Chapter 3
2420 Words
“COME on, lover boy!”
Ngumiti si Ash habang tinitigan ang nakahuhumaling na pigura ni Anne. She was only wearing his T-shirt, and she had nothing underneath. They had s*x countless times last night, and he was worried that he might be hurting her, but Anne was insatiable. She appeared to be making up for the days they weren’t together. Ash's lips formed a lopsided smile as he recalled how wild the woman from the previous night. She never fails to satisfy him.
Anne was behind the kitchen counter and saw that she was making coffee while toasting some bread. She looked so sexy with just her little gestures.
Ash approached the kitchen table, his gaze fixed at the beautiful woman in front of him. Humagod ang kaniyang paningin sa mahahaba at makinis na binti ng babae. Her hair is a mess, yet it just adds to her allure.
“Stop staring,” Anne said sheepishly, but Ash couldn't take his gaze away from her.
Her stomach continually churned. She knew she was the only woman he looked at with compassion and concern. Others, with coldness. If Heaven allows, she wishes they could always be like that. She prayed Ash would never leave her side, but she realized it was unlikely. Ash work will always be between them, and she can't blame him for that.
“Did I ever tell you that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met?”
While stirring the steaming coffee in the mug, Anne burst out laughing. “Uhm, okay? That's what you've been saying since last night. What do you want now?” Anne asked skeptical.
Ash never stops complimenting her when they're together, which makes her cling to the “relationship” they have. Even though they rarely met, she always felt wanted and secure.
As he sat, Ash straightened his back and reached for the coffee. “Nothing. Every time I see you, you become more and more appealing to me.”
Anne approached him and sat on his lap, throwing her arms around his neck. He snaked his arms around her waist, his hand crawling on the sensitive skin there, gently stroking her.
Anne lets forth a little groan. Ash's warm hands ignites fire to her body, but she controls her self. Instead of responding, she crushed her lips against his.
“It's because we only see each other twice or three times a year,” she explained, pouting slightly. “And you'll abandon me again in a week or two.
“My bad. I should have just quit.”
Anne laughed again. “I also want that, but you cannot.”
“Why not?” Ash asked, grinning.
“Do you really want me to say it?”
Ash fell silent for seconds before speaking. “I'm sorry.”
Anne rose from Ash's lap and returned to the toaster. She smiled, but she couldn't hide her dismay. “There is nothing to apologize for, Ash. Just keep in mind that I'll be right here…always.”
“Come here, Anne.” Because of his guilt, he motioned for the woman to return to him and snuggle some more, but she did not move from where she was standing.
“Come here, or do you want me to come to you?” he asked, grinning. His eyes were sparkling with mischief. But Anne just stared bleakly into his eyes, not moving an inch closer to him. He felt a sudden thud in his chest. He couldn't explain his feelings. The look on Anne's face made him feel nervous and scared for the second time in his whole life.
“Anne,” he mumbled, unable to stop his heart from racing.
Kumunot ang noo ni Ash nang makitang tila unti-unting lumalabo ang pigura ng babae sa kaniyang paningin. He blinks twice, and Anne's figure turns more fuzzy.
“I'll be right here, Ash,” Anne's voice echoed.
“Anne... Ash stood up and tried to reach for her, but she seemed to be so far away. “Anne, come here.”
The woman just smiled at him and slowly vanished. Before Ash could react, the setting varied. He was surrounded by flames, and Anne was there, lying on the cold floor. Bathing in her own blood. She was staring directly at him. He desperately wanted to come to her, but he couldn't even move a muscle. Pakiramdam niya ay napako siya sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.
“Go, Ash. You shouldn’t be here.”
Ash shook his head. “No. I would never abandon you. I'll come to you, Anne. Anne!” Ash yelled as the sudden explosion swept across Anne's body.
“s**t!” Biglang napabangon si Ash at mabilis ang ginawang paghinga. Butil-butil ang pawis sa kaniyang noo at dibdib. He fisted his hand as he caught his breath. He dreamed of Anne and his heart was stricken with a bolt of guilt. He's blaming himself for what happened.
