Nagising ako dahil sa ingay at amoy ng masarap na ulam. Hawak-hawak ko ang aking ulo dahil sa sobrang sakit nito. I saw Joey, snoring. Natutulog pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

"Anong oras na ba?"

I took my phone and realized it's 7:00 in the morning. Are we still on the plane?

"Joey, Joey!"

Niyugyog ko siya upang magising. Kita mo 'to, tulog mantika talaga siya kahit kailan.

"What? What time is it?"

"It's 7AM."

"Huh? What!"

Tumayo siya at chineck ang kanyang iPhone.

"We're not on the plane. Asan sila Cole at Crescent?" napahawak siya sa kanyang ulo. "Grabeng hangover ito. Kaya ayoko mag-gin, e."

She's right, wala na kami sa eroplano. Nasa isang hotel na yata kami dahil sa malaking space at malaking kama.

"Let's head down."

Sumunod siya sa akin pababa. Nakita namin si Cole at Crescent na nag-uusap. Hindi ko marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila, mukha pa naman silang seryoso.

"Cole!" sigaw ni Joey. "May pagkain?"

Joey talaga! Napakapatay gutom.

Natigil sila at napatingin sa amin. They even seperate ways na para bang walang nangyari.

"Kitchen," sinenyasan niya si Joey na bumaba at pumunta sa kusina.

Lumapit naman ako kay Crescent. Halos matakpan ang height ko dahil sa katangkaran niya.

"What's going on? Anong pinag-usapan niyo ni Cole?"

"Nothing, litte kitten. Let's eat."

Hinawakan niya ako sa kamay at hinila papuntang kusina. Hindi ko na lang din yun pinansin dahil alam ko na ayaw niya yung pag-usapan.

Pagkatapos naming maligo at makapagbihis ng damit, napagdesisyunan namin na magpunta sa isang isla.

"What island?" si Joey.

"Sumilon Island Sandbar. They have white sand there," sagot ni Cole.

"Nice. Beach," ngiti ko. "Let's go!"

Pumasok kami sa kotse pagkatapos naming magdala ng damit at swimsuit ni Joey. She's not so excited 'cause she's not confident with her body. Maganda ang katawan ni Joey, pero sa sobrang ganda, nababastos siya. She's thick.

"I'll drive. Front seat, little kitten," utos niya nang makita ako na binubuksan ang backseat.

"Choosy," Cole smugged kasi siya sana ang uupo sa passenger's seat. "Let her decide, Fritz."

"Where do you want to sit?" he asked.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Hinila ako ni Joey.

"Mag-aaway pa kayo diyan, e ako ang end game ni Georgia," ngisi niya na may halong pang-aasar. "Let's sit in the back, George. Hayaan mo sila."

"Sure. Let's go."

Nang matapos ang bangayan ay pinaandar ni Crescent ang kotse. Joey put the volume in the car and played Passenger's Seat by Stephen Speaks. Natawa ako dahil sa itsura ni Cole, diring-diri siya habang nakikinig sa music. Crescent doesn't even want to look at him.

"And I can't keep my eyes on the road. Knowing that she's inches from meee~," Joey sings in high note. "Imagine three inches lang yung ano-"

"Three-inches what?" sabay nilang tanong.

Natahimik kami pero andun pa rin ang music.

"Yung lyrics. She's inches from me," sabi ko.

"Ooh," Cole sighed in relief. Siniko niya si Crescent at galit na tinignan. "Why shout, Fritz? Ginulat mo rin ako."

"I don't remember shouting, Aranzure," galit niyang sambit.

Nagpigil kami ng tawa ni Joey. Ano bang narinig nila? Haha!

Cole talked to the manager and rent the biggest cottage he can get. Naglabas pa siya ng credit card sa harap ng manager gayung hindi naman pala ito tumatanggap through ATM. Nasamo ni Joey ang sariling noo nang makita ang itsura ng kapatid niyang proud na proud sa credit card.

"Goodness, this rich people problem!" lumapit siya sa manager at pinaliwanag ng maayos ang sitwasyon. Mabuti na lang at may dalang cash si Joey.

Cole grew up in a different environment where rich businessmen live. Lumaking states kaya asal States, but Joey is a commoner who knows how to blend in with people kaya mabilis niya kaming nakasundo.

"I thought they accept cards," si Cole.

"Baliw ka ba? Walang ATM dito. Tara na nga."

Sumunod kami kay Joey sa cottage. We immediately changed our clothes to bathing suits. Nasa ilalim lang naman at hinubad lang namin iyong shirts and pants namin.

"Let's jump, Georgia!"

"Tara!"

"Girls, wait!" tawag ni Cole pero hindi na namin pinansin.

I saw Crescent smirked at naupo sa cottage habang pinagmamasdan kaming naglalaro ni Joey.

"He keeps staring at you, George. Hindi ka ba natatakot sa kanya?"

