The water is way too deep for her,
A place she can't escape, not even stir.
If not only for the drive for revenge,
She will not resurface again.
The forest is an endless maze for him,
A place he knows he must not miss.
He will hunt for as long as it...
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Chapter Thirteen
ILYA
• 1:31 am •
"Who was that, Ilya?"
Nagulat ako nang matapos kong isara yung pinto, because I got caught by Sergei, who's standing at the top of the stairs with a happy Hades on his side. Bakit ba para akong guilty, eh madalas naman ako umuwi rito ng late.
Inayos ko yung sarili ko at hinarap siya sa paanan ng hagdan. "Um... That was Killian."
"Huh. Good thing he's still alive."
"I said I'm not gonna kill him, dad."
"Good, because killing another guy in just a few days is dangerous."
"I know," tangi ko nalang sagot at umakyat ng hagdan. Pagdating sa harapan ni Sergei, umupo ako at hinimas ang malaking ulo ni Hades, and he gave me a few licks in greeting. When I finally stood up again, hindi pa rin naalis yung pameywang ng aking ama. I know he's judging me at this moment.
He has seen me with men before, the time where I was experimenting again with dating, and testing the waters if I was ready. His reactions were always mixed, ranging from curiosity about my new experiences, to concern for my emotional well-being. Kaya hindi ko siya masisisi kung ganito yung tingin niya sa akin.
"Okay. Initially, I was just tailing him. Gusto ko lang naman makabalik sa akin yung painting," matapos kong sabihin—feeling defeated again without 'Her despair' on my hands.
Isang tingin lang niya sa akin, alam na niya na wala akong napala roon. "You didn't succeed."
And I shook my head. "No. At least the painting is in good hands," ngiti ko sa kanya pagkatapos.
"How so?"
"Um...He told me that it is inside his safe."
"Yeah? When and where did he tell you about it?"
"He...um. He asked me to have dinner...with him."
"Dinner. Huh. Hanggang one a.m., Ilya?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "No, we picked up his brother at a party after—in which I didn't drink. What's with the questions, dad?" I swear kahit twenty-five na ako, kung umasta siya akala mo bata yung nasa harapan niya ngayon.
Tumalikod ito at kinawit niya ang kanyang daliri, isang senyas para sundan ko siya. Fuck. Am I in trouble?
Tumigil kami sa pinto ng kanyang opisina at pumasok kami, and Hades running straight to his soft bed beside Sergei's desk and laid his bid body comfortably. My adoptive father's home office is a cozy retreat, filled with bookshelves laden with his favorite novels and a comfortable leather armchair where he spends hours lost in thought. The room is adorned with mementos from his travels, each item holding a story that he occasionally shares with me. Unlike the sleek and polished atmosphere of his headquarters, this space exudes a more personal and relaxed ambiance, reflecting his true passions and interests outside of work.
