CHAPTER 38

"THANKS, KNIGHT," sabi ni Happy kay Knight bago lumabas ng kotse nito. Ang lalaki ang naghatid sa kanya sa bahay ng mga Vitale mula sa HQ. Katatapos lang ng meeting na ipinatawag niya kasama ang ibang mga Arkhontes at mga pinuno na nangangasiwa sa kaayusan ng bawat kontinente.

Si Knight ang sumundo at naghatid sa kanya dahil nagpapagaling pa si Blaze at binabantayan ito ni King. At si Kane naman ay hindi niya pinasama dahil pinabantayan niya rito sina Blaze, King at Yrozz. At ang lahat naman ng tumulong sa kanila na mga kaibigan nina Blaze at Knight ay nagsiuwian na pagkatapos nilang makapagpasalamat.

Luther didn't stick around though. Sinabihan lang sila ni Blaze na tumawag kung may kailangan. At nagbilin talaga itong tumawag kung ikakasal na raw sila ni Blaze dahil hindi pa rin nito matanggap na hindi ito naka-attend sa kasal ni Blake.

Ilang araw na mula nang makatakas ang ikaapat na Arkhon pero aletro pa rin sila. She had to be vigilant from now on. The fourth Arkhon could hurt them anytime.

Hinilot niya ang sentido habang naglalakad papasok sa bahay. Nakakapagod at nakakaubos ng lakas ang napag-usapan sa meeting kanina.

It was her first meeting and it drained her.

The Triads were getting stronger here in the Philippines and all over Asia. Malaking labanan ang mangyayari, lalo na't hawak ni Knight ang listahan ng pangalan ng mga miyembro ng Triad na galing pala kay Lucky na nakuha nito sa bahay ng inakala nitong ama nito.

Knight and Chaos had explained a lot because of the growing population of the Triad here in Asia. While Niccolo Racini and Monti Parisi explained that they were already cleaning up the Triad's headquarters in Europe. While Wrath, Draco and Daemon were working together to assess the Triad situation in the US and other continents.

Happy took a very deep breath to let calm herself down. Ayaw niyang makita siya ng mga kasama niya sa bahay na problemado. It wouldn't help anyone and Blaze would worry. Nagpapagaling pa naman ito.

Pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa bahay, agad niyang narinig na nagbabangayan sina King at Blaze kung anong channel na magandang panoorin.

She sighed. The kids are at it again.

Naglakad siyang patungo sa sala at napailing nang makitang nag-aagawan na sina King at Blaze ng remote.

Happy tsked. "Kids." Lumapit siya at kinuha ang remote na pinag-aagawan ng mga ito, saka ini-off niya ang TV para matahimik na ang dalawa.

Blaze instantly smiled when he saw her. "My baby... how's the meeting?"

Tiningnan niya ito nang masama. "No sex for you because you didn't rest like I told you to do."

Blaze's eyes widened. "Baby! Not fair!"

Hindi niya pinansin si Blaze at bumaling siya kay King. "And you, no smoking. I'll kill you."

Agad na tumango si King at pasimpleng bumulong kay Blaze. "Just nod your head, Your Highness. There's no point going against, Young Miss. You're at fault."

Blaze glared at King. "Anong kasalanan ko?! Kasalanan mo! Sinabi nang Tom and Jerry ang panoorin natin, pero mas gusto mo si Oggy and the Cockroaches! Are you even right in the head? Nothing compares to Tom and Jerry! Nothing!" He was so angry at King but when he looked at her, there was a soft smile on Blaze's lips. "I love you, baby. Hindi ka na galit?"

"Galit pa rin." Inilapag niya ang handbag na dala sa center table. "Nasaan si Yrozz?"

"Busy with his laptop," sagot ni King, "Young Miss, every Arkhon needs a tracker, maybe Master Yrozz would be interested in the position."

"Maybe," sabi niya.

"I'll talk to him," sabi ni ni Blaze, umalis sa pagkakaupo sa sofa at naglalambing na yumakap sa baywang niya, saka hinalik-halikan siya sa leeg. "Ang bago naman ng baby ko."

Happy glared at him. "Pawis 'yan."

Ngumiti lang si Blaze saka patuloy pa rin ang paghalik sa leeg niya, patungo sa batok niya.

