The Deception's Rage

Chapter 2

Zale

Ika-ika akong naglakad papalapit sa gate ng bahay ni Chase. Napahinga ako nang maluwag dahil saktong magtatapon siya ng basura at wala na akong lakas para buksan pa ang gate. Napapikit ako sa inis dahil hindi man lang niya ako binalingan ng tingin kahit na nasa harapan niya lang ako. Habang hinihiwalay niya ang mga basura, lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinawakan siya sa leeg.

"f**k you, Chase," gigil na sambit ko habang ang isang kamay ko ay nakahawak sa tagiliran ko.

He dropped the trash he was holding and turned to me. "Andiyan ka pala, p're? Ha... ha!" Tinapik niya ang balikat ko at bumulong sa akin. "Wala bang nakasunod sa 'yo?"

"Wala," nanghihinang sagot ko.

Inalalayan niya ako papasok sa loob ng bahay at pinaupo sa sofa. "Puta, kinilabutan ako sa kaniya! Narinig ko pa na puputulan ako ng daliri." Niyakap niya ang sarili niya at nagkunwaring nanginginig.

"Para kang tanga," pambabara ko sa kaniya. "You didn't even look back to me noong tumakbo ka palabas sa factory." I uttered a 'tsk'.

"Sorry, naunahan ng nerbyos!" aniya. Pinahubad niya sa akin ang sira-sira kong t-shirt, at nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang mga sugat ko. "Pa'no ka nakaligtas doon?"

I closed my eyes in pain as he rinsed the cuts on my body with cool water to remove the dirt. He applied pressure using a gauze to stop the bleeding, which lasted for a few minutes. Pagtapos ay nilagyan niya ng antiseptic ointment para raw hindi ma-infect. Finally, he covered the cuts with sterile gauze to protect it from further injury.

I lay down on the sofa as the pain from the wounds inflicted during my fight with Aurelia began to set in. At first, I thought she would surrender when I threatened to harm her vision, but in response, she cut my side, causing me to lose my balance. Pero hindi lang 'yon doon natapos dahil I was able to make a shallow cut on her eye. Although it won't blind her, it will likely leave a scar. I sustained several injuries and wounds from her, but she took more hits that could cause internal pain.

In the end, we just both passed out from exhaustion.

"Ano ba'ng kailangan mo roon at dinamay mo pa ako?" tanong ni Chase habang nililinis ang mga sugat ko sa mukha.

"I'll tell you soon," I let out a soft sigh. "Baka nga rin pala hindi mo na muna ako makita in the next few months, nakahanap na ako ng bagong trabaho."

"Ba't ka pa nagpapaalam sa akin? Wala naman akong pakialam sa 'yo."

My forehead creased. Wala ka talagang aasahang matinong sagot sa kaniya. I heard him chuckled kaya sinuntok ko siya nang mahina sa balikat. Nang matapos niyang gamutin ang mga sugat ko ay tumayo na ako at nagbihis.

"Alis na 'ko," paalam ko sa kaniya.

"Hanep, boss, ah! Wala man lang pasalamat, ganoon na lang?" He crossed his arms.

"Oh, ito pasalamat!" Tinaas ko ang middle finger ko bago kumaway sa kaniya palabas.

Kinuha ko ang papel na nasa bulsa ko. Paggising ko kanina ay wala na si Aurelia, pero may iniwan siyang papel na may nakasulat na address. That means she's letting me in.

"How can someone live in such a secluded area?" I uttered to myself.

The house was surrounded by tall trees, making it impossible to see from the road. It had a modern structure with clean lines and sharp angles. It was made of steel and glass, giving it a sleek look, pero walang bintana sa harap. Even her house is intimidating.

Nagtaka ako dahil walang doorbell. Instead, I had to pass through a security system that was advanced. Kusa na lamang nag-type ang code, dahilan para bumukas ang gate at pinto. As soon as I entered the house, I could feel the cool air from air-conditioning. The light was dim, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee hit me.

Kasabay ng pagliwanag ng bahay ay may sumalubong na kutsilyo sa akin. "s**t!" I quickly caught it with my bare hands. It's only a few centimeters away from my chest, and I almost died. Aurelia appeared with a smile on her face.

"You really do have nice reflexes," she said, amused.

As she sat on her chair, I noticed that she was wearing an eye patch over her right eye. Her kitchen was so spacious, with stainless steel appliances and a large island in the center. Naka-messy bun ang mahaba niyang buhok, maliban sa bangs niya. She offered me coffee, but I declined.

I don't know what's going on her head, baka may lason pa ang binibigay niya.

I continued to scan her house. It was minimalist in design, with white painted walls and dark hardwood floors. Her furniture was all-black leather. You could see only a few decorations, except for a few high-tech gadgets scattered. There were monitors and computers on the other side. One thing that caught my attention was that her house only had one room, and there were no personal items or photos anywhere. Usually, people have over two rooms even though they're living alone.

