Watch your words, they become your actions: 18 | Those Eyes

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Dirk’s return has me feeling conflicted. There's a strange, almost dark edge to his reappearance, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s back because of the bounty on me. It’s hard to ignore that suspicion, even though we used to be close.

What was once easy and comfortable between us now feels tense, like there’s a shadow over everything we say. I’m stuck between wanting to trust him and staying on guard.

A whiff of smoke was departing my lips as I wondered, "Dirk, what brings us here?" My chapped lips were even more dry than they had been due to the bitter cold.

The sound of the car engine turning off was followed by the click of the door unlocking. "To calm you down, my darling," he retorted.

"Really, in this junkyard?"

He insisted on taking me somewhere, and it caught my attention as we sat in the coffee shop after our one-sided argument. He knew that once my curiosity was piqued, I couldn’t resist.

Despite a sense of unease, my urge to find out his intentions was stronger. Concern tugged at me, but the pull to follow him and uncover why he had resurfaced was irresistible.

Expecting the worst, I stayed alert, watching his every move until we arrived at a lot scattered with old, abandoned cars. I glanced up at the faded sign above the entryway, barely lit, and read, "Home For The Aged."

Joke ba'to? Home for the aged, gago talaga 'tong mokong na'to. Home for the aged pero para sa mga lumang sasakyan? Hanep din.

I sighed in disappointment as we walked into the place. He was undeniably handsome, which added to the mystery of why he would be here. Puro mga lumang sasakyan at sira-sira pa ang andito, maya-maya pagkamalan pa itong tirahan talaga ng mga matatandang tao.

With a gentle smile "I bought this place, darling." he said. "Welcome to my office," he held out his arms to greet."

"Yeah, old ass tin scraps, aging rusting metal, and a whole heap of junk piled up," I said with sarcasm and glanced around.  I also tried to add something funny, like, "Your office is as filthy as you, darling," but before I could say anything more, he snapped his fingers.

“Yah!” he yelled, his voice cutting through the air, sharper than usual. “Don’t be rude! You know where I’ve come from.”

There was a heaviness in his words, a seriousness I wasn’t used to hearing from him, with just a flicker of something else beneath the surface—maybe pain, buried and hard to read.

Oo nga pala, lumaki siya sa junkshop ng matandang babae na kumupkop sa kanya. My, bad.

"I didn't mean to hit a nerve," I apologized, sliding my hands into my pockets. Ang lamig talaga ng gabing 'to.

"Yeah, you and your mouth... Behave, alright?" he stated firmly, and I simply nodded in response, acknowledging his words.

It was my first time venturing this far from the apartment, and every second felt like it might be my last. A constant, looming fear weighed on me, as if a hitman might suddenly appear and end it all. Pero tulad nga ng sabi ko, bahala na si Batman.

Following Dirk, I entered a small workshop buzzing with activity. Bikes were in all stages of repair, auto parts and tools lay scattered around, and the sight sparked a thrill inside me.

Then I spotted an old Ducati GT 1000 among the vehicles. I couldn’t help but smile as I made my way over to it.

“This is lovely!” I exclaimed, not caring who Dirk was talking to at the counter.

In that moment, I was ready to let go and enjoy the night, embracing the energy of his workshop. Pero agad na akong tinawag ni Dirk ng papalabas na siya at ng mama na natatabunan na ang mga mata dahil sa makapal nitong kilay at isang makapal na bigote.

I followed him, and as I pushed open the heavy metal door to exit, ready for whatever came next, my gaze was pulled back, magnetically drawn to the same car that had caught my eye back in the racing den.

"What is that car, doing here?" pagtataka ko.

"Do you like my surprise, darling?" he happily asked.

"Uhm, yeah... But... Why is it on that crane?" nakatingala kong pagtatanong.

"Oh, the car will be wrecked, young woman." 

"What?!" I turned abruptly to face the man who spoke. "Why? That Hennessey? No way—" Oh, the bet! Muntik ko ng makalimutan iyon.

"Every raced car is up for a bet. The damaged ones end up here, and the bid amount goes to me in exchange for valuable items; that's the gist of my business," Dirk explained succinctly.

Hindi ko naman akalaing totoo nga ang bet na iyon. The loser's car will be wrecked. Sino ba naman kasing tao ang basta nalang ilalagay sa alanganin ang isang kotse na mas mahalaga pa ata kesa sa mga taong naninirahan sa mga palasyo?

Natulala na lamang ako sa Hennessey. Kawawa naman! Ano ba namang klaseng trabahong meron 'tong si Dirk?

I muttered silently, realizing that his business was more than just placing bets. It was all about stealing money from bids, laundering the money of the car's owners, and indulging in fraudulent operations.

It was the ideal crime for a man of his caliber. His knowledge was obvious; he must have been skilled at penetrating high-profile groups and acquiring vital information through the racing underworld. 

