The Mark Of The Beast

Chapter 5

"WHAT DID YOU DO THIS TIME?" I heard Daryll speaking to someone over the phone right outside the veranda.

I stop for a while and looked at him as he is walked in circles. "..isn't that what it is, huh? I thought we made a deal?!" Anger shone all over his face.
"We had a deal, damnit! I've done my part already...so you better do yours! Its been months!"

I shook my head and took a step forward heading towards the stairs.

Mahirap na baka makita pa ko at mapag isipan ng kung ano.

As usual, my mom is in the kitchen while making our breakfast, dad is still on the phone and my brother is still MIA ー Missing In Action.

"Morning gorgeous!" I greet my mom with a peck on her cheek and she giggled.

"Morning baby.." sabay lapag nang plato na may lamang ulam at mangkok na may kanin. "Kain na..o, kape mo.."

"Thanks mom.. tara, sabay na tayo." Aya ko sa kanya pero umiling lang ito.

"I'll wait for your dad." Wika pa niya.

Wala pa sa kalahati ang nakakain ko nang pumasok si Daryll sa may kitchen and put up his big smile.

"Good morning, baby girl." He planted a kiss on top of my head katulad ng ginagawa niya dati pa dahil na rin sa pahintulot ko back in the days.

"Morning, dad." I replied and he smiled at me sabay yakap at halik sa mom ko na agad naman nitong tinugon.

Ugh, isang kaway naman dyan mga singles!

I snort. "Keep doing that at baka maging "kitchen" ang pangalan ng magiging kapatid ko."

"Aileen!" Mom hissed na ikinatawa naman ng isa.

"Hahaha.." agad na niyakap ni Daryll si mom sa likuran. "Well, I don't mind..kahit living, stairs, bed or shower pa ang name,ok lang..ewan ko na lang sa mama mーouch!" Sapol sa ulo si Daryll ng ipukpok ng mom ko ang hawak niyang syanse.

"Umayos ka!" Angil nito sa asawa sabay baling sa akin at pinaningkitan nang mga mata. "At ikaw naman, kung ano-ano yang naiisip mo! My god, hija!" She rolled her eyes at inambaan na naman ang asawa nang akma siyang yayakapin.

"ONE CARAMEL frappé for Aileen." I took my order and head back to my office at once. Mabigat masyado ang workload namin ng dahil sa bagong client.

At first, ayaw sana naming tanggapin ang trabaho. Kaso, nung malaman namin na hindi raw nagustuhan ng client ang concept during presentation ay kami ang ginawang back-up which is highly unusual since isa sa top presentor ng company ang nag handle ng account.

And now, we are bound to make the presentation plausible.

It took us sometime to polish our presentation. Dumaan kami sa butas ng karayom. Lahat nang possible loop holes ay pinag-aralan at talagang walang pinalampas. We even made a one-time revalida before the actual presentation to the newest client.

In the end, the client signed the contract with us and our hard work paid off.

Pagod akong sumalampak sa couch pagka-uwi ko nang bahay. Its nightime and I assume na tulog na sina mom and dad. Nagka-ayaan pa kasing mag-party after closing the deal.

We are all happy, except for one - si Maggie.

I don't know the real deal about her life during this time but I know one thing..she's devastated.

Its been days simula ng huli akong umuwi ng bahay dahil na rin sa heavy workload. Pumayag din naman kasi sila mom at dad na dun muna ako pansamantala maki-tulog sa condo ni Maggie since its much convenient on my part. Magkagayon man, I missed my own bed, the house and my parents. And now, its good to be back home.

May ilang sandali ko pang tinitignan ang walang ilaw na chandelier nang marinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsara ng cupboard sa kitchen.

I crease my brows. Gising ba si mom?

But I thought, nah..impossible kasi sa ganitong oras, malamang naghihilik na yun.

Pero, sino?

So, I jump off the couch and make a move out off the living room. Maingat kong kinuha ang baseball bat na nakatago sa loob ng isa sa malalaking victorian vases na naka-display as border ng living room at dining room. Ang extension naman ng dining ay ang mismong kitchen na nasa bandang loob pa.

Pero hindi pa ko nakakarating nang mismong kitchen ay agad sumalubong ang mabangong aroma ng kape.

I almost rolled my eyes. I don't need caffeine tonight because what I really crave is a nice hot bath inside the tub but damn, the smell is very tempting.

Its too hard to ignore.

But still, I need to be vigilant. Mahirap na, malay ko ba kung bagong modus nang akyat-bahay ang pagkakape muna bago magnakaw di ba?

I positioned the bat over my shoulder.  Tinuruan ako ng dad ko on how to make a right swing and I am good with it and since I'm lack of practice, mukhang meron na kong magpagpa-practice-an.

But as I go further, I saw a familiar built.

I can't see the face but those definitely are his brooding and pensive shoulders.

"Tharsis?"

"Oh, Jesus!" He nearly jumped when I called up his name. He swung around and found me. "Aileen! what the hell?" He screamed. "And where on earth did you get that bat?"

"Uhh...inside the vase juー"

"Damn, put that thing down!" He ordered and I obliged.

He sighed. "Goodness, what on earth are you thinking?"

"Hey!" I'm on the verge of protesting nang inilagay niya ang isang mug sa counter.

"There.." and pour the freshly brewed coffee inside the mug. "Drink up."

I took the mug wearily. Mukhang bumalik ang pagod ko kaysa yung adrenaline rush ko na mang hampas ng ulo ng tao.

Tsk.

I took a sip and another one.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

Wow ha, at siya pa talaga ang may ganang magtanong kung saan ako galing?!

"Eh ikaw, saan ka rin galing?" Balik tanong ko. "Ang tagal mong nawala dito kaysa sa akin!" Asik ko. Ibinaba niya ang tasa sa mesa at inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko.

"I asked first."

"I asked second." Pang-aasar ko.

He closed his eyes and boy, I know that he is controlling his temper and I can't help not to chuckle because he's so cute pagnaa-asar!

I expect a tongue lashing curse from him after opening his eyes but what happened next is far worse than what I expect.

Coz, I found myself lip locking with his lips ... instead.

...

A/N: Guys, ano nga ulit ang name nang anak ni Daryll sa original story? Drax ba o Dax? 🤔 I'm leaning on the latter kaso parang hindi din.. Help?😂

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N.L.