Vitamin Sea beach resort, Bohol

"I swear to heaven, you don't have to follow me all the way here."
Athena said while she's staring at the sea, drinking her buko juice, chilling under a palm tree.
Alam nyang may nakasunod sa kanya ngayon.
It isn't obvious, but Athena is actually an ex-assassin.

"Show yourself dang it. Don't waste my time and patience. I'm in the middle of my vacation, just so you know" inis na dugtong ni Athena.
Maya-maya lamang ay lumantad na sa kanya ang taong kanina pa nakasunod sa kanya.

She dropped her drink at the sight of him.

Her heart began to race and heck she became sweaty suddenly.

"D-Draco?!"

"What the fu——what on earth are you—"

"Thorn said to follow you. And I'm curious about this place so I obliged."
Draco coldly said.

"S-Stop following me! Argh!
I even dropped my drink!"
Inis na dinampot ni Athena ang baso ng kanyang nahulog.
Akmang mamartsa na sya papalayo nang bigla nalang nagsalita ang mokong na Draco na 'yon.

"Why are you startled anyways? You asked me to show up and so I did."

"E gago ka pala e! Crush nga kasi kitang hinayupak ka ang manhid mo pang letse ka tapos tatanungin mo ako kung bakit ako nagulat?!
Bakit di mo tanungin sarili mong hayop ka ha? Bwesit!"
Pagtataray ni Athena.

"What? I don't underst—"

"I said it's none of your freeakin' business."
Pagkatapos nya akong pakiligin sa Japan dahil inihatid nya ako willingly ay may gana pa syang maging yelo ngayon?

Tsk! Antipatiko!

"I'm not dumb to not know that the words you said isn't similar to what you have said just now.

Let me grab you a drink.. Shall we?"

Hihindi pa ba ako e crush ko na yung nag aaya?
Te, matagal na akong nananaginip ng ganito papalampasin ko pa ba?
Tatanggi pa ba ako?

"Sure, whatever" inirapan nalang ni Athena si Draco.

Nang tumalikod na si Athena ay hindi nya na matago pa ang ngiti na gustong kumawala dahil sa kilig.

Draco did bought a drink for Athena.
And he grabbed a drink for himself too.

Maganda na ang takbo ng mga pangyayari, Athena is now at ease.
But then suddenly something.. or someone captured Draco's eyes that made him say..

"I have something to do. I'll leave you here just as you requested earlier"

And with that, Draco left Athena all alone.

"What on earth just happened?"
Athena asked herself. Dumbfounded.

.

.

"ANDITO na ho tayo"  Ani ng isang driver sa dalawang dalaga.

Malayo-layo muli ang nilakbay nila Celine at hindi lang isang sasakyan ang sinakyan nila.

For Celine, this isn't wasting time.
She had a head start anyways.
Her head start was for her to heal first and to attack second.
Sa sitwasyon nya ngayon ay wala na syang panahong humilata at magpagaling pa dahil nakita nya si Athena sa resort na 'yon.

What's worse is she's not even completely healed yet and that woman already know where she is.
Just how?

Is it just a coincidence?
No. I don't think so.
She did helped me with my wounds before but it doesn't mean I can trust her.
Celine really needs to get to the bottom of this.

It's getting more chaotic.

Ang gusto lang naman nya ay mapagtagumpayang makamit ang hustisya para sa pamilya nya.

It all became messy.

She sighed.

Sa isang abandunadong warehouse sila nagkita-kita.
Celine was welcomed with bunch of men.
They all greeted her as the founder of the organization.

They said that Matthew..——Kevin will be late.
Kaya ang tanging na andito lang ay si Lady Clinton, ang mga tauhan, at si Celine.

"What strings did you pulled to create such organization Lady Sy?
It's impossible for a pawn to be a king"
Lady Sy took Kevin's family and provided them safety and care.
She also gave Kevin enough money to start.
She gave Kevin time to recruit people for this organization with the money.
She threatened him with darkest but pure intentions.
She also showed him how persistent she can be by accepting bullets without breaking her poise.
She got people working for Kevin's family without her direct commands.

"I don't know what you're talking about."
Celine replied.
Mas maigi nang hindi nya sabihin ang iba nyang plano.
They have only one goal at this moment anyways.
That is to make that skulled gang vanish from this world.

"You're right. But a pawn can also do checkmate, Lady Clinton."

Celine started borrowing someone else's phone and she called for Juan Pablo again.

Yes. That Juan Pablo.

He's the one she called a while ago to call the alpha.

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way Lady S-"

"Don't call me that name while you're on the way. It's dangerous.
Stick to the other name."
Kahit ayaw pa man marinig ng dalaga ang pangalang matagal nya nang binaon sa kanyang alaala, ay iyon ang mas mainam na pantawag sa kanya ngayon.