"Blaze! Naiinis ako!" may diin niyang sabi.

He sighed before resting his chin on her shoulder. "Sorry, baby. Hindi na ako makikipag-agawan ng remote uli."

Hinarap niya ito, saka inis na tiningnan. "Dapat resting ka ngayon, hindi na nakikipag-agawan ng remote. Hindi ba I told you na kailangang gumaling ka agad? With the fourth Arkhon out there, we have to be vigilant. Ayokong masaktan ka na naman sa susunod na nakaharap natin siya. Kaya nga hindi kita pinasama sa meeting kahit gustong-gusto kong nandoon ka kasi napapakalma mo ako para makapagpahinga ka, 'tapos hindi ka naman pala nagpapahinga!" Then she glared at King. "At ikaw naman, nakipag-agawan ka pa talaga. Para kayong mga bata!"

Natahimik ang dalawa na pinagalitan niya. At ang bumasag ng katahimikang 'yon ay si Kane na kabababa lang ng hagdan galing sa ikalawang palapag. Iniharap nito sa kanila ang magazine na hawak at tumingin kay Blaze.

"I think this is the woman," sabi nito.

Napanganga si Happy habang nakatingin sa hawak na magazine ni Kane. It was a magazine of naked woman with big breasts.

"Kane, bastos 'yang hawak mo," nagtatagis ang mga bagang niyang sabi. "Don't piss me off."

Kane immediately dropped the magazine. "Sorry, my lady."

Bumuga ng marahas na hininga si Happy at bumaling kay Blaze para sabihan sanang magpahinga na ito nang makita niya ang hitsura nito.

He looked pale while glancing at the magazine on the floor.

Happy lips thinned as she looked at Kane again. "Kane?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Kanino 'yang magazine na 'yan?"

Agad na itinuro ni Kane si Blaze. "I told him to rest kasi 'yon ang sabi mo sa akin bago ka umalis. But he got up and I couldn't stop him because he gave me a magazine and he gave me a new order. Find the girl who has the biggest breasts in that magazine. And I did." Tumingin ito kay Blaze. "Did I pick the right woman, Your Highness?"

Blaze gulped before facing her. "Baby, let me explain that."

Kalmado siyang nakapamaywang na humarap sa kasintahan. "Sure, baby. Explain to me in details why you have a porn magazine."

Blaze gulped again. "I, ahm, I'll start w-with I'm a man and, ahm..." He was getting paler and paler every passing second. "B-before you c-came into my life... ahm, b-before I fell so much in love w-with you... t-there's you know—I'm a man. And i-it's part of me... and I'm a man... yes, I'm a man."

Tumango-tango siya. "Hmm... do you still look at it?" Pinulot niya ang magazine na nasa sahig, saka tumabi kay Blaze habang binubuklat ang bawat pahina. "Wow... what a big breast. Wow... so sexy. Wow, big breasts again. Nice. Beautiful."

Blaze's head was hanging low.

Happy sighed before smiling at King. "King?"

Tuwid itong tumayo agad. "Yes, Young Miss?"

"Ready the guestroom beside yours," utos niya.

King stilled before glancing at Blaze and then back at her. "Y-you will move to the guestroom?"

"King!" Blaze hissed at King.

"Sorry, Your Highness." Then King smiled at her. "I'm sure the guestroom will not suit your liking, Young Miss."

"That's okay." Happy smiled sweetly. "Hindi naman ako ang matutulog doon. He is," sabi niya, sabay turo kay Blaze.

Blaze's eyes bulged. "Baby!"

"What?" Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Don't worry." Pilit niyang pinahawakan dito ang magazine. "You can have this in your new room. Look at those woman as you jack off."

Blaze eyes looked at her with begging eyes. "But, baby—"

"Okay lang ba sa iyo na may pag-aari din akong magazine na ganyan pero mga hubad na lalaki naman ang laman?" tanong niya sa malumanay na boses.

Blaze's face darkened. "Hell, no!" he hissed.

Happy tapped his cheeks. "Precisely my point, Blazey. I'm possessive too. And Happy..." Itinuro niya ang sarili, saka pekeng ngumiti nang malapad. "Is not happy." Pinulot niya ang handbag sa center table, saka naglakad patungo sa hagdanan.

