Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 26: Eremitia

Chapter 26: Eremitia

Out of the Woods – For King and Country (Ofcourse, I do love Tay, but I was awed by FKAC's version – like I was listening to their cover of Out of the Woods for one, two, three, four and more times.)

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He could drop his telescope immediately and grab a gun to aim at us. Then, I would try to dodge it by running away from the railings while pushing Ethan to the other side. I knew I could always escape bullets. But nothing came up. We just stayed silently, unmoving on our own railings while watching each other through pairs of lenses. My hands and forehead were already sweating for the anticipation of his move. My action seemed to depend on his. I wasn't in the proper place to make an offensive move because of the people around me.

Subalit walang nangyari. Wala siyang ginawang hakbang ukol sa pagkakakita sa akin kasama si Ethan. Isang kaswal na ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang mga labi habang patuloy na pinaglalayo kami ng agwat dulot ng pag-andar ng sinasakyan kong bapor. Ibinaba ko na ang hawak na telescope nang tuluyan na siyang mawala sa paningin ko.

"May problema ba?" Kinakabahan na muling tanong ni Ethan nang mawala sa yate ang aking atensyon.

"Wala," sagot ko sa kanya. Ibinalik ko ang telescope sa batang nagmamay-ari nito at saka nagpasalamat. Mukhang hindi na estranghero ang tingin niya sa akin dahil sa madalas na niyang paglingon sa aking direksyon. It was actually just okay. Until I felt uncomfortable because when he was smiling at my direction, it was like I was required to smile back.

"Let's go back to the cabin," seryoso kong wika kay Ethan at nauna nang maglakad.

"I think that little boy was infatuated with you," wika ni Ethan na nasa likuran ko.

Umiling ako. "Infatuation? I just borrowed his binocular," sagot ko habang binubuksan ang pintuan ng cabin. Natutulog pa rin si Summer nang maabutan namin. Ipinasya kong mahiga na lang at ipahinga ang aking katawan. Hindi ko masasabing isa itong pagtulog. Maaaring nakapikit ang aking mga mata subalit nananatiling gising ang aking pag-iisip. Maraming posibilidad ang maaaring maganap ngayon. Well, not in this ship. Not for now. But I was sure that when we reached the other city, things would not be the same. We would be more vulnerable. We would be hunted. And we must be careful.

And this man from the yacht. What was he doing in there? He didn't make a move against me but that doesn't mean he would never make one. In less than nine hours, he was someone I'm going to worry about.

"Henrietta," mahinang tawag ni Ethan sa pangalan ko na ngayon ay nasa taas nang bahagi ng aking hinihigaan. Hindi ako sumagot subalit nagpatuloy siya sa kanyang pagsasalita. "I know you want me dead in your own way. It's selfish and no one wants to be dead," he chuckled nervously. "But I feel like I should be thankful because you are going to be my killer. I guess I'm luckier than others." I felt him move from his bed as he continued speaking. "Kung iba siguro iyon, malamang I wouldn't be able to have more days. I won't be given chances. It would never feel like saving me. I know I don't deserve those things but I'm thankful. Thank you, Henrietta Arturia."

I decided to stay silent. His words were something I couldn't respond with a 'You're welcome'. He's grateful because I was his killer. It wasn't sarcastic at all. It was actually too sincere that it was too painful to listen to. For the first time, I felt dislike with my abilities and the things I do. I couldn't hold the pride of being a Reaper of Freniere Mafia. I pretended to be sleeping instead of confronting it.