Imee's Point of View

I removed my helmet the moment I stopped my motor. Ramdam kong bumaba rin si Jazz sa kanyang sasakyan. I looked at him and tilted my head a bit, signalling him to go inside. Ako ang naunang naglakad at nakasunod lamang ito sa akin. Nang makarating kami sa harap ng Underground Empire, group of men guarding the front gate stopped us.

"Let us in." I told the guy who cornered me without even looking at him.

My eyes were only settled on the main door of the empire. This guy quickly moved so I end up having a hand fight against him, causing him to be thrown against the gate bars. Hinarap ko ang mga kasamahan nito dahilan para mapaatras sila ng kaunti. I heard Jazz whistles. Tsk.

"Open the door." I ordered.

Dali-dali naman nilang binuksan iyon. I walked on the metalled surface as we got inside. Jazz was just on my back, still whistling until we reached Death Shadow's office. His henchmen were sitting there, as if they're expecting for us.

"Where is he?" Tinignan lang ako ng mga ito, nakangisi.

Some of them were leaning on the window frame, holding some alcohol drinks. Others were seated comfortably on the leather couch. Nakapandekwatrong upo pa ang mga ito.

"You're looking for Death Shadow?"

"Stating the obvious." Tumango lang yung lalaking sumagot sa akin pero hindi nawala ang ngisi sa mukha nito. "Tell him to come up. I don't have time for his games." Huling saad ko bago ako tumalikod sa kanila pero nahinto ako ng magsalita ito.

"You'll meet him soon. Don't worry." Napuno ng tawanan nila ang silid na iyon. Napailing na lang ako bago ako naglakad palabas.

Sa puntod ni Keizer kami dumiretso pagkatapos naming umalis sa Underground Empire. Jazz informed me about Death Shadow's henchmen so I decided to go there but that asshole did not show off. I just wanted to end things about Keizer's death through him because he was the only person who knew about Keizer's killer. Habang tumatagal kasi iyon, mas nagiging kumplikado ang lahat pero hindi ko naman makita ang lalaking iyon.

Is he hiding now? Damn.

Agad nabaling ang atensyon ko nang magring yung phone ko. Jazz looked at it too. Lumayo ako ng bahagya sa kanya bago ko sinagot yung tawag.

[It's been awhile since the last time we've talk Miss Earl. Regarding the Blevins' case, I already got some information about their gunman. We are now tracking him down.]

"Good. I want you to look for that guy as soon as possible." I ended the call with Mr. Tan and went back to my spot. Jazz once looked at me tsaka ito umiling.

"You were emotional the last time and you're being emotionless this time." Mahina itong natawa. Nakasandal siya sa kanyang motor at bahagyang nakatukod ang magkabila niyang siko roon.

"Aside from dealing with Keizer's killer, with Death Shadow and your message sender, I didn't know you're into Blevins also. How many people are you dealing with?" Napailing ito, hindi makapaniwala. Dahil doon, pinangunutan ko naman siya ng noo.

"How did you know?" Bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito.

Alam kong alam niyang ang mga Blevins ang tinutukoy ko. Ang hindi ko lang alam ay kung bakit nalaman niya ang tungkol doon.

"I have my ways." He frankly said. Bahagya ring tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko sa pagkakataong ito.

"Then you should have known who the message sender is." I mocked. Lumingon ito sa direksyon ko at tumaas ang isa nitong kilay.

"That's a different case. Your message sender is tricky." Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako dahil sa naging sagot nito.

I don't even know why I end up dealing with those people. Ang sadya ko lang naman kasi talaga kung bakit ako umuwi rito ay para hanapin ang pumatay kay Keizer and to clear my name from people's judgments but I end up with this kind of situation. These people are really giving me headache.

"That's all for today. Class dismissed." When everyone stood up, that's when I realized that our class just ended. Siniko ako ni Irish dahilan para samaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Okay ka lang?" Nag-aalala nitong tanong. Tanging tango lamang ang isinagot ko rito. Nang papalabas na ako ng room, hinawakan niya ako sa aking braso. "Magiging okay ka naman diba?" Muli niyang tanong. This time I answered her through words.

"Yeah." Ngumiti ito sa akin.

