29: Zero is the best
#DWTDWP

A/N: Hindi man tugma sa chapter, I listened to One Direction's I Wish while writing this haha

Warning!
The story contains themes not suitable for young readers. Read at your own risk.

RYU

I was beyond angry right now. Despite sensing imminent danger, Cooler insisted to push through this and look what he got right now.

A bullet deep in his tissues.

Huh what a good way to kill yourself. Sana ay sinabi niya na lamang sa akin na gusto pala niya bala, I would have feed him with my old man’s guns and ammo at home.

Cooler rolled carefully on his bed, moving away from me right after the door closed nang lumabas si Titless.

“Are you seriously angry right now?” tanong niya sa akin. “Ryu, I was shot okay? The least thing I need is a beating from you.”

“You know I won’t spare you from this Cooler. You know my stand from the start.”

He made a face, trying not to lose this conversation.

“I know. Alam kong nangako ako sa’yo na kahit anong mangyari ay mabubuhay pa rin ako, na hindi ko ilalagay sa panganib ang buhay ko and blah blah blah but you know events like this is unavoidable, right?”

“Wrong. This could be avoided if only you said no to Cronus and ensure your safety,” I argued.

Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo, unsure what to say knowing no matter how senseless my arguments are, hinding-hindi ako magpapatalo.

Ah, why are we even born with this kind of business? Sometimes I often wonder how does it feels like to live normally. Iyong tipong hindi ka matatakot na isang araw ay mahihinto ang edad mo dahil sa bala. But for now I really cannot question it. This is what I’ve known since I was young, I’m no Jesus to make miracle and make them stop this and live righteously.

“Oo na, so sorry?” he said, with palms pressed together.

“Alam mong hindi gagana sa akin ang istilong mong pa-cute Cooler,” I said, still in my serious tone. Seriously, he’s old enough and he thinks matured enough but there were really moments when I just wanted to beat the hell out of him because he acts like a kid.

Like who would clap and smile like crazy to simple magic tricks?

Siya lang. Those weren’t even magic but simple misdirection and sleight of the hand. Yet whenever one does, he just go admire it like it was something so great.

He kicked his pillow and looked at me. “Sorry na nga diba? Oh, buhay pa naman ako, hindi naman masakit--”

I stepped forwards and squeezed his arm where the bullet penetrated.

“---Argh! Shit!” His face grunted as he moved away.

Lol hindi raw masakit. Hindi naman pala eh.

“Can you just let go of this?” tanong niya sa akin. “I promised this won’t happen again.”

“A promise that you won’t even try keeping.”

Napabuntong-hininga siya nang malalim. “I will try harder. You know getting shot is only natural.”

I scoffed. “Not all people experience a bullet deep in their tissues in their whole life, buddy. And you, ilang beses na ba? Anim? Pito? I lost count.”

“Okay okay, just let go of this. Do not even think of beating me once I recovered,” sabi niya sa akin.

I stared at him for so long, trying to recall the hellhole I was in when I thought I lost some people I love because of death. It was something I don’t want to experience again. Mahinang tumango ako sa kanya.

Fine, I’ll let go of it. Yes, I will.

“Alright, wanna see a magic trick?” I asked and his face lighted up like a kid.

“Sure!”

I let out my annoying smirk. “Remember that red Bugatti Chiron Sport you had at the garage?” Unti-unting napalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha. “One moment it was there, then poof, it is gone.”

Napahawak siya sa kanyang sintido. “Not that one please, it’s hella expensive!”

I shook my head. “Mas mahal ang buhay Cooler.”

Ilang beses siyang napakamot. “You can take the Aston Martin Vanquish, not the--”

“No, I’ll take the Bugatti,” sabi ko sa pinal na boses.

He looked problematic right now. “I think I’ll prefer it if you will beat me to death instead.”

“It’s final,” wika ko at lumapit sa gilid ng kama at tiningnan ang mga gamit niya na naroon. “I’ll continue the business for now. Just stay here and rest.”

