Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 8

Hindi ihiniwalay ni Garp ang kaniyang mga mata mula sa dalaga. Zai averted her gaze and her thoughts ran deep. Sa unang pagkakataon ay nakita niya itong naguguluhan. The girl's eyebrows are almost meeting as if she's trying to think for an answer.

Garp just let her be and started to walk to the stairs. "You stay for the night. It's dangerous if you travel at this time."

Garp left her in the basement and went upstairs. Nadatnan naman niyang nakahiga si Shane sa kanilang sopa na walang malay at si Trois naman ay nakaupo lamang sa sahig at nakapikit ang mga mata. Umupo si Garp sa isang upuan na kaniyang hinatak at pinagpatuloy ang pag-inom ng alak.

Tinitigan niyang mabuti ang binata. Sa unang tingin pa lang ay mapapansin na ito ang tipo ng tao na nagpapadala lamang sa sinasabi ng instincts nito. Ngunit lahat ng tao ay nag-iisip kahit na gaano ito padalos-dalos.

Ang binata namang ito ay mukhang hindi naman pinagsisisihan ang desisyon na sumama sa dalaga at ituring siyang kriminal ng mga tao. He is reckless but is there a reason for his actions?

Zai isn't the type of human who is ruled by emotions. Sa unang sulyap pa lamang ay mapapansin mo na kung gaano ito kalamig. Mas pinapairal nito ang isip kaysa sa puso. Ibig sabihin ay kung mahuli man ang binata ay hindi ito pag-aabalahang tulungan ng babae. Napakadelikado ang desisyon nito.

"Boy, why would you stain your reputation for her?" Garp suddenly asked after a long silence. Trois opened his eyes halfway and for the first time Garp saw a genuine smile on the boy's lips.

"Because she's family." Garp stared at the boy's face. It was sincere. He could tell that the two are not blood related that only means that the boy treats her as family even though there's no thick connection between. How can this boy treat a cold woman like her so special?

Muli siyang uminom mula sa bote at tumingin naman sa natutulog na si Shane. He squinted his eyes and continued to drink until the bottle is finally empty. "I have a request if I may."

Nakuryoso naman ang binata sa sinabi nito at tiningnan ang matanda na nakatitig lamang kay Shane.

"Take this brat with you." Garp chuckled, "He might be loud and he loves lecturing but he's useful. Not in fighting but he can do mostly everything."

Trois stared at the old man's face, "Why?"

Garp showed a smile, "This brat doesn't deserve to be lock up inside these walls. I want him to see how big the world is. I'm already old and it's not long before I reach my limit. That girl seem dark and cold but I know that she won't let him die in the streets. Although there is a high chance that she will." Garp laughed because of the last sentence. But he stopped laughing and their eyes turned sharp when they sensed a presence coming closer.

"Hide." Garp said. Trois stood up and grabbed Shane then they hid under the stairs where it is pretty dark. Shane slowly opened his eyes until he was fully awake.

"What the--? Anong ginagawa--"

"Shut it." bulong ni Trois at tinakpan ang bibig nito.

Shane grimaced, "Don't say that while making that scary expression of yours. It's scary."

Ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng binata at patuloy pa rin na nakamasid sa pagitan ng mga hagdan. Shane also looked and he was confused when some men came in their house in the middle of the night. Trois clicked his tongue and grabbed the boy's head then lowered it even more. Shane was about to yell at him but he stopped when he felt a cold sensation enveloped his body.

"Shut up or they'll spot us." Trois was clearly intimidating him and it's working. Zai is more intimidating but Trois is not falling behind. Shane kept quiet and just peek through the gaps of the stairs.