DARK GANG

Chapter 126: Pretend

[PRETEND]

LUNA'S P. O. V

Mula nang dumating si Wolf at ibalita sa amin ang tungkol sa pagkawala ni Knoxx, wala na sa amin ang ni-isang nagpapatawa, nagbibiro, naglalaro, o nag-aasaran.

I noticed Kuya Luci glance at me before he quietly turned toward the kitchen. There was something in his look—a silent request, a need for me to follow. Dahan-dahan kong inilipat ang ulo ni Stella sa balikat ni Zai na tulog na rin.

Nakatulog silang tatlo kakaiyak pero ako, hindi ko magawang maipikit ang mga mata ko. They began to rise, but I shook my head, signaling them to stay put. Reluctantly, they sat back down, their worry still evident. I sighed softly and made my way to Kuya.

I wasn't surprised to find him waiting inside.

"Bakit, kuya?" I asked, my voice low as I glanced behind me to make sure no one was following. I closed the door and locked it then walked towards him. 

He handed me his phone, his expression was serious. "Here. You might need to talk to Kuya Zeke."

I wiped away the tears that had escaped my eyes once more and accepted the phone with trembling hands. "S-salamat, kuya."

He placed a comforting hand on my head and gently tapped it. "I want answers too, Luna. Maybe they know something we don't."

"Parehas tayo ng iniisip. Sige, papasok na ako." Humawak na ako sa doorknob.

"Saglitan mo lang dahil baka may magising sa mga loko. Babalik na ako ro'n. Mamaya mo na ibigay sa akin 'yan. I-lock mo rin ang pinto."

"Sige, kuya. Salamat."

Once he left, I locked myself in the kitchen. Sitting on the stool, I immediately dialed Kuya Zeke's number. Wala pang ilang ring, sinagot niya na ang tawag ko.

[Yes, Cif?] The other end of the line was chaotic, filled with laughter and voices—Kuya Axel, Kuya Kaiser, and Ced, all seemingly enjoying the

"Kuya ako 'to." Pumiyok ako. I covered my mouth, trying to muffle the sobs threatening to escape. How I wished we could laugh like that here.

[Luna? Why your voice sounds like—]

"Kuya si K-Knoxx..." I couldn't finish the sentence, my voice breaking as I sobbed quietly into my hand.

[Wait, wait.] Natatarantang sabi niya. [I can't hear you properly. Aakyat lang ako sa kwarto dahil may maingay dito 'na parang nakawala sa hawla.]

A few moments passed, and when he spoke again, his voice was clearer, tinged with concern. [What happened to Knoxx?]

"K-kuya wala na s-siya..." I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper as fresh tears streamed down my face.

[What?!]

"Sabi ni Wolf...na kinumpirma ni Pareng Hades. Gustuhin kong mang sabihin nagsisinungaling sila pero hindi ko magawa. Nakita ni Wolf, eh."

[Hold on, are you sure? I mean, that's fucking impossible. Eagle wouldn't let his son die... would he? But what if... what if there's a war happening?]

His words brought a strange sense of nervousness over me, my chest still felt heavy. I wiped my tears away. "What do you mean, Kuya?"

[We all think that Eagle who was behind the attack, framing Kaiser para pag-awayin kayo because he's playing us, Luna. But now, to go that far—what if it's not him? What if the war between Eagle and Sarmiento had already begun and Knoxx was the first casualty?]