“But--”

“No buts.”

“You had company, remember?” paalala niya sa akin.

Company? Ah, Titless. “She can go back home.”

“Like right now? Ryu it’s almos two in the morning, why would you let a girl home at this hour, alone?”

“She’s not just some girl Cooler, you know that.”

Mariing umiling siya. “Kahit na. Isa pa, ikaw ang nagdala sa kanya rito, it’s only fair that you take her home too.”

“I’ll let Poseidon take her--”

“Alam mong mas kailangan natin si Poseidon ngayon,” putol niya sa sinabi ko. He has a point. This is a dangerous business and Poseidon is the best reaper to trust at times like this.

“Maybe Mnemosyne will--”

Pinutol niya ulit ang sasabihin ko. “You know Mnemosyne. I’m sure they didn’t get along. Wala akong nakitang babae na nakasama mo ng kahit ilang segundo na nakasundo niya. She would go threatening them with whatever, right?”

Tama ulit siya. Mnemosyne tends to get jealous over women around me. Kahit noong mga bata pa lamang kami ay inaaway na niya lahat ng mga babaeng lumalapit sa akin. And everyone were afraid of her, only few weren’t.

Sumilay ang kakaibang ngiti mula sa labi ni Cooler. “Or how about you continue this and I’ll take her home?”

And what, give titless the satisfaction of having Cooler to herself?

In such state, wounded and weak? Huh, no way in hell.

“No. You rest, I’ll go and finish what you’ve started, then I’ll take her home. Gaya ng sinabi mo, ako ang nagdala sa kanya rito kaya ako rin dapat ang maghatid sa kanya pauwi.”

Bigla siyang tumawa nang malakas. What the hell, what’s funny by the way?

“Okay!”

“Good,” wika ko at tinalikuran siya ngunit nakaisang hakbang pa lamang ako ay muli siyang nagsalita.

“So, you’ll go and finish this thing at pagkatapos, uuwi na kayo ni Pi, right?”

I nodded . “Yeah.”

“You will take her home, since ikaw ang nagdala sa kanya rito?”

I nodded again. “Yeah.”

“So can I take my Bugatti back?” tanong niya.

I smirked at him. “Nice try Cooler. No.”

Before I left the room, I heard him sigh as he face palmed. “Dang it.”

***

Pi

Mag-aalas kwatro na ay gising pa rin ako at nasa labas ng bahay. It was a cool resthouse, probably owned by them, the Vanders. Kung ano man ang sadya nila rito, hindi iyon pinaalam sa akin ni Rocket. And speaking of the devil, he left like almost two hours ago, without a word. He just glared at me before leaving with Red.

Ayon kay girlie, may tatapusin lamang silang trabaho. Good thing she didn’t bite nang iwan nila kami. Kanina ay galing ako sa kwarto ni Cooler kanina but seeing him drowsy probably because of the meds he took combined with tiredness ay umalis na lamang ako roon at nag-abang sa labas. Any moment by now, darating na ang hinihintay ko.

As if on cue, a familiar black car pulled in front of the house. Agad akong tumakbo papunta roon at sinalubong ang kabababa lamang na si Zero.

“Zero!” I immediately give him a hug at ginulo naman niya ang buhok ko.

His eyes formed into slits as he looked at me. “What are you doing here by the way?”

“Following my dreams, duh.”

Napakunot ang kanyang noo at tila nagtaka sa sagot ko. “What?”

“To make the long story short, my nandito si Cooler. Enough questions for now Zero, nagawa mo ba ang sinabi ko?”

He nodded. “Good thing na bukas ang cellphone ko habang nagtatrabaho. If that Vander is here, malamang hindi na naman nagkataon lamang na nasa malapit lamang din ang inaasikaso ko para sa nalalapit natin na shipment. Your Uncle isn’t just messing with us but as well as with the Vander’s.”

