CHAPTER 46-3-IN THE sunny morning, a three-hectare field filled with grains waving as the wind hits. As well as, barn containing a farm animals such as chickens and pigs. The cows and horses are already outside in an inclinded grass field, dipping their heads on the greens as they eat. And that is on the north. Whilst on the south, is where a two-storey wooden house sitting, and two old couple is living, with their known son, Kage Cortes."Kag, sinabihan na kitang bata ka, hindi na nila tayo pahihiramin ulit. Ang taas-taas na ng utang natin sa kanila, dyosko!" the old woman ran after her son na tinawag niyang Kag.Kage is already 21 years old. And the woman who called is already in her 60s. With her braided hair and face full of wrinkles, she still has this lovely face of an old lady. She is wearing an apron, probably just got out from the kitchen after baking a peach pie. She figured out that his son is about to go out to the market again where he could borrow six sacks of pig feed
CHAPTER 47-3-"MATANONG KO lang, saan itong site na sinasabi n'yo na isinasailalim sa imbestigasyon? Ano yun?" Puferto asked the two men.They are now having their dinner sa bilog na dining table pagkatapos dumating ng dalawang lalaki mga isang oras na ang nakalilipas. Katulad ng sinabi nila, dala-dala nila ang mga iba't ibang kagamitan katulad ng mga personal na gamit at ibang kagamitan kaugnay sa pagmimina.Sumubo pa muna ng isang punong kutsarang pagkain bago sinagot ni Marco, the one with army cut, ang tanong ng matanda. "Barangay Tudlan yata ang tawag doon." maikling sagot niya habang nginunguya ang karneng baboy saka uminom ng tubig."Baka Sudlan ang ibig mong sabihin." sabat ni Teresa."Ah, opo, iyan nga. Barangay Sudlan. Maganda daw ang lupain sa lugar na iyon kaya doon ang una naming naisipang magsagawa ng imbestigasyon." Sagot muli ni Marco kasabay ng kaniyang napakainosenteng mukha."Aba'y malapit lang pala dito, isang sakayan lang ng jeep. Pwede nga rin lakarin kung dito
CHAPTER 48-3-TWO KNIVES stuck in the chest. His blood has dried up around him. His eyes were wide open looking straight up to the sky. His legs were broken and weirdly position in 'L' form. That was the scene before the police investigators could finish examining the area and covered the lifeless body of an Indian collector with tarpaulin.Kage Cortes keenly observed everything before he started feeling a painful pinch striking to the side of his head."Ugh!" It was an abrupt and almost unbearable pain kaya naman mabilis siyang nanghina at natumba. Napapikit siya dahil dito and wrinkles appeared on his face as he squeezes it. Buti nalang at nasa gilid siya kung saan may dingding kaya nakasandal siya dito. Kage hastily used his both hands to push his head trying to hold the pain. But the more he think of the pain, the more it gets painful."Ughh!" He groaned again with a low voice and he continued crumpling to the side. Even though there are a lot of people around him, no one notic
CHAPTER 49-3-EVERYTHING HAPPENED was so sudden and all rush. All Kage could ever imagine is that he was just standing there doing nothing where everyone considered him as nobody - someone who never get the attention of anyone. But in a snap of a finger, he become the center of the spotlight where everyone credited him as the savior of the day. Though exaggerated, everyone called his action as the rise of human rights.As of for Lou Yin, he could not believe what he just witnessed with his two eyes. One minute, he was just there to the side enduring such strange pain and stood up where he suddenly acted paranoid. And now, everything made sense to him. Kage was not acting paranoid, he actually was studying the case. Graciously for his sake, Kage saved his father from getting into jail. And if there is someone who won the happiest man award on that time, it was him and, of course, his father.The latter could not believe what just Kage did to him either. The young man who he wishe
