"Where's your boss?" Demon asked.
Nanatiling tahimik ang isang lalaking may malaking katawan at DeadEye symbol na tattoo sa kaniyang kanang balikat. Pilit siyang umiiwas ng tingin dahil alam niya na sa oras na umamin siya ay mamamatay siya.
"Tinatakot ka ba niya?"
Pinagpapawisan na ang lalaki kahit na hindi naman mainit sa loob ng hideout nina Demon. He always kept looking on his right shoulder, specifically his tattoo.
Mas mabilis pa sa hangin na kinuha ni Demon ang malapit na ballpen at itinusok ito sa gitna ng tattoo. Hindi man lang nakaramdam ng sakit ang lalaki kaya napag-isipan niya na may nakalagay sa loob ng kaniyang balikat.
"Damn that bastard," Demon whispered in anger.
There was a tiny recorder on the center of the tattoo. It looked so flat that it really blended in with the tattoo.
Bakas sa mukha ng lalaki ang gulat at takot sa ginawa ni Demon. "Paanong—"
"Wala nang pipigil sayo magsabi ng totoo. Now, it's either we take you back to prison or tell me the truth and you can be free to be with your family once again," Demon negotiated with the man.
"Asan ang pamilya ko?!" Pilit na kumakawala sa tali ang lalaki.
Demon answered with a reassuring smile, "They're safe. I brought them to one of our rest house. DeVonte and his men will never find them."
Kinuha ni Demon ang kaniyang cellphone at ipinakita ang litrato ng asawa at anak ng lalaki. Nakahinga naman ng maayos ang lalaki nang makitang nasa mabuting lagay ang kaniyang mag-ina.
"Magsasalita na ako."
▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎
DEATH
Ilang oras na ang lumipas hindi pa rin nila maialis ang tingin nila sa akin. It's like they're watching every move I make.
Kanina pa sila nagbubulungan pero hindi ko sila pinansin. Hindi pa yata sila nadadala sa sigaw ni Ace kanina.
I sighed.
I never knew being hated hurts this much. Wala naman talaga akong pakialam noon. But why am I being so sensitive all of a sudden?
I wasn't like this in the past. I didn't care if they got scared of me. Is it because papa's back? Is it because I have Ace by my side?
Am I being carefree?
Buti nalang at tapos na ang klase. Gusto ko nang kumain. Sabay-sabay kami ng mga kaibigan ko dahil inabangan nila ako.
They're too protective, I should've been the one doing that. Somehow, a itty bitty feeling of happiness resides in my heart. I always thought I didn't need protection because I was strong.
Despite being weaker than me individually, they seem to be much stronger when they're together.
I smiled. I've never felt so loved and appreciated ever since papa left. But now he's back, I've got a loving family by my side and friends to count on.
But the best thing that I've got is Ace's love.
Kaya siguro masyado akong kampante. I shouldn't rely on them too much. "Yo, thanks for all the help pero you don't have to do this much for me." I said causing them to stop and look at me.
"D..."
Umiling lang ako dahil alam ko na ang sasabihin nila.
"Kaya ko na ang sarili ko. I already know how people will react once they find out my dark secret. I won't lose my temper to their insults and terrified looks. They can talk all they want, I'm not stooping down on their level," I said with my head held high.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dark Secret
ChickLitDeath Vilches, an almost perfect girl with the sweetest smile, but underneath it all is a dark secret, a dark side dying to get out. * * * Knowing that her father might have been killed by someone less powerful than him, she suspected Alistair Wilso...
