HEATH’S POV
It has been a while since I have felt great about waking up. Simula kasi nang ikasal ako kay Brianna, parati na lang putol-putol ang tulog ko. It’s like the problems keep on trying to wake me up, wanting solutions so they could rest.
“I don’t feel so good about this,” sabi ni Brianna habang nag-aagahan kami. “I don’t think this is the right decision.”
Umiling ako sa kaniya. “There’s nothing else that we can do about it. A lot of people already knows.” I sip on my coffee. “Besides, wala naman akong reklamong narinig sa daddy mo, so I think he’s on board with this. Tingin ko naman na-gets na niya kung anong plano ko.”
Napakamot si Brianna sa kaniyang pisngi. “But I don&r
HEATH’S POV If you’re going to ask me why I’m still managing Anino—the mafia, it’s not because of the money. I have plenty enough of that to last me lifetimes. Pero bakit nga ba? It’s more about the constant thought of getting caught. Of living my life always right on the edge. It enables me to live my life to the fullest, every single second of it. You know, that feeling that makes your heart pounds? I want that everyday. Alam ko namang hindi ako tatanda. Well, I have hopes. Pero hindi na ko umaasa. As I’ve said before, mafia lords tend to die young.
BREE’S POV“Bakit ang tagal mong mag-video? Kanina pa tayo nakatayo dito.”Umikot ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Rainier. “Sabi ko naman kasi ako na lang mag-grocery eh! Therapy ko kaya ‘to. If you’re so bored, go ahead and wonder around.”“Ano pang silbi ko kung hindi kita sasamahan kung sa’n ka pupunta?”“Fine, just go to the meat aisle. Kitain na lang kita do’n. I know you need your protein.” Masama pa ang tingin sa’kin ni loko bago nagsimulang lumayo. “And get some for Heath, too.”Rainier snorts as he turns his back on me.Finally, some peace. Ayaw kasing umayos ng camera ko ngayong araw para sa vlog. Malapit na kasi akong
HEATH’S POVAng weird sabihin na maayos ang buhay namin nang ilang araw. Tina-try pa din naming i-trace kung sino ang mokong na ‘yun na nag-hack sa system namin. Pero masyadong malinis. Hindi ko alam kung paano namin siya mahuhuli.“You suck at this, Rainier!” reklamo ni Maeve pagpasok ko ng salas.“What?!” tugon naman nito.Nasa carpet ang dalawa at parehong may hawak na controller.“You’re supposed to be good at this,” dismayadong sabi ni Maeve. “Akala ko ba militar ka? Why can’t you shoot at this kind of games?!”Natatawang sumagot si Rainier. “Well, it’s di
HEATH’S POV“System breach,” bungad sa’kin ni Eli paglabas ko ng elevator. “I think they are trying to get information that they could possibly leak.”“What’s happening now?”Pumasok na kami kaagad sa opisina ko.“No other threats?”“None as of the moment,” sabi ni Eli habang nakatingin pa din sa tablet niya. “Matindi ang IT team nito. Ang nakakapagtaka lang, kung nabuksan nila ang system at kaya nilang pabilisin ang pagkuha ng data natin pero…”“Pero ano?” tanong ko pagkaupo ko.“Pero hindi nila tinutuloy
BREE’S POV“I can come with you if you want,” ang sabi sa’kin ni Heath nang sabihin ko sa kaniyang pupunta ako sa bahay ng daddy ko.“It’s fine. I can handle it,” lang ang naging tugon ko. Sinamahan ako ni Rainier.“You’re quiet,” obserba ko sa kaniya. “You’re giving me the feeling that you don’t really agree with what I’m doing.”“Your dad is my boss. I don’t speak against my higher ups. Besides, it’s a family matter. I can’t comment on it.”Some part of me is wishing that he would say something. Na parang ma-comfort ako na tama ‘tong ginagawa ko. I hardly go against my father’s wishes. A
BREE’S POVIsang oras din ang tinagal ng byahe namin bago kami nakarating sa presinto. Nang makita ako ni Maeve, ni hindi manlang ako binati nito. Malamlam at antok ang ekspresyon ng mukha.“Where the hell were you?” tanong ni Heath kay Seth. “You were supposed to keep an eye on her.”“Nasa bahay na siya kagabi,” depensa ni Seth na mukhang aligaga din dahil napapagalitan siya ni Heath. “Hindi naman siya nagsabi na lalabas siya.”“Ano ba nangyari?” tanong ko.Ngayon ko lang nakita nang malapitan si Seth. Huli ko siyang nakita may mga dugo pa sa balat niya dahil doon sa palaro sa Anino. Ang laki niya pala talagang bata. ‘Yung tipong gustuhin nga tala