"Alam kong ginamit ninyo 'yong military tank."

Kamuntikan nang mabuga ni Chayse ang kanyang iniinom nang simulan ni Evil ang pag-i-interrogate. She quickly grabbed a table napkin and wiped her lips, not noticing the way Evil's eyes lingered there for a moment.

"Sinabi ba sa'yo ni Kesa?"

"Raff."

"Really?"

"I ordered him to."

Napairap na lang si Chayse nang marinig ang pag-amin ni Evil sa pagmamanipula nito. Bakit ba hindi na siya nagulat? Wala talagang pinipiling tao o oras ang isang 'to. Naalala na naman niya ang kaawa-awang sitwasyon ni Leo. Mabuti na lang talaga at nakauwi rin siya ng Eastwood, after a costguard literally found him stranded on that island. Which reminds Chayse that she should pay him a visit one of these days.

'Siguradong hindi na talaga sila magkakasundo ng isang 'to,' isip-isip niya.

"Didn't anyone teach you that it's bad to take things without permission, Blondie?"

Maniniwala na sana si Chayse na galit si Evil kung hindi lang dahil sa mapang-asar na tono ng boses nito. Napairap na lang ang dalaga at gigil na sinaksak ng kutsilyo ang steak.

"That's gold, coming from someone who does bad things on a daily basis. Kailan ka pa naging concerned sa kung ano ang tama at mali?"

Lalo lang lumawak ang ngiti ni Evil.

"I love it when you get violent. Do it again."

Chayse ignored his comment. If this is his version of flirting, she can't decide whether it's working or not.

At bakit ba parang ang daming in-order ni Evil para sa lunch nila? Wagyu beef steak, bluefin tuna sushi, lobsters, truffle risotto.. Parang kaya na nitong pakainin ang isang buong barangay! Kung ipinakain na lang sana niya sa ibang tao o dinonate ang pera sa isang charity, baka mas matuwa pa ang dalaga.

But then again, this is Evil we're talking about...

Suddenly, her previous conversation with Nap haunted her.

"I'm not Joker."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Chayse nang magsalita ang kanyang kasama. Nakatitig na ito sa kanya.

"Ano?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Evil. "I can't read minds like Evarius nor heal to alleviate pain like Everick," mahinang paliwanag nito bago sinubukang abutin ang kanyang mga kamay. Halatang may hesitasyon. Halatang ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagkaroon siya ng pakialam sa nararamdaman ng iba. He looked more like a boy trying to figure out how to navigate through this situation, despite being an immortal. Nonetheless, Evil finally asked. "Anong problema? And don't try to deny it, Blondie. It's written all over your face."

Chayse stared in nervousness as Evil tried to reach for her hands across the table.

She quickly pulled them away and forced a smile.

"What? Walang problema! I-I... I just feel a bit under the weather, that's all."

Ano na lang ang magiging reaksyon ni Evil kapag nalaman niyang may kinalaman si Nap sa nangyari sa kanila? Shit. No matter how badly she wants to stay positive, Chayse knows Evil would get mad. No, "mad" would be just the tip of the iceberg. Buong buhay nilang kinamuhian at sinubukang hanapin ang taong 'yon hanggang sa mapadpad sila sa Eastwood.

Paniguradong titiwalag sila sa kasunduan sa oras na malaman nilang bahagi si Napoleon ng kulto.

And despite seeing his "softer" side nowadays, deep down Chayse knows Evillois Neverwood will never forgive anyone connected to their curse.

Never.

"Chayse..."

Pakiramdam ng dalaga ay binuhusan siya ng malamig na tubig nang tawagin ni Evil ang pangalan niya.

Fixing her eyeglasses, she quickly stood up and gave him an apologetic look.

"May assignment pa pala akong tatapusin kaya kailangan kong bumalik agad sa ECU. I'm sorry, I forgot!"

'I'm sorry, Evil,' she added internally before hurrying out of the restaurant. Nagmamadali siyang tumakbo papalabas, umaasang hindi na siya susundan pa ng imortal.

Nang makalayo-layo na si Chayse, agad siyang napasandal sa pader ng isang eskinita, hinihingal at sumasakit na ang ulo sa kakaisip. Damn. How did it all went downhill? She can feel the guilt already clawing at her insides, making her sick. Pero sa huli, alam niyang kailangan niyang piliin ang desisyon para sa ikabubuti ng nakararami.

They are so close to completing this mission. So close to taking down EKT---giving justice to so many deaths and saving so many lives in the future.

She can't let anything get in their way.

Not even...

"Hello, there, Miss Brains. What a frabjous day it is!"

Napapitlag na lang si Chayse nang maramdaman ang presensya ng imortal sa kanyang likuran. Kabado niyang binunot ang baril sa kanyang holster at itinutok ito kay Joker. But the eldest Neverwood's smile never faltered. A crazed and meaningful look in his eyes as he brought his face closer, positioning the center of his forehead on the gun.

"Now, now... That's not necessary. I don't look good in red. HAHAHAHA!"

"Anong kailangan mo?"

Ngumiti nang malawak ang Neverwood. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, bigla siyang kinilabutan.

Bakit parang iba ang kutob niya rito?

"Nandito lang ako para sa isang knock-knock joke!"

She doesn't believe it.

"Joker wala akong oras para sa---!"

"Ah, silly me! I forgot that you only 'knock' on a door when it's closed... Pero kung iiwanan mong nakabukas ang pinto, maraming lalabas na sikreto. Hindi ba?"

Joker's eyes flashed menacingly.

In that moment, Chayse realized...

He knew.

---

The hardest wars are fought
in an empty battlefield...
with the battles against yourself,
unprotected by a shield.

---Evillois Neverwood