It was an elegant restaurant. Malawak ang espasyo sa loob at may chandelier na nakasabit sa kisame. Live musicians were playing in the background and tables were decorated with details. Not to mention the number of people who walked in and out of the place as waiters dashed about.

Jasmine Cruz walked inside the exclusive place, arm linked to the businessman she needs to keep an eye on. Under her false eyelashes, nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa ganda ng lugar. Truth be told, hindi pa siya nakakapasok sa mga mamahaling restaurants na kagaya nito. Once, she dreamed of having a dinner date with the one she loves.. Now, due to circumstances, she'd rather not.

"Name, sir?"

A woman at the entrance asked. She had her brown hair in a messy bun. Faint blue eyes wandered on the man. Mestisa. Maganda. The kind of girl Dream Nepomuceno would love to play with, Jasmine thought.

"Vincent Guerrero."

Moments later, the pretty lady was leading them down the backmost part of the place. Nang makaupo na sila at makaalis yung babae, ay nagulat si Jasmine nang sunggaban siya ng halik nung lalaki. She pulled away and raised her eyebrow.

The businessman shrugged, "Has anyone told you before that you're an attractive little girl, Mina?"

Jasmine was about to start her rant nang maalala niyang iyon nga pala ang pangalang ibinigay niya sa binata.  Ngunit bago pa man siya makasagot, ay dumating ang isang waiter na may dala-dalang mga menu. Vincent glared at the waiter.

"Good evening ma'am and sir. Here are the menus." Turan ng waiter na halos sarkastiko ang pagkakasabi.

"Mamaya na. We're waiting for someone."

Tinitigan muna ng waiter ang negosyante bago kinuha muli ang menu sa kamay nito at walang-imik na umalis.

"Fuckin' waiter. Dapat sa kanya tinatanggalan ng trabaho."

Jasmine fought the urge to laugh. Napadako ang mga mata niya sa direksyon kung saan nawala ang waiter. Pasaway ka talaga. And with that, she sat silently. Analyzing everyone who entered the spacious place. Ngayon, ang kailangan na lang niyang gawin ay maghintay.

--

Nightmare's POV

I walked off to a different table where an old couple ordered some Italian bread. Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko nang maramdaman ko na naman ang mga mata ni Jasmine sa akin. She's enjoying my agony, I'm pretty sure of it! And what's worse is that bastard's still holding her hand. Napasimangot ako. When I turned around, nakita ko ang isang lalaking naka-lab coat. Lahat ng tao, sinundan siya ng tingin hanggang sa huminto siya sa table nila Jaz.

So, this is Fang..

When people start minding they're own business, agad akong nagtago sa may pader, di-kalayuan sa pwesto nila. I saw my girlfriends' eyes glinted in amusement. At mas nairita yata ako nang mapansin kong may hitsura ang pamatay na poison-specialist.

"You're Mr. Guerrero."

"Yes, and you must be----"

"Fang. May I take a seat?"

Umupo ang lalaki sa tapat ni Jasmine at pinagmasdan siyang mabuti. I know her. Kahit gaano pa siya kapatang, alam kong hindi siya kumportable kapag may ibang lalaking nakatitig sa kanya. She still gets nervous.. But from what I'm seeing now, she's being a good actress.

"What's this girl doing here? I thought this should only be a business matter, Vincent.. Paalisin mo siya."

Natawa ang negosyante at tinuro ang brief case na nakapatong sa lamesa. "I got the money, see? So shut up and give me those vials Lee promised me." Reckless nuthead. Natahimik ang lalaki, just then he looked around.

"Let's just get something to drink first, shall we?"

Napahinga ako nang malalim bago naglakad papunta sa kanila with my notepad. "Good evening sirs, can get you anything?" Dumapo ang mga mata ni Fang sa akin. Behind his glasses, a sinister look in his eyes.

"Sakto! Get us each a glass of your most expensive wine, please."

Tumango ako. Most expensive huh? Maglalakad na sana ako paalis para makontak si Dream nang tumayo si Fang at nagpaalam sa dalawa, "I need to use the restrooms, excuse me."

But it turns out, the bastard followed me round a corner towards the kitchens. Nakakuyom na ang mga kamao ko nang lingunin ko siya. Just keep the act, Night.. Mamaya mo na patayin..

"Sir, nasa left wing po ang restrooms."

Pero hindi na ako nakaangal pa nang maglabas siya ng maliit na kutsilyo mula sa bulsa niya. Hinila niya ako papalayo sa mga tao at marahas na tinulak sa pader. Dammit! Ngumiti siya na para bang nababaliw.. Well, atleast the rumors were true. He's a madman!

"Now, be a good little waiter and do as I say.." May inilabas siyang dalawang maliit na bote ng itim na likido. "Lagyan mo nito ang mga wine nila.. One bottle for each glass. 'Wag kang magkakamaling sawayin ang utos ko, kung ayaw mong maging susunod kong lab specimen." Magsasalita pa sana ako nang bigla niya akong sinuntok sa mukha.

