" Isn't this your puppy?"
Her dad asked.

Napatango naman nang bahagya ang batang si Lady Sy dahil hindi naman sya pwedeng magsinungaling sa harap ng kanyang ama.

"Here" may binigay na patalim ang kanyang ama at alam na ng bata kung ano ang sunod na mangyayari.

"Finish him"

At first, she was hesitant. She couldn't do it because that puppy was her only friend. In fact, it isn't just a puppy. It's a baby wolf she found in the woods.

Bagong lipat lang sila sa lugar na tinitirhan at bigla nalang mas humigpit ang lahat.

She can't go far, she can't enjoy her own time.

"Kill that animal, Valentine"

"That's your punishment for being hard headed."
She's trying her best not to cry. In their family, crying is for weaklings only.

"Look.. This world.. Isn't made for us.."
Humakbang ang kanyang ama papalapit sa kanya.

"There's tons of bad things that will happen, and I want you to be prepared."

"This world is so cruel , young lady.. But.. Following the rules won't hurt you.. It'll do good for you.
You know there's consequences right? ——"
Nahinto ang pagsasalita ng kanyang ama nang bigla nalang may manghimasok sa kanilang silid.

"Your grace!"
Sigaw ng isang tauhan nang bigla nalang may pumasok na hindi kilalang lalaki.

Ang lalaki ay tumatakbo at may hawak na patalim.
The young Lady can see pain through his eyes.
She knew that the guy suffered already.

She didn't know that they will still have  prisoners in their new place.

Her dad held her hands and put her aside.

Bago pa man tuluyang makalapit ang lalaki ay isang putok na ng baril ang umalingawngaw sa buong silid, at ang lalaking kanina lang ay tumatakbo ay ngayon ay nakabulagta na sa sahig.

Pinakatitigan lang ng bata ang dugo na gumagapang sa sahig.

Day one at this new place, she then again, witnessed something she shouldn't have.
Her father just killed a person infront of her.
This scene shouldn't be witnessed by a child like her.

"We'll discuss this later, Valentine. Go to your room, and do what I ordered you to do."
Napatango nalang ang bata at normal na naglakad papalayo kasama ang kanyang munting kaibigan sa pinangyarihan ng gulo.

If only she can break the rules.

If only she could cry freely.

If only she can live normally.

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She entered her room with annoyance visible to her face.
Kung pagmamasdan ang kabuoan ng kanyang kwarto ay aakalain mong lugar ito ng mga sandata.

There's tons of weapons in her room. All she can do is to train and train for her to become 'prepared'.

She doesn't even know what is she preparing for.
Her parents are being secretive towards her. All she can do is to listen and follow.

Hindi rin naman sya pwedeng magreklamo kaya palihim nalang nyang ginagawa ang bagay na kamumuhian ng pamilya nya.
' yon ay ang pagkakaroon ng awa..

Ang pakikinig sa puso.

Hindi nya ulit sinunod ang utos ng kanyang ama.

She didn't 'finished' her pup. She released it back into the woods instead.

Mahinang umulan ng niyebe sa kanyang kinaroroonan kaya't Panatag sya na ang mga bakas ng kanyang paa patungo sa kagubatan ay maglalaho nalang nang kusa.

Nang makabalik sya sa kanilang tinutuluyan, ay agad nanamang naging magulo ang lahat.

"Emily.. Mother.. What is happening?"
She asked.

"We're moving somewhere far.. But don't worry.. You will be able to make friends there.. Tinuruan na kita ng mga salitang gamit ni mama hindi ba?" the young lady nodded. She understand what her mother said.. A little.

She didn't dared to ask why so sudden.
This happened plenty of times already.
Lilipat sila at wala pang isang araw, lilipat nanaman sila ng panibagong lokasyon.

"It'll be okay sweetheart.. It's just that.. We really need to hide.."

"Hide from who? Why? How long are we gonna do this? When will it end Emily? "
Kumirot nang bahagya ang puso ng kanyang ina na si Emily sa narinig.