He wasn't simply working with the ridiculously affluent; he was also dealing with deadly syndicates, crooks, and secretive people hiding in the shadows of this underworld.

Hanep din, where else could accurate data be obtained? Syempre, sa mga lugar na mas delikado pa siguro sa likod ng bahay niyo. Where your grandma could've buried someone alive. 

Kidding aside, he's really strange for someone so strikingly handsome and intelligent engaging in unlawful activities. Despite the questionable nature of his deeds, there's an undeniable charm about him that's hard to ignore.

Back to the Hennessey, beaten and crushed after multiple falls, memories of the man who had driven it recklessly flooded my mind. The image of those intense, fiery eyes only heightened my excitement. But beneath that thrill, a wave of concern swept over me.

"Where's the engine?" I queried, turning to face them both. Dirk's face retained that mischievous smirk, leaving me even more suspicious.

Hmm, alam niya talaga kung paano ako mag-isip.

"Ooohh, darling, I removed them just for you; they're valuable items from the owner, but I don't recall him mentioning getting these back," he remarked, a note of nonchalance in his tone. 

With a sigh, he sauntered over to my side, unveiling a thick black tarpaulin sack. "So, wad'ya think?" 

"Damn, a V16 engine. With a twin turbo, no less. What's the horsepower on this thing?" dungaw ko kaagaad sa container na pinaglagyan ng engine ng Hennessey. 

"five thousand..."

I bit my lip, "Can I have this?" I couldn't contain my excitement, a broad smile lighting up my face as I turned to him.

"Oh no, it caused more than your life—"

"10, 000, 000, 000... Pounds!" I cut him off. Ha! Alam ko rin kung paano ka mag-isip Dirk, mukha kang pera. Halos ilang milyon din ang offer ko, kingina niya. 

"Deal!" He happily exclaimed. "Save the celebrations for later," he sneered and winked at me.

I chuckled, overwhelmed with joy. "I feel like I've taken a thousand ecstasy pills just to get this high."

"Sorry, I lied," Dirk confessed in a quiet tone as we made our way back inside. "The truth is, I first saw you at the den; it was quite daring of you to jump off that 6-foot-tall bench!"

"Hmm?" I chuckled again, pushing my chest into his biceps.

"Are you listening? I said, don't get too excited." he flushed.

"I don't care, where or when you first saw me. Just kill me, later..."

He then bit his lips. "In bed?"

I hummed contentedly as I exited the building, thrilled by what I had just witnessed. Encountering such a magnificent machine was exhilarating! I leaned against the building's wall, still sporting a wide smile, waiting for Dirk to join me.

However, my patience wore thin as I groaned, realizing they were taking far too long to prepare my stuffs.

"Darling?" finally he showed up.

"Don't make me wait, next time." I said, glaring at him.

"Yep. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be able to take you to bed," he stated with a hint of solemnity, furrowing his brow. I remained stoic, diverting my attention to every detail of his sly expression. 

Suddenly, he broke the tension.

"Catch!" he exclaimed, tossing his car's key towards me. He then disappeared in the blink of an eye, living up to his moniker as the Ghost Rider.

I should have been more cautious, anticipated his elusive nature, but I didn't foresee him leaving me in such a manner.

Ugh, men.

They left you behind after pleasing your eyes with their act of service. He's just like, Adofo.

Tsh.

Nawawalan tuloy ako ng gana pero hindi ko nalang inisip si Dirk at tinuon nalang ang pansin sa paglilipat ni manong bushy-brows sa engine ng sasakyan at iilang pyesa nito sa pickup truck ni Dirk na hindi rin nagtagal ay natapos na.

"Everything has been transferred, young lady," said the man, his face furrowed.

I simply nod in answer. Hindi siya iyong lalaking kausap ni Dirk kanina sa loob ng workshop pero parehas sila ng pagmumukha. Malaki ang katawan, kalbo pero ang tanging buhok lang na nakikita ko sa kanila ay ang makapal nilang kilay at bigote.

They have to be twins... Are they working with, Dirk? They seemed normal, people... But, sus.

Curiosity piqued my interest, especially in Dirk's absence. Why not do a little snooping in his den? I smirked, thinking, "Ghost Rider, you're not the only one with smarts."

Glancing quickly around, I slipped into the shadows, moving with absolute caution. Every step was carefully placed to stay within blind spots, aware of security cameras positioned at six, nine, and three o'clock.

Ahead at twelve o'clock, rows of excavators and construction vehicles stood like silent guards. Despite the line of old autos forming a rough barricade, something unusual caught my attention.

“There’s more here than he’s letting on,” I muttered, certain this was more than a front. “Come on, Ghost Rider… show me something interesting,” I whispered, gripping the edge of a massive truck tire, adrenaline thrumming through me.

