2

9:32:02 p.m: Manila, Philippines

Aiden removed the sunglasses he's wearing before checking the time on his wrist watch. It's already 8 pm and he can already feel the fatigue from the 14-hour long flight seeping in his bones. Nakaupo siya ngayon sa isa sa mga café na matatagpuan sa airport. The service his agency got for him got delayed kaya naman naisipan niya munang maupo.

His phone lit up from a message notification just as the barista called his name. He stood up to collect his order while opening his phone to check his message.

"Arriving in ten," the text said.

Kinuha niya ang kanyang order mula sa counter at saka bumalik sa kanyang lamesa upang kunin ang maleta at iba pang mga gamit niya. Sampung minuto na lang naman, maghihintay na siya sa labas. He calmly dragged his suitcase while sipping on his coffee, he stopped and stood at the pickup location he was told.

He looked around him. People are milling in and out of the airport. Pinanood niya ang ibang pasahero na masayang sinasalubong ng mga pamilya, ang iba naman ay katulad niyang nakatayo lamang sa pickup location at naghihintay ng taxi. A part of him feels envy, kung hindi kaya siya tumuloy sa pagsali sa organisasyong ito ay may normal na pamilya pa kaya siyang sasalubong sa kanya katulad nila? He brushed off the disappointed looks of his parents that appeared in his mind at that, wala na siyang babalikan.

A few minutes later, isang itim na sedan ang huminto sa kanyang harapan. That was fast, Aiden thought. Bumaba ang driver. He's wearing a full black suit, complete with a black mask. He almost snorted, the agency is as careful as ever.

The driver gave him a small bow bago kinuha ang kanyang maleta upang ilagay sa trunk ng sasakyan. He gave him a grateful nod bago sumakay na sa kotse. The driver got in the car after settling his things. He's sitting behind the passenger seat. He stared out the window, occasionally sipping his coffee, as the car started to move.

The car ride is quiet. Nakatitig lamang siya sa mga nadadaanang kotse at sasakyan, the gentle humming of the air conditioner lulling him to sleep. Mas nararamdaman niya ang pagod niya ngayon. A few minutes later, they're driving down a more secluded road. Trees replaced the buildings; it was getting darker and darker too. His eyes flickered on the driver; their eyes met on the rare-view mirror.

"Didn't think they'll get me a place much more secluded than last time," Aiden said conversationally. The driver remined quiet though, just focused on his driving so he just looked out too. They drive some more; he's getting more tired and tired by the second.

"I don't know Owen, where do you think I'm taking you?" the driver finally spoke.

"Or should I call you Aiden now?"

The first thing that registered to him was how familiar the voice sounded, ngunit hindi niya matandaan kung saan niya ito narinig. Pangalawa ay ang pamilyar na tattoo nito sa batok na ngayon niya lamang napansin. A bow. Shit, he just got home and his past is already catching up huh.

Mabilis ang mga sumunod na pangyayari. Isang minute ay biglang na lamang bumilis ang takbo ng sasakyan, kasunod na minute ay bigla na lamang ito nagcrash. They both got jostled, but Aiden used the time to kick off the car door and get out. Pagapang siyang lumabas ng kotse, ang pagod niyang katawan ay lalong sumakit nang dahil sa crash. He heard another car door being kicked open kaya naman dali-dali siyang tumayo. He moved to get the revolver he always has in a small personal compartment he had especially built in his boots. He successfully got it but was immediately sent tumbling down the dirt once again from a very hard kick on his side.

He groaned in pain but was quick to stand up. Nagtagpo ang mga mata nila at ngayon lamang pumasok sa kanyang utak kung gaano kapamilyar ang mata ng kanyang attacker. Natatakpan pa rin ng suot niyang black na mask ang kalahati ng kanyang mukha ngunit ngayon ay alam na alam niya na kung gaano nga ito kapamilyar.

"Long time no see, Owen," his attacker said. God, Aiden is so pissed off just by the tone of his voice. Fucker is the reason why he had to leave the country and fake his death after all.

"I see you've been well."

