MAAARING sa mga nakinig na mga bisita at kay Donya Teresita, tila isang eksena sa mga palabas o pagtatanghal sa teatro ang unang pagkikita namin ni Caesar. Isang pagtatagpong animo'y itinakda ng tadhana 'pagkat tumaon pa ito sa pagluha ng mga ulap habang naghahalong kulay kahel at rosas na ang kalangitan. Ngunit malayo sa mga ito ang tunay na tagpo ilang taon na ang nakararaan. Hindi isang romantikong nobela ang tagpuan kundi trahedya. Hindi ako ang kapwa niya bida kundi ang kalaban.

I was ordered to personally kill the entire Montelier Family. That includes him.

However, as if the heir's story has reached a massive turning point, something has gone wrong from the villain's end.

"Ash, sigurado ka ba talaga rito?" muling pangungunpirma ni Violet sa 'kin pagkaparada niya ng sasakyan. "I know it's highly strange that your name disappeared, but don't you think we should've waited for further instructions first? I mean, we literally sneaked out of the Institution! If we get caught, we're in deep shithole!"

"V, the Institution itself is already a deep shithole. What difference does it make?" I snorted.

Kasalukuyan kaming nakagarahe sa likod ng isang bakanteng bahay na hindi kalayuan sa mansyong tinitirahan ng mga target— Wisteria Manor. Hindi ito ang unang beses ko na makarating dito't magmasid, lalo na't para sa mabusising misyon na ito, pagkakataon ito na maaaring isang beses lamang dumating.

I took off my seatbelt and adjusted my black combat gloves. "And you do realize our master has been preparing me for this since I can remember, don't you? I'm their personally-forged Montelier killer," I added irritatedly without even throwing her a glance. She couldn't possibly understand. She wouldn't. The pressure. The risks. The rewards.

"Still..." she sighed frustratingly while tapping the stirring wheel with her index finger. "They're Monteliers. They are no easy prey, even for you, Ashwurey. If you've been excluded from the mission out of the blue, there must be a good reason."

"Yeah, right, to be excluded on the exact date," pagsasawalang-bahala ko sa argumento nito at napairap. "I don't care if someone fucked with the database, I'm still going. I'm supposed to lead the mission today. This is supposed to be my breakthrough." Ibinaba ko ang bintana sa may panig ko't inilantad nang bahagya ang kamay ko.

Kagabi pa nang magsimulang magbuhos ng ulan ang kalangitan. May maya't mayang pagkidlat ngunit hindi marahas ang iilang pagkulog. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko hinayaang maging hadlang ang panahon sa kahit na anong misyon, subalit sa araw na 'to, animo'y batid ng mga diyos na may ilang dosenang kaluluwa silang sasalubungin sa tarangkahan ng kaharian nila.

"I'm going in now. Return to the Institution a.s.a.p., okay?" I told her when I unlocked the door from my side.

She combed her long violet strands back roughly. "Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Unlike you, I can get terminated just for a single mistake," pagmamaktol nito habang nakasandal sa manubela.

Silly. They can also do that to me. They're simply choosing not to... for now.

"But please, for everyone's sake, your sake, be careful, Ash. Okay?" 

Saglit akong sumilong sa may bukana ng back door ng bahay hanggang sa tuluyan nang buhayin ni Violet ang makina upang makaalis at makalayo rito. Gawa ng walang permiso akong pumarito, minabuti kong tanggihan ang alok niyang samahan ako. If something indeed goes wrong, it'd be better for her not to get involved with my stubbornness.

"You ready, Hillary?"

As soon as I utter that name, each bracelet on each wrist produces a whirring sound as they project and form a raincoat for me. One that is enough to cover my face and broad enough to shield my shoulders. I've just received this flat-space tech recently, yet it's already proving that it's worth stealing from the Phoenix Organization parasites.

"What will be the color for today, signorina?" an Italian woman's voice asked, her emphasis on every word sharp but smooth likes how one caresses their clothes made of silk.

"Hmm. What are the colors of that family again?" I pondered as I looked up at the huge dark clouds. "Is it silver and blue?"

To be honest, I wasn't curious. As a designated executioner, it wasn't a requirement to learn everything there is about your prey. None of it matters, whether it be their lineage, crest, colors, or businesses. What does is that their lives must be taken by my hands and no one else.

"Then shall we give you the opposites of them?" Hill suggested.

"Should we?"