Napailing na lang ako sa kanya. Dumiretso ako sa locker ko at nakasunod lang ito sa akin. Nilagay ko roon ang ilang gamit ko. Through my peripheral vision, I can see her looking at me. I know Irish was just worried about me. I haven't told her about how my conversation with Xydelle ended and I don't have the plan to. There are words better left unsaid and that's one of those. It's better to keep this way.

As I closed my locker, my phone rings. Mr. Jake Tan is calling.

[The gunman was already on my hand. We already interrogated him and you won't believe about what he said.]

My brows arc as my heart suddenly raced.

"What do you mean?"

[I can't explain it detailedly. He's---]

"Meet me at Shan's Café near the private lounge of the Elly's Hotel. Bring me to that guy. I will talk to him personally."

I immediately hang up the call after that. Nang magsimula akong maglakad, naramdaman ko ang pagpigil ni Irish sa akin. Hinawakan nito ng mahigpit ang kamay ko.

"Where are you going?" I met her gaze.

"I need to fix some things." Binawi ko ang kamay ko sa kanya at nagsimula na ulit akong maglakad ng mabilis.

She called my name pero hindi ko na siya nagawang lingunin pa. I can't let this one slide.

Nagmadali akong pumunta sa parking lot and I was stopped when I bumped into someone. I sighed secretly when I knew who it was. Of all people... Nagtama ang paningin naming dalawa. Halos dalawang linggo na rin nung huli kaming mag-usap and I didn't know seeing him after that could be this awkward.

I felt him stepped forward but I immediately avoided his gaze. Hindi ko kayang salubungin ang mga titig niya. Seeing his eyes will just remind me of how he wanted me to get out of his life. I'm lying if I'm going to say that I'm okay. I was deeply hurt because of his words and the more I look into his eyes, it will just hurt me more.

Standing now in front of him, I don't know what should I do. Good thing my phone once rings and I used that as an excuse. Goodness. Mabilis akong lumayo sa kanya at hindi na nag-abalang tignan pa siya.

[Where are you?] It's Kuya Denver.

"Still in school. I will come home late."

[Why? Are you with your frien---]

"I'm alone."

[Umuwi ka na rito! It's already dark Princess! Wala kang kasama!]

Napatikhim na lang ako. What about being alone this time? Tsk. "I'll be home before 9PM."

[Princess, I told---]

"Come on Kuya, promise uuwi rin ako kaagad."

[Fine! You should go home first before me. Don't make me mad Denniese Imee Earl!] Napaikot na lang ako ng mata. What's the point of reminding me where in fact he sounded mad already. Tsk.

[Just take care of yourself and make sure to go home before 9. I love you Princess.]

Pagkababa ko ng tawag, I started the engine. Bago ko iyon paandarin, wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Xydelle. Naroon pa rin siya sa kinatatayuan niya and he's looking at my direction. With the help of the tinted windows, napapikit ako ng mata at bumuntong hininga. Everything will be fine soon.

Pagkatapos ng muli kong pagbuntong hininga, pinaharurot ko na kaagad ang kotse. I turned on the left direction and increased the speed of the car. I have my own issues to take care with pero ginugulo rin kasi ng Blevins ang utak ko. Maybe I could put things to an end right away.

I once turned on the left direction. At this hour, I know it's already traffic so I needed to make some shortcuts. I continued driving but I slowly decrease the speed limit when I saw black car stopped not near me. I honked at the car pero mukhang wala itong planong lumihis. Napailing ako. Damn it. Why now?

Bumaling ako sa kabilang direksyon pero may humarang na naman. I let out a heavy sigh to make my patience long. Napapikit rin ako upang pigilan ang sarili ko. Kasabay ng pagmulat ko ay ang pagkabasag ng magkabilang bintana ng kotse ko. I didn't think twice of going out my car and slammed the door.

"What the hell is wrong---aghhhh!" Someone smacked my stomach right then. Because I didn't expect that, napayuko ako sa sakit. Shit.

"Ipasok sa kotse 'yan." Utos ng isang lalaki sa mga kasamahan niya.

Before they could do that, I shielded the car door on me and slammed that from the guy who wanted to catch me. I immediately bend down to get away from that spot. I wouldn't let them corner me.

