Chapter 6

"Is Ren always that serious?" I asked, breaking the silence in this wrangler with Seiji, Tetsu and Sato. Ren's in the different car. I still don't know where we're going and what's their job for today.

I'm on the passenger's seat with Tetsu. Seiji seems to avoid me and doesn't want to see my face. The same feeling I have for Sato, baka mapatay ko sya rito sa backseat kung sya ang katabi ko.

"You're always asking about Ren. Interesado ka ba sakanya?" Tanong pabalik sa'kin ni Tetsu.

"Edi tanungin din kita tungkol sa sarili mo. Ikaw, ba't ang dami mong piercings sa mukha?"

Tetsu flicked my nose. Napahawak ako sa sakit. "This is art, chick."

"Don't call me chick! Mukha ba akong manok?"

He just chuckled in response. “What about your tattoes? They look sick.”

“Thanks, parte na ng pagkatao ko ‘to.” I casually replied.

Napatingin ako kay Seiji na seryoso lang na nagmamaneho. Masama pa rin ata loob niya. Grabe, dinidibdib niya talaga yung trabaho niya no.

I rested my back to the car seat. Tumingin nalang ako sa labas. Namangha nalang ako sa mga malalaking building na nakikita ko at sa pagiging disiplinado ng mga tao rito sa kalsada. Malinis ang daan at wala masyadong traffic.

I sighed. Ano na kaya ginagawa nila Miles? Nandito pa kaya sila?

The sunlight disappeared when we enter a secluded place. It was a basement parking.

Pagpasok namin sa parking lot, agad kong napansin kung gaano ito katahimik. The morning sun barely reached this part of the building, making the space feel colder than it should be. Kahit may ilan-ilang sasakyan sa gilid, halatang hindi basta-basta ang mga may-ari ng mga 'to. Everything was too organized, too clean—parang hindi ito ordinaryong basement parking.

Tetsu stepped out first, stretching his arms above his head. "Finally," he muttered, voice lazy. "Nagugutom na 'ko."

Sato scoffed, adjusting the sleeves of his coat. "You just ate before we left."

Seiji, as usual, didn't say anything. He just walked over to my side at binuksan ang pinto ko. "Tara na."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ako bumaba. The moment my feet touched the ground, apat na lalaki ang lumitaw mula sa kabilang side ng parking lot. They were massive—well-built, sharp-eyed, and dressed in all black. Halatang hindi lang sila basta bodyguards.

None of the boys reacted. Tetsu was checking his reflection on the car window, Sato was fixing his watch, and Seiji looked like he couldn't care less. Sanay na sila sa ganitong eksena.

Walang pag-aalinlangan na sumunod agad sina Sato at Seiji, walking like this was just another normal morning meeting. Tetsu followed behind them. Ako lang ang nagdalawang-isip bago kumilos.

The four guards escorted us toward an elevator hidden at the far end of the parking lot. Halos hindi ko napansin 'to kanina dahil sa kulay nitong halos sumasabay sa paligid. The moment we stepped inside, one of the guards pressed a button.

Tahimik kaming lahat habang bumababa ang elevator. The only sound was the faint hum of the machinery.

I glanced at the boys again—Sato looked relaxed, Tetsu was checking his phone, and Seiji? He was running a hand through his hair like he had nothing to worry about.

This was just another deal for them.

Pero sa akin, it felt like something bigger.

At hindi ko alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa amin sa lugar na 'to.

Pagbukas ng elevator, bumungad sa amin ang isang modernong luxury lobby. High ceilings, polished marble floors, and sleek, minimalist furniture. The entire place exuded wealth and power—hindi lang basta hotel-like luxury, pero isang lugar na halatang madalas pagdausan ng seryosong negosyo. 

Unlike the eerie silence sa parking lot, dito ay may kaunting ingay—mga mahinang usapan sa malalayong sulok, tunog ng sapatos na tumatama sa sahig, at ang soft hum ng air-conditioning. Ilang lalaki ang nakapwesto sa iba't ibang parte ng lobby, all dressed in tailored suits. Halatang hindi ordinaryong empleyado. 

Tetsu took a deep breath and grinned. "Ang bango talaga ng amoy ng Aragami."

