AGS 5: Kiss of the Red Lotus

Chapter 2: Breakfast

Clark and Calvin had been friends since their college days. I was already there when Calvin decided to join their group.

Critical for Calvin ang makakuha ng bagong grupo at that time kasi banned na siya to control any group against sa Red Lotus.

Some said that it was Calvin versus me, but the whole case was more Calvin versus the system. Inalisan siya ng Red Lotus ng karapatan bilang handler pagkatapos na pagkatapos niyang ipa-dissolve ang grupo nina Quen.

Unfortunately, hindi kami puwedeng mamagitan ni Syaho, that was why kung na-dissolve ang grupo ni Quen, dapat ma-dissolve din ang kanya because what he did was against the policy na walang gagalaw ng under ng Red Lotus maliban sa mga Yu na namamahala rin ng grupo.

Calvin risked it all, and I don't think he even had a tiny regret dahil sa ginawa niya. He shifted to a new group—that kind of group na hindi under ng Red Lotus, but enough to deal with us na paniguradong magkakaproblema kami.

He's a smart-ass. Clark used to say na babae ang dahilan kaya sumama si Bing sa grupo nila, but if they only knew na pinili sila ni Calvin just to have an autonomy but as powerful as his previous group, malamang na magbabago ang isip nila para tanggapin siya.

They have Patrick Lauchengco, and that alone should stop us from messing with them kasi hindi rin madaling kalaban si Bobby Lauchengco. He's a powerful man, lalo na pagdating sa usapang sasakyan. At hindi maganda sa business, especially sa night track na may binabangga kaming expert sa field. Bobby Lauchengco knows how to build an empire from scratch and destroy one with just a snap—powerful enough para ipasara ang talyer ni Jackson after learning about his son's involvement with the latter nang ganoon lang kadali.

Then they have a Dardenne in the group, which made things more interesting for Calvin, for sure, because Tessa Dardenne is a wanted name in the underground. Kung ayaw mong makitang nakakalat ang mga dumi mo in public, avoid a Dardenne at all cost. They know how to perfectly clean a mess, but they know more about putting a mess on a clean plate. And having a direct connection with Tessa Dardenne means having a direct path to a darker abyss. Atribida siya, pero dapat pa rin kaming magpasalamat sa pananahimik niya. She knows . . . a lot.

If you have a Lauchengco and a Dardenne in your group, you have two monsters at your disposal. Para kang may legendary pets na sa sobrang self-governing, ikaw na lang ang matatakot sa kanila.

Unfortunately, everyone oversaw the other part of the group na hindi rin dapat i-underestimate. It was definitely a shame for those na binalewala lang ang ibang member ng grupo nila dahil lang doon sa dalawang sikat na pangalan.

"Mother . . ."

I was staring at Clark's face. It was blank, and Clark barely shows a blank face unless he is suppressing an emotion he doesn't want to show anyone.

Hawak niya ang kamay ko, hinihimas-himas ang ibabaw habang tinitingnan ang kabuuan ko pagbaba namin ng sasakyan ni Calvin.

Dumako ang tingin niya sa kaliwang braso kong babawiin ko sana pero mahigpit niyang hinawakan.

Ang lalim ng paghinga ko nang titigan niya ang bawat marka ng hiwa roon mula sa galang-galangan hanggang sa bandang ibaba ng siko.

Natawa siya nang mahina saka tumingin sa akin. "Gusto kong magalit," sabi niya, at ramdam na ramdam ko kung gaano niya pinipigil ang sariling huwag.

Nawala ang ngiti at tawa niya, at napalitan 'yon ng pilit niyang itinatagong inis. Aware naman ako sa pinanggagalingan ng inis niya.

Clark is a funny guy. He's the one dancing in the rain when everyone is afraid of getting wet. But for some reason, we looked at him as the storm. He's the destructive one among their group, and even a Lauchengco or a Dardenne had no idea how to stop him once he wreaked havoc. And seeing his deadly glares is a bad omen. Clark rarely throws a deadly glare, but when he does, we must expect something unexpected.