CHAPTER 02.

I REMEMBERED THE first time I saw a dead body right in front of me. It was the body of a woman from a low class family na "tinulungan" ni daddy pero hindi na ito makapagbayad ng inutang niya sa pamilya namin. It was inside his office, and I wasn't supposed to witness it dahil bawal akong pumasok sa opisina niya. I was six years old back then.

I remembered how my eyes widened when the bullet went through the woman's head at kasabay ng pagbagsak ng wala nang buhay niyang katawan, bumagsak din ako sa sahig dahil sa sobrang gulat sa nasaksihan. My body was trembling, and my tears were on the verge of falling.

Daddy caught me because of that. And also at that moment, my training to becoming the heartless heir of Azarcon Family Clan started. At an early age of six, I was trained by being on daddy's side and witness every "business" they do. At first, it was uncomfortable and felt like I shouldn't be doing that. But as time goes by, I slowly become like my family.

The first time I held a gun was when I was in highschool, sixteen years old ako no'n. Daddy would always put a gun inside my bag for safety purposes. And at that time, it came in handy. I was walking alone at night, just got out from school, when a man suddenly kidnapped me and attempted to rape me along with his friends. Out of panic, I fished out the gun inside my bag, and pulled the trigger right at his heart. Daddy was sneaky, because the gun had a silencer.

That was my first kill. It gave me so much adrenaline rush. And suddenly, I want to do it again, and again, and again. And that night, I went home with my white school uniform turning red because of so much blood. Daddy was proud of me after I told what happened. I was, too.

Mariin akong napapikit nang maramdaman ang malakas na hampas ng kung anong malambot sa mukha ko. Inis na inis akong nagmulat ng mga mata, at mas lalo lang akong nainis nang makita ko ang pagmumukha ng salarin na may hawak ng unan.

"What the fuck?!" I said with my hoarse voice dahil kagigising pa lang. Umagang-umaga, mura kaagad ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Couldn't help it, people around me just irritate the hell out of me any time of the day everyday.

Umangat ang isa sa makakapal niyang kilay. "Didn't I tell you I'll be picking you up today? At kapag naabutan kitang tulog pa rin-"

"-bubutasan mo ang tagiliran ko," pagtatapos ko sinabi niya, sarap napairap. Yeah, he did. Last night after I went home, he did text me that. Kaso, I was so tired, diretso na lang akong natulog. Ni hindi na ako nakapag shower at natulog na amoy usok at dugo. "Yeah, yeah, fine! Go out!"

Pinilit kong tumayo ang sarili para lang itulak palabas ng kwarto ko si Trisver. Siya, pormang-porma na sa putting uniform niya habang ako mukha pang sinabunutan ng sampung demonyo dahil kagigising ko lang.

Nang nasa labas na siya, mabilis kaagad akong pumasok sa banyo at naligo na. Usually, I took up to 2hrs inside the bathroom pero dahil naghihintay si Trisver, kalahating oras lang akong naligo. I just wore my bathrobe after, and did my morning skincare routine. And while doing that, sinuot ko na lang din ang uniform ko. I then blow-dried my hair and just let it flow.

Nang natapos na ako sa pagre-ready, hinablot ko lang ang bag kong nasa ibabaw ng study table bago ako lumabas ng kwarto ko at dumiretso sa dining area kung saan si Trisver.

He was talking to our cook, probably telling her to cook his favorite breakfast. Napansin niya ang presensiya ko kaya napabaling kaagad siya ng tingin sa akin, dahilan para mapalingon din sa akin si Aling Amanda, ang cook namin.

"Magandang umaga, Ms. Quincy," bati kaagad ng matanda sabay ngiti. "Naihanda ko na ang agahan mo."

Gumanti ako ng ngiti sa kaniya.

I grew up without a mother. Ang sabi, namatay raw noong ipinanganak ako. But I didn't mind, ni hindi ko hinahanap. I was contented with only my daddy taking care of me. But after learning about how my mother was also a cool and badass woman that eventually made my father fall for her, I tattooed her favorite flower on my back. A black baccara rose just right below my nape, and the thorny stem and vines of the flower tracing my spine pababa.

Aling Amanda has been our cook since I could remember. At siya ang tumayong ina hindi lang sa akin, kundi halos sa aming lahat dito sa bahay. She's the oldest maid here in our house. Wala na rin kasi siyang pamilya, sabi niya, kaya hindi na raw siya aalis dito sa amin.

Trisver and I ate breakfast together. At habang nasa hapag kami, as usual, sinesermunan niya na naman ako tungkol sa mga bagay na hindi ko dapat ginagawa. Sa sobrang sanay ko nang naririnig siyang gumaganito, baka sabayan ko pa siya.

I was about to pick up my glass of milk, nang may dumating na maid kasama ang taong minsan ko lang makitang bumisita rito sa bahay.

"Madame," bati ng maid sabay yuko. "Nandito po si Sir Reynald."

