Chapter 3

It’s already 8 o'clock in the morning when I went to my Father’s office and talked about last night. Sa sobrang pagod ko kagabi ay nakatulog na ako sa sasakyan pauwi and when I woke up, I’m at my room already. Hindi maipinta ang mukha ko nang lumabas sa office ni dad. Paano ba naman kasi, he declined my proposal!

*****

“What brings you here early in the morning?” He coldly asked as I enter his office. He’s currently drinking his coffee.

“I have a proposal. I just gathered an important information regarding the incident last night and I won’t tell it to you unless you give me permission to be part of this mission,” I confidently offered that made him stop from drinking.

“You don’t know how to give up, right? How many times do I have to tell you, an A-rank includes killing, can you do that?” he asked, challenging me.

“But we can came up with a plan that won’t make us kill,” I insist.

“Then tell me what’s that plan.” He crossed his arms while waiting for my answer.

“I haven’t thought about it yet,” I said while looking down.

“Then why are you still standing there?” he coldly ask and I already know what it means. Hindi ako gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko at nanatili lang na nakayuko sa harapan niya.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. You can now leave,” ma-otoridad niyang saad pero hindi pa rin ako umaalis doon.

“Fevianna.”

“Tell me!” I raised my voice that surprises my Dad.

“Tell me what will I do for you to acknowledge me also,” nakayuko ko pa ring saad, “to be proud at me,” mahinang sambit ko.

Nang tingnan ko siya ay wala pa rin itong emosyon. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin at hinihintay kung may susunod pa ba akong sasabihin.

“Nevermind. Just forget what I said,” nagmamadali kong saad at padabog na lumabas doon.

*****

“You look pissed,” my little sister Fionna appeared in front of me. sa sobrang inis ko, hindi ko na napansin ang presensya niya.

“Let me guess, you failed again from your previous mission? As always,” she slightly laughed, teasing me.

“If you’re planning to make fun of me, I will not give you the satisfaction,” I said with poker face.

“Why would I do that? I should be comforting you, you’re my dearest big sister,” she sarcastically said and rubbed my shoulder as if she’s really comforting me.

I faked a smile, “I’m fine by myself. I don’t need your comfort, my dearest little sister,” I said then left.

This is the usual us. No bonds at all. We’re living at the same roof but we treat each other like rival. We’re family but we’re not, that’s the very first thing our father taught us the time we stepped in this house.

What to expect? We didn’t live together when we were a child. I was raised by my Grandmother in my Mother’s side (Dad’s first wife who passed away the moment she gave birth to me). Fionna and our youngest Fellin, were raised by their Mother (which is my Father’s second wife who also passed away last year because of disease) far away from this place. So basically, we met each other when we were fifteen, our debut for being official assassins. Though our family, butlers and higher officials are the only persons who have knowledge about our true identity.

Our youngest is the one who’s really hard to deal with. She’s not into socializing. Among the three of us, she suffers more in training that made it lost her emotions. Their mom pressured her because she wants Fellin to be the heiress of Lauriel Family. Frankly, their Mother trusts Fellin more than Fionna. While I’m just chillin’ with my Grandmother who really not pressured me, in fact, she’s spoiling me that’s why my Dad only sees me as a child who tantrums whenever I didn’t get what I want. Speaking of my Grandmother, I already missed her. I haven’t seen her since I moved to this house, it’s been 7 years.

I was busy mesmerizing when one of our butler knocked at my room. “Lady Fev, your father wants to talk with you.”

“We have nothing more to talk about,” I frankly said while lying on my bed.

“He has something important to tell you,” he insisted.

“What’s more important than approving my proposal?” I sarcastically said rolling my eyes even though he can’t see it.

“Your father wants to reconsider, he’s now taking you as part of this A-rank mission,” he said that made me immediately jumped out of my bed.

“Where is he?” I asked as I open the door.

“He’s currently discussing things with Gin in his office and he wants to ask you some information according the incident last night,” he formally said.

I immediately get there without a word, pero pagpasok ay hindi ko inaasahan ang nadatnan ko.

“What are you doing here?” I surprisingly asked. My two sisters are sitting at the couch, drinking tea in front of our Father.

“Lady Fev, kanina ka pa hinihintay ng Daddy mo,” Gin’s standing behind the couch facing my Father. Since nakatalikod si Dad ay hindi na rin siya nag-abalang tumingin pa sa akin. I faked a cough.

“You’re such a pa-v.i.p. person,” Fionna uttered and rolled her eyes. Tahimik lang na nakatingin ng diretso si Fellin sa mga papel na nasa lamesa, didn’t even bothered at my presence.

