Author's Note (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Kabanata 26

Warning: This chapter contains violence, blood, gore and death. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

"CUT your crap, Rasheed."

Kakapasok lang ni Adamas sa café at ang bumungad pa talaga sa kaniya ay ang ranked one villain na nagbabalat-kayo. Sinandal niya ang katawan sa counter habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa lalaki.

"Don't answer him, human. He's a crazy, ass lunatic."

Nalukot naman ang mukha ni Logan, nagtataka sa kaniyang sinabi. Of course, he looked like his co-worker, so he might be wondering how this person be someone else.

Rasheed chuckled. "Your sentence is redundant, Riscarte. Crazy or lunatic? Pick one."

"If you're not going to get out of that counter and stop your scheme, I'll pick you up and send you to hell," banta niya.

Ngumiti ito nang pagkatamis-tamis sa kaniya. His warm smile making someone believe he was a harmless person. "Calm down, mister author's favorite. You know, I hate threats."

"Whatever. Get away from Logan and get me an ice cream," utos niya at naghanap ng bakanteng upuan. Umupo siya sa dulong bahagi ng café at doon hinintay si Rasheed.

Ilang saglit pa bago ito dumating. May dala na itong dalawang bowl ng ice cream. Napangiwi siya dahil hindi niya gusto ang kulay.

"Here you go." He slid one bowl of ice cream toward him.

"Why the hell is it in color of green? Disgusting." Parang nawala ang appetite niya. Hindi niya gusto ang kulay. Pinagkrus niya ang dalawang braso at iniwas ang tingin. "I don't want that. I want the yogurt one."

"Yogurt is not an ice cream." Inabot nito ang teaspoon at nagsimulang kainin ang ice cream. "You know Peppermint? This ice cream is flavored by that herb."

"More reason for me to say disgusting." Tinulak niya ito pabalik kay Rasheed.

Ngumuso naman ito. "But I paid for these. Can you at least have a taste? You might like it."

"No. I can't fathom to taste that shit."

"Even if your author likes it?"

"My Noa never mentioned eating that crappy-looking ice cream."

"I see. Hindi na kita pipilitin." Muli itong ngumiti sa kaniya.

Sinimangutan niya lang ito at pinanood na kainin ang ice cream. Ang bagal-bagal pang kumain na para bang ito ang may-ari ng table na inuupuan nila. What made him more annoyed was the way he was eating it with a smile. That calm-looking face, which wasn't his, triggered him in strangling the man to death. Wala naman itong ginagawa sa kaniya pero nabuwibuwisit siya.

"What are you even doing here?" asik niya.

"As you can see, I was working. But you interrupted me and blew my cover, so here I am, eating an ice cream." He shrugged. Kinuha nito ang bowl niya at sinimulang kainin.

He wasn't convince. There was no way Rasheed would do something normal unless it would benefit him.

"So what's the progress of your revenge-themed job?" One hand carrying the bowl, Rasheed leaned against the chair.

"I took out two already. I haven't found the three because I can't use my threads." Tinawag niya ang system at tinanong ang progress.

[Response System: It is almost complete.]

Tumango naman si Rasheed sa kaniyang sagot. "Hmm. How about your progress bar?"

"Show me the progress bar," utos niya ulit sa system.