Redemption

CHAPTER 26

Chapter 26. Snap

Autumn Gu

"What the hell are you doing?" Paxton asked.

I glared at him for a second then turned back to what I was looking. Nandito ako ngayon sa labas ng admin office at parang bata na sumisilip sa loob ng salamin. Paxton saw me and now he's here pestering the s**t out of my plan. I sighed. Hindi ba lalabas ang secretary?

"I'm waiting for the secretary and talk to her. I told you I need to go outside but I have had to ask for this approval first. Seriously, ang abala pala nito."

"Why do you want to go outside ba? Is it important? Hindi talaga tayo puweding lumabas kaya nga narito na lahat sa Frontier ang kaylangan natin e." Paxton said,

"Yes, emergency!"

He shrugged, "If it's really emergency, Autumn, your parents or anyone from your legal team would have called the admin. You're making up stories. May boyfriend ka ba sa labas?"

I glared at him once again. He's blabbering too much at naiinis ako. Nasaan na ba 'yung secretary na 'yun? Bakit kasi walang staff ang building na 'to.

I remembered on the orientation that we can't go inside the admin office unless we are being called by the admin. I thought it was nothing but damn all the doors were locked from the inside as if nobody is really allowed to enter. Kung may aasahan silang bisita, bubuksan nila ang mga pinto at mukhang doon lalabas ang secretary nila.

Napaka masikreto naman.

"You have too many questions," I utter.

"Let's go. I'm hungry! Isle is looking for you." Paxton,

I looked at him, "Wow! You're friends with her already?"

He nodded, "Yes! We had s*x last night."

My eyes widened all of a sudden. Muntik pa akong mabulunan sa sarili kong laway. I look at him in disbelief. But instead, this brute only smirked at me.

Just, what the f**k! How the hell did they end up f*****g each other? Did I miss something? I probably missed a lot of things. Wow! I'm still amazed.

Hindi ako makapaniwala.

"I'm hot and she flirted me so why not,"

"She's my friend, Paxton." I said, disappointed.

He looked at me weirdly, "So?"

"We're friends, you don't hit my friend like that. It's inapproriate."

From weird looking, biglang lumaki ang mata niya at natawa sa gulat, "Woah, there! First of all, she flirted with me first. Second, why does it matter? Unless you like me?" ngumisi na naman.

Nakakainis! "I don't, asshole! I like someone else." my turn to smirked as I remember how Ajin held my arm yesterday.

That moment was awkward kaya ngumiti na lang ako at umalis. Kainis! Nabigla ako sa ginawa niya kaya na blangko ako. Nakakahiya!

"Really? Here in campus?" he asked using an intriguing voice.

I look closely again inside to see kung may tao na ba, but to my dismay, there's no one. I wish Elite na lang ako. I would have all the privilege. Sa academy na 'to, balewala ang yaman mo kung hindi ka Elite. Damn them!

Tinalikuran ko na ang opisina at nagsimula nang maglakad pabalik sa dorm. I wasted my time here. Akala ko there's chance na makausap ko sila. Gumawa kaya ako ng gulo para mapatawag ako? Wait, that's a good idea.

"Is he gangster too?" I heard Paxton's voice from behind.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Secret."

Pagdating sa dorm, ang kapal talaga ng mukha ni Paxton na pumasok sa loob. Narinig ko ang boses ni Marou, Nerd and Isle na naguusap. I sighed. Pumasok na naman sila ng walang paalam sa dorm ko. Buti na lang maingat akong mag tago ng mga gamit.

Naamoy ko ang maanghang na halimuyak ng curry na pinapakuluan. Well, the advantage of them invading my dorm is I get free delicious meal. Gusto ko sana kila Isle kaso last time I went there was a regrettable decision dahil sobrang messy ng place niya. Halos puno ng mga items na binebenta at ginagawa niya. You can make deliveries kasi e, pero ang lumabas bawal talaga.

Hindi naman pwede kila Marou simply because Yohan is her room mate. Well, as for Nerd, we don't want to the boys dorm dahil kadiri raw.

"Where have you been, womaaaan?" that's Marou.

"Well, she wasted her time outside the admin's office. That door won't open unless you're an expected visitor." Paxton,

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "Get out, will you? This is girl's dormitory."

"Later after I taste that curry." when Paxton said that, natakam naman din ako agad.

Isle came out from the kitchen. She's very sexy wearing fitted dress kaya kitang kita namin ang curve niyang katawan. It was too small kaya kapag umupo siya, you can actually see the V. You know! What a daring look. Is she flirting with Paxton again? Oh my God! She's also wearing a pink apron that make her look like the hottest pornstar in PornHub.

Ang itsura naman ni Paxton, luwa ang bibig. I shook my head. Disgusting people.

"Hindi ka talaga susuko sa paglabas, Autumn? Malabo talaga 'yan unless you get help from Elites." Isle,

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kitchen para tignan ang niluluto niya. Naka off na ang stove, ibig sabihin ay luto na. I take a look at my rice cooker and smiled widely ng may sinaing na rin. Okay din itong si Marou at Isle kasama. Dali dali akong kumuha ng plato, kutsara, tinidor at nagsandok ng kanin. Nang matapos, nilapag ko ang plato ko sa table at kumuha ng bowl for my ulam.

They heard the utensils moved kaya nag si puntahan sila rito. Naka tanggal na ang apron ni Isle habang mukhang excited naman si Marou at Nerd. I don't want to look at Paxton since he seem busy fantasizing my friend on his dirty mind.

Marou and Isle prayed while I started digging. Unang tikim pa lang alam kong sobrang sarap na.

"Wow! Isle, sarap mo talaga magluto." I said.

