"Who's the guy from the bidding event, George?" pangungulit ni Joe sa akin. Nalaman niya kasi ang tungkol doon dahil usap-usapan din sa hospital.

Kanina pa siya tanong nang tanong kung sino si Crescent. Nagtanong din siya kahapon, nung isang araw, at noong nakaraang araw, hindi ko kasi masagot-sagot kasi iniiwas ko kaagad ang topic. Paano ko ba sasabihin na isa siyang assassin kung saan ako ang kanyang target?

"My new butler," sabi ko na lang.

"New butler kamo? Bakit hindi siya nakikipag-close sa akin?" napangiwi siya. "Pierre and I are friends when he became your butler."

Lumunok ako bago siya sagutin. Pierre is more friendly, he likes to socialize with people because he knows how to read energy. But, Crescent, he's a bad guy and I don't want Joe to know who he really is.

"He's not friendly, Joey. You don't want to meet him."

Tumango-tango siya. Naghiwalay kami ng daan nang madaanan ang office ko and Joey went to her shift. May 20 rooms pa siyang ichecheck for this afternoon.

My phone vibrated and saw dad's name appeared on the screen. Sinagot ko iyon kaagad.

"Yes, dad?"

"Hi, daughter. I had something to tell you."

"About what?" naupo ako sa desk habang chinecheck ang drawer kung may bubblegum pa ako or lollipop.

"Well, I've sent you 20 men to kill your assassin," he says. I heard him sighed deeply. "But seriously, George, darling, bakit siya andiyan sa condo mo araw-araw?"

"He stays 'cause he doesn't want other assassin to kill me."

Oh, may lollipop nga!

"I see. I better kill him so he won't touch you," aniya.

Binuksan ko ang lollipop. He already did, dad.

"Why won't you let me kill him instead? It would be easier for us to have that option, dad."

"I don't want anymore blood on your hands, Georgia. Daddy loves you so much."

"Bye, dad. Love you too."

Pinatay niya ang tawag habang ningunguya ko iyong lollipop. I can't stop thinking about what happened between me and Crescent last week. Masakit pa rin ang gitna ko but I managed to walk it off. I'm not a surgeon for nothing.

"Crescent..." bulong ko at napapikit.

Ang panget ng flavor ng lollipop na ito.

Nang pauwi na ako ng condo, inihahatid-sundo niya ako araw-araw. Not even missing a single day. Kung minsan na hindi niya ako nasusundo, alam na alam ko kung nasaan siya. He's on a mission to hijack and kill someone. He's an assassin from a Yakuza clan after all.

Ni hindi ko magawang magtanong kung ano ang nangyari sa tuwing uuwi siyang sugatan. I want to ask but he's not up to answering me.

"You should get a personal nurse, Crescent," sabi ko nang gamutin ko ang sagot niya sa paa.

"You are my personal nurse, little kitten."

"I'm not paid to do this," I sighed.

"How much do I owe you?" he lifts my chin to meet his glares.

Napalunok ako at winaksi ang kanyang kamay na nakahawak sa aking baba.

"Forget it."

I saw him smirked and his dimples were visible. Pinanood niya lang ulit ako sa paggagamot.

"I don't want anyone touching my skin aside from you. If that makes sense."

Tumahimik ako at niligpit ang gamit matapos ko siyang gamutin. You'll be dead by tomorrow, Crescent. Dad will send his troops to shoot you or eat you alive.

"Good night," ngiti ko bago tuluyang umakyat sa kwarto.

When I woke up, he's gone. Pero nakahanda na sa mesa ko iyong kakainin ko. I took a spoon from the counter when I heard my door rang. Tinignan ko muna kung sino ang nasa lens and I can't believe when I saw Joey in front of my door.

"Georgia, open the door."

"Wait." Nilagay ko ang passcode and let her in. "Ang aga-aga pa, bakit ka andito?"

"Turn the TV on now. Hindi mo pa ba napapanood ang latest news?"

My forehead creased dahil sa inaasta ni Joey. Kinuha ko ang remote at pinaandar ang TV. I turned it to News Channel and guess what, my photo appeared on the screen.

Binasa ko ang nakasulat sa headline.

"Famous Surgeon, Dr. Georgia Sicillian, has been responsible for the death of two missing patients."

