Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 21: Training

Why is his work so secretive?

Based on my observations—he handles the agents, he's always injured or covered in dirt, ngayon naman nakita ko siyang ekspertong sinisiyasat ang hawak na baril.

Iniisip kong mas mataas siya sa mga agent sa bahay nila pero kasi...he's so young. What happened to him, for him to rise up the ranks that quickly?

Alam kong ang pamilya nila ay may ari ng isang security agency at baka 'yun ang dahilan, but logically, it's a reputable company that has a reputation to uphold. Syempre hindi lang basta basta ang namumuno sa mga nagtatrabaho.

Nagtitigan kaming dalawa ng ilang minuto. Siya ang unang humiwalay dahil ibinalik niya ang tingin sa mga baril.

"I'll be testing these guns, you should go. I didn't bring earmuffs with me, masakit 'to sa tenga." Sinabi niya 'yon nang hindi lumilingon.

"Nakapatay ka na ba?" 

In a split second, I saw his expression turn really gnarly.

Dahil sa kagustuhan kong kausapin niya ako, tinanong ko siya ng isang bagay na magpapagulat sa kanya. I looked at him curiously. I know I shouldn't poke my nose in this matter, but I couldn't help it. 

Hindi ko rin inexpect na sasagot siya but he did, "You'll be surprised."

I controlled my expression, wanting him to see me composed and that I was not judging him.

So... ginawa niya?

"I have. The first one, I will do it all over again if I have to." He was talking while assembling the gun, and I couldn't believe he was speaking to me about this. "There were six men who raided our home. I killed one."

Hindi ko mapigilang mapasinghap sa gulat. It happened synonymously with the incident that led to their mother's death.

If my math is correct, walong taong gulang palang siya non. He was that young when he pulled the trigger? My heart ached for the innocent little TJ who died that night, he had to protect his family.

Naging bato ako sa rebelasyon at hindi na nagsalita dahil hindi ko rin gusto ibalik ang alaala ng gabing 'yon sa kanya. One night changed their whole lives. I can't even imagine what they went through.

"I'll murder them and their family if I see them right there and then." Huminga ako ng malalim sa sinabi niya at napataas ang balahibo ko. It was quite a scary statement. How can he talk about murder this easily... it feels like killing is normal for him.

Tumingin ako sa paligid, natatakot na baka may makarinig, ngunit walang tao sa paligid. Napakalawak ng lupain na halos walang pagkakataong may nakarinig sa kanya.

Ang kanyang mga mata ay nakatingin sa target, habang ang kanang kamay ay mahigpit na nakahawak sa baril sa lamesa, mga ugat sa kamay ay pumipintig.

"Thinking about it... makes me furious." Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya habang kinakausap ang sarili, but his pupils were slightly out of focus as he looked back at me. There is an overwhelming bloodlust muddled in his downcast eyes.

I could feel his emotions through his eyes, and before I could stop myself, I placed my hand on top of his, which was still holding the gun. It was only then that James returned to his senses and the light in his eyes cleared up again. He grinned, "Whoops. My mind wandered for a moment."

He's good at pretending. Pretending to be cool and that he doesn't feel anything...but I see through that. "Stop that peppy attitude. You can't bullshit a bullshitter." Bulong ko.

He snorted and his fake persona fell. Hindi ko alam kung pano ko nasasabi, pero nakikita ko sa paraan ng kanyang pagtayo, kung paano siya huminga, at ang ngiti niyang hindi umabot sa kanyang mata.