Nang matapos akong pagmasdan ang buong lugar ay binato ko pabalik sa kaniya ang kutsilyo. Umiinom siya sa mug, pero nagawa niya pa ring iwasan 'yon nang kalmado lang. Tumusok ang kutsilyo sa cabinet na nasa likod niya.

"You also have good reflexes," I plainly said as I already expected it from her.

"I know," she shrugged. "Since you have already come here, I will say this once and for all. If you die, it will be solely your responsibility. I am a mercenary. I do everything for money, including killing. If you find this absurd, you may leave now, but it will not be easy."

"I have no problem with that, as long as you help me find and kill the person responsible for my father's death. I am willing to be used by you," I said firmly, with a serious expression.

"In order to get revenge, you have to forget being a human. I won't need you here if you let your emotions get to you when making complex decisions." She sipped on her coffee, then looked me straight in the eye.

"Yeah, seems not a problem to me."

She rolled her eyes, making it obvious that she doesn't want me to agree with what she said. But I really do not have a problem with that. After I lost my father, I got stuck in the past, and I never really moved on from that time.

I had to survive whatever it took, and now I have to survive whatever it takes.

"Alright, then. We'll use each other. You'll be the thread to my needle and likewise. Thread runs out and one of us could, too." She cleared her throat. "But let me make one thing clear, I still don't trust you."

Right, she just let me in because our fight was a draw, and neither of us had won or lost. We were equally matched.

I don't really know anything about her either. And I have no idea how much she knows about me. Either way, it doesn't matter. The only thing that keeps me going is I haven't killed my father's killer yet. And I'm hundred percent sure that the woman in front of me would be a big help.

"You think I trust you, too? You've tried to kill me multiple times." I hurl back.

"It's an assessment," she chuckled. She was saying in an indirect way that she enjoyed it. "And it'll not be the last. You should sleep with one eye open. I might stab you straight into your heart."

"f**k off," I said, exasperated.

"Damn cold!" she laughed.

Does she annoy people like this before killing them?

She handed me a contract. I read it thoroughly, and everything was fine to me until I bumped into one condition that made me ponder. "The f**k is this?" I asked her.

It was written that I can't fall in love with her.

Sa tingin niya ba ay nag-a-apply ako bilang f**k buddy niya?

"Oh, just to make sure that our relationship is pure business."

"Of course it is, why would I fall in love with you?" I argued. I honestly can't read her. Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan niya ba ako o sadyang ganito lang talaga siya.

"Then sign it!" she argued back. "You're making a fuss over nothing."

I signed it to finish our argument. Binalik ko ito sa kaniya, at nilagay niya ito sa envelope at saka nilagyan ng seal.

"I'll head back home and get my things." Paalam ko sa kaniya.

One of the conditions is that I have to live with her. She wants to see every move I make and ensure that I won't mess things up or become a burden to her. At first, it bothered me that she was allowing a stranger to live in her house, but now it makes sense to me. I should be more concerned about myself.

"You don't have to. I already did it." Itinuro niya sa akin ang pinto ng nag-iisang kwarto. "Go sleep there, I'll stay here on the couch."

"What?" gulat na tanong ko.

Her right eyebrow rose as she made a gesture indicating that I should go upstairs or she would add more cuts to my body. "Oh, before I forget, you'll meet Axel tomorrow. He handles access to all information," she drawled.

I know Axel. I had tried to do a background search on him, but nothing appeared except for his name and age. No wonder it was hidden— he was a hacker. He probably knows more about me than Aurelia does. They had planned this all along. Before I had even made the request to obtain my wallet from Chase, they knew what would happen next.

That reminds me of something. Kailangan ko pang ibalik 'yong pera kay Kairi.

Well, I have at least a five percent cut of the profit if I pull this job off. Being a mercenary who will do anything for money doesn't sound too bad.

Nang makapasok ako sa kwarto ni Aurelia, sumalubong sa akin ang pamilyar na amoy. Her room smells like her. It is sweet but subtle, with a fragrance that lingers on the air in a gentle way. Binuksan ko ang ilaw at bumungad sa akin ang queen size bed niya na mukhang hindi pa nahihigaan kahit isang beses. Napalingon ako sa bedside table niya na iisang lamp lang ang nakapatong, katabi nito ang dalawa kong maleta. Naglatag na lang ako sa sahig sa ilalim ng makapal na sapin dahil ayaw kong higaan ang kama niya.

I took a shower first before getting some rest. Masyado pang sariwa ang mga sugat at pasa ko, kaya dahan-dahan muna akong kumilos. This was the first time that I had taken so many major hits from someone.

As for my plans before reaching out to her, it sounds dumb but I have none. It's hard to start something when everyone seems out of my league. But one thing I am sure of is that the one who killed my father is someone who works in the showbiz industry, and maybe it's the same killer who killed Aurelia's mother.