Sa matamis kong pagtugon ay agaran niyang pinunlaan ng purong itim ang bawat piraso ng kasuotan ko na parang pinturang tumapon at kusang kumalat sa bawat tahi. Ang buhok kong madalas ay nakaitim gawa ng ito ang karaniwang kulay ng buhok dito sa Pilipinas, binalutan niya ng kulay ng likidong dadanak sa pagsapit ng gabi.

"I can't have it in any other way," puri ko rito habang sinusuri ang pulidong gawa ng teknolohiya. "Let's go now?"

"Come vuole ("As you wish")."

The Monteliers' abode can be compared to a jewel at the center of a crown. Their estate is like an endless green grass sea, surrounded by trees and flowers like the northern mafia territories. It's the reason why it's famously called the Wisteria Manor because even the rooves, pillars, and chimneys are enwrapped with purple wisteria vines.

As I trace the route through the silent back gardens, an unpleasant feeling keeps crawling to my skin. I tried to dismiss it as a mere distraction procured by my head, yet the fact that I couldn't seem to hear any gunshots or screams made it more defiant. Was I too late? Was the mission done already? Did someone else kill my targets?

"Signorina," my AI buzzed. "There are approximately twelve agents left carrying the Institution's signature. By looking at their positions and moves, they seem to be searching for remaining survivors or witnesses."

Agad akong napahinto sa paglalakad. "Porca puttana! ("Damn it!")"

Hindi pwede 'to. Lower ranking agents accomplished the job that is supposed to be mine?!

"Apologies, my lady."

I clenched my fist and slammed them on a gazebo's pillar nearby. "What would your apologies change, anyway? Tingin mo ba makakabalik ako sa Institusyon nang walang dala na ulo ng kahit na sinong Montelier?" sarkastikong bulalas ko rito. "You're just an object, what do you know?"

"Aren't you the same as me, ma'am?" Hill replied, lacking any sympathy, which I should've expected. Alas, she's not wrong.

Nahilamos ko na lang ang mga palad ko sa mukha ko. "Ugh, you're right. I'm a disposable, after all," humahangos kong pagsang-ayon. "And the day I will be disposed... it might be today."

Nanlulupaypay akong sumalampak sa marbol na sahig ng gazebo, sinusubukang tukuyin kung saan nagsimulang magkamali ang araw na dapat ay perpekto sa 'kin. "Cos'è successo? ("What happened?")" bulong ko sa sarili. "Master promised me something if I succeed. Now, I can't have it."

However, as if the skies were taking pity on me, my question was soon answered with a rustle nearby. I could swear my eyes caught a figure closely similar to a young male adult.

"Put a fucking mark on that person, Hill," I ordered with gritting teeth.

"Capito ("Understood")."

Wala akong sinayang na oras. Dali-dali akong tumayo't sinundan ang direksyon kung saan papunta ang pigura. Kung papalayo siya rito, walang dudang pagtakas o 'di kaya'y pagtatago ang layunin niya. Malas lamang niya 'pagkat hindi ako uuwi nang walang dalang ulong maiaalay.

"Have you already recognized who it is?" I checked on Hill as I kept tracking the man's steps for over a few minutes now. There's no doubt he's in panic, neither minding the loud splash his steps make on wet grounds nor the trembling of his gasps, but who won't be in front of impending death?

"Stop it!" I halted my steps when he yelled. "Don't come near me," he said, his breathing ragged. The mice he is undoubtedly knew he had nowhere to run to. Even so, does he think hiding behind a huge old sycamore tree would stop me?

Kapwa naming hinabol ang hininga namin. At sa mga segundong 'yon, inilathala ni Hill sa paningin ko gamit ang suot kong contact lenses ang napag-alaman niya.

"Signorina, he's Caesar Kinette Montelier. He hasn't come of age yet, but he's the only son and heir to the family," Hillary reported, reviving my nerves and plastering a smirk on my face.

Kung nililinis na lang ng mga kasamahan ko ang lugar, hindi ba't ang ibig sabihin lamang nito'y ikaw na ang huli sa kanila? Huling dugo ni Don Ramon Montelier. Huling Montelier.

"If you wish, we can end this painlessly," I suggested, my every muscle and vein pulsing as I stepped closer to where his shadow lay. "You can be with your family sooner if you'll cooperate with me."

My heart's beating as loud as the rare thunders' roars. Habang papalapit ako, mas lalo lang akong nasasabik sa magiging reaksyon ng mga amo sa oras na dalhin ko ang ulo ng binatang ito. Thus, I yanked my left arm, making a dagger sheathed under my shirt fall swiftly to my hand.

"Isa ka rin ba sa kanila? Katuwang ka rin ba ng mga pumatay sa mga tauhan namin at sa mga magulang ko?!" garalgal na pangki-kuwestiyon nito. "Ano bang kailangan niyo sa 'min?!"