“Yup, that asshole really did! Alam mo bang sa ginagawa niya ay dalawang beses niya akong iniinis? First is on our side, then to love of my life’s side. Uh-oh, messing with Pi times two is so careless of him,” wika ko at sa utak ay ilang beses ko nang pinatay si Uncle Flavio. This will be over soon, at sisiguraduhin ko na pagsisisihan niya ang ginawa niya.

Daddy trusted him so much mula pa noon.

He was even welcomed to the family kahit ang pangit-pangit niya at hindi kapanipaniwalang tao siya tapos ganito lamang ang igaganti niya?! Huh, he has the balls to do so!

He cupped my cheek at inangat ang mukha ko para makaharap ako sa kanya. “At ikaw? You’re not supposed to be nowhere near here Pi.”

“I know, I just happened to be here by chance, I was supposed to be on a date.” Napatingin ako sa compartment ng sasakyan niya nang may kumalabog mula roon. Ah, the asshole is right there.

No, not Flavio. It’s the other asshole who dared to shoot my Cooler.

“Nasaan na ang T-Dog na iyan? Let him out at nang pagsisihan niya ang ginawa niya,” wika ko kay Zero. He sighed before reaching for his car keys at binuksan ang compartment ng kanyang sasakyan.

A devilish grin slowly emerged from my lips nang makita ang taong nakatali at nakabusal ang bibig sa compartment.

Wait, I’ll take that back. I’m not sure if he’s human because he doesn’t look like one.

“What the hell, siya si T-Dog? He didn’t deserve the codename with Dog in it, dogs are adorable and he isn’t!” bulalas ko habang tinitingnan si Zero na ilabas mula roon si T-Dog. Ibinaba ko ang busal sa bibig nito-- ew! Basa! Malamang dahil sa laway at pawis niya!

“There’s sanitizer inside,” sabi ni Zero who probably noticed my discomfort.

Yup, kahit hindi ako magsabi ay alam na iyon ni Zero. He knows everything about me. Agad ko namang binuksan ang sasakyan at halos ibuhos na lahat ng sanitizer sa kamay ko.

“Sino kayo?!” sigaw ni T-Dog.

“We are people you wrongly messed with,” sagot ko at pinigilan ang sariling sabuyan siya ng sanitizer sa mukha. “Why did you shoot Cooler Vander?!”

“Bakit ko sasabihin?” sagot nito na may nakakalokong ngisi. Ew not cute.

I flipped my hair. “Do not test my patience, you ugly creature.”

I counted up to three ngunit hindi pa rin ito nagsalita.

“Ah, uulitin ko ang tanong ko. Sino ang nagbayad sayo para barilin si Cooler?”

He grinned like a mad man. “Secret.”

Huh sinusubukan talaga ako ng pangit na’to. “Ayaw kong dalhin ka sa loob na duguan kaya sumagot ka ngayon pa lamang.”

“A.yaw.ko.”

Siniko siya ni Zero sa mukha at mas lalong dumugo ang kanyang ilong na duguan na. Maybe it was quite a fight before Zero was able to capture him. Looking at it, that explains some fresh cut and bruise on Zero’s handsome face ngunit gayunpaman ay hindi maikakailang gwapo ito.

And T-Dog? Uh, never mind.

“Sino ang nag-utos sa’yo?” ulit ko.

“SEC-RET!” he screamed and laughed maniacally.

Without a word, I grabbed Zero’s gun on his side at dalawang beses na pinaputukan sa tuhod si T-Dog. He fell on the ground as he groaned in pain ngunit pinulot pa rin siya ni Zero at pinilit na itayo.

“Now answer me you fucker.”

His eyes were rolling in pain ngunit mukhang wala pa rin itong balak na sabihin kung sino.

“Maybe he doesn’t know,” sabi ni Zero. “Killers for hire accept jobs without knowing who’s behind the order.”

Right. But that doesn’t mean he’s getting away from this. No fucking way.