"No," I smiled. "I like him when he stares at me like that. It makes me feel safe."

Kasi alam ko na walang mangyayaring masama sa akin dahil sa mga galit niyang mata na nakabantay sa akin.

"You have weird tastes in men," she smugged.

I smiled. Pinagmasdan ko silang dalawa ni Cole na nakaupo lang sa cottage. Wala yata silang plano maligo, ah? And when I looked at it, halos napapalibutan na ng mga babae ang cottage namin!

"Well you look at that," Joey sighed, disappointed. "Expected ko na rin ito lalo na't nakakahakot talaga ng atensyon si Cole noon pa. At yung butler mo rin masyadong gwapo. Tsk tsk."

Joey puts her goggles on at nagdive sa ilalim. Her one piece Summersalt black swimsuit looks so good on her. Iniwan niya akong nakamasid sa dalawang lalaki. Women were watching them while they play chess.

At saan galing ang chessboard na yan?!

How can the two of them look so good while playing chess? Mukha silang diyos sa sobrang gwapo. Topless Cole is a drop dead gorgeous human being with his matching summer shorts. While, Crescent is devilishly good looking in his white unbuttoned polo.

"George, I found a fish!"

Lumapit siya sa akin at ipinakita iyon. Hawak-hawak niya ang isang makulay na isda, mostly blue color and stripes. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mabilis na tinampal ang kanyang kamay.

"That's a mandarin fish, you idiot! Nakakalason yan!"

"Fudge, kaya pala."

"Kaya pala ano?"

"K-Kaya pala ang sakit ng kamay ko. At ang baho."

"Don't smell it. Mandarin fish produces toxins and mucus as well as spikes to protect themselves. Bakit mo kasi hinawakan?" inis ko.

I pulled her to the shore dahil baka mahimatay siya sa tubig. But her body gave up and kneeled on the sand.

"Joey! Joey, wake up!" tinampal-tampal ko siya sa kanyang pisngi.

Hindi siya nagigising. No! No! She lost consciousness! I grabbed Joey's hand tightly dahil lumalakas din ang alon na sumasampal sa katawan ko. I tried to keep her head out of the water pero nahihirapan din ako dahil sa malalakas na alon.

"Cole! Coleee! Si Joey!" umubo ako matapos makainom ng tubig dagat.

He immediately swims to us. Tumayo si Crescent at hinila ako paalis sa dagat. Cole quickly carried his sister to the shore where he did a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"Come on, Joe," he said and did a CPR.

He keeps doing mouth-to-mouth and CPR to her until Joey starts expelling seawater from her mouth. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil dun. But she still not opening her eyes.

"What's happening," Cole slapped her cheeks. "Open your eyes, idiot."

"She's poisoned," hinawakan ni Crescent ang kanyang nangingitim na kamay. He looks at me. "What happened? Did she touch a snail cone?"

"M-Mandarin fish. Kinuha niya kasi yun, e!"

"We need to get her to the hospital," sabi ni Cole.

He stays cool but I know he's worried.

"I'll go get the keys."

"George, can you pick up some clothes for Joey?"

"O-Oo."

He carried Joey to the car and we immediately drive to the nearest hospital. Dinala siya kaagad sa emergency room kasama si Cole, while I managed not to cry nang umuwi kami ni Crescent sa hotel upang kumuha ng damit.

"This is my fault. This is all my fault," iyak ko nang kami na lang Crescent ang naiwan sa kotse.

"Ssh, stop crying, little kitten."

"Kung binantayan ko lang sana si Joey. Kung sinamahan ko lang siya magdive."

"You'll get poisoned as well," iniabot niya sa akin ang panyo. "Joey will be fine. Maaagapan agad ang lason."

I wiped my tears using the handkerchief. Inimpake ko ang iilan sa mga damit at underwears ni Joey. Sana naman magising na siya mamaya. Cole looks so frustrated and worried kanina.

"Are you done, little kitten?" lumapit siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry, Crescent. This is supposed to be a vacation but... I want to take care of Joey. Naguguilty ako," napayuko ako.

"It's fine, little kitten. As long as you're in my sight, I'm all good."

Hilaw akong ngumiti. Bumaba kami, dala-dala niya ang sports bag ni Joey kasi mabigat yun. He puts the bag in car trunk when he realized something. Hinawakan niya ang black suitcase. Nakita ko kung paano nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"May problema ba?"

"Fuck! This is Cole's suitcase. It must have been mixed up," malutong niyang mura.

Binuksan ko ang suitcase at nakita ang chessboard sa loob. So this is what's inside.

"Anong laman ng suitcase mo, Crescent?" nagtataka ko siyang tinignan.

"You don't want to know."

"Where have you left it?"

Hindi na ako nagtanong. Hindi niya rin ako sasagutin kapag sinabi na niya ang mga katagang iyan.

"Sa cottage."

