CHAPTER 24

I WAS STANDING INSIDE an unfamiliar room. I didn't know how I got here. The white bed sheets on the bed in front of me looked so soft, and the white curtains looked elegant as they gently danced along the soft morning breeze that felt warm as it hit my skin.

I was just standing there, no thoughts inside my head. Staring at the bed, as if it was mine even though I haven't seen it in my entire life.

But there was something in the atmosphere that even though I wasn't familiar with the place, I felt home. I felt like I belong there. I felt like it was mine.

Where am I even? Why am I even here?

"Quincy..."

I blinked.

I slowly shifted my body and turned around to see who it was. There was a man standing at the other side of the ajar door, his face was half revealed at the small slit of the door.

He looked familiar. He felt familiar.

And before I could even tell who it was...

"Quincy!"

Naimulat ko ang mga mata nang marinig ang boses ni Trisver. Bumungad kaagad sa akin ang mukha niyang nag-aalala, nakayuko sa akin.

"Tris... ver?" My voice was hoarse, my throat was dry. How long have I been asleep? "N-Nasaan... t-tayo?"

Nakahiga ako ngayon sa isang kama. Malambot ang mattress kaya komportable ang likod ko. Nilibot ko kaagad ang paningin ko sa paligid, at nang napansing kahawig ng kwartong ito ang kwarto na nasa panaginip ko kanina lang, naitulak ko ang sarili ko patayo.

Hindi masyadong malawak ang kwarto, pero sapat na 'to para sa aming dalawa. May kama, may night stand, may maliit na square table malapit sa bintana na ka-linya ng pinto at may dalawang monobloc chair. May maliit na living room sa bandang gitna ng kwarto.

"I don't know," sagot ni Trisver. Napabuga siya ng hangin. "Nagising na lang ako na magkatabi na tayo rito. Maayos na ang mga suot."

Napabaling kaagad ako ng tingin sa kaniya. True enough, we were wearing different clothes from what we wore the last time we were awake. Naka-puting t-shirt siya na hakab sa kaniyang dibdib at braso, at itim na shorts. Ako naman, nakasuot ng puting shirt din pero nagmukhang loose sa akin dahil namayat ako. May suot din akong shorts.

The last thing I remembered before completely blacking out, we were inside his Mustang, at paalis na kami. We were planning on staying in a hotel for a few weeks or months, when a car hit ours and we lost consciousness.

Bumaba ako ng kama. Pagkaapak ko sa malamig na kahoy na sahig, naramdaman ko kaagad ang pagnginig ng mga binti ko. Ilang araw ba talaga akong walang malay?

I slowly walked towards the door and before I could even hold the knob, nagsalita si Trisver.

"That's locked," aniya kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya. "The windows are also locked. Kinukulong tayo rito ngayon, Quincy."

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin. "Who do you think did this?" Lumakad ako papunta sa glass window sa kabilang side the room.

"It must be them," he said and even if he doesn't tell me who he's referring to, alam ko na kaagad.

Hinawi ko ang kurtina at sumilip ako sa bintana. A beautiful garden of roses at the bottom greeted my eyes, and it glowed as the rays of the morning sun shone on them. Pero mas napansin ko na walang ibang bahay rito bukod sa bahay na ito.

I sighed. "We're isolated." Ipinagkrus ko ang mga braso sa dibdib ko. "Kahit pa sirain natin ang bintana at makalabas dito, sa tingin ko mahirapan tayong makaalis dito." I scoffed. "Sly bastards."

Natahimik kami pareho ni Trisver. Mukhang nag-iisip din siya kung paano kami aalis dito. He was just sitting on the bed, looking around and outside of the window, while I was roaming around and looking for anything I could use just in case they come in and take us out.

Bukod sa paa ng table at mga upuan, wala na akong ibang makita na pwedeng gawing alternative sa matutulis na bagay. May flower vase, pero masyadong maliit para makapagpahilo ng tao kapag pinukpok sa ulo. If we break the window and use the glass as a weapon, pwede rin.