Pansin ko ang malikot niyang paggalaw sa aninong nadudulot ng malalaking mga sanga't dahon. Halos yakapin niya ang puno na para bang ito na lamang ang pumapagitna sa buhay at kamatayan niya.

"Typical questions of someone who's about to die. You know, even if I answer you, it's pointless. You cannot outrun me. It's also more impossible to outmatch me," I told him, not bragging to him but simply laying out the facts he might want to consider. "Wala ka nang mapupuntahan, Caesar Montelier."

He flinched at the mention of his name. Sounding like he's gulping a ton of courage, he exclaimed, "Kung wala na, ano pang pagpipilian ko? Anong gagawin ko?"

I sighed as he desperately and clumsily tried to stall time. Amused that he was spending his last hour like this, I humored him. "Then, die. Die from my hands. It will end before you know it."

"W-What? I won't die! I won't!" hiyaw niya sa 'kin. "I promised my mom I won't! I promised!"

"Tsk. Anong saysay ng pagtupad sa pangakong hindi naman na matutunghayan ng pinangakuan na matupad?"

"Still! It's a promise! And do you really think I'm stupid to let you kill me? Would you have done that yourself?"

Halos gusto ko nang siguraduhin kung dumudugo ba ang tenga ko o hindi sa pagtataas ng boses niya sa 'kin. Kung tama ang naaalala ko, hindi gaanong nagkakalayo ang edad naming dalawa. Who does he think he is?

"Obviously, I wouldn't let myself get killed and it's not like it's possible. I'm one of the best killers alive, sir. Now, stop whining and let's get this over with," tamad kong pakiusap sa kaniya dahil tila iikot lang kami nang iikot sa iisang paksa kung hahayaan ko pa siya. "You should've tried harder on hiding."

"How can I convince you not to kill me? What can I give you that will dissuade you?"

His last ounce of audacity to try to bribe me really puts him as the most pitiful among all my victims. "What I want, you can't give," I answered bluntly and began closing in.

"How are you so sure? Say it!"

Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa patalim. "Can you marry me then?" I sneered, mocking him. All you can do is talk anyway. Even if your life doesn't depend on me, you won't be able to give me what I want. "Can you give me freedom? Can you give me all the wealth there is and spend all your days with me?"

Natatawa kong inangat ang sandata ko. Sa huling hakbang, babaon ang patalim na ito upang gilitan ng leeg ang huling Montelier. Subalit nang minaobra ko ang pagharap ko sa kaniya, napahinto ako at ang dapat na kikitil sa kaniyang bagay ay naiwan sa ere kagaya ng hininga ko.

In spite of the rain and the dagger on his neck, ferociously, sincerely, and courageously, he continued to respond to my joke with his bronze eyes flashing straight at me. "I can do that! Why take my life if you can have it to protect you? Take my side, and you can have all of me!"

Inutil. Napaka-istupidong sagot. Napakababaw. Pero sinong mag-aakalang matapos ang napakaraming taon, gagawin nga niya ang ipinangako niya? Pinakasalan niya ko bagama't para sa ibang rason. Binigyan niya ko ng kalayaan habang kinukubli rin niya ako sa kapahamakan. At ang silid na 'to sa loob ng mansyong dati'y dapat na loloobin ko, pinalamutian ng mga magagarang larawan at dekorasyon.

What made me waver back then, they ask? "It's his conviction when he promised me everything he has," I mumbled in my breath and bitterly smiled.

Iniangat ko sa direksyon ng kisame ang kaliwang kamay ko, tinititigan ang sapirong singsing na sa amin ay nagbubuklod. I'm glad I did the right decision sparing and saving your life. Now, when will you come home, huh?

As much as I want to reminisce the past, I gasped when I found the clock's hands are past midnight. Mabilis kong isinara ang librong binabasa ko at tumayo sa sopa. Subalit bago pa ako makatungo sa kama ay natawag ng isang kalabog ang pansin ko.

Out of curiosity, I put the book down in my night drawer and consciously stepped towards the door. I carefully turned the knob, wondering what could be outside when all my nights here in Wisteria Manor had been peaceful and cordial.

Nevertheless, I opened the door only to discover Caesar lying on the floor, wounded and making shallow breaths like so many years ago. 

******

A/N: How to pronounce the words and names you'll encounter more in this story!

Quinzel = kwin-zel 

Caesar = si-ser (similar to Cesar's pronunciation)

Wisteria = wis-ter-ya

Ashwurey = ashu-rey (silent 'w')