HER SMILE doubled. Reading her message, threatening her, kind of excites Ayze. Kung alam lang niya na magiging ganito katapang ang babae, noong una pa lang ay pinadampot na niya ang tatay nito.

Her mind was wandering around. Thinking how she'll fight back. Hindi naman ito pwedeng gumaya sa kanya, hindi naman ito ganun ka-bobo para idamay ang mga magulang niya sa gulo nilang tatlo.

Kaya nga gumalaw lang ang mga ito nang bumaba na sa pwesto ang mommy niya. Her father will surely raised hell, at ayon sigurado ang iniiwasan nila. She could do the same, but she likes stressing herself first before having her own fun.

"You're smiling widely, Ate. Habang yung isa ay halos mahimatay na sa pag-aalala sayo." Vane interrupted her thoughts.

"You're still here?" nagulat siya sa presensya nito.

Ang alam ni Ayze ay tapos na ang mga interns na tinanggap nila, and that includes her brother, Vane.

"Bumalik lang. May binigay sa head namin. Pampalubag loob." Putol-putol na sabi nito. Mahina itong bumuntong hininga. "Mom wants to see you too."

"Si Daddy?" tanong niya.

"Hindi ka gustong makita," biro nito sa kanya.

"Ulol!" Ayze scoffed.

Vane shook his head and went beside her. Yumakap ang mga braso nito sa kanya at naglalambing na humalik sa pisngi niya. A side of Vane that only them were allowed to see.

"Mag-iingat ka, okay?" Vane reminded her.

Tinapik niya ang kamay ng kapatid at hinaplos 'yon pagkatapos. Alam naman niya na sobra ang pag-aalala ng mga ito sa twing kaaway siya. She tends to do dangerous things, na hindi nagustuhan ng mga magulang nila.

Back then, she was only using her fist. Puro fist fight lang ang kinakasangkutan niya kaya kampante pa ang mga magulang niya.

"I love you, bunsoy." Ayze reached for his head and rubbed it affectionately.

Vane groaned that made her laugh. Hindi naman ito nagreklamo. He was clinging to her for an hour, mukhang na-miss talaga siya nito. They don't meet often, unlike before na magkasama sila oras-oras.

Nang makaalis ang kapatid niya, sakto naman na tumawag si Zayndrei sa kanya.

"Zayndrei, calm down, please? I'm safe. Don't worry too much." Sumandal siya sa swivel chair niya at bahagyang iniikot ang upuan.

[I can't help it. Windelle is inside her father's office, hindi ito kumikibo and that scares me. Hindi para sa akin, sayo.]

Bumuntong hininga siya. "Lovie, I'm fine. I won't let her kill me."

[Just... be safe all the time, yeah? May bodyguard ka na ba? Fuck. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung may mangyari na masama sayo.]

A soft smile crept to her lips. "You really care for me, huh?"

Narinig niya ang bahagyang kaluskos sa kabilang linya.

[I do, Ayze,]

She bit her lower lip, hard. Ayze had the urge to ask him kung ano ba talaga sila pero mas pinili na lang niya na itikom ang bibig. This was not the right time to ask him for that. Not when he's worried and scared for her life.

Ayze has someone to worry about her safety. Honestly, that was enough reason for her to live because she wasn't scared to die. She welcomes it.

Kia was worried about her too, kaya pinauwi siya nito sa village nila. Ayze doesn't want to push back any of her appointments kaya tinuloy muna niya bago umuwi.

Her mother was waiting for her near their village gate nang malaman na uuwi siya. She gave her car key to their guard and let them park it.

"Ma..." Kaagad siyang yumakap sa mommy niya.

Ayze groaned softly when her mother finally embraced her. She feels safe.

"I missed you, beauty... Sa atin ka ba tutuloy ngayon?" her mother asked. Isabella kept on brushing her hair, just like what she used to do back when Ayze was still a kid.

Inakay niya ang mommy niya papasok, his uncle's waved their hands on her and she did the same thing. Hindi siya tinawag ng mga ito dahil kapit na kapit siya sa mommy niya.

"Sure, mom! Puntahan ko lang po si Kia. Uuwi rin ako agad."

