TO KILL IS TO SERVE

Chapter 16: The Real Trouble

 “Where are you?” I asked, began taking quicker walks. I kept hearing her breathing heavily. I can also hear some motorcycles. “You’re not home yet? It’s almost seven, honey.” She sounded like she’s gone into trouble again. You cannot be f*****g killed yet since I am the one who’s paid to do that.

“I’m sorry for suddenly calling you.” I heard her began rushing her walk again. The gulps and pants are just too distinct. She is being preyed the f**k on, again. “Can you come? I don’t know who to call.”

“Where are you?” I asked once more, thinking of roads where there are only some cars and people use more motorcycles. “Tell me where are you and I am going for you right now, Al—” I stopped from saying her name and bit my tongue. “—Mischief-maker.” I continued instead of announcing who my target is. I am still within the range of Cool Cat and I don’t like getting snooped on.

“I am in my subdivision, Grei.” As I thought. “I purposely missed my block because I am being followed.” She whispered between her huffs. And yes, as I thought she is indeed being preyed on. Maybe her father’s working overtime today and she doesn’t want to be followed into her house.

“I am coming. Do not end the call and hide somewhere. Do not speak anymore and just go camouflage yourself.”

The subdivision is too far if I be walking on the road. Therefore, I jumped on someone else’s roof and headed to the main gate by running on the roofs. This neighborhood sure has houses almost glued together. I thought. This is an advantage for it made me reach Alora’s subdivision three times faster. I hid behind a thick post after observing that there are no CCTVs around and wiped clean the written AG on my forehead using the denim jacket I just removed. I quickly detached the ear-pierce on my right ear and erased my dark-tone facial make up with the same denim jacket that is currently soaked in sweat. This is so f*****g disgusting but I don’t have enough time to f*****g care.

“I saw her walking in this alley!” A voice unknown to my ear made me continued running. The manly voice is quite distant but what I heard next are heavy footsteps passing, still with puffs and wheezes of Alora in the background. Three? Four? Five? How could Alora have five pursuers in this time of the day? I groaned and stopped running for a bit.

I closed my eyes to imagine the scenario inside my head. Alley. Passing footsteps. Echoing breaths. They seemed to not find her yet but their running sound passed by her phone. I snapped my finger and opened my eyes with a conclusion, “Cliché. Garbage can.” I ran towards the place where garbage of the whole subdivision is being collected. It’s Thursday today, I bet there are not many junks since the collectors came this morning. I thought while running.

“Got you!” And I heard a shriek from Alora, then people laughing. I caught my breath and stretched my arms to ready for myself for a low-key fistfight. Alora watching me is inevitable, so I cannot show my real skill in fighting. I have to get hit as well. This sucks. I mumbled to myself.

You seriously thought you’re going to run from—BOSS!—What? Don’t interrupt me—boss!—Where the hell is Jason?!”

“Oh, his name’s Jason?” I put my phone down after ending the call and sighed. I am running out of breath for running too fast. I even had a trouble changing my remaining bad boy disguise while running. “Oh, you don’t have any idea how pissed I am.” I held my temples and massaged them. After dealing with Cool Cat, I received a freaking call from my target, indicating that she’s in danger and now, I am facing these unpleasant children. You don’t have any idea how a predator gets mad when his prey’s getting preyed on by f*****g flies.

“Who are you? Where is Jason?” One of them asked and they all looked at me. The boss stayed silent while holding Alora’s hair. He looked like he’s about to pull Alora out of the trashcan but he stopped when I interrupted.

“Let us talk this through, boys.” I walked closer, and a guy, holding a bat, lifted his weapon. Banality. I rolled my eyes and took another step. “What did my girl there do?” I asked, pointing Alora out.

The boss chuckled. “This loser is your girlfriend?” He asked, mocking and swaying her hand. Alora whimpered in pain. He certainly cannot understand what talking means. “My girlfriend yesterday told me that this girl here, dirtied her shoe and even brought her boyfriend to back her up. So, you’re that guy? The guy who cracked the ribs of my friends? You’re the boyfriend?” I knew it. Their faces, auras, smells, voices, and even attitudes are same. Losers will always be losers when they stick with losers. “Do you think we’re scared of you and your petty acts, huh? You’re just a little guy who uses knife in a fistfight.”

