Ang pamilyar na bahay nina Duke ang bumungad sa'min. I jumped from the wolf's back and landed swiftly on the road. Nang iangat ko ang aking paningin ay dalawang pamilyar na pares ng mga mata ang sumalubong sa aking titig. It's the familiar high-pitched black eyes that I've always been looking. There's this raging heartbeat again, but it's not stupid anymore. I've always longed for this beat to interrupt my senses again. Tila ba naramdam iyon ni Duke dahilan ng pagkawala ng isang ngisi sa kanyang labi. I'm finally home.

Before he could even make a single step towards me, Karleen threw his body to mine and hugged me tightly as she screams.

"I miss you so much!", she shrieked. Halos matumba kami sa lupa dahil sa biglaan niyang pagyakap sa'kin. I heard how Duke growled while the others laugh at Karleen's attitude.

"I'm so worried! Nadatnan na lang namin ang bahay na may mga patak ng dugo mo! I'm sure you own those droplets of blood. Tapos tatawag ka na lang na hindi ka pa sigurado kung babalik ka sa'min!", she sob like a baby. She didn't break the hug. Patuloy niya akong niyakap kahit na humihikbi ito sa balikat ko.

"You look like a three-year old kid, Ate. Pwede ba?", iritadong sambit naman ni Ylva na ngayon ay nakayap sa kanyang ina. Karleen didn't mind to acknowledge Ylva's remark about her. I return her hug and pats her back.

"I'm here. Hindi na ako mawawala.", I told her. Nagtama ang paningin namin ni Ylva at napangisi ito sa'kin. Today, it's different. Her smirk doesn't trumpets arrogance. Sure, she'll always be arrogant and proud, she's Duke's sister for Christ's sake. But happiness is more visible in it. Ngumiti ako sa kanya bilang tugon.

"Let's go inside. Naghanda kami ng makakain.", Lara broke the silence. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig. They know we'll come home today? Tila nabasa ni Vil ang ekspresyon ko kaya't siya na ang sumagot sa'kin.

"Thanks to your partner.", aniya at kumindat. Hinapit nito ang baywang ni Lara at magkasabay na pumasok ang dalawa sa gate. Humiwalay si Karleen sa kanyang pagkakayap sa'kin. Pinahid niya ang kanyang luha bago ito muling magsalita.

"I'm sorry about that.", aniya. Ylva grunted at her sister. Nagawa pa nitong umirap kahit hindi nakatingin ang kapatid sa kanya.

"Let's go inside.', ang ama ni Duke ang nagsalita. Inanyayahan nito ang tatalong lobo na sumalubong sa'min sa bukana ng distrito. Ngumiti ako kay Karleen bago siya tuluyang sumunod sa mga magulang. She even called Gesa to accompany her. Napatingin si Gesa sa'kin at bahagya akong tumango. Don't worry, cousin. They won't eat you.

Nabaling ang paningin ko sa direksyon ni Duke. His arms are crossed before his chest as he stared at me. His muscles flex as he changed his position, putting his hands inside his pant's pocket. His move can even make my senses forgot their business. I know this feeling will push me at the edge of the cliff, but I'm willing to jump anytime as long as I'm with him.

Dahan-dahan itong naglakad palapit sa akin habang nakapamulsa ang mga kamay. I could almost forgot how to breath the time I felt his hands brushing my hair.

All my life, I am prepared to die anytime. Being the Assassin simply means I no longer hold my chance of living. Anumag oras ay maaari akong magaya sa kinahinatnat ng mga magulang ko. Ngunit hindi naging leksyon sa'kin ang pagkamatay nina Ama at Ina dahil sinuong ko pa rin ang panganib na maaaring pumatay sa'kin.

It's when I met Duke that I realized being a hunter is even easier than loving him. Recognizing my feelings for him is formidable but I never cared. Siguro'y tama nga si Gesa. I am stubborn. I am stubborn because my love for Duke is strong-willed. Kung nakaya kong paghandaan ang kamatayan dahil sa pagiging hunter, kaya kong mamatay para sa pag-ibig ko para sa kanya.

He planted a small, soft kiss on my forehead. Napapikit ako upang damhin iyon. And I guess, there's no better way to kill myself than to risking every breath I have for the one I love. Maybe for someone who doesn't love will never understand my situation. I am, too, is confused. Loving him is breaking every ground rule that build me since genesis. But breaking my principles is easier than losing him. His scent, the warmth of his touch, his eyes. I would gamble everything just to keep him. That's the thing I am sure with.

"Take your time.", aniya at inilagay sa likod ng aking tainga ang ilang takas na buhok na tumatakip sa aking mukha. Nagmulat ako ng mga mata at nakitang nakatitig ito sa'kin. His hooded eyes will always be my sanctuary. I can't afford losing it.

After few seconds of staring at me, he decided to walk towards their house, leaving me outside with Theron. Wala akong sinayang na oras at agad siyang hinarap. Tahimik ito at nakayuko nang lumingon ako.