I had to live on the streets and learn everything I could. I spent my days picking up odd jobs to make ends meet while keeping my ear to the ground for any news or rumors that could lead me to the truth. It wasn't easy, but I knew it was the only way to avenge my father and bring justice to those who had been wronged. And now, I might finally have a chance to get closer to the answers I've been seeking.

Mabilis na lumipas ang gabi at paglabas ko ng kwarto ay may kausap si Aurelia. He stood at around six feet tall with a lean build. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt that was rolled up. Lumingon siya sa akin habang ang ulo ay nakabaliko nang kaunti. He's wearing glasses— a common type for computer freaks like him. He has a soft features that could make anyone go feral.

"I'm Axel," pagpapakilala niya sa akin.

"I know," I answered. "Zale," I introduced myself in turn.

"I supposed Aria already told you everything?" he asked.

Tumango lang ako sa tanong niya dahil wala naman na akong sasabihin. Napalingon ako kay Aurelia, at kumunot ang noo ko sa suot niya. She's wearing a teacher's uniform.

She's a teacher?

"I'm undercover. Stop looking at me like that," she said, massaging her temple. "There's a report of a missing teenager who's studying at Valleydale University."

She handed me the pictures of the missing girl. She appeared to be around 16 to 17 years old.

"Isn't that a prestigious school?" I asked.

"It is. The school's administration doesn't want the police to get involved because it could cause them backlash. The report was from the girl's homeroom teacher. She collected the students' phones and returned them after class, but Carleigh didn't come to the faculty room to retrieve hers. As for her parents, they are too busy with their businesses to notice that their child is missing." Aurelia answered.

"Any leads?" I asked again.

"None. But there's this girl in the same class who's like her sworn enemy. They don't argue, but usually when it's between girls, their fights are too sneaky," Axel replied. "Aurelia will go there as a substitute homeroom teacher since Ms. Olivia retired after making the report."

"Why did she retire?"

"Apparently, since she's trying so hard to find Carleigh, she starts receiving death threats," Aurelia sipped on her coffee before continuing. "She suspects it's the class' bully, Carleigh's enemy, Kelsey."

"Damn, kids nowadays are scary." I shook my head.

"Let's see who's scarier, then." Aurelia smirked. She bites off her hair tie while gathering her hair into a ponytail.

Nang matapos siya ay may hinagis siya sa aking susi. Tiningnan ko siya ng may pagtataka sa mukha ko. Hindi na niya ako hinintay makapagtanong kung ano'ng gagawin ko sa susi na ibinigay niya, deretso na lamang siyang lumabas.

"She's telling you to drive her off," Axel murmured. He tapped my shoulder before going out.

Shit! 'Di pa nga ako nakakaligo. I took a shower real quick at sumunod agad sa sasakyan ni Aurelia.

"What took you so long?" iritang aniya.

"Hanep, ginawa talaga akong driver." Puna ko nang makitang naka-upo siya sa back passenger seat siya.

Napahinto siya sa pagce-cellphone at tumingin sa akin. "You're saying something?"

What a temper.

I decided to keep my mouth shut and focus on driving. She seemed tense, and I didn't know the reason why. We drove in silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke up.

"How do you become approachable and kind?" she randomly asked. "Ah, f**k!"

So, that's why she's in a foul mood? Iniisip niya kung paano maging isang teacher. Not bad, though. If you appear kind and approachable, students will be more likely to trust you.

"I heard they all move according to Kelsey. Should I try to get her trust and ask for some information?" Aurelia said, rubbing her forehead. "I don't think that'll work. She's not dumb and she'll easily caught on."

"Fair point. She managed to manipulate everyone, so she's not your normal bitchy student." I agreed.

"I'm scared," she said, sounding frustrated.

Nakarating kami sa Valleydale University, Aurelia instructed me to wait for her in the parking lot. Mabilis lang naman daw siya dahil orientation lang ang gagawin niya. It would probably take just an hour or two. She got out of the car and walked towards the school building. I watched her disappear inside before leaning back in my seat and letting out a deep breath.

After one and a half hour, lumabas na siya sa school building. My brows furrowed as she steps closer to me. Basa ang buong katawan at damit niya. Magulo ang buhok niya at may mga balat pa ito ng basura. Her eyepatch was removed, exposing the fresh scar from cut on her right eye that I did when we had a one-on-one fight.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa kamao niyang may sugat at dugo.

I was even more confused when an ambulance arrived. Pagtingin ko sa likod ni Aurelia, may nagkukumpulang mga estudyante at teachers na may bitbit na duguang estudyanteng babae.

"What the hell happened?" I asked before she could even get in.

"I told you I was scared," she wiped her face. "Not for me, but for them."

There was not even a hint of fear in her eyes.

"Did you kill that girl?"

She gave a chortle. "Did I?"

I almost gasped.

"Silly, of course not!" She smiled. "I just broke a bit of her tendons. She'll live a long life. And, don't worry, they'll not kick me out."

Right, she's Aurelia. From the moment I first saw her, I knew she was sick and twisted.