I clenched my fist and the fork that I was holding bent. Galit na galit kong tinignan ang screen. I threw the remote to my TV and it cracked my tv's monitor. Hindi na nagulat si Joey sa ginawa ko. Maybe she's seen me like this for many times since we were kids.

"Argh! Fuck!"

"George, calm down. I need you to calm down."

"Who," I heaved in anger. "Who the fuck did this? Who the fuck told the media about that?"

Galit na galit kong tinignan si Joey. I want answers. I want answers right now!

"We don't know it yet, George," she says. "But Cole, me, and everyone in the hospital is trying to figure out who's responsible for this."

"Fuck! Joey, I'm ruined!" inis kong sinabunutan ang aking buhok dahil sa sobrang inis. "I'm ruined. My reputation."

I'm seriously going to kill who did this. I'm gonna torture them before shooting their heads!

"Where's your butler nga pala, George?" natingin siya sa sulok ng kwarto ko.

"I don't know where the fu-" natigilan ako.

Maybe he did this. I know he fucking did this! Kung hindi siya magpapakita mamaya sa akin, then I know he's guilty.

"I'm going to work."

"George, no. The CEO wants you to stay at home," pagpipigil ni Joe sa akin.

"That's why he sent you to check on me?" I glared which scared her.

"Georgia, you know you can't look at me like that," she looks at me dead in the eye.

Niyakap ko si Joey. "I'm sorry, Joe. I'm so so sorry..."

"Sorry for what?"

"For this."

I deoxyginated her circulation by karate chopping her nape. She fell on the floor, sleeping. Binuhat ko siya at inihiga ng maayos sa sofa.

I'm sorry, Joey. But I need to clear my name.

Nagbihis ako at inayos ang aking sarili bago nagpunta sa hospital. Everyone in the hospital bowed down and greeted me when they saw me, but at the same time they're stepping away.

"Good morning, Dr. Sicillian."

"G-Good morning, Ms. Georgia."

Hindi ko sila pinansin at hinanap si Coleman. I called his number pero hindi siya sumasagot.

Everyone stepped out of the elevator when they saw me.

"Where's Dr. Aranzure?" I asked one of the nurses.

"5-50th floor po. Kausap si CEO."

I pressed the elevator button #50. May makikisakay pa sana na pasyente sa elavator but the nurse stopped her from going in.

Galit na galit ko silang tinignan habang dahan-dahang sumasara ang pinto.

Ting!

Natahimik ang mga maiingay na investors nang makita nila ako sa kakabukas lang na elevator.

"D-Dr. Sicillian, you're he-"

"Move out of the way, Dr. Gomes."

Dinaanan ko silang tatlo at dumiretso sa office ng CEO. May nakaabang na limang guards sa labas.

"I need to talk to Colema-" a guard stopped me from touching the knob. "Let me in."

"No can do, Dr. Sicillian. Ayaw magpaistorbo ng CEO lalo na't kausap niya si Dr. Aranzure."

"Do I look like a random woman to you?Let. Me. In!" matigas kong ingles.

"Dr. Sicillian-"

I started counting from one to three. Hindi sana nila ako papapasukin pero nagpumilit ako. And they know what's going to happen when I reached number 3.

"Umalis ka muna, Dr. Sicillian."

Hahawakan na sana ako ng isang guard nang baliktarin ko siya sa sahig. The four guards came to his rescue but I kicked them hard on their guts and break their fingers with one hand. I took a taser from one of their pockets and tased the other two.

Nawalan silang lahat ng malay.

I fixed my curly hair before entering the room. I saw the CEO's stunned reaction while Cole remained calm when he saw me entering the door na para bang ineexpect na niya ako.

"Georgia, what... my guards! Did you... kill them?" kunot noo niyang tanong.

"I put them to sleep," lumapit ako sa kanila. "I need answers. Now!"

"George-"

"Shut up, Cole! I need answers! Who the fuck spread the news?" I smiled with a gritted teeth.

Hindi ko talaga maitago ang galit ko dahil sa mga nangyayari. Matagal ko nang iniingatan ang reputasyon ko perp ngayon lang ako nagkamali. I shouldn't have trust anyone!

Nagtinginan silang dalawa. Nagdadalawang isip kung sasabihin ba sa akin ang sagot hindi.

"Coleman!"

"It's..." he sighed and massaged his temple. "Traxia."

