ISABELLA, her mother, made sure that there's good as new bago siya nito payagan na makauwi sa bahay nila. Ayze had no choice but to follow. Ilang check ups ang ginawa ng mga doktor sa kanya kahit natamaan lang naman siya ng bala. They already confirmed that she's okay, pero sadyang naninigurado ang mommy niya.

Her parents wanted to monitor her, sumunod na lang siya. Ilang araw na rin simula nang makalabas siya sa hospital at walang araw na hindi siya dinadalaw ng mga pinsan. They're literally living in the same village, after all.

"May dala akong fruits for you," sabi ni Lucia at itinaas ang isang basket ng prutas na dala nito. Assorted fruits. Isa lang ang nakaagaw sa pansin niya.

"Lucia, gusto ko yung apple!"

Nangingiti na umiling ito sa kanya at lumabas sa kwarto niya dala ang mansanas na gusto niya. While her other cousins stayed inside.

"Wala kayong dala?" tanong niya sa mga ito.

Isa-isa na umiling ang mga ito sa kanya. Inismiran niya ang mga pinsan, ang panganay na anak ng Tito Laur niya ay ngumuso pa sa kanya.

"Putcha. Barat niyo ah?" sarkastiko na sabi ni Ayze. "And what's with your hair color? Parang kailan lang dilaw 'yan ah? Bakit orange?"

Nabi smiled at her and touched her hair before answering, "Bagay ba? I have to attend a cosplay convention, kaya nagpakulay ako. I don't have time to order a wig."

"Kasama mo si Kei?" Ayze asked again.

These two love cosplaying so much. Kei loves making costumes and Nabi was her human doll.

"Unfortunately, no. Okay lang, nagawan naman niya ako ng outfit!" masaya na sagot nito sa kanya.

Nabi's brother sneered. "Tunog user ka, Ate."

"Well, I am!" Nabi proudly answered.

Lumipad ang tingin ni Ayze sa isa pang pinsan nila nang marinig itong mahinang tumawa. Syx, who's younger than her, was laughing while staring at her arm. Nakalimutan niyang tanggalin ang gauze pad.

"Natanggalan na nga ng angas, nabawas pa ang buhay mo." Syx clicked her tongue repeatedly.

She scoffed at her remarks. They all believed that they all have nine lives for they love toying with their enemies. Clemente things.

"I am not critically damaged, Syx. Last time I checked, my life is still intact. Sure, natanggalan ako ng angas. Ikaw ba naman mawalan ng maraming dugo." Ayze rolled her eyes at her cousin.

Nabi tried to poke her wound, pero mabilis siyang umiwas.

"Bakit ka naman kasi nagpabaril, couz?" maarte na tanong sa kanya ni Nabi.

As if kagustuhan niya na mabaril siya ni Windelle?

"Kinakalawang. Ayaw pa magpatulong, susunugin mo kamo kami?" pang-aasar sa kanya ni Syx. "If only you accepted our offer, wala na sa landas mo 'yang problema mo."

"You don't know how to have fun, Syx." Ayze flatly answered.

Mas mabilis maubos ang pasensya nito kaysa sa kanya. One gun, one kill. That was her own policy when it comes to her enemies. Her conscience was nowhere to be found. No wonder, sila-silang magpinsan lang ang hindi nakakaapak sa loob ng simbahan.

"Ang saya naman niyang 'fun' mo, Ayze. Muntik ka nang mapatay nung babae na 'yon." Lucia's voice echoed inside her room. Her voice was gentle, they couldn't tell if she's angry or not.

"Ate, nasa bucket list ni Ayze ang mamatay. Parang hindi mo naman alam 'yon!" Syx snorted.

Umirap ito sa hangin at inabot sa kanya ang sliced apples. Lucia stood beside Syx and crossed her arms.

"I've heard from Arki that the girl is now awake and commanding your own people. Mukhang mas maayos pa ang lagay no'n kaysa sayo, ah?" Lucia said.

"She's good?" mahina siyang natawa. "Don't worry, it won't last."

"It won't last? E nakakulong ka nga rito sa village?" Nabi sarcastically said.

"Mom said, I need a proper rest." Dahilan niya sa mga pinsan niya.

Hindi sumagot ang mga ito sa dahilan niya. Alam nila na batas ang salita ng mommy nila ni Vane, kahit ang Daddy— ang mga tatay nila ay hindi makapalag sa mommy niya. When she said no one's going to drink, then no one's gonna drink liquor.

