The Fighter

Chapter Seventeen

⍟HARLEY⍟

I gritted my teeth at saka pilit na iniangat ang sarili ko sa monkey bar kung saan ako nakakapit ngayon.

"35!" I whispered shouted. "36!" I added.

"You're here? Wala ka bang restrictions from Lyka?" Jaypee asked ng makita ako sa gym.

Bumitaw naman ako sa monkey bar at saka umupo sa poem na nasa baba. "Lyka already gave me a go signal." I answered before I drink the water.

"Oh, I thought your trying to sneak again. You know Lyka, daig niya pa ang Titan kung magalit." He said at saka lumapit sa treadmill then he started to walk there. "I heard that you already gave Jack's mission to other." He started.

Lumapit naman din ako sa isang treadmill then I pressed the start button before I start to walk also.

"My body is not capable to do heavy missions after that bullet in heart accident." I answered quietly.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault." Jaypee said.

"It's not Jaypee, kung meron man dapat sisihin ako iyon at wala nang iba." I said and started to run as the treadmill starts to run faster. "Masyado akong naging rush sa mga desisyon ko." I added.

Hindi naman sumagot si Jaypee as he also started to run.

"Where did you hear that by the way?" I asked.

"Gemma chose me to finish it." He said at saka tumingin sa akin. "Well, sa madaling salita. Pinilit ko siya na ako ang piliin." He explained.

"And why did you do that?" I exclaimed and that made him chuckle.

"I guess I want to pay for what you did." He said and tore his gaze away from me. "You caught that bullet for me." He added.

Nanatiling nakatingin naman ako sa kanya habang unti-unting bumalik sa isipan ko ang mga pangyayari noong gabing iyon.

"Did we got everyone?" I asked nang maramdaman si Jaypee sa tabi ko.

"Yeah, I think so. Let me check." He said at saka tinignan ang tablet na hawak niya.

"Oh about the--" My words was cut off nang makarinig ng mahihinang yabag. Mukhang di narinig iyon ni Jaypee dahil tuloy pa rin ito sa pagkalikot sa tablet na dala niya.

Tumingin naman ako sa likod namin and I saw a familiar face of a man. He smirked at us and immediately pointed his gun then pull the trigger.

And I decided to follow my instinct and shields Jaypee using my body.

"COMBAT!" Jaypee screamed as he caught my body before I fell on the floor.

I heard more exchanges of gunfires bago tuluyang mabingi. My breath started to slowdown at para bang may kung anong mabigat na bagay ang bumagsak sa katawan ko.

It's just a fucking... a fucking single bullet but why it hurts so much?

"Combat!? Harley!? can you hear me? hold on please, hold on.." I heard Jaypee plead.

I forced my head to look at him and I can see a pure worry in his face.

"Harley--"

"I...I..."

"Please hold on Harley, the emergency team is on the way." He pleaded again.