Sato chuckled. "Look at the women in uniform, mas mabango pa sa mga Aragami." Nakakabwisit talaga pakinggan ng lalaking 'to e.

Seiji, as usual, stayed quiet, hands tucked into his pockets. 

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi luminga sa paligid. Napakaayos ng lugar, pero ramdam mo pa rin ang bigat ng atmosphere. This wasn't just some corporate building—this was a place where powerful people made dangerous deals. 

Isa sa mga guards ang lumapit sa amin, bowing slightly bago magsalita. "Kocchi da. ( This way )"

Walang pag-aalinlangan na sumunod sina Sato, Tetsu at Seiji. I, on the other hand, swallowed hard before taking a step forward. 

I could already tell—whatever was about to happen in this building wasn't just an ordinary meeting.

Naglakad ako ng mabilis para maabutan si Tetsu. I was about to ask kung nasaan si Ren pero baka kung ano na naman ang isipin niya.

Paglakad namin sa hallway, hindi ko maiwasang mapansin kung gaano ito katahimik. The only sound was the faint clicking of our shoes against the polished floor. It was too clean, too pristine—parang walang sinumang naglalakas-loob na gumawa ng kalat sa lugar na 'to.

At the end of the hallway, the man stopped in front of a set of heavy double doors. Without a word, he pushed them open, revealing a conference room that was just as grand as the rest of the building.

A long, dark wooden table sat in the middle, surrounded by sleek leather chairs. Almost all of them were already occupied. Several men dressed in sharp suits turned their heads as we entered, their expressions unreadable. Some looked curious, others indifferent—pero ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya nila sa loob ng kwarto.

Tetsu was the first to step inside, completely unfazed by the stares. "Remind me to buy a bucket of chicken after this," he muttered under his breath, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Sato walked in next, his usual calm demeanor intact. Seiji followed, hands still in his pockets, his face unreadable as always. Ako lang ang sandaling nagdalawang-isip bago pumasok.

The doors slowly shut behind us.

I felt my chest tighten.

My god. Dito na ba ako mamamatay?

Lumapit ako sa tabi ni Tetsu habang nanatiling nakatingin sakanila.

The air inside the conference room was thick with tension. Kahit na mukhang kalmado sina Sato, Tetsu at Seiji, hindi maikakailang nasa maselang sitwasyon kami ngayon.

Every man in suit has a gold nameplate on their desk to which where they sit. I read their names on my mind as I scan them each.

At the head of the long table sat Aragami Fujio, the leader of the Aragami clan. To his right was Kusuo Hajime, one of his key advisors, and to his left was Daigo Senzou, the clan's financial overseer. I cannot read the others properly pero itong tatlo lang ang sa tingin koy mga importanteng tao sa meeting na ito.

Fujio finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "Kisamara no kao wo mata miru to wa na. Nan no tsumori da?

( To think I'd see your faces again. What do you want? )"

Buong pag uusap nila ay wala akong maintindihan ni isa. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong klaseng tensyon ang namumuo sa buong conference room, kalmado lang kasi sila at walang bahid ng kung anong emosyon kahit seryoso ang usapan.

Lumipas ang ilang minutong diskusyon, narinig ko si Tetsu at Sato na nagmura. "Tangina, hirap suyuin." Inis na wika ni Sato. Nag tagalog pa talaga para hindi maintindihan no.

"Nasan na ba si Ren? Dapat nandito na sya e." Sabi naman ni Tetsu.

Oo nga. Tamang tanong yan! Nasaan na yon?

Bago pa man ako magsalita sana kina Tetsu ay natigilan kami lahat.

Before I could figure out what to do, the doors to the conference room swung open. The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Footsteps. Slow, deliberate.

Ren.

Dressed in a sleek black suit, his presence alone commanded attention. The Aragami members sat up straighter. Even Fujio, as composed as he was, seemed to acknowledge Ren's arrival with interest.

Ren spoke in Japanese, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable weight.

"Kanojo wo shoukai shiyou. ( Let me introduce someone )."

I stiffened. What's happening?

Fujio raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. Ren finally turned to me then, his expression unreadable, before smoothly switching to English.

"Kore wa Maddy desu. ( This is Maddy. )"

My stomach dropped.

He didn't stop there.

"Kanojo ga anatagata to no koushou wo tantou suru. ( She will be the one negotiating with you )."

