Third Person POV
"Who the fuck is that?" Tanong ni Lucien pagkakita sa mga litrato na naka-flash sa monitor.
When Lysander said it was an emergency, it really was an emergency dahil buong pamilya nila ay nandito. Pati ang magulang nila at mga pinsan nila. They are all staring at the screen confused. Litrato iyon ng isang babae na halatang kinuha ng patago.
"Hera sent that to me."
"Why would she send that to you? Sino ba yan?" Tanong ng pinsan nila na si Tatiana.
"My wife."
To say that everyone is shock ia an understatement. They have known Lysander as someone who has no time for relationship dahil masyado itong abala sa trabaho.
"Your wife?" Tanong ng ama niya. "Bakit ngayon lang namin nalaman?"
"Because I don't want anyone to know. Masyadong simple ang buhay niya para ipaalam pa ang tungkol sa trabaho ko na ito. And I also did that to protect her. The less people who knows, the safer."
"Less people nga, ikaw lang ang nakakaalam." Sarkastikong saad ni Lucien sa kapatid.
"It doesn't matter anymore. You all know what this means, Hera got the upperhand."
"Hindi pa ba nung umpisa pa lang. How was the search for her anyway? Do you have any leads?" Tanong ng Tita nila.
"I had to stop getting people to search for her, I'm getting more body bags than information about her whereabouts. I also doubt that she is even in the country, may tao siyang pinapakilos sa mga ginagawa niya. She can't afford to be seen." Napahilot sa sentido si Lysander." I had my wife to fly to another country, mas ligtas siya don. If you have a partner who doesn't know anytging about our job, it's better you hide them. Fly them to another country, just same place safer than here. Kung nalaman ni Hera ang tungkol sa asawa ko, it's hundred percent sure that she knows about yours as well. We can only do precautions, hindi natin alam kung anong susunod na gagawin ni Hera."
Pinag-usapan pa ang tungkol sa mga pamilya nila, na umabot pa sa pagtatalo kung bakit nakipagrelasyon ang iba sa kanila sa mga sibilyan. For them, it is better to be in a relationship with someone in the same field, para walang kailangang itago, and because of constant threat, mas malala kapag sibilyan ang pamilya. They can be used against any of them, kaya pinagsabihan pa si Lysander tungkol sa asawa niya..
Lucien was so preoccupied, iniisip niya si Elara. Alam niyang kayang protektahan ng babae ang sarili pero natatakot siya kung paano kapag wala siya ay baka mapahamak ito. Alam niya, Elara can be used to threaten him. Ito lang naman ang pinakamalapit sa kanya.
Nang umalis na ang iba nilang pamilya at tanging si Lucien, Lysander, at ang magulang na lang nila ang natitira ay kinausap ni Lucien ang kapatid.
"Lysander, can you post some of our people in Elara's home?"
"I already did that. Kinausap ko na rin si Tito Elias tungkol sa posibleng mangyari, he will strengthen their security, lalo na para kay Elara. It's obvious that Hera's going to go for the people close to us, and I well aware about your relationship."
Hindi sinagot ni Lucien ang komento ng kapatid. "Salamat."
Nilingon niya ang magulang niya at halatang hinihintay lamang silang matapos mag-usap. Their father signalled Lucien to leave, ibig sabihin ay kakausapin nila ang kapatid niya. He tap his brother's shoulder as a goodluck, he has a lot of explaining to do about his family.
Lucien just hugged his parents and left the place. Pagkasakay niya ng elevator ay kinuha niya ang telepono niya at may sunod-sunod na mensahe galing kay Astraea doon, awtomatikong napangiti siya at binasa ang mga iyon.
———
Kamahalan:
I can't sleep. I keep thinking about the fishball. Let's eat that again tomorrow ah?
Look, Ares, I haven't tried this kind of bbq. Are they delicious? *video link*
How about the isaw? Intestine yun, right? The poop goes there, right? Is it safe to eat? Can we really it those? Are they good din ba?
Are you asleep na ba? Sorry for flooding. I saw this bunch of turo-turo food kasi on the internet when I searched about it. There are lots pala.
And they have this desert pala called scramble that looks like a pink bingsu. I wanna try that as well, do they have that sa place na sinasabi mo na cheaper yung fishball.
Ohhhh. They have this place pala sa Manila where you can buy lots of streetfood! Like they have a whole lane for it. Let's go there next time!
Hayyy. I feel sleepy na. Sorry for bombarding you with messages! See you tomorrow, Ares!✨
———
Hindi na nagreply pa si Lucien dahil ilang minuto pa lang ang lumipas mula sa huli niyang text, baka maabala pa ang pagtulog ng dalaga kaya nakuntento na lang siya sa pagtitig sa screen ng cellphone niya.
He drove as fast as he could to his house at mabilis na nagpuntansa may telescope niya at tinanaw ang kwarto ng dalaga. Patay na ang ilaw nito kaya naupo na lang siya sa sopa habang nakatanaw sa bahay nila.
"Good night, kamahalan."
