Montepalma Series 3: A Paradise Between Our Distance

Chapter 10

"In this training I'm going to teach you three things," I started. He was standing in front of me in our dungeon. "First thing first, you have to learn the art of manipulation."

His head is moving upside down as he listens carefully to what I say. He was gazing at me with passion and adoration as I spoke. As if every word that comes out from my mouth is very important to him.

"The art of manipulation is the key to how you put down your enemy. Confidence is the key on how you manipulate a person," I explained. "It can help you to get what you want. You have to know how to lure your enemy into your wicked games."

He swallowed. "I can do that. What is the second one?"

I smirked inwardly. Hinatak ko siya patayo. His eyes were watching me intensely as I walked around him. Checking his body and his muscles. He can hit his opponent easily because he has the advantage of his ripped body. My eyes drifted on his lips because he was slowly licking his lower lips.

"The second one, you have to learn the art of fighting. It can be an attack or defense. Most probably you can attack your opponet but how can you protect yourself if you don't know how to block the attack of your enemy?" Huminto ako mismo sa harapan niya. "Learn to know the vital organs. When you hit the vital organs of your enemy, you have a higher chance of winning."

"Vital organs? What part?" he asked.

"Hmm… watch me. Since you're a man, I can hit you in this area," I replied. I lifted my knee to point out his pelvic area. "Once an opponent strikes you in our private area, you're doomed. Learn to block the attack or protect it."

He nodded his head as he realized everything. Nakangiti ako. Masaya ako na may naiitindihan siya. My fist brought up to his abdomen.

"When I hit this, you'll fall," I stated. Napalunok siya tila natakot sa sinabi ko. "You have to protect your liver because you'll be dead."

"Show me how to block the strike, then."

I smirked. "Easy. Hit me right now, Montepalma."

Nag-alanganin siya kung sasaktan niya ba ako hindi ngunit nakita niya naman na confident ako ay sinubukan niya tamaan iyong abdomen area. I blocked it with my knuckles. He looks shocked on how fast I block his attack.

"See? You can attack but you can't defend yourself. Let me try to hit you," I said.

He released a harsh breath and replied, "Fine. Go on, hit me."

With that being said, I used my fist to bend his head near my knee so I can hit his temple. Syempre hindi ko nilakasan para mapakita lang sa kaniya na hindi siya aware. Halos mamutla siya sa ginawa kong atake kaya binitawan ko siya.

"Like I said… protect your vital organs," I reminded him. "Patay ka na agad dahil inatake ko ulo mo."

"Jesus! Hindi ako sanay, Ivory!"

He seemed frustrated. Sino ba ang hindi? Hindi siya trained lumaban. Ironically, kung sino pa iyong ayaw sa ganito siya naman ang nasa sitwasyon para makipag laban. Kaya wala akong magagawa kundi turuan siya para parehas kami manalo sa misyon namin.

I chuckled. "Alright. It's your turn to attack me. Go on."

I saw his leg twitches, which indicates he is going to hit me with his feet. When his legs lifted up, I blocked his attack by gripping his feet with too much force. Para hindi lang talaga ako matamaan. His eyes grew bigger in surprise.

"Be aware of your enemy's movement. Watch their body, Montepalma."

"I'm sorry I was distracted by your pretty face…" aniya para bang hindi kami nagt-training. "It's hard to focus when you're too beautiful in front of me."

I rolled my eyes. "Really? Then take this!"

My body twisted in the air then I gave him an uppercut. He fell down on the floor, his handsome face almost crushed against it. I heard him grunted in pain. I could feel how excruciating and painful it was. Naglakad ako sa harapan niya at nag crouch para magpantay kaming dalawa.

"Rule number one, stop being flirty when we're doing training. I might kill you, Montepalma," I warned.

He groaned. "You're too strong! f**k!"

“Stand up. Don’t be such a crying baby.”

Days passed, and we continued training for his hand to hand combat. I’m very glad that he could easily learn from what I taught him. However, he is not that pro yet on blocking the attack. He is too slow but he’s strong enough to attack an enemy.

“Hit me! Don’t be such a coward!” I hissed.

We were both standing in front of each other while I’m composing my stance. He hurled a punch but I blocked it by holding his wrist then pushing his shoulder a bit. I showed him an arrogant smirk.

It’s time for my attack. In one strike, he fell down again.

“Stand up!”

Naalala ko nung panahon na sixteen years old pa lang ako ay tinuturuan na agad ako ni Papa ng hand to hand combat. He was so strict but gentle on how he fought me. Naalala ko na dapat masaktan ako para malaman ko kung ano mangyayari sa akin if I’m being unaware. Doon ako natuto na kahit babae ako, wala akong panahon para umiyak at tumakbo kay Mama.

Kaya siguro na natuwa sa akin si Papa kahit ba pinangarap niya magkaroon ng isang anak na lalaki. I remember vividly when I turned eighteen, he showed me how to use a gun properly. At first, my mother was against it. Ayaw ni Mama na makapatay ako ng tao ngunit naiitindihan ko si Papa. Minulat niya na ako sa mundo kung gaano karahas ang mundong kinatatayuan natin.

Hanggang sa nag-eehersisyo muna kami ni Hansen. He was doing some push ups while I’m sitting on his back. Ako nagbibilang kung naka ilang push up na siya. We are both aiming for one hundred push-ups. Para mas lalo na tumigas ang mga muscles niya at mas malakas pa siya.

“Keep going, Hansen,” I snickered.

I heard him panting so hard while carrying me on his back. But I didn’t hear any complaint from his filthy mouth. He just agreed on whatever we did. Mukhang naintindihan niya naman na para rin naman sa kaniya ito.

