"You know, smoking shortens the lifespan."

"Says the hypocrite who has a lighter on him 24/7," asar na sabi ko bago ko hinagis kay Region ang lighter. I took a drag from my cigarette before adding, "Sino kayang mauunang mamatay sa'tin? Must be nice to have a power that can tell you when people die." I stared at it, watching the smoke disappear in thin air. "If only I had a power like that."

"May superhero yata na ganoon ang power. Forgot the name, basta nasiraan ng bait. Nakulong sa Nullzone Prison. That happened a couple of years ago I think."

"Luh? Bakit naman nakakasira ng bait ang ganoong power? Cool nga 'yon, eh."

Region turned, sarcastic. "Geez, I dunno. Maybe because he couldn't save his own wife from death? Dude tried to prevent it from happening. Hindi ko alam kung anong kasunduan nila ni Mortalis---"

"Mortalis? Isn't he the supervillain who can allegedly control when people die?" Pero haka-haka lang ito. Wala talagang makapagpapatunay na totoo ang powers niya. Many call him a hoax and he isn't even included in the Villian Register. Believe me, I've sneaked into the municipal office enough times.

"Yeah. That's the one," Region confirmed. "Poor guy. Namatay rin ang asawa niya at nahuli siya dahil sa pagnanakaw ng artifact sa museum. Turns out, Mortalis just used him as a decoy to get off the authorities' radar. Who knows where that fake bastard is right now?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ang kasama ko bago sinindihan ang sigarilyo niya.

Maya-maya pa, binalot kami ng katahimikan sa eskinitang pinagtatambayan namin.

Inside the Society, Region and I are always at each others' throats. Bilang Chairman at Vice Chairman, walang araw na hindi kami nagtalo sa harap ng iba pang miyembro. Minsan mga walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay pa ang pinag-aawayan namin na parang mga bata. Pero lingid sa kaalaman ng publiko, magkaibigan naman kaming dalawa. Outside the headquarters, we have this weird friendship that often involves smoking together in this alley. We have this silent agreement that we don't take things personally outside of work, and I guess that's why he followed me here after the meeting.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Naiisip ko na naman ang mga problema sa samahan namin. Inis kong ginulo ang buhok ko.

"We're screwed."

Region nodded, not even looking at me.

"Buti alam mo."

"Baka pwede naman mag-advise ka nang matino?"

"Tanga ka ba? Kahit naman mag-advise ako hindi ka pa rin makikinig sa'kin," prangka niyang sabi at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "But I stand by what I said earlier. We don't need to involve anyone right now, so stop with your secretary nonsense. Tulad ng sinabi ni Regalia, may press conference pa tayong kailangang paghandaan next week."

I dramatically sighed and leaned against a lamp post. "Damn. Ano pa bang statement ang gustong marinig ng media? They're clearing just making us look like complete fools. People aren't even taking us seriously!"

"They don't take any villain seriously anymore, if you haven't noticed yet. Because 'superheroes are good and they always win in the end' or whatever that shitty ad on a billboard says," Region grunted and blew smoke rings. "Outdated and cringe."

'Kunwari pa ang isang ito, eh mas malakas pa nga siyang manigarilyo kaysa sa'kin!' Napangiti na lang ako.

"Yeah. I always hated that ad when I was a kid," I admitted, remembering the first time I read it. Dumako ang mga mata ko sa kalangitan nang mapansin kong may eroplanong buhat ang isang superhero. He must've saved them from crashing. "Ang taas-taas ng tingin nila sa mga hero ng Eastwood. Nakakalimutan na nilang mga tao lang din 'yan... May personal agenda. May kasamaan. May mga bisyo. The heck, they're just as flawed as we are but they get the respect!"

Region stared at me for a moment before tossing his cigarette to the ground and stomping it out with his boots.

"We're villains, Deangelo. That's how people will see us no matter what we do. We're all fucked up and far beyond redemption."

Namulsa si Region at nauna nang lumabas ng eskinita. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at tumingin ulit sa kalangitan.

'No matter what we do, huh?' I was deep in thought. I guess that's how life is. Hindi ko naman kontrolado ang tingin sa'kin ng mga tao. Mula noon naman, ako na ang binansagang kontrabida sa kwento ng iba hanggang sa napagod na lang akong ipagtanggol ang sarili ko.

If being the villain fits their narrative, I'll simply steal the crown and embrace the role.

Pasipul-sipol pa akong naglalakad pauwi. Dumidilim na pero kalmado pa rin ako. Bakit naman ako matatakot sa sa masasamang-loob? Sila dapat matakot sa'kin.

Everything was fine until I heard that scream in a distance.

"TULONG! TULUNGAN NINYO AKO!"

A damsel in distress? Napasimangot ako. Sorry, babe. Hindi ako mabuting-tao. Kung inaakala mong tutulungan kita---

"TULONG! PLEASE! KAHIT SINO!"

Inis akong huminto sa paglalakad. Damn. Nasaan ba ang mga superhero ngayong kailangan sila?! Pambihira naman, o!

"TULOOOOOOONG! GRABE NAMAN 'YONG NAKAKARINIG DIYAN, WALA KA BANG KONSENSIYA?!"

Ah, fuck it.

"OO NA! Sandali! Heto na! Nanggi-guilt trip pa kasi, eh!" Asar kong sagot sa kung sinumang humihingi ng saklolo at mabilis na tinakbo ang kabilang kalye kung saan nanggagaling ang boses.

Ano ba itong ginagawa ko? Hindi ito gawain ng isang kontrabida!

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