Curse Of The Aswangs (The Vasquez Brothers #1)[COMPLETED]

17: ASH

I dropped by at work and finished the rest of my 8 hour shift.
I was so annoyed when we had to stop by a burger stall at the plaza before continuing the mission. While the lady was still cooking the patty, Dylan turned to face me. "Do you think it's not good to stop by and get a burger?"

"I think it is." I drank from the Mountain Dew straw. "We're stalling ourselves here."

"A good meryenda (afternoon snack) wouldn't ruin our mission."

"Well, we will investigate the Armando mansion."
"Let's investigate it seriously."
"Of course we will! Don't tell me what to do. I'm way older than you." I protested a joke.
"I'm older than you, actually. I just look like 17. I'm 29."

I almost dropped the mountain dew bottle. "Huh?! This is outrageous! And I look like I'm having backaches of a sixty year old!"

"Faerie age slows down. This is my physical age and I still have the right to order you."

Typical filipino behavior. I thought. "Just because you're older doesn't mean you have the right to order me."

"Are you an Idiot?! I'm talking about the debt I have on your mom and it's hard to babysit the three of you!" Dylan argued back. Some of the people who were also sitting on the other side of the stall looked over at us.

After a moment, I set down the Mountain Dew as I studied his face. "What was mom like? Being a witcher?"

"Your mom gave hope to the dark, Ash." Dylan said. "She believes that this is not just about saving lives, this is about reaching out and giving people hope too. It's a tough job. You were a psychology major, you know it."
I blinked in surprise."But that's different."

Dylan lowered his head to take a sip from his Mountain Dew. "All I'm saying is that you need to show that there's love and hope still left in this cruel world. There's already too much darkness. This is your shot to change."

I had a tough college life and much tougher end with my best friends in Iloilo.

I hadn't had any communication with them after cutting ties.

I returned here to have a fresh start, and had a normal life.

"Although sometimes I thought it was easy to let go, but the truth is, it's hard sometimes to let go of the past, and it's hard to change, Dylan."
"Hey, it's a possibility on your own progress." Dylan said. "You will eventually let it go. Besides, you're the oldest, I believe you can bring so much more."

****

After using the bathroom, I was at the alley, checking for any updates from my brothers. No text. Dylan was waiting for me at the burger stall.

I was about to return when I sensed someone was standing behind me. A thick spicy vanilla scent hung in the air.

I whirled around, prepared to punch him but he caught my fist unbelievably fast in his hand. "Nice try, little Witcher."

Warily, I yanked my fist away. The man was almost around my age or he was a year older. He had Chinese features on his face, and a mix of a foreign one too. He had an aura of a dangerous man with a dangerous intent. His skin was pale white. His short black wavy hair stood a bit. And his eyes...it was the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.
"Looks like you came much closer on killing me. Next time, you wouldn't get a chance." I scoffed.

He gave a low chuckle. "Don't worry, little Witcher. I don't eat human meat and mostly I don't kill. Not unless, you're one of the evil creatures." He swept his gaze over my body.

I was still on defense mode, with both of my fists raised levelly to my chest. "Are you a witcher too?"
He stepped close enough that a vanilla scent filled my nostrils. "No. I'm something you should not know of. I knew you were a Vasquez as soon as I saw you."

I let down my fists. "Okay, what do you want?"
"I want what you want. To kill them. The aswangs." His face split into a teasing grin.