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1656 Words
SINCE their last meeting, Dylan stopped seeing her again. They both decided to distance themselves from each other to avoid danger because the more they meet the more she will be put in danger. It was for her good, as well as for her friends. She doesn't want to repeat what happened to her best friend, Zhilan. She can't afford to lose a friend again.
"Tulala ka na naman?" biglang tanong sa kaniya ni Than.
"H-ha?—"
Than sighed and then laid the cooked soup in front of her. "I know the whole week has been too heavy for you. The missions followed one after the other. You had no proper rest. I think you deserve a break... Do you wanna come with me? A simple dinner and movie... Do you know what I mean?— Like a date but not a date."
"Paano ang unang Archon?. What if he needs us?" ani Ara.
"Lord Miller said, no mission for today... So? Are you coming? Salem and Zyl are coming too."
"Okay, How about the First Archon, is he with anyone?" tanong niya dahil baka wala itong kasama kaya magpapaiwan na lang siya kung ganon.
"Don't worry about him, he's with Thati", Than replied.
"Ahh, t-that's good," she said, then forced a smile.
"Why? — Why do you seem disappointed?" Than asked, noticing her reaction.
"H-hindi ah!. Tapos na ako kumain, I'm going up to my room to take a shower, see you later—" Ara replied, then went to her room.
She sat on her bed for a few minutes, "What's into me, I am always out of myself." She said, then lay down on the bed. She closed her eyes until her phone rang under her pillow.
She looked at the caller's name, "Papa Regan", she murmured.
She didn't know what he wanted but she knew her Papa Regan needed something from her. "H-hello, Papa?."
"Dy reported to me what happened. I told you to find the other Archons and kill them all. Why are you taking so long?!" her Papa Regan exclaimed.
"I don't want to just kill them, I want to know the truth, Papa Regan," she replied.
"I taught you how to kill so you can finish them off. But I didn't say you had to work for them—"
"I still work for Papa Regan, I want to finish your enemies ...our enemies. Trust me, please. I will finish what I started—" she said.
"Just hurry up, as time goes on I'm more worried about you—"
"I can defend myself, Papa Regan..."
" You have said that so many times—"
"I gotta go, I need to hang up the phone, bye," she said, then dropped the call. Walang gana siyang tumayo saka pumasok sa banyo upang maligo.
"HOW are you feeling?" Zandro asked Thati. Thati was just stunned and seemed to hear nothing and was mentally absent.
After a few weeks of total bed rest, Thati felt better physically but not mentally. Thati still remembers nothing about her past. Zandro doesn't force her to remember everything right away. His only wish was for her to feel better.
"I think you're very traumatized by all that happened," he said and helped Agatha lie down. He just stayed by her side until she fell asleep. He felt sorry for the condition of Thati but he could do nothing but wait to find those who took advantage of her.
He can't stop the existence of anger in his heart, especially when he sees Thati's situation. Thati went through a lot before she came into Zandro's care.
She became a victim of slavery, sold to various syndicates, exploited, and raped. That's why Thati acted like that, anxious, always scared, and unable to speak.,
During the three years of being a victim of slavery and rape, she would naturally lose herself. "I feel sorry for you, if I could just take over the pain and trauma you're feeling, I would like to—" Zandro murmured while caressing Thati's hair,
"But you can't," Ara said suddenly.
, Zandro looked at the door and saw Ara leaning against the door. "Why are you still here?"
"Salem just wants me to ask you if you want to join me, but it looks like you want to spend your day with her", Ara said.
He can't deny it, he really wants to focus more time and attention on Thati "Sasama ba si Zyl sa inyo?" he asked.
"Yes" tipid na sagot Ara.
Zandro just nodded and looked back at Thati, who was sound asleep. "I can't leave her alone—"
Ara shrugged "Okay fine—"
"Ara?—" it was Than.
Ara immediately turned to Than and smiled a little "I'm coming!— We're going" she said to First Archon and closed the door carelessly.
Zandro's eyes narrowed when he saw the smile on Ara's lips. "That's odd" he uttered. That was the first time he saw Ara smile for no reason. He stood up from his seat and arranged Thati's blanket. He gave Thati sleeping pills so he was sure she wouldn't wake up right away. "I needed to figure out something. The nurses will take care of you, just rest well." After he said that, he immediately left the room.
