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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
Kaugnay na kabanata
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
Target Acquired 19
Nang matapos silang kumain ay nanatili pa sila sa bahay ni Artemis upang magkwentuhan. Their laughs echoed in the corners of the house. Nanatili silang nakaupo sa couch matapos nilang maligpit ang pinagkainan nila.Nasa gitna sila ng pagkukwentuhan nang mahagip ng paningin ni Aiden ang orasan na nakasabit sa itaas ng pinto ng kwarto.“Anong oras na pala,” ani niya. Agad naman siyang nilingon ng kaniyang mga kasama at saka tumingin din sa oras. It’s almost one in the morning.Suminghap si Evelyn, Aiden wants to roll his eyes.“Oo nga! May pasok pa tayo bukas,” saad nito.Artemis looked at them.“I guess you guys need to go home then,” sabi niya at saka tumayo."We got distracted."They copied her example and stood up too, stretching as they did so. Getting rid of the kinks that developed from
Target Acquired 20
It’s another calm afternoon at the café. Nginitian ni Aiden ang isang customer bago dumeretso sa counter. It’s only him and Evelyn in the café today. Artemis called in with an emergency, may kailangan daw itong asikasuhin kaya naman hindi makakapasok ngayong araw. Aiden is dreading the whole day.“Owen,” pang-asar na tawag nito nang makarating siya sa counter. He sent her a glare, tinawanan lang naman siya nito. Umalis si Aiden ng counter upang pumunta sa storage room, napansin niya kasing kulang na ang ilang mga kailangan nila sa station.He entered the cold room, busied himself with gathering the needed supplies. Patapos niya na ang kaniyang ginagawa nang marinig niya ito.Click.Napahinto siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at saka napabuntong-hininga. Binitawan niya ang kaniyang mga hawak at dahan-dahang tumayo. He slowly turned around, and he was right.
Target Acquired 21
His body went rigid with tension, ano ang ginagawa nito rito?“What do you want?” he asked sharply. It’s not that he’s afraid for his safety, he knows he can take up to the man. Ngunit nasa mall sila ngayon, at kasama niya si Artemis.The man smirked at him. Ibinaling nito ang ulo pakila’t kanan, arrogantly stretching. His tattoo is peeking out, Aiden can see it clearly.“Relax,” the man cockily said. Mayroon itong nakakainis na ngiti sa labi, Aiden badly wants to wipe it off.Napabuntong-hininga si Aiden.“Ano ang kailangan mo? Maraming tao rito,” kalmadong ani niya.“Wala naman akong kailangan. Nangangamusta lang,” nag-igting ang panga ni Aiden, lalo namang lumaki ang ngiti nito.“I found it! Here—"Napalingon siya nang marinig ang boses n
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