Author's Note (The Villain Series 1)

Kabanata 28

Tinuro niya ito. "That is correct."

Hindi ito nakasagot. More like, she didn't know what to say. She opened her mouth many times but ended up closing it for she was lost, wondering how could he be possible. Tinitigan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. Kaagad nitong hinanap ang bag na nasa katabi lang at kinuha ang phone. May kinalikot ito. Ilang saglit pa, bigla nitong tinapat sa kaniyang mukha na para bang may kinukumpara.

"Magkamukha kayo ng drawing na 'to."

"Let me see it."

Hinarap ito ni Anais. Kaagad siyang napangitti nang makita ang kaniyang mukha sa phone.

"My Noa really made me so beautiful," puri niya sa kaniyang manunulat. "Did Gonietta draw it?"

"How did you know?"

"She asked for my photos to draw me for her commission. She knew my face, so I figured this was from her."

"Were you the one I saw in Noa's house?" tanong nito at binalik na ang phone sa bag.

He nodded.

"Are you really Adamas Riscarte? I don't seem to understand. How could a fictional character be here?"

"Eat first, then I'll explain it to you."

Kinuha naman nito ang bowl. Nang magsimula na itong kumain, sinimulan niya na ring ikuwento sa babae kung saan siya galing, kung paano siya napunta rito at kung ano ang pakay niya.

"I was written through the likeness of your brother. Apparently, we are not of the same personality." Sumandal siya sa couch at pinagkrus ang mga braso. "And I am behind the killings of your family. I just killed your mom and sister earlier."

Adamas stared at Anais' emotion after he said those. He thought she would freak out, cry and go mad at him. But it was far from he what expected. She remained composed and continued eating the porridge.

"I see. I got a call earlier that they saw my mom's head on the road. I thought it was just a prank pero mukhang totoo nga."

"Yeah. If you ever try to say something to the authority, just know that they can't stop me. And you'll become part of my list to kill." Tumayo na siya. "I took you in because you were good to my Noa. She was thankful to you until she die. And so, I am. So don't lose my trust, Anais."

Tumango naman ito.

"If you're done eating. You can go." Tumalikod na siya at naglakad papuntang kusina. Kumukulo na ang kaniyang tiyan. Kanina pa siya natatakam sa porridge kaya gusto na niyang kumain.

Habang kumakain siya sa kusina, sinilip niya ang babae sa salas. Wala na ito at ang bowl na lang ang natira. Mukhang umalis na.

He put all his attention on the porridge and eat it as if it would be his last meal.

Natulog siya nang mahimbing no'ng gabing iyon habang iniisip ang mga mukha ng kaniyang pinatay ngayong araw.

That felt great. I'm almost done, my Noa. Isa na lang.

NAGISING si Adamas nang may panay ang kalabit sa kaniyang braso. Inis niyang minulat ang mga mata at si Logan lang pala.

"What?"

"Gumising ka na, Mr. Adamas. Kanina pa naghihintay si Anais sa 'yo," saad nito. Bihis na bihis ang lalaki. Isang black polo at pants ang suot nito. Mukhang handa nang pumunta sa university kung saan ito nagtuturo.

"Huh?" He frowned while slowly getting up on the sofa. "She went home last night."

"And she's back again this morning."

Nalukot ang kaniyang mukha. Tumayo siya at sumunod kay Logan na naglalakad papunta sa nakaawang na pinto.

"You didn't let her in?" bulong niya kay Logan.

"She insisted to stay outside." Binuksan na nito ang pinto. Ngumiti si Logan sa babae. "Here he is. Alis na po ako, ah? Ma-la-late na ako sa class ko. Bye!"

At umalis na nga ito. Napailing na lang si Adamas dahil halata sa lalaking iniiwisan nito si Anais.

"Well, what do you want?" He yawned while crossing his arms. "I already said everything to you."

"Wala naman. I just want to see you." Tipid itong ngumiti at pinagmasdan siya.

He hissed. "Now that you see me, go away." Inabot niya ang doorknob at padabog na sinara ang pinto.

They had nothing to talk about, and he too don't want to talk to her anymore. Just because he brought her here, that doesn't mean she was free to see him anytime she wanted.

Muli siyang nahiga sa sofa para matulog. Pipikit na sana siya nang may sumulpot na lilang hologram sa kaniyang harapan.

[Character Restoration progress: 68%]

"I didn't ask for an update." Pinikit na niya ang mga mata.

The next day came and he used his threads again to find Azure. But unfortunately, he couldn't locate him. The reason could be the man was too far for his threads to reach. May limitasyon ang haba ng kaniyang mga sinulid at dahil mukhang nasa malayo ang lalaki, hindi rin nito mahanap-hanap.

He hissed in annoyance when he saw his progress bar. Malapit na siyang uuwi.

[Character Restoration progress: 70%]

Lalo pa siyang nabuwisit dahil sa walang tigil na katok na nasa pinto. Ayaw niya itong buksan dahil si Anais ang nandoon. Kanina niya pa ito 'di pinapansin pero ayaw talagang tumigil.

Padabog siyang nagtungo sa pinto at binuksan ito. "What again?"

Bahagya pa itong nagulat sa kaniyang pagbukas. "I just want to see you--"

"Get lost!" He slammed the door close.

Sumunod ang mga araw at walang mintis sa pagdalaw si Anais sa kaniya. Palagi niya rin itong pinapaalis pero balik pa rin ito nang balik.

"I have never encountered a reddy readsy so annoying as her." Tinusok niya ang isang piraso ng kalabasa sa adobong gulay ni Logan. Kumakain sila ngayon sa kusina.

"Hmm," sagot lang ni Logan habang matamlay na kumakain.

He stopped for a minute and checked on him. Maputla ang mukha nito. Sa mga araw na panay ang dalaw ni Anais, walang tigil din sa pagtrabaho si Logan. Kahit na gabi, nakaharap ang mukha nito sa laptop at abala sa pag-e-edit. Ilang beses niya itong naaabutang nagtratrabaho pa kahit madaling araw na.

"Aren't you pushing yourself too much again?" He glanced at the emotion surrounding him. "Didn't I tell you to rest?"

"I can't. Mom will not shut up unless I'll give her what she wants."

"Money?"

He nodded.

"You give her almost every day."

"What else can I do? She still keeps on asking me. And I can't say no to her." He sighed. "I also have this thought that somehow it is my fault why we're not financially stable. If I had pursued the course they wanted, this may not be the life we will have. So I need to make it up to them. I want them to see they weren't wrong for allowing me to take the course I want."

"Idiot! They are taking you for granted."

Logan just smiled weakly and continued eating. Magsasalita pa sana siya nang makirinig na naman ng katok.

He rolled his eyes. "Not again."