A guy tried to grip me from behind but I exchanged our positions. I strangled him using my left hand, my right hand was then settled on gripping his arms being crossed on his back. Nilingon ko ang mga kasamahan nito at agad silang natigil sa pagsugod sa akin.

"Who the hell are you?" This guy I caught tried to escape from me kaya mas lalo kong hinigpitan ang pagkakasakal ko sa kanya.

"You'll know later once you come with us." Sagot nung lalaking nag-utos sa mga kasamahan niya. Pagak akong tumawa dahil sa sinabi nito.

"I'm not that stupid to come with you." I replied.

Suddenly, group of guys targeted me from behind causing the guy I caught to get freed. Someone gripped my left shoulder in front and gave me one full blow on my stomach. Lumapit yung lalaki sa akin at lumuhod sa harapan ko.

"Huwag ka ng makipagmatigasan pa. Sumama ka na lang sa amin." He emphasized.

Holding my stomach, I raised a brow on him and smirked. I just waited for few minutes to lessen the pain before I pushed him away and stood up. Ilan sa mga kasamahan niya ay nagtangkang saktan ako but I reversed that idea. Hitting me twice is enough. Tsk.

I dealt with the guy who smacked me earlier and gave him back the favor. With some bonus of course. I heard him groan in pain after that. He chose this, let him take it. I half knelt and grabbed his hair for him to face me.

"Who ordered you to do this?" I pulled his hair even more making him shout in pain. "You're messing with the wrong person." I remarked.

Losing my patience, I pushed him on the opened car door, directly hitting his head against it then I saw blood dripping after it. I turned my gaze on the guy who tried to stand up. Even we were in the dark area, I could see him gulp. He looked on the others who were now laid down along the ground.

"You." I cracked my knuckles while looking sharply at him and that makes him get my attention. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kanya habang dahan-dahan naman itong umaatras palayo sa akin.

"Who ordered this?" I once asked pero hindi ito sumagot. When I got in front of him, hinawakan ko siya ng mahigpit sa collar ng kanyang damit.

"You wouldn't dare wasting my time." I held him on his both shoulder and kneed him down. Napayuko ito kasabay ng kanyang pag-ubo. "Now get up and get out of my sight." I told him.

Napailing na lang ako nang makitang mabilis itong naglakad palayo kahit na paika-ika siya kung maglakad. Tsk.

Unfortunately, other guys showed in front of me again. They're now actually cornering me. Sa kagustuhan nilang hulihin ako, yumuko ako ng bahagya dahilan para sila-sila rin mismo ang magsuntukan. That's nice.

The tall guy tried to catch me but I welcomed him by kicking his precious jewels down there.

"Ohhhhh! Fuck!" Tumatalon-talon ito ng bahagya habang nakahawak sa parte niyang iyon, as if it could lessen the pain.

"Stupid." I blurted. Binalingan ko yung isa pang lalaki. Just after punching his face, hinawakan ko ito ng mahigpit sa kanyang panga.

"Who the fuck ordered this?" I asked impatiently.

He remained mute so I crashed his face. Muling bumalik ang kamay ko sa kanyang panga, trying to crashed him again when someone talked from behind.

"Stop right there young lady." My hand remained gripping that guy's chin. The side of my lips turned up when I heard him talked.

Hearing his baritone voice, there's this man who is now running on my mind but I hope not. Fucking not. This is impossible.

Kahit na nahihirapan sila dahil sa mga natamo nila, ramdam ko ang pagtayo ng mga kalalakihan at pumagilid ng mga ito na para bang binibigyan nila ng respeto ang lalaking dumating.

"You turned out to be a feisty woman now. No wonder." I gulp hard, trying to erase the thought running on my mind.

Parang naipit yung hininga ko. He's the only person I knew of that voice. Shit. He can't be. Napailing ako sa isipang iyon. I couldn't process everything right now. This fucking can't be.

Huli na nung maramdam kong may humawak sa magkabila kong balikat at piniringan ako sa mata. I tried to get away from their hold but they injected something on me.

"Put her inside the car." That familiar voice ordered in authority before I lost my consciousness.

I hope he's not the man I'm thinking right now. I had so many doubts before. If my instincts will satisfy my curiosity because of this incidence, makakapatay ako. This is fuck.