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17
The door opened and a doctor entered the room. Kasunod nito ang kanilang manager at si Artemis na dumeretso sa kaniyang tabi. She stood beside him.
Pinanood lamang ni Aiden na kausapin ng doktor si Evelyn. She looks bubbly, her usual self, at least in front of them. Gone are the traces of her true self Aiden had just encountered earlier. Ang pag-uusap nila ay paulit-ulit na tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan. He tries to remember her every word and expression. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng mga ito?
He felt a hand touch his arm, he almost startled at it.
Nilingon niya si Artemis na nasa kaniyang tabi.
“Ayos ka lang ba?” tanong nito.
Bahagyang bumalik ang tingin ni Aiden kay Evelyn na kausap pa rin ng doktor.
He nodded at her.
“Yeah,” he eventually said.
“Pagod lang siguro.”She looked at
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Target Acquired 18
Aiden is suddenly so aware of Evelyn’s every move, napapansin niya na ang mga bagay na hindi niya napapansin noon. Ngayong alam niya na ang totoong anyo nito, nakikita niya ang malaking pagkakaiba mula sa pagpapanggap at totoo. She acts “normal” most of the time, but when their eyes meet, she makes a point to give him a mocking look. Kung hindi ito isang malaking dagok sa kaniyang misyon, malamang ay papalakpakan niya pa ito dahil sa husay nito sa ginagawa. Pinanood niya habang isinasara ni Artemis ang café, kasama nito si Evelyn na tinutulungan siya. Nang masigurong nakasara na ito nang maayos, she turned to look at him. “Let’s go,” yaya nito. Tahimik lamang siyang naglakad sa likod ng dalawa, habang ang mga ito ay abala sa pagkukwentuhan. He attentively pulls Artemis gently inside the sidewalk nang masyado itong napalapit sa kalsada. He walked faster to stand on her left. She gratefully smiles at him, casting him
Target Acquired 19
Nang matapos silang kumain ay nanatili pa sila sa bahay ni Artemis upang magkwentuhan. Their laughs echoed in the corners of the house. Nanatili silang nakaupo sa couch matapos nilang maligpit ang pinagkainan nila.Nasa gitna sila ng pagkukwentuhan nang mahagip ng paningin ni Aiden ang orasan na nakasabit sa itaas ng pinto ng kwarto.“Anong oras na pala,” ani niya. Agad naman siyang nilingon ng kaniyang mga kasama at saka tumingin din sa oras. It’s almost one in the morning.Suminghap si Evelyn, Aiden wants to roll his eyes.“Oo nga! May pasok pa tayo bukas,” saad nito.Artemis looked at them.“I guess you guys need to go home then,” sabi niya at saka tumayo."We got distracted."They copied her example and stood up too, stretching as they did so. Getting rid of the kinks that developed from
Target Acquired 20
It’s another calm afternoon at the café. Nginitian ni Aiden ang isang customer bago dumeretso sa counter. It’s only him and Evelyn in the café today. Artemis called in with an emergency, may kailangan daw itong asikasuhin kaya naman hindi makakapasok ngayong araw. Aiden is dreading the whole day.“Owen,” pang-asar na tawag nito nang makarating siya sa counter. He sent her a glare, tinawanan lang naman siya nito. Umalis si Aiden ng counter upang pumunta sa storage room, napansin niya kasing kulang na ang ilang mga kailangan nila sa station.He entered the cold room, busied himself with gathering the needed supplies. Patapos niya na ang kaniyang ginagawa nang marinig niya ito.Click.Napahinto siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at saka napabuntong-hininga. Binitawan niya ang kaniyang mga hawak at dahan-dahang tumayo. He slowly turned around, and he was right.
