WALANG habas na iwinasiwas ni Austin ang kaniyang rapier sa mga kalaban, nang maubos niya na ang mga ito nilingon niya ang mga kaibigan na hindi pa tapos sa mga ibang tauhan ng Triumvir.“Go north, Aust, may sampo pa sa itaas.” Umalma naman siya kay Larkspur. Dahil sira ang hagdanan, eksperto niyang inakyat ito. Nang makaangat siya sabay-sabay na sumugod ang mga kalalakihan sa kaniya na may mga baril.Sinangga niya iyon gamit ang espada niya, nang magawang lapitan na sila hindi na siya umaksaya ng segundo at ito ay inatake.Halos walang hinga niya itong tinapos, pinalibutan niya ang paligid hanggang sa mamataan niya si Divine na umaakyat rin, may kasing liit lang ng insekto itong device na ipinalakad sa loob ng madilim na kuwarto.Lumiwanag ng kulay pula ang kuwarto nito bago namatay. “What happened?” Lingon niya dito.“I disabled their connections and devices.” She winked at him.Pagpasok nila ni Divine sa loob napansin nila ang office desk na puno ng mga papeles, kinuha ito ni Antho
DALA NG PAGOD, hindi na niya naiwasan pang matulog sa byahe, nagising na lamang siya nang gisingin siya ng kaibigan.Gabi na ng makauwi sila.Pansamantala muna sila nag-usap patungkol sa nangyari kanina.“That was one of the best we’ve ever done, that was massive! Grabe,” ani Lysandros, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nangyari.“Yea, I agree. It was one of the deadliest we’ve fought.” Tumatangong sangayon ni Renzo habang iniikot ang swivel chair.They’re in SJ Building, they are busy reviewing their recent missions as well as the backgrounds of Triumvirs. “I feel so down, they don’t deserve this kind of misery,” mababang boses na salita ni Divine habang hinihilot ang sentido.“I want this Triumvir mystery to be taken down to hell. How could they do these shits? Kapamilya ba sila ni satanas?” Larkspur let out a big blow whilst he typed on his laptop.“Shall we go home? I’m so exhausted,” sambit sa kanila ni Lennon na kakatapos lamang maglinis ng sarili.“Yea, we should, let’s get some res
A NEVER-ENDING pule was heard in the room, she’s sobbing so hard. The sight of a rare pain crossed in her, Austin felt a tight gripped on his heart.He can’t take it, seeing Fauzia like this. It’s too hard to watch. Malalakas ang mga hikbi nito sa kaniyang bisig, mahigpit ang hawak nito sa kaniyang braso na tila kumukuha ng lakas.Kahit pa ayaw niyang makita na nagkakaganito ito nanatili lang siya sa tabi ng dalaga, ayaw niya itong iwan.Hinding-hindi niya iparamdam dito na nag-iisa siya.She boohooed in his arms like there’s no tomorrow. He can feel his wet shirt because of her tears, he didn’t mind. “Let it out, Fauzia, let it all out until you feel better.” He just brushed hair.He’s shocked too. As soon as Fauzia started crying he told him to leave for the sake of Fauzia, she can’t look at him, she just froze right there. Didn’t even moved an inch.After the man walked away he saw her broke down then cried endlessly. He doesn’t know what really happened between them but he’s not j
THE LAST WORD was different but it feels nostalgic. Austin’s voice had a resemblance to his voice too. She sighed and shook off the thought.She changed the topic. “Sabi ni Shanoa meron kayong pinatayong bahay-ampunan nila Divine?” “Yea, anim na taon na iyon. Bakit mo naitanong?” he inquired, his arms were still enfolded on her waist.She scratched her nape that made Austin giggled because of her adorability. “Gusto ko sanang pumunta doon, pwede ba? Saka sabi rin ni Lystra pag-uwi niyo pupunta tayo doon? Pwede ba?” Excitement was written all over her face.“Yes, of course. Let’s go in the afternoon,” anito na mas ikinalapad pa ng ngiti niya. “Let’s have a breakfast, itu-tour kita sa SJ o kung anong gusto mo, doon tayo.” Lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya.Sabay silang bumaba at nag-agahan.Wala pang tao sa baba, lahat ng mga tao sa bahay ay tulog pa. Sila pa lang ang gising, masyado pang maaga.Nakatitig lamang si Fauzia sa likod ng binata na ngayon ay nagluluto ng kanilang agahan, nakahal