CHAPTER 50-3-"SO WHERE should we start?" The best detective in town, Rudolf Magindugon, very compose as he stood in front of shivering Teresa with Puferto beside her. In a gloomy interrogation room is where the police took the two old couple at tanging mesa ang pagitan nila. "Let me inform you about the complaint first... not just one... apat na residente ng inyong barangay ay nagpasa ng complaint about the Corteses kidnapping this young man. You can say that your neighbors are terrified now with what you did... as you can see, this really cause an alarming matter in once a peaceful town, Saka." he then started.Teresa looked at the detective's eyes with a distress expression; honestly if looks are not defined as deceiving. "Detective, maniwala kayo... wala kaming masamang ginagawa, kung sino mang nagreklamo ay nagsasabi po sila ng kasinungalingan." The detective could sense how frightening the situation are for them two. "Kaya nga po kayo pinatawag dito... l we want to hear your
CHAPTER 51KAGE CORTESWHAT'S RUNNING in my head right now is why that situation needed to happen. Bakit pa kailangang masunog ang mga sakahan naming ilang taon naming pinaghirapang palakihin. Ilang pera at utang ang nasayang dahil dito. I constantly blamed myself sa pagsaway sa utos ng aking mga magulang na dumito lang sa bahay.I agree to what the police said that this is not an accident. This is arson! At dapat mapanagot kung sino man ang gumawa nito sa amin. And I know for sure na ang mga taong nakapalibot lang sa amin ang may gawa nito. I should do something. Somehow, kasalanan ko naman rin ito.For the past days, maraming nangyari. Marami akong narinig at nakakapagpabagabag sa aking isipan. Ewan ko. Sabi nila, I was not the type of person na mahilig magtanong-tanong sa mga maliliit na detalye. Nagbago raw lahat nung pag-uwi ko galing sa ospital.Honestly, I could not remember kung bakit ako naospital three years ago. Ang sabi sa akin ng mga magulang ko ay nadisgrasya raw ako
CHAPTER 52-3-"MAY NAKAAWAY ba kayong hindi taga-rito? For us to know if may possibility na outsider ang gumawa nito sa inyo."It's already 11 in the morning when the Police-Detective, Rudolf Magindugon, went back to the Corteses to ask some details that would help the case. They were talking just in front of their house. The police- detective was holding a small notebook and pen to take some notes."Mayroong naging competitor dati, pero hindi naman namin masasabi na aabot sila sa ganitong punto." sagot ni Puferto. Siya ang mas nakakaalam nito kasi siya palagi yung lumalabas sa probinsiya para sa pag-import at export."During our investigation outside, we could reconsider na ito pala ay isang aksidente. May nakita kaming empty lamp sa tabi ng kulungan n'yo ng mga hayop. Baka ito ang pinagmulan ng sunog. However, still, we are convinced na ito ay sinadya. Either way, we will find more evidence to support which is which." The detective stated. The couple slightly glanced at each othe
CHAPTER 53-3-THE CORTES' family were satisfied about the arson case. It was Pedring's wife who caused it. They're also felt relieved that Kage did not hear what Huling had revealed. On the other hand, nakaramdam sila ng guilt at pagkakalungkot para sa pamilya ni Pedring."We've found gold!"Going back when Marco and Augustus told their little secret to Jack, the latter upon hearing that, couldn't help but to widen his eyes. Those eyes were already huge but it expanded into half of it's original size.Seeing that huge eyes, Augustus can feel the satisfaction. Those were the eyes of a trigger points."Marco, what have you done? Hindi mo pweding basta-basta sabihin iyan sa kaniya. He will tell everyone."With an ironic smile, Marco winked at him before he face the old man again. He even slightly bent his hip forward to level his head to him. Then, slowly, moved his wrinkly face onto Jack until it got three inches away."It's okay... manong Jack won't tell anyone about this, anyway. Man
EPILOGUELEIGHTON WAJEEHCHANGE REALLY is the only thing that remains constant in this world. Even though how tough the world throws at you, let's just all remember that everything will change. From tough, everything will be just alright. From sorrow, it will turn into joy. From cry to laughter.And from worst, chaotic, and messy situation changed into peaceful and back to the usual one. "Leigh, let's go." I am in front of the mirror, fixing the collar of my jacket when I heard a voice in front of the door of my bedroom. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at ginawaran siya ng napakatamis na ngiti. "How do I look, mom?" I asked her. That's my mom right there. The one and only Sabrina Estrella-Hedalgo."Good as always, anak." sabi niya matapos niyang tingnan ang kabuuan ko. I just responded with chuckle while walking closer to her. Inakbayan ko na lamang si mommy at saka pumunta na lamang kami sa labas para mag-abang ng masasakyan. It's been a year since the worst scenario ended. That night,
