♤♡◇♧

"DON'T! Don't do it, Alice!" he begged on his knees while holding his wounded arm. Blood continued oozing from his arm regardless of the pressure he has been applying.

Patuloy na nagliliyab ang palibot ng building dahil sa ibinuhos na gasolina ng ibang armadong lalaki. Ang apoy na lamang ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa marumi, madilim at magulong bodega sa gubat na malayo sa bayan.

"I have to do it." She cried while holding the gun with her shaky hands. "Hindi matatapos 'to hangga't may Fuentes dito sa mundo."

"You can still fix this... We can. I'll help you!"

Tinalikuran n'ya ang lalaki at puno ng galit at hinanakit na ikinasa ang baril at muling itinutok sa mag-asawang magkayakap sa sahig at nakatingin sa kanyang mga mata, kapwa nagmamakaawa.

The same pair of eyes that brought her happiness before.

"Alice... please..."

And three gunshots were heard.

♤♡◇♧

A DEEP breath escaped her as she listened to the silence of her room. Mula pagkabata, gusto n'ya ang katahimikan sa paligid. She adored silence because it's not every day that her heart and mind would be in sync at peace.

Her shelf was filled with fiction and non-fiction works. Books were her escape from reality. A single couch and a small coffee table beside it serves as her safe haven.

A mild rose scent circled the room. Iyon ang paborito n'yang pabango mula noon. It was calming and very feminine.

Suot ang kanyang salamin, kumportable ang kanyang pagkaka-upo habang nagbabasa ng isang makapal na aklat. Magka-krus ang kanyang mga hita at mataming unan sa kanyang likuran.

Kasalukuyan n'yang binabasa ang isang romantikong nobela. Gustong-gusto n'yang magbasa ng mga fictional na kwento patungkol sa pag-ibig dahil naiingit s'ya sa konsepto nito. Buong buhay n'ya ay hindi n'ya naramdaman ang pag-ibig at pagmamahal. Hindi kagaya ng mga karakter sa libro na kahit anong hirap at pagsubok ang dinadanas ay nananatili silang matibay, may tiwala, at puno ng pagmamahal sa isa't isa.

Kung s'ya kaya ay iibig sa hinaharap, ganoon rin kaya ang kanyang mararanasan?

Naputol ang kanyang pagpapantasya nang makarinig ng pagkatok sa pintuan. Tumayo s'ya at itinago ang aklat sa shelf.

"It's open," aniya.

"Hello, sweetie. I have more news about them," bungad ng matandang lalaki na may tungkod habang naglalakad patungo sa kanang bahagi ng silid, salungat sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

"Oh? What is it?" Umayos nang tayo ang dalaga at naglakad patungo sa direksyon ng matanda.

"Two of them will be heading to Paris tomorrow."

"Is that so? Do you want me to execute the plan?" Tumigil siya sa harap ng dingding at kapwa tinititigan ang mga larawan doon.

"Go ahead." Pumunta ang matanda sa may likuran ng dalaga at bumulong habang kapwa nakatitig sa iisang direksyon. "You must despise them. You must hate them to the core," muling sambit ng lalaki sa dalaga na nakaharap sa mga litratong nakapako sa dingding. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, tito," matalim na sagot ng dalaga. Walang kahit katiting na bahid ng takot sa kanyang boses. "I do not have any other feelings but hate towards them," aniya sa kanyang tito Salvador, ang lalaking kumupkop sa kanya mula ng siya ay isilang at pabayaan ng kanyang tunay na mga kadugo.

Her hands formed into a fist while her almond eyes look intently at the people in every photo—the famous and powerful Fuentes.

That single wall was dedicated to that family. Several photos and articles about them filled the beige concrete.

Mula pa sa pinuno ng buong angkan—sina Kyle Dominique at Princess Ysabelle Fuentes, hanggang sa mga supling nila, sina Prince Ysiquel, Sebastian Chris, Sander Clarence, Samara Clarrise, at Ymannuel Dominique Fuentes—her hatred was fuming.

