Six

It was the lovely and sweet voice that interrupted the two. The owner of the voice smiled widely as she inched closer to the two. It was Chloe, Trace's girlfriend. She stopped and wound her arms against Trace's waist before kissing him on his lips. While Trace lowered his gun and hid it back on his waist.

Keyller watched the two in their passionate affair while remaining standing at the side. Chloe was an exception from his loathing against women. This woman had nothing to do with his affairs, but he was always still wary, as his trauma triggered when he was near women.

"That's enough teasing, Trace. Why are you messing with Key again?" Chloe asked after their lips broke apart. Though, the loving gaze she had toward Trace was still visible.

Trace's arm rested on Chloe's and he pulled her closer before answering his girlfriend. He looked at Chloe bewilderedly. "Key, what key? Ano'ng akala mo sa tanginang 'yan susi?" Trace rolled his eyes as he spared Keyller a look before nuzzling his face against Chloe's neck.

Keyller softly chuckled as he scratched his head again looking for answers. "Miss Chloe–"

"Don't mind him," Chloe cut him off. "He will bee-gay, you design na libre then you can pegewa your ba-hey na. Our company will do anything and you don't need to worry about the costs. Just keep us updated na lang."

Keyller grinned widely upon hearing Chloe. Finally, someone in the right mind to talk to. He knew that talking to Dimagiba would only end up this way. He was lucky that Chloe came to the rescue.

"Thanks, boss!" Keyller shouted while watching their backs until their figures were swallowed inside of the house.

But seconds later, Trace emerged from the wooden door smirking at him before giving him a middle finger.

Keyller chuckled and shook his head before walking out of Trace's yard.

He had a vague idea that everything on the island was supported by the founders, but the cost was cut off from their shares. So he finally put in mind that his boss was pranking him!

The next day, after ensuring the construction of his house, Keyller meets up with Dimagiba again to inquire about Ciaran's status. He asked Dimagiba last time if he could recruit Ciaran but he would only give his answer now.

They were in a restaurant in Dimagiba's hotel because the two, Trace and Chloe, had a date, and Keyller didn't want to take too much of their time, so at this meeting, he kept it short.

"Ano'ng kailangan mo dugong-bughaw? You are disturbing our date!"

Keyller looked at Chloe who was sitting beside Dimagiba, asking for a translation again because he didn't understand his boss.

"He said what–"

"Enough, Chloe. You are not translating for him ever again. Hayaan mo siyang matuto!"

Chloe stopped her words and continued eating while looking at him with pity.

Keyller let out a low laugh while massaging the back of his neck. He really couldn't understand Tagalog and he was not really interested in learning, so even though he knew some because his friends kept talking to him in Tagalog, he still forgot it. He held the chair and pulled it from under the table to sit, but Trace quickly stopped him.

"Who told you that you could sit with us? Sabihin mo na kung ano ang gusto mo at lumayas ka na."

But Keyller, as stubborn as he was, proceeded and ignored Dimagiba's blatant words and moved to sit. He waved his hand to the roaming waiter and ordered a coffee. Trace and Chloe ignored him and continued with their food while showing off to Keyller how sweet they were. Until Keyller's coffee arrived, only then that Dimagiba started asking.

"Sigurado kang marunong pumatay 'yang Ciaran mo?"

Keyller frowned and put down the coffee he was sipping before glancing at Chloie, his translator. He could see Trace's face darkening every time he looked at Chloe, but Keyller kept on pressing Chloie to translate because he couldn't understand.

"Oh, God! Trace, do you really need to ask that?!" Chloe asked Trace.

Trace glanced at his girlfriend before answering in a nonchalant tone. " Of course. It's important. I don't need useless people."

Chloe sighed. "Okay. Here it is, Key... Are you sure that Ciaran knows how to kill?"

Keyller's mouth twitched into a devilish grin. "Ciaran is a beast when it comes to killing people. Do you know what the reason was why he wanted to join Foedus?"

Trace rolled his eyes before leaning his back on his seat. "How would I know?"

Keyller ignored his boss before sipping his coffee and answering him. "He wanted to kill people. He is a psychopath. He needed to kill and when I'm saying kill, I'm talking about a bloody kill. That guy is obsessed with human blood."

Chloe stared at him. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What is he, a vampire?"

He softly chuckled again. His fingers drummed on the table. "You could say that."

"Bring him to me."

Upon hearing that, Keyller stood up. "Yes, boss." And left without saying a word. He got his purpose here.

"Kitam mo 'yon! Nagpalibre lang pala ng kape, dami pang sinasabi!" Trace grumbled but Keyller was already out of the restaurant.

***

Keyller left the island that afternoon and went to Manila to attend the auction Aoife had told him a week ago. It was held at Manila Golf and Country Club at Forbes Park Makati. But he will be meeting with someone in a nearby hotel. Someone he didn't know, but Aoife made sure that it was a guy.

He walked his way inside after dropping off from a taxi he hailed and proceeded to the front desk to get to his room. Aoife has already checked him in and the auction will only start at nine tonight. He still has a good three hours to sleep.

After getting his keycard, he proceeded to the lift nearby while slightly closing his eyes. He was dead tired. The lash from last week's punishments was still healing but he endured it.

"Akala mo makakatakas ka, ha!?"

"Hindi po ako tumatakas. Naligaw lang po ako."

Keyller frowned and his sleepiness faded when he heard two people talking in a hallway going to the elevator. Keyller was about to ignore it, but his attention was caught when he saw a guy pinning a woman on a wall. He knew he shouldn't concern himself because no matter what state the woman was in, he didn't give a damn, but at that moment he stopped in his tracks and gazed at the woman whose face was hard pressed on the wall and eyes were welled up in tears.

She was crying clearly, but she was so captivatingly beautiful that Keyller totally forgot that he loathed women!