Author's Note (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Kabanata 40

"BULLSHIT!" Azure cursed when the glass of water slipped from his hand. Nabasa ang kaniyang pajamas pati na ang kama na hinihigaan niya. Nabasag din ang baso nang mahulog ito sa sahig.

Kaagad na lumapit ang dalawang guwardiyang nakabantay sa kaniyang kuwarto upang tulungan siya. Aabutan na sana siya ng panibagong inumin pero pinigilan niya ang dalawa.

"Don't fucking help me!" he screamed on the top of his lungs but immediately regretted it when it pained her injured nose bridge.

After falling down the stairs, he had to be admitted to the hospital after severing his face. Nagka-fracture din ang kanang braso kaya may cast ito. And one of his feet got a torn ligament.

"Pero, sir, kung 'di ka po namin tutulungan, hindi ka po makakainom ng tubig."

Mabilis namang nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay. "Fuck you! Are you rubbing on my face that I am useless?!"

"Because you are."

Napalingon siya sa direction ng pintuan nang may kumalabog. A guy kicked the door and entered as if he owned the area. Suot-suot nito ang costume na nakita niya no'ng nakaraang araw. Ang araw kung saan siya nahulog sa hagdan.

May kasama itong lalaki na ngayon ay kinakaladkad.

"Dr. McKinsron?" he uttered.

Tiningnan siya ng doktor. Punong-puno ng pawis ang mukha nito. Nanawagan ang mga matang tulungan niyang makalaya sa lalaking kasama.

Kaagad na naglabas ng baril ang dalawang guwardiya na kasama niya. Ngunit bago pa nito maitututok sa lalaki, may mga sinulid nang lumabas sa mga kamay nito na naging hugis ng isang kutsilyo at tinutok sa noo ng mga guwardiya niya.

"W-what the fuck . . ." He forgot to blink. The immense shock he felt to the point he jolted was too much for the expression on his face to stay hidden.

"The confidence you have to point your guns at me,"  the guy warned. "Shoot and I'll leave a damn hole on your forehead."

Hindi nakagalaw ang dalawang guwardiya. Takot na baka isang maling hakbang lang, ihatid na kaagad sila nito sa kabilang buhay.

Hindi niya makita ang mukha nito dulot ng veil kaya hindi niya rin alam kung ito ba'y nakangiti o masama ang tingin sa kaniya. But one thing was for sure . . . the guy was something he shouldn't miss with.

"How are you feeling, you insolent petty human?" Naglakad ito palapit. Napaangat ang kaniyang tingin nang tumabi ito sa kaniyang kama. "Didn't I tell you to be careful on the stairs?"

What the guy said last week flashed in his mind.

"The fuck did you do? Did you curse me or something?"

The guy chuckled. "Oh no, I don't do curses. I am the curse."

"Who the fuck are you?" Kinuyom niya ang mga paa.

"Adamas. I am Adamas Riscarte, Noa's favorite." He may not see his face but he could feel him smirking. "Do you remember my wordy Noa? The woman who you never got a chance with."

Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito, nalilito kung anong dapat niyang isagot. What did he mean by that? How did he know about him and Noa?

"Stop playing with me and tell me who you are!" He snarled. He wanted to grab the man but his left hand was shaking, hesitating to make a bold move. Wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi bigyan ito ng pinakanakakasuklam niyang tingin.

The guy hissed.

"I don't like repeating myself. And I hate people who don't believe my words." Bigla siya nitong sinakal dahilan para mapasinghap siya. Kaagad itong napalitan ng impit na sigaw dahil sa mahaba nitong kuko na unti-unting bumabaon sa kaniyang leeg.