How To Make A Serial Killer

| 26 : Promise |

----- CHAPTER 26 -----

Pinauwi ni Andros si Selene at siya na ang nagpresentang maghatid sa akin sa bahay. Wala akong angal lalo't kung tutuusin, mas nai-intimidate ako kay Selene kumpara kay Andros.

Andros may be the boss but somehow, he's easy to get around with. I guess despite his social status, he's a natural pushover.

"Are you sure you don't want to drink coffee?" Sinulyapan ako ni Andros habang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.

Umiling ako. Pang-ilang tanong na niya ito sa akin, nakakainis na.

"How about milk? I know this 24-hour store that sells—"

"Dude, what am I? Five?" Nakangiwi akong humarap sa kanya.

"Donovan still drinks Milk." He shrugged, letting out a soft chuckle.

"That's because that son of a bitch is a huge—" Nahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang biglang naglaho ang ngiti sa mukha ni Andros. Ay pucha! Magkapatid nga pala sila!

"Please pretend that you didn't hear that." I smiled awkwardly, raising a peace sign as I hung my head low.

He sighed. "How did this beef with Dondon start? Ba't para kayong aso't pusa lagi?" May naglalarong ngiti sa mukha niya kahit pa nakatuon ang buo niyang atensyon sa daang tinatahak namin.

"Dondon?" Natawa na lang ako. Next time he'll mess with me, I'm gonna call him that just to annoy him. "Nga pala, kumusta na ang isang 'yon? Gago pa rin ba?"

"Nag-aalala ka kay Donovan?" Ngumisi siya at muling sumulyap sa akin, parang nang-aasar.

"Psh!" Napasinghal ako at napasandal na lamang sa backrest ng upuan. "Nga pala, natawagan mo na ba ang mga magulang ni Levi? Ilang linggo na rin 'yong naghahanap sa kanya."

"Levi?" Kunot-noo siyang tumingin sa akin. "You think he's the body that they found?"

"Bakit? Sino pa ba?" tanong ko. "He's the only one that hasn't been found — unless may ibang target ang Berdugo maliban sa amin?"

"The body that they found was hidden inside a steel chest. It's already in the state of decomposition. Wala itong pagkakakilanlan at hindi na rin makilala ang mukha." Sumulyap siya ulit sa akin. "I already called a forensic team who will help identify the body."

"See! State of decomposition! I bet it's Levi." I sighed. "I wonder what his sin was . . ." Hinilig ko ang ulo ko sa direksyon ng bintana at napasulyap sa nadadaanan naming mga bahay.

"Nga pala, wala ka ba talagang balak umalis ng Valesca?" bigla niyang tanong. "I can help you get a scholarship and housing in Manila. I can even hire your uncle in one of our companies. It would be safer there."

"I told you already . . ." Marahan akong napakamot sa dulo ng kilay ko. "My Tito would never leave this place, and I would never go anywhere without him. Kung nasaan siya, nandoon ako."

"Then accept my offer to stay in a safehouse," giit niya. "You will be protected there 24/7. I will even be there myself just to make sure nothing bad happens."

"At kung may mangyayaring masama? Sagot mo na ang lahat ng medical expenses ng pamilya ko?" taas-noo kong panghahamon.

"I promise you with my life, nothing bad will happen to the two of you," he announced coldly with clenched jaw and eyebrows furrowed.

Natawa na lang ko. This guy and his self-pride.

"I'm so gonna kill you if anything bad happens to me and my uncle," biro ko na lang.