Between Our Secrets [rewriting] (Maskulados Series #1)

Prologue

•Seoul, South Korea

"Hajiman nan geuleogo sipji anh-a!" [But I don't want to!]

I felt cold all over my body and heat in my head. Parang gusto kong sumabog dahil sa gustong mangyari ng pamilya ko. I could not accept and did not want to accept the not so shocking news that reached me.

"A-pppa..." Lines of my tears flowed as I turned to my dad. "Uliga... ileohge haeya hanayo? Daleun bangbeob-eun eobsnayo?" [Dad, do we have to do this? Is there no other way?]

He didn't answer me, he just remained silent and kept his gaze turned to the floor.

"Daleun bangbeob-eun eobs-seubnida." [There is no other way.] It was my mom who answered me. "Jasin-ui iig-eul wihae haeya habnida." [You have to do it for your own good.]

"Jebal Ria, nan tto daleun jamaeleul ilhgo sipji anh-a jebal uliga malhan daelo hae." [Please Ria, I don't want to lose another sister so please, just do what we said.] Si kuya na kaharap ko rin ang nagsalita, nangungumbinsi na gawin ko ang pag-alis na gusto nilang mangyari.

"Pero ayoko na nga!" Umiling ako at pabagsak na naupo sa likod ng mga binti ko; isinubsob ang mukha ko sa mga palad ko at doon mas umiyak.

Nilapitan ako ni manang Rosana na nasa gilid ko, niyakap niya ako at pilit na pinatatahan na para bang isang sanggol na ayaw tumigil sa pag-iyak.

Upon remembering my sister Elvira, I started crying even more. My sister... she vanished four years ago as a result of callous people who kill innocent people in order to obtain money. Those demons... I abhor them! Kaya gano'n na lang ang kagustuhan ng pamilya kong ipadala kami ni manang sa Pilipinas, they don't want me to disappear either.

Though, in all honesty, I was enjoying my life, not until suddenly it soon became threatened. Threats to my life have been made. A red liquid stain with an unpleasant stench was present in a black box containing letters tied with a white ribbon. Those threats, which weirdly included broken kid's toys, were directed at me.

At sa bawat bagay na pinadadala sa akin, naroon ang malaking X na kulay pula na sa tingin ko'y palatandaan ng audacious creature na iyon.

Naging sunod-sunod ang ganoong pagpapadala sa akin na talagang ikinagagalit ng lubos nina daddy---especially my kuya.

Sinubukan nila, ilang beses na, pero kahit anong gawin nilang higpit ng seguridad, may nakalalampas at nakalalampas pa rin. They already suspected that there was some impostor who was wandering around us, giving information to whoever ordered him, which is why the precautions that were taken were doubled.

Yes, I know they're just trying to protect me, and I get that, but I know how to handle myself, how to take care of myself. Hindi na ako bata. At kung hindi rin lang naman nila ako hahayaang tumayo para sa sarili ko, why else did they teach me different self-defense? Isa pa, I am no longer afraid of what is happening to me now. Hindi ako tanga para hindi mapansin na something was not compatible with what was happening---something was off to be exact.

Wala na akong ibang natatanggap na mga panakot sa akin, tanging mga sulat, kahon, at laruan lang. Not even a photo of me, nor my name. That's when I wondered if... does the person who sends me those trash really knows me?

But then again, safety ko ang pinag-uusapan dito, at big deal 'yon sa pamilya ko. Ilang beses na rin nila akong pinilit sa bagay na 'to, ang umalis at magpakalayo-layo---ulit!

Nothing new. Maraming beses na akong nagpalipat-lipat. They once sent me to Japan where I was protected for two days---TWO DAYS---dahil sa pangatlong araw, there was an unexpected explosion in the other building near where I was.