Chapter 18: Mission
The night came and Brienne has not returned yet. Sapat na ang pahinga ko kaya hindi ako mapakali sa loob ng tinitirahan.
My encounter with Chris was still bothering me. Gano'n pa man ay hindi ko siya masisisi. Hindi man ako, pero pangkat at angkan ko pa rin ang sumira sa buhay niya.
"Oscar?" I heard Owen knock on the door.
Napabalikwas ako sa sofa saka madaling pinagbuksan siya ng pinto. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita si Owen na nakatayo roon. Tumutulo ang dugo sa kanyang labi habang hawak ang walang buhay na hayop.
"Can you help me grill this sheep?" he asked, licking the blood on his lips. His eyes glitched red.
"Did you catch this yourself?" I asked.
He smiled and nodded. "I don't like human blood. I prefer animal blood, so I went hunting for one. I got this!"
I chuckled. "Alright, I will help you."
I gathered some dry sticks and twigs from the nearby trees and made us a campfire on the backyard. Saka ko inihaw ang nahuli niyang tupa. Nakaupo sa harapan ko si Owen at titig na titig sa iniihaw ko.
"Where did you come from?" I questioned.
From across the campfire, he turned his gaze to me. His face reflected the warm glow of the flickering flames.
"I'm from New York City. My friends and I decided to move here two years ago. They said the life here was better."
"Wasn't it?"
He casually shrugged and reached down to grab a stone, tossing it into the air. "The food here was better. And Lady Brienne was the best!"
"Good to hear," I smiled.
"Can I taste it?" he pouted. "I'm hungry."
"Sure."
Kukuha pa lang ako ng kutsilyo pero yumuko na at kumagat si Owen sa iniihaw namin. Pumorma ang isang ngiti sa kanyang labi nang malasahan 'yon. Then he gave me a thumb up.
"It's so good!" he beamed.
Binitiwan ko ang kutsilyo para gayahin na lang siya. Malambot na ang karne kaya ininahan ko na ang apoy.
"You look familiar," Owen suddenly remarked. "I think I've seen you somewhere before or someone who resembles you."
"Really?" I replied, slowly chewing my food as I gazed at Owen. "My sister used to live in New York City. She's somewhat famous there."
"I'm not sure. Maybe."
"So..." I cleared my throat. "What happened to your friends?"
"They..." Napansin kong nahirapan siyang lunukin ang kinakain. Saka siya napayuko. "They abandoned me. But it wasn't the first time that I was abandoned."
"Maybe they weren't true friends..."
"No. They were. At least, to me."
"Come. Sit beside me," I offered.
Tumayo si Owen at mabilis na tumakbo sa tabi ko. Sabay naming nilantakan ang karne. Kinuwento pa sa akin ni Owen kung paano niya ito hinuli.
Naputol ang pag-uusap namin nung dumating si Chris. He just sat casually across the campfire, took a bite of the meat, and didn't even say a word or glance in our direction.
"Chris told me that he would help me become an official member of the Caligo Clan," Owen explained, his voice low and serious. "But he also warned me that it wouldn't be until after the chaos."
