CHAPTER 30

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Tahimik ko lang na sinundan si Atlas hanggang sa makarating siya sa kan'yang opisina. He went straight to his desk, sat down in his swivel chair and opened his laptop. Seryoso ang mga mukha niya nang magsimula itong mag-type sa keyboard. Sobrang lakas ng pagtatype niya roon.

"May problema ba?"

Nakatayo pa rin ako sa harapan niya. Hawak-hawak ang clipboard na naglalaman ng mga shipping information tungkol sa mga crates ng drugs na ipapadala sa katapusan nitong buwan.

"I really need to kill that motherfucker," I heard him mutter to himself.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Atlas? Are you okay?"

Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin. "We need to attend every event or party that is related to our organization, Hexia. I just wish he were there so I could kill him right away."

"Is it helios?" tanong ko.  "I'm sure that he's there whenever we attend some event."

Umiling siya. "Not him. It's your job to kill him. I was talking about Helios' underboss."

"Perses..."

He nodded. His eyes were still fixed on his laptop. "Yes and my hands are itching to kill him."

Kitang-kita ko kung paano mandilim ang paningin niya ng banggitin 'yon. This was the first time I've seen him so angry like this. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na isipin kung ano ang ginawa ni Perses para ganito ang maramdaman ni Atlas. As far as I knew, they were supposed to be allies.

"All you have to do is come with me to any party I attend. You'll be my escort, Hexia. You'll do your job when you see Helios. It would be better if you could kill him as soon as you get the chance so I can focus on Perses."

"Okay," mabilis kong sagot at hindi na nagtanong pa.

Bakas na bakas pa rin sa mukha niya na wala ito sa mood ngayon. Tahimik kong inabot sa kan'ya ang clipboard na agad niya namang kinuha sa akin. Umangat ang kan'yang kamay ay sumenyas na lumabas na ako.

"Thank you. You can go now."

▄︻デ══━一

"Are you sure you don't need an accompany?"

Umangat ang ulo ko nang makitang nakatayo si Oceanus sa labas ng aking kuwarto. Abala ako ngayon sa pag-aayos ng maliit na kutsilyo sa leg holster ko. Iniwan ko lang si Saf sa drawer ng vanity table ko dahil hindi ko muna siya dadalhin ngayon.

Umiling ako. "No. I'll just be quick. Bibili lang ako ng groceries para sa atin," sagot ko. Binaba ko agad ang suot kong bodycon dress nang matapos na sa aking ginagawa.

"Atlas could just ask one of his men to do that. We could spar in the basement instead."

I shook my head. "Nagsabi na ako kay Atlas at pumayag na siya. We can spar tomorrow; I'm not in the mood for training right now."

Tinawanan niya lang ako bago kumaway. "Okay. take care." Pagkatapos no'n ay umalis na.

Kinuha ko ang black tote bag at sinakbit sa balikat bago magtungo sa full-length body mirror para tingnan ang sarili sa huling pagkakataon. Bagsak na bagsak ang chocolate brown kong buhok, naglagay rin ako ng light makeup. I wore a sleeveless bodycon dress, accessorized with gold jewelry, except for my pearl earrings, to maintain a classy look despite the simplicity of my outfit.

Nang makitang ayos na ang lahat ay saka lang ako lumabas ng kuwarto at dumiretso sa elevator. Gagamitin ko muna ngayon ang kotse ni Oceanus dahil 'yon lang ang available sa labas ng warehouse. I've learned how to drive a car in the five years I've been working for Atlas.

When I arrived at the supermarket, I parked in the parking lot. Unfortunately, ang available lang na spot ay nandoon sa bandang dulo at medyo madilim pa. Wala naman akong choice at doon na lang nagpark. Sinigurado ko pa muna na nakalock ang pinto ng kotse bago magtungo sa supermarket.

"Good morning, Ma'am," the guard greeted me as I entered.

"Good morning," nakangiti kong sagot.

Kumuha agad ako ng cart at kinuha na ang mga kailangan namin. Kailangan ko na rin magmadali dahil panigurado maraming iuutos si atlas sa akin ngayon araw. Lalo na rin sa laboratory, I still needed to check Section 2 of the main hall because I didn't get to it yesterday.

Habang abala sa pamimili ng karne sa meat section, parang may nararamdaman akong kakaiba. I felt like someone was watching me. Aside from the physical training, tinuruan din ako ni Atlas kung paano maging aware sa kapaligiran.  It was one of the things he taught me to keep us safe.

My phone buzzed.

From Oceanus:

Young wife, huh.

I furrowed my brow and replied.

To Oceanus:

It's 8 in the morning, Oceanus. Are you drunk? Young wife, who?

From Oceanus:

Hahahaha.

Napairap na lang ako at hindi na siya nireply-yan pa. Binalik ko sa bag ang cellphone ko at tinuloy ang aking ginagawa. Habang abala pa rin sa pagtitingin ng mga puwede kong bilhin, hindi ako mapakali dahil alam kong parang may nagbabantay sa akin.

