Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 10

KALMADONG pinupunasan ni Nylah ang katana niya na nababalot ng dugo habang nakaupo siya sa loob ng van. The van was parked a few blocks away from the bar. After cleaning her katana, she placed it back in its scabbard.

The neon lights of the city flicker through their tinted windows.

Gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa kaniyang labi nang dumaan sa tabi nila ang isang itim na kotse. Ashriel’s car.

Nylah’s gaze lingered on the car, but her expression didn’t change.

The silence inside the van broke when Kael finally spoke. “Chief, will he really stay quiet after what he saw?”

Sumandal si Nylah sa kinauupuan. Her lips curving into a knowing smile. She put aside her katana. Tinanggal niya ang suot na maskara. “It doesn’t matter if he will not tell it to anyone or report it to the police.” She chuckled. “None of it matters. He didn’t know it was me. But his reaction surprised me, though,” she said.

Ashriel Rios was really calm after seeing such killing in front of him. He didn’t flinch, make a fuss, he was calm as if death wasn’t known to him.

Nylah sighed. “By the way, don’t let the police involve him with the investigation.”

“Yes, Chief,” Kael replied, but with a little surprise. Sumulyap siya sa rearview mirror. “Chief, you care about him?”

“Care?” Nylah repeated, almost amused. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I don’t want him tangled in things he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t belong in the underground.”

Bahagyang kumunot lamang ang nuo ni Kael. Bakit parang ayaw niyang maniwala sa sinasabi ni Nylah? Kilala niya ito. The Chief of the Black Lotus never cared for anyone, except for the Young Master.

‘This is new.’ Kael thought. Though the Chief didn’t show any emotion but he could understand the undertone in her voice. But he was wise enough not to press further. Ayaw niyang mawalan ng ulo ng wala sa oras kapag nagsalita pa siya.

“Clean that bar,” Nylah commanded. “No traces. And sent the body back to the client since he wants to see the dead body himself.”

“Yes, Chief,” Kael answered quickly and started the engine, driving the car away from the crime scene.

Pagkauwi ni Nylah sa apartment, si Evron agad ang kaniyang tinignan. Mahimbing ang tulog nito at yakap-yakap ang isang malaking unan.

Kinuha naman ni Nylah ang almanac na nakakalat sa kama ni Evron, isinara niya ito at inilagay sa bedside table.

Nylah sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her son. “Though they said you looked like me, but I think you also looked like your…” she sighed. “Forget it.”

Inayos niya ang kumot ni Evron at hinalikan niya ito sa noo bago siya lumabas ng silid.

Instead of resting, Nylah sat in the living room, staring at nothing. But the scene at the bar lingered in her mind.

She doesn’t hesitate when killing. Pero nang makita niya si Ashriel na pumatay parang hindi niya kaya na harapin ito.

“But he doesn’t know it was me,” she said to herself.

Ipinikit ni Nylah ang mata. She was known as the ruthless mercenary of the underground organization. She can’t believe she was faltering because of Ashriel.

She blew a loud breath, leaned on the backrest of the sofa, and closed her eyes.

Hindi namalayan ni Nylah na nakatulog siya sa living room.

Nagising na lamang siya nang marinig niyang tumutunog ang cellphone niya.

Napatitig si Nylah sa pangalan ng caller at hindi niya sinagot ang tawag. She even turned her phone into silent mode.

Tumayo siya saka nagtungo sa kusina. Of course, it was time for her mother's duties — to cook breakfast and open the coffee shop later.

“Momma!”

Pumasok si Evron sa kusina.

Gumuhit agad ang ngiti sa labi ni Nylah. “Morning, baby.”

“Morning, too, Momma.” Bati ni Evron saka napatitig sa ina. “Momma, why do you look like you’re a rock star?”

“Ah?” Mabilis na napatigil si Nylah at napatingin sa anak.

Evron pointed at her dress.

Natawa na lamang si Nylah nang tignan niya ang sarili at marealized kung ano ang sinasabi ng anak niya. Ngayon niya lang napansin na hindi pa siya nakakapagpalit ng damit simula kagabi.

“Just trying…” Nylah tried it off and was relieved when Evron didn’t ask more questions. Baka kasi hindi na siya makalusot pa.

At her son’s age, Evron could already tell if a person was lying or telling the truth. Yeah, her son was smart. Mas matalino pa kaysa sa kaniya. Hindi niya alam kung kanino ito nagmana. Kung sa kaniya ba o sa ama nito… she suddenly paused remembering Evron’s father. Kumuyom ang kamay niya saka pilit na lamang itong iwinaksi sa kaniyang isipan.

Nylah smiled at her son. “Kakain na tayo mamaya. Just wait, okay?”