I was getting tired of walking around, dagdag pang kagigising ko lang at hindi pa gaanong nanunumbalik ang lakas ko. I went back to the bed and sat on the edge. Trisver was already lying down, with his arms as his pillow, and his eyes were closed but I know he wasn't asleep.

Naisuklay ko na lang ang daliri sa buhok, and I licked my lips.

My uncle betraying me was expected, but him teaming up with Luciano, wasn't. I mean, Luciano's our top rival, and him agreeing to be my uncle's ally was uncalled for. He must've been really desperate to be on top and benefit from our resources and business that he let down his pride and became allies with my uncle.

Or maybe... because I was not involved with our family business, that's why I didn't know what my uncle was up to. He doesn't let me know even a single thing about what's going on in our legal and other illegal businesses that he handles, since he said he's managing it and I didn't have to worry too much.

But... I also didn't expect Kace to be actually the new boss of his organization. Roa was his son, but he chose someone who wasn't his descendant. Pero kahit ako rin naman, kung kagaya ni Roa ang anak ko, hindi siya pwede mamahala sa organization. He's too clumsy and soft for the position.

Napapikit na lang ako nang pumasok na naman sa utak ko ang pagmumukha ni Kace noong nagkikita pa kami palagi sa school. I couldn't believe he was able to fool me! Once I see him, I'm really gonna slit his fucking throat!

Naimulat ko ang mga mata ko at napatayo kaagad ako nang marinig ko ang pagpitik ng siradura ng pinto. Pati si Trisver ay nagising na rin at nakaupo na sa kama.

The door opened, and I was so ready to jump at whoever was behind that door, pero natigilan ako nang makita ang mukha ng taong kanina lang ay iniisip ko.

He didn't completely opened the door. Half of his body was outside, only his head entered. Siguro, natatakot siya at pinoprotektahan lang ang sarili.

"Glad you're awake now," aniya. "I cooked breakfast, but I think it would be be enough for us. You can go downstairs if you want to eat, I can whip up anything for you."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya.

Roa still looked the same. Messy hair, eye glasses, the look on his face that screams "please don't hurt me". He was wearing a simple white shirt with cartoon characters print, and a black checkered pajama pants. Mukhang kagigising niya lang din.

So... siya ang bantay? Did his father sent him to guard us?

I scoffed. He may be weak physically, bur he's damn smart. I couldn't just underestimate what he could do. Baka mamaya, may lason ang mga ipapakain niya sa amin. At baka may iba pa siyang patibong na nakahanda sa labas na sa oras na umapak kami palabas ng kwartong ito, magsisabog lahat.

"And why should we trust you?" I asked.

He stared at me for a second. "Why? You don't trust your friend?"

He emphasized the last word, that it made my brow twitch. Yeah, friend. He was Kyrazine Ellie's friend, not Quincy Deanne's.

He sighed softly. "Whatever. Just go downstairs if you need anything." At saka siya tuluyang umalis. The door didn't click, so he must've left it open.

Okay, I take back what I said about him being smart. Him leaving the door unlocked when his enemies are inside, is already a dumb move. Now I see why Luciano chose Kace over Roa to pass his position to.

"Quincy..." Trisver called me when he saw me about to walk towards the door. Napabaling ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "Don't. It might be one of their traps."

"That's why I'm gonna go outside and check," I replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

His brows furrowed. "Quincy, the last time you made an impulsive decision--"

Napairap ako. "Whatever!"

Inignora ko siya at diretso akong lumakad palabas ng kwarto. He called me a lot of times and his voice was drowned after I closed the door.

Nanatili akong nakatayo ro'n, pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. I couldn't hear or feel other presence here, so baka walang ibang tao rito. It's so peaceful and quiet, though I could hear a few clanking sounds from downstairs which I guess was Roa cooking or eating, or whatever.

With careful steps, I walked through the hallway, and down the ten-step wooden stairs. The stairs was attached to a wall, and the wall was covering the kitchen that's why I could only see the living room.

