". . . napatay ho namin si Mr. Chen." Iyon ang nadinig ko pagkapasok ko ng tanggapan ng mansyon ng boss namin.

Hearing that, Henrick Ortega, our boss became fuming mad.

"What?! Hindi ba't sinabi ko sa inyo na wag niyong sasaktan si Mr. Chen? He's our client!" he hissed. Greco looked down with his jaw clenching. Just by standing here, I know he wants to say something but couldn't. Lahat naman ng tauhan ni Henrick Ortega ay takot na magsalita laban sa kaniya.

Mabilis akong naglakad palapit sa kanila. Everyone heard my footsteps because of my heeled boots.

"He tried to trick us and even pointed a gun at us. Kung bubuhayin namin siya, surely he would do something. I know we are formidable pero tiyak na isang panggulo ang gagawin niya. The man looked arrogant. He even underestimated us. Therefore I conclude that he will do idiotic stances that may compromise you and the entire group if we left him alive," I said indifferently habang nakatingin sa mga mata niya.

Henrick calmed down and nodded. "If that is so . . ." Bumaling siya kay Greco.

Greco didn't need to be told. Mabilis itong tumalikod at umalis kasama ang mga tauhan naming kasama namin sa transaksiyon kanina.

"Tio . . ." I slightly bowed down nang kami na lang ang natira.

"Clei, next time, hayaan mong magpaliwanag si Greco o ang kahit na sino pang tauhan ko nang mag-isa."

Tiningala ko siya habang bumabalik sa pagtayo ng tuwid.

"They are scared of you, Tio," I reasoned out.

Kumunot ang noo nito na parang may sinabi akong mali.

"Why would they be? Hindi naman ako nangangain ng tao."

"Pero pumapatay, oo."

Tio Henrick chuckled. "Ikaw talaga. May sagot ka sa lahat ng bagay. That's why I really like you, Clei."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Tio."

He shook his head. "Are you hungry? Magpaluto ka sa mga katulong ng makakain."

Ako naman ang umiling. "'Di po ako gutom. I'll just rest. Besides, masyado nang malalim ang gabi para kumain pa. Baka hindi ako makatulog agad."

"Alright."

Nginitian ko si Tio Henrick nang magpaalam ito. While I took a detour and went outside.

Sa katunayan, ako lang ang tanging pinakikitunguhan ng ganoon ni Tio. Maybe because I grew up here. Mula nang mamatay ang tunay kong magulang, siya na ang nag-alaga sa 'kin. He could've left me alone in our burning village but no. He took me and cared for me like his own child. And I'm thankful for that.

Nakita ko si Greco n nakatayo sa hindi kalayuan. He was looking at the vast green field with a faraway look on his face. He seems lost im his thoughts as he stared at the darkness of the field. Tanging ang maliliit na ilaw mula sa mga poste sa bawat gilid ang nagpapaliwanag dito.

Tumikhim ako para agawin ang atensyon niya. He quickly stood straight and glanced at me. Nang makita ako, his shoulders relaxed as he emotionlessly called me.

"Ma'am."

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ko sa naging tawag niya sa 'kin.

"Tapos na ang misyon, Greco," makahulugang paalala ko sa kaniya.

Kaagad niya namang naintindihan ang pahiwatig ko.

"Cleise," he called me again by my name.

Tipid akong napangiti.

"That's more like it."

He matched my grin. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito? Dapat nagpapahinga ka na sa loob."

I took a deep breath as I hugged myself and looked at the wide space in front of us.

"May iniisip lang . . ." I trailed.

"You're going back to the Academy next week, right?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako nang hindi siya tinitingnan. "Isang taon na lang . . ."

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga ni Greco. From my peripheral vision, I saw him faced me with his whole body.

"Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit pumasok ka roon. You perfectly know that that place is full of our foes. Yet, pumasok ka pa rin."

"For knowledge." Iyon lang ang sinabi ko kahit na ng totoo ay may mas malalim pang rason kung bakit ko piniling mag-aral sa Military Academy.

It was my and Tio's plan. And we will not reveal it until I got appointed in the Military. Para maiwasan ang pag-ikot ng balita.

