LOGINAGAD 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
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
HINDI nagpahalata si Hyacinth na apektado siya mula sa tawag na natanggap galing kay Wei. Sa harap ni Varo, lagi lang siyang nakangiti na para bang walang inaalala.“Will it be fine with you if we stay at my mom’s ancestral house while waiting for dad’s arrival?” untag ni Varo habang kapwa sila nas







