c h a p t e r f o u r t y o n e
RAIN'S POV
He saw my face. I immediately knocked him out through a neck chop. "He saw me," I told Pin in my earpiece. The laptop was gone. It crashed when it fell to the ground from this height. I'm not sure if he has other copies but to make sure there was nothing left, I had no choice but to take him with me.
"We're here," Harry stated. "Looking for deadshot," he added. I dragged the unconscious guy to the end of the hall when another shot was made from the sniper. "Harry, you're disappointing me," I stated. That's how I train them. If you're offended, I don't care. "Found it," he said and I heard him took the shot. "Joker, get the car ready. We're going down."
Hinila ko siya papasok sa elevator. Hinanda ko ang sarili ko sa anumang pwedeng mangyari. The moment the elevator door opened at the second floor, I immediately pointed my gun to it. "Woah. Easy," he said and came in. I saw the guys back there, all knocked out. "You sure didn't get easy on them huh?" I rolled my eyes. "Made them pay for some unnecessary bet. That's all," he answered. "What happened to this guy?" he asked.
"Don't even get me started. Take him." Alam ko kung gaano siya naiinis nang sinabi ko iyan. Wala siyang ibang magagawa kung hindi ng buhatin ito. When the door opened, I fired my gun to the men in black as I cover for Pin who was carrying Alex at his back. "Damn it," I heard him cussed. This is so fun.
After they got out, I finished all the work here inside before I followed them. Cliff helped Pin bring Alex inside the car. But before I could go, there were another men in black. They sure know how to secure their place. I'll give them credit for that. "Just go," I murmured. But of course, the stubborn Pin just wouldn't stop. He took the ones at the right while I took the ones at the left.
One man pointed a gun at me as I draw two guns from the holster at the man who was about to attack me. In that dumb act he did, I used it as a chance to take his guns and use him as my shiled as well. So, when the other man who was pointing a gun at me, actually fired it and he eventually ended up killing his colleague. All I want is to do this quick and go home. I felt really tired for the day.
When the last man standing was down, I heard a little noise and then I pulled the trigger to that person without even looking and he died wide eyes open. He was trying to shoot me for his fibal breath but unfortunately he wasn't able to do so because he's slow. Tinanguan ako ni Pin at pinaunang maglakad. He used his car while I used my motorbike so the moment I ride mine, I quickly headed to my house. I'll deal with that Alex guy later. His whole place was messed up. Good thing he was rich and in no time, he could get a new house. Tsk. Freaking rich people.
Agad kong itinaas ang baril ko nang may naramdaman akong kakaiba. "Geez. Calm down." The way he said it, I wasn't even surprised. "How long will you keep acting like that? Tsk." Naupo ako sa couch kaharap ng tv na ngayon ko lang napansin na nakabukas pala. "Have you turned this on?" I asked and it was stupid of me to ask such question when I already knew the answer. Then the news came in. It was about the thing that happened this morning. The footage that they aired was from a CCTV quite far from where if happened. My face wasn't in the shot but I still have to make sure none of the footages were of my face.
"When are you going for your next mission? I know that you clearly knew why I am here," he stated. "They already knew where you are. This is why you need to leave." Knowing Rhys, he won't stop until I get out of that place. He's certainly not the boss of me. He's my twin but whenever he felt danger, he'll immediately come. Yet, I'm still stronger than him.
"I already discussed this with dad and he approved. He thinks the same as well." Mas madali ata kapag sinabi niya na lang na nagkakuntsaba silang dalawa. "Your papers will be taken care of by tomorrow."
"Okay, then. Leave. I want to sleep." Hindi naman na siya umangal kaya naman napagpasyahan kong maligo uli dahil nangangamoy sabaw ako dahil sa mga pinagtatapon ng kalaban kanina, iyon bang chef na dambuhala. No offense. I immediately fall asleep when my body felt the bed.
THIRD PERSON'S POV
Bumukas ang mabigat na talukap ng mga mata ni Xan at bumulaga sa kaniya ang mga kaibigan niyang walang malay. Nilingon niya ang paligid at napagtanto kung gaano kakalat. Basag ang mga antique collections ng Dad ni Alex at maging ang mga mamahaling paintings na nagmula sa mga auctions ay may mga tama ng baril or di naman kaya'y may mga basag na bagay na nakabaon dito.
Pinilit niyang bumangon at pinakiramdaman ang paligid. Tumayo siya at may pinindot sa ilalim ng complimentary table. Lahat ng mga mesa at cabinet sa bahay nila Alex ay may device na nakakabit. Ito ay switch para humingi ng tulong. Kung sakali man na may mangyaring di kanais nais at hindi kinaya ng mga body guard at maging si Alex, ito ang ginagamit nila lalo na ang Dad at Mom niya. Matapos pindutin ng binata ang switch, linapitan niya isa isa ang mga kaibigan niya at pinakiramdaman ang kanilang mga pulso. Mabuti nalang at lahat pa ay buhay kasabay nito ang pagdating ng mga guard mula sa main headquarter ng family body guard ng mga Fuentavilla.
Dinala silang lahat sa private hospital ng kaibigan ng Dad ni Xan at doon ginamot ang kanilang mga sugat. Ilang oras pa ang lumipas nang pumasok ang doktor. Namukhaan agad ito ng binata at niyakap. Ito ang kaniyang Aunty Isabelle. Kaibigan ng kaniyang ama at siyang nagmamay-ari ng hospital. "My goodness, what happened to you?" May pag-aalala sa kaniyang boses. "I heard Alex' house were ransacked by some do*chebag. Is that true?"
