Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 88

The whole living room is filled with silence. Sinner closed and opened his palm, making the bandage tighten and loosen. He slipped the bandage between his thumb and index finger then wrapped it around.

The space surrounding them is too quiet. Therefore, Sinner decided to say some words.

"What are you going to do now?" Sinner asked him as he keep his focus on the bandage that he's wrapping around his hand. Ngunit noong hindi ito sumagot ay binigyan niya ito ng isang tingin, "After freeing all of us, what is your next move?"

Alexander took a sip from his cup of coffee. The side of his lips raised as he put the cup down on the saucer he's holding. His sharp gray eyes gaze at Sinner, "Don't expect any more from me," he then put the saucer down on the table beside him as his lips form a smirk, "I have no interests on fighting for the sake of some foreign land."

Hindi naman nagbago ang pagtingin rito ng guro. Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa mga matatalim na mga mata nito. Sinner can feel how much this man's eyes are digging into his. As if he's being watched by some unknown predator and it's been going on for the last days that have passed. Maski sa mga estudyante ay ganito ang tingin nito. He doesn't know why this man is even staying here after he did his job. Tila ba nanatili ito para magmasid. He has a bad feeling about it.

Sinner's eyes slightly sharpened but it eventually turned back to its usual gaze. Ang mga tinatamad na mga mata ni Sinner ay umiwas na lamang ng tingin at humarap na sa pinto, "As expected from that brat's father."

A sly smile appeared on Alexander's lips as he stare at the teacher's back. Tumayo na siya habang hindi pa rin napapawi ang tipid ngunit kahina-hinalang ngiti. He whispered, "I won't go against my daughter's plans," his expression then reverted back to his usual dark expression, "Even if it means ignoring the desperate cries of those pathetic dying souls."

Sinner stopped on his tracks when he heard what he just whispered. Muli siyang lumingon sa kaniyang likuran ngunit wala na roon ang lalaki. Tumalas ang kaniyang mga mata dahil sa mga bagay na pumapasok sa kaniyang isipan noong marinig niya ang ibinulong ng lalaki. It was loud enough for him to hear, as if he intentionally raised his voice a bit. Muli siyang naglakad palayo sa dormitoryo habang binabagabag siya ng mga bagay na pumapasok sa kaniyang isipan.

He clenched his fists in confusion. That brat.. she wouldn't commit betrayal at this point, would she?

Sinner shook his head. Shaking away that thought. Zai made too many actions and in the end she'll just betray them? She's not the type who would do so. Kung gano'n, may iba ba itong plano?

Sinner frustratedly bit the tip of his fingernail. He also has a feeling that Zai and Alexander were keeping in touch for the last few days, he's sensing something bad just by the thought of them contacting each other. He excessively sighed then he scratched the back of his head. If only those two are easy to read, unfortunately, they're not.

"Sir," Sinner lifted his gaze when he heard a voice in front of him, stopping him on his tracks. Nakita naman niya si Zera na seryosong nakatingin sa kaniya.

Sinner spoke first, "How's the deactivation process going?"

Tumango naman ang dalaga, "There are no issues to report, Sir. In fact," she then smiled, "Deactivation of all devices in Centrio is now complete."

Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Sinner sa iniulat sa kaniya ng babae. Ang dalaga ang nagboluntaryong gawin ang komplikadong trabaho na iyon. She was given the task of deactivating all explosive devices that are attached to the limbs of the citizens of Centrio. By using the main source or signal of these devices, she can deactivate it and luckily, the main signal is just in the headmaster's office.