After that, the crazy scientist started walking back into the dining area.

Naiwan akong nakahawak sa pisngi ko. I'm pretty sure that bastard left a black eye. Matapos ang ilang sandali, napangisi ako sabay on ng intercom na nakakabit sa tainga ko. Mabuti na lang at natakpan ng wig. Tsk.

"Dream,"

---

Third person's POV

The plan was set. Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay bumalik si Nightmare na may bitbit na tray. Three glasses of wine were presented on their tables as Vincent Guerrero eyed it suspiciously. "That's the finest wine you serve in this dumpyard? What is this, an insult?"

But the brown-haired waiter just gave them an innocent smile.

"You'll be getting what you pay for, sir. Have a nice evening." At inilagay ng binata ang mga wine glass sa harapan nila. He shot a knowing look on the man wearing a lab coat.

On the other hand, Fang had been musing this moment since he came waltzing in and catching everyone's attention. Pinagmasdan niyang maigi ang negosyante nang iniangat niya ang kanyang baso. The girl, however, fixed her hair over her shoulders before gettig hers. When the waiter disappeared from view, he grabbed his glass and grinned evilly.

"To Black Empire."

At isa-isa nilang nilagok ang laman ng mga baso. Fang was enjoying this. Ilang sandali matapos mangalahati ni Vincent ang inumin niya, ay bigla itong inubo at napahawak sa ulo. A few more moments, the girl did the same.

Natawa si Fang at agad na kinuha ang brief case na naglalaman ng pera mula sa tabi ng nangingisay na negosyante.

"Such a shame. Sorry, but we just need the money. Thank you for the donation, Mr. Guerrero." Pang-asar nitong dagdag at aalis na sana nang biglang may humila sa braso niya. Then, a flying kick met his face. Fang stumbled back, glasses on the floor. He looked up at nakitang nakatayo sa harapan niya ang babaeng kanina pa kasama ng negosyante.

She pulled on her hair to reveal brown, wavy locks. A hard look on her face. Naglabas ito ng baril mula sa holder sa kanyang hita at nagpaputok paitaas. Nagkagulo sa buong restaurant.

Hinihingal na tumayo si Fang. "What the hell?!" At dumako ang mga mata niya sa naiwang baso ng wine. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. He started coughing, badly.

Jasmine smirked and pointed the gun at him.

"Not so deadly anymore, eh? Kamusta ang lasa ng sarili mong lason, Fang?"

Pero imbes na magalit, ay umalingawngaw sa maingay na paligid ang nakakatakot na tawa ng lalaki. He picked up his eyeglasses and wiped the blood from his lips.

"You picked the wrong man to deal with, woman."

At mula sa bulsa, may inilabas siyang syringe at marahas na ininject ito sa braso niya.  Nang matapos, ay may pinitik nito ang kanyang mga daliri at sa isang iglap ay napapaligiran na si Jasmine ng iba pang mga tauhan ni Lee. Black Empire gangsters.

Fang smirked.

Jasmine was immediately caught in a fight. She dodged the fatal punch of a big man with many tatoos. Bago pa man siyang magalaw, ay may patalim nang lumipad papunta sa kanya. Tumalon si Jasmine and ripped a part of her dress to maximize her movements. Susugurin na sana siya ng ilan pang mga lalaki nang biglang may humarang sa kanila.

"Noctis!" She smiled as she saw him, still in waiter uniform.

"Papunta na dito si Dream," he tripped a skinny man and threw a monoblock chair at the other. "gusto rin daw niyang makigulo."

Side by side, nakipaglaban ang dalawa sa mga kampon ng Black Empire. From a distance, Jasmine saw Fang getting away with the money.

"Jasmine!"

"I"ll be back!"

At hinabol niya ito hanggang sa makarating sila sa isang madilim na hallway sa pinakalikod ng restaurant. Fang faced her and slammed her back to the wall. Nanlilisik ang mga mata ng lalaki nang titigan niya ang dalaga.

"Next time," he growled, then injected something on her shoulder blade, "don't mess with Black Empire." Iyon lang, ay nagmamadaling tumakas ang lalaki. Jasmine suddenly felt weak and tried to run after him, pero parang biglang nawalan ng koordinasyon ang mga paa niya. Pinagpapawisan siya ng malamig at nabitawan niya ang hawak na baril.

"Bwiset!"

Daing niya bago niya naramdaman ang pagkahilo. Then, another pain coursed through her arm nang madama niya ang kirot ng isa pang syringe. Hilong-hilo na ang dalaga at bago pa man niya makita kung anong nangyayari, ay bumagsak na siya sa lupa. The last thing she saw was a pair of feet running away and Nightmare's calls.

***