Xam Monteverdi. If I had to murder all people in this world, I think he's the last person I would kill. But now, the table had turned. I want him to be first in the line. I breathe deeply as I try to control my anger. I can still taste his betrayal in the air. He said he understands my sentiments. He said he supports my decisions. He said he's on my side. He said...

"I thought Monteverdi is not your enemy. You seems so close back then. He's your friend, right?" Gazelle gave me a quick glance while driving. The image of Max pointing a gun at me briefly flashes on mind. Naikuyom ko ang aking kamao.

"He's not. I don't befriend anyone," I told her. He's just the closest being I had whom I thought understands me. I thought we're on the same page.

Now, he just proved me wrong.

"'San pala tayo pupunta ngayon?" tanong nito. "T-teka! May sugat ka ba? I think the blood on your seat is expanding."

Bumagsak naman ang tingin ko aking inuupuan. Ang nagtalsikan na dugo sa aking damit ay kapansin-pansin. Pero sa tingin ko'y 'di 'yon sapat para magkaroon ng maraming dugo ang aking inuupuan. Doon ko naalala ang aking sugat sa hita. Damn. I almost entirely forgot about my wound because I'm too busy thinking about Monteverdi's betrayal.

"Nadaplisan pala ako ng bala sa hita kanina," I informed her. Ngayon ay unti-unti ko ng nararamdaman ang matinding pananakit nito.

"Hah?! 'Bat ngayon mulang sinabi?" gulat nitong saad. "We need to clean that first before it gets dark. You'll pass out if you'll continue losing blood."

She parked the car in an open space and went out. She informed me that she's going to get her first-aid kit at the back of her car. Tumango lamang ako at pinanood ang unti-unting paglubog ng araw. Masyadong maraming nangyare ngayong araw. I can't help myself but to feel tired. This day is full of sick revelations that caught me off guard.

Napabalik na lang ako sa realidad ng may kumatok sa bintanang sinasandalan ko. Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad si Gazelle na may hawak na puting kahon at supot.

"Magpalit ka muna," sabi niya at inabot sakin ang supot na may bagong biling damit. Kung saan niya man ito nakuha ay 'di na ako nagtanong.

I closed the door again and changed my bloody shirt into a white one. Pinangpunas ko na rin ito sa aking mukha at buhok na natalsikan ng mga dugo. Tsk, I don't like the smell of blood but I'm used to it. Sunod kong tinanggal ang aking suot na pants ng dahan-dahan habang tinitiis ang sakit ng sugat sa aking hita. My breath shuddered and I leaned back at my seat when I'm done wearing the shorts Gazelle bought. Binuksan ko ng muli ang pinto sa aking tabi.

"Mabuti't hindi sila sumunod," narinig kong wika niya bago tanggalin ang tingin mula sa kalsada. She's talking about the Clementes'.

"They wouldn't," maikling sagot ko. "They asked me to leave." Lumapit ito sa akin at tinignan ang aking sugat. Binuksan nito ang first-aid kit at kinuha ang mga kailangan. I slightly winced when she started cleaning it.

"I never thought that the Don would be that young and handsome," she said and chuckled. I just rolled my eyes and didn't talk back. Ibang-iba rin ang nasa aking imahinasyon tungkol sa Don noon. "Pero hindi ba't nakakapagtaka..." Natigilan ito sa ginawa pero kalauna'y pinagpatuloy din.

"Ang alin?"

"Kung bakit hindi ka nila pinatay. He let you just leave instead, even if you've killed his guards. He didn't fight back too when you're attacking him. Because clearly, if I were the Don and you did that, I would treat you as an enemy and kill you. Lalo na't traydor ka sa organisayon," tumingin ito ng deritso sa akin,

 "Anong meron sa inyong dalawa?"

Natahimik kaming pareho habang hinihintay niya ang sagot ko. Ihip ng malamig na hangin at busina ng mga sasakyan lamang ang aming naririnig. Dumidilim na rin dahil sa nalalapit na pagsapit ng gabi.

"I don't know," sagot ko at tumingin na lamang sa aking sugat. "All I'm just thinking now is that I'm the killer and he is my target."

Napangisi ito at napailing na lamang. Matagal ko na ring iniisip kung bakit nga ganon ang ginagawa nito. He said he's keeping me alive, protecting me. I mentally rolled my eyes. Sa tingin niya ba'y maniniwala ako agad-agad sa mga sinasabi nito. I don't trust anyone. If I had to trust someone, it would be Max. But now what? My trust for him resulted into broken pieces thrown directly at my face. But then, It was all my mistake listening to him. And I've learned my lesson. Now, I want to get back evenly.

"They already know you're with me," I told her. "Anong plano mo?"

"Yeah," tipid itong ngumiti at tinapos ang paglalagay ng bandages sa aking sugat. "I can't go back anymore. Sa palagay ko ay mananatili na lamang akong manonood sa mga magiging plano mo."

"I hope you're aware of the consequences." Sabay kaming napatingin sa mga nag-ilawan na streetlights. Tuluyan ng sumapit ang gabi.

"If the Don has no plans of killing you, then I think I don't have to worry that much," saad na lamang nito at ngumiti. Tumayo siya at umayos na rin ako ng upo. She better hope so.

Umikot siya patungo sa kabila at pumasok sa driver's seat. Sinarado ko na rin ang pinto sa aking tabi.

"What's that?"

Nagtataka akong tumingin sa kanya, "What's what?"

"'Yang maliit na pulang ilaw," nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa aking kamay.

"Saan?"

She grabbed my right hand, tried to show me something. I squinted my eyes while looking intently on my wrist. Indeed, there is a tiny red light flickering that I can't almost notice. And it is inside my wrist! Kinuha ko ang aking kamay mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak at dinala ito sa aking paanan, kung saan mas madilim. Mas lalo ko itong naaninag. I gingerly touched it and felt a square-shaped thing.

"What the hell is this?!"

I leaned back to my seat while thoroughly examining this thing inside of my wrist. Hindi ko ito halos mapansin at hindi ko alam kung paano ito nakita ni Gazelle. Ngayon ko lamang ito natignan at naramdaman. What this thing could be...

"Tracking chip," pareho kaming napatingin sa isa't-isa nang sabay kaming nagsalita. Pareho kami ng iniisip.

"I think they're tracking you now. The flickering light means it is sending signals," aniya .

So, ito pala ang kasagutan sa mga tanong ko dati. Kung bakit mabilis akong nahahanap ni Devon kahit saan ako magpunta. Kung bakit hinahayaan niya lang akong magpunta kung saan-saan. He could fvcking trace me effortless. Damn! At kailan pa ito nakatanim sa akin? Paaano?

"I need to remove this shit out of my body. Right. Now."

"Then we need to go to the nearest hospital," sagot niya. No. Not the hospital. They would have an idea. And what will be the reactions of the doctors and nurses there? They would freak out, too.

"No. Let's go back to the restaurant. I have a nurse, waiting for me there."