Chapter 1: Bad Meets Evil

I was whistling while tapping my foot on the ground. In five minutes, the lecturer will pass this way, just as he had been doing for the past six months. Inayos kong muli ang dalang bag, checked my skirt and sipped the iced coffee cup na halos nangangalahati na lamang. Muli kong tinapunan ng tingin ang mga estudyante sa paligid. 

College is so boring, I thought to myself. Walang malaking pera sa pag-aaral, I always convinced myself with that. I can name people who were college dropouts ngunit nakahilata ngayon sa pera.

Take the Capo for example. I know he only knows how to sign. Perma lang ang alam niyang gawin but he holds a position so high that everyone in business wanted to overthrow him, and all his enemies wanted him dead. He's so good that it is said he will take over so soon. The Capo is my only link to my parents. He said they were his loyal people, so loyal that they died in his stead, leaving me behind.

My backstory could be a good villain background, iyong tipong kaaawaan. Iyong tipong justified ang kasamaan. But for me? There's no use in crying over spilled milk. Wala akong alaala sa mga magulang ko kaya na rin siguro hindi ko magawang umiyak, knowing I am orphaned. My mindset is always for tomorrow. Hindi na maibabalik ang nakaraan, so wishing for a parent to watch me grow is just a funny thought. Growing up together with all other crime syndicate orphans made me tough. I was one of the bullied for being an orphan, but unlike the others, I don't cry and wished for a family.

What did I do?

I let them eat gun shells. They said it doesn't taste good and that it gave them an upset rummy. Using my swiss knife, I also carved a portrait of their families on their back. I love that knife! It always comes in handy. 

Muli akong napasulyap sa relo ko. He will be here in three... two.. one...

And just as expected, namataan ko ang pigurang hinihintay ko. Who would have thought that the guy, who teaches psychological statistics is actually a reaper? Not to mention that he's a lecturer, not a fulltime professor. Sa ibang pagkakataon ay iisipin kong isa siya sa hindi pinalad na makakuha ng item, or that no vacant position is available for him, but no, the reason that he's a part-time lecturer ay dahil iyon sa pinagkakabalahan niya. This is just a cover-up job.

Napangiti ako sa sarili bago pinulot ang bag at iba pang gamit. Nilabas ko ang cellphone at naglakad patungo sa classroom. Nagkunwari akong nakatingin sa cellphone bago sumilip sa loob.

Posei noticed me on the door, with no hint of surprise in his face. I don't know if he's really not surprised o magaling talaga siyang magtago ng emosyon. Nagkunwari rin akong hindi siya napansin until he spoke.

Looking at him right now, he truly looked like a responsible guy. A young lecturer who can actually answer every query you throw to him just to test his intelligence. Wala ang bakas ng autoridad sa kanyang mukha just like how I saw it few weeks ago. He didn't pull a Clark Kent-Superman disguise. No eyeglasses to hide his identity. He looked the same except that he has no gun pointed at my face.

"Get inside," kaswal na sabi niya.

I acted surprised when I saw his face at lumapit sa kanya. Sinadya kong babaan ang boses. "Posei? Is that you?"

I know he was annoyed dahil sa tinawag ko sa kanya, but he said nothing at all about it.

"Omg! Is that really you Posei?" This time ay tinaasan ko na ang boses ko, just to look cute and innocent. Umani ako ng naiinggit na hiyawan mula sa iba pang mga babae na naroon. The boys even started teasing me.

"Sit down, Miss. Our class is about to begin," kalamadong pa ring sagot niya.

I actually enjoyed teasing him. I grabbed the printed copy of the class list na pinunit ko sa bulletin board kanina. "So you're Mr...." Napangiti ako sa sarili ko. The illegal business world is really fun. He immediately get passed the school's HR kahit pa peke ang pangalang binigay niya. "Mr. Elias Montejo?"