Emily was trying her best to hide those dark things from her daughter.

Hindi nya kayang sagutin ang mga katanungan ng bata dahil alam nito sa kanyang sarili na kapag sinagot nya ang katanungang 'yon.. Ay muling mababahiran ng dumi at bangungot ang utak ng kanyang anak.

"Forgive me, Emily Mother, for I asked too much.
I will be preparing my things. I shouldn't stress you." Napatulala nalang si Emily sa sinabi ng kanyang anak at pinagmasdan ang lumalayong bulto nito.

Curiosity is a gift that a child has. With that, they will be able to learn new things that will help them grow and develop as a person.

Pero sa lagay nila, ipinagkakait nila ang kuryosidad kay Valentine..

Ipinagkakait nila ang mapait na kasagutan dahil kailan man ay hindi ito makatutulong sa pag unlad ng bata.

Emily and Chen chose to ran away, far from danger.

Pero ang panganib na iyon ay pilit silang hinahabol.

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Ang batang babae ay tahimik na binabaybay ang pasilyo nang may marinig syang boses sa isang silid.
She's sure that it's her mother's language.

It's her dad who's talking.

"Handa na ba ang plano? —"

"——Darating kami dyan bukas o makalawa. Gusto ko pagsapit ng kaarawan ng anak ko ay tapos na ang trabaho. Walang kahit isang mabubuhay sa kanila. Maliwanag? "

Sa narinig ng bata ay alam nya nang mas magiging madugo ang lahat.

Pero kaninong dugo ang dadanak?

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NAGISING ang dalagang si Celine habang sapo-sapo ang ulo.

She dreamt of something unusual.

She didn't dreamt about her family dying.
This time she dreamt about her childhood.. How she disobeyed her dad.. How she heard him talking on the phone.

She tried to remember the words her dad said but it was all hazy.
Sumakit lang lalo ang ulo nya.

Her fever went down but the pain her body's experiencing remains.
Ang mga sugat at pasa na kanyang natamo ay hindi pa rin nagaling.
She's still bleeding because she moved a lot just to escape that house filled with strangers.

She did escaped .

That's why she's here with Lady Clinton.
Samantha Clinton.
Another Lady from her Organization.

How did she escaped that house anyways?

Well, when Celine explored Draco's house, she immediately saw something off.
The hallway was extended but she can't see any other door.
When she entered other guestroom, she realizes that it was small to occupy such distance on that hallway.

Sa paglalakad-lakad ni Celine sa kabahayan, napansin nyang may lihim na lagusan sa bahay na iyon, and she's right.

The lock was not her problem anymore since she's a skilled lock picker.
All she need was tools that can go inside that keyhole and thankfully, Draco's house has different kinds of tools that is well hidden.

Nagawa nyang manghingi ng tulong nang dumating si Athena sa kwarto nya.
Sa pagkakataong 'yon napansin na ni Lady Sy na may dalang cellphone si Athena.

So, Lady Sy silently took the phone while Athena was busy feeding her with sinigang.

The moment when Athena came out,
Celine immediately took a phone call, sent a message to Lady Clinton.

Celine quickly readied herself for her escape.
She knew that at any moment, Athena will come back, looking for her phone.

Kaya kahit masakit pa ang katawan ng dalaga, pinilit nyang kumilos, upang makatakas sa tamang oras.

Yes, she deleted the history calls and messages from Athena's phone, but that didn't stopped Lady Clinton to locate where Celine is.

The second Celine got out of that house, a car stopped infront of her  and Celine went in just like planned.

And now, she's here inside Lady Clinton's car. They are off to somewhere far from that house.
Celine didn't gave Lady Clinton any location.
She's just drivin' and drivin'.
Wherever Samantha wants to go.

"I'm impressed of your memory, Lady Sy. You remembered number really well." Ani Lady Clinton habang nakatingin sa rearview mirror ng sasakyan.