We need to be aware of our surroundings. Because if not, our enemies might get a chance to make a move against us.

Hindi ko na napigilan na libutin ang tingin sa paligid para hanapin kung may suspicious bang tao, pero wala naman. Halos lahat sila ay may kan'ya-kan'yang ginagawa.

Nagmamadali na rin akong namili at agad na binayaran 'yon sa cashier. Dumiretso agad ako sa parking lot habang tulak-tulak ang cart. As I opened my car door, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. The door closed automatically.

Parang may sariling utak ang mga kamay ko. Mabilis kong kinuha ang maliit na kutsilyo sa leg holster ko at tinutok 'yon sa taong humila sa akin. Dahil doon, tuluyan ko nang nakita kung sino 'yon.

He has fair skin, with a strong jawline, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, naturally pink lips, and shiny hair. His eyes, which I always noticed because they were gray, were especially striking. It was him... It was Helios.

"Hexia." The corner of his lip turned up as he said my code name.

His face was hidden by my hair like a curtain as I leaned over him. The knife at his throat is ready if he makes a move.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

It's my job to kill him. That's what Atlas ordered.

"I'm just doing my job," his voice was cold and serious.

I could feel the tension between us inside the car. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang nakatutok pa rin ang kutsilyo sa kan'yang leeg. Doon ko lang din napagtanto na ang palad niya ay nasa likod ko na ngayon.

I chuckled softly and pressed the knife harder against his neck. "Doing your job?" I asked sarcastically. "Thank god that you're already here, Helios. I can kill you now."

My hand moved quickly, trying to plunge the knife into him, but he caught it. Nahuli niya ang pulsuhan ko para pigilan sa dapat kong gawin. Everything happened so quickly. Umigkas ang kamao ko papunta sa kan'ya at pinatamaan siya ng suntok. Lahat ng 'yon ay naiwasan niya at hindi man lang siya nadaplisan.

"Is that all you got, Hexia?" natatawa niyang tanong sa akin. Hawak-hawak na niya ngayon ang dalawa kong kamay. 

I was facing against the backrest of the backseat, kneeling on the seat. Helios held my hands behind my back, his body pressed against mine to keep me from moving. Mahina akong napasinghap nang maramdaman ang mainit niyang katawan sa akin. Mariin akong napapikit ng magsalita siya malapit sa aking tainga.

"You need to train more," pang-aasar niya. "Don't worry, I'll rate you a 7 out of 10. Not too shabby for a little speed demon."

Gago ba siya? What did he call me? Little speed demon? Is he crazy?! Hindi ko itatanggi na naoffend ako sa sinabi niya. Mukhang kailangan ko ng mag-training ulit araw-araw! I can't take this. I'm so upset right now!

It felt like my blood pressure was rising because of this jerk. I was about to blow a fuse because of what he said. Binwelo ko ang aking ulo at iuntog ng malakas sa kan'yang noo. Umangat ang gilid ng aking labi nang mapaungol siya sa sakit. Dahil doon, lumuwag ang hawak niya sa aking kamay.

"Fuck!"

That gave me the chance to elbow him in the face. Mahina akong natawa nang makita ang hitsura niya ngayon. I saw a little blood trickle down his nose from what I did.

"What did you just call me?" nanginginig ang boses ko ng tanungin siya. Hinablot ko ang kuwelyo ng suot niyang polo para ilapit ang mukha niya sa akin.

I heard him chuckle softly and wipe the blood from his nose. "Little speed demon? Naoffend ka ba?"

I was breathing heavily in front of him because of what he was saying. I could feel my blood boiling because of my anger. Akala ko ba naman ay si Oceanus lang ang may kakayahang mang-irita sa akin pero hindi na pala. Si Helios na ang nangunguna sa listahan ng mga 'yon!

"I know that you worked for Atlas," he whispered softly, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Am I right?"

"It's none of your business, Helios. You'll be the death of me, I swear."

"Fiesty," natatawa niyang ani. Pilit niyang tinatanggal ang kamay ko sa kuwelyo niya pero mas lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang hawak ko sa kan'ya.

"Tell me what Atlas' true name is before I kill you."

Since he was bigger and stronger, he ended up pinning me to the backseat. I lost control of my anger and headbutted him using the back of my head, then punched him in the face.

"Feisty, right?" sarkastiko kong tanong sa kan'ya.

"You'll never kill me, Hexia," mapang-asar ang tono ng kan'yang boses ng magsalita bago buksan ang pintuan ng kotse.

Nanlikisik ang mga mata ko ng tingnan siya. Helios got out of the car and turned his back to me. Bago pa tuluyang maglakad papalayo ay mabilis niya akong nilingon. He looked at me over his shoulder with a mocking smile on his lips and said something that irritated me for some reason.

"It will take years, or should I say decades, before you're going to kill me, or maybe not."

That motherfucker!

SHANGPU