Naririnig niyang pinapagalitan ni Blaze si Kane.

"Why didn't you hide this, you motherfucker?!"

Kane answered in a low emotionless voice. "Wala ka namang sinabing itago ko. Ang sabi mo lang na hanapin ko ang may pinakamalaking boobs."

"You are so dead, Your Highness," sabi ni King.

"You think?!" Blaze snapped.

And Kane asked again. "By the way, may nakita akong gel diyan na pampalaki raw, is that real?"

"Why?" King asked. "Are you lacking?"

"No," sagot ni Kane sa walang emosyon nitong boses. "The opposite actually. May pampaliit ba?"

"The fuck?!" It was King.

"Are you... right in the head?" Blaze asked in shock. "Women likes men with a big friend and good stamina."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Happy. She couldn't agree more. Si Blaze ang unang lalaki na nakatalik niya at masasabi niyang walang pagkakataon na nabitin siya o nakulangan sa performance nito. And that was because he was big and long and just insatiable.

"I wouldn't know what women likes, Your Highness," sabi ni Kane.

Napatigil talaga sa pag-akyat si Happy sa hagdanan at nilingon ang tatlo. Nakatanga sina Blaze at King kay Kane. Si Kane naman dahil may maskara pa rin sa mukha nito ay hindi niya makita ang emosyon.

"Wait..." It was King who looked bothered. "Are you, ahm, are you telling us that you haven't had sex? Recently? Or all your life?"

"All my life," sagot ni Kane na walang pag-aalinlangan. "I was busy."

"So... you're a virgin?" Blaze asked.

Kane nodded. "Yes."

"Have you ever been kissed?" King asked Kane, still in shock.

Umiling si Kane. "Why are you looking at me like that? Is sex and kiss really necessary in life?"

"Hell, yeah!" sabay na sagot nina King at Blaze.

Napailing si Happy, saka nagpatuloy sa pag-akyat. Napapatanong tuloy siya kung may lalaki pa ba ngayon na kasing-edad ni Kane na wala pang first kiss o kaya first sex.

Her team was really full of weirdos. King was weird, Blaze was weirder and Kane was the weirdest.

Pumasok siya sa kuwarto ni Blaze at ini-lock ang pinto bago hinubad lahat ng saplot at nagbabad sa bathtub.

A soft music was playing on her phone while she bathed, and she didn't realize that she fell asleep.

Maybe because she was mentally tired.

Nagising lang siya nang maramdaman niyang may pumangko sa kanya mula sa bathtub at maingat siyang ihiniga sa kung saan. Alam niyang si Blaze 'yon dahil naamoy niya ang pabango nito.

Nagpanggap siyang natutulog pa rin dahil gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang sunod nitong gagawin.

Tinuyo nito ng tuwalya ang basa niyang katawan at maingat na naman siyang pinangko, saka inilipat ng higa sa malabot na kama. Maingat siya nitong pinatagilid ng higa, saka kinumutan ang hubad niyang katawan hanggang sa leeg.

And Happy inwardly smiled when she heard and felt a blow drier on her hair.

Tinuyo ni Blaze ang buhok niya, pagkatapos ay maingat siyang hinalikan sa gilid ng noo at masuyong yinakap.

"I love you, Happiness Aravena Quinn," bulong nito. "Pasensiya na dahil nagalit ka kanina. I know you're stressed out and tired because of the Organization,' tapos dinagdagan ko pa. Sorry, I'll make it up to you. I promise." He kissed her temple again. "I love you. I love you."

Nakailang sabi pa ito ng I love you bago niya narinig na umalis ito ng kuwarto.

Happy opened her eyes while a smile played on her lips. Napailing siya, saka bumangon para magbihis, pagkatapos ay bumalik din sa pagkakahiga.

Nang hindi na siya nakatulog uli pagkalipas ng isang oras, bumangon siya at lumabas ng kuwarto. Hinanap niya ang tatlo sa pamamagitan ng tainga niya. Kung saan ang maingay, siguradong nandoon ang tatlong 'yon.

And she was right... she followed the noise and found the three kids on the kitchen.

Nag-iihaw ng karne sina King at Blaze habang si Kane naman ay nakahiga sa island counter habang kumakain ng mansanas.