Ara was shocked to see the First Archon waiting outside the mansion. Zandro was wearing sunglasses while leaning at his black Lamborghini's door. "You will ride with me—" the Archon said.
Ara turned to look at Salem. "I thought he wouldn't come?" she asked Salem in a whisper.
"Iyon ang sa pagkakaalam ko" pabulong na tugon ni Salem.
"Akala ko ba hindi ka sasama?" Ara asked Zandro.
"Well, I changed my mind," he said, then the car door opened for Ara. "Hop in, you will come with me."
Salem, Zyl, and Than l looked at each other. "Something fishy. You smell it too?" Zyl whispered to Than.
"Yeah, I smell it too", Than replied.
Ara just shrugged her shoulders and then got into the car. First Archon closed the door for her and then walked into the driver's seat and went inside. As the Archon drives the car, Ara can't help but stare at Zandro.
Zandro noticed the presence of Ara's staring stare, so he looked at her. "Is there a problem? Is there dirt on my face?"
"N-nothing—" Ara stuttered and then looked outside the window to avoid the first Archon's questions.
Zandro noticed the gun inserted into the side of Ara's waist. "Why are you still carrying a gun? We are going to the city today like normal people. You don't need that."
"Just in case there is a glitch, it is better to be prepared." Ara has a point, but they can't fire a gun in public, especially because he is a popular person because of being a congressman.
"I guess you also have a dagger—" he uttered.
"Of course, how can I defend a congressman if I don't have a weapon," Ara said, then forced a smile and winked at Zandro.
"What was that?! Your smile is fake and scary again, you don't have to force yourself, don't smile if you don't mean it—" Zandro exclaimed.
Ara frowned "Ayos na ba sayo ito?... Even with my smile, you still notice if it's fake or not!!"
"Well, you never smile genuinely and naturally inside... Maliban na lang kanina, What makes you smile?."
"Huh? When did I?—" she asked when frowning.
"Kanina, pagkatapos mo ako tanungin kung gusto kong sumama sa inyo" ani Zandro.
"D-did I? I don't remember, so forget it", Ara said.
They stopped in front of the CuisineMaker, the most popular restaurant in their province. They found Salem, who had been waiting for them. "Why do you both take so long—" bulalas ni Salem na halatang iritado.
"Relax, Ang importante ay nandito na kami" Ara said, then smiled at Salem.
"Creepy!!!" Salem exclaimed when she saw Ara's smile.
Than and Zandro were just shaken while Zyl's face was blank. "That's enough, I'm already hungry, so let's go inside", Zandro said.
Than pulled out a chair for Ara "Here."
Zandro's eyes narrowed, so when Ara sat down, he pushed the chair for Ara. "The food here is delicious, they also offer foreign dishes", Zandro said, then handed the menu to Ara.
Ara frowned and was uncomfortable with Zandro's attentiveness. "Y-yeah, the dishes based on the picture look delicious."
Salem and Than just smiled while watching the first archon as well as Ara. "I don't think the ship is sinking—" Salem murmured.
Ara looked sharply at Salem. "Shut up!" she whispered.
"We can hear you. Just shut up and order the food before I become bitter", said Zyl.
"Ayy, hindi pa ba?" Salem said sarcastically, while Than almost choked while drinking water. "Don't be so mean Salem", Than said.
"What are you saying?! It doesn't mean anything, I just want to get back at Ara because she always saves me whenever I faint."
"That's my job, what do you expect?!" Ara's cold response.
"Umorder na nga kayo" ani Than.
As they were choosing food, Ara noticed the suspicious man. Wearing black clothes and had earlier caught a glimpse of their place. Their gazes met and the man immediately stood up and walked to the back.
She stood up and dropped the menu. "Ipag-order niyo na lang ako ng pagkain."
"Is there a problem?" Zandro asked her.
"No, I'm just going to the bathroom" aniya saka walang pag-aalinlangan na sinundan ang lalaki.
She saw the man enter the bathroom. She didn't care if it was a men's bathroom. She went inside and immediately pulled her gun from her waistband when she saw the man holding a gun and pointing at the hostage's head.
"Drop the gun!!" she said emphatically.
- Writer
