LOGINNAGKAROON ng pribadong meeting sina Paul Chan at Ernest Zhao. Naroon sina Hyacinth at Wei para magsilbing bantay, kapwa sila nakasuot ng face mask para itago ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Napapagitnaan nila si Paul habang nasa harapan nila si Ernest.Hyacinth remembered Ernest Zhao attended her wedding with Varo before. Tiyak na makikilala siya nito kapag tinanggal niya ang takip sa mukha.“Do you really need to bring two of your best assassins to guard you?” kalmadong sambit ni Ernest.“I don’t trust traitors. Better be safe than sorry,” Paul scoffed.Umasta namang hindi apektado si Ernest sa pasaring ni Paul. Pero damang-dama ang tensyon sa paligid. Naroon sila sa isang pribadong golf course na pag-aari ng mga Wu. Isa rin sa mga haligi ng organisasyon. It was a neutral ground for Paul and Ernest to negotiate.Nagbuga ng hangin si Ernest. “Since the mafia is trying to undermine us, I’d rather choose to strengthen our organization than let it fall for to those outsiders.”“Really?” ti
HINDI umalis si Kaori sa tabi ni Varo mula nang sabihin ng doktor na stable na ang lagay nito. Kaya lang, walang makapagsasabi kung kailan ito magigising. But as if on cue, nakita ni Kaori na unti-unting nagmulat ng mata si Varo.Impossible! Did she just witness a miracle?“Varo… you’re awake!”Varo was just staring blankly to the ceiling. Kitang-kita ni Kaori ang munting luhang kumawala sa mata nito.Tinawag niya ito sa pangalan nang ilang ulit, pero wala itong anumang reaksyon. Kaya agad niyang tinawag ang private doctor nito para tingnan ang lagay nito.It was not long when Varo’s adoptive father, Felipe Gaudencio, came along with his bodyguards. Natataranta itong lumapit kay Kaori.“Tell me, what happened to my son? Is it true that he nearly died of cardiac arrest?” Felipe asked. “But why? He’s healthy, athletic, and—”“Don’t worry, Mr. Gaudencio, according to his doctor, he’s stable now. He also regained his consciousness a while ago.”Nagbuga ng hangin ang matanda. “Hay, salamat
WALANG inaksayang sandali si Hyacinth nang makabalik siya sa Chan Estate. She immediately looked for Paul Chan. Naroon ito sa loob ng study nito.Paul Chan only gave her a furtive glance. “You’re back.”Hyacinth bowed down to the Dragon Head. “I’ve retrieved the ledger, Uncle.”Tumango ang matanda. “Good. Where is it?”Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit at ibinigay rito ang pulang ledger. “Everything is in there.”Ngumiti nang makahulugan si Paul. “Great! I know I can always count on you, Cinth.”Tipid na ngumiti si Hyacinth. “I’m just doing my job.”Binuklat ni Paul ang ledger, ilang beses itong mariing napailing nang makita ang nilalaman niyon.“As expected, the Lao Clan are traitors… so are the other main families.” Paul scoffed and closed the ledger.Lihim na napalunok si Hyacinth. “What’s th
“THE huntress never disappoints.” Itinaas ni Kaori ang hawak na kopita ng alak habang tahimik siyang nakamasid mula sa balkonaheng kinaroroonan. From her vantage point, she could see the chaos surrounding Varo’s house. She called for the police as soon as the Huntress informed her the task was done. And as expected, her spies told her that Hyacinth was telling the truth.‘Of course, I had to verify,’ Kaori smirked. Mukhang tumupad naman ang dating kaibigan sa kanilang naging usapan.Pero agad na natigilan si Kaori nang marinig ang tunog ng ambulansya. Hyacinth told her that she just drugged Varo.Drugged.Wait, what if Hyacinth killed Varo using poison? Did she miscalculate?“Fuck!” Mabilis niyang tinawagan ang isa niyang tauhan na nasa loob ng bahay ni Varo. Lalo siyang kinabahan dahil ilang sandali pa ang lumipas bago ito sumagot.“Yes, Miss Kaori?”“
THE night of reckoning has finally come. Walang anumang bakas ng emosyong makikita sa mukha ni Hyacinth habang inihahanda ang paboritong tsaa ni Varo. Masaya silang nagkukuwentuhan matapos ang hapunan bago siya nagpasyang pumunta sa kusina dahil may biglang tumawag sa asawa.‘I should give you the right dosage,’ Hyacinth thought.Tumingin siya sa kanyang magkabilang balikat bago kinuha sa kanyang bulsa ang isang maliit na vial na naglalaman ng kanyang pamosong lason, ang paborito niyang Morning Dew. It was late at night, and she’d give the tea herself once he woke up in the morning. Alam na alam na niya ang body clock ni Varo, at sigurado siyang sa gagawin niyang huling misyon, marahil ay hindi na ito sisikatan ng araw. “Cinth, are you busy?” sigaw ni Varo mula sa living room. He had just finished talking over the phone.“No, just preparing tea.” Nagmadaling itinabi ni Hyacinth ang mamahaling porselanang lalagyan ng tsaa at bumalik siya sa sala. Naabutan niyang nanunudyo ang ngiti
ISANG malutong na sampal ang dumapo sa pisngi ng isang lalaki. His face was already bleeding. Nakaluhod ito at nakatali ang mga kamay.“You deliberately disobeyed my order!” dumagundong ang boses ng lalaki. Si Jax Lu, ang kanang kamay ni Aramis Lao.“I-I just want to avenge Master Aramis!” nanginginig ang kalamnan na lalaki na pilit na pinaninindigan ang ginawa. He was Zheng, a low-ranking soldier but a high skilled sniper.“You acted on your own to kill the White Tiger Cub! The master is still recovering yet you put him at risk!” Muling sinampal nito ang lalaki. “We are carefully planning his return but you ruin everything!”“I’m sorry, Captain. I won’t do it again. Please spare me,” the poor man begged for his life.“Why should I spare you?”“I missed, I didn’t hit the cub. His wife shielded her body—”Muli ang dalawang malutong na sampal ang dumapo sa pisngi ng lalaki. Jax even cleaned his hand stained with blood using a white handkerchief from his trousers.“Captain Jax, let me ma
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 p
HALOS hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Varo nang sumalo si Kaori sa hapag. At kahit na nilagyan ni Hyacinth ng pagkain ang plato nito ay hindi ito nag-abalang galawin iyon.Habang si Hyacinth ay panay subo na parang walang nangyari na siyang ipinagtataka ni Alfredo, pero hindi naman ito nagkumento. The o
“FUQIN, tell me you're joking,” ani Varo nang kumalma. Nagbilang siya ng sampu dahil hindi niya gustong salubungin ang galit ng ama. The old man may have looked calm, but he knew his father very well.Natawa nang pagak ang matanda. “Mukha ba akong nagbibiro?”Tumingin si Alfredo kay Hyacinth. “Don’
TAHIMIK ang unang tatlong araw na pamamalagi ni Hyacinth sa Hacienda Refugio. Sa loob ng mga araw din na iyon ay para talaga sila ni Varo na totoong mag-asawa na sinulit ang mga oras para sa kanilang honeymoon. They made love nonstop anytime they wanted without anyone disturbing their peace.Pero a