"Ano pala ang balak mo after?" Nabi asked. Naki kain na ito sa mansanas niya.

Lumabi siya sa mga ito, "Bakasyon. Unwind ganun."

Ayon naman lagi ang ginagawa niya right after a draining battle or kahit hindi. She prioritize herself more than her job. Kapag maayos ang utak niya, pati na rin ang sarili niya, for sure maayos din ang performance niya sa trabaho.

"Our island is free. However, if isasama mo ang friend slash fuck buddy mo, which is Zayndrei by the way. Siguraduhin niyo na rated PG ang eksena, okay?" Umikot ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ni Nabi. Then, she continued, "Our father installed a CCTV all over our house for safety purposes."

"So, if they did some nasty thing... Si Tito Laur ang unang makakakita?" nakangiwi na tanong ni Syx kay Nabi.

"Yes! My father always checked the footage before they went to sleep. I think?" sagot nito.

"Hindi pinapatay?" Lucia asked.

"Nope! May mga caretaker sa bahay and he wanted to monitor them. Alam niyo naman ang nangyari last time, right? Ninakawan kami and one of our caretaker used our vacation house to... you know? Fuck?" naiirita na kwento nito. "Kami lang ang may karapatan na buminyag sa isla na 'yon."

"Doon ka ba ginawa?" pabiro na tanong ni Syx. Kaagad itong sinuway ni Lucia.

Nabi shrugged. "Dad wasn't sure..."

"You asked?!" nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong ni Lucia kay Nabi.

"Hindi niyo tinanong 'yon? It's a must, duh?"

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. Syx and Lucia scrunched their faces, as if they were imagining themselves asking their parents that kind of question. It doesn't feel right. No, hindi talaga 'yon tama.

"Don't look at me, please. I have no intention of asking my father where and when they made love para mabuo ako." Naaasiwa na sabi ni Ayze.

Nabi kept on asking the two to do the same thing. Hindi na niya kinibo ang mga ito. If there's really a CCTV installed in their house, it wasn't a problem to her. Wala naman siyang balak na isama doon si Zayndrei.

Ayze doesn't want to see his face right after ng balak niyang gawin kay Windelle. He was closed to her before. He even considered that woman as his friend, nito na lang sigurong huli naputol ang koneksyon na 'yon.

Kinagabihan, while having their family dinner. Nagpaalam siya na magbabakasyon muna sa isla ng Tito Laur niya, her parents immediately give their consent while her brother was silent as if weighing his decision.

"Vane?" She called her brother.

"Oh? Sure, Ate, whatever you want." He smiled affectionately at her.

"Thank you..."

Mahala para sa pamilya nila ang desisyon at opinyon ng bawat isa. She sighed in relief and packed her belongings right after their dinner. Vane even helped her.

[Tw: Content may include depiction of torture/violence. Read at your own risk.]

ANG MALAWAK NA ngiti ni Kia ang bumungad sa kanya nang makita siyang lumabas sa bahay nila. Finally!

That only means one thing. She's now more than ready to face and punish that bitch named Windelle.

"My brother is already there. Ako ang sasama sayo ngayon, kamahalan," biro nito sa kanya.

"Nauna?" tanong niya bago sumakay sa loob ng sasakyan.

Tumango si Kia at sumagot, "Dumeretso na siya sa safe house pagkatapos bisitahin ang matanda na nasa kulungan. He said, he's doing fine. Less the bruises on his face. Sadly, sa edad niyang 'yon hindi ito pinatawad ng mga tao na dinala rin nito sa kulungan."

Walang nararamdaman na awa si Ayze para sa matanda. They both worked hard and dirty, ang pagkakaiba lang nilang dalawa, hindi siya marunong managasa ng tao na wala naman kinalaman sa problema niya.

Nang makarating sila sa safe house ni Kia, nauna siya nitong pinapasok sa loob. Sa labas pa lang dinig na dinig na niya ang boses ni Windelle na nagrereklamo sa pagkain na hinapag para rito. Ayze sighed heavily before pushing the door open.

Ngumisi kaagad siya nang mabungaran si Windelle. Totoo nga ang balita, mas maayos pa ito sa kanya. She couldn't believe that she paid professional doctors just to make this ungrateful brat live.

"You bitch!" asik nito nang makita siya.

