Baler | 𝘓𝘶𝘸𝘰𝘰 (VVS #1)

36 - Quitely

I smiled at Kun who's playing with a kid. Pinagmasdan ko siyang maupo sa buhangin at pinapagpag ang dumi sa tuhod ng batang babae.

"Celestino! Kun said you have a lover! Was it true?!" Kunot ang noo at nakanguso si Larséline.

Her long black and braided hair looks so cute.

I glared at Kun who's busy taking some pictures. He always say things to the kid when he wants to annoy me. Minsan na nga lang dumalaw, pinapasakit pa ulo ko!

"No, Larsie! He's bluffing."

She then smiled at me. "Okay, then! Let's eat dinner later in the Cabin!" Her kiwi accent is such a curse. It makes me want to stay with her but I have to leave later.

I smiled a bit. "Hm, my bad... but I need to leave later. I'm gonna spend some time with Kun."

She groaned and rolled her eyes before walking out.

Kun laughs loudly. "Damn, she's in love with you!"

"Stop telling her things!"

I got closer to the kid that lives in the same neighborhood.

"Ano, uwi ka na ba?" Tumawa siya.

Umiling ako.

I am fine here. I don't want to leave this place but recently, I think there's someone watching me or something. Oh baka sa isip ko lang iyon? Baka nababaliw lang ako sa kakaisip.

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya dahil natahimik ako.

Kun helped me out of the country. Pabalik sa Manila, he made it possible for me to fit in the current private flight. Hindi na ako nagulat nang nandoon ang passport ko. We planned this before. We hired a maid that will be part of us when something like this happens. And it didn't disappoint. Bumiyahe kami sa Manila at hinatid ako ng private jet sa Australia. Kun settled it all.

I never thought I'd be this carefree but It's happening now.

It's been six months already.

This is the second time he visited me. Nag-iingat lalo't sa kaniya ako unang hinanap ni Kuya.

I don't even trust anyone anymore. Except for him.

I'm staying on the Gold Coast. On the seaside. Ten meters from the front beach. It sounds so fake but yeah. I chose this place. Of all the things I've learned in Aurora, going out of your comfort zone should help you find your best comfort. Now I'm choosing what it means to live quietly.

Just a few more months... I silently wish.

"You liked it here." Aniya.

Parang nag echo sa utak ko ang boses ni Eusebius.

I don't usually get attached. But a month is enough to make me settle. Just like before in Baler. But this time, it's somewhere else. Somewhere far. Somewhere quiet.

Tinignan ko si Kun sa mata. Nakikiusap.

He groaned. "Not today, Les."

I want an update. But he wouldn't tell me. He knows that I'll overthink so he doesn't tell me anything. There are a few but not enough to feed my mind.

I'm certain that there's someone in my family who knows where I am right now. Ayos lang iyon. Dahil hindi naman nila ako ginugulo. But still, I can't just sit pretty and let him handle it all.

I'm not contemplating whether to come back or not. Because I want to live in this place. It's just that... I want to know what's really happening. Last time, I watched the news, and nothing came out. The information about the killings in Baler vanished two months ago. Ayos na ang General at napanuod ko sa news na natapos ang misyon nila kung saan siya nakakuha ng parangal. I don't know if it's connected to what happened to me but I don't care anymore.

I want news about my brother.

Ilang buntong hininga pa ang pinakawalan ni Kun bago nagsimulang magsalita.

"A generational fraternity organization, Les. All members are originally from Cagayan Valley. And it's been two years since they recruited people outside the region. And it caused a hitch since... there's a spy."

Why would my brother join that? He's in the military! I don't think he'd have much time.

"Who is it?"

Umiling siya. "No info. But pretty sure it's not your brother. And guess what..."

Binalingan ko siya. "Ano?"

"It's Ten." He looked at the flaming sunset. Something in his eyes makes me want to know the details.

Suminghal ako. "Bullshit?"

Humalakhak siya. "They had a party. The cards that you saw, happened one month after you left. It was just a normal grand party held in one of our buildings. Free pass. I saw the list. I saw them all. And fuck. You know what, I don't know who to trust anymore too." At nagpatuloy siyang tumawa ng malakas.

Lumalim lalo ang nasa isip ko. Hindi ko yata gustong marinig kung sino-sino iyon. Umiling iling siya. Alam kong iisa-isahin niya kung sino ang nakita niya. Paniguradong nakita niya rin ang lahat ng miyembro. Then it isn't an elite? I wonder what kind of fraternity is this and what was my brother thinking?

"Why didn't I get an invitation?" He continued to deduce.

He's fucking obsessed. Fucking absorbed with what's happening.

I scoffed. "Buti hindi. It's fucking dangerous, Kun. Don't you dare," Banta ko.

Ngumisi siya. "It's easy to investigate! I'm better than them." He said proudly.

"Who's them?" Ulit ko sa kanina ko pang tanong sa utak ko.

I know it's hard to know who's who. But I memorized the surnames. Basically, he just needs to find out who takes charge of their clan.

"Ten... Johnny... Archi..." He said the names of the people I know.

Are you kidding me?

It's more possible that Winchester is a frat! I've never hung out with Archimedes because he's workaholic and very introverted. That's what they said. We're not from the same university before and I know he didn't even finish his study. I can't believe this!

I don't know about other names so I told him to research. I remember every surname. But I don't think I know some of the families. Just the close ones that I've met before. Some are my friends.

May ilan rin akong hindi nabasa kaya sinubukan niyang hanapin pero mukhang marami yatang miyembro.

"Emin Malvar, Sunny Madridejos, and Shot Ballesteros were on it. You know them. Eusebius' friends. It's possible that one of them is a spy. I think it's one of the newbies. But they were all at the party so it's hard to conclude. And lastly, Ten knows Eusebius from the start..." Humigop siya ng malalim na hininga.

He lied. That fucking bitch lied. Actually, I did not expect that much.

Is that the reason why the General told me to distance myself from them? Does the general know this existing organization? Ten is one of my close friends!

"What about Solana?"

I want some information about that bastard. I feel like he's probably angry because I run away from him. What happened when I left?

Ngumiwi siya. "You're lucky you got away. He's a damn psychopath!"

Kinilabutan ako.

"Solana family is one of the founders. Mikael Solana has been in charge since he was ten years old. Have you heard of Hectagon?" Kunot noo niya.

I am more scared because he knows all of this!

Umiling ako.

"Guns and bombs. He's one of the specialists." Aniya.

"I'm not sure if you want to hear this,"

Hindi pa siya tapos. Akala ko ba, ayaw nya sabihin?

He looks fierce with the reflection of a fury sunset.

"Noveras,"

Pigil ang hininga ko sa susunod niyang sasabihin. Something about that name makes me tremble. It's undeniable.