Using my body weight, I gripped the massive wheel’s rim, strengthening my hands and arms as I lifted myself up. With a final push, I hoisted myself onto the top of the enormous tire. A gust of wind blew my hair across my face, half-blinding me, and I cursed the lack of a hair tie.

Ignoring the distraction, I focused on the scene below. The scale of everything around me, combined with the chill in the air, only fueled the urgency simmering within me. Yet, despite the effort, my curiosity wasn’t close to being satisfied.

I leapt from one tire to the next, landing near a graveyard of broken-down car parts. Some vehicles were barely recognizable, while others had rusted into tetanus-laden heaps. I glanced at my heels, realizing they wouldn’t last much longer.

From my high perch, I took a sweeping look at the landscape, mentally noting that I needed to return for a deeper investigation.

Something about my recent trip to the Philippines had clearly put me on Dirk's radar, and I was determined to uncover why. It didn’t take much to sense that he had hidden motives—and I suspected someone was pulling his strings.

I couldn’t afford to make a misstep; one wrong move, and I’d be pulled into something dangerous.

The thought of being caught in the crossfire made me wary; I could easily end up being the victim. 

However, contemplating these complex scenarios was draining. Memories of the recent events at the school still lingered vividly in my mind, adding another layer of concern. There was a lot on my plate, and thinking about it all was overwhelming.

I froze mid-step, ready to leap from my perch, but a deafening boom shattered the quiet, louder than any weight crashing down on metal.

Then I heard it—a sharp, unmistakable sound that could only be a man's fist slamming into metal, followed by furious, caged-animal yells that echoed through the junkyard. The rage in those shouts was barely restrained, like a lion desperate to break free.

Akala ko may suntukang nagaganap, at baka si Dirk na ang binubugbog at sumigaw kaya naman dali-dali kong tinakbo ang dulo ng nakahilerang monster truck. Mukha siguro akong ninja, kakatalon sa ere pero agad din akong natigilin ng makita ang pamilyar niyang mga mata.

Those eyes, raging in flames... Kahit na natatakpan parin ang mukha niya gaya ng hitsura niya sa racing den ay nakikilala ko parin siya.

"This is even worse! Sino ang binentahan mo at bakit ka lang kumita ng isang daang libong piso? Seryoso ka ba? Do you have any idea how much each part of that car cost me?"

Bakit naman siya galit ngayon? Siya lang naman itong nagpatalo sa laro niya.

Finally, I leaped over, feeling bored with the situation, while his cries echoed in my ears. Hiningal pa ako kakatakbo at talon— only to find out he was venting at the wrong person because the man he was yelling wasn't with us earlier, iyong kakambal niya ang kasama namin sa loob at hindi ang mamang sinsigawan niya ngayon.

I managed to land on my heels without making a sound and quickly moved to the opposite side of the building to hide myself. 

I can't just go out because if he see me, his burning eyes will surely kill me when he finds out that I'm the one who bought the parts of his car.

"You heard me wrong young man, not pesos its p—"

"Isara mo ang iyong bibig! Ayoko nang marinig ang anuman mula sa iyo dahil nagagalit lamang ako, matandang lalaki!"

God. 

The situation had transformed him into a broken-hearted man, hindi man lang pinapatapos sa pagsasalita ang mama, kawawa naman siya dahil wala siyang kasalanan.

I remember Adofo, weeping over a woman, and despite my attempts to console him, he continued shedding tears for someone who merely sought his wealth.

And it's annoying.

I leaned my right arm's elbow against the building's wall, unable to contain a sense of satisfaction with the scene before me. He was crying like a child; if he had bought those parts before, why couldn't he just purchase them again? O bakit hindi nalang bumili ng bagong sasakyan?

I thought I might have overpaid his car's engine and other car parts by billions of British Pounds, pero akala niyang binili ko lang iyon sa halagang isang daang libong piso.

"Damn it, just tell me who you sold the parts to!" he pleaded.

A squeak almost escaped my lips when the old man replied that he didn't know me, the buyer. Napagkamalan pa ako ng mama na pipi dahil hindi raw niya ako narinig magsalita.

Hindi ko na kasi piniling magsalita bago umalis si Dirk, nasa likuran lang kasi siya, abala sa pag lilipat ng mga binili ko.

I wasn't aware of my smile until I witnessed Croce slam his hand against an old car and then collapse to sit on his feet. His veins were visibly bulging from the pressure he struggled to release. He possessed such tight control over his emotions that he couldn't even vent them out.

Now I know another reason, why I am gonna hate those eyes more.

He can control his, while I can't.

I should be upset, but I still find myself captivated by those eyes... I'm still giggling with pure joy. However, the moment I noticed his gaze fixed on mine, my heart skipped a beat.

Damn, I'm getting careless.

I'm certain he will not recognize me, so as soon as he blinks his eyes open, I rush out of the corner and disappear into the darkness.

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To be continued...