Grammatical Errors Ahead.
Typographical Errors Ahead.

Jace Veniz's

All my life before, I choose to be strong and brave. I don't want them to see me fragile and weak.

I want to be strong so they could rely on me. So they could hold on me for them to be strong also.

And when the time I felt so weak and tired, he's there. I didn't expect that the person who will stay at my weakest point is him.

And now, the man who I am holding on to be strong is the one who really feel so weak and tired from the very beginning.

As I look at them, I can't help it but to thank them in my mind. I thank them not because they understand his situation and our situation. I thank them because they stayed and continued to fight with us.

"Saan ko ito ilalagay, Ven?"

"Sa tabi ng pinto but hide it in the middle higher part of the window beside the vase." Tumango naman siya sa akin bago ginawa ang sinabi ko.

"Ayos na itong limang hidden camera, Thana." Lumapit naman ako sa kanila.

"Kailangan na nating mailagay ang mga yan sa tamang pwesto nila." Tumango naman silang dalawa sa akin bago tinawag si Rhynne para tulungan sila.

It's already 01:47 a.m.

"Are the weapons already in their designated places?" I ask everyone after got the things that I will give to them.

"Already done."

"What's going on?" Muntik na akong matawa nang halos sabay sabay kaming lumingon sa kanya.

"Security purposes?" Patanong na sagot ni Kuya Lemuel kay Nathan.

Bumaba siya mula sa hagdan at lumapit sa amin.

"Can someone explain to me your plans?" And that, ladies and gentlemen, they turned their heads to me as if they are looking to criminal. What?

"Si Ven tanungin mo. She didn't tell us the whole plan. Sabi niya ay sasabihin nalang niya kapag natapos nang mailagay lahat ang mga hidden cameras and other useful emergency alarms plus the weapons to their designated places."

Dahil nangalay na ako sa katatayo at umupo na ako sa sofa na katabi ko lang. Buang lang e. Kanina pa pala ako nakatayo samantalang katabi ko naman pala ang single seated na sofa.

"You may sit first, ladies and gentlemen." Sumunod naman sila sa akin pero may dalawang tao na nag-agawan pa sa pwesto.

"I have a plan A, plan B, plan C and D." Pag-umpisa ko.

"And what's the plan A?" Jackson asks.

"We already settled the plan A and that is to break every devices they put here and install ours."

"Plan B?"

"Before the plan b, I want to inform you that I already know who's their real target. And I think I have an idea who is our main enemy."

"Sino? Sino sa atin?" I look at Kuya Jemuel.

"Right beside you." Napa-huh naman ito at lumingon sa katabi niya.

"Jon?" Patanong na sabi nilang lahat.

"Yes."

"And why him? Bakit hindi si Rayne?" Agad naman siyang binatukan ni Morana at minura pa nito si Kuya. Hindi ba talaga nila maaalis ang ugali nilang yan? Ipakasal ko na kaya silang dalawa?

Sa halip na pumatol pa sa kanila ay itinuloy ko nalang ang sinasabi ko.

"I have three assumptions. Una, ginagamit niya tayo para saktan si Nathan at para makuha nila siya. Pangalawa, siya ang target dahil gusto ng kaaway natin na makabawi kay Nathan at sa pamilya niya. And lastly, they will do everything, even killing us, for them to kill Nathan too like what happened to their child years ago."

"And who's the enemy?"

"Can you name him, Nathan?" He sighed before answering me. I think he already knows so I asked him who.

"Julius Salveja, my late best friend's father." Kanya-kanyang mura naman silang lahat dahil sa nalaman.

"Stop cursing, people. Magmura kayo ng minsanan mamaya. I'll tell our plans first." Tumahimik naman sila at tumingin muli sa akin.

"Wait," I hummed as a sign of asking why.

"What are you telling a while ago na nasira niyo na ang mga listening devices? And what? You installed hidden cameras and weapons?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Nathan sa amin.

"Yep," napahilot naman siya sa sintido niya. Eh?

"My house has a secret bases and hi-tech features." He informed. Napanganga naman kami.

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Rayne yelled as she stands up.

"I thought, you already know?" Patanong din nitong sabi sa amin.

"Okay, tell us the features of this amazing house of yours when Ven already finished stating the plans. You can sit down, Rayne." Shau stated and they all agreed.

"Go back to our plans. Our plan B is to lure him out. Kailangan nating malaman kung sino pa ang mga alagad niya na nakamanman sa atin. Hindi pwedeng lagi nalang tayo nakaasa sa bawat divisions."

"By the thought of luring him out," Rhynne interrupted and look at me.

"Ate Jace, hindi mo ba naaalala ang bahay ni Tanda? I mean ni Mr. Julius." I suddenly thought of it.

"I know the structure of his house but I can't clearly remember the way. Nagmamadali kasi ako noon na makatakas." Napakamot naman ako sa pisngi ko. Paano ko nga ba iyon nakalimutan?

Napaisip tuloy ako. What's the sense of being an agent if I can't even remember the way? Argh, I'm a useless shit.

"Proceed to plan c." Tumango naman ako kay Nathan.

"Plan C consist of asking your gangs for help in case of sudden attacks."

"And D?" Kuya Lemuel finally asks.

"Training. We need to train more for us to be ready for their attacks. I learned that if you are lack of training, you'll ended up killing yourself."

"You four will train us." Jiyo stated as a matter of fact.

"Go back to your amazing house, Jon." This time, we all look at him.

Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman na ganito ang bahay niya? I mean, what I only know is the gate of this house has a security system that can only identify the owner.

"There's an underground here. If something happens, we can use it to escape. It will lead us to the forest near here. Second," he stands up and get something in the drawer. May pinindot siya na kung ano at biglang may lumabas na mga iba't-ibang mga armas sa dingding.

Napasimangot ako bigla. Bakit ngayon niya lang sinabi? Nagsayang pa kami ng pagod at effort para ilagay ang mga weapons sa kalat na parte ng bahay.

"By tapping this button, you can activate the secret wall where the weapons are. And the other button will lead us to the underground passage." Bumalik siya sa inuupuan niya kanila bago itinuloy ang sinasabi.

"And the last feature, the house will automatically lock everything outside."

"For what reason?" Rhynne curiously asks.

"Kapag may nagpaputok ng baril sa labas o kahit dito sa loob, magla-lock ito. The only way to unlock everything is the button below that painting." Itinuro pa nito ang canvas. Dagat ang nakapinta.

Tyaka nalang namin namalayan na three thirty na pala ng madaling araw nang humikab si Zia.

"We need to sleep already. Papasok pa tayo bukas." Tumango naman silang lahat sa sinabi ko.

Hangga't maaari ay kailangan pa din naming pumasok para mag-aral.

Nagsipasok na sila sa mga kwarto nila habang ako ay nakaupo parin sa inuupuan ko at malalim ang iniisip.

Sana ay malagpasan namin itong lahat ng sama-sama.

Ayokong may mawala sa kanila kahit isa. I will do everything to protect them and him even if I die.

Nagulat nalang ako nang may humalik sa noo ko.

"Matulog kana. Don't think too much." I smiled and nodded at him.

"Matulog ka na din. Good night-- I mean good morning na," napatawa naman siya at hinayaan na akong pumunta sa kwarto naming nga babae. Pumasok na din siya sa kwarto niya.

I hope, we'll be safe tomorrow.

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