Sisters of Vengeance

Sisters of Vengeance XVIII

MARGARET

The calmness, the mood, the smiles, the laptops, and the aroma. It was all too good. Too perfect. And I couldn't believe I was here, working, in this kind of place when I should just be a killer and torturer.

This place was too much. I wanted to rage. My face definitely said I couldn't handle this.

"Margaret, isang order ng matcha milk tea sa table 2, please."

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the urge to lash out.

I was trapped, a caged beast forced to play the role of a harmless barista. And it was driving me insane.

Nakatayo ako habang nakatanga sa mga taong sobrang tahimik. It was like they were all in a trance, their faces blank, their eyes glued to their screens. Only the waiters, cashiers, and servers, along with the rhythmic click-clack of keyboards, broke the eerie silence. It was a symphony of monotony, a maddening chorus of normalcy.

When will this end?

I looked at Cielo, his face alight with a genuine smile as he interacted with a customer. He seemed to be enjoying himself, his energy radiating outward. But at what cost?

"Margaret!"

I glared at the person who had called out my fake name. Oh, it was her. The one who was clinging to me. I had shown her my darker side countless times, but she still insisted on being my "friend," all so she could get closer to Cielo.

Excuse her?

"What? Can't you see I'm busy?" I snapped, my voice laced with irritation.

"Busy for what? Eh hindi ka nga gumagalaw diyan eh. Ang dami mong reklamo," she said, her voice dripping with a saccharine sweetness that made my skin crawl.

"Busy murdering your face-"

Before I could finish my sentence, someone tapped my shoulder.

There he was━Cielo. He was enjoying the scenery, the bustling cafe, the chatter of the customers, and the aroma of coffee and pastries. He seemed to be thriving in this world of normalcy, which felt so foreign to me. And here I was, stuck in this charade, forced to pretend I liked it.

"Ako ng kukuha. Pagod pa kasi 'yan kagabi," Cielo said, his voice a soothing balm to the girl's ears.

Kagabi? I didn't do anything last night. What did I do?

"K-Kagabi?" the girl questioned.

Hindi ko mawari pero ngumiti lang si Cielo sa kanya at nilapitan ang tray na puno ng mga drinks galing sa iba't-ibang table.

"Did I torture someone last night?" I asked myself.

There's no one.

Well, if Cielo wanted to torture himself by being around me, thanks.

Malakas akong napabuntong hininga at inis na pumasok sa locker room namin.

It had been only a day, and I already felt like I was going to lose my mind. This was too confusing, too unrealistic. There was no thrill, no excitement, just endless boredom.

I should have just told Viviana I would handle the fallen angels myself. I would have been much happier hunting them down, torturing them, and making them pay for their sins.

"Plastic ka," she said with a sneer, her voice dripping with venom.

Me? Plastic? Do I look like her?

"Saan? At sinong kausap mo?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm.

She stood in the doorway of the locker room, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed, her eyes boring into me. She looked like she wanted to devour me. For real.