The words hit me like a brick. My heart stuttered, and my mouth nearly fell open. I remember Ryu telling me about the deal but this is too soon! I can't even communicate in japanese.

I turned to Ren sharply, about to protest, but the look he gave me made my voice die in my throat.

He leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with me. There was amusement there, but beneath it, something sharper—something calculating. "Omoshiroi. Ii darou. ( Interesting. Very well, then )."

I looked at the boys like I was asking for help but they just stared at me blankly. No help! Kay Ren naman ako napatingin pero diretso lang ang paningin nito sa mga kaharap namin.

Fuck. I don't know. I'll just do it in my way then.

Huminga ako nang malalim habang nakakuyom ang mga kamao ko. "Look, I get it," I started, slightly stepping forward. "You pulled out because of the chaos this men made. It was a disaster, and if I were in your position, I probably would've done the same. No one wants to invest in something unstable."

No reaction. Shit. Naiintidihan ba nila ako? Tinignan ko si Tetsu, "what the heck was your group named again?"

He sighed in disbelief. "Ryuketsu."

Tumango ako saka binalik ang atensyon sa Aragami. "But things are different now," I continued, refusing to let the silence shake me. "Ryuketsu learned from what happened. They're more careful, more prepared. And let's be honest, you wouldn't have entertained this meeting if you didn't think there was some value left in working with them."

Still nothing. Is this even working? Tsk. Language barrier is such a problem. What's the point in letting me do all the talk if they don't understand a thing I'm saying?

I clenched my jaw. Okay, maybe logic isn't enough. Time to talk money. Paniguradong may alam silang english term ng pera.

"You want profits, right? Expansion? Power? You won't get that by holding a grudge. Ryuketsu still has the resources, the reach, and the people to make this deal bigger than before. You know that. Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here listening to me."

I saw Kusuo glance at Fujio, as if considering my words.

I think it's working!

I exhaled sharply and kept going. "And honestly? You won't get a better deal than this. You walk away now, and someone else—maybe a rival—gets the same offer. Your loss, their gain. But if you get in now, you control the terms. You set the expectations."

I had no idea if I was making any sense to them, but I was too deep in it to stop now.

"And besides," I added, gesturing vaguely, "you're businessmen. This is just another investment. You weigh the risks, calculate the rewards, and make the smart choice. And the smart choice is giving this deal another chance."

Silence.

I just remained poised there even my pulse was hammering, wondering if I had just completely embarrassed myself. Maybe I'd talked too much. Maybe they were just going to—

Fujio suddenly chuckled.

Anong nakakatawa?

It was low at first, but then Kusuo smirked, and even Daigo shook his head in amusement.

Fujio leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his smirk widening. "You're quite the talker, aren't you?" he mused, eyeing me with curiosity.

I blinked. "Uh..." Sweet fucking heavens. They can speak in English?!

He glanced at Ren, who still hadn't said a word since throwing me into this situation. "I see why you let her speak," Fujio said. "She's got a talent for persuasion. Where did you get her?'

Ren, as expected, gave no reaction.

Fujio just turned back to me. "Fine," he said, his smirk not fading. "We'll consider it. You've convinced me enough to at least reopen the discussion."

I exhaled slowly, barely hiding my relief.

"But," He added, amusement still laced in his voice, "if things go south again, we won't be so forgiving."

I nodded. "Fair enough."

Fujio exchanged glances with his men before finally nodding. "We'll be in touch," he said.

And just like that, the tension in the room shifted. The deal wasn't completely sealed yet, but at least we weren't walking away empty-handed.

As we stood to leave, Tetsu nudged me with his elbow, smirking. "Not bad, talker," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smirk forming on my lips. Yeah... not bad at all.

"Bungangera ka siguro kapag galit." Banat naman ni Sato.

I glared at him. "Gusto mo bang masapak ulit?" Natawa lang sya.

Tingnan ko si Seiji kung may sasabihin ba sya pero tinignan niya lang ako at nauna nang maglakad. Sumunod na rin si Sato at Tetsu sakanya kaya naiwan nalang kami ni Ren.

I shifted awkwardly, feeling the weight of Ren's silence. Nauna na sina Tetsu, Seiji, at Sato, leaving me alone with him. He just stood there, staring at me with that usual unreadable expression.

