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10
To say that things were awkward in the café would be an understatement. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas mula nang mangyari ang maliit na aksidente ngunit tila ingat na ingat pa rin ang kaniyang mga kasamahan sa paligid niya. He doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry because of this. Nararamdaman niya ang ingat nila. Even while ordering food for their lunch.
Napapailing na lamang niyang pinanood ang kaniyang mga kasamahan. It’s another lazy afternoon in the café. Artemis is once again busy at the back, probably talking to their manager, while Evelyn is walking around to clean table.
Ang mga mata niya ay nanatili rito. The information he asked still hasn’t come, kaya naman pansamantalang nag-iingat muna siya sa paligid nito. Kahit na nakagaanan niya na ito ng loob sa maikling panahon, ang isang insidenteng nangyari noong nakaraan ay sapat na upang pansamantala siyang maging maingat. He doesn’t know her well afte
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Target Acquired 11
“I forgot my wrist band,” Artemis muttered from beside him in the counter.Nilingon niya ito at nakitang itinatali na lamang ang kaniyang bandana sa kaniyang pulso. Lagi niya itong napapansin, ngunit ngayon niya lamang talaga nabigyan ng atensyon. What does she wear it for?“What?” she asked nang makitang nakatingin siya rito. Umiling lang naman siya at saka muling ipinokus ang kaniyang atensyon sa harap.Ever since that night, at the night market, it’s as if a switch had been flipped and suddenly, they’re closer. She now approaches him more often, starts conversations too. Iniiisip niya tuloy kung unti-unti na ba nitong natatanggap na ibang tao na siya ngayon? Na hindi siya si Owen Sebastian.He internally sighed at his thought.“Malapit na ang rush hour, kailangan na nating maghanda,” she said bago tumayo upang ihanda na ang mga k
Target Acquired 12
He should’ve known. No, really. Aiden should have known. Lumipas ang ilang araw na wala siyang natatanggap na response mula sa agency niya. He took it as they accepted his request, so there he relaxed. He continued his job at the café though, because although he doesn’t really need it, nag-eenjoy siya rito. Isa pa ay isa itong malaking excuse upang makasama si Artemis, especially now that the weight of his mission is lifted off of his shoulders. “Mukhang masaya ka nitong mga nakaraang araw ah,” puna ni Artemis sa kaniya isang hapon sa café. They’re both standing behind the counter again. “Hmm? Ah, wala may nangyari lang na maganda,” sagot niya. She stared at him for a moment, before mirroring the smile he has on his face. Everything was going so peaceful. Muntik na nga niyang maloko ang kaniyang sarili na isa lamang siyang ordinaryong tao na nagtatrabaho sa café at hindi isang spy na kakasuko
Target Acquired 13
“Owen? Ano ba ang nangyayari?” prantikong tanong ng kaniyang ina mula sa kabilang linya.“Mom, listen—is Aaron okay?” tanong niya.Kailangan niya na agad pumunta kay Klyden.“Ano bang—”“Please just answer me.”“Okay lang ang kapatid mo! Pinapakaba mo ako, Owen!”“I’ll talk to you later, but please, ‘wag ho muna kayong lalabas nang walang kasama. I’ll call again later, I want to talk to Aaron,” pagkatapos no’n ay hindi niya na hinintay pa ang sagot ng kaniyang ina at mabilis nang lumabas ng kaniyang bahay.He ran to his car, quickly entering and driving to the address Klyden sent him.Halos mamuti na nag kaniyang kamao sa higpit ng hawak niya sa kaniyang manibela, he’s driving past the limit, he’s aw
Target Acquired 14