Ash winced as he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder. When he touched it and looked at it, he noticed that it was wrapped. He then remembered being shot by Santino's men. The man he pledged to kill to avenge Anne's death.
When he looked around, he realized he was in his house in Philadelphia. Ninety five miles away from New York.
He moved, got his clothing and put them on as the pain subsided. His muscles tightened as he remembered what had happened to Anne.
“Anne…” he uttered while clenching his fist.
Ipaghihiganti niya si Anne at sisiguraduhin niyang wala siyang ititira kahit isa. His face heated with wrath at that notion.
Bumukas ang pintuan at iniluwa niyon si Kyle at kasunod nito ang isa pa nilang kaibigan na si Zach.
“Why are you here?” sita niya sa kaibigang si Zach. Alam niyang makakabalik agad si Zach kahit saang lupalop pa ito ng mundo manggaling kapag gustuhin nito ngunit hindi niya inaasahan naroon ang kaibigan niya ngayon. Alam niyang hindi ito naroon dahil sa nangyari. Maraming beses nang muntik na siyang mamatay ngunit hindi mahanap-hanap si Zach. There must be something big. Something that his friend couldn't afford to ignore.
“You're awake,” puna ni Kyle na noon lamang niya napansing may bitbit na tray ng almusal. Tiningnan niya si Zach na hindi pinansin ang tanong niya.
“Why are you both here?” muling sita niya sa dalawa.
“You're welcome,” Kyle replied sarcastically.
“I've got no time for your jokes, Kyle.”
“I've got you a pain reliever, man. Feed yourself first,” utos ni Kyle na pinatong ang tray ng almusal sa ibabaw ng kama.
Ash only glanced at the food before continuing what he was doing.
“You only need these utensils to eat, Ash. Not all that,” Kyle said pointing to Ash firearms and bullets.
“I only need this,” Ash said, showing Kyle the pistol in his fingers, “to kill that f*****g bastard.” His eyes were sharp and his face dark with killing intent.
“Aren't you worried that there are people looking for you and trying to kill you?” Kyle's voice was concerned. He was attempting to urge Ash to lie low. They've been trying to persuade him to stop being an assassin and instead focus on finding his long-lost sister. They couldn't, however, change his mind. Ash was thirsty for revenge, and they couldn't blame Ash for wanting vengeance. If “that” had happened to them, they might have done the same.
“Only two things will happen, Kyle. Either they kill me or I'll kill them.”
Kyle put the tray on the bed. “What a horrible adage.”
“Answer me,” Ash said grimly.
“Well, after I called you a couple of nights ago, I hurried up to Anne's place and was greeted by her blazing house. I saved you from death, man and yet you're back at giving us that chilly aura of yours,” Kyle jested, despite his solemn demeanor.
“Do I have to rejoice about what happened to Anne?” He inquired, his eyes hostilely fixed on Kyle.
“That is not what I meant.”
Ash fixed his gaze on Zach, who had been silent the entire time. “How about you?”
Zach shrugged his shoulder. “I'm just worried. I can afford to lose the herbs I collected but cannot afford to lose a friend.”
Ash smirked. “Cut that crap, Zach.”
Zach sighed. “I'm sorry for what happened to Anne. She didn't deserve it.”
Ash stiffened. “Where did you bring her?” He clenched his teeth in controlled anger.
“She's in her favorite place, Ash. Next to her younger sister.”
Ash nods his head before facing his two friends.
“Leave after I do.”
“What are you trying to do, Ash?” Pinigilan ni Kyle ang balikat ng kaibigan.
“What are you trying to do?” Ash pronounced every syllable with conviction.
“You're not going after those guys, Ash. Are you?”
“How clever,” Ash remarked wryly.
“You can't and you won't.” Nakipagtagisan ng tingin si Kyle kay Ash.
“The last man that stopped me from doing what I wanted has already been reunited with Lucifer in hell, Kyle.”
“Zach's men looked into Santino's background, Ash. You wouldn't want to offend him.”
“Lucky him, he offended me first. Now, let me go.” Ash commanded. Marahas na binawi ang balikat mula sa pagkakahawak ni Kyle.