Nalipat ang paningin ko kay Reynald, na halatang kagagaling lang sa biyahe. He's the leader sa south ng territory namin, and he's in charge of the shipments and other cargos that goes in and out of our territory.

"What?" tanong ko kaagad.

"Last month, sinabi mong personal kong ibalita sa 'yo kapag natanggap na namin ang cargo mula sa associate natin sa Russia," aniya. "It arrived today, at baka gusto mo lang i-check."

It rang a bell.

Right. I did ask him that. Last month, I asked one of our associates in Russia na na may ammunition company na padalhan kami ng panibagong mga armas. It took them so long to ship the weapons na nakalimutan kong inutos ko pala.

Binalik ko na lang ang paningin ko sa pagkain ko. "Sorry. I'm busy with school." Totoo naman. "Go ask my uncle instead. He has a lot of free time, anyway."

He does. Mas madalas pa siya sa casino kaysa sa loob ng opisina niya. I was thinking of taking over the company but I also thought I'm too young to work my ass off. Mag-eenjoy muna ako, saka ko ikukulong ang sarili sa opisina ng Azarcon Empire.

And speaking of my uncle, I haven't seen him for weeks now. Not that I care about him, but it's just so usual not seeing him at least once a week just to criticize my way of handling the organization, knowing how he was also dying to have this position.

We talked about other things that were happening in the south territory bago siya tuluyang umalis at hinatid ng isa sa mga maid palabas. Matagal-tagal na rin noong huling pumunta ako sa south territory, hindi na ako ganoong updated sa mga bago ro'n. I trust my leaders a lot naman kung anong gusto nilang gawin doon sa kani-kanilang assigned territory, dahil alam kong ang loyalty nila, mananatiling sa akin at sa family.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ng agahan ni Trisver, nagpahatid na kaagad kami kay Henry papuntang school. As much as I want to ride my motorcycle to school, they said I shouldn't dahil delikado. Baka kalalabas ko lang ng bahay, patay na kaagad ako sa dami ba namang gustong patumbahin ang family namin.

Pagkarating sa school, my "Quincy na estudyante sa BS Accountancy" personality automatically activated. The student Quincy was known to be a smart but ma-attitude pero dipende sa kaharap. If you're on my good side, then you're lucky. If not, you're still lucky but not entirely. Sadly, I couldn't kill anyone here in school. Bawal, ayon kay Tristan.

Si Trisver naman, he's studying med and currently on his first year of med school, at iba siya ng paraalan sa akin pero malapit lang naman as per his request. He said he wants to be near as possible kahit na magkaiba kami ng kinukuhang program.

I was at my table, quietly answering our assignment para sa Accounting 1 na mamayang hapon pa ipapasa, nang may biglang nagpatong ng kamay sa ibabaw ng papael ko. Napahinto ako sa ginagawa at napatitig sa kamay na nakapatong sa papel ko.

"Quincy."

Naririnig ko pa lang ang boses niya, kumukulo na kaagad ang dugo ko. Kaya hindi na lang ako nag-angat ng tingin dahil baka kung mas mainis pa ako dahil sa pagmumukha niya, makapatay pa ako.

"Hindi ka ba talaga papayag?" he asked after I didn't respond to him.

He's been asking me to go on a date with him kahit isang beses simula pa noong first semester. He's the school's heartthrob, kaya nasagi siguro ang ego niya noong una akong tumanggi, at gusto niyang ma-heal iyon sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanong sa akin hanggang sa pumayag ako.

Unfortunately, I won't. Never. Ever.

I sighed lazily. "No thanks," I said in a bored tone. I tapped his hand with my pen. "Now, can you get your hand off? Nagsasagot ako ng assignment."

He scoffed. Narinig ko ang upuan sa harapan ko na umusog. And finally, he removed his hand on my paper. Umupo siya roon nang nakaharap pa rin sa akin.

"Why?" His head tilted to the side cockily. "Hindi ka naman lugi sa akin. At saka, matutulungan pa kita dahil anak ako ng isa sa board of directors ng school."

And I could buy the lives of all of those board directors, even yours and your family.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. I smiled at him, but my eyes were widened enough to let him know he's starting to piss me off.

"Why, you ask?" marahang tanong ko. "Because I don't want to. That's it."

He just smirked. And I swear, I heard something inside me cracked a bit. "Why are you playing hard to get?"

Hindi ako nagsalita. I just started at him, my smile not fading. In my head, I already stabbed his eye with my pen. At kung hindi pa siya titigil, baka gawin ko na nga.

"Come on!" He laughed. "Just once, Quincy. Hindi ba talaga pwede?"

My right brow twitched, and the last thread of patience snapped. Still smiling at him, I raised my hand and swiftly darted my pen in between his fingers, causing his eyes to widen and for him to move back a bit. His lips parted, and his chest was raising up and down. When his eyes gazed up to my face, fear and shock were evident. Even our classmates gasped when I did it.

"Hindi pwede," I said sweetly, answering his question. "And if you ask me this again, my pen won't miss your hand. Hmm?"

