Ruthless Deception

Chapter 7

People were disappointed when Hagan lost the fight. I can't even believe it with my two ears that he got lose by a woman! Nandito ulit kami sa gym at kanina pa nagtatagis ang bagang niya sa galit. Nakakrus ang kamay ko sa dibdib habang mataman siyang tinitingnan.

"f*****g hell! She's strong!" si Hagan at hinagis yung upuan. Nagkatinginan kami ni Rain at napailing nalang. "I swear! I'm going to kill that woman!"

"Calm down. You're too impulsive last night, thus, you lose in the fight. Most people put their bet on you," Rain said.

"I want a f*****g rematch! I won't let this pass!" Hagan hissed.

I shook my head. "She's right. That might be the reason you lose. I want you to remember her moves so you can pinned her down next time."

"Right..." si Hagan.

Hagan put all his attention to his workout in the entire day. It seems like he's not undefeated champion anymore. Kinuha ko na yung susi ko para umuwi na rin ako sa condo. Nandoon kasi yung alaga ko. Panigurado na gutom na gutom na 'yon. Bumungad sa harapan ko si Lourd na walang emosyon ang kaniyang mukha.

Sabay na kami naglakad at tumitingin ako sa bawat gilid. Yung ginamit na code ni Lynch ay invalid na para hindi na siya makapasok pa rito.

"He is hunting who killed his sister. Played his game, Cypher," he said.

"I will play my own game. I'm going to do it in a ruthless way," I replied.

Napangisi ako at lumabas na. Nagstay lang siya sa loob at kumaway na ako. Halos sa underground na rin kasi siya nakatira dahil yung mga computer niya at mga chips niya ay nasa underground.

My hands are in my pockets while whistling. Napansin ko sa gilid ng mata ko na may tao na nakasunod sa akin at sumisilip pa siya. Gusto ko umirap sa hangin dahil hindi masyado magagaling ang mga hina-hire ni Lynch.

Fate really jokes on me, huh?

Pasimple ako tumitingin sa bawat poste dahil may nakakabit na CCTV. Pinapakiramdaman ko yung tao na nagmamanman sa akin. Mabuti nalang ay nahuli ko na kung sino na nakakakilala sa akin. At alam ko ang isang 'to ay mukhang nakakaalam na ako ang pumatay kay Chloe.

I halted on the blind spots where the CCTV can't capture the sight of us. I took my pistol and c****d the gun. He seems shock when I caught him. Too bad, he's stupid. I can always sense if someone is following me.

"Still following me, huh?" I smirked.

He blinked. Tumitingin-tingin siya sa bawat gilid at wala masyadong tao. Kahit naman may tao ay wala rin sila pakielam. We mind our business. Mas lalo lumawak ang pag-ngisi ko. Hay nako... gusto ko matawa kung ano nanaman magiging reaksyon ni Lynch kapag may namatay nanaman siya na tauhan.

"I was right. You're Flare..."

I arched my eyebrow. Oh, they already got my second name. Ang babagal naman nila makahanap ng impormasyon ko. It took them 9 years, yet they only had my second name? Pathetic.

"Yeah... You're right," I said, grinning. "See you in hell."

I pulled the trigger and aimed his forehead. My lips formed into a devious smile while looking at the man laying his body on the ground. Napapangiti ako kapag nakakakita ako ng dugo nila. Sinimulan ko na maglakad at umangkas na ako sa motor ko.

Nang makarating na ako sa condo unit ko, sobrang pagod nanaman ako. Mabuti nalang ay wala pa inuutos sa akin si Damon. I felt my phone vibrated inside my pockets and engulfed it too see what's the message.

From: Lynch

Can we eat dinner together?

Oh. He wants to date me. Tinanggal ko muna yung sapatos ko at tinabi na 'yon sa gilid. I opened the AC because it is too hot in the Philippines. May binuksan ako na box at naririnig ko ang maingay na sisiw.

Feeding time for Deces. I smiled.

I opened his cage and put the chicks inside of it. I called my pet and I heard the noise from it. Mas lalo ako napangiti na makita ko si Deces.

Good snake. Bigla nito sinakmal yung sisiw at unti-unti nilulunok.

"Eat well, Deces," I chuckled.

