A Bloodless War

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

"ARE you alright?" I nodded.

Nakita kong tumayo si Trece at sinilip ako sa salamin.

"Kahapon ka pa tahimik," aniya sa akin. I sighed.

Inayos ko ang hikaw ko at nilingon siya.

"I saw him..." I said. Nakita kong natigil siya.

"Him? You mean..."

"Zeijan..." mahinang sabi ko.

"Oh, my god!" she gasped. "Anong nangyari?"

"Nothing," sagot ko at naupo bago abutin ang sandals ko. "He pretended not to know me," sagot ko.

"Really?" Her eyes widened.

I nodded. Nakita kong napailing siya at naupo sa may kama katabi ko. "Kumusta ka naman?"

"Fine..." I answered. "I should to be fine."

"Is this your first time seeing him again?"

"Yes," sagot ko. "That was unexpected, sa coffee shop ko siya nakita, he's with a girl."

"Girlfriend?" kumunot ang noo niya.

"I think..." sagot ko. "He calls her princess, tapos they're really sweet so probably." I sighed.

"Do you want me to do a research?" she suggested. Umiling naman ako kaagad at ngumiti.

"No need, wala na 'yon," sabi ko at nagbaba ng tingin at pinagtuunan ng pansin ang sandals ko.

I probably should go on with my life. Ako rin naman kasi ang may kasalanan ng lahat. I left without explaining my side kaya hindi na nakakagulat ang reaksyon niya kahapon.

I didn't tell anyone about Zeijan is the Archer they're looking for. Ayokong umabot pa ito sa iba dahil una sa lahat, umalis ako para hindi siya madamay at hindi ko kayang makita pa siya nang wala akong nararamdaman.

Even sina Trece and Hawk ay hindi ko sinabihan. Ayokong madamay sila kung sakaling malaman nina Antonio kung sino si Archer.

"Bakit hindi ka na lang magalit sa kanya?" Trece said out of the blue.

"Huh?" nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"He lied to you, not just by being a poor guy but even his name. He lied to you, Lyx, miski ang trabaho niya hindi sinabi sa 'yo." Natahimik ako roon.

"You should be mad at him, for sticking at you kahit alam niyang ikaw si Viper." That stopped me at umawang ang labi ko.

"H-how..." my mouth parted.

"Hawk found out about this just two years ago," aniya sa akin. "He was the Archer we're all looking for..."

Umayos ako ng upo at hinarap siya.

"T-Trece, I..."

"I understand you, Lyx. You loved him," aniya sa akin. "And you can't hurt the one that you love."

"I-I'm sorry..." napatungo ako.

"I did a lot of research, I dug everything and found out that Zeijan was a retired Navy Seal," sagot niya sa akin. "He's still young but it was what's written on his files. That's when I started being curious. I hacked CIA's account and found out that he was working with them. Undercover. Plus, the fact that you're acting weird, kapag pinag-uusapan si Archer tuwing may misyon, nananahimik at umaalis ka..."

"I-I'm sorry, I know this isn't right pero hindi ko kasi kaya..."

"We're not mad at you," aniya. "We understand you, Lyx. Ayaw mo lang siyang mapahamak but why are you being so selfless? Niloko ka rin naman niya..."