“GANITO ang porma ko tapos ikaw komportable. Pero bigay naman ni Lystra kaya, sige.” Kibit balikat niya matapos huminto sa harap ng garahe.“You don’t like your clothes?” tanong ni Austin, pinindot na niya ang button saka naman bumukas ang pintuan nito.“It’s not like that, hindi lang ako sumusuot ng ganitong klaseng damit sanay ako sa mga t-shirts.” Narinig niya ang tunog ng motorsiklo, lumabas na rin si Austin na may suot na ngayon na leather jacket.Huminto ito sa harap niya. “I’ll tell Lystra to give you simple clothes then,” anito, “Hop in, my angel.” Inalalayan siya nitong umangkas.“Your motorcycle is mesmeric,” puri niya sa motor ng binata.“This is my Ecosse Titanium, Marshmallow. My first love.” That made her cringed. “Seriously?” Sarkastikong itinaas niya ang kilay.Halos malagatukan siya ng hininga nang hinawakan ng binata ang kaniyang mga kamay at iniakap sa bewang nito.Bahagyang nasubsob ang mukha sa kaniyang matipunong likod, nanuot ang amoy ng binata sa ilong niya. “W
AFTER that interaction with that man was really traumatic for her. She is very blessed that Austin didn’t abandon nor neglected her.Maayos naman na siya pero nangabgati ba siyang nagtanong kay Austin patungkol sa pinabgyarihan, maybe she’ll asked him later. She’s intrigued at what he’s feeling after his father showed up all of a sudden. When afternoon came, the two decided to eat in Hapagkainan, their dish was good. She would like to go more often to their restaurant.As they were eating, they talked about the SJ’s people. “So ‘yung mga biktima, dito na nanirahan? At pumayag sila? Paano ‘yung ibang pamilya nila? Iyong mga magulang?” usisa niya.“Some work here, some doesn’t. Their services are free, that’s the rule here. Binuo ang SJ para sa kalayaan, binuo ito ng walang bayad,” he discontinued. “Ang mga nanatili dito ay para sa mga kaligtasan nila. The majority of people doesn’t have a home nor family, kaya kinupkop na sila ng SJ,” pagpapatuloy niya. “Ang mga bata naman ay nasa pan
AFTER THE INCIDENT, Lazzini did draw the girl with a slim face, small nose, full lips, square chin, tanned skin, mid-length hair, and round eyes with arched brows.Fauzia said it was close enough to her facial features.Larkspur’s men started the investigation while Larkspur focused on her existence. Good thing they don’t have a massive mission, they can be focused on their own projects. All of them had too many things to deal with. They finally arrived at their mansion, nagkaniya-kaniyang sasakyan na sila at bumalik na sa kanilang bahay.Imbis na motor ang sakyan, pinili na lang ni Austin na sa kotse na lamang dahil may sanggol silang kasama.Gusto niyang sa kanila muna ang bata at pumayag naman siya sa gusto ni Fauzia.Nakarating na sila sa bahay niya, kinuha niya ang crib ng bata sa trunk ng kaniyang kotse bago sila pumasok sa kabahayan.Nakita niyang pinalibutan ni Fauzia ang bahay niya na may pagkamangha sa mga mata. “Cottage house… Very appealing.” Natigilan ito nang mapadako a
“MY FATHER accused my mother of cheating when I was 16, he kicked her out of the house. She promised me she will come back for me, I trust and hold onto her because I believe that my mother has too many connections since she’s one of the wealthiest person in Australia. But years had passed she didn’t come for me, she left me hanging, she left a hole in my heart and it’s hard since she was the only person I’m counting on.”“Daig ko pa ang kriminal sa pagkakakulong ko sa bahay, but thankfully my father let me finished my education. I was locked down for 6 years, the school was the only place I can go except our house. My father would beat me up if I did something wrong or I said something that disapproved him. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, I was too young and scared. I tried to escape but no luck, I seek for help but no one helped me. They are scared to save me because my father is one of the most ruthless person they’ve known, every time they see me they would avoid me like I’m sort of