Caesar's POV

THERE is a phrase I keep being told ever since I can remember. The most unforgettable, yet also the most harrowing moment I've heard of it was probably when my grandfather died. It was a long summer. It is a season when you can imagine the crowns of young men and women getting kissed by the sun. It is a time when the breeze hardly comes and the wisterias known to slither on every corner of our house were in full bloom.

That's right. In a picturesque period such as this, my grandfather died... or so we thought.

Sa tuwing may namamayapang kaanak o kakilala, gawi na para sa isang musmos na bata ang maghintay sa isang gilid habang ang mga nakatatanda'y may kaniya-kaniyang mga usapan. Habang ngumangata ng biskwit o 'di kaya'y inaaliw ng mga kasambahay, tumatakbo ang oras nang hindi mo namamalayan. Ngunit sa bandang huli, ang kabaong na inaasahan naming kayumanggi na nabubudburan ng pilak sa mga sulok nito, hindi dumating. Bagkus, isang karton ang inilapag sa mga paanan namin. Isang kartong naglalaman ng labi ni Don Frederick Montelier. Ang mga braso nitong bali, ang mga binti nitong nabalatan, ang mga ngipin nitong isa-isang hinatak, at maging ang ulo nitong biniyak.

My grandfather didn't die. He was murdered. Brutally. Intimately.

What is the phrase I keep being told, you ask?

"Caesar, it requires a ridiculous amount of courage to be the first, but more so on preventing yourself to be the last."

Hindi ko pa inda noon ang bantang nananalaytay sa ilalim ng mga katagang 'yon. Hawak-hawak niya ang pira-pirasong mga labi ng anak niya ngunit heto siya't tila nakikinita na ang susunod na magiging labi. Tanging nang sumapit ang araw na kinitil ang mga magulang ko sa harapan ko ay doon ko lang napagtanto. Ang babala ni lola, hindi para kay papa kundi sa 'kin na apo.

Hence the moniker stuck on my forehead wherever I go— 'The Last Montelier.'

"Aba, aba! Dito lang pala nagkakanlo ang gago matapos umalis sa kanila," ismid ni Eldridge nang makarating siya rito sa rooftop nang humahangos pa. "But isn't this quite the downgrade? Hindi ba't may mansyon ang mga Aguirre sa Cavite at Mandaluyong habang may prestihiyosong penthouse naman si Calvin? Ba't dito siya nagtatago?"

I pressed the end of the cigarette to my lips for a second and then took it out using my left hand before finally exhaling. "Who knows?" I lazily said as I watch small puffs of smoke form from my very breath. "He's never understandable in the first place."

Napapilitik na lang ako ng dila. "After we spent about two months courting him to give us the files we need, he fled and paid a lease for a second-rate apartment located far from the metro and from his own father." 

Even if I try to put it in words again, I still can't make sense of what the only son of this country's Chief of Police is doing these days. And if only he wasn't Hugo's only son and someone who has something I need, I wouldn't even bother to try and make sense of his deeds.

Iritable man na nakikita akong muli na naninigarilyo, tahimik na winagayway ng doktor ang usok papalayo sa kaniya. "Ha... We tried bribing him with millions, properties, and rights, even intel for Pete's sake, but just like his father, he won't budge," my comrade added while shaking his head. "Pretending to be all high and mighty while wearing an armor of their own self-righteousness."

Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko inaasahan na tatanggihan ako ni Calvin Aguirre, lalo na't nilalatag ko na mismo sa paanan niya ang ideyang kaya kong ipagkaloob ang kahit na anong nais niya basta't ibibigay din niya sa akin ang pakay ko. Hindi ako inutil para isiping tatanggapin niya ang pera o mga lupain. Sadyang hinihintay ko lang na makuha niya ang ideya at sambitin ang tiyak kong hihilingin niya mula sa 'kin.

"That's because what he really wants is the information about what happened to my family when we were attacked back then," I scoffed bitterly, remembering the horrors of surviving, yet still dying all the same that day. They say I'm lucky I got through death but I saw no luck in being left orphaned and having to fight for my life every day. "He's quite obsessed with that part of the Monteliers' history."

Eldridge exhaled frustratingly and ruffled his tousled black hair. "Iniilusyon pa rin ba niya na posibleng ikaw ang nag-stage ng buong pagpatay sa mahigit kumulang na limang dosenang katao para lang mamana agad ang posisyon ng tatay mo?" hindi makapaniwalang kwestiyon nito. "You're barely eighteen at the time!" 

"Well, seeing how I'm being treated as a ruthless grim reaper lately, I'm sure he's got more reasons to be determined to prove his theory," I shrugged.

The doctor winced. "And yet here he is, in hiding like a bitch."

"Yes," I smirked, dropping the last bit of cigar to the cement and stepping on it. "And that's why we're going to force him to reveal himself; let him know there is nothing he can do but give what I want."

