"You go home first. I have to go somewhere." Paalam niya sa asawa habang nakasilong na sila sa ilalim ng puno.
Unti-unti ng humina ang ulan.
"Your mission for tonight isn't done yet?" Hera asked.
"Supposedly, if you admit that your the Vanacci lady. Hover message me that he raid a secret hide out of Vanacci nearby after he sent Czekiah hoke. I'll back him up."
His wife nodded. Hinalikan niya muna ito sa labi ng mariin bago tinakbo ang daan papunta sa motor niyang naka-park sa parking lot ng Rad Cuisine. He have to be there fast.
He drove faster than the usual. Pagkarating niyabsa liblib na lugar ay rinig na ang putukan. When he comes close, nasusunog na ang parte ng bahay habang patuloy pa rin sa pagpapalitan ng bala.
He sneak himself inside the Vanacci's hideout. Nakita niya ang mga tauhan na kinukunan ang litrato ng bulletin board kung saan nakalagay ang plano ng mga Vanacci. Ang mga tauhan ng kalaban ay nakahandusay na sa sahig. Unti-unti ng humina ang palitan ng bala.
Pumasok siya sa isang silid kung saan naabutan niya si Hover na nakikipaghand to hand combat sa kasapi ng Vanacci. The enemy is skillfull kaya hirap na patumbahin agad. Si Hover may hawak na baril habang ang kalaban ay wala. He can easily shot the man to kill him. Pero hindi nito ginawa.
Then an idea click into his mind. There's a rumor underground that Hover is slowly becoming lowkey. Hindi na gaano naninira ng ibang organisasyon and there's also saying that he doesn't kill anymore. Tauhan na lang nito ang ginagawa. At hindi lingid sa kaalaman niyang may babae ito.
Is he trying to be clean for his girlfriend?
Hover is trying to hit the man on his weak spot to make him unconscious not to kill. Magaling dumepensa ang kalaban. Naubusan na ata ng pasensya si Hover kaya sinipa nito ang lalaki. Tumilapon ito pero sadyang sa maling direksyon kasi malapit ito sa baril sa sahig. The man pick it up as an opportunity then pointed it at Hover.
Nagdalawang isip pa si Hover na gamitin ang baril. Pikit mata nitong itinaas ang baril sa ere pero mabilis siyang humarang dito at kasabay n'on ang pagbaril niya sa lalaki at ang pagpakawala naman ng kalaban ng bala.
The man immediately died, while he got hit on the shoulder. His other shoulder is healed now the other one wounded.
"Fuck."
"Why the fuck did you do that?!" Hover growled and tear a part of his shirt to cover his wound.
"You're welcome." Tipid na anas niya.
"I didn't ask for your heroic stunt, Sebastian. Not because I'm your brother-in-law you are bound to protect me." He hissed coldly and somehow Hover remind him of his wife.
Magkapatid talaga.
"And what? Let you kill the man and let him hit you? I thought you're trying to be clean for her? And..do you also want her to see you got shot by a bullet?" He asked.
Hover's jaw just clenched and continue wrapping his wound with the cloth.
"If I get shot, Hera wouldn't worry. But if it's you, it'll scare your innocent girl and think of your world as dangerous. Do you think she'll come close to you again?" He asked like a big brother.
Tinapos na ni Hover ang pagkakatali. Matalim pa rin ang tingin nito at hindi na matapos-tapos ang pagtiim ng panga.
"I'll owe you this one." Matigas na sabi nito.
"A thanks won't hurt you." He shrugged, ignoring the stinging pain on his shoulder.
Tumunog ang cellphone nito sa bulsa. Agad naman nitong sinagot at napansin niya ang paglambot ng itsura nito. He was silently amused by that change of aura. Seriously? Is that what love can do to people?