She should've told Juan Pablo to call her different name aside from Lady Sy and Valentine, yet she didn't.

She has already too much names weighting her shoulders, she couldn't bear another name to carry.

"Yes, Lady—Miss Valentine"

Celine groaned when she felt her body ached all of a sudden.
It must've been the serum.

She cursed silently and pulled herself together.

"The reason why I called was I need a new bodyguard. Find me someone who's reliable.
A person who's skilled.. One that can surpass my abilities. "

And with that..  the line ended.

.

.

.

THORN arrived at the place where his uncle was waiting.
There, he approached his uncle and his uncle treated his nephew right away.

Hell he's bleeding so bad.

"I forgot that you got your own business.
How's Athena?"
Juan Pablo asked.

"I sent her far from here. She's safe and having a good time don't worry."

In Juan Pablo's family tree, Thorn and Athena are on different branch.
They have their identities hidden as possible and all that can be found is they are from a certain house with wealth and that's it.

Malaman lang na ayos si Thorn at si Athena ay panatag na si Juan Pablo.
They are the only ones he should worry anyways.
Miss Valentine will handle the rest of his family.

Knowing Sinclair, his troops should be well trained.

But Thorn managed to get away from them and that proves Thorn's abilities.
Juan Pablo smiled. He's really proud of what Thorn and Athena has become but he can't stop thinking of the possibilities that they will encounter such danger again.

Kaya sa isip ni Juan Pablo, tama lamang na tinulungan nya ang tanging Sy na nakaligtas sa pangyayaring iyon.

Juan Pablo still has this overflowing guilt inside him.
After years of imprisonment..
He realized that he could've done something else before.

Seeing Valentine once again, really slapped him back to reality.
She must've suffered a lot.
And it's my fault.

As if on cue.. Juan Pablo received a call from unknown number.
He's skeptical at first, but he still answered the call.
Only to find out that it's the Sy, who's calling him.

"———"

"I'm on my way Lady S—"

"—————"

Thorn on the other hand was confused.
Did my uncle just said 'ladies'?
Thorn asked to himself.
He's pretty sure he heard ladies.

"Yes Lady——Miss Valentine"
And after a few more seconds, the call ended.

Juan Pablo should left by himself by now and settle everything after with Thorn, but his mind changed.
Speaking of what Miss Valentine's requesting..
Thorn is a perfect fit.

"Amadeus, Let's go."

Without asking, Thorn followed his uncle.

While following Juan Pablo, his uncle decided to tell Thorn that he needs to do something.
He needs to protect this oh-so-called Valentine for unknown reason.

"And why the hell am I gonna do that?"
Thorn asked.

"You're the only person who's capable on doing so.. as of the moment.
I believe in your skills, Amadeus.
You'll be protecting her just this time.
Next time it'll be someone who'll protect her, I promise, this is just temporary."

Thorn just frowned.

This old man.. He does realize that I'm still injured right?

Napabusangot na lamang ang binata.
He should be looking for his beloved Vitamin C,
But then he's tied to protect someone just for this day.
Fvck.

Pero, sa kabilang banda, may nakitang positibo si Thorn sa sitwasyon nya ngayon.

I guess it's fine. That way, I will be able to question why on earth he let my uncle free.

If the officials were able to capture my uncle.. It'll be the death of him.
Thorn said to himself.

He's really angry to that woman called 'Ms. Valentine'.
And now? he's about to meet her.

After a couple of minutes, Juan Pablo and his nephew arrived at the location where 'Miss Valentine' is at.
They are welcomed by bunch of men looking stiff and still.

Of course they are.

Juan Pablo called the Alpha to prepare the troops anyways.

Juan Pablo isn't certain if where did the Alpha gathered this team, but he's sure that the Alpha won't do anything bad to provoke Miss Valentine.
All the people here knows how dangerous that woman is...
Except Thorn.

Thorn is the only one who's walking like he's inside a mall or some sort.
He's walking casually like he owns the place.
Thorn's head was high and confident.

just like his father.

Maya-maya lamang ay narating na nila ang loob ng warehouse.

There are group of dudes protecting someone at the middle.
Thorn can't see who are they protecting..
But it's obvious that it's probably Miss Valentine. 

Pagtango lamang ang ibinigay ni Juan Pablo sa mga taong nakapalibot sa dalaga at ang mga tauhan na nakapalibot kay Miss Valentine ay nagbigay na ng daan upang makausap nila ito.

Thorn felt something lingering inside his heart.
Why the heck I'm nervous all of a sudden?

Those men who's surrounding Miss Valentine slowly parted their circle.

And there Thorn saw..

"Celine..."

.

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__aponilarionabini