Liar. I knew all along that he's the son of Rafael Villan III, isa sa malalaking tao sa likod ng Vander Mafia. And I knew he's Rafael Red Villan. But I will play along.

"So you're not Posei?"

He chose to ignore me again. "Sit down, Miss."

Alam kong naaasar na siya, and even if I knew he had no gun with a silencer he can use right now to kill me, he still can kill me in so many ways I cannot imagine kapag patuloy akong naging makulit. Flipping my hair, I find my usual seat at nakinig na lamang sa lecture.

*****

My classmates hate this class ngunit ngayon ay tila ayaw na nilang matapos ang lecture hours. Poseidon turned off his laptop at ini-dismiss ang klase. Like I always do, nagpaiwan ako sa upuan, with my female classmates flocking around me.

"Kilala mo si Sir Montejo?"

"Why do you call him Posei?"

"Oh my gosh, sana may iba pa akong klase na siya ang lecturer!"

Kung anu-ano pa ang sinabi nila, praising the looks of Poseidon.

These poor girls. They have no idea how much blood was in that guy's hand.

"Actually, I don't think he's Posei," sagot ko sa kanila. "But he looked like the Posei that I know."

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang mga gamit. I'm only here for the sake of the plans kaya walang rason na makipag-tsismisan pa ako.

Hiding in the shadows was an easy job. Sa nakalipas na tatlong semester ay nakuha kong magkunwaring pumasok sa skwelahan na ito. Sure, I seldom attend my classes dahil sa dami ng gagawin just to make this plan as smooth as it could be. 

Pre-empting that one of Vander repears would work here is easy. Klaro na ang pattern nila, just like the historical data we got about them for the past ten years. They would do day jobs like normal people. They would pay bills like most of us, just to keep in the shadow. That's why I started my move early.

Nang makalabas ako ng classroom ay bigla na lamang may humablot sa akin. I hid my smile to myself dahil alam ko kung sino iyon. He brought me to the back of the classroom, kung saan hindi masyadong matao.

"I'm starting to get suspicious of you," sabi ni Poseidon.

"Hello too," sagot ko. "So you are really Posei!"

"Stop calling me that ridiculous name," sabi niya. "My name's Elias. But for you, that's Sir Montejo."

"Okay, SIR," I replied nodding my head. "Pero, teka. You're suspicious of me? Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Stop acting dumb, woman."

"Wait, you're not thinking I'm following you, are you?" tanong ko at nang hindi siya sumagot ay agad akong napasinghap. "Ang feeling naman nito! Hello, matagal na akong nag-aaral dito. Ikaw 'yong bago diba?" Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. "You're the one who's following me!"

Kumunot ang noo niya at ilang sandaling tinitigan ako na tila ba binabasa kung nagsasabi ba ako ng totoo. But I've been a master of this art since a long time ago. You won't hear inconsistencies. Not even a subtle change in tone and sudden shift of pitch. I know very well not to make any indication of deception. This game is as easy as ABC.

Bigla kong tinakpan ang bibig at umastang nagulat. "Teka, wag mong sabihing..." Sinadya kong bitinin ang sasabihin, just to add thrill to the hell of it. Ops, I hope he doesn't hear my thoughts.

"What?" He asked impatiently.

"Wag mong sabihing may gusto ka na sa akin?" tanong ko.

He doesn't look particularly amused. He was, in fact, in great shock na para bang anong kagulat-gulat ang sinabi. On top of it was disbelief. But one thing about this guy is that he looked not easy to fool. If I didn't trust myself enough when it comes to deception, my cover would have already been blown.

Walang salitang hinablot niya ang bag ko, and ransacked it like some sort of potato pack. He didn't even blink as he pulled my notebook and tossed it somewhere. My mouth gaped open in disbelief at halos hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ang mga gamit kong lumipad sa ere bago bumagsak sa lupa.

My makeup pouch? Tossed.

The Cosmo magazine I just bought? Torn.

The paperback book of Colleen Hover I was halfway done reading? Thrown away.

