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Dumating ako sa suite na puno ng dugo ang mga sleeve ng polo ko. Habang naglalakad ako sa malawak na living room, hinubad ko ang shirt ko, hindi ko na pinansin ang mga patak ng dugo na bumabalot at pumapatak sa sahig. The target was dead—our operation had gone perfectly. We had escaped quickly using our cars, leaving no evidence behind.
Despite the success, I was irritated. The job had gone smoothly, but my encounter with Ali's father, Mr. Governor Santiago, was still gnawing at me. I could feel the anger.
Nang makaalis kami, walang ibang iniisip kundi ang nangyari kanina. It was supposed to be a routine job, but Mr. Santiago's sudden appearance had complicated things. Alam kong si Mr. Santiago ay hindi basta-basta. His reputation alone was enough to make anyone wary. I smirked, but the fact that he recognized me immediately, it will be exciting!
I paced around the living room, trying to calm my thoughts. The blood on my shirt was a stark reminder of the day's events, a day that should have ended without complications. Pero hindi ko mapigilan ang galit ko. The encounter with Mr. Santiago had thrown me off balance. Naalala ko ang ginawa niya, I chuckled irritatedly. Fuck!
"Boss, dumating na pala kayo." Si Julio, kapatid ni Darius.
"Prepare my bath," I commanded,
"Sige boss, nga pala... hindi parin nakain iyong babaeng bitag," kumamot ito sa kaniyang ulo.
"Why?" Pinupunasan ko na ng malinis na damit ang dibdib at mga kamay ko.
"Ewan ko don, boss." Kumamot ito ulit.
"Dadalawin ko siya after I take my bath, patayin niyo ang CCTV and no one in the second floor in the lobby,"
"Yes boss."
I stepped into the bathroom, ang malamig na tiles sa ilalim ng aking mga paa ay nagbibigay ng kakaibang pakiramdam matapos ang init ng mga nangyari kanina. As I turned on the shower, hinayaan kong dumaloy ang mainit na tubig sa aking katawan, hoping it would wash away the tension from the day. The water felt soothing against my skin, pero ang isip ko ay hindi mapakali. The mission had been successful—patay na ang target at walang aberya ang pagtakas namin.
Nakasandal ako sa tiles, habang ang tubig ay patuloy na bumubuhos sa aking likod. My thoughts drifted back to the confrontation with Mr. Santiago. Agad niya akong nakilala, and his cold gaze told me he wasn't someone to be underestimated.
A smirk crossed my face as I recalled how Mr. Santiago's expression had shifted. Nakita ko ang gulat at takot sa kanyang mga mata, and it was satisfying. He underestimated me, and that was his mistake. Akala niya siguro nasa basurahan parin ako. Naglabas ako ng malalim na hininga, habang ang steam mula sa shower ay bumalot sa buong banyo. The warmth of the water was calming, pero ang iritasyon ko ay hindi pa rin nawawala.
I stepped out of the bathroom with just a white towel wrapped around my lower body. My skin was still damp, the heat from the shower lingering on my flesh. As I walked toward the bedroom, I felt the cool air from the slightly open window brush against me, but it did little to quell the warmth building inside.
When I reached the door of the bedroom, I paused for a moment. I knew Aliah was in there, but there was a strange tension in my chest. Maybe it was because of what had happened earlier, or perhaps it was because of what I might feel when I saw her. Slowly, I pushed the door open, letting the light from the hallway spill into the dim room.
