"Welcome back, dude!" salubong na bati ng pinsan kong si Elliot nang pumasok ako sa kanilang bakuran sakay ng aking motor. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakababa ay kinabig niya ako at niyakap. "Hey!" saway ko sa kanya. "Can you let me get down first?" natatawa kong wika sa kanya. I park my bike on the usual spot kapag nandito ako sa bahay nila Tita Erina. Milagro walang Sabino na umeksena. "This is for you!" Dinamba ko nang bahagya sa dibdib niya ang dala kong wine na nasa loob ng wine carrier. I brought him the wine that I tasted a couple of days ago. The wine is produced by Sanctuario de Atlas winery. "Wow! Pasalubong. You miss me that much?" wika nito na kinuha ang wine. Ngumisi pa itong nanunudyo at may kasamang kindat. "Huwag mo 'kong inisin. Inis na ako kanina pa," saad ko at nagpatiunang tunguhin ang kanilang pintuan. "Why?" "May sumusunod sa 'kin." Pasalampak akong naupo sa couch nang marating namin ang sala. "Who?" "Grandpa sent three of his men with me," I answered vex
The year 2013, two years after I finally decided to assume my grandpa's position as a leader of Les paragones de l'éternité or The Paragons of Eternity. I'm now in Manila to meet Lev Petrov. The guy I met two years ago, asked me to join the group he was planning to create. I have no idea what group it is but I accepted his invitation. "Boss, are you sure of this? I mean, you told me that Petrov said that there are other people he invited for this meeting? How can you be so sure that you are safe with them?" tanong ni Ichiro na nasa upuan kaharap ko dito sa loob ng sasakyan.Maliban kay Grandpa, si Ichiro lang ang napagsabihan ko tungkol sa imbitasyon noon ni Lev Petrov. Hindi ko ito sinabi sa pinsan kong si Elliot dahil alam kong hindi ito papayag at baka iparating na naman kay Tita Erina. Even Dad knows nothing about it. For what, anyway? He doesn't care about me. Baka nga hindi niya pa rin alam that I already killed a few who defy the law of the cult. Yeah, it's a cult! Legit! Even
Napatigil ako sa paglalakad sabay marahas na napalingon at nakaambang suntukin ang sinumang sumuntok sa aking balikat pero mukha ni Elliot ang sumalubong sa akin. "Ba-"Halos magkasabay naming bigkas pero napatigil at nagsukatan ng tingin. "You first!" utos niya sa akin. "You!" ganting tugon ko sa kanya. "Dax!" "Okay, fine!"I told Ichiro to wait for me outside and asked my cousin to have coffee at the cafe located outside the building, facing the parking area. "Why are you here? I mean, what makes you join the group?" I asked him while we were waiting for our coffee. "How about you? Is it to take revenge? Do you think it is necessary?" Elliot sounds unhappy with my decision to join the group of Lev Petrov. "So, you mean, you have the right to join but I don't have? That. . .that your decision is necessary but mine is not?" Gigil kong tugon sa kanya."Look, Dax! Don't get me wrong. You're still young and-""And also, you! We are just two years apart. Stop telling me that you m
Two years later, I continued being a leader of the cult while digging all the information that would lead to the person who took my mom's life. "Monsieur Atlas, Pablo is here," bungad ni Ichiro pagpasok nito sa silid na nagsisilbing opisina ko. Ito rin ang silid na ginamit ni Grandpa noong siya pa ang namumuno ng organisasyon. "Let him in!" tugon ko. Napasandal ako sa upuan habang hinihintay si Pablo. Si Pablo ay isa sa pinagkakatiwalaan kong tauhan ng organisasyon. Grandpa recommended him to me when I asked him to give me people I could trust inside the organization. "Bonne Soirée, Monsieur Atlas!" bati ni Pablo sabay lapag ng brown envelope sa mesa. Walang tugon kong dinampot ang envelope at binuksan. My jaw tightened as I gnashed my teeth when I read what was stated inside. It's the list of people who were suspected to be the accomplices of those who are behind my mom's assassination. Pabagsak kong nilapag ang envelope at padaskol na tumayo. "Pablo, send all the data and info