“Sit down, Fev,” my Father commanded. Umupo ako sa couch.

“Tell me all you know about those guys, their movement, anything you observed from them,” saad nito pagka-upo ko nang hindi pa rin tumitingin sa akin.

“As we arrived at the hotel, I haven’t noticed their presence. Hindi ko pa malalaman na ni-lolocate na nila ako kung hindi pa ako tinawagan ni Gin,” I started.

“Baka you’re not paying attention to your target kasi. No wonder hindi ka pinagkakatiwalaan sa mas mataas na missions,” sumbat ng pakialamera kong kapatid.

“Fion.” nagbabantang saad ni Dad na nagpatigil kay Fion. Ngumisi lang ako nang hindi sila tinitingnan. “Continue,” muling saad niya.

Tahimik lang na nakatayo sa gilid si Gin, pati si Fellin ay napunta na rin ang antensyon sa sasabihin ko.

“Minutes later, a man wearing a black suit appeared right in front of me. He talks just like he knew you, and he was expecting me to be there,” I saw my Father’s curiosity as I said those words.

“Do you have an idea who’s he?” he asked.

“Yes, I think I’ve seen him before. But one thing is for sure, there’s a traitor among our butlers,” I stated that surprised my sisters and Gin.

“How could you accuse so easily? Do you have a solid evidence to support your claim?” Fion contradicts me. Inirapan ko lang siya at tinuloy ang pagkukwento.

“I have basis. Only the higher officials knew our true identity outside our house. I doubt that the person I encountered last night is a politician. I can say that he once worked as one of our butlers,” I added.

“How can you say so? Maraming nagkalat na assassin sa mundo, don’t just conclude nonsense things,” she also added.

“Then how come he knew our Dad?” I debated and she can’t find any answers anymore.

“That’s possible,” our Dad said that caught our attention, “If I’m not mistaken, someone’s carrying the Verlian’s will,” dagdag nito na nagpasalubong ng kilay ko.

“Verlian’s will?” Fellin asked. Nakita ko ang interesadong mga mata nito. Bigla niya na lang itinabi ang binabasa kanina at ngayon ay tutok na sa usapan.

“Verlian family was the number one famous assassin many years ago. They want all assassins to unite but my father opposed to. And because of that, they became our family’s rival,” Biglang naging seryoso ang emosyon nito. “A huge mistake happened that result our family to turn upside down. The dispute between Verlian and Lauriel was done and we won. But I wasn’t expecting that there’s a survivor of Verlian clan.” Mariin niyang isinara ang kamao at mahahalata sa itsura nito ang galit.

“So what are you planning to do” I asked.

“That’s why I need your strength. Gin told me how powerful those guys are, they are no doubt, an assassin and probably working with Verlian,” he explained.

“And?” I asked.

“And you sisters will be having a collaboration for this mission,” he added that surprised us.

“What? Me and my sisters? A collaboration? Are you out of your mind, Dad?!” Fion stood up, complaining. That’s the very first time I agreed to her, there’s no way we, sisters, can work together.

Nasanay kami sa individual missions. But unlike me, my sisters are already capable of taking part of an A-rank.

“I can’t imagine working with them also,” I seconded.

“Are you opposing me?” our Dad asked that intimidate us.

“I won’t let you work together if not necessary. The way you treat each other, I’m fully aware that you’re not comfortable with each other. But this is a mission, our personal feelings are not involve. Set that aside first for the meantime because you’ll be having teamwork and I need your full cooperation.” he explained.

“Is there any more complaints?” tanong niya pero hindi na namin magawa pang magreklamo ni Fion.

“I’m in,” Fellin said and we all looked at her.

“Are you serious, Fellin? As far as I can remember, you hate teamwork because they’re just a nuisance to you,” Fion once again asked.

“But the fact that we will all work together, this really is not just an ordinary A-rank. That means, we need to act as one and use each other’s abilities. Am I right?” she explained that made me realized things.

That’s right. Fion is the fastest among us three, she can knock down her opponent in seconds. Fellin is smart, she can predict any possible scenarios and always have a back-up plan. While I’m good at sensing human presence and also concealing mine. Since our opponent is not just an ordinary person, our teamwork would be a big help for this mission.

“Then it’s settled.” Our dad stood up.

“The first collaboration of elite sisters. I’m expecting you three to finish this as soon as possible,” he said with authority. Tumalikod siya sa amin at naglakad palapit sa pintuan, pero bago pa siya lumabas ay may iniwan pa siyang salita na nagpalunok sa akin. “Failing a mission should not be tolerated.” He then looked at me before leaving.