cainnick bit his lips then he nodded.

Benjie immediately headed towards the door.

****

"Balto!" Dionicio called.

He was inside his bedroom. He was standing next to a huge window. From outside, he can see a nice view of the woods mainly of pine trees, a sky filled with dancing cirrus clouds, and mountains from afar.

Balto immediately entered the room.

"What can I do for you, Apo Dionysus?"

"I need you and some five of your men," he instructed.

"May I ask why do you need mine and five of my men's service?" he asked.

"I want you to get my key in Baguio," Dionicio told him.

"Storm in the house of Benjie Romero. Do everything just to retrieve the stone. If he insists to surrender us the key, don't kill him. Just bring me the little brother."

"And the Association?"

"We can't be so sure. One thing I do know is that they are not aware that you are going to infiltrate the home of Romero. We are racing against time so we must hurry."

"Right away," Balto held his head down. He immediately exited.

****

Twelve o'clock pm, mid-day, the house of the Rosales was empty.

Balto and his men were outside the house. They're inspecting around the house before they'll break-in. When they found out that there were no movements around the corners of the yard, Balto made a hand gesture saying " break-in now". The men immediately climbed up the gate and the walls.

They ran as fast as they can towards every window and every door they can see. All windows were covered with curtains. All they can see from the inside were lights and visible silhouettes. They checked if there were any noise from the inside. They listened carefully. They can hear a voice coming from a radio in the living room. One of the men also heard a banging noise coming from one of the rooms.

Balto slowly walked towards the front door. He gently moves closer and closer to it. When he got closer enough, he immediately grabbed the doorknob. He slowly tilted it, it was not locked on the inside. With his two men, they immediately entered when Balto pushed the door open.

"Go! Go! Go!" he yelled. The five men with him split up to search any person inside the house. They've gone to every room they can find. They found no one.

"Balto. Maid ka-ipu-ipugaw sina!(No one's here)" one of the men reported.

Balto became suspicious. "Just try and search the place again. Check for secret entrances or tunnels."

"Yes, Sir," the man responded. Then he went to tell his comrades.

"Don't tell me, they knew we are coming?" he wondered.

He looked at the shard that he was holding, it wasn't glowing at all.

Then, surprisingly, Balto detected an unknown scent coming from an unfamiliar person. It was coming from the doorstep. He turned to see who was it.

"You are late," the stranger at the doorway said.

Balto pointed his gun at him. The stranger walked forward, entering inside the house. He raised his hands to show that he's not a threat. He was coming closer to Balto while he was smiling brightly.

"Who are you?" Balto asked.

"Don't worry. I am not going to fight back," he said.

"I am telling you! Who are you?" Balto raised his voice.

He smiled wider. "Seth. Seth of the Association."

"And what is the Association agent doing here?"

"You know. We have a long-term conflict between the people who live here," he said then he was scanning at the entire living room with his eyes.

"I suppose we must kill you then," Balto threatened.

Balto's words had made Seth laugh faintly.

"Don't worry. That's not a problem. I will let you find him. In fact, I am going to help you."

"What do you mean 'help you?" Balto got confused. He raised his eyebrow.

"You want to find Benjie Rosales?" Seth walked closer to him. "Very well, listen..."

*****

"What? You are not coming?" Gilhameer reacted. He was having a conversation with Cainnick on the phone.

On the other line, Cainnick replied. He was inside the car. Sitting at the driver's seat beside him was his big brother who was listening to their conversation.

"Yeah, it is getting more dangerous. We might be the next of the Idarugan's list."

"I will not tell you where we are right now. Gilhameer, if they ask where am I, just tell them I am sick."

Gilhameer sighed. He placed his left hand on his waist.

"I got you, Bro. Just...be safe."

"Thank you."

He hung up the phone. He sighed afterward. He turned his head to look at his brother.

"You okay?" Benjie asked.

Cainnick smiled optimistically.

"I don't know...," he told. "...Maybe I'm just scared."

Benjie smiled back at him.