The Mistaken Bride

chapter 21 - Flashback

"Ate, time out muna." Lilac raised her hand at habol ang hininga na umupo.

Napangiti siya sa pawisang si Lilac. She is lecturing her on simple self defenses. It's almost two hours since they started the training. "Ang aga-aga ng pahinga mo, ah. We need to adhere by the schedule." Mataas ang boses na sabi niya dito. They can't take chances. Nailabas na ang abuela at ngayon ay mas doble ang nagbabantay dito. She asked more men to secretly guard her na lingid sa kaalaman nito. Gayundin ang mga magulang pati na si Lilac. No one knows except her and the agents. Not even her parents. Even Lilac doesn't know. She grabs her bottled water at uminom.

Nakapikit na nakasandal si Lilac sa pader na naroon. She's becoming a learner though. But then, she needs to learn fast. Hindi sapat na alam nito ang mga simpleng depensa. Alam niyang kayang pumatay ng mga taong iyon. Damn them! She won't allow them to hurt her family. Her phone rang. Binalingan niya ang kapatid. "Stay here. I'll be back. Don't dare sleep," she glared at her.

"Ate, you don't have to remind me again.." Lilac snorted. Namumula na iniiwas nito ang tingin sa kanya.

Napailing habang papalayo siya dito. Oh yes. Her dear sister dared to took a nap while she was talking to someone the other day. In the middle of her training!

"Hello?"

"Wilkins, ma'am." Anang isa sa mga bagong agents.

"Yes Wilkins?"

"Your aunt just came in the office. With Mr. Delgado."

Tumango siya na para bang kaharap lang ito. "And?"

"We already have people inside to look out for any suspicious event. Just as you ordered."

"Good. Anything else?"

Tumikhim ang nasa kabilang linya. "Ms. Cardenas filed a leave yesterday."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Until when?"

"Two weeks. Seemed to me that they are planning something."

"Of course. They wouldn't want any suspicion on their tail for now."

"We've also placed some agents outside to secure the parameters."

"Very good. If you notice anything suspicious, let me know."

"Copy, ma'am."

"And Wilkins?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"If any of you have a gut feeling about something, tell me." That's an order.

"Copy, ma'am."

Nagpaalam na siya at ibinaba ang telepono. Bumalik na siya sa training room.

"Is everything okay, ate?" Naroon ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng kapatid.

"It's not. You know that. There are still people out there who will try to kill grams. Or us." Isinuot niya ang boxing gloves. Sinenyasan si Lilac na lumapit. Awtomatiko na isinuot nitong muli ang boxing gloves.

"I'm just wondering, ate.."

Nilingon niya ito. "About what?"

Tinitigan siya ng kapatid. "Where did you learn these things? I can tell that mom and dad are just ordinary civilians. Well, mom was part of a sorority. Dad, he is not part of any gang or fraternity before but he knows a lot of dangerous people. But you. How come you know these things? I mean, these self defenses?"

Huminga siya ng malalim. She started doing the basic footwork for boxing. Ginaya naman siya ng kapatid. "Well, dad and mom brought me to New York two years ago. I met dad's cousin. Isang malayong kamag anak." Tumawa siya ng maalala ang nakaraan..