Maybe I should consider making her live here para may cook ako rito. But, I remember all her stuffs and how messy she was with her things, I change my mind.

After that satisfying lunch with them, isa isa na silang nagpaalam para gawin ang kanilang mga task. While I still refuse to attend class, I decided to see Ajin instead. Wala naman akong ibang gagawin? Everybody is busy with the devil's battle. Dapat may pagka abalahan din ako. And I choose Ajin to be my past time. He's an Elite, I could use him and his advantages.

Hindi nga ako nabigo dahil nakita ko siyang naka tayo sa same spot niya. Nakasanayan ko na rin tumingala dahil sa lintek na Prime na 'yon. Nadala ako na baka mamaya nasa puno na naman siya at nakikinig. I think he felt my presence because he looked behind him.

I smiled and waived my hand. He didn't smiled back, but what's new right? He's always like that.

I put down my bag on the center table and noticed he's reading a different book from yesterday.

"Kumain ka na ba?" I asked,

"Of course. Skipping meal is not healthy."

Yes, cutie. I know that.

"I'm sorry about yesterday if I left you." I started. Umayos ako ng upo dahil nakakahiya itong mga sinasabi ko.

"It's okay. I'm sorry too, for what I said."

"Hayaan mo na 'yun. But, I was actually shy when you apologized. I didn't know what to do so I ran off."

Hindi na siya sumagot. Ngumiti pa rin ako. Okay na ito, at least nakikipag communicate siya. Kaysa noon na para akong statue, ni hindi niya mapansin. He's still cold, timid and elope but I think I can manage that. I don't feel bad naman about being with him e, kaya okay lang.

We were silent for a minute nang biglang may cellphone na tumunog. I knew it wasn't mine because wala naman sounds ang sa akin kung hindi vibration lang. He shifted his seat at bumunot mula sa bulsa. He took out his iPhone. He didn't answer the call but I knew there was also a text because it beeped.

He look at me, "I need to go. Urgent meeting with the family."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure, Ajin. Go ahead!" I wish I could have your number.

He nodded too, grabbed his things and left. I sighed. Now, I'm bored too. Tatayo na sana ako nang maramdaman ang cellphone kong nag vibrate mula sa bulsa. Kinuha ko agad ito dahil alam ko kung sino ito. Wala naman ibang tatawag sa akin kung hindi ang Feds lang.

I immediately answered the call after seeing Boe's name on the screen,

"Hey! I couldn't contact you for days!" I started.

"I'm sorry about that. Something happened but everything is alright now. May report ka ba?"

I sighed. "It's hard pretending to be something I'm not, Boe. Much more harder to think that I'm a Fed. You shouldn't leave me like that when I have something to tell and what if there's an emergency?"

I heard him sighed from the other line, this poor old man. "I'm sorry, last na 'yan hija. So, start talking now."

I rolled my eyes from that sudden change of tone. Jeez! "I found out what we're looking for."

Saglit na natahimik ang kabilang linya. "Continue,"

"the Company, their founder is Nolasco Anton Iba Lopes—the NAIL tattoo you were talking about wasn't just a tattoo but also a name. They are a private organization for hitmen." I said.

"How about the son?"

"I don't know about the son yet, Boe. But, that information is already a lead, it's a start. We don't need his son anymore if we start to investigate them. You can pull me out now. I can help you. I have few knowledges sa the Company."

"Why? How?" Boe asked, really, he did not know?

"That was where I started."

"I see, but unfortunately, we can't pull you out."

Natigilan ako sa gulat at napatayo, "What?!"

Boe sighed, "Calm down, kid."

"No, why?!"

"Hindi maglalabas ng student ang Academy sa kalagitnaan ng devil's battle. We have to wait until it's over. After that, kaylangan pa namin kausapin ang dean."

Napalingon ako ng biglang may kumaluskos. I saw a shadow few meters away from me. Pinatay ko agad ang tawag at mabilis na tumakbo para habulin ang anino na nakita. Maraming matataas na puno ang nasa paligid dahil patungo na ito sa Frontier forest. I heard delikado roon but I need to stop this asshole.

Because I can run fast, namataan ko agad ang isang lalaki na tumatakbo. He is gangster based on his uniform. I run faster until I can reach him. Because of tense and fear, nadapa ang lalaki sa lupa. Sumalampak ang katawan niya sa madahon at medyo maputik na lupa. I immediately get him up at binalya sa katabing puno.

I saw his unfamiliar face looking so scared. But, there's also braviness and cowardness on his eyes that I know he would use against me.

"I'm a f*****g gangster you b***h!" he tried to snatch my arm but I was stronger than him. Pinaikot ko ang kamay niya tsaka muling binalya ang katawan niya but this time paharap sa puno. Inipit ko ang mukha niya sa magaspang na katawan ng puno.

"What did you hear?" I asked coldly,

"You're a f*****g spy! The headmistress has to know this. Traitor! Didn't you know that spy is prohibited here?" he said, smirking.

"Paano malalaman ng dean kung hindi mo na masasabi?" when the man heard that, nagsimula siyang kabahan at magpumiglas. That was my cue to smirk at him.

"You see, now you're scared."

"You can't kill me, b***h! Malalaman nila, mamamatay ka rin!"

Natawa ako sa sinabi nito, "Malamang, lahat tayo mamamatay. Pero mauuna ka." before he could say something, I snapped his neck. Wala akong ibang narinig kung hindi ang pag lagutok ng buto nito sa leeg at ang pag bagsak ng katawan niya sa sahig na wala nang buhay.

I look at his lifeless body. Walang sinoman ang dapat makaalam kung sino at ano ako.