CHAPTER ONE

 -3:30 AM-

"Stellan, anong ginagawa mo rito?” Tanong ng matanda sa kanya nang makita siyang nakasandal sa pinto.

“Magbabayad ka na ba ng utang mo?” Tanong ng isa ngunit hindi ito sumagot.

Nagtaka ang mga ito sa inaakto ni Ryu, ngunit wala siyang pakielam sa iniisip at binabalak ng mga ito, ang tanging gusto niya lamang ay maipaghiganti ang kanyang lola na namatay sa kamay nila.

“Stellan, bakit parang tahimik ka? Pinutol ba ang dila mo?” Tanong muli ng matanda nang lumapit na ito sa kanila.

Walang alinlangan niyang dinampot ang kalibre 45 na nasa mesa nila, at kunwaring tiningnan tingnan iyon.

“Saan niyo galing to?” Tanong niya at tiningnan kung may bala iyon.

“Bakit mo natanong?” Tanong ng matanda pabalik ngunit ikinasa niya ang baril at saka tinutok sa kanya iyon.

“Dahil sa akin ang baril na to.” Sagot niya at saka binaril ang matandang lalaki sa ulo, na naging dahilan upang matumba ito.

Nagkagulo ang mga tao sa loob at kita niya na tumayo at papunta sa kanya ang mga bodyguards ng matanda. Kaya walang alinlangan niyang binaril ang mga ito, ngunit hindi sapat ang mga bala ng baril upang maubos sila.

Tumakbo ito kasama ang mga perang nakuha niya sa mesa, at nagtungo sa may liblib na lugar.

Kung saan saan ito tumungo, at kung saan saang pasikot sikot siya dumaan ngunit hindi niya pa rin naiwawala ang mga taong sumusunod sa kanya.

“Bumalik ka dito!” Sigaw ng isa ngunit tumakbo pa rin siya nang mabilis.

‘Fvcking pests.’ He thought to himself as he ran through the woods.

He can hear the crunching leaves behind him as he runs through the dark forest, the moonlight serving as the only light in his surroundings.

Kahit na pagod na ito, he still wouldn't give up. He can't, not right now. Not now that he is being chased by freaking guards who are willing to kill him just so they can avenge their boss.

'That fucking old bastard.' He thought to himself as he ran.

He ran until he reached a cliff, a dead end he thought to himself before looking behind him. Seeing nobody but himself.

'I should hide and rest for a bit.' He thought but soon realized he can't rest in this place.

He can't rest here, a place where he is heated, a place where people want to kill him, a place where his enemies are staying. 

He needed to hide. Somewhere he is unidentified and unnoticed, not a single person shall know him as Ryu Stellan.

Ryu thought about it for a moment until he was distracted, distracted by the crunching leaves into the forest.

The leaves were making noise but whoever that person was, he was trying to barely make any noise. But even so, that unknown person failed as Ryu can still hear him getting closer to his spot.

"Fuck." Ryu cursed before looking down the cliff.

He knows the water below is deep. He can't swim, but he can't stay there. He needs a way out. He needs to get out of that situation.

"Nowhere to go, Stellan. Just fucking give up." He looked behind him once more to see the son of that old bastard.

"And why would I?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Ibigay mo na sa akin ang pera. That way, wala ng-" Naputol ang sasabihin nito nang sumabat si Ryu.

"Ayoko." He answered, hindi mabasa ang kanyang ekspresyon.

The man seemed pissed by Ryu's answer as he pursed his lips and laughed softly.

"Talagang hindi mo ibibigay?" Tanong nito ngunit hindi sumagot si Ryu.

An upside down smile was formed on the man's lips. "Welp, I guess I have to do it the hard way." 

“Then do it.” He muttered, not giving them a single satisfaction through their veins.

As the man signalled his guards to attack him, Ryu backed his one foot away for prevention, preventing him from getting hit.

At akmang susuntukin na siya ng mga ito, walang alinlangan siyang nagpahulog sa bangin. His back facing forward as he fell.

Kita niya ang ekspresyon nilang may bahid ng galit as the man shouted in anger.

“Putangina talaga!” Dinig pa niyang sigaw ng lalaki.

He smirked one last time before falling completely to the water, and even though he couldn’t swim, he still tried.

He still tried to get to the surface even though his lower body was sinking into the depths, and anxiety was already creeping within him.

He kicked and kicked and moved his arms but it was no use, he was sinking quickly and was running out of air. 

He needs to breathe, he needs to survive, he needs to go up to the surface because if not, he can drown any moment.

'Damn it…’ He thought to himself.

‘Ito na siguro ang katapusan ko…' He thought to himself once again, closing his eyes as the water was getting darker and darker.