FLASHBACK
"So dapat pala may baril pag sasalubungin ang bisita?" tanong ni Lexi kay Xen na hindi pa rin makapaniwalang si Lexi ang nasa kanyang harapan.
"How could y.."
"I'll tell you when you let me in," pangungumbinsi naman ni Lexi habang nakaharang pa rin si Xen sa pintuan nito. Maya't maya pa ay yumuko si Xen at pinulot ang baril na nahulog sa sahig saka pinatuloy ang panauhin. Punong-puno ng katanungan ang kanyang isipan kung bakit nasa pamamahay n'ya si Lexi. Paanong nalaman nito ang kanyang kinaroroonan? Ngunit ang higit na bumabagabag sa kanya ay kung bakit buhay pa ito gayong napakaimposibleng makaligtas s'ya sa pagsabog na iyon. Kung hindi lang n'ya nakita ang bangkay ni Iowa, baka sa mga sandaling ito ay iisipin na rin n'yang buhay pa ito.
"Is RJ okay?" tanong pa ni Lexi na mas lalong nagpaluwa ng mga mata ni Xen. Umupo ito sa sofa at si Xen naman ay minabuting sumandal na lamang sa book shelves na katabi ng TV. Ipinatong n'ya rito ang baril at matamang tiningnan si Lexi.
"Why do you care?" kalmadong tanong ni Xen kahit pa nilalamon na s'ya ng pagkamuhi. Hindi n'ya maunawaan kung anong pakay ni Lexi. Ngunit mas hindi n'ya maabot ng pag-iisip kung bakit kinukumusta nito si RJ. Inutusan ba s'ya ni Alcantara para manmanan ang bata?
"Because I care," kalmado namang sagot ni Lexi na mas nagpapuyos ng galit ni Xen.
"Because you care or because you can't afford to defy the commands of your master?" Xen answered calmly while his hands were crossed in front of his chest.
"Honestly, I'm the master," Lexi confessed with a smile on her lips. "I don't really work for Alcantara. I mean, we don't work for Alcantara. But we have to be with his team in order to execute our objective," Lexi's revelation that caught Xen's attention.
"Then why are you still alive? Isn't that proof that you set Iowa up? "
"I didn't set her up, Xen. I went there, but It's too late. Kung sa tingin mo ay masakit makita ang bangkay ni Iowa. Mas masakit masaksihan ang lahat tapos wala manlang akong nagawa," she disclosed regretfully.
LEXI'S POV
It's almost eight in the evening when we arrived at the rendezvous. I instructed my men to standby at a distance, then I finally got off my car. I started to walk carefully and silently toward the building - making sure that my footsteps will not create any sound. When I'm almost a meter away, I wear my night vision glasses. It looks like an ordinary eyeglass. But it has exceptional lenses that allow me to survey the surroundings even in the dark. Tho it just provides an image just like how our bones appear in the X-ray film, it's still advantageous to ensure safety and privacy without letting my presence known.
Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa paligid. It seems quiet and safe until I saw two human figures standing at a distance. Nagduda pa lalo ako nang mapagtanto ko na armado sila. But since I can't tell who they are, I decided to cross our distance. I need to confirm if they are an ally or enemy.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Leftovers
Mystery / ThrillerIowa Vighn Santos devoted herself to find justice for her ill-fated parents after they were mercilessly and determinedly killed. But how will she achieve justice if she too, lies six feet below the ground?
