°†° «[𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝟓]» °†°
꧁༺Her Choice༻꧂

"Hm.."

⫷ OPHELIA  VIEWPOINT ⫸

Katatapos ko lang mag-shower. Naka-oversized white shirt ako na hanggang tuhod ang haba, di na ako nag-abalang maghalungkat ng short, I'm so lazy to do that. Dalawa lang naman kami ni Teacher Rose sa apartment na ito.

Hah. This comfy life, I like it.

This feeling that I don't have to be always presentable and anything.

Forget it. I still have something to do.

Binuksan ko ang laptop ko, mukha itong luma at outdated but this is very high-tech. Lahat ng iba't ibang parts ng laptop kong ito ay mula sa black market, the place where you can find, sell and buy things in illegal ways.

I log in the black market portal using my ID, Master R.

"Kailan pa naging ako naging Platinum VIP Member?" takang tanong ko at mabilis na nahanap ang dahilan.

I received an email from the Founder of Black Market.

"This old fox, never change." naiiling na sambit ko sa sarili.

I know him in my previous life, I personally met him.

Romeo, he's always introducing himself without his surname. No one knew his background, even the members of the so-called association members.

And I know what or why he's reaching me out like this.

"Hm, should I reply or not?" I tap my table repeatedly while resting my chin in my hand.

"I'm guessing he wants something from me. A favor... This VIP thing is tempting specially now, I want those materials... But..." I don't want to associate myself with this old fox in this life.

It's bothersome. I want to live in peace.

Hindi naging matagal ang desisyon ko at nagsimulang mag-type ng reply.

Send! I feel so good to tease that old man!

"Hahahaha!"

Matapos i-close ang message board ko ay hinanap ko ang mga kailangan kong materials na ipapa-forged ko sa kilala kong blacksmith.

"Black Iron... Adamantium... Fire Crytallite... Ice Metallica."

In-add ko sa cart ko ang mga nakita ko.

"Oh, what a pain."

Php 96,854,621.50

Sinilip ko ang balance ko sa bank account na nakalog in sa cellphone ko.

Php 5,643,512.90

"...."

I cry without tears because of the painful reality. I'm poor.

The sword and gun that I want...

"Argh.."

I can't get used to this feeling. In the past, I can get whatever price items I want.

"Do I have no other choice?" I mumbled dejectedly while rubbing my chin, my habit when I'm in deep thought.

Should I set this aside for now?

"..."

No, I should finish this as soon as I can. For my peace of mind.

Napabuntong hininga ako at nagtingin ng mga assignments sa page ng mga hackers worldwide.

"What? How did I become the Rank 1 here???"

Pagbukas ko ba naman ay tumambad sa akin ang ID ko.

Rank 1. Master R
Rank 2. River
Rank 3. Nightingale
Rank 4. Unknown
Rank 5. SheHe

...

...

"What the hell is happening? I didn't have any battle with anyone here.."

To be one of the list of top ranks. One must be challenged and the winner will get the rank of that defeated hacker.

"I didn't challenge anyone, though."

Nag-scroll ako sa homepage at nakita ang mga screenshots ng mga pinagpo-post kong black materials at evidences sa social medias.

At doon ko lang naalala ang tungkol doon. At that time I really need money nang lumayas ako sa bahay ng mga Yves, my adoptive parents. Well, long story short? Pinakulong ko ang ama-amahan kong drug addict at siniguro kong walang labas sa rehas ang manyak na 'yon.

Nag-iwan ako ng 20 million, sa dati kong pamilya. That woman who I treated as a good mother in the past is so full of anger because of what I did. Tsk, but when I give them those money? They stop pestering me.

I made sure they won't bother me again, they can live their lives to the fullest.

"I forgot to delete this posts.."

Matagal ng close ang kaso at nasa rehas na ang mga government officials na iyon.

"They all are trying to delete those post?  Sure enough, they will give an order to erase it." I smacked my lips while smirking.

I happily type a post.

@𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐑𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥: It's very lively here. I'm out money, I'm accepting simple assignments. I'm picky, I don't accept inhumane assignments because I'm the apostle of justice.

Posted!

"Pfft~!" apostle of justice? Pwe! Alagad ako ni satan!

Natatawang iniwan ko muna ang laptop ko at bumaba sa kusina. Today is Sunday, walang pasok. My teacher is visiting her sick grandmother at the hospital.

"Hm. Where's my yema cake? There! And my soda! Perfect!"

I hummed in a good mood and walked my way to my room.

Nang makaupo ako ay muntik ko ng mabuga ang iniinom ko!

500 thousand likes? 60 thousand shares? And 80 thousand comments and counting...

"What the hell is wrong with these brats? They are so free."

Naiiling na nag-scroll ako ng mga comments.

"Am I seeing things? Is this the mysterious Master R?!"

"My Idol!"

"I like him/her. I thought she/he is old fashion!"

"Masterrr!"

"I hope you can help me..."

...

...

...

Napangiti ako sa mga nababasa ko. Naging fan meeting market ang post ko.

Natatabunan ang mga nagbibigay ng assignments.

"...Hm." I rubbed my chin and started to code something. I'm sure the moderators will contact once I did this to their site.

Sa isang iglap naging dalawang column ang comment section. Sa first column, mga bumabati at sa second column, mga nagbabagsak ng assignments.

* * *

"Síre Romeo, Master R is online on our HWP.."