Target Acquired 21
His body went rigid with tension, ano ang ginagawa nito rito?“What do you want?” he asked sharply. It’s not that he’s afraid for his safety, he knows he can take up to the man. Ngunit nasa mall sila ngayon, at kasama niya si Artemis.The man smirked at him. Ibinaling nito ang ulo pakila’t kanan, arrogantly stretching. His tattoo is peeking out, Aiden can see it clearly.“Relax,” the man cockily said. Mayroon itong nakakainis na ngiti sa labi, Aiden badly wants to wipe it off.Napabuntong-hininga si Aiden.“Ano ang kailangan mo? Maraming tao rito,” kalmadong ani niya.“Wala naman akong kailangan. Nangangamusta lang,” nag-igting ang panga ni Aiden, lalo namang lumaki ang ngiti nito.“I found it! Here—"Napalingon siya nang marinig ang boses n
Target Acquired 22
Aiden stepped out of the shower. Ang tuwalyang kaniyang ginamit ay nakasabit sa kaniyang batok, catching droplets of water from his still wet hair. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad papunta sa kaniyang dresser upang magbihis. Nang matapos ay dinampot niya ang kaniyang cellphone na iniwan niyang nakacharge sa kaniyang nightstand. He frowned at the number of notifications displayed. Isang notification ang nakakuha ng kaniyang atensyon, it’s from his mom. His brow furrowed further at that. The last time he talked to her was when he made sure that his brother—his family, was safe. Ano ang dahilan ng pagmessage nito sa kaniya ngayon?Agad niyang binuksan ang message at takang-taka sa nabasa.‘Natanggap naming ang regalong ipinadala mo. Salamat daw sabi ng kapatid mo.’Ang mata ni Aiden ay napadako sa mga supot ng regalong kaniyang binili na nakatabi sa isang sulok ng kaniyang silid.Reg
Target Acquired 23
“What the fuck happened to you?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Klyden nang mapagbuksan nito ng pinto si Aiden. Duguan ito. Blood gushing down his temple, black eyes, and bruises all over his body. Paano ito nakarating sa kaniyang apartment na ganito ang itsura? He immediately opened the door wider, letting his friend in. Aiden went straight to the sofa, dumping his body there while Klyden went to get his medical kit. Nang makuha niya ito, agad niyang tinabihan ang kaniyang kaibigan at sinimulang gamutin ang mga sugat nito. “Ano ang nangyari sa’yo?” nag-aalalang tanong niya habang pinupunasan ang mukha nito upang alisin ang mga dugo. Aiden hissed occasionally. “Went to the company,” Aiden slurred in answer. His eyes are closed as he let his friend fuss on him. “Tapos? Bakit ka nagkaganyan? Ano ang ginawa mo ‘don?” “Fought with Suarez,” Aiden chuckled. Nangunot naman lal
Target Acquired 24
Natahimik si Klyden sa sagot ng kaniyang kaibigan. He sounded so sad. Nais niyang pagaanin ang loob nito ngunit hindi niya malaman ang sasabihin.Muling dinampot ni Aiden ang kaniyang mga kubyertos at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Natapos ang kanilang hapunan na puno ng katahimikan. Pinanood na lamang ni Klyden ang kaniyang kaibigan, Aiden insisted on cleaning up, kaya naman wala na siyang nagawa.“Are you going back?” Klyden asked as they both sat down in the living room.“Hindi pa naman malalim ang gabi, pero kung nais mong manatili muna rito ay walang problema.”Aiden looked at him, almost blankly. Maya-maya ay binigyan niya si Klyden ng isang maliit na ngiiti, at saka tumango.“I want to stay,” he answered.Later, as he arranged the blankets and pillows Klyden let him borrow on the couch, his friend standing by to watch him. Nang matapos ay i
Target Acquired 25
Nanatiling nakahiga si Aiden sa sahig. Hindi niya na namamalayan pa ang daloy ng oras. His body is aching all over, both from the fight with Mir. Suarez and the latest attack. He closed his eyes, panting. His whole body tensed when he heard another sound, it’s the sound of the door knob. He waited; senses still heightened from the adrenaline. His body relaxed when he felt the familiar presence of Klyden.“Aiden?” marahang tawag ni Klyden. Aiden wants to answer, but even speaking feels so fucking hard for him. Kaya naman hinintay niya na lamang na makarating ito sa kung nasaan siya.Aiden winced when light suddenly flooded the dark living room.“Aiden—Owen!”Maya-maya lamang ay narinig niya ang yabag ng mga paa nito papalapit sa kaniya. Klyden kneeled beside him, hands hovering over him.“What the fuck?” mura nito. Ang mga mata nito
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