The Demon General's Young Wife

SC 2: Secrets Unfolded

Mula sa mall hanggang sa kalsada ay ramdam ni Shu na may nakasunod sa kanya mula sa malayo.

Hindi niya sigurado kong mula ito sa mga kaaway nilang organization o mula mismo sa Afterlife Camp.

Binalaan na siya nu'n ng kanyang kasamahan na si Kai tungkol sa bagay na iyun kaya naman isa lamang ang natitiyak niya, an assassin was sent to kill her, and it must be somewhere in the shadows waiting for a perfect timing to finally attack her.

Kakagaling lamang niya sa mall kung nasaan yung martial art training studio na pinapasukan ni Elly. Ihinatid niya ito. Now she's walking down the street to go to a cafe to have a sip of coffee while waiting for her daughter.

She's so hands on that she doesn't want to go somewhere far away from Elly habang nagtitraining ito. Gusto niya, nasa paligid lamang siya malapit sa mall. Just in case of emergency, mapupuntahan niya ito agad.

Matagal na din siyang hindi nakakarecieve ng mission mula kay Madam Hera. Wala siyang natatanggap na signal o kung anu man kaya naman kahit ayaw niya sanang isipin, alam na niya ang ibig sabihin nun. Ibig sabihin hindi na siya pinagkakatiwalaan at itinuturing na kapanalig. In conclusion, Afterlife Camp is planning to eliminate her. That's the rule. If an agent is no longer usable, important or no longer loyal, he or she must be eliminated to avoid leakage of the Camp's information and operations.

Alam na alam niya ang tungkol dun. She once tasked to eliminate one of them who only wants to be free. Now she's been wanting the same thing, and she knows what's her price for that.

Mabilis siyang pasimpleng naglakad papaliko sa isang eskinita. There's a highway at the end of that alley. Doon niya balak dumaan pabalik ng mall to pick up Elly. Nasa mall parking lang naman ang kotse nilang dala-dala.

Kasalukuyan niyang binabaybay ang eskinita nang matunugan na niya ang mga taong nakasunod sa kanya mula sa likod at malapit na ang mga ito. Mag-isa lamang siya, sa pakiwari niya'y tatlo ang nasa likuran niya kaya naman wala siyang balak makipagtunggali sa mga ito. Lalo na't wala siyang dalang kahit na anung armas. She could only rely on her physical strength but she's a bit worn out today of all days. "Shit! Bakit ngayun pa!" Napapamura niya pang naisambit at binilisan pa ang paglalakad.

It will be her absolute end once she engages in a fight against the three.

Paglabas na paglabas ng eskinita ay lumingon pa siya sa magkabilang parte ng main-road nang magulat siya dahil isang itim na limousine ang tumigil sa harap niya at dalawang lalaki bumaba mula roon. Bago pa man siya maka-isip ng gagawin ay mabilis nila siyang hinila papasok sa sasakyan.

That's when she saw the three assassins at the alley, rushing to reach the mainroad.. She could see it through the windows.

Noon na din niya nilingon ang mga tao sa sasakyan. Nasa bandang harap ang mga ito.

"W-Who are you? Why did yo--" Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin nang may inispary ang isang lalaki sa ilong niya dahilan para makatulog siya kaagad.

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"It's done. Everything was taken care of, Sir." Ito ang wika ni Luccia kay Dhark dahilan para magtiim bagang ito.

They're in the livingroom. Nakaupo si Dhark sa sofa habang si Luccia naman ay nakatayo lamang at hawak ang cellphone na kakababa lamang mula sa isang tawag.

Dhark leaned towards the centre-table to have a sip of his coffee, "then where are they," a'niya pa bago bumalik sa pagbabasa ng dyaryo.

"They should be here in any minute."

"That's good then, you may leav--"

"Sir, why don't you just tell your wife about these things? You knew from the very start that she's an assassin and you've been protecting her in secret from countless assassination attempts from her camp. Isn't it better if she knew that way, she'll be more cautious. She might as well help you to eliminate her own camp--"

"My wife has always been worried about me, about my condition. She can't afford to let me know about it and risk mylife in protecting her. If she'll know, she'll feel bad about herself for burdening me." Agad na putol niya sa pinsan.

"But you've been risking your life all these times anyway. You're protecting her everytime! What is the difference?"

"Just-- just don't say a word regarding this to her, Luccia. She's been through a lot. I don't want to put her in more pain and in an absolute fear if I'll let her know that a lot of assassins are being sent out to kill her. Let her live a peaceful and carefree life as what her life should be, should have been, and should always be." He asserted eloquently and looked at Luccia in the eyes. Napalunok naman ito at napabuntong hininga.

"Okay, but until when? Don't you think she deserves to know, too? She hates secrets, you told me that."

Ngumiti siya ng tipid at muling uminom ng kape. "Anyways, it's all done. Hera suffered her fall."

"And if the other faction of the Afterlife Camp avenge her?"

"They don't know my wife. They don't know her face. I've ruined everything, remember? No records, no footprint in the dirt, no identification."

"But you didn't kill Hera. What if she recovers and look for Shu? Or for you?"

"If she'll do that, she'll not go anywhere but death. She knew about that. We have a deal, if she ruins it and will after my wife in the future, you are to give her the gift I've prepared for her." Makahulugan niya lamang na tugon. Tumango-tango na lamang si Luccia bago ngumiti ngunit makalipas ang ilang sandali ay nawala rin ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Napalitan iyun ng kaba at takot.

"Luccia, what's the matter?" Maagap namang tanong ni Dhark noong mapansin iyun.

"Sir, h-how about your alarming current condition. Aren't you going to let your wife know?" Maingat nitong tanong. Napatiim-bagang naman siya bago huminga ng malalim at umiling-iling ng bahagya.

Bumagsak ang mga balikat nito. Her eyes were full of opposition. "Dhark, your doctor said that you--- don't have time," napapalunok at hirap nitong bigkas. "Don't you think it's unfair that you don't let your wife know that her husband is dying? You have to atleast prepare her for it. Aren't you afraid that you'll die in your sleep without her, knowing? That's horrible!" Hindi na nito napigilang bulalas kasabay ng pangingilid ng luha ngunit kaagad din itong napapunas ng luha nang bumukas ang maindoor at iniluwa nun sina Shu at Elly.

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