Snowflakes Scattered by Wind (Kalopsia Series #2)

Kabanata 25

Kabanata 25

Matapos ang nangyari ay umakto si Chontelle na walang nangyari bagamat binabagabag siya nang hinalang siya ang target ng nasabing Yakuza. Napili nilang sumakay na sa well known sleeper train in Japan called Sunrise Express which is the last sleeper train in Japan that eventually would take them from Tokyo to Osaka.

They choose a private room to stay inside the train where they pick the upper room at the end of the train to have a better view for sunrise tomorrow. Wala masyadong tao kaya naman halos sila lang dalawa ang naroon. This sleeper train was the last sleeper train and outdated train in Japan however in Chontelle bucket list this was one of the rarest experiences she wanted to experience before such a train will exile to exist.

"Nobi nobi seat was cool Dale!" Chontelle commented tukoy sa common room ng tren habang nagpapalit ng damit pangtulog. Nakaupo naman si Nick sa kama pinapakiramdaman ang kutson doon.

"That bed was too open, we need some privacy Elle."

"I know." Bumuntong hininga siya matapos makapagbihis at tumingin sa salaming bintana ng train. "Let's build a snow man tomorrow, I hear it was snowing in Osaka too."  Matapos ay padapang humiga sa kama. Bahagyang umisod si Nick doon.

"Hai! Hai!"

Nagiisip pa rin ang dalaga at hindi mapakali. Habang naging abala naman si Nick sa paglalahad ng mga pagkaing dala nila. Nang umandar na ang train ay nakatulugan ni Chontelle ang panonood sa nyebe habang bumabyahe ang naturang train.

Subalit lingid sa kaalaman ng dalaga ay ganon din ang iniisip ni Nick. That night, Joker decided to send his men to kill the mother fucker who screwed his time with his woman.

Saglit na lumabas si Nick at nagtungo sa common area ng train.

"Plate number 42-71, around 8:55 pm sharp at Tokyo Night Market. Find them immediately, Ace."

"After that?"

Dumilim ang mukha ni Nick. "Kill them."

Matapos ang pangyayari magpanggap man na walang nangyari ang dalaga ay hindi sila pareho. Ramdam ni Nick ang takot ni Chontelle kanina. Kita niya iyon sa mga mata nito. Alam niya ang paraan ng pagtingin ng dalaga sa kaniya. Hindi siya manhid at tanga. Hindi siya clueless, ayaw niya lang pansinin at bigyan ng kahulugan. Ayaw niyang mas lumalim noon, kontento na siya sa kung anong meron sila noon. Ang importante ay ligtas ito, ang importante ay protektado niya ang dalaga. Subalit hindi na ba maaaring humingi pa siya ng higit? Hindi na ba niya maaaring mabawi ang buhay niya sa likod ng maskara?

"Dully noted Boss."

Kung mapapahamak si Chontelle ng dahil sa kaniya, hindi siya si Super man para layuan ito at isakripisyo ang sarili. Mas gugustuhin niyang iligtas ito at banggain ang kahit na sino kahit kamatayan para sa dalaga. Ganon na nga siguro kalalim ang nadarama niya na pilit niyang pinagtatakluban noon para sa kapakanan ng dalaga.

What about her wife?

That's my bullshit excuses way back in college.

Matapos iyon ay muli siyang tumawag sa panibagong tao.

"It's me." Standing next to the transparent wall of the train holding the can of beer in his hand almost half naked and wearing only a robe as watching the snow falling down the road while the train was moving along Nick greeted the person he called.

"Oh Nick pre! What's up—"

"Siggy, it's Joker." He whispered. Doon na natahimik ang nasa kabilang linya. Matagal na katahimikan bago muli itong nagsalita.

"What happened?"

"I'm in Japan right now..." At first he was hesitant to tell it however he needed to. "With Chontelle."

"I knew it! Best friend my ass bro! "

"Chairman Ezekiel Siegrain Chavez, I need your help." When he said that Siggy stopped laughing and teasing him.

Chairman Ezekiel Siegrain Chavez was one of the conglomerates in Asia and Europe. The owner of Chavez Electronic Corporation Ltd which is known as a multinational major appliance and consumer electronics corporation in both Asia and Europe. Chavez Group specializes in the production of a wide variety of consumer and industry electronics, including appliances, digital media devices, semiconductors, memory chips, and integrated systems. Pamana iyon nang kaniyang magulang sa kaniya bago ang mga ito naaksidente noong college sila. Gayunpaman sa mata ni Nick ay ito pa rin ang kaklase niya noong senior high na talagang maaasahan niya.

"Calling help from me? You must be in depth of dying huh. Why would I help an underground broker like you?" Saglit na uminom nang beer si Nick bago muling nagsalita.

"You have to, Matsuno Triad was meddling with your wife's head after all." Natigilan ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Fire it."

"I need to die." Mas mahabang katahimikan ang namutawi sa kabilang linya kaya naman nagsalita na muli siya. "I know you can do that, Ezekiel. You're one of them, help me."

"Are you out of your mind?" Pabulong subalit may diing tanong ni Siggy. Kung hindi ito nababaliw ay hindi na niya alam ang sasabihin dito.

"They will not kill me without orders from higher up, they will make me do this until 90." Tumawa pa si Nick ng bahagya kahit bakas sa mukha ang inis. "Better yet kill me already."

Bumuntong hininga si Siggy bago sinagot si Nick. "I'll talk to them and arrange it for you." Malungkot na nangiti si Nick.

"Thank you bud." Huminga siya ng malalim. "And can you do me a favor?"

"What is it this time?"

"Don't make Chontelle do it, just assign somebody else."

"Fuck you."

"My pleasure bud," doon na namatay ang telepono. Mukhang pinagbabaan na siya ng kausap. Malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Nick bago siya muling lumaklak ng beer at tumitig sa bintana kung saan dahil na rin sa dilim ay tanging reflection niya na lang ang nakikita. He's wearing his signature piercing once again. Kuminang ito bagay na nagpangisi sa binata.

"This will all end without Elle knowing it." Doon na niya nilabas mula sa bulsa ng kaniyang robe ang kanina pang tinatagong necklace. The 15.5 million dollar Lefkóio necklace from the House of Bourbon in Madrid.

He's tired, too tired.

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