"I know." malamig at seryosong bigkas ng taong nakaupo sa wheelchair at nasa harap ng computer kung saan makikita ang email na ipinadala ng misteryosong Hacker na bigla na lamang sumulpot sa kung saan.

Tap. Tap. Tap

Romeo subconsciously tapped the side of his chair.

"Interesting." ngisi ng matanda na kinalunok ng apo niyang si Gregory.

"Síre?" gulat na tawag ni Gregory sa kanyang Lolo na may giliw na naglalaro sa mga mata na ngayon niya lang nakita.

Nag-angat ng tingin ang matanda.

"You can leave. Tell the others I'm busy."

"Yes, Síre!"

Nakatanggap muli ito ng panibagong mensahe.

[Master R, didn't touch any of our data.]

Nilipat ni Romeo ang mga mata sa real-time chat logs sa HWP (Hacker Worldwide Page) kung saan itinuturo ng Master R ang strategy niya, kung paano niya hinati sa dalawang column ang comment section.

Nakikipag-halubilo ito sa mga nagko-comments. Sa bawat replies nito ay makikita ang pagiging 'friendly' nito bagay na kinatutuwa naman ng mga fans nito.

Rbeliever: @MasterRofficial, are you a she or a he?

╰┈➤@Rbeliever, Next question please!

Sanaol: @MasterRofficial, totoo bang wala ka ng pera?

╰┈➤@Sanaol, bakit hirap ba paniwalaan? Sanaol may pera.

...

...

Just who is this person?

"What's going to happen in the future? We are now being watched by every sides. The 3 young masters of the great clans and now... This unknown hacker. Oh there's this also Knight named Connrad from the Lamarca who can be on-parred by those prodigies of the great clans."

"But if I were to choose sides..." Romeo, thoughtfully glance at his monitor.

"Master R, it would be great to have this powerhouse."

"He knows me.."

"I can't afford to offend this unknown."

"A comrade, huh..."

Malalim na huminga ng malalim ang isa mga maimpluwensyang tao sa mundo Atraxia

"A pity he didn't take my offer. But it's good that he's easy to talk with."

* * *

"Huaam!!"

⫷ OPHELIA  VIEWPOINT ⫸

Malakas na hikab ko at hinilot ang batok ko habang binabagtas ang direksyon patungo sa school nang makita ang pamilyar na babae.

"O--Ophelia?" gulat na kita sa akin nito. Walang emosyon ko itong tiningnan.

Nakasuot ito ng mamahaling bestida, may alahas na kalorete, mamahaling sandals at bag.

"Get out of my way." malamig na sambit ko dito na kinaatras nito.

"Ophelia, paano mo ako natatrato ng ganito? Ako pa rin ang iyong Ina.. "

"Joanna Yves. We have an agreement, right? We are not related to each other anymore. I have the detailed contract, video and we have Attorney Qin as a witness. Don't ever associate yourself with me, are we clear?" seryoso at mariing sambit ko dito na kinaputla nito.

Salubong ang kilay na nakarating ako sa classroom namin. Di naman ako inabala nina Mae dahil halatang wala ako sa mood.

The nerve of that woman! If I'm not a change person now, I'll skin her alive.

I remembered how that woman used me for her own benefits. I'm blind to believe her and her family. Gold diggers.

Natigilan ako nang makitang nanginginig ang nakatagong kamay ni Mae sa ilalim ng desk.

Damn, I subconsciously put my surroundings in pressure.

Old habits die hard.

Naputol ang katahimikan nang bumukas ang pinto ng classroom at  pumasok ang English Teacher namin.

Hindi ko tuloy magawang matulog gaya ng lagi kong ginagawa, kaya naman nagtataka ang mga Teachers namin at mukhang natutuwang nakikinig ako.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Sira na ang magandang mood ko ngayong araw.

-_-

Nang mag end na ang klase ay wala pa ring lumalapit sa akin. Nakakatakot ba ang itsura ko ngayon?

Maybe, dahil ngayon lang napigtas ang laging kalmado kong mukha mula ang mabuhay ako.

Tsk.

Nakita kong natanggal ang puting sintas ko. Tinatamad na niluhod ko ang binti ko at inayos ang pagkakasintas, ngunit biglang nahagip ng mga mata ko ang kahina-hinalang itim na kotse na parang may pumupukpok sa loob.

Pasimpleng tiningnan ko iyon at nakita ang plaka ng kotse.

JUN21298

Natural na umayos ako ng tayo at hindi pinahalatang may natuklasan akong kidnapping. Why, kidnapping? Well, I saw a kids black shoes sa gilid ng kotse. Mukhang branded pa.

Humihikab na tinakpan ko ang bibig ko ng kamay ko at inaantok na nag-iisip.

JUN21298, why do I feel like it's a little familiar?

If it's familiar in my memories, means it's important.

Let's think...

"Hm?" napatampal ako sa noo ko nang maalala ko na kung saan ko 'yon nabasa!

Isn't that the car where the kids of influencial clans are taken?!

Biglang nawala ang antok ko.

Tumingala ako sa kumukulimlim na langit.

"Is this a coincidence or you really want me to do something?"

Isang malakas na kidlat ang naging sagot ng kalangitan sa akin.

"..."

Napakurap-kurap ako ng mga mata dahil sinagot ako?

"Seryoso?"

Kumidlat ng mas malakas ang kalangitan kaysa kanina.

Napahilamos ako ng mukha.

Oh please, give me a break!