Pinanood ko ang balita sa telebisyon. Tungkol iyon sa pagsabog na nangyari kahapon sa Malavar Hospital. My fist clenched when I saw the news. I almost threw the remote when Crescent holds my hand tightly.

"We better find Joey. Aalis muna ako. I'll ask the police officers kung meron na silang lead sa kaso ng kapatid ko," isinuot ni Cole ang kanyang jacket at lumabas ng unit.

"This is all my fault."

Napayuko ako dahil alam ko na tutulo na naman itong mga luha sa mata ko. Hindi ko talaga mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag may nangyaring masama kay Joey. Cole can't keep his cool any longer, and I'm sure of it! He'll snap out sooner or later.

Pumunta si Crescent sa harap ko at pinantayan ang aking tangkad upang magtama ang aming mga mata.

"We will do everything to find Joey so stop blaming yourself, little kitten."

"Paano mo nalaman na andun kami sa 23rd floor?"

He took something from his pocket at ipinakita sa akin ang death threat na nakasulat sa isang papel. It says:

On this special day of February 3, something special will happen. We'll take the doctor and kill her.

"It's not that hard to decipher. Kaya alam ko na agad na nasa 23rd floor kayo dahil tanging ang Malavar lang naman ang may 50 floors," aniya.

Kill her.

"They will kill Joey kapag nalaman nila na nagkamali sila!" natataranta kong sabi.

"They won't lay a finger on her, little kitten."

"At paano mo yan nasasabi? Sigurado ka ba diyan?" inis ko.

"'Cause they need Joey to lure you. They'll know that you'll do anything to find her," he took his necklace off and gave it to me.

"Anong gagawin ko rito?"

"It's yours now. Just call my name if something happens, Georgia," isinuot niya sa aking leegan ang kwintas.

I flinched when he kissed my neck. Napatingin ako sa kwintas. Crescent Moon. Joey told me that he saw this necklace before, pero naputol ang pag-uusap namin dahil kay Crescent.

"Crescent, may kinalaman ka ba sa pagkawala ni Joey?" diretso kong tanong.

I want to know the truth even if it kills me.

Hindi siya nakasagot. Maybe he's choosing silence over the truth. I scoffed when I realized something. Mas pinipili niyang hindi sumagot kesa sabihin ang mga katagang "You don't want to know".

"Do you know where they took her?"

"I wish I had something to do with this, little kitten. It would be easier for us to track her," he sighed. "But I already quit my job as an assassin weeks ago that's why I don't know what they were planning."

My widen in shock. Seryoso ba siya?

"Why would you do that?"

He looks dead straight into my eyes. Parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya magawa-gawa.

"Because of you, Georgia."

Magtatanong pa sana ako but he chose to focus on his laptop.

"Get some sleep, little kitten. May pupuntahan tayo bukas," seryoso niyang sabi.

"Saan?"

"Let's visit your dad."

"M-My dad?"

Mas lalo lang akong nalito dahil dun. How did he know about dad? Kilala niya ba ang ama ko? Does it have to do with criminal organization rivalry? Kahit nalilito ay ginawa ko ang kanyang sinabi. Umakyat ako ng kwarto pero hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos kakaisip sa sinabi ni Crescent.

Come to think of it, ilang buwan na rin simula nang hindi ko siya kinokontak. Maybe he's busy. But I also got busy. Nakalimutan ko siyang kumustahin. I hope dad is not mad.

I should try asking him for help tomorrow. I'm desperate to find Joey.

Maaga akong nagising. Sa totoo lang, hindi talaga ako nakatulog ng maayos dahil sa pag-ooverthink. I called dad pero tanging voicemail lang ang sumasagot. When I was in the bathtub, Crescent suddenly walked in to see me. Halos lumabas ang puso ko dahil sa gulat at hiya. Sino ba kasing baliw ang papasok na lang nang basta-basta habang may babaeng naliligo sa bathtub?

Of course it's Crescent. He will do everything he wants.

"Breakfast is ready, little kitten."

"S-Susunod ako."

Mabilis akong nagbanlaw at isinuot ang aking bath robe. Bumaba ako sa kusina upang kumain ng agahan. He wants to be early.

"I don't understand, Crescent. How did you know my dad? Nameet mo na ba siya noon?" I asked nang nasa mesa kami.

"I'll explain everything later," napatitig siya sa kwintas ko. "And don't you dare remove that necklace."

"Hindi ko naman tatanggalin," irap ko.

Dumiretso kami sa kanyang private jet. I informed Cole na may pupuntahan muna kami ni Crescent. He is still trying to find clues for Joey. Ipinangako ni Crescent sa akin na mahahanap namin si Joey kapag sumama ako. Sana nga lang totoo.

"Where are we going?"

"Japan."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Dad doesn't have a rest house in Japan. He hates Japan."