Tumango si Evron. “Momma, will Uncle Ash come today to our coffee shop?”

“Hmm… hindi ko alam, anak,” Nylah replied as she flipped the bacon. Saglit niyang sinulyapan ang bata. “Tuwing hapon naman siya pumupunta sa coffee shop nitong mga nakaraang araw. Why do you ask?”

Ngumiti si Evron. “I want him to teach me again.”

“Teach?” Naalala ni Nylah na basta magtatagpo si Ashriel at ang anak niya sa coffee shop, tinuturuan ni Ashriel si Evron na magbasa, especially in memorizing planets, numbers and shapes.

“Yes, Momma. Uncle Ash was smart, like me.”

Natawa na lamang ng mahina si Nylah at tinapos ang pagluluto.

Looks like her son was fond of Ashriel now.

Napangiti na lamang si Nylah saka hinanda ang agahan nila ni Evron.

While eating, her phone screen lit up. A message popped in.

‘I don’t care if you don’t want to see me, but I’ll come anyway. Wait for me.’

Napailing na lamang si Nylah saka hindi na pinansin ang mensahe. Nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pagkain.

Evron was also enjoying his milk, making Nylah smile.

This is what she needs. A normal life with her son.

Her title as the Chief of Black Lotus was just her other self.

But life was long.

She couldn’t guarantee what her son would choose in the future.

All she wanted was for her son will become what he wanted to become in the future.

THE SMELL of roasted beans and freshly baked bread filled the air. It was another day again for Nylah and the coffee shop. She was dressed in her usual white blouse and apron, hair tied neatly in a bun, looking every bit the gentle coffee shop owner.

Pero sa ilalim ng counter, sunod-sunod na nag-buzzed ang cellphone niya ng mga encrypted messages. Reports from Kael. Updates on the body’s transport. And the confirmation that the bar had been scrubbed clean.

Nylah didn’t flinch as she slid a latte across the counter, drawing a delicate leaf on the foam. She was calm and looked ordinary.

Nylah was making another order when the bell door of the coffee shop chimed. Agad siyang nag-angat ng tingin at hindi na siya nagulat nang pumasok ang isang babae na may hawak na attache case.

Elise Moreau, a woman embodied in elegance, dressed in a suit and her stiletto heels clicking against the wooden floor. She was Nylah’s lawyer and business consultant, but more than that, she was one of the few who knew the full scope of Nylah’s empire.

At the age of twenty-one, Elise Moreau had made a name in the business circle, making the elders respect her even at a young age. And at a young age, Elise Moreau became the head of the Moreau Family.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Elise. The coffee shop was on the surface. Beneath it were real estate holdings, import-export companies, and shell corporations that funneled money into the Black Lotus operations.

“Long time no see, Young Madam,” bati ni Elise.

Nylah placed the order in the tray and called Rita to serve it. “What are you doing here?”

Elise Moreau smiled, pleased to see her Young Madam was fine. “Of course, Young Madam. Duty calls, not for me, but for you.”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Nylah. “Let’s go inside my office. Hindi naman siguro ‘yan aabot ng ilang oras.”

Painosenteng ngumiti si Elise. “It depends on you, Young Madam.”

Napailing lamang si Nylah saka tinignan si Dex. “Continue making the orders.”

Dex nodded. “Yes, Boss.”

Dinala ni Nylah si Elise sa loob ng opisina niya.

“How are you, Young Master?” Nakangiting bati ni Elise kay Evron na nagbabasa ng almanac.

Evron tilted his head. “Who are you?”

“A nobody,” walang buhay na tugon ni Nylah. “Don’t mind her, baby. Magbasa ka na lang diyan.”

Elise pouted. “You’re so mean, Young Madam. You didn’t even answer my call.”

Umupo si Nylah sa swivel chair.

Tumikhim si Elise. She set a thick folder on Nylah’s table. “You need to sign these, Young Madam. Property transfer, tax documents, and the quarterly review of your—” her lips curved into a small smile, “—legitimate businesses.”

Tumango si Nylah.

Then Elise laid out the papers with precision. “Two new branches under your name,” she said, sliding documents across. “The import company has cleared customs without issue. And the board of your hotel chain is still convinced you’re only a silent investor.”

Kinuha ni Nylah ang sign pen saka pumirma. Hindi na niya inabala ang sarili na basahin pa ito isa-isa. May tiwala siya kay Elise at may tiwala rin ito sa kaniya.

“Good,” Nylah murmured, signing the documents. “The quieter, the better.”

Elise roamed her eyes around the room. Her lips curved into a smile. The office was minimalistic, but every detail spoke of control — shelves of neatly labeled binders, a locker cabinet, and a wide oak desk where two personas met — the coffee shop owner and the mercenary queen.