We have been planning this for almost four years now. Hindi pwedeng ngayon kami sasablay.

"Joining the academy, mas magkakaroon ako ng kaalaman sa kung paano mag-isip ang mga sundalo. It will be an advantage for us. Magiging pamilyar ako sa mga kilos nila, sa operasyon nila, kung paano sila magplano at iba pa."

Greco nodded. I glanced at him and saw an emotion in his eyes. He's not convinced. Pero tumatango siya.

"Okay then, please be careful. I don't want to lose a good friend."

I smiled at that. "I will."

Days passed and I've never been so restless. Imbes na makapag-relax ako ay mas lalo yata akong na-stress. All because of that woman.

For some reason, after our encounter at the bar, she never left my mind. Every night in my dreams, her red eyes haunts my sleep. Her smiles is always in my mind, also her confident voice. Paulit-ulit na nagri-reply sa utak ko ang pagkikita at saglit na pag-uusap namin na parang sirang plaka. At imbes na magsawa sa paulit-ulit na ala-ala, it seems like I'm addicted to that memory.

I could even make a sketch of her face for thinking of her too much. Too bad, I suck at drawing.

Hinilamos ko ang mukha gamit ang sariling nga palad bago umalis sa kama para maligo.

It's almost three weeks since I met that woman. But she still continues to occupy a big space of my mind. Sa tuwing wala akong ginagawa o iniisip, ang mukha niya ang babalandra sa utak ko. Ang boses niya ang naririnig ko sa tuwing pipikit ako.

And it's confusing the fuck out of me!

Hindi naman ako ganito sa ibang babae. And those girls, I have slept with them. But they don't haunt my mind like this.

Pero ang babaeng 'yon . . . ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya. Pero bakit lagi siyang sumasagi sa isipan ko?

All my plans to savor my one month vacation were thrown to waste. Imbes na nasa labas ako, kasama ang mga kaibigan ko, nagba-bar-hopping, narito ako sa condo ko, mag-isa at nag-iisip.

But I just couldn't find an acceptable reason as to why that woman haunts my working days and sleeping nights. I really don't get it. Nakasalubong ko lang naman siya sa bar.

This week is my last week on vacation. And since I couldn't do anything rather thank think because I was feeling lazy to go with my friends, napagdesisyunan kong umuwi na lang sa 'min. Hoping that my mind will be distracted by the noisiness of my siblings.

Hindi ako nagdala ng malaking bag dahil balak ko namang umuwi kinagabihan. My parent's house is not that far from here. Isang oras lang na biyahe at nandoon na ako.

Sanay ako sa ingay ng putukan ng baril, sanay ako sa ingay ng tugtugin sa bar . . . but I'll never get used to how rowdy my parent's house is. Kaya nga ako bumukod. Ayaw kong naririnig ang walang kwentang bangayan ng dalawang kapatid ko - ang pag-iingay lang pala ni Aless. Kass is quiet.

As soon as I parked my Audi, saglit ko munang tiningnan ang hitsura sa salamin bago kinuha ang leather jacket na nakasampay sa passenger's seat kapagkuwan ay lumabas na.

Isinampay ko sa kanang balikat ang jacket at kinuha ang duffel bag na naglalaman ng mga damit ko na balak kong itambak sa kwarto at preskong naglakad patungong pintuan.

". . . and I intend to win. Kass, galingan mo rin sa competition mo, ha? Para twinning tayo." I heard one of my sister's voice.

"Wala akong balak na ipanalo ang competition, Aless. What matters is I give my best," kalmadong turan ni Kassandra, isa sa kambal kong kapatid.

"Kass, you are our school's representative. And that's an international competition!"

"Kaya nga hindi ako nag-e-expect na manalo."

"Can't you be a little confident with yourself? Kaya hindi ka nananalo eh."

I shook my head when I saw Alessandra roll her eyes. Nakaupo ito sa mahabang sofa, nakatutok ang paningin sa TV at pinaglalaruan ang dulo ng sariling buhok. While Kassandra is sitting on the single couch as she reads a thick book.

My sisters are very much different from each other.

