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6
His eyes burned holes at the envelope on top of his work desk. Halos isang oras niya na itong tinititigan, hindi malaman ang kaniyang gagawin dito. He sighed for the nth time in the past hour, mabilis siyang kumurap nang maramdaman ang panunuyo ng kanyang mata. He raised his hands to rub his eyes, groaning as he did so.
This has been his routine for almost a week now. As if staring at the envelope would suddenly answer his questions. He really wants to know why, ano ba ang ginawa ni Artemis sa mga nagdaang taon upang masama sa ganitong business ang kanyang pangalan. Artemis, despite being a really sweet girl is firm and opinionated. Alam niyang ipaglaban ang sarili niya. Did she accidentally anger someone with her opinionated nature again? He suddenly remembers that one time they had a date and intended to watch a movie but ended up in the mall security office.
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Aiden reached out to put his hands on Artemis’ tense shoulders.
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Target Acquired 7
The third time they met, believe it or not, was purely on accident. Apat na araw na ang nakakaraan mula nang magkita sila sa hospital, pinadalhan siyang muli ng kanyang agency ng lokasyon, as expected, but after hours of waiting, she didn’t show up. He went home feeling a mixture of disappointment and relief that day. Disappointed that it delayed the progress of his mission, at the same time relieved for the same reason.He was jogging around the small village, a habit he formed every time he’s injured so he would heal faster, when he accidentally saw her walking out of her house. They were both shocked at the sight of each other.“Oh,” ani nito.“Ikaw ulit.”Huminto siya sa labas ng bahay nito, eyes focused on her.“I didn’t know you live here,” he said. That’s partly a lie, he kind of deduced she lived somewhere near the area if his a
Target Acquired 8
He stood behind the cash register, preparing for the rush hour. Sa gilid niya nakatayo si Evelyn, ang in-charge sa counter, aalalayan siya nito ngayon na mag-asikaso. Ikatlong araw na ng pormal na pagtatrabaho niya rito at maayos naman ang nagiging takbo nito. He is yet to make a move, kailangan niya munang masiguro na hindi magiging kahina-hinala ang bawa’t galaw niya.Artemis is currently cleaning tables; it seems to be her duty around the café. He tracked her every move, eyes following every movement.“Magkakilala po kayo?” he heard Evelyn ask, it’s the first time she directly talked to him since his first duty. Naputol ang pagtingin niya kay Artemis nang bumaling siya rito. Bahagya niya lamang itong nilingon. She’s a petite girl, pretty eyes hidden behind big glasses, small nose and thin lips. Her head is the same level as his shoulders, kaya naman kinailangan niya pang yumuko nang bahagya.&nb
Target Acquired 9
Sa tagal ng taon na iginugol ni Aiden sa pag-eensayo at pagtatrabaho bilang isang agent, ito na yata ang pinakamaraming beses na nadala siya sa ospital o kahit clinic man lang, sa loob ng isang buwan. He works quietly, was trained for even the most extreme of extreme situations. Kaya naman talagang nakakagulat na sa loob lamang ng isang buwan ay dalawang beses na agad siyang nadadala sa ospital. Kahit sa pinakamahirap na mga misyon niya ay hindi inaabot ng ganito. Makakatamo siya ng mga sugat, ngunit hindi sapat para umabot pa rito. The next time he opened his eyes, he saw the white ceiling and his first thought was the agency, and he immediately closed them again. He internally groaned. His senses slowly came back, with a massive throbbing at the back of his head at that. He’s hearing hushed whispers from somewhere in the room, at kahit na alam niyang mahina ang kanilang boses, nakadagdag pa rin ito sa sakit ng kaniyang ulo. He groaned loudly this time.
