THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

KABANATA 49

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

Isa... Dalawa... Tatlo... Hindi segundo, ngunit minuto. They stayed like that, bickering nonstop like goddamn new-born baby chicks deprived of food for a few days. Ang mas malala, nagsusuntukan at nagsisipian sila sa ere. Dahil hindi pa naman napapatayuan ng harang ang buong site, kaya nakikita ng ilang dumadaan ang kaguluhan nilang dalawa.

Some don't give a fuck, but many are laughing and taking it lightly, and there's also others who'll stare at them with their 'are they out of their minds' look as they pass by. Lahat ng 'yon, napansin ng mga mata ko, kaya hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng hiya at inis sa patuloy pa ring ginagawa nilang dalawa sa harapan ko.

Tuloy, nang hindi makatiis ay inabot ko lahat ng hawak ko kay Draven, maliban sa aking kape na nainuman ko na, at tinulak si Azair papalayo sakanya. "Stop it already."

"Ay, nako, huwag mo 'kong pigilan, Architect! Lulumpihan ko 'yang mayabang na 'yan. Singkapal ng libro kung kalabanin ako, aba. Gusto ata talaga niyang makatikim ng muscles, eh! Palibhasa, pinanganak na bobo, lumaking bobo, at mamamatay na bobo!" Azair said continuously.

"Parang kasalanan ko pa..? Ako pa talaga?! Ulol ka na ata talaga, eh, no..?" I heard Draven laughing behind me. "Stop making assumptions or conclusions without evidence to support your claims, Engineer! Using obscenity and profanity doesn't make your point valid at all. It only shows your inability to communicate appropriately!"

I sighed before widening my eyes at Azair, who was about to answer back, "Sabing tama na, diba..? Pumunta tayo rito para magtrabaho, Engineer. Grow up for pete's sake! Binabayaran ka para serbisyo mo, hindi para makipagaway kung kani-kanino na wala namang dulot dito." pagbabanta ko.

"Tignan mo, ikaw pinapagalita—" Before Draven could complete his sentence, I glared at him too, which made him cut himself off. Kaagad siyang napatikom ng kaniyang bibig, kasabay ng paglunok niya nang malalim.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sakanya. "Ikaw naman, kung hindi ka rin mananahimik, umalis ka na lang. May ibang trabaho ka diba..? Kaya huwag kang makisiksik dito. We don't need you here just to bother us." I scoffed at him, "In the first place, no one even hired you for you to make a clown of yourself, moron!" dagdag ko.

His lips parted, "Bakit parang mas masakit 'yong sa'kin..? Ang unfair naman no'n!" pagproprotesta niya pa rin.

I rolled my eyes and pulled Azair again after noticing that he went closer to Draven just to get his cup of
coffee back. Nagawa niya pa ngang mabuksan ang kahon na may pagkain para makaluha ng tinapay do'n.

A second ago, he was cursing his cousin to death. Now, he's making sure that he will have a part of Draven's stuff. He's sure got a lot to handle. Well, both of them are, if I'm being honest. Perhaps it's because they are from the same bloodline and they share the same brain cells hypothetically.

"Let's go back to work now, Azair." Sinimulan ko siyang itulak papalapit sa kabilang dulo ng lupa, "We'll measure the height this time, before continuing with the ground inspection." saad ko nang makarating at bago hilain ang dulo ng panukat sa loob ng metro.

I started walking backwards after that, opposite his direction. Kahit ramdam ko ang muling pagsunod ni Draven sa'kin na parang tuta sa mga oras na 'yon, ay hindi ko siya nilingon. I focused on aligning the hook on the side after squatting my knees down.

Sinunod niya ang aking posisyon, ngunit sa harapan ko siya mismo pumwesto. "Miss—"

"Don't call me that. I became an architect for a reason, Prosecutor."

"Sige, 'miss architect' na lang, basta susuyuin mo muna ako. Alam mo bang masakit sa aking heart ang mga sinabi mo, ah..?" His head tilted. "Kung gan'yan lang din naman pala katabil 'yang dila mo, sana pala dinukot mo na lang sa dibdib ko 'tong—"