The next day, Pablo came to report again. He found the whereabouts of one of the people involved in my mom's death a decade ago. "I want you to continue getting information about these people as fast as you can, Pablo." "Oui, Monsieur!" Agad kong nilagok ang alak na nasa hawak kong kopita. Lalong nagpasidhi sa pagnanasa kong mahuli ang mga responsable sa pagkamatay ni Mommy ang init at pait ng alak na humahagod sa aking lalamunan. "You can leave, Pablo." "Yes, boss!" Yumukod si Pablo bago tuluyang umalis. Itinuon ko ang tingin sa harap ng laptop at muling inisa-isang sinuyod ng tingin ang mga nakasulat doon. Mga impormasyong magtuturo sa akin sa kung sino ang mga salarin kung bakit maaga akong naulila sa ina at umani ng pangungundena ng aking ama hanggang sa kasalukuyan. But, I don't think he will change his treatment toward me if I manage to avenge my mom's death. Sagad hanggang buto na yata ang galit niya sa akin at ni minsan, hindi ko naalalang itinuring niya akong anak. I h
6.45 P.M.I arrived with my men fifteen minutes earlier at a place where the leader of the Italian group wanted to meet me. I fixed my tie before I got out of the car. Nanatili muna akong nakatayo ng ilang saglit at marahang pinasadahan ang paligid. “Ichiro, follow me. The rest, stay here as lookout,” utos ko sa mga kasama kong tauhan. Alam kong may mga miyembro ang organisasyon na nakabase dito sa Italya at alam kong inalerto na sila ni lolo pero hindi pa rin ako maaaring pakampante. Kahit pa alam kong kilala ang lider nitong grupong kikitain ko, inalam ko pa rin kung anong klaseng tao siya. Ito ang una naming paghaharap at wala pa akong ideya kung ano ang magiging kahihinatnan ng paghaharap namin ngayon. I took a breath in and out before I started to step inside the building. It’s a five star hotel which is controlled by the person I’m going to meet. He is clever. He knows the assignment. Well, he is a known leader underground, what should I expect? According to Ichiro, he became
2011"Wala kang kwentang anak! Wala ka ng magandang naidulot sa pamilyang ito kundi puro kamalasan!""Ikaw ang malas! Hindi mo lang matanggap na wala kang kwentang ama kaya you found me as a scapegoat. You're a loser, Adam Walker!"You son of a bitch! You got the balls to disrespect me!" "At least I have balls, devil! Unlike you, you don't have the balls to admit that you're a loser, dimwit!"This is where my conversation with my dad always goes. He was blaming me for my mother's death. I know he loves my mom that much, so do I. But is it my fault? My mom took her body to dodge the bullet that was meant for me when I was a kid. I was kidnapped with my twin sister Devon by people I don't know. Until now I couldn't figure out why things went wrong. "Dad, Kuya, please stop! Lagi na lang kayong nag-aaway. Wala na bang katahimikan sa bahay na 'to sa tuwing nagtatagpo ang mga landas niyo? Para kayong mga bata," my twin sister said suddenly. Hindi ko namalayang nandoon pala siya. Nakatangh
After meeting Elliot, I came home trying to talk to my twin sister as I know she was upset to witness my argument with our father. She is not home so I chose to stay here in my room before my dad will come out and we will end up in a fracas again. My bed is comfy and invites me to have a rest but my dad's voice is echoing in my mind. I looked up at the ceiling thinking that I can find an answer to my confused mind. I don't know what to decide, whether to listen to my dad or just let it go. When I contacted Elliot for help, he didn't agree with it. What I mean is, he was shocked about the cult. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi magugulat? Sino ang mag-aakalang gano'n ang trabaho ng lolo ko? I don't know either if it is true or not. Basta narinig ko lang minsang nagtatalo sina mommy at daddy noon bago pa man kami na-kidnap at namatay si mommy. I had a chance then to asked mom but she told me to shut my mouth that is why no one knows, even Devon and only this time that I told my cousin about