"W-What the fuck!?" Mabilis siyang tumayo at saka bumalik sa upuan niya sa likuran.

Ako naman, inalis na sa wakas ang pekeng ngiti at napabuga na lang ng hangin. Gosh, I snapped right there! Kung hindi ko lang kaagad nahila ang naputol kong pasensya para itali ulit, baka nasaksak ko talaga ng pen ang kamay niya! I'll get an earful from Tristan kung nagkataon!

Nasapo ko na lang ang noo ko. Nang balingan ko ng tingin ang mga kaklase ko, nginitian ko sila pero nagsiiwas lang sila ng mga tingin at bumalik sa kani-kanilang mga ginagawa.

--

SCHOOL'S FINALLY OVER. Maaga ang labas namin ngayon dahil Monday, wala kaming class after 2PM. Nag-crave ako bigla ng siomai kaya pagkalabas ko ng classroom, dumiretso kaagad ako sa paborito kong stall ng siomai na nasa tabi lang ng school. Masarap doon kaya siksikan palagi, pero dahil 2PM pa, kaunti pa lang ang customers.

Nakabili na ako ng limang siomai, at naglalakad na ako pabalik sa bench sa may gate ng school dahil doon ko hihintayin sina Henry at Trisver. At habang kumakain ako at naglalakad, tinext ko si Trisver na maaga akong lumabas at bumili ng siomai.

From: Quack Doctor

Quickly go back to school, Quincy.

Napairap na lang ako. Huminto ako saglit para magreply sa kaniya.

To: Quack Doctor

Duh. I'll be fine. I can spot some of our men behind the bushes and trees.

Want me to buy you some siomai? I swear, masarap!

Nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad pagkatapos kong mapindot ang send button. Binulsa ko ang phone ko bago ako nagfocus sa siomai ko habang naglalakad. Kada kagat ko, ngumingiti ako dahil ang sarap talaga lalo na ang chili oil nila! Paano kaya nila 'to ginawa?

I was about to stuff the last siomai in my mouth when I felt a presence behind me. It sent danger warnings to my system, and out of reflex, hinagis ko kaagad sa likuran ko ang hawak kong paper plate ng siomai.

And I was right, there was someone. And before I could even process anything, he suddenly did a roundhouse kick and aimed for my head. Mabilis akong umatras at kinalas ang bag kong nakasabit sa likod ko para iikot ang strap sa paa niya.

Pero mabilis niyang nabawi ang paa niya. Namilog ang mga mata ko nang naglabas siya bigla ng kutsilyo and within a second, he swung his knife aiming for my neck pero mabilis akong nakaiwas. But he was sneaky. He took advantage of me bending my body, sinipa niya ang paa ko kaya tuluyan akong natumba sa lupa.

Before I could even open my eyes, he went on top of me and was about to stab my heart but I was able to stop him by using my phone as a shield. His knife went through my phone, at mas diniin niya pa kaya unti-unting bumabaon sa phone ang kutsilyo.

I gritted my teeth. He's strong, at nanginginig na ang mga kamay ko para lang pigilan ang kutsilyo niyang umabot sa dibdib ko.

I raised my head and stared at his eyes, na tanging nakikita ko dahil balot na balot ang mukha niya ng itim na mask at itim na beanie. His dark brown eyes were staring into mine like he has been wanting me to die all this time, and he's about to accomplish that right now.

I gasped when he fished out another knife from his pocket. He was about to stab my neck again, but a gunshot made his knife fly.

Napabaling kaagad ako ng tingin sa kung saan nanggaling ang putok. I glared at the men who were running towards me. Galing sila sa likod ng pino.

"You dumbshits!" sigaw ko.

Before I could even grab his hand para hindi siya makatakas, mabilis siyang nakatayo at tumalon papasok sa itim na kotseng dumaan sa gilid namin. Kumapit siya sa pinto no'n at diretsong pumasok. Mabilis ang takbo ng kotse kaya tumatayo pa lang ako, nawala na sa paningin ko ang kotse.

"Madame Boss! Ayos ka lang ba?"

Matalim kong binaling ang paningin sa grupo ng mga lalaking kararating lang sa tabi ko. Out of frustration, I snatched the gun from his hand and was about to pull the trigger and shoot him in the head, but someone was quick to snatch the gun away from me.

"Quincy, stop it." It was Trisver, and he's dead serious.

Napasigaw na lang ako at saka pagalit na hinagis ang hawak kong phone kong sira na. Tuluyan iyong nabasag at nagsiliparan sa kung saan ang mga parte no'n. "Fuck it!"

"Quincy, we need to go home fast."

Hindi na ako nakaangal dahil hinawakan niya na ang likod ko at iginiya ako papasok sa kotse kung saan naghihintay si Henry. When we entered the car, Trisver didn't say anything. He probably knew what happened.

That was clearly and assassination attempt. Someone ordered to kill me, but they failed. Once I find out who they were, it's all over for them.