Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 45: His side (Part I/II)

She stares at me for a long time, and I have a little burst of hope that she could recognize me. But she doesn't.

"Nakakagutom naman." I hear her as she comes into my room.

I watched her as she cleaned, and damn—Scarlet had gone from a scrawny kid to smoking hot.

If she were any other girl, I'd probably have already made a move. But she's not. She'll never be just another girl.

She's my Hope... my best friend who knew me when I wasn't this messed up. She was light, fun, loving, and became twice as unhinged. She scratched my car and fucking caused the rumor of me sucking Evan in the restroom.

When I confronted her about it, she went all ninja on me, rolling on my bed to get away. See? Crazy and cute.

"I want a sandwich."

I handed her the sandwich I demanded, enjoying every second of teasing her. She said she was hungry, and yeah, I wanted her to eat... but there's no way I was letting her know I cared.

Excuse me? I've got pride. Seryoso, how does she not remember or recognize me? Pikon ba ako? Tangina oo.

When Scarlet stayed in the house, I forgot to think about something she had. Free will. Of course, she'll visit her family unexpectedly when we're in the middle of locating Itasaki's base.

"Business. Pumasok ka na, sabay ka na sa'kin pauwi."

I stare at the car in front of me. It's them. Tangina, nakita na ba nila agad ang bagong lokasyon ng pamilya ni Hope?

I wait for the people in the car to make a move. I'll face them head-on if I were alone... but I'm not. I felt Scarlet curiously looking at me while I drove the car away from them. Her safety is the top priority.

Itasaki got wind of the new safe house too soon.

Did they learn the information by themselves? Is there a rat on my team? Or had her so-called family betrayed her?

Her guardians had already given money. It makes me think they're keeping it for themselves and overworking her on purpose. "What do you think about them?"

"Ha? Kanino?" She asks.

"Your mother, Nana, what do you feel about her?" Does she trust them enough? Si Ate Beauty niya ang nakakausap ko noong bata kami. I wasn't familiar with her Nana, but even if I knew them before, I wouldn't trust them easily. People can change with the right amount of persuasion.

My questions pushed a button on her as she frustratedly answered me.

"The car is stolen, Sir." When my team called me, I immediately dropped off Hope at the house, and I followed the coordinates sent. "We have successfully followed the vehicle to their hideout."

But even when I was preoccupied with work, all I could think about was her face filled with words she couldn't say. And I decided that I'll go to her first thing when I finish here. "Who owns that warehouse?"

Mark sits inside my car. "It's listed as a soap factory."

"Sir, incoming vehicle." I hear Allan on my radio.

The incoming car opened fire at the car carrying my agents behind us, but Mark and I were faster. Our bullet hit their wheels as they passed, and they swerved, banging against the warehouse.

We storm out of the car, not giving them a chance to recover. Two men stumble out of the van, shaking their bloodied heads and holding their guns.

Mark shoots the first between the head, and he drops dead. I don't blink or attempt to take the shot from him because there are many to choose from, as men inside the warehouse scatter outside as they hear the noise.