CHAPTER 64-3-"WAIT, I think I can deactivate the nano virus."Done with some manipulations, the VB has already dominated the entire system. It wasn't tracked down since it has the same identity as nano virus, but still loyal to its purpose, to stop the spreading.But somehow, with the same identity as the nano virus, Yuna found an opportunity to take advantage of it so that it can deactivate the nano virus. And that is by letting those nano virus copy what the VB orders.To illustrate this, since the VB has a form of a nano virus, the nano virus will think it as the same as them, so it might somehow follow what it does. Hence, if the VB self-destruct, the nano virus might follow its destruction that would surely stop the nano manipulation in human brain. In a nutshell, Yuna can control the nano virus, can even deactivate them.But that is just theoretical. It is not a hundred percent sure that those nano virus would follow."It is... quite sacrificial. If this fails, we don't have o
CHAPTER 63-3-"Alright, we're in!"YUNA'S FACE brightened when suddenly, a green circle pops out from her Cabinet's hologram. That small green circle scatters around the entire screen until a couple of word appeared.'Stealing Access...'After that, a series of dots moves below those words, an indication that the software is trying to do its job to have a complete access.Just like her, Leighton's face was painted with a curve on his lips. It was burst with an excitement and a taste of victory, especially when the loading succeed.The first couple of word vanished and it was replaced by another two words.'Access Complete!'Yuna was fetched by black screen with different codes running upward through her screen. She then manipulated a few touches and later a grid of different areas shows. Those are the access of the base's surveillance cameras. Such as the lobbies, operating rooms, and other protected areas. "Phase one is done, I just hope the rest will go well."Yuna swiped that scr
CHAPTER 62DOSNAPATITIG MUNA ako sa babae matapos niyang sabihin iyon. She showed us two green flash drives that I couldn't distinguish what type of flash drives these are. "Well, you don't have any choice but to trust me." I just answered her. I knew it's really surprising that I suddenly changed my course. They knew me as one of Blaze's right hands---or, should I say, minions. Yeah, minions. Noong oras na kinalaban ko ang lalaking si Ashley sa Questas Forest---ang gabi kung saan muntik ko nang mapatay sina Yuna at Harry, Ashley spared my life. I was struggling that night and when I acted to run away from him, he just let me. Hindi niya ako hinabol para patayin. And the next thing I saw was Blaze just easily shot Khora. I was so shocked that time. Khora was important to me because we've been friends and partners-in-crime ever since. And starting that night, I just realized one thing. Napagtanto ko na maybe, he didn't really considered us family. And time comes, gagawin niya rin
CHAPTER 61THIRD PERSONEONKIE, as what Eun-ji stated, is a group of four assassins. But people, who have known that name around Asia, thought that it is a name for a single heartless and frightful assassin roaming around the continent to hunt its prey.They called them heartless and frightful assassins because they believe EONKIE targets random people in a gruesome way. As their signature, they always cut the victim's manhood and hang around near its dead body.Nikolina Eun-ji Kim of South Korea, the knight of EONKIE and sword is her technical expertise. Kiera Lee of Japan, the crowd control specialized in lashing a whip.Lice Nekath Zy of Thailand, the marksman of the group trained to master shurikens, a weapon in the form of a star with projecting four blades.And the pride of China, Oharra Zen Gu, known as the dasher for her excellence skill in manipulating dual blades.Together, they made EONKIE.It was horrifying to all men thinking that someday EONKIE will also come to them an