I raised my brow and crossed my arms. “They said that?” I questioned. Why would I use a knife on little kids? Sneering, I fixed my fake long curly hair. It’s like using a bonfire to light a candle. I feel belittled by real little ones.

“Kid, you seemed forget your weapon, huh? So, are you prepared to have your ribs cracked, now?” The three of them readied themselves with their weapons—just a bat and a knife and what, a screw driver? You are going to kill a f*****g assassin with a goddamn screw driver?

My forehead crumpled and removed my denim jacket from being tied on my waist. “I hate kids.” I turned my back and took my leave—of course they would not let me. Dogs are very persistent to have their treats. “I wasn’t planning to be very impatient but I don’t think I can restrain myself now.” I whispered to myself and scratched my nape in setback. I did not know I would be dropping my act too early.

“c***k every bone.” I heard their so-called boss ordered and I nodded.

“Copy.” I replied and my lips started to grin slyly.

-

“Who are you?”

“You can still talk even after getting your ribs shattered?” My brows furrowed and I went to Alora, checking her. “You’re lucky, though. I don’t want to put too much violence in front of this artist.” I cupped Alora’s face. She is now completely stunned by what just happened, just a while ago. “But it’s boring, to be honest. You guys did not even last for five minutes.” And if my target were to ask me too many questions about this again, I’d rather twist her neck right here. However, if that will happen, I would never forgive these people for making me act inapplicably to my schedule.

“You okay?” She asked, finally came back to her senses. She started fixing my hair back to its original style. I hope she don’t realize it’s a wig. I thought, completely forgetting other things aside from my wig right when she talked. “Grei?” I nodded and took her out of the garbage can. She’s asking me if I were okay when she’s the one trembling too much. I am starting to notice little things and to hell with this detail.

“You are very good; hiding in that place.” I teased and she exhaled, pouting. She looked stupefied by what I did but she’s not even shocked when she saw blood. She has a sense of justice since her father is a police officer. She can definitely run and fight, but she obviously cannot take five boys all at once. “Also, thank you for calling me when you’re in trouble.” I added and patted her head. She nodded and looked away.

I felt a grip on my left folded jeans, so I looked down at the boss wannabe. I sat in front of him and watched his helpless self still trying to fight back. This feels nostalgic—I can almost see Damian. “Who are you?” He asked again, for the third time after getting beaten.

I looked at Alora and smiled. Then, I leaned in and whispered to his right ear. “Have you ever seen a real assassin?” I asked with a smirk. Just a little scare won’t hurt. “Real assassins do not use knives in fistfights, nor act unique. Real hitmen are amongst us, even without us knowing.” I heard his breaths turned heavy and I withdrew myself. I stood up, glaring at him with a smile of mockery plastered unto my face. “You haven’t, right? I haven’t, too.” Chuckling, I turned around and held Alora’s back to walk her home. The horrified look on his face and the defeated bodies of his friends are enough apologies. “Jason is on the road, by the way. He was the luckiest of you all.” I added as I remember that I only put Jason to sleep by striking his Adam’s apple with my elbow and dragged him to the middle of the road before I made my entrance earlier. He was their lookout but he did not do his job well. Not that I am any better. I smirked ironically to myself.

Alora seemed quiet. I sighed and wiped my forehead, then tied the denim jacket I took off earlier. “It’s too hot today, yeah?” I looked up and glanced at the moon. Maybe she’s still uneasy and scared. Of course, after all that. “It’s already night and it is still hot. This is summer for us.” I muttered again, not hearing anything back from Alora. We just continued walking in silence until we reached her gates. “Get inside. Tell your father you’re with me, so you won’t get—”

“So, are you really…” She pursed her lips as she stopped me from talking and I raised my brows, asking. Will she ask me again if I know taekwondo? But her gazes seemed to be careful and she looked so curious.

“Hmm?” I asked as I wait. Again, kindly don’t ask me such thing, Alora. And pursed my lips while waiting.

“The most lethal weapon everyone is willing to pay for?”

Innocence, naivety, curiosity and virtue… How could a lady with this kind of attitude kill a person? And most importantly, a friend? I am not sure if she get the idea of being the most lethal weapon everyone is willing to pay for but I f*****g got turned on in the way she asked it, so I left her with a smile, every target sees before they become dead bodies.

No. I don’t plan on killing her yet in front of her f*****g house. And yes, Alora, you've got yourself a real trouble.