Hinding-hindi makapaglalaho sa radar ko ang binatang senior inspector na 'to hangga't hindi niya ibinibigay sa 'kin ang kailangan ko— the Neutral 13 files. 

Mula rito sa rooftop, pinagmamasdan naming maigi ang gusaling hindi kalayuan. Ang gusali kung saan may nirerentahang unit si Aguirre. At ang gusaling tiyak kong panggangalingan niya sa oras na mapansin niya ang patibong na inihanda ko para sa kaniya.

Gayunpaman, tila masyadong napaaga ang aking pananalita. 'Pagkat imbes na ang pulis lang ang lumabas ay pawang lahat ng tenants ay kumakaripas ng takbo papalabas. Agad na kumunot ang noo ko gayong hindi ang patibong ko ang tila ugat ng insidente kundi isang apoy na biglaan na lang sumiklab at nagliyab.

"Send some of our men to extinguish the fire. Help the tenants as discreet as possible. Alamin niyo pa'nong may sumabay na ganito sa plano," napipikit kong utos at saka hinilot ang sentido ko. Agad namang ikina-martsa ni Pherenn pabalik sa rooftop door ang pagbaba ng utos ko. 

Sa pagsaradong muli ng pinto mula sa likuran ko ay naidilat ko ang mga mata ko, puno ng pagtataka at pang-uusisa sa pagkabulilyaso ng mumunting plano. "Kagagawan ba 'to ni Julian? Did he find out that I'm searching for someone? Does he already have an idea what I'm trying to do?"

But that's unlikely.

I squinted at the ravaging fire nearby, it's slamming its orange and red tentacles without holding back. "If this is Julian, he wouldn't resort to this cheap threat. He would've taken the one I'm searching for to himself and extracted any information I couldn't get so he could attain an advantage over me," I told myself, calming my nerves with the fact that I knew Julian better than anyone else. He wouldn't do this. 

I heaved a sigh, pondering what could've gone wrong if this ain't the Red Circle's deed. Base sa bilis ng pagkalat ng apoy sa ilang pagkurap, walang duda na hindi ito aksidente at lalong hindi lang pananakot ang hangad ng nagsimula nito. It meant to kill. But who else aside Hugo's son can be valuable enough to put the whole damn building to the ground? Who could've done this at the exact time frame our threat is supposed to be executed?

"Ethan."

A swift gush of wind touched my back as I call upon my guard's name. And as I turned to him, I find him kneeling on the ground with his head down.

"How may I be of service, master?" he asked fiercely, set and ready for any directive.

"You checked the list of tenants, didn't you? Is there anyone who seems different? Someone that is out of place? Someone other than Aguirre that can be proven suspicious?" pagbabaka-sakali ko. Oo't nabasa ko ang ulat na ipinasa nila sa 'kin bago ang araw na 'to. Ulat na naglalaman ng bawat profile ng mga lumalagi sa gusaling tinutupok na ngayon ng apoy. Pero hindi rin masamang alamin kung may ilang detalyeng nawaglit sa aming pansin.

Lee was slightly confused for a second, probably rummaging his head for any that might fit the bill. "There is, but..." 

"Talk to me, Lee."

"There is... but she's a mute, master."

"And so? Have we never encountered mutes who were recruited as assassins before?"

"We can't get anything about her that suggests she's either dangerous or harmless. Literally nothing, sir. Considering this, we proceeded on focusing solely on the target," he explained, his lips stiff. "She's also said to have a guardian visiting her at least once or twice a day."

I felt one of my brows rise at the information at hand. Nothing?

For my intelligence network to return empty-handed would mean she's someone capable enough to clean her traces. And that is not what someone would call normal for a tenant in an almost run-down building. Not to mention, a building where our target suddenly moved into after running away from us. 

Feeling I am onto something, I decided to indulge my curiosity. "Why would a guardian prefer to live separately from its ward? Does this guardian lives in the same building?"

"Based from what our men reported, no. Pero wala rin pong nakakaalam kung saan ito umuuwi pagkatapos alagaan ang babae sa unit. Kung ano rin po ang eksaktong relasyon nila, wala ring nakapagtukoy."

"At saang unit siya nakatira?"

"She's living adjacent to the unit above the one leased under the target's name, sir," my guard answered reluctantly.

At dito na 'ko napamaang. Far yet so close. Kakatwang ang dalawang taong naiiba sa karamihan ay nasa iisang lugar na hindi kahina-hinala at malayo sa siyudad. "Ethan, see if Aguirre made other arrangements with the landowner." I pursed my lips, wanting to confirm whether there could be something more going on than a spoiled plan. 

"See if the senior inspector leased more than one unit using different information. Check nearby moving companies as well. Ask them if Calvin Aguirre moved with that woman together. Investigate the tenants next to the woman's unit and know if they've accepted any shady compensation prior to her moving."