Hindi pa siya nagkasya sa ginawa. Hinalughog niya ang bawat sulok ng bag ko, hoping to find whatever to incriminate me.

Biglang namuo ang mga luha ko. Pinulot ko ang durog-durog na eyeshadow palette. "Do you even have any idea kung magkano 'to? This may not be that much but I used the money I saved up mula sa pagiging student assistant sa library para mabili lang 'to!" Sunod kong pinulot ang ilang mga makeup brush at umiiyak na nilagay iyon sa nadumihang makeup pouch. "And this Cosmo mag! Pwede ba, kung may problema ka sa akin, wag mo naman idamay itong magazine!" I crawled my way to the spot kung saan tumilapon ang libro. "And this book! Hiniram ko lang 'to sa libray! You even messed up my bookmarked page!"

He doesn't look sorry at all, but he doesn't look not regretful either. This guy looked like he knew only a few expression, but I know very well that it's just the upbringing of a skilled reaper. Patuloy pa rin niya akong tiningnan na tila binabasa ang sitwasyon. Nang may ilang mga estudyante sa paligid ang nakakita sa amin ay saka lang siya tila nahimasmasan.

With a sigh, he picked up my bookmark na tumilapon sa paanan niya at lumapit sa akin. "Here, let me help you up."

Napatingin ako sa kamay niya. How many life has been taken by this hand? I thought to myself. Mukhang epektibo ang drama ko kaya patuloy akong nagmatigas. I swatted his hand away, at sa halip ay komportableng umupo sa lupa.

"Help me? Eh ikaw nga 'tong nagtapon sa mga gamit ko!" Nilakasan ko pa ang boses para marinig ng iilang estudyante sa paligid. They started murmuring something kaya muli siyang napasinghap.

He sat on the ground close to me and leaned closer. "I'm sorry," he said with utmost sincerity.

What?

Bigla akong natigilan. Just a while ago, I concluded that this guy knows less to nothing about emotions but hearing him say sorry invalidates my claim. He was full of sincerity, like he truly mean it.

"I was just... I don't know, I was being mean."

Ilang beses akong napakurap, sanhi upang mag unahan pa sa pagbagsak ang mga namuong luha sa mga mata ko. Alam kong mukha akong tanga ngayon na nakanganga sa kanya, wondering how could he say something so full of emotions.

"B-bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" tanong ko.

He shook his head. "I can't talk about it."

"Why not?"

He just shrugged at tumayo. Pinagpagan niya ang sarili bago pinulot ang iba ko pang mga gamit ma nagkalat sa lupa. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin, and there was nothing suspicious about his apology. Matapos mapulot lahat ng gamit ko ay muli niyang inilahad ang palad sa harap ko.

I just sort of stare at it, not sure what to do.

"Sooner or later, dadami na ang studyante sa paligid and we do not want attention to ourselves, do we?" He said nonchalantly at bahagyang inilibot ang paningin sa paligid. He wasn't lying when he said na dumarami na ang mga estudyante kaya hindi na ako nagpakipot pa at tinanggap ang palad niya.

His hand was warm, not soft but not hard either. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang mahahaba niyang daliri. You know what they say about men with long fingers?

Well, in my books it means he will live a short life. Kung ano man ang narinig ng iba tungkol sa lalaking mahahaba ang daliri ay wala akong pakialam doon.

His fingernails looked nice too, complementing his tan skin. My biggest turn on in a guy is when he got clean nails. At facevalue, he looks like it but in reality, that hand actually held a lot of other people's life.

Bago pa ako mabaliw sa kaiisip kung ano ang nailcare routine niya ay binawi ko na ang kamay ko upang pagpagan ang sarili. I used my dusty hand to wipe the tears streaming down my face.

Saglit kong napansin ang pagliwanag ng mukha niya. Hard to say what it was, only to realize it was to laugh at my face. Naglabas siya ng panyo mula sa bulsa at inilahad iyon sa harap ko.