Pagkababa ng hagdan, sumilip kaagad ako sa kusina. Roa's back was on me as he transferred his newly cooked sunny side eggs to a plate. At noong humarap siya para sana ilapag ang pagkain sa lamesa, napansin niya ang presensya ko kaya napaangat kaagad siya ng tingin sa akin.

Inangat niya ang hawak na plato. "You wanna eat?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Nakakunot ang noo na nakatitig lang ako sa pagkain na hawak niya.

He sighed. "It isn't poisoned, if that's what you're thinking."

"And why would I believe you?" My eyes narrowed. "We're literally your enemies, and your hostages. How sure am I that you didn't put anything in that?"

Hindi siya nagsalita. Ilang segundo siyang nakatitig sa akin bago niya dinampot ang tinidor, tinusok ang isang itlog, at diretso iyong isinubo sa bibig niya at nginuya. He gulped in down, then he spoke.

"See? Not poisoned." He looked so done with me. Binalik niya ang atensyon sa ginagawa. "We may be enemies, but I'm not like you. I don't want to be."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin dahil naalala kong minsan ko na siyang pinagtangkaang ipa-kidnap, at gawing hostage para mapasuko at makapaghiganti sa ama niya.

I was slightly convinced by what he said, kaya unti-unti na akong lumabas mula sa pagkakatago, at lumapit sa kaniya. When I neared the table, he pointed at the chair across him, telling me to sit down and eat with him.

Nakatitig pa rin ako sa kaniya noong umupo ako sa upuang itinuro niya. Habang siya, walang pakialam at nilapag lang ang plato na may kanin at itlog na sa harapan ko.

"Do you drink coffee?" he asked and raised his head to me.

"Yeah," tipid kong sagot.

"Do you like it with sugar and cream, or just black coffee?"

"Black."

He just nodded, then proceeded to making my coffee. And I just sat there, watching him move around the kitchen.

Sabay na kaming kumain, and we were both silent the whole time. Maybe because I was asleep for days, but I couldn't taste the food but I still shoved it into my mouth as if my hands' auto-pilot was turned on.

I had a lot of questions to ask him, but I couldn't choose which one I'll ask first. I kept on glancing at him, and of course, he noticed it.

"Just tell me what you want to say," he said and I just bit my lower lip.

"Why are you here?" that was the first question that came out after my mind did an imaginary wheel of questions.

Saglit siyang nahinto sa pagnguya. "Because... this is my house?" may diin ang bawat salita na sagot niya.

"Why did you bring us here? Are you gonna kill us? Kaya napili mong dito, dahil walang ibang makakaalam kung mamatay man kami rito?"

He sighed, exhausted. "I think you should ask Kace about those. He'll be here soon."

I scoffed. "You're really friends with him? He's the current boss of the organization that your father built. You're okay with that?"

He nodded. "Hindi ako interesado sa trabaho ni Dad, alam niya 'yon noon pa man. And, Kace is a good fit for the job. Kita mo nga, he's so good that you didn't even question his identity back at school."

Sinimangutan ko siya. Kailangan ba talagang ipamukha sa akin 'yon?

"Once you're done eating, just leave your dishes in the sink." Tinulak niya ang sarili patayo. "I'll just be upstairs, in my room, the one at the end of the left wing."

Napasunod ako ng tingin sa kaniya nang lumakad na siya paalis. Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin, at saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Roa looked harmless, but I shouldn't let my guard down easily. Because the last time I did, I got betrayed--twice. My pride wouldn't be able to handle it anymore if I make the same mistake for the third time.

We stayed with Roa the next days.

But this didn't sit right with me. We're enemies, I literally ordered for him to get killed, and his father's organization is after my life. So, why the fuck was he treating me as if I'm his ordinary housemate or something?

