CHAPTER 2
951 Words
SOMEWHERE in the city, as the woman faced the sea, she removed her helmet. Sunod niyang tiningnan ang kaniyang kamay na nanginginig.
She didn’t understand why she couldn’t pull the trigger.
She only knew one thing—
When she looked into his eyes… it felt like she was about to remember something she wasn’t allowed to.
“This is the Chief of the Black Lotus.”
A picture was slid into the table.
“His name was Evron Aiden Laurent-Rios. And you must remember, your mission is to kill him. Understood?”
“Understood, Boss.”
Bumuntong-hininga si Blythe nang maalala niya ang kaniyang misyon.
Ang misyon kung bakit siya nandito sa Pilipinas.
Her Boss didn’t tell her any reason why she needed to kill this man. Basta ang misyon niya ay patayin ito.
As for the rule of their group, hindi siya makakabalik hangga’t hindi niya ito napapatay.
But when she was about to pull the trigger, she felt like someone had whispered behind her not to kill him.
Nahilot ni Blythe ang sentido.
Sa lahat ng taong pinatay niya, dito lamang siya nag-alinlangan sa hindi malaman na kadahilanan.
And she was intrigued by her new target.
EVRON sat on the edge of the hospital bed, his shirt removed, with fresh bandages wrapped around his side where the blade had cut through his skin earlier that night.
Hindi na rin bago kay Evron ang amoy ng hospital.
The doctor had already finished treating him.
“Nothing fatal,” the man had said. “But you should rest.”
Evron exhaled softly, leaning back slightly against the headboard. Pain pulsed faintly from the wound, but it wasn’t what kept his mind awake.
Bumalik sa alaala ni Evron ang nangyari kanina lamang.
The woman who had managed to make him bleed.
Evron looked at his right-hand man. “Kaiden, don’t tell this to my mother—”
Hindi pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ni Evron, bumukas na ang pinto ng ward na kinaroroonan niya. And his parents entered the room.
Ang nag-aalalang mukha ng kaniyang magulang ang bumungad sa kaniya.
Evron glared at Kaiden.
Mabilis namang nag-iwas ng tingin si Kaiden.
“Kaiden Dravik,” Evron warned.
“Don’t blame him, anak.” Sabi ng kaniyang ina na sinapo ang mukha niya. “Are you okay?”
“I heard that the one who got you bleed was a woman,” wika naman ng kaniyang ama na halatang nang-aasar.
Evron glared at Kaiden again. Minsan talaga hindi mapigilan ni Kaiden ang bibig nito.
“Huwag mo ng sisihin si Kaiden, anak. Kami ang nagtanong sa kaniya.” Ani Nylah. “Mabuti na lang at hindi malalim ang sugat mo.”
“The woman showed mercy.”
Tinampal ni Nylah ang dibdib ni Ashriel. “Tumigil ka nga. Huwag mong asarin ang panganay natin.”
Ashriel looked at his son, as if he didn’t care. “He's still alive, right?”
Napailing na lamang si Evron. “Dad, I remember that when you thought I was inside my car that got bombed, you cried.”
“I…” Hindi naman makasagot si Ashriel dahil totoo ‘yon.
Evron sighed. “Mom, Dad, I’m fine. Huwag kayong mag-alala sa akin. At huwag niyo na po itong ipaalam pa sa mga kapatid ko.”
Ngumiti si Nylah. “Ang mahalaga ay maayos ang kalagayan mo.”
“Mom, please, let me handle this. Don’t hunt the person who hurt it. Leave it to me.”
Pinisil ni Nylah ang pisngi ng anak. “Of course, I won’t intervene in the Black Lotus. I’m already retired, and I just want to enjoy my life with your father.”
Naghawak ng kamay ang dalawa.
Even after so many years had passed, his parents still looked at each other with affection.
At ‘yon ang gusto niya ring mangyari sa kaniya. Pero iniisip niya, may tatanggap naman kay sa kaniya lalo na at hindi naman siya ordinaryong tao lamang.
He’s a mercenary.
Blood has already stained his hands. And it cannot be undone.
“Pero nandito lamang kami ng mommy mo kung kailangan mo kami.” Wika ni Ashriel. At kahit malaki na si Evron, he still patted his head gently.
“Thank you, Dad.”
Ngumiti si Ashriel.
“Aren’t you two supposed to go for a vacation?” tanong ni Evron. “I’m fine here, guys. Bukas makakalabas na po ako.”
“Sigurado ka, anak?”
Tumango siya. “Yes, Mom. You and Dad should spend time with each other. Huwag niyo na po akong alalahanin.”
Ilang paalala pa ang natanggap ni Evron bago tuluyang umalis ang kaniyang magulang.
He let out a small sigh after they left.
Then his eyes settled on Kaiden.
“Sorry, Chief.”
Napailing na lamang si Evron. “Ano pa nga bang bago?” Aniya. He touched his bandaged side. “For the next mission of Black Lotus, act on my behalf.”
Kaiden nodded. “Yes, Chief.”
“Puwede mo na akong iwan rito? Just came back tomorrow and sent me home.”
Tahimik na tumango si Kaiden saka lumabas, pero hindi siya umalis. Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa labas ng ward ni Evron.
Meanwhile, Evron slowly reached toward the small table beside the hospital bed. His fingers closed around something familiar.
A bracelet.
The wooden beads were slightly worn now from years of use. It was simple, almost childish in design—small brown beads threaded together by hand.
At sa gitna, may nakakabit na small wooden pendant.
There were two names carved into it.
Evron.
Blythe.
His thumb brushed over the letters.
For a moment, the sterile hospital room faded away.
And the past returned.
- Writer