"You just passed out couple of seconds right after you entered. This is the first time I saw a Lady that is bruised and suffering. What happened?" seryosong tanong ni Lady Clinton.

"A fvcker played with my deeds, injected me with a substance, causing me to feel more pain."
Napahinto sa pagmamaneho si Lady Clinton dahil sa narinig. Nilingon nya si Celine at nagtanong.

"A substance that causes you to feel such pain? I know it's none of my business.. But..If it's okay to ask, Where is that fvcker?"
She needs to know.

A substance that can fight their own substance is a huge threat for the whole organization.

This would make their Boss really mad.

"Dead. I tried to save him but it was too late. He's a pawn of a monster. I believe that substance came from their Boss." Celine answered.

Ibinalik ni Lady Clinton ang atensyon sa kalsada at muling nagmaneho.
She was just so shock to hear that there is a substance.. another substance, that will fight their own substance.
How can that be..

" Does Boss know about this? " Lady Clinton asked.

" Not yet. But sooner or later, Boss will know."

" I always think highly of you Lady Sy, hearing you needing help really shocked me. And seeing you in this state.. I'm sorry. I know you don't like to hear something like this but.. I'm here for you." Lady Clinton sighed.

" So, What's the plan? " Dugtong nito.

" Take me to home "

" Which home? Philippines? "

" No, H.O.M.E "

" Oh. Well then, as you wish Lady Sy. I'll take you to her.
That's my destination anyways. "

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*****

" YOU said son yesterday.. That Zinc, is he my lost younger sibling? "
Tanong ni Niccolo na ikinatawa naman ng matanda.

" He isn't. Your lost sibling.. was dead."
Xien paused for a second. Thinking if he should tell his son, Niccolo, the story of Zinc.

"Zinc.. Is like a son to me. I recruited him when he's young in this organization, trained him to be the most dangerous, fearless, skilled assassin I could ever have.

He's from a wealthy family. But their wealth isn't enough for security.

His beloved cousin was kidnapped, never to be seen again.
Making Zinc to grow anger in his heart.. Causing him to be ruthless and unstoppable.

I sent him to search for you, and search for his cousin of course.

Now that he found his cousin and you, I believe that he has nothing to do with this organization anymore.
In addition, I think he found a girl to spend the rest of his life with. "
The old man chuckled slightly.

" What about my mom.. Is she here? "
Ani Niccolo.

" I'm still searching for her. It scares me to think that she died that day. "
Niyakap ng matanda ang kanyang matagal nang nawawalang anak at marahang tinapik ang kanyang likod.

"We have a lots of things to catch up on, Son. I'm just glad that you're well grown"
Hindi na napigilan ni Niccolo na mapayakap pabalik.
It's been couple of years since he last saw his dad.
He feels comfortable.

"Sure, Dad——"

"——But I need to find someone first."

Kumawala sa pagkakayakap ang kanyang ama at takang pinagmasdan ang kanyang mga mata.

"Who?"

"A girl called Cellie"
His dad nodded.

"Is she your lover?"

"No, Dad. She reminds me of a friend. I need to ensure that she's safe. Sinclair was after her. She's gonna die if I do nothing"

"Well then, I guess we'll bond together by searching for that friend of yours.
I'll help you, son"

"Thank you, Dad."

Xien didn't asked anymore about this 'Cellie'
He knows that that he will just hurt his son's feelings if he did.

His son didn't changed after all. He's still over protective like when he was a child.
But the day when his friend died, he mourn so much and blamed himself because he was not there to save her.

Hindi man nakilala ni Xien ang kaibigan ni Niccolo noong bata ito, alam ni Xien na malapit na kaibigan ang tinutukoy ni Niccolo marahil hanggang ngayon, dala dala pa rin ni Niccolo ang nakaraan.

"We'll start looking tomorrow, Son . For now, you should rest" Muling tinapik ni Xien ang balikat ng kanyang anak.
I hope my Son will heal.

"We will find Cellie. I promise"

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__aponilarionabini