Target Acquired 10
To say that things were awkward in the café would be an understatement. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas mula nang mangyari ang maliit na aksidente ngunit tila ingat na ingat pa rin ang kaniyang mga kasamahan sa paligid niya. He doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry because of this. Nararamdaman niya ang ingat nila. Even while ordering food for their lunch.Napapailing na lamang niyang pinanood ang kaniyang mga kasamahan. It’s another lazy afternoon in the café. Artemis is once again busy at the back, probably talking to their manager, while Evelyn is walking around to clean table.Ang mga mata niya ay nanatili rito. The information he asked still hasn’t come, kaya naman pansamantalang nag-iingat muna siya sa paligid nito. Kahit na nakagaanan niya na ito ng loob sa maikling panahon, ang isang insidenteng nangyari noong nakaraan ay sapat na upang pansamantala siyang maging maingat. He doesn’t know her well afte
Target Acquired 11
“I forgot my wrist band,” Artemis muttered from beside him in the counter.Nilingon niya ito at nakitang itinatali na lamang ang kaniyang bandana sa kaniyang pulso. Lagi niya itong napapansin, ngunit ngayon niya lamang talaga nabigyan ng atensyon. What does she wear it for?“What?” she asked nang makitang nakatingin siya rito. Umiling lang naman siya at saka muling ipinokus ang kaniyang atensyon sa harap.Ever since that night, at the night market, it’s as if a switch had been flipped and suddenly, they’re closer. She now approaches him more often, starts conversations too. Iniiisip niya tuloy kung unti-unti na ba nitong natatanggap na ibang tao na siya ngayon? Na hindi siya si Owen Sebastian.He internally sighed at his thought.“Malapit na ang rush hour, kailangan na nating maghanda,” she said bago tumayo upang ihanda na ang mga k
Target Acquired 12
He should’ve known. No, really. Aiden should have known. Lumipas ang ilang araw na wala siyang natatanggap na response mula sa agency niya. He took it as they accepted his request, so there he relaxed. He continued his job at the café though, because although he doesn’t really need it, nag-eenjoy siya rito. Isa pa ay isa itong malaking excuse upang makasama si Artemis, especially now that the weight of his mission is lifted off of his shoulders. “Mukhang masaya ka nitong mga nakaraang araw ah,” puna ni Artemis sa kaniya isang hapon sa café. They’re both standing behind the counter again. “Hmm? Ah, wala may nangyari lang na maganda,” sagot niya. She stared at him for a moment, before mirroring the smile he has on his face. Everything was going so peaceful. Muntik na nga niyang maloko ang kaniyang sarili na isa lamang siyang ordinaryong tao na nagtatrabaho sa café at hindi isang spy na kakasuko
Target Acquired 13
“Owen? Ano ba ang nangyayari?” prantikong tanong ng kaniyang ina mula sa kabilang linya.“Mom, listen—is Aaron okay?” tanong niya.Kailangan niya na agad pumunta kay Klyden.“Ano bang—”“Please just answer me.”“Okay lang ang kapatid mo! Pinapakaba mo ako, Owen!”“I’ll talk to you later, but please, ‘wag ho muna kayong lalabas nang walang kasama. I’ll call again later, I want to talk to Aaron,” pagkatapos no’n ay hindi niya na hinintay pa ang sagot ng kaniyang ina at mabilis nang lumabas ng kaniyang bahay.He ran to his car, quickly entering and driving to the address Klyden sent him.Halos mamuti na nag kaniyang kamao sa higpit ng hawak niya sa kaniyang manibela, he’s driving past the limit, he’s aw
Target Acquired 14
After the long lecture Klyden gave to him, you would think Aiden would take precautions. But no, he still chose to ignore it. Sa halip na gawin ang kaniyang misyon, heto siya ngayon, nasa bahay pa mismo ng kaniyang target—ang puno’t dulo ng lahat. Of course, it’s not to kill, but rather, a hangout.Again.Yes. Again.A day after he received the threats, he went to work as if nothing happened, as if his life is not being threatened and the café itself isn’t in danger. He returned their bright smiles and served customers brightly as if his world is not being threatened to be submerged in chaos.“Tila maganda ang gising mo Sir ah,” bati ni Evelyn nang umagang iyon. Natatawang napailing na lamang siya rito. If only she knew.He spent the day paranoid. Yes. Paranoid. Contrary to what they think. Every time the café door opens, his eyes
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