LOGIN“WHERE is Ali?” tanong ni Caio kay Yaya Glo nang makauwi sa bahay. Hawak niya ang paper bag na ireregalo niya sa dalaga.
Caio was expecting that Ali would be greeting him as soon as he entered the house, but he ended up disappointed.
“Naku, Sir Caio. Nakalimutan kong sabihin na nag-extend siya ng day-off.” Alanganin ang ngiting nakaguhit sa labi ng matandang babae dahil sa pagsisinungaling. Maging siya kasi ay hindi rin ma-contact si Ali.
AGAD na naging alerto si Hyacinth matapos masiguro na ang pulang ledger na iyon ang hinahanap niya. There was even a small note inside:[I’ve fulfilled our bargain, now it’s your turn. –Shadow Countess]Tinago ni Hyacinth ang ledger. For a moment, confusion filled her mind. She refused to accept that everything would come to an end.‘This is it,’ aniya sa sarili kahit puno ng pag-alinlangan sa kanyang dibdib.Nilibang ni Hyacinth ang sarili sa bahay habang nag-paplano nang maigi kung ano ang kanyang gagawin.Could she really hurt Varo?“It must be done…” she whispered.Gulong-gulo ang isip niya. Kaya naisipan niyang pumunta sa loob ng study ni Varo para kumuha ng libro at magbasa. She had never been this indecisive.Nagbasa-basa si Hyacinth pero walang kahit anong pumapasok sa isip niya.She looked around the study, then her eyes caught the golden box on Varo’s table at a distance. Biglang na-curious si Hyacinth kung anong klaseng family heirloom ng mga Lao.‘Could be jewels,’ she sil
“HYACINTH!” Varo gaped at his wife as soon as he saw his own hand filled with blood. Hindi galing sa kanya kundi sa asawa. He couldn’t believe she’d shield her own body to protect him. Yakap niya ito dahil sinalo niya ang katawan nito bago pa dumausdos sa buhangin.“Shit, shit!” Varo was too stunned upon realizing what just happened.‘These bunch of useless idiots!’ Hyacinth cursed hard deep inside. Saka lang kasi naalerto ang mga kalalakihang kasama nila. Agad na nilabas ng mga ito ang matataas na kalibre ng baril at gumanti ng putok, dahilan para mabilis sa humarurot paalis ang speed boat palayo.Ilan sa mga kalalakihan ay tinamaan ng bala pero hindi naman napuruhan. They protected the couple until the thr
TINUNGO nina Hyacinth at Varo ang kinaroroonan ni Alfredo sa hardin habang nagkakape ito kasama si Kaori. The sun had just risen, and they could hear the bird’s chirping along with the sound of the waves.“Fuqin, my wife and I are leaving,” magalang na wika ni Varo.Habang walang kibo si Hyacinth sa tabi ni Varo at marahang yumuko sa presensya ni Alfredo. She didn’t dare to break her cover as an innocent girl who was a nobody. Siguradong makakahalata si Alfredo sa kaunting pagkakamali niya lang. However, she gave Kaori a sharp side eye as if reminding her about their agreement.“Leaving already? What’s the rush?” Kaori sounded worried. Ibinaba nito ang maliit na tasang hawak at ipinatong sa mesa.Samanta
ILANG beses na ikinurap ni Hyacinth ang mata na nag pabalik sa kanya sa kasalukuyan. Now that she carefully thought about Sashi’s survival, there must be a hidden tunnel in that dungeon and she made early preparations with the Laos to extract her there. Kung paano nito iyon nagawa ay hindi na siya interesadong malaman.Lalong naging mas mahigpit ang pagkuyom niya ng kamao. All those tears she wasted only to find out Sashi’s betrayal. The squad may be right, being an empath as an assassin spells trouble. She just kept refusing to admit it. Kahit alam naman niyang iyon ang totoo. Kasalanan ba niyang ituring na pamilya ang mga taong nakasama niya mula pagkabata at sabay-sabay nilang sinuong at nilampasan ang impyernong pinagdaanan nila?‘Empath, my ass!’ She silently gritted her teeth. It was a wrong move, and she had to make it right.It took her a while to gain her composure.“Cinth!” Varo quickly rose up upon seeing her approach. Hinawakan nito ang kanyang magkabilang balikat nang mak