"Very good, Alice," ngising turan ng lalaki sa kanyang likuran. "Soon you'll be facing them and bringing them down one by one. And you'll take your rightful place on the top."

"Yes, tito. I will kill them all," walang emusyong saad nito. Pinag-krus n'ya ang sariling mga braso na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa mga larawan.

"That's my girl. Now, take some rest. You have an early flight to France tomorrow. I won't be back home by that time kaya mag-ingat ka na lamang. Complete your mission there, understood?"

"Of course. I don't even recall failing you," dagdag nito.

Isang ngisi lamang ang ginanti ng matanda sa kanya.

Nilisan ng lalaki ang silid at nakapako pa rin ang kanyang mga mata sa bawat imahe sa dingding. Her fingers involuntarily touched the photos as if she was rekindling a past with them.

But she wasn't.

She has never shared a past with them. Maybe not directly.

They don't even know about her existence.

The existence of Alice Vale Brixton.

Kinuha ni Alice ang Swiss knife sa mesa at s'yang ginamit upang masira ang mga litratong nakapaskil sa pader. Her hatred towards the Fuentes family was immeasurable... especially because of the face that she bears.

Nang maging sapat na sa kanya ang sirain ang mga larawan ay ibinaba na n'yang muli ang kutsilyo at huminga ng malalim. She calmed herself and it worked properly.

Paniguradong matutuwa na naman ang tito Salvador niya dahil sa umaapaw na galit sa kanyang dibdib.

Umupo si Alice sa kanyang kama at inabot ang laptop sa sidetable. Sumandal s'ya sa headboard habang binabasa ang bawat headline ukol sa angkan ng mga Fuentes.

Walang araw na hindi ipinakita ang mukha nila mapa-business news o sa entertainment man. The couple, Kyle and Ysabelle, are the most admirable of them all. Ysiquel was the intelligent businessman, Sebastian is the fearsome one, Sander is the patient brother, Samara is the innocent and alluring lady, and Ymannuel is the healer. They are the elite and the famous.

Medyo napangisi si Alice nang mabasa ang balita na ikinasal na raw ang pinakabatang at isa sa pinakamayamang C.E.O. ng henerasyon, si Ysiquel Fuentes.

Kinuha n'ya ang cellphone at gumawa ng tawag.

"Yes, Ms Brixton?"

"May ipagagawa ako sa 'yo, Gi."

"Grabe ka. Hindi mo pa nga ako nababayadan sa ginawa ko last time."

"Oh, hush. I'll pay you as soon as magawa ang plano. You know that."

"Oh, how could I ever forget," Alice could picture her friend rolling his eyes. "So what is it?"

"I need someone to monitor Sander and Sebastian sa Singapore."

"Urgent ba?"

"A little. I need to track their activities since naikasal na si Ysiquel."

"Are you sure you want to pursue uncle Salvador's plans?"

"If that's what I need to do to be free, then, yes. So, matutulungan mo na ba ako?"

"Of course, dear. Paano pa't naging beshy mo ako. I'll send in Charm Freed after her assignment. Can contact be made to them?"

Napaisip si Alice. Between those two, Sebastian seemed to be a better candidate to her plans than the sickly Sander.

Alam ni Alice na may sakit ang binata at alam rin nito na hindi ito alam ng pamilya ng binata.

"Only to Sebastian. Don't pick Sander."

"Noted. I'll call Charm later."

"Is she good?"

"She's one of the best."

"Perfect. Thanks, Gi."

"Always welcome, Alice."

She hated the Fuentes family because she's one of them.

Alice Vale Brixton— her adopted name. But in reality, her real identity is the deceased Kylien Cess Fuentes— eldest daughter and heiress of the Fuentes clan and Ysiquel's twin sister.

♤♡◇♧

PrincessThirteen00 © 14 12 2019