Hera groaned, still closing her eyes feeling her body and the surroundings. It's cold, she felt cold. And her whole body is aching. Did someone bomb her last night?
Dinilat niya ang mata at sumalubong sa kamya ang pamilyar na kisame. Nang makita niya ay agad na nag-init ang pisngi niya ng maalala ang nangyari kagabi.
Of course! Ipapaalala ng kisame dahil nakatingala siya doon habang pinapaligaya ng binata.
"Hera." Tawag ng malamig na boses.
Napalingon siya kay Magnus na seryoso ang mukha na nakaupo sa sofa sa may gilid. Nakabihis na ito ng pangtrabaho. He seems ready to leave. Bakit hindi ito umalis na lang?
Napaupo siya nang naglakad ito papalapit. Nalaglag ang kumot na nakatakip sa dibdib niya kaya lumantad sa mata nito. Magnus just quickly avoided it and focus on her eyes instead. Na para bang iniiwasan nito ang bagay na halos lamunin ng bibig nito kagabi.
"What time is it?" Paos na tanong niya dito.
"It's almost 8. And I have to go." Sagot nito.
Tumango siya dito. Hindi naman na kailangan pa nitong magpaalam. He's free to leave whenever he wants. Pero ewan at naiinis siya. After they shared last night, nanlalamig kinabukasan na para bang may sakit siya kung iwasan nito?
Right. She set that rules first. Na gabi lang talaga. And they'll be on their usual self in the morning.
Magnus left. Na tila ba nagmamadali ito. And that confuse her. Ganyan ba talaga ito? After fucking her, after getting what he wants, ganoon na lang? Tss. Men...or better say Magnus.
Or maybe she didn't do well last night?
Namula siya sa iniisip. Pinalis niya iyon sa isipan niya at tumayo. May tatapusin muna siyang trabaho bago tumungo bukas sa Maldives.
She did her routine. Mag-iisang oras din bago siya nakaalis sa bahay nila. Naninibago lang siya sa paligid. Sebastian subdivision is really quiet. Magka-iba sa subdivision ng mga Benjamin na umaga pa lang, nag-aasaran na ang mga pinsan niya sa bakuran. Some of the houses ay palakasan pa ng speaker.
"Hello, sister-in-law!"
Napalingon siya sa gilid niya at nakita niya ang nakangising mukha ni More Sebastian. Sa lahat ng bastardong Sebastian, ito ang pinakamalapit kay Magnus.
"Hi." Pormal na bati niya dito.
"Welcome to the Sebastian family pala. We're not crazy fun as the Benjamins but I hope you enjoy your stay." More said.
"I didn't marry a Sebastian for crazy fun." Pagkaklaro niya para sabihin na hindi naman big deal sa kanya kung ano ang pamilya nito.
"Oo nga naman. You marry for power. As of now, both of you are the most powerful...kaso nga lang. Nalusutan pa si Magnus." Sabi ni More at bahagyang napangiwi sa huling sinabi.
Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ni More. Parang may pinapahiwatig sa huling sinabi.
"What are you talking about?" Malamig na tanong niya dito.
"Ay, hindi sinabi ni Kuya?" Kunwari ay singhap ng binata.
Kinunutan niya lang ito ng noo. Napakamot naman ito ng batok na may kiming ngiti sa labi.
"Pinasabog ang buong kompanya ni Kuya." More revealed.
Her face went blank and can't absorbed his words. Hindi niya alam kung nagbibiro ito o nagsasabi ng totoo.
"I don't kid around, More." Malamig na banta niya sa biro nito.
"Sana nga nagbibiro ako. But the bombing happened yesterday on your wedding. Hindi ko lang masabi dahil ayaw kong masira ang perpektong kasal niyo."
She cursed under her breath. Tension spread like a wildfire throughout her body. They had fun yesterday, little did she know that it has consequence.
She slid inside her car and drive as gast as possible on his company. Kung nagbibiro lang si More ay papaulanan niya talaga ito ng bala.
But she would choose to fire bullets on More rather than seeing Magnus' company destroyed.
Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa labas ng sasakyan habang nakatitig sa kompanya nito. Ang mga sementong dingding ay bumagsak. Only half crosswise left, but on the crosswise, it still divided by lengthwise. Iyon na lang ang nanatiling nakatayo at ang iba ay nagkapiraso na sa paligid.
Ang katabing opisina naman ay may minor damages. Nakita niya ang mga tauhan ng Sebastian na nakikipag-areglo sa may-ari ng katabing kompanya.
A fast thing passed beside her cheek. Muntik na siyang matamaan pero mukhang hindi sadya na tamaan siya ng ligaw na pana. The arrow darted on the five steps ahead from her. May nakadikit pang papel doon.