That is where his mortal nemesis resides, the Yakuza Clan of Tamaguchi Tatome. Mafias and Yakuzas can never be in one place. It's chaos!

Hindi siya nagsalita saka ko siya sinamaan ng tingin. Seriously, you can't extract useful information from this guy!

Buong biyahe papuntang Japan ay hindi kami nag-usap ni Crescent. If he doesn't qant to talk to me, then I won't talk to him. I almost fell asleep on his shoulders but I quickly move away, pero hinila niya ako pabalik sa kanyang balikat.

"No matter how mad you are to me, I'll still let you rest your head on my shoulder," aniya nang hindi nakatingin sa akin.

Napairap ako at napakagat labi. How could he do this to me? I hate him but I love him. Pwede ko ba itong maramdaman sa iisang tao? Nakatulog ako sa kahabaan ng biyahe at nagising nang makarating kami sa Japan.

"Wake up, little kitten. We're here," mahina niyang tapik sa mukha ko.

I rubbed my eyes and saw Crescent na nakatitig sa akin. Bumaba kami kaagad ng eroplano pero narealize ko na sobrang lamig pala rito kumpara sa Pinas. The cold breeze was gently touching my legs and bare shoulders kaya napahawak ako sa braso ko.

"Damn attendants!" napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha.

"Bakit?"

"I'll get your coat and jacket, little kitten. You're shivering."

Hindi niya ako hinayaang magsalita 'cause he immediately went back inside to get our things. Hindi lang siguro ako sanay na ganito ang temperatura sa Japan.

Walang anu-ano niyang ipinasuot sa akin ang Gucci apricot coat at jacket dahil sa sobrang lamig. Inayos niya rin ang buhok ko upang hindi ito maipit sa loob ng jacket.

"Do you feel warmer?"

"Oo, thank you, Crescent."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko habang pababa kami sa hotel. Ipinarada niya langa ang jet sa malaking building at hindi ko alam kung sa kanya ba ito o hindi.

We ride in his porsche at nagpunta kami ng Shibuya. And he says that we'll go to see my dad pero bakit sa Shibuya pa? If my hunch is correct, dad would likely to prefer to live in Tokyo, the center.

"Nasa Shibuya si dad?"

"He is..." he sighed. "This may be hard for you, little kitten. But you need to know the truth about your dad and the dad that raised you."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa kanyang sinabi.

"What do you mean?"

My heart is slowly shattering. Hindi ako bobo upang hindi malaman ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"They are different."

"Malalaman ba natin kung nasaan si Joey kapag pumunta tayo sa ama ko?" naiiyak ko siyang tinignan.

"I hope so."

And that made me weak. I don't have time to play this fucking game, I just want to know where Joey is. Mas importante siya kumpara sa sarili ko. O can handle myself but Joey can't.

My phone vibrated and saw Cole's message.

"Who's that?"

"Cole."

The kidnapper told them to go to Japan, Shibuya, kung nasaan kami ngayon, kapalit nun ay... ako.

"What is it? What did Cole say?" tanong ni Crescent.

I slowly turn to Crescent and looked at him with disdain eyes. Is he tricking me into going to Shibuya upang ipalit ako sa pwesto ni Joey?

Hindi ako sumagot at hinayaan siyang magdrive hanggang makapunta kami sa bahay na kanyang sinasabi. I thought he resigned but I guess bad habits die hard, isn't it?

"Georgia, talk to me," he demands.

Tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko. I want to tell him to do something about the situation without of us getting hurt, but I guess we have no other choice since ako naman talaga ang dapat na nasa kalagayan ni Joey.

"Georgia..."

"I'm fine. Pagod lang siguro ako," I leaned my head against the seat.

"Give me your phone, I want to see Cole's message," utos niya.

"I deleted the message."

"I know you didn't."

Tinalikuran ko siya. I didn't know what happened but he took the phone from me in a single snap. His brows furrowed when he saw Cole's message.

"Damn it!"

Napahawak ako ng mahigpit nang ihinto niya ang sasakyan. He quickly reversed the engine and drove back to the hotel.

"What are you doing, akala ko ba pupunta na tayo ng Shibuya?"

"We can't. Mafia's already infiltrated."

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang may itim ba bola ang tumama sa harapan ng kanyang kotse. He immediately turns the car around and the last thing that I heard is an explosion behind us.

That was a fucking bomb!

"S-Someone just tried to kill us!"

"Go in the back, little kitten. Get my gun."

"Sa suitcase?"

"Yes."

Nasubsob ang mukha ko sa backseat nang iliko niya ang kotse ng 360° pero nakatayo naman ako ng mabilis. I've been in a situation like this, hindi ko nga lang maalala kung saan 'cause the image is a vague.

"Ok, um... anong baril? Sniper o yung handgun?"

"Sniper."

"Can you shoot while driving?!"

"No..." he immediately response. "That's why you drive, little kitten."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"I don't know how to drive, Crescent! You know that!" asik ko pero hindi niya ako pinakinggan.