Nanigas ako when I heard her name. Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig dahil sa kanyang sinabi.

"My cousin, Traxia?" tumaas sa galit ang aking kilay. "She's not even working here. So explain."

Traxia never stepped in the hospital ever since... but... she did! During that day when we were called by Mr. Malavar.

"We found out that she flirted with one of the doctors and the doctor accidentally spilled Mr. Torres' cause of death," paliwanag pa ni Cole.

I scoffed and grinned. That evil brat really knows how to get on my nerves. I bet she's smiling on her sofa drinking red wine while watching my reputation get ruined all over media stream.

"That brat," I gritted my teeth. "What's the name of the nurse?"

Tumayo kaagad si Cole upang pigilan ako.

"George, no! I won't let you harm him. He's innocent," he begged while grabbing my shoulders.

"Fire him," I looked at CEO with death glares.

"I can't just fire an employee, Georgia," he says.

So he's declining my favor? I don't accept no as an answer.

"And I don't accept No as an answer, Mr. Malavar," I coldly said. "It's either you fire him or I'll kill him."

Lumabas ako ng opisina at padarag na isinara ang pintuan. I pressed the button and went back to my condo, irritated. Ni hindi ko kayang buksan ang telebisyon dahil sa mukha ko na nasa balita. Even on socmed! Fudge!

I saw Joey on the sofa, still sleeping. Napatingin ako sa kanya, iniisip ko kung ano ang dapat gawin upang malinis ang aking pangalan. I decided to call dad, I hope he didn't get the news 'cause he furious. Wala namang tv sa office niya and he's not fond of watching Philippine News.

"Yes, daughter? You called?"

"Dad, where are you?"

"I'm in the golf club, daughter. Is something wrong? Nagpadala na ako ng hitman diyan."

"No, not that," huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. "Can you kill Traxia first before Crescent?"

I heard a loud thud after I said that. Napapaaaray din si daddy na para bang nagkamali siya ng tira at natamaan ang ulo niya.

"K-Kill your cousin? That's harsh, Georgia."

"Am I asking too much?"

"Daughter, I can't kill her. She's my niece."

Yeah, but she ruined me! Maybe dad didn't know about the news. I clenched my fist.

"Alright, fine. Sorry about asking that. That's a weird one, dad."

"Love you, daughter."

"Love you too, dad."

Ibinaba ko ang tawag at huminga ng malalim. Well, favors like that, dad don't want to get involved. But someone can...

Napatingin ako sa crescent lampara.

"Crescent."

Joey woke up, rubbing her eyes slowly. Ang tagal naman nagising ng isang ito.

"W-What happened?"

"You're awake, Joe."

"You... you almost killed me!" turo niya sa akin.

"No, I didn't. You're still breathing," irap ko.

"It's 5PM already? I should go home now, George. Call me if you need anything, okay? At wag kang magpadalos-dalos sa mga desisyon mo."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. Pinauwi ko muna si Joey dahil gusto kong mapag-isa. I badly want to kill my cousin right now! Pero ayokong madungisan ng kanyang dugo ang aking mga kamay.

"I need Crescent," bulong ko sa ere.

"You called?"

Napatingin ako kaagad sa likuran at nakita siyang nakatayo, may dalang Jimmy Choo paperbag.

"C-Crescent... you came back."

Akala ko talaga pinatay na siya ng mga hitman ni dad. That's not right, I ordered them to kill him. But I need him now more than anyone. He's the only guy who is fit for the job.

"I didn't leave, little kitten," he puts the paperbag on the table. "I just went to Paris to buy you this pair of shoes."

I pursed my lips. "Thank you. But I need more than a pair of shoes. I'm ruined."

"Ruined?" naupo siya sa sofa.

"Ruined. As in my reputation is ruined because of my cousin."

"Who?"

I saw him scrolling through his phone. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo habang ginagawa iyon.

"I see. The news about this one spread," he smirked in amusement. "Naunahan ako."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Masaya ka na niyan?"

"No. Not really," he sighed and I saw how his biceps flex. "I'm supposed to do it though. And besides, I killed those patients."

I froze. That's right. Alam ko naman na siya ang pumatay but why am I taking the blame for him?

Oh yeah, that's right. He doesn't have a reputation, and you can't lose something you don't have.

"Don't worry, little kitten. I'll do something about this," he grinned.

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