CHAPTER 17
1191 Words
(FLASHBACK…)
Inside an abandoned warehouse, the clang of metal against metal and the sound of gunshots could be heard. Pero sa kalagitnaan ng nangyayari, walang tao ang masyadong makarinig nito dahil sa lakas ng ulan sa labas ng warehouse.
Hinawakan ni Evron ang handle ng kaniyang katana saka ito hinugot mula sa pagkakatarak sa dibdib ng kalaban.
His two katana were covered in blood.
Evron sighed as he looked around the aftermath of the battle against a syndicate.
They were paid by the government to take down the syndicate.
And now, mission accomplished.
Tiningnan ni Evron ang paligid.
Nagkalat ang mga patay na katawan ng kalabang grupo. While the members of the Black Lotus moved efficiently around the area, checking weapons and confirming casualties.
Nakatayo lamang si Evron sa gitna. The sleeve of his black coat was stained with blood, but not his.
One of the men they captured was still breathing weakly near the wall, struggling to crawl away despite the injury on his shoulder.
Evron crouched slowly in front of him.
“Tell me, what does your group do?” he asked coldly.
Mahinang tumawa ang lalaki habang umuubo ito ng dugo.
“You people…” he muttered. “You really don’t know what’s coming.”
Hindi nagbago ang emosyon sa mukha ni Evron. “Answer the question.”
Ngumisi lang naman ang lalaki.
Kapagkuwan, may napansin si Evron sa braso ng lalaki. He pulled back the sleeve of his arm, and he saw it—a mark that was burned into the skin.
A strange black symbol resembling intertwined thorns surrounding an eye.
Tumalim ang mata ni Evron.
It was a totem.
The same symbol Dianne had found connected to the name, Arnoux.
“Once Arnoux starts moving… no one escapes,” sabi ng lalaki.
Then, before anyone could stop him, the man bit down on something hidden inside his mouth—a poison. And then, blood spilled from the corner of his lips. Pagkalipas lamang ng ilang segundo, nalagutan na ito ng hininga.
Nanatili si Evron sa kinaroroonan habang nakatitig siya sa marka na nasa braso ng lalaki.
Ramdam niya na parang may mali.
He felt that this wasn’t some ordinary syndicate.
In the past years of being a Chief for Black Lotus, he encountered many things, but not as bizarre as this syndicate he stumbled upon right now.
Ang tanging sinabi lamang sa kanila ng kliyente, kailangan nilang pabagsakin ang Crimson Gang, but the totem in the dead man’s arms was related to the Arnoux.
“Chief,” lumapit si Kaiden, “Ilan sa kanila ang may totem sa kanilang braso, ngunit wala ang ilan.”
“Then this must be two syndicates,” Evron said as he stood.
“Chief, mag-iimbestiga ba tayo tungkol sa kanila?” tanong ni Kaiden.
Umiling si Evron. “No need. Natapos na natin ang misyon natin. The client wants to take them down. Investigation was not necessary.” He sighed as he started to walk away. “Clean this mess. I’ll be outside.”
Bahagyang yumukod si Kaiden. “Yes, Chief. Understood.”
But Kaiden knew Evron’s character. Evron wouldn’t let something go by. He will surely investigate this on his own.
Para saan pa na magkababata sila kung hindi niya alam kung ano ang takbo ng isipan ni Evron?
Naglakad palabas ng warehouse si Evron.
Paglabas niya, malakas pa rin ang ulan.
“I wonder if it is raining in the Philippines too?” he muttered as he extended his right hand, holding his bloodied katana, to the pouring rain.
The heavy drops of rain washed away the blood of his katanas.
And then wiped the water with a fabric before sheathing them.
Bahagyang umatras si Evron para hindi siya mabasa ng ulan.
He closed his eyes as Blythe’s image came into his mind.
“Am I worthy of her?” he asked himself as he opened his eyes.
He looked at his hand. They were stained with blood.
Matanggap kaya ni Blythe kung malaman nito ang tunay niyang pagkatao?
That the man she used to think of as a kind and gentle man was actually a ruthless mercenary, who kills whoever stands in his way.
Sa totoo lang, may takot na namamayani sa puso ni Evron sa tuwing sasagi ito sa kaniyang isipan.
He didn’t just like Blythe.
He knew to himself that he already loved her and didn’t want to lose her.
Pero paano kapag malaman ni Blythe ang tunay na trabaho niya?
Will she still be willing to accept a man like him?
Malalim siyang napabuntong-hininga saka tiningnan ang mensahe sa kaniya ni Blythe.
‘I want some pie.’
He smiled. Alam ng kasintahan na nasa Portugal siya para sa isang business trip, ngunit ang hindi nito alam ay naroon siya para sa isang misyon bilang Chief ng Black Lotus.
Looks like he needs to learn how to make pie from now on.
Later that night, dumaan si Evron sa isang pastry shop para bumili ng custard tart na specialty ng mga Portuguese.
At dahil malayo ang biyahe mula Portugal hanggang Pilipinas, inilagay niya ito sa cooler para hindi ito mapanis.
Most of the time in the airplane, he was either asleep or studying how to make a pie, taking down notes and watching some tutorials.
Napapansin ni Evron na panay naman ang tingin sa kaniya ni Kaiden.
“What?” he asked.
“Chief, is studying how to make a pie that important?” tanong naman ni Kaiden.
Napailing naman si Evron at muling nagsulat. “If you’re in love, then you will know why I'm doing this.”
Bahagyang nagtaka si Kaiden sa sinabi ni Evron.
He’s not in love, and has not yet fallen in love, so that gives justice. Talagang hindi nito maintindihan ang sinabi ni Evron.
Evron let out a small sigh. “Forget it. Hindi mo rin maintindihan. Don’t mind me.”
Kaiden slightly bowed his head.
“By the way,” panimula ni Evron, “I’m going to lay low for a while.” He looked at his right-hand man. “Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa Black Lotus. Except for some confidential or high-profile mission, act on my behalf. Just remember, no harming of innocents.”
“Chief, won’t the former Chief—”
“Hindi na nakikialam si Mommy sa Black Lotus. She had already given me the full authority to run the Black Lotus on my own. So, I call the shots now.”
“Pero, Chief, bakit ka magla-lay low?” tanong ni Kaiden.
“I’m going to study how to make a pie,” Evron answered as he focused again on the tutorials playing on his phone.
Napailing naman si Kaiden.
Is this how people in love act? He asked himself as he glanced at the cooler beside Evron. They will do anything to make the people they care about happy.
Nakakatawang isipin na ang Chief ng Black Lotus ay ganitong umasta kapag hindi ito nakaharap sa mga tauhan nito.
No one could think that Evron Aiden Laurent-Rios was head over heels in love with Blythe Romero.
But love always comes with obstacles.
- Writer