"Take the wheel for me, little kitten."

Bakit napakacool niya pa rin kahit kinakabahan na ako rito? Shuta, no choice. Nagpalit kami ng pwesto. My hands were trembling while driving, nababangga ko ang ibang tao dahil nasa bike lane na pala kami napadpad.

Two cars were still following us. I need to find a way to lose them.

"Go right," he demands.

He shoots the guy inside the blue car and killed him. Yung driver ang natamaan kaya bumangga ang kotse sa poste.

"Damn, I can't shoot while the car's moving."

"Anong gagawin ko? You want me to stop the car?" inis ko.

Baka mamatay kami rito dahil sa kanya!

"We'll die if we stop," he sighed and tried shooting another guy from the white car. "Nakailag, putangina!"

"C-Crescent, hindi ko na alam kung nasaan tayo!"

"Just drive."

Why is he so chill? I can't be in a mission like this. Masyadong breathtaking. I turned the car to the left. May palengke rito at mga inosenteng tao na namimili. Kyaah, bakit dito ako lumiko?

"Done. I've killed both," he calmly comes back to his seat.

The next thing I know, sumabog ang kotse na sumusunod sa amin.

"We're gonna be dead. Ipaghahanap nila tayo. Nasa media na tayo bukas," iyak ko.

Sirang-sira na ako sa publiko. Putangina talaga!

"Move over, little kitten. Good job," he smiles and kissed my forehead saka siya pumalit sa akin sa pagdadrive.

Kumalma ako kahit papaano dahil sa ginawa niyang iyon. Masyado akong nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. Crescent decided to visit an old shrine. Doon daw muna kami magpapalipas ng gabi habang pinahuhupa niya ang tensyon kanina.

"Are we really going to sleep here?"

Nadismaya ako nang makita ang shrine. Mukhang abandonado at ang layo sa downtown. Wala pang malapit na 7-Eleven.

"We have no choice."

"We can go to a hotel, Crescent. Wala ka bang pera?" inis ko. "I'll pay if you want. I have money."

"You don't have cash, little kitten. They will tracked your credit card link and they'll find us," he looks frustrated. "Let's spend the night in a hot spring."

I feel excited when he said that. Hindi pa ako nakakapunta sa isang Hot Spring ever since.

"Let's go! Where is it?"

He pointed his fingers to the dark forest where the shrine is lying down.

"You're kidding me right?"

"Nope."

Baka ma-Spirited Away kami rito. Naglakad siya palapit sa shrine kaya sinundan ko siya kaagad. I wrapped my hands around his arms. Bakit ba kasi ang dilim dito?

"It's okay, little kitten. There are no ghosts here."

"Kahit na!"

Lakad lang kami nang lakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa malaking bath house sa likod ng shrine. Namamangha ko itong tinignan dahil sa sobrang laki and it looks so expensive.

"There's really a bath house here."

"Your uncle owns this."

"M-My uncle?" I raised an eyebrow. "You mean Federic Malavar?"

"No. Your other uncle."

"Good evening, ma'am, sir. Room for two?" tanong ng desk-in-charge.

"Yes. And get the bath done in five minutes," he puts the credit card on the desk.

"Will do, Mr. Fritz. Here's the key and here are your towels. Have a nice stay."

He holds my hand and walked away with me.

"Kilala mo ba yun?"

"Not really."

"So, we're talking about my uncle. My other uncle? Who is my other uncle, Crescent?"

"No one," he opens the door, pushed me inside, and starts undressing himself. "I'm gonna take a bath. Come join me if you want, little kitten."

"Shut up!" inis akong naupo sa malaking kama.

There are two beds here and I picked the left side dahil mas malaki. I panicked when he unbuckled his belt and wrapped the towel around his waist before looking at me.

"Why aren't you undressed yet? You were excited about hot springs a while ago," his perfect thick brows met.

Aksidenteng bumaba ang tingin ko sa abs niya papunta sa towel. I swallowed before answering him.

"B-Because I don't want to take a bath with-"

"Me?" tumaas ang dalawa niyang kilay.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Okay," he sighed. "I'll go ahead first."

Lumabas siya ng kwarto at isinara ang pinto. Nakahinga ako pagkatapos niyang lumabas.

I decided to take off my clothes and underwear at isinuot ang bathrobe na nasa kama. Good thing at may iilan silang damit at underwears na bago at libre rito.

I can't stop thinking about what Crescent said a while ago. If he's not talking about my uncle Malavar, then who?

Natigil ako sa pagtatali ng bathrobe nang may kumatok sa pinto. I opened the door, hoping it was Crescent pero nagkamali ako.

"Ms. Georgia Sicillian, gusto kayong makausap ng iyong tito," ani ng naka-suit na lalaki.

"Ang aking tito?"

"Si Oyabun Yamaguchi."

Who the fuck is that?

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