Tahimik siyang humilig sa hamba ng pinto habang pinagmamasdan ang tatlo.

"Holy fuck!" sigaw ni Blaze nang biglang tumaas ang apoy ng grill stove dahil sa pagpahid ni King ng mantika sa mga karne. "Fuck! Fuck! Kane, the fire extinguisher! Holy fuck! Blake will kill me if we burn this house! Holy fuck!"

Mabilis namang sumunod si Kane at kinuha ang fire extinguisher. Akmang bubuksan na nito iyon ng pandilatan ito ng mga mata ni King.

"Don't you dare or I'll kill you!"

Kane looked at Blaze questioningly.

"It's not burning anymore," sabi ni Blaze na kalmado na ang boses. "Put it back."

"Okay." Madaling kausap si Kane na ibinalik ang fire extinguisher sa pinagkunan.

Nang makita siya nito, sinenyasan niya itong huwag maingay. Tumango naman ito at nahiga uli, sa mesa na sa pagkakataong iyon.

"Kane!" King hissed at Kane. "Get off the fucking table!"

"King!" tawag ni Blaze kay King. "Help! 911! 911! Umuusok nang marami! King! Help! Fuck! The meat is burning! Happy will not eat this—holy fuck!"

Napailing siya nang makitang hindi na alam ni King ang gagawin kung tutulungan nito si Blaze o pagagalitan si Kane.

Itinali niya ang buhok, saka lumapit kay Blaze. "Move. Ako na ang gagawa."

Agad namang sumunod si Blaze. Si King naman ay pinaalis si Kane sa pagkakahiga sa mesa.

Mayamaya, si Blaze ay may iniabot sa kanyang platito na may luto nang karne.

"I, ahm... I grilled this," sabi nito na parang nahihiya. "It's a little black but... you know... effort?"

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "O, 'tapos?"

He gave her a puppy eyes as he hold the small plate. "I'm sorry and I love you."

Nanatiling nakataas ang kilay niya. "And you think madadala mo ako riyan sa pa-cute mo?"

Napakamot sa batok si Blaze. "Ahm... may engagement ring na ako para sa iyo. Bati na tayo?"

Happy immediately offered her hand. "Put it on."

Napangiwi si Blaze. "Mamaya pa, kunin natin nang magkasama."

Happy sighed before eating a piece of meat from the plate Blaze was holding at her "Pasalamat ka love kita."

Agad na lumapad ang ngiti ni Blaze. "At mahal din kita nang sobra kaya patas lang tayo."

"Yeah, yeah. Pero sa guestroom ka pa rin matutulog," sabi niya, saka napatingin kay King na pinaapalis naman ngayon si Kane sa pagkakahiga sa pahabang lababo na gawa sa marmol.

"Kane! If you're sleepy, go to your room!" Parang isang ama si King na pinapagalitan ang anak nito. "Kane, move!"

Bumangon naman si Kane at lumipat sa island counter para mahiga na pinaalis na naman si King.

Napailing siya. "Kane, doon ka na sa kuwarto mo," malumanay ang boses na sabi niya.

He looked at her with his emotionless mismatched eyes. "It's too big and the bed is too soft. Hindi ako makatulog."

"Bakit hindi ka nagsabi?" tanong niya. "You'd been in that room for three days now. Gusto mo bang palitan ang kama mo?"

Umiling si Kane. "Hindi lang ako sanay," sabi nito, saka nagbaba ng tingin. "I'm used to sleeping on the floor."

King asked Kane. "Where have you been before you introduced yourself to us?"

"War against the Triad," sagot ni Kane.

"Family?" Blaze asked.

Umiling ito. "I have none."

"Where do you live?" King asked again.

"I don't have a house... or a home."

Kane spoke with no emotion on his voice but Happy felt it... the emptiness and longing in his words.

Kaya wala siyang pakialam kung magalit o magselos si Blaze, nilapitan niya si Kane at masuyo itong niyakap.

Naramdaman niya ang paninigas ng katawan nito at parang hindi alam ang gagawin. At nang pakawalan niya sa pagkakayakap, nginitian niya ito.

"Well... since you're our ultor now, you'll be with us from now on... and we're family here, okay? And this house... this is our home."