Nagugulumihanan man sa dire-diretso kong utos, walang imik na sumaludo ito at saktong naglaho nang mapalingon akong muli sa gusaling ngayo'y nilamon na ng apoy.

Kung konektado nga ang dalawa, hindi malayong ang dahilan kung ba't nilisan ng pulis ang puder ng ama niya ay para ikubli ang babaeng 'yon. Ngunit kung magka-gayon, ang ibig sabihin lamang nito ay walang alam si Hugo at batid ni Calvin na hindi siya maaaring humingi ng tulong sa sariling kadugo. Mangyaring tama nga ko, ang apoy na naganap... nakalaan ito para sa babae at posibleng may nakaiintrigang kwento sa likod nito.

"C-Caesar..."

Para akong naubusan ng hangin nang marinig ang pangalan ko. Hindi ito nagmula kay Pherenn na nakasunod sa 'kin kundi sa babaeng nakabistida, basa at nababalutan ng marka ng usok. Ang pakay ko lang naman ay siyasatin ang pumapaligid na mga establisyemento sa natupok nang gusali, nagbabaka-sakaling makabangga ang target o 'di kaya'y may matagpuang makatutulong sa mga plano ko. So why? 

"Caesar, is that you..." she hopelessly inquires as she clings to my body for support. "Caesar..."

I'm not being delusional, am I? It's almost the same. It sounds the same. 

"Wait a moment. L-Let's help you get up f-first. You're soaking wet," I stammered as I try to keep myself altogether to handle the situation first. It's not like you'll get to see a woman in distress as soon as you begin a reconnaissance every day.

Iniayos ko ang pagkakasalo sa kaniya. Nang mapansin kong nawawalan na siya ng ulirat ay minabuti kong alalayan ang katawan niya papaupo sa damuhan. Bahagya ko ring iniluhod ang isang binti ko nang sa gayo'y makasandal siya sa kabila.

"Miss?" Marahan kong inihawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok niyang tumatabing sa mukha niya. "Miss, are you still with me?" Ngunit nang masilayan ko na ang wangis niya, ang malay naman niya ang humupa.

"Geez. I was still about to ask you who you are calling for," I sighed, displeased.

I didn't hear it wrong, did I? It sounds the same. It really is.

"Mr. Montelier! What happened?" Hapong-hapo man, aligagang lumapit si Eldridge sa 'min nang maabutan na niya ko at nang umabot sa atensyon niya ang babaeng nasa mga bisig ko. "Isn't she the woman Ethan is talking about? The one living on that unit Aguirre leased on a different name?" usisa nito at saka kapwa lumuhod kagaya ko upang pagmasdan ang babae.

Marahas kong nailingon ang sarili ko sa gusaling binabaan ng babaeng ito bagama't madulas ang mga kamay, braso't binti niya. Halos hindi ko rin makalkula sa isip ko kung saan niya nakuha ang lakas ng loob manlambitin papunta sa kabilang gusali mula sa nasusunog na pinanggalingan niya.

"Yeah, but if she really is, she should've inhaled the smoke we released," I told Pherenn, dumbfounded. "Pero..."

Hindi ko magawang dalhin ang sarili ko na sambitin ang salita.

"Pero bakit buhay pa siya?" pagtutuloy ng doktor sa katanungan ko nang magtagpo ang mga mata naming dalawa.

Bumuhos ang hiwaga sa 'min na tila ba malamig na tubig. Hindi kami estranghero sa husay at kutob ni Calvin Aguirre kung kaya't sigurado kaming madedetekta niya ang usok at lalabas nang dala-dala ang nakatutuwa niyang simangot. Subalit para sa mga taong nagkaroon ng mahigit pa sa sapat na oras para hingahin ang usok, doon na mag-iiba ang ruta ng kwento.

"I don't know about you, sir," the doctor gulped, tensed. "But if it's true na sinantabi ng pulis na 'yon ang oportunidad na makakuha ng intel galing sa inyo para sa babaeng 'to... wouldn't that mean she's someone important?"

I frowned at the question existing in the air and then, looked at the girl eventually. More important than getting intel about what happened to the Montelier Family years ago? More important than Hugo's wrath and grudge? More important for the little Aguirre to leave everything behind?

Napakaraming tanong ang dumaan sa isipan ko sa panahong nakatitig lang ako sa maamo niyang mukha. Napakarami ngunit may bukod tangi akong sana'y napunan bago siya nawalan ng malay.

Sinong Caesar ang tinatawag mo? At bakit pareho kayo ng boses ng taong pinangakuan kong papakasalan ko? 

******

A/N: Oops! Sorry for the late update! I just completed my first week at work hehe. Now that I think about it, sobrang tagal ko na talaga rin sa Wattpad. I started in 2014 na second-year high school pa lang ako and then now, I'm a working individual na pa-graduate na sa February. Cheers to all of us, Reapers! I'm glad I grew up with all of you! xoxo