6.45 P.M.I arrived with my men fifteen minutes earlier at a place where the leader of the Italian group wanted to meet me. I fixed my tie before I got out of the car. Nanatili muna akong nakatayo ng ilang saglit at marahang pinasadahan ang paligid. “Ichiro, follow me. The rest, stay here as lookout,” utos ko sa mga kasama kong tauhan. Alam kong may mga miyembro ang organisasyon na nakabase dito sa Italya at alam kong inalerto na sila ni lolo pero hindi pa rin ako maaaring pakampante. Kahit pa alam kong kilala ang lider nitong grupong kikitain ko, inalam ko pa rin kung anong klaseng tao siya. Ito ang una naming paghaharap at wala pa akong ideya kung ano ang magiging kahihinatnan ng paghaharap namin ngayon. I took a breath in and out before I started to step inside the building. It’s a five star hotel which is controlled by the person I’m going to meet. He is clever. He knows the assignment. Well, he is a known leader underground, what should I expect? According to Ichiro, he became
The next day, Pablo came to report again. He found the whereabouts of one of the people involved in my mom's death a decade ago. "I want you to continue getting information about these people as fast as you can, Pablo." "Oui, Monsieur!" Agad kong nilagok ang alak na nasa hawak kong kopita. Lalong nagpasidhi sa pagnanasa kong mahuli ang mga responsable sa pagkamatay ni Mommy ang init at pait ng alak na humahagod sa aking lalamunan. "You can leave, Pablo." "Yes, boss!" Yumukod si Pablo bago tuluyang umalis. Itinuon ko ang tingin sa harap ng laptop at muling inisa-isang sinuyod ng tingin ang mga nakasulat doon. Mga impormasyong magtuturo sa akin sa kung sino ang mga salarin kung bakit maaga akong naulila sa ina at umani ng pangungundena ng aking ama hanggang sa kasalukuyan. But, I don't think he will change his treatment toward me if I manage to avenge my mom's death. Sagad hanggang buto na yata ang galit niya sa akin at ni minsan, hindi ko naalalang itinuring niya akong anak. I h
Two years later, I continued being a leader of the cult while digging all the information that would lead to the person who took my mom's life. "Monsieur Atlas, Pablo is here," bungad ni Ichiro pagpasok nito sa silid na nagsisilbing opisina ko. Ito rin ang silid na ginamit ni Grandpa noong siya pa ang namumuno ng organisasyon. "Let him in!" tugon ko. Napasandal ako sa upuan habang hinihintay si Pablo. Si Pablo ay isa sa pinagkakatiwalaan kong tauhan ng organisasyon. Grandpa recommended him to me when I asked him to give me people I could trust inside the organization. "Bonne Soirée, Monsieur Atlas!" bati ni Pablo sabay lapag ng brown envelope sa mesa. Walang tugon kong dinampot ang envelope at binuksan. My jaw tightened as I gnashed my teeth when I read what was stated inside. It's the list of people who were suspected to be the accomplices of those who are behind my mom's assassination. Pabagsak kong nilapag ang envelope at padaskol na tumayo. "Pablo, send all the data and info
Napatigil ako sa paglalakad sabay marahas na napalingon at nakaambang suntukin ang sinumang sumuntok sa aking balikat pero mukha ni Elliot ang sumalubong sa akin. "Ba-"Halos magkasabay naming bigkas pero napatigil at nagsukatan ng tingin. "You first!" utos niya sa akin. "You!" ganting tugon ko sa kanya. "Dax!" "Okay, fine!"I told Ichiro to wait for me outside and asked my cousin to have coffee at the cafe located outside the building, facing the parking area. "Why are you here? I mean, what makes you join the group?" I asked him while we were waiting for our coffee. "How about you? Is it to take revenge? Do you think it is necessary?" Elliot sounds unhappy with my decision to join the group of Lev Petrov. "So, you mean, you have the right to join but I don't have? That. . .that your decision is necessary but mine is not?" Gigil kong tugon sa kanya."Look, Dax! Don't get me wrong. You're still young and-""And also, you! We are just two years apart. Stop telling me that you m
The year 2013, two years after I finally decided to assume my grandpa's position as a leader of Les paragones de l'éternité or The Paragons of Eternity. I'm now in Manila to meet Lev Petrov. The guy I met two years ago, asked me to join the group he was planning to create. I have no idea what group it is but I accepted his invitation. "Boss, are you sure of this? I mean, you told me that Petrov said that there are other people he invited for this meeting? How can you be so sure that you are safe with them?" tanong ni Ichiro na nasa upuan kaharap ko dito sa loob ng sasakyan.Maliban kay Grandpa, si Ichiro lang ang napagsabihan ko tungkol sa imbitasyon noon ni Lev Petrov. Hindi ko ito sinabi sa pinsan kong si Elliot dahil alam kong hindi ito papayag at baka iparating na naman kay Tita Erina. Even Dad knows nothing about it. For what, anyway? He doesn't care about me. Baka nga hindi niya pa rin alam that I already killed a few who defy the law of the cult. Yeah, it's a cult! Legit! Even
