It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 28: Tightrope

 Chapter 28: Tightrope

"Tulog na si baby girl. So Ali, what is this family meeting about?" bungad ni Kuya Alfredo habang nakaupo kaming magkakaharap sa sala. Napatingin si Prince sa kanya.

"Oo, kasali ka. The hell... akala mo ba hindi namin napansin?" He snorted, " 'langya, 'kala ko ba usapan natin three years?" Namula si Prince at akmang magsasalita pero nagpatuloy si Kuya Alfred. "Wag ka nang mag-sorry sa'kin dahil hindi mo naman talaga pinagsisisihan."

"Hindi pa naman ngayon kuya, alam ko namang di pa kami ready," he clasped his hands around his half-empty beer bottle, "saka gusto ko munang malaman kung sino ba 'tong nanggugulo."

"Pero binakuran mo na si baby girl," Aidan clapped him on the shoulder, "para-paraan Constantino..." Napangiti si Prince.

"Masisisi niyo ba 'ko?" He asked and everyone gave a collective sigh. If there was one thing that all of us share, aside from being male, it's the love we have for Diosa.

"So anong agenda ba 'to na kailangan pang itago kay Diosa?" Linagok ni Kuya Alfred ang natitira niyang beer at itinuon ang mga mata sa akin.

"There's a danger to this family but I'd like to contain it, so I need your cooperation" I said plainly.

"Teka kukuha muna akong pulutan ha, mamaya di na tayo makakatayo sa excitement," Aidan stood up with a grin. He went to the dining table and took the whole platter of barbecue and more beer for everyone. Hanep talaga 'tong si Aidan, kahit seryoso ang usapan nakukuha laging magbiro. But he has always served as the counterweight to my brooding personality.

They all looked eagerly at me, especially Prince,"Kuya Ali hindi ba dapat malaman ni Aya 'to?"

"I don't want her to worry. 'Pag nag-panic siya masisira ang plano," I know Diosa all too well, and she would go ballistic if she knew her loved ones are in danger. Baka mauna pa siyang manugod pag nagkataon.

"What's the plan?" Si Adam, I've always admired his laid-back personality. Hindi rin siya mahilig magtanong, bagkus naghihintay lang lagi ng instruction. Not one to lead, but definitely somebody that you could count on.

"Before we do anything I'd like to make it clear na hindi ko kayo pipilitin na sumali sa mission. This is dangerous and I'm only going to ask you once kung willing kayong magparticipate."

"Tangna Ali, pine-personal ang mga Zabala of course I'm in," Kuya Alfred clapped my shoulder. I looked all around me and they all nodded their heads. 

I grinned at them, "We're gonna play 'Catch the As*hole'."

"Excited na ko," Aidan smirked. "Do we get to torture the as*hole too?" Typical Zabala. Hindi halata pero lahat kami mabilis uminit ang dugo. I guess nakuha namin yung side na yun kay daddy.

"Aidan, chill," Adam slapped him on the shoulder, "when do we start?"

I opened my I-pad and showed them the photo of our prey.

"This is Dylan Narvaez, currently enrolled in UP Manila, BS Biology" I slid to the next frame, "and this one here is Nathan Hernandez, also enrolled in UP Manila, Pharmacy."

"Double registration? Nakakalusot pala yung ganyan sa campus," Ibinaba ni Adam ang basyo ng beer niya, "pero astig, napagsabay niya yung dalawang course."

"Temporarily. Surveillance purposes." Now for the tricky part, "he's doing this for revenge."

"Bakit kay Diosa? Anong ginawa ni baby girl sa kanya?" Nagbukas ng bagong bote si Kuya Alfredo.

 I turned my gaze to Prince, "Well it  seems that you messed with the wrong girl in more ways than one."

"Si Mel?" I saw confusion in Prince's face, "but she doesn't have this kind of capability."