EIGHT
NANG makabalik si Venna sa table na inuukupa niya para magluch, tahimik lang siyang nakatitig sa kawalan. She killed, again. It's not like it's a new thing, but she can never get used to it. Oo, wala siyang nararamdamang awa o lungkot kapag pumapatay siya, but still she has conscience. And it would always feel heavy after stealing someone's life. Pinapagaan na lang niya ang loob niya sa pag-iisip na masasamang tao ang mga kinukuhanan niya ng buhay.
Bumalik din naman siya sa normal niyang pakiramdam nang maagang pinauwi ang mga estudyante dahil sa mga nahanap na bangkay. She shouldn't feel things like this anyway, she still has a lot to eliminate.
Upon going home, she's determined to continue her plan yesterday. Pupunta siya sa admin's office at hahanapin ang student documents ni Kier Drystan. School documents include a complete student profile. If things calms down at the school, she'll proceed.
Pero kung nagtransfer si Kier Drystan, bakit hindi siya ninonotify ng organisasyon na nasa paaralang inenrollan niya ang main target ng mission niya? Shouldn't it be the organization's responsibility to provide her all the information she needed?
"This is really messed up," bulong ni Venna sa sarili. The moment she was assigned to collect data alone, hindi na maganda ang pakiramdam niya sa misyon. The organization would always send a whole team to complete a mission, information collection included. Ang pagkakaalam niya ay hindi nagpapadala ng iisang tao ang mga organisasyong tulad ng MAKEN para tumapos ng mission.
Venna shook off every thought she's overthinking and forced herself to sleep. Wala naman siyang mapapala sa pago-overthink niya. May mas importatnteng bagay pa siyang kailangan gawin bukas at kailangan niya ulit pumasok ng sobrang aga bukas para magawa 'yon. The school did not publicize reason of early dismissals yesterday kaya pwede nang pumasok bukas.
The next morning, she went to school very early. Nagkakape pa nga no'n ang isang guard sa may gate. Hindi siya dumeretso sa building niya kundi sa building ng mga admin. She went straight to the room where hundreds of boxes with thousands of files are in.
Hinanap niya agad ang mga files ng business fourth year college students. L. M. N. O. P. Perseus. She has to find the surname Perseus.
She browsed the files until she found what she was looking for. Perseus, Kier Drystan Zyanya. Binuksan niya ang folder at bumungad sa kanya at kumpletong student profile hinahanap niya. She flipped through the pages until she reached the page where his picture was.
Naiiling na nangingiti si Venna nang makita ang mukha ng lalaki. She then scoffed as she closed the folder and put it in her bag. Lumabas siya ng admin office at buti na lang wala paring tao sa hallway. Dumiretso siya sa room niya at hinintay na lang magsimula ang klase.
Morning classes and afternoon classes passed, Venna paying attention to none. Agad siyang lumabas ng room nang magdismiss na ang last teacher niya. She entered her car and drove it to the school's front gate. It's been a tiring few days for her. Now that she has what she needs, she deserves a celebration.
She's planning to treat some close people tomorrow. Pero nang inaya niya kanina si Kale, may date daw sila ni Adrea at sinabihan pa siyang 'wag siyang maki-third wheel. She just shrugged it off. Who wants to be a third wheel anyway? Si Arth na lang ang aayain niya.
Lumabas siya ng kotse at nagsimulang mag-cellphone habang hinihintay si Arth na lumabas ng school. Hindi na niya kinailangang patigilin si Arth dahil kusa itong tumigil sa harap niya ng makita siya nito.
"Hey, you waiting for someone?" tanong ni Arth kay Venna.
"Yeah. You." Venna's smile stretched into a smile. "Are you free tomorrow?" Tinago niya ang cellphone at sumandal sa sariling kotse.