“It’s very important on how you build your muscle in brachial, sternal, and inguinal. Build your muscles in that part.”

He panted. “Got it, partner!”

I must say… our relationship as a partner somehow improved. We are casual to each other and while we are doing some training, he is professional but sometimes his playboy is kicking in the middle of training. He knew I could handle being flirty with him.

Nasa unibersidad kami at ginagawa na namin ang assignments namin. Nakukuha ko naman iyong loob ni Hubert kaya medyo nagiging kumportable si Hubert ipakita sa akin. Kaya nandito ako sa kaniyang opisina. Nakaupo ako sa upuan sa harapan ng office desk niya.

“I’m delighted that you got perfect scores in your quizzes, Ivory,” Hubert said.

“Of course, you’re a great professor,” I responded. Sumandal ako sa backrest. Napadpad ang mata ko sa kaniyang book shelves. “What’s your favorite book, Hubert?”

“Oh, that’s a great question.” His fingertips were tapping against the wooden desk. “My all time favorite is The Martian by Andy Weir. How about you?”

I scrunch my nose. “I’m not a book worm. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. If ever you have some time… try to read some books to ease your stress. It may help you calm your mind somehow.”

I heard a knock then another professor came inside the office. His confused eyes darted in my direction. I gave him an amusing smile. Siguro nagtataka kung bakit kami lang dalawa rito ni Hubert.

“Uh… Mr. Moulin, we will have a meeting right now,” the professor informed without removing his eyes. “It’s urgent. We need to discuss some plans.”

Hubert huffed. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Tumayo na si Hubert at nauna na lumabas ang professor na naghatid ng balita sa kaniya. Hubert halted at the doorway then turned his glance at me.

“Wait for me here, Ivory. I won’t be long,” he declared.

I nodded my head. “Take your time.”

Sinarado niya na ang pintuan kaya mabilis ako tumayo. I have to check his bookshelves. Ang mga daliri ko ay dumaan sa makakapal na pahina ng mga libro. Hanggang sa maaga ng atensyon ko ang sinabi niyang paborito niyang libro. Nakakunot noo ko habang humakbang palapit sa libro na iyon.

Nalilito pa rin ako paano matatago ang mga libro ang kayamanan niya? Kaya paghatak ko ng libro ay biglang gumalaw ang bookshelf. My eyes grew bigger when I realized that his bookshelf in his office is hiding the secret vault!

Halos marinig ko ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Mabilis ko sinarado baka maabutan ako ni Hubert. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin kila Uno na nandito ang secret vault. Kaya pinili ko muna umalis sa opisina niya. I went inside the restroom then washed my face with warm water.

Fucking hell!

Kinakabahan talaga ako. Maari bang doon nakatago ang kaniyang kayamanan? Did I just unmask his secrets?

“Are you a new student?”

Nilingon ko ang babae na sobrang putla at mahaba ang buhok. Her hair is a shiny blonde then her pouty lips have almost no life because she is pale.

“I am. Who are you?” I questioned.

“It doesn’t matter. You should stay away from him!” she answered. Mas lalo siya humakbang palapit sa akin. “You don’t know what you’re doing. He is a dangerous person here in this university!”

Her teeth are almost clenching with each other. Napalunok ako. Paano niya nalaman na malapit ako ngayon kay Hubert? Mabuti na lang kaming dalawa lang sa restroom.

I swallowed hard. “Calm down. What happened?”

“I-I used to be his student assistant. He targets his student with short hair and a smart one,” she explained. The tears brimmed in her eyes. “H-He f*****g raped me! He has our video tape, he told me that I need to pay him in order for the video not to spread. So my parents and him made an agreement. He is targeting the wealthiest student here in this university!”

In conclusion, he was getting some gold bars from his recent victims. Nanlamig ang kamay ko habang pinagmamasdan siya na mukhang wala na sa sarili. Nanlalambot ang puso ko para sa kaniya.

“Save yourself!” she begged. “You will be next!”

I gulped. “Thank you…”

Nakauwi na ako sa mansyon ng Marseille. Napansin ni Hansen ang pananahimik ko buong byahe. Bukod tanging siya lang ang nagsasalita habang malalim ang isipan ko. Kailangan ko na ito sabihin kay Vivian at Uno. Para makuha na nila iyong gold bars.

“Is there something wrong?” his voice is laced with concern.

“I know everything,” I answered. I was having a hard time swallowing the bile in my throat. “Let’s talk about how we got his gold bars. Alam ko na kung nasaan.”

“Really? Paano mo nalaman?”

“Someone talked to me. She was his recent student assistant.”

Mabilis ako bumaba ng garahe pagka park pa lang ni Hansen. Bumaba ako at lumapit kay Vivian. She was giving an exasperated look.

“I know where his golden bars are located,” I announced.

Her eyes twinkled upon my remark. Naagaw ko na atensyon nila Uno at Dos. Hanggang ngayon nanginginig ang kamay ko sa kung paano umiyak sa akin ang babae. Kahit pangalan niya ay hindi niya na sinabi.

“It was hiding in his office. His bookshelf serves as the hiding place of the secret vault. I need one of you to crack the code,” I continued. “One of his ex-student assistants came to me and revealed everything. He is so evil. He used to blackmail his victims to ask for a large amount of money.”

Hansen gaped his mouth. “It makes sense…”

“Uno is skilled at cracking the vault. He will come with you two,” Vivian declared. Ngumisi siya sa akin tila masaya siya sa binalita ko. “Good job, whore.”

Napatingin kami ni Uno sa mata. Mukhang gusto niya ako samahan sa misyon para makuha niya ang gold bars na inipon ni Mr. Moulin mula sa mga biktima niya. I shivered when I learned how he got those gold bars.