"You're communicating with them when you're inside the quarters?", tanong ko sa kanya at lumapit.

"Uh-huh.", he baldly answered. Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa kanyang naging sagot. Hindi niya ba alam kung gaano kadelikado ang kanyang ginagawa? Of course, he know! But he chose to ignore everything. Is he being playful or he's plain ignorant? The Elders could track him and kill him immediately! Ano ba ang tumatakbo sa isip niya at bakit ginagawa niya ito?

"Since when did you start talking to them?", tanong ko ulit. Ngayon ay nag-angat ito ng tingin sa'kin. His tired and dead eyes promptly landed on my gaze. For a moment, I pity him. Ngunit ano ba ang ipinagkaiba ko sa kanya? He turned his back on his own family because of me. Hindi iyon iba sa naging desisyon kong talikuran ang mga prinsipyo ko dahil kay Duke.

"'Since the night you admitted to yourself you love Duke.", he coldly answered. Napakurap ako ng ilang beses dahil doon. Saglit akong natigilan upang pagtagpi-tagpiin ang kanyang sinabi ngunit hindi ko mawari kung kailan naganap ang sinasabi niyang gabi. Narinig ko ang kanyang munting pagtawa kaya't nabalik sa kanya ang atensyon ko.

"That's the night you run to the woods from the school to their house because you thought he'll die. You cared for him, I can sense it. But never in my wildest dreams I imagined of the Assassin caring for a wolf instead of killing him, unless you love him.", aniya at napailing-iling. Tila maging siya ay naguluhan sa kanyang sinabi.

"But, why are you doing this?", tanong ko na siyang nakapagpatigil sa kanya. Seryoso nito akong tiningnan at tahimik na sinuri ang aking mukha.

"It's what you do for love.", simple nitong sagot. But I wasn't convinced. He's baiting his own life for me. Would I consider it as 'love' and not as 'suicide'?

"But I love someone else. You know I love Duke.", tanging iyon lang ang nasambit ko sa kanya. I can't think of any other way to wake him up from his senses than to directly tell it to him. Naging matigas ang kanyang eskpresyon pagkatapos kong sambitin ang mga katagang iyon.

"When your parents died, I silently swore I will protect and love you in all the ways I can. I'd always vow I will safeguard you from any possible harm even when your parents are still alive. Nakita kitang naghirap dahil doon.", panimula nito. Tahimik ko siyang pinakinggan habang nakatitig ito sa lupa. He let out a deep breath before continuing.

"But you never saw how much I cared for you. Ngunit tinanggap ko iyon. Sa katunayan nga, mas gusto ko pang magtrabaho ako sa Intel kaysa pumatay. But I chose to enter hunting because I need to protect you. That's my pledge to my own self. And I am fulfilling it this time. I have been loyal to you and I will always be.", dagdag niya at ibinalik sa'kin ang kanyang mga mata.

Hindi ko magawang palabasin ang lahat ng mga salitang nasa isipan ko. Ang tanging nagawa ko lamang ay titigan siya at iproseso ang kanyang sinabi kahit na nagkabuhol-buhol ito sa utak ko.

He chose me over his dream. He chose me over everything.

He can't get it himself. Kung ganoon ay ako ang magpapaintindi sa kanya. I smiled at him. I gently held his hands and carefully caressed it with mine.

"No words will ever match the love and care you gave me. But believe me, I appreciate every little thing.. Kung kaya ko lang ibalik ang lahat ng pagmamahal mo, I would gladly do", I told him. Umayos siya ng pagkakatayo at tinitigan ako sa mata. Umiling ito at ibinalik ang tingin sa kamay kong nakahawak sa kanya.

"Ngunit hindi ka obligadong bantayan at alalahanin ako sa bawat oras, Theron. Sure, you promised to protect me but... you also need to care and love yourself first.", maingat kong ipinaintindi iyon sa kanya. I silently prayed he will get what I mean by these words I am telling him.

"You're not obliged, Theron. I also care for you. God knows how much I care for you. That's why free yourself from the love you feel for me. May ibang taong papantay sa pagmamahal na ibinibigay mo sa'kin.", I told him. Ilang segundo ang lumipas ngunit walang kibo ako nitong tinitigan.

Tila nayanig ang mundo ko nang tinanggal niya ang kanyang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak ko. I stared at him, shocked and frightened. Did he realized he did the wrong thing? Babalik na ba siya sa Headquarters? I am about to go a step towards him when he pushed my forehead, telling me to stop.

Napanganga ako sa kanyang ginawa ngunit nanatili itong nakangisi sa harapan ko habang tinitingnan ang aking reaksyon.

"You know what, you're right.", aniya at parang nag-iisip. He put his hands on the pocket of his hoodie before returning his attention to me. He started walking away from my spot as I glare at his movements.

"Your cousin is still available right? I will bait her.", aniya ng nakangiti. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig. I clenched my fist with the thought of Theron playing my cousin's head.

"Theron Luxien, you playful jerk! Don't you dare!", I yelled at him as he ran towards the house.