Kung ako si Roa, noong nakatulog ako, pinasok ko na ang ang kalaban sa kwarto nito at sinaksak na kaagad para tapos na. Magiging proud pa sa akin ang ama ko at ang lahat ng nasa clan! Baka mabawi niya pa ang posisyon mula kay Kace dahil ako 'to, ang boss ng rival org! I'm a big deal in this business!

But, again, he's Roa. He's a nice kid. O baka masyado lang siyang mahina at hindi niya nga kayang kumitil kahit buhay ng ipis. I'm literally a threat to his life, I could kill him anytime, but he doesn't care at all!

Mataman kong sinundan ng tingin si Roa habang naglalakad siya papalapit sa akin, bitbit niya ang tasa ng kape kong tinimpla niya.

Just look at that. He's even serving me coffee, na para bang magkaibigan kami, at normal na guest lang ako rito sa bahay niya.

"Here," tipid niyang sabi sabay lapag ng tasa sa harapan ko.

Nasa labas ako ngayon, dito sa tapat ng garden. Kahit tirik ang araw, hindi naman masyadong mainit dahil siguro napapalibutan kami ng mga puno at medyo mahangin dito. At saka, may payong naman itong lamesa nila rito. Kahit nakasuot ako ng itim na t-shirt na nagmukha na namang oversized sa akin, hindi pa rin mainit sa pakiramdam.

"When is he coming here?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong. "It's been a week already. Can't you just answer my questions?! Bakit kailangan ko pang maghintay sa kaniya? I'm sure alam mo naman ang sagot sa mga tanong ko!"

Inignora niya lang ako at napaawang na lang ang mga labi ko nang lumakad na siya pabalik sa loob. What the fuck!?

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin at saka padabog na sumimsim sa kape ko. Ipinagkrus ko ang mga binti, at sumandal ako sa upuan. Tumitig na lang ako sa mga bulaklak para pakalmahin ang sarili.

I don't have my cellphone, or any gadgets with me. Pati si Trisver at Roa, wala. Kaya wala kaming kahit anong pwedeng gamitin para ma-contact si Kace o kahit sino sa labas.

We could just run away right here, right now. But we don't know where we are, at hindi nga rin kami makatawag ng pwedeng susundo sa amin! And, I don't think anyone will come here just to rescue us, dahil ubos na yata lahat ng kakampi ko sa organization namin.

Napabuga ako ng hangin.

I've been so focused on when Kace was coming here, or now I could escape here, that I forgot how we ended up here. Iniisip ko pa lang ang kagaguhang ginawa nila sa akin, kahit maaliwalas naman, ay kumulo ang dugo ko.

Humanda sila kapag nakaalis ako rito. I won't show any mercy. Just like how they massacred my people, I'll spare no one from their fucking organization and alliance! I'll kill everyone who pointed their guns and knives at me.

"Nothing suspicious, so far."

Napakurap ako at napabaling ng tingin kay Trisver nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa gilid ko. Nilibot niya ang paningin at saka pinasok sa magkabilang bulsa ng suot niyang sweat pants ang mga kamay, bago bumaba ang tingin niya sa akin.

Right. He's been roaming around the house for the past seven days, looking for anything suspicious. Wala siyang tiwala, gaya ko, kaya hindi na siya nagtanong kay Roa at siya na mismo ang naghanap ng mga patibong o kung ano mang gagamitin ni Roa para patayin kami.

"It's fine to stay here, I guess," dagdag niya.

"Is it really fine for us to stay here?"

He sighed. "Quincy, we're on the run. Kapag aalis tayo rito, mas malaki ang chance na mahahanap nila tayo at patayin. Besides, we've been here for days now, so it's safe to say we're fine here."

Napatitig ako sa kaniya. His hair was messy, but it still looked soft and shiny. Although the bags under his eyes told me he hasn't been sleeping well these days, his posture and his tone now told me that he's relaxed, and comfortable here.

He's right, though. The whole week, I felt like we were ordinary humans. Bukod sa kumain, matulog, at isipin kung safe ba kami ritong kasama si Roa, ay wala na kaming ibang inisip.

