NAPALUNOK si Devin ng sariling laway. He loosen his tight grip. Devin knows he can't change it. It was clearly an order, it was his last mission. He's expecting this to happen, but not this earlier.
"So, are you in?" Ethan asked, arms crossed.
Devin gave him an intent look. "Do I have a choice?" he said in thick sarcasm.
The guy in navy tuxedo smirked bago siya muling napaayos ng coat. "Well, then everything's settled. Prepare and do everything to condition yourself. We will see you tomorrow."
Hindi sumagot si Devin. This time, it looks like that's not his prior concern anymore. Ethan and his men left the shop as soon as they expressed their agenda. Devin clenched his jaws at wala sa sariling napaupo sa couch. Naramdaman niyang may humawak sa kaniyang kaliwang balikat. It was Homer's warm hand.
"Do you want me to drive for you, boss?" he asked.
Mabilis umiling si Devin. "No. Just stay here. Samahan mo na lang si Dinah. Our customers are more important than this mission," matigas niyang sagot. "And your safety," dagdag niya pa.
Agad naging malungkot ang itsura ni Homer. Para sa kaniya, mukhang hindi pa rin niya nakukuha ang buong tiwala ng boss niya. Naiintindihan naman ni Homer kung saan nanggagaling ang lahat ng ito. Ngunit hindi pa rin niya maiwasang magdalawang-isip.
Homer sighed. Wala na siyang magagawa. Mukha namang nakapag-desisyon na si Devin. Not unless...
"A-Ahh.. boss?" Muling humarap sa kaniya si Devin, nagtatanong ang mga mata, "P-Puwede bang mag-leave bukas?" nag-aalangang sabi niya.
"Why?"
Napakamot siya ng kaniyang batok. This is a sudden decision kaya medyo nanglalamig ang kamay niya. "I'll visit my mother from Pangasinan. K-Kailangan kasi ako sa bahay for her medications. But don't worry, tatlong araw lang akong mawawala."
Pinaningkitin siya ng mata ng boss. It's like he was trying to read him particulary his agenda. Napaayos si Homer ng tindig bago alanganing ngumiti.
Weird. Devin thought.
"Are you sure?" his boss clarified.
"Of course!"
Isinandal ni Devin ang kaniyang ulo mula sa malambot na sandalan ng couch. His mascular throat flexed. It was visible. The way it moved, hindi naiwasang mapalunok ni Dinah nang mapansin ito.
"As long as you'll not involve yourself in any trouble then I'm okay with it," sagot ni Devin pagkatapos ay hinilot nito ang sentido.
"Thanks, boss."
***
Maagang umuwi si Devin sa kaniyang tirahan. It was a small apartment located in 18th floor. His room was dark when he entered. Kinapa niya ang switch sa gilid ng pintuan. There was a click! sound kapagkuwan ay tuluyan nang lumiwanag sa loob. Sumalubong sa kaniya ang ilang nagkalat na walang lamang mga cup noodles. There were also canned and bottle of beers na nakatumba sa sahig. Naalala niyang lasing na lasing siya kagabi that's why he didn't got to chance to clean up this fucking mess.
Pagkalapag niya ng kaniyang helmet ay naglabas siya ng isang trash bag mula sa sulok ng kuwarto kung saan nakatambak ang dustpan, walis at basurahan. Isa-isa niya itong pinulot pagkatapos ay agad niya ring isinilid katabi ng mga iyon. Diretsyo naman siyang nagtungo sa kusina kung saan bumulaga naman ang mga hugasin mula noong isang araw. Hindi pa man siya nakakapagsimula ay mukhang pagod na siya.
"Great. Why the fuck would I bother myself if I can get a housecleaner to do this bullshits," reklamo niya sa sarili. Napahilamos siya ng mukha pagkatapos ay naglabas ng isang bareta ng sabon mula sa sirang cabinet. Pumutol siya rito ng maliit na piraso bago ito inilagay sa isang pulang container ng ice cream. Imbes na pagkain ang laman nito ay natuyong sabon at sponge ang makikita rito.
BINABASA MO ANG
Death Glare
Action"He tried to look for a good reason, but no such good reason is there to deter something that death can easily touch." For Devin Cross, life's always been so fucked out. Devin spent his life lurking in a restless city where street crimes, prostituti...
