Hello, irys! Thank you so much for reading String of Lights. This is the second book of the series, and I saw the support you've given to this book that was so overwhelming. May this book teach you to find your own light in every darkness you are in instead of being conquered by it. Happy reading! See you in my next Rebel Series story!
Trigger Warning: Violence, mention of suicide, mention of drugs.
———
Garden
"Mr. Trison Alcaraz?"
Tumango ako sa babaeng nasa mid-forties na kakapasok lamang sa opisina kung saan ako naghihintay.
"I'm Grace Davids, Director of Counter Espionage at the CIA. I reach the message of the President of the Philippines that you have something for me..."
Sinundan ko ang tingin niya nang sumandal siya sa gilid ng mesa at naninimbang ang titig sa akin.
Inilapag ko ang USB sa mesa. Tumingin siya roon at umangat ang kilay.
"I have the secret files you needed. One of the lists contains the most hustling criminal that's leading the biggest syndicate you've been looking for, as one of your agents has been working on over the years, whose mission got compromised for...falling in love with a woman in the Philippines in the middle of the operation."
Unti-unting napawi ang ngiti niya. Naninimbang ang titig niya sa akin.
"What's your name again?"
"Trison Wallace Serrano Alcaraz." I smiled flatly.
Nakita ko ang pagkakaroon niya ng ideya kung sino ako. With her long pause and the way she pressed her lips, I knew that the name rang a bell. Obviously.
Noon pa man, ayoko na sa pangalan ko. Kinakahiya ko iyon. Lalo na't bata pa ako, tampulan na ng tukso dahil doon.
"Trison!" tawag ng mga batang kaedaran ko.
Deri-deritso ang lakad ko habang laging naririnig kung paano nila iyon pinagtatawanan.
"Anak daw siya ng kriminal eh. Nakakulong daw ang papa niya sabi ni papa. Siguro paglaki niya, kriminal din siya!"
"Kung ano pa naman daw ang puno, ganoon ang bunga."
They laughed mockingly, which would always turn my hands into fists. Ngunit sa tuwing naalala ang habilin ni mama na bawal akong manapak, bawal manakit, kumakalma ako at bumubuntonghininga na lamang.
"Hoy anak ng kriminal! Lumingon ka dito!"
Isang bato ang tumama sa suot kong bag. I didn't glance at them as I continued walking. Sabi ni mama, kung sinaktan ko sila dahil lang sa pangungutya, wala akong pinagkaiba sa kanila.
The aggresive pull of someone made me stop, and my backpack was pulled out of my shoulder until it fell on the floor.
"Ano! Lalaban ka? Sige nga! Pulis ang Papa ko! Ipapadampot kita dahil katulad ka lang ng papa mo! Kriminal!"
I looked at the boy, who's just my age. Eleven. Matangkad ng kaonti sa akin. Ang sira niyang ngipin ang nagpangiti sa akin. I find it ridiculous.
"Oh? Anong nginigiti-ngiti mo? Ilabas mo 'yang angas mo!" Itinulak niya ang balikat ko.
Nangingiti akong napaatras at pinulot ang bag ko sabay pagpag noon.
"May panahon kang kutyain ako pero wala kang panahong magtoothbrush?" I laughed about it.
His face turned bright red, and the next thing I knew, I was already on the floor while they threw punches at me. Hindi ako nanlaban, lalo na't talagang rinig ko ang habilin ni mama.