"What?! That's two hours away from here!"

He looks dead serious and frustrated na para bang gusto niyang kumain ng tao. He slam his hand on the steering wheel before reversing the engine.

"We need to get that suitcase. Tell Cole na mamayang gabi tayo makakabalik."

Tumango ako at hindi na nagtanong pa. I texted Cole that something came up and he understands it. Sobrang bilis ng pagpapatakbo ni Crescent na halos lumipad na iyong sasakyan. He really loves that suitcase!

"Stay here, Georgia. I'll be back," isinara niya ang kotse.

Hindi ko pa nga nababawi ang kaluluwa ko, umalis na siya agad. Naiwan ko yata kanina sa daan. Ang bilis naming nakarating sa isla dahil sa bilis niyang magdrive. I heaved a sigh and looked outside the car. Halos lumabas ang kaluluwa ko nang may biglang kumatok sa bintana.

Isang lalaki na naka-leather jacket. I have bad memories with men wearing leathers. Hindi ko siya pinagbuksan ng bintana pero mas lalo lang lumakas ang kanyang pagkatok. He knows someone is inside.

"Can I help you?" I rolled down the window.

I saw how he pulls a gun from his pocket at inutusan akong lumabas ng kotse. Sumunod ako sa kanyang utos at dahan-dahang lumabas ng kotse.

I knew this is going to happen. I saw this guy before, he was gazing at us when we were busy paying for the cottage. Baka alam niya na marami kaming pera.

"Nasaan ang kasama mo? Yung lalaking may suitcase."

Hinawakan niya ako sa leeg, while his gun is pointing in my head.

"Nasa loob. Babalik din yun."

I saw Crescent coming back with the suitcase. His eyes widen in shock when he saw me as a hostage.

"I told you to stay inside the car," matigas niyang sabi.

"I-I did."

"Ibigay mo sa akin ang suitcase. Pera yan, diba? Ibigay mo sa akin at pakakawalan ko ang babaeng ito!"

Crescent put the suitcase in the trunk. Tinutok ng lalaki sa kanya ang baril. Nakita ko kung paano niya kinuha ulit ang isang suitcase.

"You want this? You can have it," he looks at me. "Just let my girl go."

"Itapon mo. Itapon mo rito!"

Napalunok ako. He's choking me. This is bad. Baka gumalaw ng kusa ang katawan ko at maitumba ko siya sa batuhan. I don't want Crescent sees what I can do to this person.

Nanginginig kong hinawakan ang kamay ng lalaki, just to make sure that there's still a gap between his arms and my neck.

"Throw your gun away. Duck for me, little kitten. Bibilang ako. Isa... dalawa... tatlo!"

Crescent threw the suitcase to his face and I immediately duck. Naglaglagan ang chess pieces sa lupa. Hinila niya ako patayo at niyakap ng mahigpit. Mabilis siyang dumukot ng baril mula sa kanyang beywang at pinutok iyon sa isang binti ng lalaki. I thought he's gonna shoot the guy in the head but he did it on his right hand instead.

"AAAAHHH! Y-Yung paa ko!"

Nagulat ako kung gaano siya ka-eksaktong bumaril. He didn't miss his target. Alam na alam niya kung saan dapat titira.

So this is how assassins do their job.

"Get inside the car, little kitten," he demands.

"What are you going to do with him?"

"Itatali ko. Don't worry, I'll call the ambulance and police after this."

Sumunod ako sa kanyang utos. Habang busy siya sa pagtatali at pagtawag sa mga pulis, binuksan ko ng mabilis ang suitcase na nasa likuran. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang laman nito.

Mabilis ko iyong isinara at bumalik sa pag-upo. Bakit ba ako nagulat, e normal lang naman siguro na yun ang laman nito. But he's right, other people shouldn't see what's inside. They won't understand that it's part of his job.

Binuksan niya ang kotse at naupo. Akala ko papaandarin na niya ang sasakyan pero nagkamali ako. He glared at me with his mad eyes and asked.

"Did you look into my suitcase?" seryoso niyang tanong.

Dahan-dahan akong tumango. Galit ba siya? Parang ganun na nga kasi huminga siya ng malalim bago muling nagsalita.

"Snipers," he whispered.

"I know you're an assassin, Crescent. You don't have to keep it as a secret."

"Sorry. I thought you're gonna get scared."

Ngumiti ako. Bakit naman ako matatakot? Ilang beses na ako nakagamit ng baril but not in this second life of mine.

"It's okay, Crescent. Puntahan na natin sila Joey at Cole."

Napatingin ako sa lalaki na naghihirap at naghihingalo. He's going to be dead by tomorrow 'cause I know that Crescent didn't call an ambulance or police. And he's blood is pouring like river. Sigaw siya nang sigaw pero hindi ko marinig dahil sa soundproof na bintana ng kotse. Napangiti ako.

How lovely death can get?

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