Series of Shadows: Khalifa

Mission Nine: The Monsters

That night, after nila sa hideout, pinuntahan uli ni Asty ang bahay ni Janri. Nagpaalam siya kay Throwa na hindi niya maihahatid ang dalaga dahil may kailangan siyang puntahan. Kahit nagtataka ang girlfriend niya, hinayaan lang siya nito.

He parked his car sa tapat ng bahay ng babae. To his surprise, there was a light in the girl’s bedroom.

‘She’s back.’

Hindi nya maintindihan ang nararamdaman niya. He wanted to come inside her house para makita ang babae. Its been so long nung huli niya itong makita. Naramdaman niya ang excitement sa katawan nya.

‘What’s happening to me? What did she do to me?’

Bago pa niya pagsisihan ang posible nyang gawin, umalis na siya sa bahay ng babae. Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela ng kotse nya. Isa lang ang alam niya.

‘She’s back. She really is back.’

There was a call. Nakita niyang umilaw ang phone nya na nasa side table ng kama niya. She was unloading some of her stuffs, particularly ang mga gagamitin niyang damit. Nang makuha niya ang dalawang piraso ng damit, isinara na niya ang trolley niya.

“Hello.” sabi ni Janri.

“Hi Janri! It’s me, Alesha!”

“Alesha!” she said. Napangiti siya. Humiga sya sa kama niya. Nagpalit na siya ng sweater at jeans after nyang maligo dahil napansin niya kanina na may rashes sya. Panigurado, bukas paggising niya, magiging malala pa ang mga yon.

“Are you back?” tanong ni Alesha.

“Huh?”

“Are you back at your house?”

“Yeah. I am. I have a race to attend to the next few days.”

“So it is true!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Yhaen called earlier, it seems that the media is hyped to get to talk to you. Inaalala ka ni Carlos, baka dumugin ka daw ng mga media at ng mga tao.”

Natawa siya. “I arrived early. I didn’t want to join the other racer’s schedule. I guess I’m lucky that no one saw me.”

“Will you be busy?”

“Yeah. Sort of. I think I have to attend a couple of TV shows and a magazine photo shoot. I am not sure if I can meet you on the next few days.”

“Really?” natatawang sabi ni Alesha. “I’m jealous. I didn’t got to attend TV shows.”

“Don’t joke around.” sabi ni Janri. “Anyway, I have to rest. Let’s talk again some other time. By the way, my father seemed to had a chat with your father. Were you able to talk to them?”

“Yes. Few weeks ago. Anyway, get rest now. See you around, Janri.”

“Yeah. See you.”

Janri was holding a slice of bread when someone knocked on the door.  Wala siyang ineexpect na bisita that day dahil halos kakadating pa lang niya the other day. Ang may alam lang na dumating siya ay ang pinsang si Alesha. When she opened the door, biglang pumasok sa loob ng bahay ang lalaking yon. The last time she saw him was when he stayed at her house hanggang sa maging okay ang pakiramdam niya. She slightly raised her eyebrowse but didn’t say a word. Wala naman syang dapat sabihin. Probably, the guy will just challenge him into whatever game he comes up with. Just like the last time.