Hired Killer

Hired Killer Chapter 21

##### Chapter 21 Denying True Feelings

Umuwi si Faye ng bahay nila para maligo, nakatayo lang siya sa harap ng shower at hinahayaang bumuhos ito sa kanya habang nakatulala, blanko ang isip n'ya.

Habang umaagos ang tubig mula sa kanyang katawan, inaalis din ang natuyong dugo mula kay Don Fernando. Nakapikit lang si Faye habang ninanamnam ang tubig mula sa shower, ngunit kahit anong agos ng tubig at ang mga dugo ay nawala na, alam n'ya na hindi nito malilinis ang budhi n'ya.

Ang daming bumabagabag sa puso at isip n'ya ngunit wala na s'yang maramdaman pa. Kaya naman nanatili na lang s'yang nakapikit.

Habang blanko ang isip n'ya ay bigla na lamang nag-sink in dito ang nakangiting mukha ni Yoko, kaya naman biglang napamulat si Faye.

" Ngayon nga pala ang part-time job ng hamster na 'yon sa Barcode, " kausap ni Faye sa sarili n'ya.

Ewan n'ya ba sa sarili n'ya, bakit nga ba s'ya labis na nag-aalala para kay Yoko. Napapailing na lang s'ya, pagkatapos ay kinuha ang bathrobe at isinuot ito.

Nagmamadaling nagbihis si Faye, pagkatapos ay sumakay ng kotse n'ya para pumunta sa Barcode. Hindi n'ya alam kung bakit kusa s'yang dinadala ng mga paa n'ya papunta rito.

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*****Barcode*****

Faye sat at the crowded bar, her annoyance boiling under the surface as the bass blasted loudly from the speakers, vibrating the floor beneath her. The dim lighting is punctuated by multicolored strobe lights that paint patrons' faces in vivid shades of red and blue. She sipped her wine, the glass cooling in her hot palm.

" What kind of place is this? " she hissed under her breath, her gaze sweeping across the chaotic space.
" Hindi dapat nagpupunta ang bubwit na 'yon sa ganitong lugar. It’s not for her to work in this kind of place, " Faye's thoughts drifted to Yoko who had found a part-time job at this seedy bar. Faye felt an unsettling mix of worry and anger at the decisions Yoko made, decisions that seemed reckless in such a noise-driven environment.

Light flashes caught her attention as she scanned the room, searching. Still no sign of Yoko. The clock seemed to tick slower in the bar, each passing second heightening Faye's discomfort. Dahil ayaw niyang isipin ang nararamdaman n'ya para kay Yoko, or the growing concern that gnawed at her. She forced herself to finish her wine, ordering another to fill the gap that Yoko's absence had carved out.

Meanwhile, Yoko hustled away from one group of patrons, balancing two full glasses of wine as the bar manager called her over.

" Yoko! A VIP customer requested that you serve them a drink, " said the manager, his tone urging rather than asking.

" Bakit po ako? "

" Sumunod ka na lang kung gusto mo pang makapasok ulit dito. Go on, it might be worth a big tip, " said the manager, a hint of condescension in his voice.

" Pero, Sir- "

" No buts. Just go or I'll find someone else, " his tone brooked no argument, and with a reluctant sigh. Yoko walked towards the back corner of the bar where the shadows mingled with bits of light, revealing a table draped in an air of exclusivity.

As Yoko approached, she saw a man dressed in an expensive suit leaning back in his chair. His eyes assessing her as if she was a fine piece of art. A shiver of discomfort raced down her spine, but the promise of extra cash pushed Yoko to maintain her composure.

Faye, who drinking ten glasses of wine already, felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach again. Hindi n'ya pa rin nakikita si Yoko. Kanina pa hinahanap ito ng kanyang mga mata, nag-aalala kasi s'ya para rito, kaya gusto na n'ya itong iuwi sa bahay nila.