Kane nodded. "Okay," sabi nito, saka umalis sa harap niya at naglakad palabas ng kusina. "I'll try to sleep in my room."

Napabuntong-hininga siya, saka tumingin kay King. "Make sure that he's okay. Something is off with him."

Tumango si King at sinundan si Kane. Siya naman ay tinapos ang pag-iihaw at sabay silang kumain ni Blaze.

While eating together, she and Blaze spoke about going out after here. And then their conversation jumped to what transpired on the meeting and how the Organization was trying to get on its feet to fight a war against the Triad.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain, habang nagliligpit si Blaze sa kinainan nila, naglalagay naman siya ng pagkain sa tray. Dinala niya iyon sa kuwarto ni Kane kung saan naroon si King na nakahiga sa sofa habang sa sahig naman nakahiga si Kane.

"W-what is that?" Kane asked as he got up from the floor.

"Food." Nginitian niya ito. "Kain na muna kayo ni King. Lalabas kami ni Blaze, ikaw na muna ang bahala rito sa bahay."

Tahimik na tumango si Kane at nang papaalis na siya ay nagsalita ito.

"Thank you, my lady."

Nilingon niya ito. "For?"

"For the food," sabi nito habang titig na titig sa tray na may pagkain na nasa ibabaw ng kama. "No one has ever brought me food before."

Tipid niya itong nginitian, saka tumingin siya kay King na nagse-cell phone. "Take care of Kane."

"Yes, Young Miss."

Nang makalabas sa kuwarto ni Kane, dumeretso siya sa kuwarto ni Blaze para magbihis at mag-ayos. Nang makababa siya, naghihintay na sa kanya si Blaze.

Inagaw niya ang hawak nitong susi. "I'm driving. You're still healing."

Ngumiti lang si Blaze, saka yumakap mula sa likuran niya habang naglalakad sila.

Napailing na lang si Happy dahil nahihirapan sila parehong maglakad.

"Blaze, let go." Siniko niya ito.

Blaze kissed her neck. "I'm riding shotgun and my girl is driving. Why do you look so badass in my head?"

Napailing na lang siya, saka sumakay sa kotse at binuhay ang makina. Nang makasakay at makapag-seat belt si Blaze, agad niyang pinaharurot ang sasakyan.

"Okay, Blazey, where are we going? Navigate me," sabi niya.

And that was what Blaze did for the next two hours, telling her where to turn and where to go until they stopped in front of a parlor.

InkArt. A tattoo parlor.

Kunot-noong bumaling siya kay Blaze. "Dito na ba?"

Kinindatan siya nito, saka lumabas ng sasakyan. Agad naman siyang sumunod sa kasintahan. Pinagsalikop nito ang kamay nila habang iginigiya siya papasok sa InkArt.

"Boss!" bati kay Blaze ng lalaking sumalubong sa kanila. "Kumusta?"

Nagkamay muna ang dalawa bago sumagot si Blaze.

"Ayos lang, Jorge. Handa na ba?"

"Yes, boss," nakangiting sagot ng lalaki.

Naging sunod-sunuran lang si Happy hanggang sa magkatabi silang makaupo ni Blaze.

She looked at Blaze, bewildered. "Are you getting a tattoo?"

May papel itong kinuha sa bulsa, saka ipinakita sa kanya ang disenyo na naroon. "No. We are getting a tattoo."

Napakurap-kurap si Happy habang pinagmamasdan ang disenyo na ipinakita nito sa kanya. Then she glanced at Blaze. "At ngayon mo lang sinabi sa akin dahil?"

Napangiwi ito. "Baka umayaw ka."

Napatitig siya uli sa disenyo na nasa papel. "It's gonna be permanent, Blaze."

"Yeah. I know," sabi ni Blaze, saka masuyo siyang hinalikan sa pisngi. "I asked you to marry me, didn't I? That's permanent too. Ikaw ang inaalala ko, baka ayaw mo."

Happy took a deep breath. "I like it."

Blaze smiled and captured her lips with a lingering kiss. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you too."

"Handa na, boss?" tanong ng magta-tattoo sa kanila.

Tumango si Blaze at nauna ito sa kanya. Ni hindi man lang ito napaigtad ng kahit kaunti nang lumapat ang karayom sa balat nito. He looked calm and was even watching as the artist inked him. Siguro dahil sanay na ito.