"What?" Tanong ko at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa panyo at sa mukha niya.

He didn't say a word at tinuro lamang ang mukha ko.

Oh. Agad kong ginamit ang kanyang panyo upang punasan ang mukha. I unfolded it in front of him bago malakas na suminga sa panyo. Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang pagkunot ng kanyang noo.

I made sure I used his hankie very well bago maingat na tinupi iyon at ibinalik sa kanya. "Here. Salamat."

I know he was disgusted but because I just bawled my eyes crying ay agad niyang pinalis iyon sa mukha. "You can have that."

"Arte naman nito, para sipon lang!"

He chose not to comment about at iniba ang usapan. "About what happened that night, forget about it."

"About Tristan who was actually that Zolotov guy whoever?" usisa ko.

"And never mention it from now on," kaswal na dagdag niya.

"Why not?"

Tinitigan niya ako kaya gumanti ako ng titig. In all fairness, he is goodlooking. Definitely the looks of someone who excel at school at mabuting mamamayan, in general. Yes, I guess he really excel at whatever, but the later part is nah. He is a reaper. It makes me wonder kung ilang tao na kaya ng organisasyon ang napatay niya?

But setting that aside, that look is definitely one who will break a lot of hearts by simply existing. If I were a normal girl, his looks are definitely my type. Kung may katulad niyang magkakagusto sa akin, surely I would be swept off my feet, settle down quietly, and live a simple, contented life.

But I am not a normal girl. I crave for power. I crave for recognition. I crave for more than just merely existing and becoming part of the organization. I will be a woman who will rule. A woman of authority. At lahat ng iyon ay magiging posible if I get my mission done, and that it to kill Vander Mafia's Cronus.

But that guy is so hard to set myself in his way. The organization cannot get any information on his whereabouts, as if Cronus is just a myth. The closest thing I can do is play nice and slowly lurch towards him through his beloved reaper. I don't know if I can pull this through within the timeline I set, pero alam kong may progress na ako. And me sniffing on his reaper's hankie is a big step.

He leaned closer so I can be the only one who can hear him. "Forget about what happened. Forget about all I said. I never mentioned anything."

It sounded a threat, but in a nice way. He said it nicely, probably to prevent me from crying.

Akmang tatalikuran na niya ako ngunit bigla akong nagsalita.

"But I already decided!"

He stopped and looked at me with confusion. "Decided on what?"

"I will help you."

He doesn't care so I need to be more specific.

"I will help you find Tristan or Zolotov. Gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko, just to bring him to you. But I cannot promise I will bring him to you unscathed, okay? Gaya ng ginawa niya sa akin, I'll just take a little stab on his side."

Walang bakas ng kung ano ang kanyang mukha bago bumaba ang tingin niya sa tagiliran ko, kung saan ako sinaksak ni Tristan. "And why would you do that? Why would you help me find that guy?"

Napayuko ako at hindi agad nagsalita. He's impatient so he took some steps away from me without waiting for my reply.

Nakailang hakbang na siya bago ako taas-noong sumagot. "That's because I like you a lot! Since that night that you saved me from whatever danger that is, hindi ka na nawala sa isip ko!"

I made sure to say it with sincerity. Saglit kong naisip kung ano ang pakiramdam kapag may nagsabi sa akin ng mga salitang katulad nito? It will surely makes my skin crawl. Like ugh.

Poseidon chose to walk away, ignoring my words kaya tinodo ko na at sumigaw. "Gusto na yata kita, Mr. Elias Montejo!"

A few students around us stopped on their track in surprise. Nagbulungan pa sila, may ibang kinilig, may bumilib, while others looked jealous.

He stopped halfway, his back facing me.

"Gustong-gusto kita kaya gagawin ko iyon para sayo!" Pahabol na sigaw ko bago siya tuluyang umalis nang hindi man lamang ako nililingon.

Good. Now things are slowly going into place...

...just as I planned.

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