Last three years ago, I bought a ball python because I want to have a pet here inside of my condo. Takot na takot nga si Maih sa tuwing na bibisita siya rito dahil kay Deces. I don't know why I love snakes. I even tattooed my middle finger with a snake. It looks cool. Thus, no one wants to sleep here in my condo because of Deces. My snake is harmless, though.

I composed a message to accept his invitation for a dinner. Wala rin naman ako gagawin mamaya kaya samahan ko nalang ang fiance ko. Huminga ako ng malalim at humiga na sa kama. Dinalaw na rin ako ng antok dahil inaaral ko yung impormasyon ni Lynch. Yung mapapangasawa ko. Alam ko na wala pa siyang ideya kung sino ang pumatay sa kapatid niya.

I woke up around 7 o'clock in the evening. Wala naman sinabi si Lynch na kung saan kami specific na kakain. Nagsuot nalang ako na formal dress. Mayaman si Lynch at masisiguro ko na kakain kami sa isang mamahalin na restaurant.

After I dressed myself, I sprayed the vanilla perfume all over my body. As usual, I painted my lips with classic red shape lipsticks. While gazing my reflection in the mirror, I can see who is the villain in Lynch's life. He doesn't know that they're marrying a heartless woman. Who's capable of hiding all the truth and kill them without even thinking a second.

And my phones vibrated again. I silently read his message for me.

From: Lynch

I'm in the lobby. I'll wait for you.

To: Lynch

Which lobby specifically?

From: Lynch

To your condominium.

I gulped repeatedly. I don't remember giving him my address. And his invitation is very skeptical. He doesn't know that I am way ahead of him and I am ready to meet him in a dead end. I can't wait to finally tell him how I pulled the trigger to kill his beloved sister.

Meanwhile, I saw him sitting on the couch and it seems like he is patiently waiting me to come. I cleared my throat to get his attention. He stood up and he smiled at me.

"Good evening, Gwen," he greeted.

"Likewise..." I wanted to show him how bored I was whenever I'm with him. Knowing that he is searching for me, but he don't have any idea that it was me all along. "Let's go. I'm already famished."

He licked his lips. "Alright. My fiance seems like hungry."

"I am," I admitted.

Although I know how to cook but I'm too idle to prepare any food for myself. Good thing he asked me to eat dinner with him. This gave me an opportunity to know my nemesis who wants to kill me. I'm going to f**k his mind until he beg for me to stop.

We went to the basement and he clicked his car keys to find his car. We heard a noise on the left side. Tahimik lang ako naglalakad sa tabi niya. Hindi nga ako humahawak sa kamay niya. Hindi halata na fiance niya ako. Tsaka I don't want to be clingy around my nemesis.

"Hop in," he said, smiling. I threw him an annoying roll of my eyeballs before I hopped inside of his car. He closed the door between us but I can hear his heartily laugh from the outside.

Enjoy your time, Lynch.

Habang nagmamaneho siya ay bukod tanging stereo lamang ang maingay sa pagitan namin. Napansin ko rin na nakangiti siya. Napangisi ako at tumingin sa labas. Ano ba kinangingiti niya? Hindi niya pa ba alam na may pinatay nanaman ako na detective?

"My parents asked me that they want to have a dinner with your family," he began. He is drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

"You should tell that directly to my parents..."

"Mas okay siguro kung ikaw na magsabi. Gusto mo samahan kita?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't want to talk with them, Lynch."

"Why?" he probed. "I saw you crying last time. Dahil ba iyon sa kanila? Nagsisisi ka ba na maging fiance ko?"

"Tsk. I hate noisy people."

"Good thing we're going to eat a dinner together. Because I really want to know you more. Gusto ko kilalanin ang babae na mapapakasalan ko."

"Why are you pretending that you like this circumstances?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm not pretending. I'm being true to myself. I may admit that I hate fixed marriage... but my perception changed when I met you. I am willing to help your company to survive."

I snickered and said, "It's not my company. I have my own business."

Dawson Incorporation will be mine soon. I need to plan accordingly and make my parents suffer. Alam ko kaya mabait sila sa akin ngayon dahil may kailangan sila. Nakikita kasi nila na successful ako kaysa sa kanila. Gusto ko matawa. At syempre kailangan ko rin pakisamahan itong si Lynch dahil kapatid niya yung pinatay ko. Dapat alamin ko rin kung ano mga plano niya.