And when it was already her turn, she took a couple of deep breaths before she nodded at the tattoo artist, signalling him to start.

Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ng kasintahan hanggang sa matapos 'yon. Minsan ay pumipikit siya kaya tumitingin sa kanya si Blaze at agad siyang hinahalikan sa mga labi.

Overall, it was a nice experience. Much better than the last one. Noong pina-tattoo-an siya ng ama niya, tawa pa ito nang tawa kasi umiiyak siya, lalo 'yong insignia niya sa batok.

Kagat-kagat ni Happy ang labi habang nagbabayad si Blaze at nagpasalamat na rin.

Nang makalabas sila ng tattoo parlor ay papagabi na.

Akmang sasakay na siya ng kotse nang paikutin siya ni Blaze na nasa likuran niya paharap dito at pinasandal sa nakasarang pinto ng sasakyan.

"What?" she asked in a soft voice as she looked at his eyes.

Blaze pressed his lips on her forehead. "Thank you."

"For?"

"For doing this with me." Blaze raised his hand to show her his ring finger where her name was tattooed in a cursive style like a ring on the front of his ring finger, while an infinity symbol was tattooed on the back of his finger connecting the H and Y together.

"Oh." She smiled. "It's pretty." Ipinakita niya rin ang daliri kung saan naroon ang kaparehong disenyo ng tattoo nito. But the name tattooed on her ring finger was Blaze—B and E were also connected by an infinity symbol around the back of her finger. "I like it. Simple. Pretty."

Blaze kissed her ring finger. "Do you know why I pick the ring finger?"

"Because you wanna marry me?" nakangiting hula niya.

Blaze smiled. "Yes. And the good thing about ring tattoos is that you can't take it off and throw it away. You're mine, Happy Quinn, as I am yours."

Inilapit ni Happy ang mga labi sa mga labi ni Blaze at masuyo itong hinalikan. Wala siyang pakialam kung nasa gilid sila ng kalsada. Gusto niyang maramdaman nito na masaya siya at mahal niya ito sa pamamagitan ng halik.

Nang maghiwalay ang mga labi nila, masuyo siya nitong niyakap.

"Baby?"

"Hmm?" she hummed.

"Let's have a date tomorrow and then let's have a lot of sex after."

Mahina siyang natawa. "Nakakalimutan mo na ba sa guestroom ka matutulog?"

"Baby, naman..."

Natatawang tinalikuran ni Happy ang kasintahan at akmang sasakay ng kotse nang makita ang dalawang motorsiklo na papadaan sa harap nila at may mga baril na nakatutok sa kanila.

Pero bago pa makalabit ng mga ito ang gatilyo ng mga baril na hawak, isa-isa nang gumiwang ang motor na sinasakyan ng mga ito hanggang sa natumba na iyon nang tuluyan.

Ang apat na lalaki na sakay ng dalawang motor ay nakahandusay na ngayon sa semento, wala nang buhay.

Mabilis na pinasakay siya ni Blaze sa passenger seat habang ito ang mabilis na nagmaneho palayo sa lugar na 'yon.

"What was that?" kinakabahan niyang tanong. "'Yong mga lalaking 'yon, balak tayong barilin. I saw them point their gun at us!"

"A sniper took them out," wika ni Blaze.

Umawang ang mga labi niya. "Who?"

As if on cue, someone called Blaze's phone that on the dashboard. Sinagot niya iyon at ini-loud speaker.

"Your Highness." Boses iyon ni Kane na walang emosyon. "Are you two okay?"

Nagkatinginan sila ni Blaze.

"Yes," sagot ni Happy. "Why are you asking?"

"Step on the gas, Your Highness," sabi ni Kane sa kalmado pa ring boses. "You have a tail. I'll take care of it."

Mabilis na sumilip si Happy sa likuran ng kotse at nakita niyang isa-isang natutumba ang mga lalaki sa motorsiklo na sumusunod sa kanila.

"Is that you?" tanong niya kay Kane. "The sniper! Is that you?"

Kane calmly breathed out. "Yes. It's dangerous out there with the Triad gunning for you. I'm sorry I disobeyed your order to watch the house."