“Ash…”
“Touch me again and I'll blow your head off, Kyle,” Ash grew impatient.
“I'm just…” Kyle couldn't continue what he was about to say because his face turned dark. He realized he couldn't stop his friend from avenging Anne, but his foot was already on the grave. He doesn't want the other one in there, either. Ash grabbed the collar of his shirt before he could even speak.
“I'm going to make that jerk pay, Kyle.”
“Do you know who that bastard is, Ash?”
Lumipat ang paningin ng dalawa sa kaibigang noon lamang nagsalita. Zach crossed his legs and looked straight at Ash.
“Santino was Lenard's godson, Ash. Your underboss' godson.”
“What?” Kyle blurted out. They were aware of Lenard but Ash had told them nothing about him other than that he is the underboss. “How did you find out?”
Lenard's background was kept strictly private. It was astonishing how quickly Zach discovered a piece of information about him.
“I have my ways.” Zach let out a sigh. “Well, Lenard used his vast network of connections to contact me while I'm in the Philippines and ask where you've hidden your ass out.”
Lito ang mukhang tinitigan nila si Zach.
“Lenard could find me anywhere in hell if he wanted to.”
“And yet he finds me first.”
“Oh, I see why. He knew I could murder him and his assassins couldn’t stop me!” Ash asserted with confidence and arrogance.
“You can't kill him, Ash. We all know that,” Zach stated matter-of-factly.”
“Oh, yeah?” Ash responded defiantly.
“Listen, Ash…”
“I saw what they did to Anne and I can't just let them walk around on Earth like that after what they did. So back off!” Ash spoke dangerously.
“They'll kill you, Ash.”
“Not a chance.”
“What if they find you first? Everything you've worked hard for will be in vain, Ash,” Kyle replied, attempting to calm his friend and see reasoning.
“I want that f*****g bastard six feet below the ground, Kyle! No matter what you say, you can't alter my decision,” Ash stated emphatically.
Even though Lenard was the underboss, he understood that he couldn't just kill Ash. Perks of being the Boss' favorite. He couldn't completely control Ash, especially given his personal troubles. That's why he sends Zachary back, knowing that only his friends' words are of significance to him. Not this time, at least.
“Just be grateful he didn't send a battalion of assassins here, idiot.”
“Tss.”
“Don't underestimate Santino's connections, Ash. You may be ten times as affluent as him, but his goddamn family has people everywhere to agitate just to get rid of you. He's not just an average gang leader here in New York, Ash.”
“What do you take me for? I don't care if he's the devil's apprentice, Zach. And screw his connections!” wika ni Ash na tumaas pa ang boses.
“Can't you let it go?” Kyle was glaring back at Ash
“How could you?”
“I understand how difficult it is, man. We, too, were enraged. We want to smash that jerk in the face for Anne but…”
“You mean to say I'll forget what happened to her?” Ash howled like a wounded beast.
“Look,” Kyle was trying to explain but Ash drew his pistol off the table and aimed it towards Kyle.
“Whoa, whoa! Easy, dude! Is this what I got from saving your life?” pangongonsensya ni Kyle. He felt like Ash's sharp eyes were piercing through his body. If his eyes could kill, he'd be dead right now.
“I don't want to hear all your nonsense, Kyle. Make way.”
Kyle on the other hand, remained still.
“You know I don't like repeating myself.” Ash glared at them, still aiming the gun at Kyle.
“Alright! Put that gown down, dude. Jesus! You might pull that damn trigger!” Kyle stated. Kapag ganoon ang tabas ng mukha ni Ash, ay matatakot kahit na demonyo.
“Now, move,” Ash said with such authority.
Napilitang humakbang si Kyle paalis sa kinatatayuan at binigyang daan si Ash palabas ng pintuan. Napabuntong-hininga si Kyle na tinitigan si Zach.
Zach shook his head, dejected. “I told you,” he muttered, resting his back on the couch.
Halos yumanig ang buong bahay dahil sa lakas ng pagkakasara ni Ash ng pinto. He was enraged and the day wouldn't end without him killing anyone.
“Watch me, Anne. Watch me drench New York with their f*****g filthy blood.”
- Writer