"I didn't know at first that you're a doctor. Wow," he beamed.

I rolled my eyes. "Why did you know that? I can't recall telling you about myself, Lynch."

"Just a research..." he shrugged.

I gritted my teeth. He is very sketchy right now, huh? I'm good at observing people. Pag-aaralan ko ang kilos niya ngayon.

Mayamaya'y nakarating na rin kami sa isang italian restaurant. Nauna siya bumaba para pagbuksan niya ako nang pintuan. Ngunit bumaba na kaagad ako at tinalikuran na siya. Tulad nga ng sabi ko ay nagugutom na ako. I'm an independent woman and I don't need man by my side.

"Hindi mo naman ako hinintay. I'm being gentleman to you," he said.

"Thanks... but I don't need someone to open the door for me. I can handle myself," I replied.

"Fine... let's go inside."

I smiled. Habang naglalakad na kami papasok, naramdaman ko na naglakbay ang kaniyang kamay sa bewang ko. Napatikwas ang kilay ko nung pinisil niya ang bewang ko. Tatanggalin ko sana kamay niya nung dumating ang isang waiter sa harapan namin.

"Welcome! I can lead you to your table, Miss Dawson and Mister Scott," the waiter said. Then he ushered us to our table like what he said.

Hindi na rin ako umangal nung pinaghila na ako ng upuan ni Lynch. Napangiti siya pero napairap ako sa hangin. Pagbibigyan kita ngayon. Umupo na rin siya sa harapan ko at may mga petals pa sa sahig at may candila sa lamesa. Inikot ko yung mata ko sa kabuuang lugar dahil kami lang ang tao rito sa restaurant.

"You rent the whole restaurant," I commented.

He smirked. "I know you're a private person. And I really want to know you today."

Napailing nalang ako. May isang babae na may dala na menu at pinakita sa akin. I scanned the whole menu and I noticed that the woman waiter is gawking at Lynch. Padabog ko sinarado yung menu. Napakurap siya at mukhang kinakabahan.

"I want seafood pasta, garlic bread and red wine for me," I said. Pinaglalaruan ko yung engagement ring sa daliri ko at ningisihan ko yung babae. "And I can turn you blind if you want to. Stop looking at my fiance."

She looks terrified. Yumuko siya at hindi na alam kung titingin pa ba siya kay Lynch. Nakakainis kasi, e. Hindi niya ginagawa maayos yung trabaho niya. Mukha ba ako kaluluwa rito? Hindi niya ba ako napapansin?

"I-I'm sorry, Miss Dawson," the waiter said.

"Tell her your order, Lynch."

Mas lalo ako nawala sa mood. Imbes na magalit sa akin si Lynch ay ngumisi rin siya. Sinabi niya na yung order niya at umalis na sa harapan ko yung dalawang waiter. Ugh! Nakakairita!

"You're scary when you're jealous, Gwen," he snickered.

I rolled my eyes. Mukha ba ako nagpapatawa? Mabilis pa naman ako mawala talaga sa mood. Nakahalumbaba siya habang hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

"Stop looking at me."

Mas lalo umangat ang sulok ng labi niya. "My fiance is jealous."

"One more tease from you, I'm going to make sure that you're going to regret it," I said, firmly.

Humalakhak siya. "Scary..."

Biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Sumandal ako sa inuupuan ko habang nakahalukipkip. Lalaki na ngayon ang lumapit sa amin para lagyan yung goblet ng red wine. Nagpasalamat ako at hinawakan ko yung goblet. Sinagot ni Lynch yung tawag sa harap ko.

Ang dating mapang-asar ay napalitan ng kunot noo. Excited ako malaman kung ano sinasabi ng kausap niya.

"What the f**k? Namatay nanaman?" he scoffed. Sinuklay niya yung buhok niya sa inis. "Damn it. Find another detective. I want the skillful one. Our target seems strong." then he ended the phone call.

Mas lalo napasarap ang inom ko sa red wine. Ah, ito ang gusto ko malaman. Mabuti naman may nakakita na sa katawan ng pinatay ko kanina.

Mapang-asar ang ngiti na iginagawad ko sa kaniya. "Try harder, Lynch."