6 YEARS AGOHINDI maipinta ang mukha ni Sashi nang lapitan ni Hyacinth matapos silang kausapin ni Paul Chan nang gabing iyon para sa final briefing ng kanilang kauna-unahang misyon.The Dragon Head announced their first mission weeks ago, and they had been prepared to go. The squad must go out in pairs for a specific task. Each was equally dangerous as the other. Maaring dito magtapos ang buhay nila sa isang maliit na pagkakamali lang.“Why are you agitated? Aren’t you excited we’re going out on our first mission together? O baka naman ayaw mo akong ka-partner,” tudyo niya rito.“Oh, come on! I’ll choose you anytime. Our fighting dynamics are perfect.” Pinilit ngumiti ni Sashi. “Ewan ko ba. I feel a little uneasy.”“That’s normal. We’re facing stronger demons out there, but we’re not weak either. Ngayon pa ba tayo susuko?” Hindi mapigilan ni Hyacinth ang bahagyang matawa. “Compared to other teams, our mission is easy. We’re just going to retrieve that famous artifact for our client. U
KAORI gestured her hand dismissing the guards on the roof deck. Sumunod naman ang ilang kalalakihan na nagsialisan sa kanilang kinaroroonan para mabigyan ang dalawang babae ng privacy.Then Kaori gazed at the security camera motioning her hand to her neck as if telling the operator to stop recording. When she saw the light on the camera had turned red, she finally started talking.“I never thought we’d meet like this after that incident. But it’s really nice to see you again… Hayoung,” Kaori said softly. Naikuyom ni Hyacinth ang kamao. “Indeed, you really lived up to your name… Shadow Countess. You're an expert hiding in the dark.”Tumingin ito sa malayo at marahas na nagbuntong hininga. “Go on, you can crash out. Hit me and I won’t fight back. I deserve it.”Nanatiling kalmado si Hyacinth sa kabila ng rumaragasang emosyon sa loob ng dibdib niya.“Did you betray us, Sashi?” She asked dangerously.Humarap sa kanya si Kaori. “If I say yes, will you kill me right now?”Lalong nanginig a
“NENA! Tawag ka ni Sir!” sigaw ni Gina sa babae. Kasalukuyang nagwawalis si Nena sa likod ng mansion nang lumapit si Gina.“Bumalik na si Sir? Bakit daw?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Nena. Halos ilang buwan na kasi ang nakalipas at hindi umuwi sa mansion ang kanilang amo.“Aba, malay ko! Kausap niya nga
RAMDAM ni Alessia ang pagtama ng bala sa kanyang kaliwang balikat. At sapat na iyon para mawalan siya ng balanse at unti-unting mahulog ang katawan niya sa tubig. “Boss, she could still be alive,” wika ng isang tauhan ni Caio na akmang susunod para muling barilin ang dalaga. Caio quickly halted
BIGLANG nagkagulo sa loob ng silid ni Alessia. Tinawag ni Caio ang mga doctor at sabay-sabay na pumasok ang mga ito.“My child…” Alessia had never been this horrified.“She’s having a preterm labor, Mr. Alfieri. The stress must have triggered this—” Hindi naituloy ng babaeng obstetrician na si Dr. B
7 MONTHS LATERALESSIA was humming a nursery rhyme while gently scratching her belly. Hindi niya lubos akalain na mabilis na lilipas ang mga araw. Sa nakaraang mga buwan, ni minsan ay hindi niya nakita si Caio. Madalas ang mga personal doctor at nurse na tumitingin sa kanya ang labas-pasok sa kuwar