"Shut up," he darkly spat out. Buti na lamang ay hindi niya nabitawan ang kanyang revolver. Ang lalaking kaharap niya ay mas matangkad at mas Malaki ang katawan, kaya naman kahit na eksperto siya sa iba't ibang martial arts, alam niyang maging ang kalaban niya ay ganun din. Pareho silang agent, after all. Kaya naman kahit masakit sa kanyang pride na aminin, alam niyang hindi niya kayang pantayan ang lakas nito.

"Hmm. Di mo man lang baa ko kakamustahin," his tone was mocking, and Aiden is even more pissed at his relaxed state. Tila ba ipinaparamdam nito sa kanya na hindi naman siya threat habang siya ay posturing aatake anumang oras.

"Hindi?"

Bigla na lamang siya nitong inundayan ng saksak na mabilis niya namang naiwasan. Hindi niya man lang napansin na may hawak pala itong patalim! Aiden thinks he really must've been too tired to not notice the things he usually does. Patuloy lamang siyang umiwas nang umiwas, ang pagod niyang katawan ay paatras nang paatras papalapit sa nakatumbang kotse. Ang malala pa dito ay tila ba nag-eenjoy pa ang attacker niya. Is he playing with him?

He wants to shoot him, but he knows he has to be smart with his bullets lalo pa at alam niyang tatlo lang ang laman ng kanyang pistol. So, with a final swing of knife, he gathered all the force his tired body could muster and kicked the man on his stomach. He was successful as the man tumbled down a few steps. He was quick to recover though, he looked up, this time looking so mad before he ran to him. Aiden quickly ran away. He looked at his watch while running. It's designed by their agency to send emergency alarm to the headquearters. Hindi niya nga lang sigurado kung gagana na ba ito dahil kararating niya pa lamang sa bansa.

He was once again thrown to the ground, he landed on his back. The man was quick to straddle his waist. He struggled to free himself, the man is heavy holy fuck. Paulit-ulit siya nitong inuundayan ng saksak na paulit-ulit niya rin namang naiiwasan. He's getting tired, fuck.

He once again gathered all his strength to switch the situation. It's with a struggle but he was able to throw the man off. He landed on his side and he was quick to stand up and straddle him too. He used all his weight to pin him down before swinging hard punches left and right. His knuckles hurt and the man's nose was bleeding when his watch lit up.

"Where are you?" the voice from his watch asked.

"Where am I?! Fucking—" he gave another punch, the loud smack ringing in the quiet night.

"I almost got fucking kidnapped! Send me some backup!"

He was struggling above him; his attacker is really strong. He let out a shocked gasped when he was suddenly thrown to the ground once again. This time, he fired his pistol and he was certain he hit the man when he heard a grunt of pain. Nakita niya itong nakahawak sa duguang kaliwang balikat. He saw the knife he was holding lying on the ground near them. Ngunit hindi ito nagpatinag at inatake siya ulit. Pinaulanan siya nito ng suntok, sa kanyang d****b, mukha at maging braso.

"Backup on their way," he heard the voice from his watch said in the middle of punches. He's getting dizzy. He feels something warm trickle down his nose. He pushed the man off with all his might. He landed on his stomach on the ground, he was quick to straddle him once again. Sa ganitong posisyon, nakikita niya nang mas malinaw ang tattoo nito sa batok. It's a bow covered in vines. Hinding-hindi niya ito makakalimutan.

The man struggled and thrashed beneath him. At this point, adrenaline na lamang ang nagpapatakbo sa kanyang sitstema. Diniinan niya ang pagkakahawak dito. A sound of cars approaching distracted him, the light blinding them. Huli na nang maramdaman niyang Nabawi nito ang braso mula sa kanyang hawak, naramdaman niya na lamang ang labis na sakit mula sa saksak na idiniin nito sa kanyang hita. Napasigaw siya sa sakit at napaalis mula sa p agkakaupo mula sa likod nito. The man was quick to stand, leaving the knife plunged deep on his right leg. Agad-agad itong tumayo at saka tumakbo papalayo.

Narinig niya na lamang ang suno-sunod na putok ng baril, probably from the backups that came. He's pissed, they're too late. His body fell, boneless on the ground. His vision has dark spots in them too. He felt extremely dizzy. The last thing he registered was someone walking in front of him and checking his pulse, before he eventually passed out.