Nilapitan niya iyon at hinaklit ang papel. It's written in blood, but she didn't scare even a bit.
May lumapit sa kanyang tauhan ng Sebastian na mukhang nakita ang pangyayari. Sinenyasan niya itong patamaan ang may kagagawan n'on na naroon sa second floor hotel sa may likuran niya sa kalkyulasyon niya.
'Congratulations on your wedding! Do you like my present? Xoxo. -Vanacci'
Nalukot ang papel nang ikuyom niya ang kamay. Saktong palabas naman si Magnus galing sa sirang kompanya nito. Tinantya niya ang mukha ng binata, he doesn't look like in rage. Pero nanatili ang lamig sa kanyang titig.
"What are you doing here?" Mariing tanong nito at hinila ang braso niya papalayo sa sirang kompanya nito.
Binuksan nito ang pinto ng kotse niya at pinasok siya doon.
"Is it bad idea to be here, Magnus?" Balik na tanong niya at tinapatan ang kalamigan sa boses nito.
"Let me handle my own shit." He said coldly and was about to close the door pero tinulak niya ang papasarang pinto at nagpumilit na lumabas.
"If you can handle your own shit, why did you let this happen?" Panunuya niya at tinuro ang kompanya nito.
His jaw clenched and darkly stared at her.
"If your worried that I'll be less powerful and that would affect you because you're my wife, you're fucking wrong." Anas nito.
Tinuro nito ang building habang nanatili pa rin ang tingin sa kanyan.
"That useless building is not holding any of my wealth and power, because I am. I hold my own wealth, my net worth, and my power. Now, get inside your car and do your job in your own company." Malamig na anas nito at sinubukan pa siyang ipasok sa loob pero nagmatigas siya.
Her jaw clenched as she glared at him.
"We're fucking married, Magnus. Your problem in business is my problem, too. Don't act as if I can't help you in anything!" Bulyaw niya dito.
Magnus sighed heavily and massaged his temple. Natitigasan sa ulo niya at talagang makikipagtigasan siya. She doesn't get why he don't want her to be here as if pabigat lang siya. She's here to help him fix his problem kasi kasal sila. At ang ibig sabihin n'on, kung may problema sila sa business, apektado n'on ang isa't-isa. That's why she's here to help. A problem might lessen their power and influence, they don't want that to happen.
Bur Magnus and his narcissistic ego is talking right now.
Napatingin ito sa kamay niyang may hawak ng papel. Bago pa siya makagalaw ay naagaw na nito ang papel sa kamay niya at binasa iyon. Not more that any second, pinunit na ng binata ang papel.
"They'll pay..."
"Let me handle them. For now, just focus on the renovation for your damaged company. Huwag ka na munang sumama bukas." Sabi niya at pumasok na sa loob ng kotse.
Pero nanatiling nakahawak ang binata sa pinto ng kotse at hindi iyon sinasara. Bahagya itong dumukhang para magkalebel ang mukha nila.
"Why won't I come with you? Am I the one that will rebuild my company step by step? It's the engineer's team's job, Hera." Inis na pahayag nito.
Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin sa pamimilosopo nito. She held the door handle to close it.
"Fine, hardheaded bastard." Sabi niya at sinara na ng tuluyan ang pinto.
"THE VANACCI..." Magnus answered when he was asked by the other members who's the one responsible for the bombing of his company.
"They're really targeting the Poderoso. I hate how they think that they're better than us." Zero Phantom said.
"Bakit mo rin ba hinayaan na pasabugin ang kompanya mo?" Constantine asked mockingly.
"They outnumbered my men." He answered flatly.
"But you have plenty of men." Kiro Kim pointed out.
"Most of my men is guarding my wedding and surrounding around Hera's company." Malamig na sagot niya.
"That's the reason why I don't want to get married. They'll be our downfall. Girls are weak as shit." Dagdag pa ni Constantine.
Two pair cold eyes darted on Constantine. His and Hover's.
"And you? You are a shit Constantine." Malamig na bato ni Hover dito.
"If Hera's weak, why are you placed 13th on the industry while she's on her 1st place now?" Panunuya niya dito.
Sinamaan sila ng tingin ni Constantine pero hindi na umimik. While he's looking at Constantine, already plotting how he would kill him in many ways. But that against the rules.
Napalingon silang lahat sa pinto nang bumukas iyon. The Paragon is with someone. Base sa hubog ng katawan nito, alam nilang babae iyon.
"Paragon." They all greeted.
Tumungo ito sa harapan kasama ang babae. Her hair was braid, she's wearing all black fitted outfit habang may mga armas na dala. Nakasuot ito ng maskara na gamit nila dati.
"This is Eris, the 10th member. She choose not to be known and even if you tried investigating for her identity you will find none." Malamig na saad ng Paragon.