"We ran into some serious burglers. Didn't know they've learned karate or something," pagsisinungaling niya. Hindi niya maaaring ipagsabi ang tungkol sa nangyari. Pinaalalahanan niya ang bawat isa sa mga body guards na huwag magsalita ng kung ano. Mabui na lamang at tila naniwala ang doktora. "I almost forgot, how about the others? Are they awake?"
Magkakahiwalay kasi sila ng kwarto kaya naman hindi smniya sila makita. "Not yet. I think they'll need time to recover. You boys are in some serious trouble. How come you got here, not to mention the four of you. And where's Lance and Ace and that tech guy? What's his name again?" Pinaikot ni Xan ang kaniyang mga mata sa pag-aasta ng doktora. "I haven't seen them." Kilala ng doktora ang pito ngunit hindi niya alam ang tungkol sa kanila bilang isang gang ng B.A.N.G. "They were busy wooing a girl," palusot ni Xan. "What?!" Napalakas ng kaunti ang boses ng doktora. May nararamdaman kasi ito para kay Ace. Mali man ito para sa iba dahil pitong taon ang pagitan ng edad nila, ngunit para sa doktora, hindi basehan ang edad. Maganda at mukha pa rin namang dalaga ang doktora ngunit hindi pa rin sang-ayon sila Xan na maging nobya ito ni Ace kaya naman kung naausugatan sila sa mga laban, hindi sila tumutungo rito. May sariling doktor si Ace at gayundin ang iba. Nangyari ito noong may end season sa B.A.6. Medyo napuruhan si Xan kaya naman dinala nila ang binata dito sa hospital na ito lagpas alas dos ng umaga. Si Isabelle noon ay hindi pa ang may-ari ng hospital na ito. Kamakailan lang ay pumanaw ang kaniyang lolo na siyang nagpatayo nito at siya ang inatasan na sumunod sa pwestong iniwan ng kaniyang lolo.
Dahil on-duty siya noon, siya ang umalalay kay Xan. Gulong gulo oto kung bakit panay pasa ang natamo ni Xan at may mga sugat at pasa rin ang iba sa kanila kabilang na si Ace. Matapos magamot si Xan at natutulog, nadatnan ng dalaga ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Xan. Matangkad ito, maganda ang pangagatawan, at sobrang nakakahumaling ang mukha. Tila ba nakatulog ito kakahintay kaya naman nilapitan ito ni Isabelle ngunit isang hakbang pa lamang niya ay nagmulat na ito ng mata. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang expression ng mukha ng binata. Tila ba walang emosyon. "Are you Xan's friend?" agad na tanong ni Isabelle ngunit tumango lang ang binata. "How's he?" Maski boses nito ay nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ni Isabelle at sa unang pagkakataon, nais niya makilala ang binata. Ipinaliwanag ng doktor ang kalagayan ni Xan.
"Do you mind me asking why are you alone? I was sure there were at least six of you who rushed Xan here." Hindi sumagot agad ang binata at tumayo. "They left but they just got...right on time," sa pagkakataong sinabi niya iyon, limang kalalakihan ang tumatakbo papunta sa kinaroroonan nila na ikinagulat naman niya. Nakita ng dalaga na tumango ang binata sa mga kasama niya at umalis. "How's he?" agad na tanong ng ni Rude. Hindi pa niya alam ang mga pangalan nila noon maliban kay Xan. "He's fine," mahina sagot ng dalaga at nakatingin sa iniwang bakas ni Ace.
Mula sa araw na iyon, nahulog na ang loob nito kay Ace. "Who is she? What does she do? When did they met? How did they met? Are they dating? How long have they been together? How far did they go? Did they kissed? Have they done it? WHO IS SHE?!" tuloy tuloy nitong litanya. Nagsisi si Xan na nabanggit niya iyon para lang makalusot sa mga tanong. Ngunit sa ginawa niya, nagbukas naman ito ng isang pintuan at ang malala pa doon, may nakaabang na hindi kanais nais.
"Calm down. I don't think they're dating," saad ng binata at nabuhayan naman ng pag-asa ang dalaga. "But I do think that he's got feelings for her," sa sinabi ni Xan, nagngalaiti sa inis ang doktora at nagdadabog na lumabas. Matapos sumarado ang pintuan, naging seryoso ang mukha ni Xan. Pilit nitong binabalikan ang pangyayari at kinikilala kung sino ang taong kalaban nila kanina.
May katangkaran siya katumbas ng tangkad ni Lance. Halata sa kaniyang pangangatawan na nag-eensayo ito. Ang mga mata niya, hindi malaman ni Xan kung kanino ang mga ito. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas ay bumukas uli ang pinto.
"Lance? What are you doing here?" tanong ni Xan. Tinignan ni Lance ang kabuuan ng kalagayan ng binata bago nagsalita. "I heard about what happened. Where is Alex?" tanong nito at may kung anong nakakatakot na enerhiyang binubuga ang aura ni Lance. "I don't know. When the men came, they searched but found no signs of him," pagpapaliwanag niya. Isa lamang ang nasa isip ngayon ni Lance, maaaring kinuha nila si Alex. Napakuyom ang kaniyang kamao. Ramdam ni Xan ang tindi nito. "Why Lance? What's wrong?" tanong nito. Nagbabakasakali na may malaman siyang impormasyon sa kung sino man ang umatake sa kanila.
Hindi sumagot ang binata at tinungo ang pintuan. "Wait! Where are you going? And where is Ace?" sigaw nito ngunit hindi lumingon ang binata at tuluyan na ngang nakalabas mula sa silid. Pilit inaanalisa ni Xan ang mga pangyayari at mayroon siyang nabuong hakahaka. Kung tama ang hinala niya, baka doon patungo si Lance.
***
The Night Queen
by jrhabellie