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All Chapters of Target Acquired : Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
30 Chapters
20
Target Acquired /peachesandme
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.
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21
Target Acquired /peachesandme
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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22
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Aiden stepped out of the shower. Ang tuwalyang kaniyang ginamit ay nakasabit sa kaniyang batok, catching droplets of water from his still wet hair. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad papunta sa kaniyang dresser upang magbihis. Nang matapos ay dinampot niya ang kaniyang cellphone na iniwan niyang nakacharge sa kaniyang nightstand. He frowned at the number of notifications displayed. Isang notification ang nakakuha ng kaniyang atensyon, it’s from his mom. His brow furrowed further at that. The last time he talked to her was when he made sure that his brother—his family, was safe. Ano ang dahilan ng pagmessage nito sa kaniya ngayon? Agad niyang binuksan ang message at takang-taka sa nabasa. ‘Natanggap naming ang regalong ipinadala mo. Salamat daw sabi ng kapatid mo.’ Ang mata ni Aiden ay napadako sa mga supot ng regalong kaniyang binili na nakatabi sa isang sulok ng kaniyang silid. Reg
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23
Target Acquired /peachesandme
“What the fuck happened to you?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Klyden nang mapagbuksan nito ng pinto si Aiden. Duguan ito. Blood gushing down his temple, black eyes, and bruises all over his body. Paano ito nakarating sa kaniyang apartment na ganito ang itsura? He immediately opened the door wider, letting his friend in. Aiden went straight to the sofa, dumping his body there while Klyden went to get his medical kit. Nang makuha niya ito, agad niyang tinabihan ang kaniyang kaibigan at sinimulang gamutin ang mga sugat nito. “Ano ang nangyari sa’yo?” nag-aalalang tanong niya habang pinupunasan ang mukha nito upang alisin ang mga dugo. Aiden hissed occasionally. “Went to the company,” Aiden slurred in answer. His eyes are closed as he let his friend fuss on him. “Tapos? Bakit ka nagkaganyan? Ano ang ginawa mo ‘don?” “Fought with Suarez,” Aiden chuckled. Nangunot naman lal
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24
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Natahimik si Klyden sa sagot ng kaniyang kaibigan. He sounded so sad. Nais niyang pagaanin ang loob nito ngunit hindi niya malaman ang sasabihin. Muling dinampot ni Aiden ang kaniyang mga kubyertos at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Natapos ang kanilang hapunan na puno ng katahimikan. Pinanood na lamang ni Klyden ang kaniyang kaibigan, Aiden insisted on cleaning up, kaya naman wala na siyang nagawa. “Are you going back?” Klyden asked as they both sat down in the living room.“Hindi pa naman malalim ang gabi, pero kung nais mong manatili muna rito ay walang problema.” Aiden looked at him, almost blankly. Maya-maya ay binigyan niya si Klyden ng isang maliit na ngiiti, at saka tumango. “I want to stay,” he answered. Later, as he arranged the blankets and pillows Klyden let him borrow on the couch, his friend standing by to watch him. Nang matapos ay i
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25
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Nanatiling nakahiga si Aiden sa sahig. Hindi niya na namamalayan pa ang daloy ng oras. His body is aching all over, both from the fight with Mir. Suarez and the latest attack. He closed his eyes, panting. His whole body tensed when he heard another sound, it’s the sound of the door knob. He waited; senses still heightened from the adrenaline. His body relaxed when he felt the familiar presence of Klyden. “Aiden?” marahang tawag ni Klyden. Aiden wants to answer, but even speaking feels so fucking hard for him. Kaya naman hinintay niya na lamang na makarating ito sa kung nasaan siya. Aiden winced when light suddenly flooded the dark living room. “Aiden—Owen!” Maya-maya lamang ay narinig niya ang yabag ng mga paa nito papalapit sa kaniya. Klyden kneeled beside him, hands hovering over him. “What the fuck?” mura nito. Ang mga mata nito
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26
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Aiden tightened the bandage on his wounds. Uminom na rin siya ng pain killer upang makasiguro. Matapos niyang dumaan sa café ay dumeretso na siya sa kaniyang bahay upang maghanda. Tonight. He’s doing it tonight. Habang inaayos ang kaniyang mga gagamitin, Evelyn’s words replayed in his mind. Binuksan nito ang back door bago muling isinara at humarap sa kaniya. “You’re actually so funny,” anito. Kumunot ang noo ni Aiden dito. She shook her head, laughing to herself before once again opening the door. “Telling someone you’re about to kill to take care?” she chuckled.“You’re fucked up. Both of you are fucked up.” Aiden shook his head at the memory. He grabbed a gun, loading it properly before setting it aside to grab a new one. Ang pistol niya ay nakatago na sa gun holster vest na kaniyang isinuot kasa
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27 (part I)
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Everything seemed to stop. For the first time in years, his breath hitched as he pointed his gun at his target. Hindi, hindi siya kinakabahan. Malayo sa kaba ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. The living room where they are currently in is dark, ang tanging ilaw na nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kanila ay ang poste ng ilaw na direktang nakatayo malapit sa bintana ng sala ng maliit na bahay. Aiden’s eyes slowly trailed from his target’s eyes to the gun she is currently pointing back at him. Ano ang ibig sabihin nito? His eyes met her gaze once again. They are sharing the same wide-eyed look, both surprised at the turn of events. Ano ang nangyayari? The room felt heavy. Ang tanging tunog na naririnig ni Aiden ay ang ang malakas tibok ng kanyang puso. Gulong-gulo siya. Paano nangyari ito? Ang isip niya ay bahagyang lumipad pabalik sa planong inilatag niya sa kanyang utak. Pulido ito. Ilang ulit niya itong nirebisa upang ma
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27 (part II)
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Nang muli itong bumalik sa sala, si Aiden ay prenteng nakaupo na sa sofa. Her eyes are swollen from crying but emotionless. Aiden can’t help but think, bakit ito pa ngayon ang may ganang magalit sa kaniya? Tinago nito ang anak nila! “Leave,” malamig na ani nito, ang mga mata ay determinado. “You were about to kill me, weren’t you?” mahinang tanong ni Aiden, completely ignoring her command. “Hindi ba’t ikaw din naman?” Aiden sighed exasperatedly before standing up, angry as he faced her. “May anak tayo?” nanghihinang tanong niya. “Kapag sinabi ko bang hindi siya sa’yo ay maniniwala ka?” “Artemis—” “Leave, Aiden,” matigas na utos muli nito, ang kamay ay nakaturo sa direksyon ng pinto. “That’s not my name,” he replied.“Call me by my name, Artemis.”
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28
Target Acquired /peachesandme
Monday - 10:32:04 a.m – Two months before Aiden’s flight back to the Philippines The folder made a loud sound as it hit the table. Sinundan lamang ito ng tingin ni Artemis. Akala niya ay hahayaan na siyang umalis ng kumpanya. Ilang taon na siyang nahinto sa pagtatrabaho rito. Nahinto siya mula noong…at nang malaman niyang buntis siya. Alam niyang kailangan niya alagaan ang sarili niya para rito. Kaya naman hindi niya talaga inaasahan ang muling pagtawag sa kaniya ng kumpanya. “That’s your mission,” her boss said, itinuturo ang folder na kababato lamang nito sa lamesa.“Kailangan mong mapatay ang taong ‘yan sa lalong madaling panahon.” “Bakit ako?” tanong ni Artemis bago dahan-dahang kinuha ang folder. Hindi niya ito agad na binuksan, naghihintay ng sagot ng kaniyang boss. “Bakit hindi ikaw?” makahulugang sago
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