I exhaled sharply. "So, ano? Wala ka man lang sasabihin?"

He didn't respond right away. He just kept looking at me, as if assessing something. It was annoying—like I was some puzzle he was trying to solve.

Then finally, he spoke. "I wanna get some food."

I scoffed. "Seriously? 'Yon lang?"

He didn't answer, just exhaled lightly—parang may bahagyang tawa—before turning around. "Tara na."

Napairap nalang ako at sumunod sa kanya. "A simple 'thank you' wouldn't hurt, you know," I muttered under my breath.

Pero syempre, wala na namang sagot. Typical.

——

Akala ko pa naman kung saang mamahaling restaurant kami kakain. Dito lang pala sa lugar kung saan nila ako unang dinala. The Ryuketsu's base.

Hindi ko na maalala kung paano ako nakarating dito noon dinala ako at kung paano ako nakalabas. Paano ba naman kasi tinakpan nila ng flour sack ang ulo ko kaya wala akong nakita sa buong byahe. Ngayon lang.

All I know is we're here at Tokyo.

Napansin ko na dumaan kami sa ibang hallway this time, mas tahimik, mas secluded.

Walang nagsasalita habang naglalakad kami. Ren was leading the way, habang sina Tetsu, Sato, at Seiji ay kaswal lang na sumusunod, as if this was routine for them. Ako lang ata ang hindi alam kung anong meron.

Nang makarating kami sa isang sliding door, one of the men ahead pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit room. The first thing I noticed was the long wooden table at the center, low to the ground, surrounded by traditional Japanese floor cushions instead of chairs. The entire room screamed power and authority, much like Ryu's office. The walls were lined with intricate wooden panels, and in the far end, a small alcove displayed a single katana mounted on a stand.

And not only that.

I also saw the boss, he was standing near the large window, his back facing us as he spoke on the phone. Meron syang kasamang dalawang lalaki na ngayon ay kausap nila Tetsu, nagtatawanan na. Habang si Ren naman ay seryoso lang na nakatingin kay Ryu, nag hihintay atang matapos ang phone call ng boss niya.

Napatingin ako ulit kay Ryu. He looks different today. He was dressed in a black Japanese silk robe, loosely draped over his broad shoulders, revealing a plain white sando underneath. His black pants hung perfectly on his frame, giving him an effortless yet commanding look. Despite the relaxed attire, he still exuded authority—dangerous, unpredictable, and undeniably captivating.

Wait, am I complimenting him?

A few more seconds passed before Ryu finally lowered his phone. His fingers lingered on the device for a moment before he slid it into his pocket. Then, he turned to face us.

I didn't appreciate how he look when I first saw him but I must admit for a crime leader like him, he's... so fine.

His gaze swept over the room, sharp and calculating. The air shifted instantly, as if everyone subconsciously straightened their posture. Kahit sila Tetsu na nag uusap ay napatigil. Ren remained unmoving, but I could tell he had been waiting for this moment.

Ryu took his time walking towards the table, the silk robe flowing slightly with each step. His presence was magnetic—silent but commanding. When he finally reached the head of the table, he didn't sit down immediately.

Instead, he looked at each of us, his expression unreadable.

"Yoku kita na," he said, his deep voice breaking the silence. (You all came.)

Tetsu smirked.

Ryu's gaze flickered to him briefly before settling on Ryu. "Dō da?" (How was it?)

Ren's expression remained cold. "Keiyaku wa modoru." (The deal is back.)

I may not understand Japanese, but the weight of the words was clear in Ren's tone. The deal—Aragami. They were talking about that.

Ryu hummed, seemingly pleased, before his eyes finally landed on me.

I tensed. Pero hindi ko pinahalata. I remained calm and held my head high.

For a moment, he just stared, as if assessing me.

"Yoku yatta, Ren." (Good job, Ryu.) His voice was calm, composed. Then, he tilted his head slightly and added, "Soshite... kanojo wa dō da?" (And her?)

I felt the weight of their stares.

Ren, without missing a beat, answered, "Yakusoku o hatashita." (She did what she had to do.)

Whatever that meant, it was enough for Ryu to nod.

Then, with a small smirk, he turned back to me and spoke in English. "I know I could make a use of you."

I blinked. Was that... a compliment? From him?