"Welcome back, dude!" salubong na bati ng pinsan kong si Elliot nang pumasok ako sa kanilang bakuran sakay ng aking motor. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakababa ay kinabig niya ako at niyakap. "Hey!" saway ko sa kanya. "Can you let me get down first?" natatawa kong wika sa kanya. I park my bike on the usual spot kapag nandito ako sa bahay nila Tita Erina. Milagro walang Sabino na umeksena. "This is for you!" Dinamba ko nang bahagya sa dibdib niya ang dala kong wine na nasa loob ng wine carrier. I brought him the wine that I tasted a couple of days ago. The wine is produced by Sanctuario de Atlas winery. "Wow! Pasalubong. You miss me that much?" wika nito na kinuha ang wine. Ngumisi pa itong nanunudyo at may kasamang kindat. "Huwag mo 'kong inisin. Inis na ako kanina pa," saad ko at nagpatiunang tunguhin ang kanilang pintuan. "Why?" "May sumusunod sa 'kin." Pasalampak akong naupo sa couch nang marating namin ang sala. "Who?" "Grandpa sent three of his men with me," I answered vex
"Do I have to say it again?" Ichiro said in sarcasm with his brow raised to tease me. "Don't tell me you're going to go with me to the Philippines?" "Why not? Wouldn't you like me to go with you?" he asked in return. "Just imagine, in this building, there are people who are secretly unhappy because of your arrival. What if they were the people that your grandpa happened to choose to accompany you to go back home? Do you think you will be safe?" Hindi ako nakaimik. Ichiro has a point. I don't fully trust him but been with him during training and I can say that he is loyal to my grandpa. He can't betray him easily by hurting me in case. Besides, he is not interested in leading the group so he was surely not going to kill me to remove me as Grandpa's successor. "How can I be so sure that I'll be safe with you?" Ichiro laughed maniacally. Para itong baliw na basta na lang tumawa kahit hindi naman nakakatawa ang tanong ko. "It's not funny, Ichiro! I'm asking you seriously because I d
"Atlas!"I was heading to my room when someone called me. I halted in the middle of the hallway, took a deep breath, and put on a stoic expression before I turned around to face him. It was Grandpa. I don't know what he wants again. I stood there. Didn't bother to welcome or greet him. I just waited for him as he walked sluggishly closer to my spot. "When are you leaving?" he asked as he continued walking. His voice is low but echoing in the hallway. I am not surprised if he found out about it. I know it was Ichiro who told him. I didn't ask his permission to go home because I knew, he would just do everything to change my mind. "So, you already know?" I scoff.He chuckled. His hand is busy with his stick drawing an invisible line on the carpeted floor while looking down at it. "Do you think, there is some secret that won't be able to reach my knowledge?" He lifted his head and looked at me. I met his gaze confidently and intensely. Ever since I have been here. I didn't get inti
"Kaito!"Out of my unfathomable anger and frustration, my voice boomed and reverberated all over the place when I called his name.He stopped and gently stood while calmly meeting my intense gaze like he didn't care what angered me. "Is there any problem, Monsieur Atlas?" he asked and smiled thinly. Lalong uminit ang ulo ko nang ngumiti siya. Kulang na lang ang bumuga ako ng apoy na parang dragon sa sobrang inis sa kanya. "Will you stop smiling and tell me directly what we're going to do here?" I asked impatiently. I don't care if he is older than me. I am extremely mad at him for ignoring my query. "Meditation," he answered, shortly. "For what?" angil ko sa kanya. "To help you contemplate and will be able to come up with a right decision. You know what I'm talking about, right?" "I'm not dumb not to understand. What I don't understand is that I've been asking you a couple of times but you didn't answer me directly. Is this part of the rules here?" "Watashi no warui, musshuato