"A girl?" Banas na tanong ni Constantine.
The girl expertly get his knife and play a bit on her hands before pointing it on Constantine.
"A narcissist?" The voice changer said in sarcasm.
Mas lalong nabanas ang mukha ni Constantine. Hinawakan naman ng Paragon ang kamay ni Eris at binaba iyon.
"I want peace in Poderoso. No fighting and respect everyone." Malamig na deklara ng Paragon kaya natahimik sila.
Eris sit on the chair beside him. Hindi niya pinansin ito at nanatili ang mata sa Paragon. Still now, he's not sure if Paragon is girl or boy. She's wearing clothes that made her sex unidentified. Dagdag pa ang maskara na may voice changer.
"The Vanacci is started attacking us. Nauna nilang pinasabog ang kompanya ni Sebastian and if we won't start cutting their claws, they won't stop in scratching us."
Napatango sila. Paragon started giving their task, instead of detryoing eavh headquarters, they will attack the big bosses of the Vanacci instead. And there are also 10 of them. Tag-isa sila ng ipapatumba. The bosses are hiding behind their underground name. Kaya kailangan muna nilang mag-imbestiga kung sino ang ipatutumba nila.
"But what if Hera Benjamin is on Venacci that's why they're powerful? Makakaya mo bang saktan ang asawa mo kahit kalaban siya?" Antonio asked him.
He can feel the eyes of everyone around the room darted on him waitimg for his reaction. Si Hover ay nilaro-laro na ang baril sa kamay ay alam niyang isang maling sagot ay hindi magdadalawang isip na patamaan siya nito.
"Where does your loyalty lies, Sebastian? In Poderoso who you vowed first that you're willing to die for? Or for your wife that you're willing to live for?" The Paragon asked.
And that silenced him. Not because he can't answer but because he just realized something.
Paragon...Paragon might be Hera.
Tuwing nawawala narito siya ay nawawala rin ang dalaga base sa balita ng mga tauhan niya. Hera also know about Poderoso, nakaya niting makipag-usap kay Arnold Salvidar na parang may alam ito sa organisasyon. And the time he pushed Paragon on the wall. Alam niyang sasakit ang likod nito and Hera said the same thing on text. And now...how did Paragon know her vow to Hera knowing that their wedding is private?
It's not yet confirmed, pero malakas ang kutob niya. And fortunately, he's keen observer on Paragon and Hera's behavior. Hindi siya tanga para hindu makapansin sa mga maliliit na detalye.
And to answer Paragon's question, how is he willing to die and striving to live for the same person?
"My loyalty lies in myself." He answered coldly while looking heavily at the Paragon.
"Hmm. Good. That's the key to be powerful." Paragon agreed.
Napatingin siya sa katabi niya na tahimik lang nakikinig. He don't trust her. Or maybe he dislike having women on their group.
After their meeting, nauna ng magpaalam ang Paragon. Hinayaan niya muna ito at hindi niya bibiglain ang pagkompronta dito.
Tumayo na rin siya at akmang umalis pero nagsalita si Kiro.
"Are you single?" Kiro asked Eris.
"I'm married." Malamig na sagot ng nito saka umalis.
"Fierce. Just like Hera." Primo Valentino said.
Wala namang malisya iyon pero nainis siya sa sinabi nito. Of course, who wouldn't praise his wife? She's Hera Benjamin. But she's no longer single to be fantasized anymore!
"Don't let your tongue says my wife's name again or I'll cut it." Banta niya sa unang ranggo at nilisan ang lugar.
Nakita niya ang Paragon na papalabas ng lugar. Hinabol niya ito at tinapatan sa paglalakad.
"Are you going to threaten me again about your wife?" Malamig na tanong nito.
"I'm here to apologize for that." Sabi niya pabalik at lumingon dito.
Lumingon sa kanya sandali ang Paragon bago binalik ang tingin sa nilalakaran. Papalabas na sila at bumungad ang gubat. Their hideout is in the center of forest.
"It's so unusual for a narcissist to apologize. What change of mind?" She asked.
"You remind me of my wife." He hinted Paragon to give er idea what was he talking about.
Isang matulis na bagay ang dumaan sa pagitan nila ng Paragon. A knife darted a tree not so far away from them.
"I'm practicing, my knife missed." Eris said.
Kinunutan niya ito ng noo. Unang impresyon pa lang ay hindi na niya na talaga ito gusto.
And he won't believe that she missed. Sinadya niyo ang pagtapon ng kutsilyo. As if she was jealous. But she's married. And Hera is married, even Primo saw Hera on the 10th member.
What the fuck. Who's who? Did he mistakenly approach Paragon? Was he right?...or wrong?