I was helping Roa with some of the house chores. I'm not good at it, though, since all my life I had servants who did all the work for me and all I had to do was just stand, sit, sleep, eat, and boss everyone around.

But Roa doesn't mind. He just let me be kahit imbes na tulong ang ibigay ko, mas nakakadagdag pa ako sa gawain niya.

I was waiting for Kace the whole day that day. I was so bored dahil wala akong ibang magawa bukod sa titigan ang mga bulaklak sa garden, at magpapabalik-balik sa kwarto namin sa taas at sa sala.

Noong gumabi na, hindi ako makatulog. Full moon ngayon kaya kahit sarado ang bintana at ang kurtina, tumatagos pa rin ang kaunting sinag ng buwan sa kwarto.

Nakaramdam ako bigla ng gutom, dis oras na ng gabi. Nakabukod na ng kwarto si Trisver, kaya mag-isa lang ako ngayon. Ayaw ko naman siyang bulabugin para samahan ako at lutuan ako ng makakain. He needs to rest.

Nakapaang lumabas ako ng kwarto. I purposely didn't wear mg slippers because I didn't want to disturb them. And, besides, I'm good at sneaking. I was even commended by our assassins because of how silent my steps were, as if I was a cat.

Pagkarating ko sa kusina, hindi ko na binuksan ang ilaw. I have a good eyesight kaya kahit madilim, nakikita ko pa rin ang lahat. I went near the fridge and opened it. The light from the fridge illuminated half of the kitchen, and a bit of the living room.

Nakagat ko na lang ang ibabang labi ko habang isa-isang tinitingnan ang groceries na laman ng fridge. Mga gulay, bottled water, pork and chicken meat, eggs, and fruits. Wala ba ritong instant ramen, or anything na hindi required iluto sa stove?

Isinara ko ang fridge, at nagsimula naman akong mamukas ng drawers. My eyes unstable twinkled when I saw a lot of canned foods, and even instant noodles!

Kumuha kaagad ako ng isang pack instant noodles. I grabbed the pan and instantly filled it with water before putting it on top of the stove, and turning on the heat. After that, I readied my bowl and utensils.

While waiting for the water to boil, I was biting my lips, impatient. Hawak ko ang tinidor, kada limang segundo kong binubuksan ang lid ng pan at tinutusol ng tinidor ang noodles para i-check kung luto na ba. Gutom na ako, pero mukhang matatagalan pa bago kumulo ang tubig.

I suddenly heard something from outside that made me froze. My senses were heightened, as I waited for that strange sound to appear. And it did.

Soft footsteps coming from someone who's probably wearing leather shoes, and based on how their footsteps sounded, they're on the heavier side, so it must be a guy.

The footsteps were getting nearer. I blinked when I heard the front door softly clicked. And when I heard him step inside the house, I didn't hesitate.

I turned around and swiftly threw the fork towards his direction. He used the door frame as a shield, kaya imbes na sa noo niya bumaon ang tinidor, ay sa pintuan.

A few seconds later, he moved the door frame away, revealing his smug smile. Tinanggal niya ang tinidor sa pintuan bago ito tuluyang isinara.

I scoffed sarcastically. "You're finally home, motherfucker."

He didn't say anything, but I knew he's smirking. He was still wearing his suit, pero ang coat ay nakasabit na sa braso niya.

He chuckled. Pinagmasdan ko lang siya habang naglalakad siya papalapit sa akin. I'm thankful it's dark right now, because I don't think I could think of anything aside from killing him if I ever see his face properly.

He stopped when he was already across the table, in front of me. He leaned a bit closer, at saka niya itinusok sa tapat ko ang tinidor. Kasabay no'n ay narinig ko ang pagkulo ng tubig sa pan sa likuran ko.

Because of the subtle light coming from the moon outside, his face became more clear to me. The moonlight also hitting his back defined his silhouette, and his eyes looked like it's glowing, making him look appear like some villain in some mystery movie.

He smirked. "Yes. I'm finally home. I feel so welcomed by you, babe."