Arki was about to grab the woman but Ayze shook her head and said, "Let her, Arki. Huwag niyo siyang pigilan nor itali. I want a fair fight."

Ngumisi siya nang akmang aabutin ni Windelle ang buhok niya para masabunutan siya. Ayze was quick to dodge her and throw a light punch on her stomach.

"Ah!" Windelle exclaimed.

Sarkastiko siyang tumawa sa reaction nito. "I'm sorry, does it hurt? Mahina lang naman ang suntok na pinakawalan ko, ah?"

Napaluhod ito sa sakit. She was clutching her stomach as her sharped eyes looks at her. Windelle clearly forgot that she's good at fistfight. That was the main reason, kung bakit siya laging nasa guidance.

Ayze grabbed her hair and said, "Stand up, Windy. We're not yet done."

Pilit niya itong pinapatayo pero ang tanging nagawa lang nito ay tingnan siya ng masama. Ayze smiled at her, she caressed her face and slapped her twice. Left and right. Her slaps were hard that made Windelle's lips bled.

Arki and Kia were just watching her. Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya nang may maalala si Ayze. Hindi siya makuntento sa suntok at sampal na binigay niya para sa babae. Lalo na at naalala niya ang ilan sa mga tauhan nila na nasaktan, at may nawalan ng buhay dahil sa kagagawan ng mga ito.

Ayze cupped her jaw and forced Windelle to face her.

"Alam mo ba na may mga inosenteng tao na nadamay sa katangahan mo? Namatayan pa kami ng tauhan dahil sayo." Nanggagalaiti na sabi ni Ayze.

Windelle smirked. "They were just part of the collateral damages. It was your f-fault. Bakit hindi mo rin ginawa?"

Her hold on her jaw tightened. The bitch pushed the right button to make herself suffer more. Windelle was giving Ayze the reason to kill her.

"I don't kill innocent people but..." sinulyapan niya si Arki at Kia na tahimik sa tabi. "I do kill people like you. Arki, I changed my mind. Tie her."

Pabalya niyang binitawan ang mukha nito nang makita na inutusan ni Arki ang mga tauhan nila na kunin ang babae para maitali ito. She's still weak, para manlaban.

"Gun?" Kia asked. She even offered her own gun.

Tinanggihan niya 'yon at kinuha ang baseball bat na nasa tabi. Ayze wanted her to feel the pain that her people felt when their skin got burnt, nang mabunggo ang sasakyan sa kung saan, and while the other one was thinking about his family before he finally lost his life.

Ayze swing the baseball bat she's holding, pwersado na pinatama sa binti ni Windelle. She was screaming in pain and cursing her. Inulit ni Ayze 'yon at pinatama sa kabilang binti nito. Her screams, it was like a melody to Ayze. She's also aware that Windelle's voice would hunt her for months or even a year.

"Tape her mouth," utos niya.

Windelle's skin was fair, nakita kaagad niya ang pamumuo ng dugo sa mga hita nito. She was crying in pain but her eyes were still sharp. Tumitig siya sa binti nito. Ayze tilted her head and wondered if she already broke her bones.

She clicked her tongue and swung her bat, "I told you. Do not fucking pissed me off."

Binigay niya ang baseball bat sa tao na malapit sa kanya bago kinuha ang pocket knife nito. She flipped it open and smiled. Nilapitan niya si Windelle at tinutok ang dulo ng kutsilyo sa lalamunan nito. Napalitan kaagad ng takot ang emosyon sa mga mata nito.

"Oh, marunong ka palang matakot?" natatawa na tanong niya rito. "Don't worry, hindi 'to sa lalamunan mo tatagos."

Diniin ni Ayze sa hita nito ang dulo ng kutsilyo at pinadaan 'yon pababa hanggang sa tuhod ni Windelle. She threw her head back and whimpered. Inulit niya 'yon sa kabilang hita nito.

Windelle was sweating bullets. Panay rin ang tulo ng luha sa mga mata nito. She was shaking her head, probably asking her to stop.

Pinunasan niya ang dulo ng kutsilyo na ginamit niya at malawak na ngumiti sa babae.

"Fine! I'll let you rest. You pissed me off, big time, Windelle. I badly want to kill you but you're not worth my first kill." Sinapo niya ang panga nito. "I'll watch you suffer behind the bars, instead. Make sure to entertain me."

☕