The Causatum of Revenge: Thatcher Series

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿

[7]

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

The clock struck eight as guests filtered into the dimly lit venue of LWA. The air was thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses—a far cry from the tension that had permeated our lives just months before. Late na kaming dumating ni Lucillious at nagsimula na din yung event.

He limped slightly, still adjusting to the aftermath of his recent hospital stay. Kaya niya na naman daw, kahit kaka recover niya lang.

"Akala ko hindi na kayo makakarating since I heard you can't still walk properly." bungad ni Zayden samin. Nandito pala siya, akala ko nasa table lang siya eh. I guess, he's here to entertain the visitors as well.

"I can't miss this kind of party. Thus, it's our first time here." Lucillious replied, his tone light but firm. I, however, stood silent beside him, my eyes scanning the venue filled with familiar yet unfamiliar faces. Most notably, I sought out Kinsley, the evening's celebrant, who emanated a glow of youth and freedom at her eighteenth birthday.

"That's good. You have your own VIP table up front. Nandun na din yung ibang mafia's." Zayden said before he drifted off to mingle.

As we found our seats, I remained preoccupied. Wala lang, naninibago ako. Parang kailan lang, nagplano kaming pumunta dito not to party, to negotiate but to kill all of them.

"What’s wrong?" Lucillious asked quietly, his concern evident.

"Nah, I just can't believe. Parang kailan lang nagpapatayan tayong lahat, and now we're here as one, united." sagot ko and he just nod, and a warm smile spreading across his face.

Yeah, honestly it felt surreal. LWA had once been a battlefield for us, a place where blood had stained the ground and trust had been a distant dream. A bond shared through mutual loss transformed animosity into friendship. Yet, beneath the surface of camaraderie, the ghosts of our past still whispered.

Halos nakita ko na silang lahat dito. But kanina pa ako palingon lingon para mahanap si Samantha. Hindi na kami nakapag usap pa, simula pa nung huling gyera namin sa island. Gusto ko siyang kamustahin, gusto ko din malaman kung humihinga pa ba siya. When I finally spotted her across the hall, I excused myself.

Pinuntahan ko siya. Kalmado lang siyang umiinom ng wine.

"How’s everything going with you?" I asked, attempting to breach the chasm that felt like an ocean between us. Mukhang hindi naman siya nagulat nung nakita ako, wala din namang ilangan.

"Moving forward ano pa nga ba, sinusubukan kalimutan ang lahat kahit hindi naman kailangan." Samantha replied, her smirk hiding deeper scars. She raised her glass, offering me some wine kaya tinanggap ko agad.

"About Cosette..." she hesitated, tama bang pag usapan pa namin?

"I should be the one asking you. How are you? Pagkatapos mong malaman ang lahat." Samantha's question pierced through the thin veneer. Cosette had never known existed until betrayal shattered our world.