Her mother smiled and kissed her cheek. Nauna na itong pumasok sa bahay nila habang siya naman ay dumeretso sa parking space nila sa village kung nasaan si Kia.

They have a lot of bulletproof cars because most of them were big-time and working in such a dangerous field. But she chose to use the normal car, she wanted to feel that she's not above anyone else.

"I saw your car, Ate. Palitan mo 'yon." Kia demanded but Ayze immediately shook her head.

"Nope. I'm keeping my car, Kia," matigas ang ulo niya. Kaya siya pa rin ang masusunod.

Nasapo ni Kia ang ulo nito at marahas na sinabunutan ang sarili. "Ate! You need to use one of our bulletproof car, okay? That crazy bitch might be planning something. Hindi ito basta-basta lang na away kanto. Hell, kahit away kanto may namamatay!" Kia nagged.

"I'm not weak, Kia," matigas na sabi niya.

Kia sighed. "I know that, Ate. Ang akin lang naman, paano kung may sniper ang babae na 'yon? Mahihirapan si Kuya na protektahan ka kung ang bungo mo agad ang pinuntirya nila."

Kia has a point but Ayze was confident that her enemy won't have one. She already robbed them and left just enough money, hindi 'yon kakayanin to hire a freaking sniper to kill her.

"Trust me, Kia. There'll be no snipers to shoot my head."

Tinalikuran siya nito at hinanap ang sasakyan na madalas niyang gamitin.

"I will install a gps tracker to your car para mas madali sa amin ni Kuya na hanapin ka." Kia said. Pumasok ito sa loob ng sasakyan niya at kinuha sa compartment ang nakatago niyang baril.

Yes, they own a licensed gun. It was a must for them to have one. For self-defense and not to harm someone. Although, kung bumunot pa lang ang kalaban at nagpaputok sila, they already consider that as self-defense.

Kia loaded her gun and put an extra magazine in her compartment, it was loaded with bullets. Tumango lang siya at nagpaalam na uuwi na.

Ayze wasn't comfortable with the idea of her being guarded. Kaya si Arki ang panay ang sunod sa kanya. Truth to his words, hindi niya ito laging nakikita kapag nasa labas siya. It's either he's too far from her or Arki was just good at concealing his presence.

Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya nang sa labas sila mag dinner kasama ang iba, it was chaotic as usual. But she likes it. No, she loves it. Ito na ang kinalakihan nila, e.

Pasimple niyang nilapitan si Kia at binulungan, "Kia, can you send someone to guard my secretary too?"

Kia just nodded her head as she was busy cleaning the mess they've made. Mahirap na, baka idamay ni Windelle ang mga tao na malapit sa kanya. That bitch won't hesitate to put someone in danger.

SHE WAS IN the middle of an important meeting when Amari disturbed them and told her that it was an emergency. Humingi lang siya ng pasensya sa ka-meeting niya at nag reschedule.

"What is it?" kalmado na tanong niya kay Amari.

"Mr. Faust called and said, someone ambushed our delivery trucks. Sumabog ang mga sasakyan and few of our employees were lucky to ran far from the truck. However, may mga naabutan ng pagsabog and someone... died."

Umigting ang panga ni Ayze sa narinig. "Ilan?"

"One."

Kumuyom ang kamao niya dahil doon.

"Based on the CCTV, may mga naka motor na binaril ang mga gulong causing our trucks to swerve and bumangga sa poste, sa mga bahay. The damage was huge." Amari continued to inform her.

Ayze closed her eyes and calm herself first. Nilingon niya ang sekretarya niya.

"Asikasuhin niyo muna ang mga empleyado natin na nasaktan. As for the other one, mahirap mawalan. I'll face them if I still have time after this one, for the meantime, kindly tell them the company would provide for their kids' scholarship from now until college." Ayze said. "And, I'm going out."

Alanganin na tumango si Amari sa kanya. Sumaglit lang siya sa opisina niya para kunin ang susi ng sasakyan niya. She also called someone para matigil ang production sa planta ng mga Marquez. They lost a small amount of money, sent their employees to hospital, namatayan pa sila ng isa. Hindi niya 'yon palalampasin.