Alessandra is confident and extravagant. Siya ang itinuturing na spoiled brat sa bahay. She doesn't care about anything except fashion, skincare, and any other girly things that I consider a waste of money. But she's smart nonetheless kaya naman hinahayaan lang siya ng magulang namin.

While Kassandra is the definition of simplicity. Hindi siya kasing-arte ng kakambal niya. She prefers studying rather than shopping. Mahiyain rin ito at hindi mahilig makipag-socialize.

Tanging hitsura lang nila ang magkapareho. But in terms of attitude and personality, they're way different.

"Yow."

Both of them turned their heads to my direction and grinned afterwards.

"Kuya!"

"Kuya."

Si Alessandra lang ang tumakbo palapit at yumakap sa 'kin. While Kass calmly closed her book and walked leisurely towards us.

"Kailan ka pa nakauwi?" Magiliw na tanong ni Alessandra. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa bag na bitbit ko kapagkuwan ay sumimangot.

"You didn't even bring anything for us?"

I gave her a pointed look.

"Kailan ba ako nagdala?" I smirked when she rolled her eyes and went back to where she was sitting.

Napailing-iling ako habang naglalakad patungo kay Kass at niyakap siya.

"How's my little sister?"

"I'm your little sister too! Bakit si Kass lang ang binabati mo ng ganiyan?" singit ni Aless na binalewala ko lang. I know she's just kidding. Gawain niya na 'yan.

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Kassandra nang kumalas siya sa yakapan namin.

"I'm doing great, Kuya," sagot niya.

"Ano iyong narinig ko kanina? You have a competition?" usisa ko.

She nodded. "Yes. Math competition po. It will happen two months from now. Sa Singapore po."

"That's amazing! Mag-aral kang mabuti para manalo ka."

"Yes, Kuya."

"Wow. Kapag ako ang nagsasabi, ayaw mo. But when Kuya says you study hard to win, um-oo ka? Hello, I'm your twin!"

"Shut up, Alessandra. Kanina ka pa maingay. Paano ako makakapag-aral ng maayos?"

Lihim akong napangiti nang tumahimik si Aless. Minsan lang mamuna si Kassandra kaya kapag nangyari na iyon, ibig sabihin ay seryoso siya. It's rare for Kass to pull out the older twin card.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" I asked after a minute or so.

Si Aless ang sumagot. "I don't know where they went pero sabi nila saglit lang daw sila. Baka pauwi na 'yon. Kanina pa sila umalis eh."

Napatangu-tango ako. "Okay. I'll be in my room. Call me when they get home," bilin ko.

"Sure, sure."

Naiayos ko na ang aking mga damit. I even cleaned my room even though it's cleaned already. Lahat ng pwedeng gawin sa kuwarto ko, nagawa ko na pati ang maligo. At iyon ang nakakainis.

I am aware that every time I don't have anything to do and I'm just sitting idle is when that woman will enter my mind. Kaya hangga't maaari, ginagawa kong abala ang sarili ko sa kung ano man.

I am actually regretting that I did not join my friends today and the past weeks. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na mas magiging distracted ako kapag kasama sila.

I heaved a sigh and dropped myself on the mattress. Wala na talaga akong magawa. Kapag naman tutulong ako sa mga maid sa labas, baka isipin nila na sinapian ako ng kung sino mang anghel dahil bigla akong naging masipag.

Alessandra said our parents are on the way home, pero ilang oras na yata ang lumipas at wala pa rin sila.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax. Pero kaagad akong napamulagat nang makitang muli ang mukha ng babae the moment I closed my eyes.

"Fuck," I cursed as I sat on the bed. Ginulo ko ng sariling buhok pagkatapos ay inabot ko ng telepono para tingnan kung anong oras na.

Halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa gulat nang makita ang oras. Ni hindi pa nag-iisang oras mula nang umakyat ako! Why does it feel like forever?

"Fuck this. Fuck this shit," I muttered a string of curses as I stood up and approached the door.

Kasalanan 'to noong babae. Sana makagat niya ang dila niya.

✨GraciousVictory✨

Don't forget to vote, comment on this chapter if you have some questions, and of course, follow my acc, @GraciousVictory. Thank you!😘