The Reaper In White Shirt

Chapter 2

Lagpas na nang alas otso nakauwi si Cheuse dahil inihatid pa niya si Gem sa kanilang bahay na kasalungat sa daan na itinatahak niya pauwi. Sa isang madilim na shortcut siya dumaan at tanging flashlight lang ng kanyang cellphone ang ginamit niya na pailaw sa daan. Pagdating niya sa isang pinakaliblib na parte ng daan na may maraming puno, isang malapad at mataas na pader ang makikita rito. Ekspertong inakyat ni Cheuse ang mataas na pader na nagsisilbing bakod sa kanilang lupa at sa labas ng bakuran.

She landed swiftly on the Bermuda grass and walked with no sound towards the house to avoid waking up their noisy guard dog. Good thing that the lights were off in the garden and inside the living room. The way to the garden from inside the house is the living room, and why she noticed that the lights were off inside, is because the curtain behind the sliding door is open and it was dark.

She climbed one step and took off her shoes before opening the sliding door slowly. Fortunately, it's not locked or otherwise, she will have no other choice but to climb a tree to go to her bedroom. When she got inside, she closed the sliding door back and locked it. She took her phone out of her pocket and checked the time. It's nearly nine o'clock in the evening and she's pretty sure that her aunt is busy at this time.

Umakyat siya sa hagdan at nagtungo sa kanyang kwarto na katabi sa kwarto ng kanyang kapatid.

She opens the door and switches the lights on. She places her school bag and phone above the black sideboard next to the door. After that, she puts her shoes in the shoe rack and grabs a pair of indoor slippers before going to the bathroom to take a quick warm bath.

Minutes later, Cheuse came out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe and a towel wrapped in her hair. She then heads to her walk-in closet next to the bathroom, to grab a pair of underwear, a white t-shirt, and baggy pants. She wears it quickly and picks up a hair dryer on the vanity table to dry her hair.

Afterward, she comes out of the walk-in closet at the exact time her phone rings. She picked it up on the black sideboard and saw that it was a message sent by her aunt.

Aunt L: Matagal ka pa bang uuwi? Malapit ng mag-alas nwebe ng gabi."

She quickly types a reply.

Che: I'm already at home.

Not reaching a minute, her aunt replies.

Aunt L: Huh? Saan ka dumaan? Bakit hindi ko man lang namalayan na umuwi ka na pala?

Che: I used the backdoor. I know that the pub is busy so I didn't use the main door.

Aunt L: Okay. Wake your brother up nang makakain na kayo ng hapunan.

Cheuse frowned.

Che: He did not eat dinner?

Aunt L: No. Ang sabi niya ay maghihintay daw siya sa iyo.

Che: Alright. How about you?

Aunt L: I already eat together with Gracie and the others. Hindi na ako naghintay sayo dahil dumadami na and customers.

Che: Okay. I'll help you later.

Cheuse then turned off her phone and put it in the back pocket of her pants. She came out of her room and went into the room beside her. She did not bother knocking on the door and just skillfully unlocked it with a pin hidden on her bracelet.

Pagpasok ni Cheuse ay kadiliman ang sumalubong sa kanya. Nakapatay ang ilaw at tanging mahihinang hilik ng kapatid ang kanyang naririnig. Binuksan niya ang ilaw at nagtungo sa kama kung saan natutulog si Faust.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama at tinapik-tapik ang balikat ng kapatid.

"Austin, wake up." Tawag niya.

The little boy did not wake up and continued snoring.