"Make sure na wala ni isang tao ang matitira sa loob or else, iisa-isahin ko kayo." Banta niya sa mga ito. "Oh, do me a favor. Buhusan niyo ng gas ang palibot ng planta."

Nang makarating siya sa mismong lugar. It was a perfect timing, lunch break ng mga empleyado kaya hindi mahirap paalisin ang mga ito. Amoy na amoy ang gas sa paligid.

Ayze saw a CCTV and waved her hand cutely, showing the lighter she's holding. Sinindi niya 'yon and playfully licked the fire. Mahina siyang natawa sa ginagawa niya.

She lit up the paper and dropped it on the floor. Kaagad siyang lumayo at tinakbo ang pagitan ng planta at sasakyan niya, driving back to her company.

"Hey, Kia! Check the Marquez factory CCTV. You know what to do." Ayze giggled. "Oh, kindly send a clip of me to Windelle. Just enough to tease her, bawiin mo na lang agad."

Pagbalik niya sa opisina niya, umupo lang siya sa trono niya at binuksan ang laptop niya para manood ng live news.

Nangiti siya nang masaktuhan ang balita sa ginawa niya sa planta ng mga Marquez.

"Breaking news! Kahapon lamang ay nahuli ang may-ari ng Marquez Corporation sa patong-patong na mga kaso. Kasalukuyan, tayo ngayon ay nasa planta ng mga ito kung saan makikita niyo na kasalukuyan pa rin pinapatay ang sunog—"

Nawala ang atensyon niya nang sunod-sunod na tumunog ang cellphone niya. Windelle was cursing her with her text messages. She even used Zayndrei para mas lalo itong pikunin. Saying, he'll marry her. What a delusional witch.

Hinayaan niya lang ang mga 'yon at payapa na nagtatrabaho. Ayze was calm and satisfied, too.

"Should I drive you home, ma'am?" Amari asked.

"No. I'm fine, Amari. Umuwi ka na rin para makapag pahinga ka."

Napipilitan ito na tumango sa kanya at hinayaan siya na makaalis. Malapit na lang siya sa building ng unit niya nang may motor na humarang sa harapan niya. She smirked and pressed the break.

Ayze almost laughed when she only saw 3 people. Mukhang amateur pa ang mga ito dahil hindi sigurado sa ginagawa. They were holding gun, at sa kanya 'yon nakatutok.

"Baba!" sigaw sa kanya nito.

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Binuksan niya ang compartment niya at mabilis na kinuha ang baril niya. She released the safety, kinasa niya 'yon at kaagad na tinutok sa mga lalaki. Aiming for their hands, that was holding their guns.

"Tang ina!" Ayze hissed when she felt a pressure on her arm.

Umawang ang labi niya nang maramdaman ang dumadaloy na dugo sa tagiliran niya. She looked up and saw the three guys limping on the floor. Ayze licked her lower lip and laughed upon realizing who shot her.

She was busy aiming for the three guys, na hindi niya napansin na may isa pa palang kasama ang mga ito. Napaluhod siya sa sakit at nabitawan ang baril na hawak niya. Windelle was not good, thankfully.

"Nice one, Windy..." pang-aasar niya.

"Sayonara, black sheep." Tinutok niya ang muzzle ng baril nito sa ulo niya. "This is for my father, ang pang-aagaw mo kay Zayndrei, pati na rin ang kasalanan mo sa akin ngayon-ngayon lang! Enjoy the—"

"Shoot her." Ayze coldly said.

Bago pa siya nito mabaril. Arki shoot her multiple times. Hindi niya alam kung saan parte tumama ang mga bala o kung buhay pa ba ito.

Ayze coldly chuckled when she saw her bathing with her own blood.

"What was it? Enjoy the? What?" Ayze taunted. She's lucky, buhay pa ito. Windelle was coughing blood, her eyes sports anger, towards her.

She clicked her tongue bago pinilit ang sarili na tumayo para mas malapitan pa ito. Ayze looked down on her. An evil smile stretched out on her lips.

"There's a beautiful flower... Powerful and poisonous. That's me, bitch. A mystique flower."

☕