After the long lecture Klyden gave to him, you would think Aiden would take precautions. But no, he still chose to ignore it. Sa halip na gawin ang kaniyang misyon, heto siya ngayon, nasa bahay pa mismo ng kaniyang target—ang puno’t dulo ng lahat. Of course, it’s not to kill, but rather, a hangout.Again.Yes. Again.A day after he received the threats, he went to work as if nothing happened, as if his life is not being threatened and the café itself isn’t in danger. He returned their bright smiles and served customers brightly as if his world is not being threatened to be submerged in chaos.“Tila maganda ang gising mo Sir ah,” bati ni Evelyn nang umagang iyon. Natatawang napailing na lamang siya rito. If only she knew.He spent the day paranoid. Yes. Paranoid. Contrary to what they think. Every time the café door opens, his eyes
Target Acquired 15
Ang mga mata ni Aiden ay naglibot sa loob ng maliit na kainan na kanilang pinasukan. Malalim na ang gabi kaya naman halos wala ng tao, maliban sa magkasintahang nakaupo at kumakain sa isang lamesa sa sulok ng establisyimento.“Maupo kayo,” paanyaya ng kanilang manager na talagang marahan pa silang itinulak papunta sa isang lamesa. Ito ang nagyaya na kumain sila sa labas, pangbawi na raw nito dahil hindi sila mabigyan ng day-off.“Mukhang masarap dito ah,” ani ni Evelyn na gumagala rin ang tingin. Naupo ito sa tabi ni Aiden, Artemis in front of him and their manager beside Artemis.“Masarap talaga rito Evelyn, minsan na akong nakakain dito,” sagot naman ni Artemis.“Heto, heto mamili kayo,” nasasabik na ani ng kanilang manager, at saka sila inabutan ng papel na naglalaman ng menu.“Mamili lang kayo ng kung anong gusto niyo ha. Ako ang ma
Target Acquired 16
“Awake now, Owen?” What? Agad siyang napabangon sa narinig. Anong nangyayari? Evelyn’s arms came up in a huge stretch, she exaggeratedly groans at the process. Nakakunot lamang ang noo ni Aiden habang hindi makapaniwalang tinitignan ito. His eyes trailed at her frail figure sitting up at the hospital bed, but her expression is a complete contradiction. Muli siyang nilingon nito, the same menacing smile present on her lips. “Stupid,” she sighed.“I did not expect the turn of events. Mabuti na lamang pala at kaunti lang ang nilagay ko.” What is she talking about? “Don’t look so surprised, Owen. Was I that good at hindi mo talaga inexpect?” Fuck. Fuck! Ano ang ibig sabihin nito? Does this mean she knows him all this time and she was just pretending? Sino ba
Target Acquired 17
The door opened and a doctor entered the room. Kasunod nito ang kanilang manager at si Artemis na dumeretso sa kaniyang tabi. She stood beside him.Pinanood lamang ni Aiden na kausapin ng doktor si Evelyn. She looks bubbly, her usual self, at least in front of them. Gone are the traces of her true self Aiden had just encountered earlier. Ang pag-uusap nila ay paulit-ulit na tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan. He tries to remember her every word and expression. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng mga ito?He felt a hand touch his arm, he almost startled at it.Nilingon niya si Artemis na nasa kaniyang tabi.“Ayos ka lang ba?” tanong nito.Bahagyang bumalik ang tingin ni Aiden kay Evelyn na kausap pa rin ng doktor.He nodded at her.“Yeah,” he eventually said.“Pagod lang siguro.”She looked at
Target Acquired 18
Aiden is suddenly so aware of Evelyn’s every move, napapansin niya na ang mga bagay na hindi niya napapansin noon. Ngayong alam niya na ang totoong anyo nito, nakikita niya ang malaking pagkakaiba mula sa pagpapanggap at totoo. She acts “normal” most of the time, but when their eyes meet, she makes a point to give him a mocking look. Kung hindi ito isang malaking dagok sa kaniyang misyon, malamang ay papalakpakan niya pa ito dahil sa husay nito sa ginagawa. Pinanood niya habang isinasara ni Artemis ang café, kasama nito si Evelyn na tinutulungan siya. Nang masigurong nakasara na ito nang maayos, she turned to look at him. “Let’s go,” yaya nito. Tahimik lamang siyang naglakad sa likod ng dalawa, habang ang mga ito ay abala sa pagkukwentuhan. He attentively pulls Artemis gently inside the sidewalk nang masyado itong napalapit sa kalsada. He walked faster to stand on her left. She gratefully smiles at him, casting him
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