Napangiti siya. "It's okay, Kane, it's okay. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Your Highness, turn left." Boses na iyon ni King. "You have another tail. It's three cars and they're all fast."

Magkasama ang dalawa!

"Fuck!" Mas binilisan pa ni Blaze ang pagmamaneho.

"Turn left again, Your Highness," sabi ni King. "Traffic up ahead, so turn right before your reach the main road."

Sinunod ni Blaze ang sinabi ni King at ito ang naging navigator nila hanggang sa makarating sila sa daan patungo sa Racini's Hotel.

Puno ng pagtataka si Happy nang makitang hindi na sumunod sa kanila ang kalaban.

"What the..."

"This is the Org's territory," sabi ni Blaze. "They wouldn't dare or they'll die."

Bumuga si Happy ng marahas na hininga nang iparada ni Blaze ang sasakyan sa harap ng hotel. Mabilis silang pumasok sa loob.

"Nasaan kayo?" tanong niya kay King na nasa kabilang linya pa rin.

"On your left, Young Miss," sabi nito.

Pinatay niya ang tawag at hinawakan ang kamay ni Blaze, saka hinila itong patungo sa kaliwang bahagi ng hotel kung nasaan ang restaurant.

And there he was. King Zabat. Eating a dessert with Yrozz who was front of his laptop.

Napapantastikuhang napatitig si Blaze kay King na pinaghugot sila ng upuan nang makalapit sila.

"Seriously? You were eating dessert while navigating us out of a life and death situation?"

King nodded with a smile. "Their salted caramel chocolate tart is to die for, Your Highness."

"Paano kung nagkamali ka?" inis na tanong ni Blaze nang makaupo sila sa pabilog na mesa. "Eh, di namatay kami?"

Itinuro nito si Yrozz. "He was navigating, I just did the talking because I have a very deep, calm and sexy voice, Master Yrozz said."

"I did not," Yrozz immediately denied it.

"Okay. Just deep and sexy voice then."

"Nope." Umiling pa si Yrozz.

King sighed heavily. "Fine. Just deep and calm voice."

Yrozz clucked his tongue while pointing his finger at King like a gun. "You got it, bud."

King sighed again. "Meanie."

Blaze blew a loud breath. "Shut up, King. Order us something to eat. Hurry."

Sinabi niya kay King kung ano ang gustong kainin bago hinanap si Kane. "Where's Kane?"

As if on cue, Kane sat on the chair next to her. "I'm here, my lady." Kapagkuwan ay tumango ito kay Blaze. "Your Highness. Are you okay?"

Blaze nodded. "Thanks to you. Those were perfects shots even at that distance. Three thousand yard is a beast."

Tumango lang si Kane at hindi na ito nagsalita.

Masaya si Happy na mayroon siyang maasahan na kaibigan sa paligid niya kaya naman nang dumating ang pina-order niyang cheese tart kay King, ibinigay niya iyon kay Kane.

"Thank you. For saving us," sabi niya. "And for thinking of mine and Blaze's safety. I owe you so I will let you eat my favorite dessert."

Kane looked at her. His mismatched eyes had one emotion she could name.

Gratitude.

"Thank you," he whispered before eating the cheese tart.

Then she faced Yrozz and King. "Thank you so much for saving our asses back there."

Yrozz closed his laptop before smiling. "That's what teammates do. I mean, King told me about the open position, and I said yes. We're sort of a team now, right? I mean, I every Arkhon needs a tracker... I could be that. If... you know, you want me in your team."

Itinaas ni Blaze ang baso na may lamang tubig. "To #SecondArkhonTeam. Let's cheers to that."

Lahat sila ay nakangiting itinaas ang baso na tubig ang laman, saka sabay-sabay na uminom.

And as Happy looked at every member of her team; Blaze, her protector, King, her Butler, Kane, her punisher and Yrozz, her tracker... she felt confident... their presence made her strong.

These men might act like kids sometimes... but they were reliable... and they would never let her down. And she would do everything in her power to not let them down either. Because these men deserved more... they deserved an Arkhon that they could be very proud of.

Happy smiled at her teammates. It might not seem like it now, but for her, this team... they were going to be a very big part of her family.

Maybe not by blood... but by loyalty, trust, care and heart.

CECELIB | C.C.