CHAPTER 60LEIGHTON WAJEEEH'That school... that LSA really did this!''Sila ang nasa likod ng mass suicide kanina. Kailangan mong iwasan ang tinatawag nilang eye piece.''Join our saint, join our saint...''Another Leonard's family! Sahara Kim and Nikolina Eun-ji Kim-Villaluz!'I REPEATEDLY shook my head because of the voices and scenes that keeps flashing into my mind. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari. My eyes still close and all I could feel is the softness sheet behind my back.'Wait, you forgot to introduce me! I am also a Villaluz! Also a son of Leonard Villaluz! I am Blaze Villaluz! And I am here to kill all of you!''Leigh is not Leonard's son. He's not a Villaluz. Anak naming siya ni Fred. K-Kaya huwag mo siyang idamay dito...' 'I am Zhavira. S-Sorry, L-Leigh... for everything...''Die!''Leigh, anak. Kapit ka lang nang m-mahigpit.' And the next scene happened went black.Napabalikwas agad ako sa pagkahiga dahil sa mga naalala ko. Sumakit ang ulo ko at napatulala ako sa
CHAPTER 59-3-HINDI ALAM ni Leighton kung ano ang sasabihin niya. He looked daze, yet he responded to Eun-ji's hug. As Eun-ji broke the hug, agad niyang pinahiran ang kaniyang luha and gave him a smile. "Welcome back." she muttered.Pagkatapos ay pumasok na sila sa loob ang isinara ang pintuan. Dim surroundings welcome Leighton's eyes. They did not turn the lights on because they worry that it would catch attention of the Nanos. They just used lamps and candles, enough for them to see the surroundings, their faces.Eun-ji guided Leighton to sit on the couch while Sahara just stood first beside him."Oh, finally, tita Sahara. You're here already---"Mula sa kaniyang kwarto, lumabas si Yuna. Napatigil siya sa kaniyang pagsasalita nung nakita niya ang taong nakaupo sa couch, kaharap ni Eun-ji."L-Leigh?!" she muttered in shock and surprise. Gaya ni Eun-ji, her tears automatically flooded. "Oh, my god..."Agad siyang pumunta sa direksiyon ni Leighton and just like what Eun-ji did, she h
CHAPTER 58SAHARA KIMHONESTLY, I'M glad that my people found him. That they found Leigh. Few years ago we already had given up in finding him, not because we just concluded that he's dead but because it was difficult to do so. The moment Ashley told us that he's alive, I immediately made up my mind to check on him there even though it's really hard to leave Santa Luna. Whenever you went outside your house, those Nanos immediately attack you. Yeah, Nanos---that's what they called them, might as well used that term.Anyway, those Nanos seemed very hungry to kill those normal ones, including us. Their minds have been corrupted and controlled. I know for sure that one day will come that they could dominate the whole place, or worse, the whole world. And that is what we needed to stop. However, I admit that my plan went vague and vague as time passes by.I sometimes left Santa Luna to see Leighton. To see how he is; if he's still doing good. However, every time that I went to where he w
CHAPTER 57-3-Two years ago...SA ISANG lugar na puno ng mga taong nagkakasiyahan ay napalitan ng katahimikan at takot. Mangilan-ngilan na lamang ang lumalabas. "A-Anak..." a woman whimpers. Nakatingin siya sa isang batang lalaki na ngayon ay marahang lumalapit sa kaniya."M-Mom... I d-don't know Jexler is already infected..." the boy suddenly cried. 'Yong mga mata niya ay kahit saan na tumitingin. "Hinipan niya ako bigla sa mata at bigla siyang umalis. M-Mom, h-help me. I d-don't want to be like them."Napaluhod na lamang ang babae. Her hands trembles as she looked at her 13-year old son. Agad na lamang siyang napalapit sa kaniyang anak at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. "I t-told you to just stay in our garden..." she whispered with a sob. Pagkatapos ay sinapo niya ang mukha ng bata. "D-Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright." After that, biglang napahawak sa ulo ang bata at ilang saglit pa, bigla itong napatingin sa kaniyang ina. In just a snap, bigla niyang sinugod ang babae.A