Gambit of Hearts: Chasing Black UNO

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

ZEAN stood alone by the fountain while thinking about their upcoming mission. Nandito sya ngayon sa isa sa mga headquarters ng Ciliex. Habang papalapit ang araw ng misyon, pabigat naman ng pabigat ang nararamdaman ni Zean.

She couldn't stop thinking about him. About Matthew. About the guy who made her feel how beautiful it is to live.

Its been three days since they last saw each other. Since they had their first dinner together. Matthew has been texting her but she chose not to answer anything. Malapit nang matapos ang misyon, kailangan na nyang lumayo ng dahan-dahan sa binata nang sa gayun ay hindi ito mabigla sa bigla nyang pagkawala.

Mahigpit na napahawak si Zean sa semento na nakapalibot sa fountain na nasa harap nya. She felt suffocated. The idea of leaving Matthew behind pains her. She doesn't like it. Pero alam nya sa sarili nyang hindi nya pwedeng dalhin ang binata sa madilim nyang buhay.

If she will choose her own happiness, it will lead Matthew to danger. It will pain her so much if she'll leave him and he will be hurt as well. Pero hindi magtatagal, mawawala rin ang sakit na 'yon. He will be in pain but a day will come that he will forget her. Zean will serve as a painful memory of Matthew that he no longer wants to think. Kesa naman piliin nya ang sariling kaligayahan kapalit ng kaligtasan ng binata. Kailangan nyang iwanan ito.

But I don't want to.

She blew out the smoke from the cigarette she was holding and let out a dry chuckle, "My feelings are not that deep, huh?," naiiling na bulong nito sa sarili nang maalala ang sinabi nya noon kay Rin, "Yeah right." she snorted.

Napatigil lang sa pag-iisip si Zean nang makaramdam sya ng panibagong presensya kaya naman mabilis syang napalingon sa gilid. The presence was from a young man wearing a cloth covering almost his entire body. Her eyes dropped on the sleek black attaché case that he was holding.

Yumukod ito, "Pleasure, Ischyros," umayos ito ng tayo at sinalubong ang tingin nya. A pair of blue eyes welcomed her, "I am Strikkar. I handle the import and export of weapons from Japan." Inabot nito sa kanya ang attaché case, "This is for you. Whats inside is very important that is why I had to deliver it to you personally."

Napatitig sya sa kaharap ng ilang segundo bago dahan-dahang tinanggap ang attaché case. "That important?"

The man nodded, "Yes, Ischyros."

Zean frowned slightly before placing the attaché case on the table near her. "Thank you."

Muling yumukod ang lalaki, "My pleasure, Ischyros. Then, I shall take my leave."

Tanging tango lang naging tugon ni Zean sa lalaki at sinundan nya naman ng tingin ang papalayong bulto nito hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mawala.

Bumaling si Zean sa attaché case na nasa lamesa. Nang matanggap nya ito, medyo mabigat iyon kaya naman napapaisip sya kung ano ang laman nito.

She stared at it for awhile before carefully undoing the clasps. The case opened with a soft click, revealing a pair of a stunning black katana nestled inside.

The blades are exquisite. Its black steel glinting in the fading light, showing how sharp the blades are. The handles are wrapped in a black cloth.

Ito na ba 'yung tinutukoy ni Keave na import galing Japan?

Her eyes then settled on the blades. There was an engraved word on each blades. She tilted her head to the side to see the engraved words clearly,

"明弘女帝."

Zean's fingers lightly traced the elegant script while her eyebrows are furrowed in confusion. I think its written in Japanese.

May lahing hapon si Zean dahil hapon ang ama nito pero kailanman hindi s'ya natutong magsalita ng hapon o kahit magbasa man lang dahil lumaki sya sa pilipinas.