“Bellomo!” someone shouted from the direction of the house. It was girlie, with Cooler on her back. The latter was rubbing his eyes. Marahil ay nagising ito dahil sa putok ng baril. Uh, sorry I totally forgot, I was carried away with my anger.

Nang makalapit sila ay tila naging alerto si girlie at handang protektahan si Cooler. As they approached nearer, tinago ko sa likuran ang hawak kong baril.

“What the hell is this Bellomo?” tanong ni girlie at isa-isang tiningnan si Zero at si T-Dog.

Lumapit na rin si Cooler at hindi makapaniwalang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa aming tatlo. “Pi, what happened?” Bumaba ang tingin niya sa tuhod ni T-Dog. “Did you shoot him?”

I smiled as I slowly showed the gun I hid on my back. “Oh, payback time. He’s T-Dog.”

“WHAT?!” sabay nilang bulalas.

It was girlie who recovered from the surprise first. “You were able to get him? T-Dog is one of the best hitman na hindi mahuli-huli!”

“Hey hey you girlie, do not boost the ego of this ugly creature, if you think T-Dog is the best hitman who hide in shadows for the a long time then I have Zero who gets everything done in an instant, right Zero?” I smiled at him ngunit seryosong tingin lamang ang ginawad niya sa akin, before he resumed his glares at Cooler.

Mukhang hindi yata bumilib si girlie. “Sandali, paano naman tayo nakakasigurado na si T-Dog nga iyan? No one has really seen his face.”

“Now we do, at duda ko lang kung mukha ba ‘yan or pwet. Why the hell is he so ugly?!” I asked, looking at T-Dog with distaste.

Girlie stepped forward. “I encountered T-Dog before. Ang alam ko may tattoo siya na spider web sa tiyan niya hanggang sa likod.” Itinaas niya ang damit ni T-Dog at tumambad sa paningin namin ang tattoo nito na sapot ng gagamba. The tattoo was extended up to his back, just like what girlie said.

“Damn, it’s really him!” wika ni girlie.

I proudly smiled. “Told yah, Zero is the best!”

Napabuga ng hangin si Cooler. “Why did you get him Pi?”

“Haller, he shoot you! You think I’m letting it all go? No way.”

He massaged his temple. “He’s a hired hitman, hindi natin mapipiga ang impormasyong kailangan natin mula sa kanya.”

What? Don’t tell me he wanted to spare the life of this creature? No I definitely won’t!

“Tama si Cooler,” pagsang-ayon ni girlie.

Whatever, her opinion doesn’t count so I turned to Zero. He also give me a nod.

“Alright, I concede but still he shoot you so he has to pay for it,” wika ko at ibinalik kay Zero ang baril. Binitawan niya si T-Dog at bumagsak ito sa lupa. Yup I shoot both his knee. “Okay Zero, you know what to do.”

Walang pag-aalinlangan na kinalabit ni Zero ang gatilyo. He hit T-Dog right between his eyes, twice, and in a split second, he was lying dead on the ground.

“I’ll dispose his dead body immediately,” sambit ni Zero bago kumuha ng body bag mula sa sasakyan.

Nang bumaling ako kay Cooler ay nakatulala ito, probably shocked with what he just witnessed. Nagpaalam na agad ako kay Zero.

“Thanks for the help Zero!”

His cold eyes slid at me. “Hindi ka sasabay sa akin?”

Umiling ako. “No. I’ll see you at home tomorrow.”

Hindi na ito kumontra pa at sa halip ay mabilis na inayos ang katawan ni T-Dog sa body bag bago iyon ibinalik sa compartmen ng sasakyan. He gave me a nod before he drove away. Nang makalayo na ang sasakyan niya ay bumaling ako kay Cooler at iwinagayway ang kamay sa harap niya.

“Hey you okay?”

Saka lamang siya tila nahimasmasan at mahinang tumango.

“Let’s go inside for now,” wika niya at hinawakan ang braso ko upang igiya ako papasok ng resthouse nila.

Oh damn, he is holding me right now!

This is heaven!

#

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