Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 82

Ero tiredly sighed when he closed the door of the house behind him. Nakita naman niya si Trois na nasa sala na nakaupo at pinaglalaruan ang isang kutsilyo gamit ang hintuturo. Trois tilted his head as he look at him, "Got anything good?"

Ero pulled a paper out of his pocket and walked to him. Ibinaba niya ang naturang papel sa maliit na lamesang nasa tapat nito at siya'y dumiretso sa kusina upang uminom ng tubig. Bumalik siya sa sala na bitbit na ang isang baso ng tubig. Nakita naman niyang pinagmamasdan ng binata ang kaniyang dalang papel. He looked around, "Where's Zai?"

Trois shrugged, "I don't know. She suddenly disappeared."

"Ano?!" mabilis niyang inilapag ang baso sa counter na nasa kaniyang tabi. Trois ignored his shocked reaction. He then sighed excessively and massaged the gap between his eyes, "And you just let her?" sarkastikong saad nito na hindi naman pinansin ng binata. He clenched his teeth and again, he excessively sighed.

"Where the hell did that brat go?!"

--

Zai quietly stood on one of the tree's branches. Her back is leaning on the tree's trunk as her arms cross on her chest. Her sharp eyes are looking down on the cabin, specifically at the window where she could see Yan sipping his coffee from a cup.

The cabin seemed fine. It is clean and still the same as before. The general also looks the same like always, his condition is fine as well.

Umayos ng tayo si Zai at kinuha mula sa kaniyang tagiliran ang isang nakarolyong papel kung saan nakasulat ang plano at sitwasyon. Sa isang iglap ay nawala ang dalaga sa puno at siya'y lumitaw sa harap ng pinto.

Yan stopped from taking a sip and he lifted his gaze when he felt a familiar presence just by his door. Mabilis niyang ibinaba ang hawak niyang tasa at libro at mabilis na tumungo sa pinto. He opened it immediately, quite expectant but he saw no one. He was sure that Zai was there. He can't be mistaken.

Tumingin naman siya sa kaniyang paanan at nakita ang isang nakarolyong papel. He picked it up and looked around again, only to see no one. He can't sense any presence any longer. He pursed his lips then he sighed before going inside.

Zai's expression hasn't change as she jump from one tree to another. Pabalik na siya sa bahay kung saan sila kasalukuyang nagtatago. Madilim ang gubat dahil lumipas na ang ilang oras noong lumubog ang araw ngunit nakakaya pa rin niyang tumalon mula sa isang puno patungo sa isa.

Her eyes sharpened and she stopped on one branch when she heard a thud coming from her right side. Tumingin siya sa kaniyang kanan at napagdesisyunan na magpunta roon. The noise is getting louder and louder as she approach it.

Tumigil siya sa isang puno at itinago ang kaniyang sarili sa katawan nito. She looked at the cause of the noise and saw the same boy from before.

Just like before, he's wearing a long loose pants. Maluwag ito ngunit sakto naman ang kapit nito sa kaniyang bewang at mga paa. Wala itong suot na pang-itaas at dahil do'n ay pansin ang medyo maskuladong katawan nito na hindi nababagay sa isang lalaking may murang edad. Medyo maikli rin ang pulang buhok nito at dahil do'n ay kitang-kita ang seryosong ekspresyon nito na tila ba permanente na.

Ang mga dumudugong kamao nito ay nababalutan ng mga benda habang siya'y nakaharap sa isang malaking bato at siya'y hinihingal na rin. Tagaktak na ang pawis nito at halatang pinipilit na lamang ang sariling tumayo.

Muli itong sumuntok sa malaking bato kahit na nagdudugo na ng malubha ang kaniyang mga kamao. He clenched his teeth when his knees almost gave up. Pinatili niya ang sariling nakatayo kahit na nanlalabo na ang kaniyang mga paningin.