Only adults, 18 and above only may read this.
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Jax Blaine's POV
It's been thirty minutes since I disconnected the earpiece. I still didn't see him wandering around so I guess he's still with that woman he dragged in the men's room.
I lose twice but I win thrice when playing poker. I don't really care about winning or what. I decided to stop playing and secretly go to the bar counter instead to order some drinks. I stand beside the counter top and secretly observing the gangs.
I'm still really wondering if they are really waiting for someone or just really playing there? But what are the other members doing here?
From what I observed before; when that time that they doesn't care about my existence, the three gangs are really being competitive towards each other. But now they look like they became an accomplice.
Since that time when I accepted their invitation, they got closer than it looked like.
"Everyone's expecting you to come to the court outside the school tomorrow night! Show up there or else the three gangs won't leave you and to that stupid Kitkat alone!"
I remember Noreen saying that. That time when she came to me for the first time to ask me to join their group. That time when Alfonso caught us.
'The three gangs won't leave you alone.'
There is a possibility that they were under the same organization like how Yumi and Dakumasuta are. In Yumi there are three groups; Elites, Dai-2 and San-ban. While Dakumasuta has Black, Red, and Maroon.
'Why I did not think that before?'
'But they were not skilled enough to be under in an underground organization. I can tell it. I can even sensed it. They also prove their skills to me many times.'
'The way Noreen was still afraid when I was trying to blackmail her about our video that she kissed me. But last night, she's suddenly confident.'
I know something must have happen to them but what the hell it is?
.
Suddenly, everyone around stops doing what they're doing, when the door opens and a man in his mid 50s came inside together with some bodyguards.
The staff automatically greeted him and showed him their respects. I look around and saw people here are looking at him with an inspiration. The man goes straight to where the gangs are.
I sip my drink and came closer to the man beside me, sitting in front of the bar counter. "I'm literally new here. Who is he?" I ask him with a respectful tone.
"He's Mr. Summit, the owner of this hotel and casino."
I nodded and acted as if I'm also looking at the old man with an inspiration. But I'm really observing the man that I asked from my peripheral vision thinking he might suspect me for not knowing Mr. Summit. Or maybe there's some code in here or something.
But I secretly smirk when he didn't react to what I asked.
"Anyone will do anything to get Mr. Summit his support. He's that powerful and no one would dare go against him," he explained and I smiled as I observe his expression. He looks innocent to notice my real purpose.
"I wanted to talk to him in person," I just commented to show this man that I'm really into Mr. Summit.
"It's hard. And before he give his support to you, you need to buy his time. You need to beg or to impress him."
I just nodded and didn't reply without averting my gaze to the old man. I sip my drink when seeing he's still talking to the three; Noreen, Franz, and Clark. It's very obvious that he's supporting them.
'How about Neil? He's also a leader of The Demon. He looks left out. Is it because he's not rich? Tss!'
I saw them entered another room which I guess is the VIP room. All of them, the gangs and the leaders. Then again, the crowd is being noisy and now focusing on their businesses!
I was about to put my glass on the counter top when a familiar server pass by in front of me so I automatically frown while looking at him.
He looked at me with a questioning look. "Yes sir? Do you need anything?" He's smiling with so much respect to perfect his act. Tsk!
"Come here!" I commanded.
I know why he purposely showed himself in front of me. He needs to say something! He did this to not look suspicious.
He lean closer to me as if he's ready to hear my request, with his right hand's in his chest to still show respect. This bastard is really good at disguising!
"We need to get out of here Jaxie! I'll explain later," he whispered then he nod as if I was the one who's talking.
He then stands up straight. "I can assist you that sir. Do you need anything else?"
"No."
"Thank you! I'll guide you this way sir." He's bowing while he's hand is showing the way. I don't have a choice but to do what he wanted me to do.
I put my glass on the counter top and pick up my brief case.
I frown when he brought me to the men's room where he dragged that woman earlier. I look at him as he carefully close the door.
"I found someone from the unknown org! And got a little bit info from my heartless, ugly, whatsoever-negative-insults ex-girlfriend that's only after my hot body..." he hurriedly stated it and forced a smile. I want to punch him for giving me a thrill!
"...charan! We are being surrounded by them! And if we won't get out of here, many hot babes will cry tomorrow at our funeral!"
He turn around and took his bag that was hidden in one of the cubicle. He quickly change into his original outfit. So I hastily change into my leather jacket and jeans that I brought with me in my brief case.
"And ayokong mamatay dahil alam kong hindi iiyak ang bweset na ex-girlfriend ko sa lamay ko! Tsk!"
He then climbed to one of the cubicle's wall and took the lid of the exhaust in the ceiling.
"I didn't know you're this fast?" I asked and was about to follow him when I noticed a blood in the last cubicle. I immediately check it and found out he's the guy that Kernel's ex was sitting on its lap.
"Ngayon alam mo na!" he look at me proudly.
When he noticed that I'm looking at him sarcastically while pointing the dead body... "It's not me! 'Yung ex ko may gawa niyan!"
"What? So where is she? I thought you're doing something..."
"Unholy? Ayan unholy! Tangina!" He cut my words as he frustratingly pointed the body. "I will never ever forgive her! Kakalimutan ko na lahat ng mga bagay na tungkol sa babaeng 'yon! Pota!"
...
Third Person's POV
Jax wanted to know what happened to Kernel and the girl but he's not that curious. He did not thought that Kernel already found a way where to escape without getting caught. He also know where's the safest exit to where they parked their motors.
'I didn't allow him to come with me first. He just forced me to let him come because he's bored. I just allow him thinking he's also part of Exseven's mission to us. I did not thought he's this helpful. This must be one of the reasons why until now no one know the members of Aeon. They're really skilled!' Jax thought.
Aeon of Dakumasuta became popular but no one knows their members . How many of them, who they are. It still remains mysterious.
"Well, my ex said that the guy was following her for two consecutive days. She said she has a mission to do at that casino but that guy was still following him. So he baited him then kill it without knowing the guy's identity. She said it's also her first time seeing that tattoo. Hindi niya sinabi sa 'kin kung ano o sino ang pakay niya doon sa casino...
She said that most of the people there were part of some underground organization. I asked her what org is that but she said it's very dangerous to know that info! Bullshit!"
They both frown after Kernel told Jax what happened. They're now smoking outside at some convenience store far from the hotel.
"That means there's a possibility that that org she meant are those with eye tattoo?"
"Perhaps! Pero nakapagtataka... if my ex knows something about that org... why it's her first time seeing that tattoo? Is she also investigating them? O hindi niya pa alam na ang underground organization na sinasabi niya ay may mga tattoo?"
They both looked at each other without knowing what words to answer. They both inhaled the smoke.
"Noreen doesn't have a tattoo too," Jax simply commented after minutes of silence.
Tiningnan naman siya ni Kernel nang may pagdududa. "There's no way you would know that if you didn't look at her chest?" Nanliliit pa ang mga mata nito habang sinusuri si Jax.
"Nothing happened to us!" tinatamad na pagdepensa ni Jax dahil sa paulit-ulit na lang nito.
"I know. It's your mission to find out more about her since you're closer to her than me. If she doesn't have a tattoo and if she's part of that org, there's still something more we need to find out when Exseven wanted us to investigate! We don't who are our enemies!"
Jax nodded. "And it's your job to persuade your girl. She may know something about Mr. Summit. The old man who arrived earlier."
"What? No!" Kernel hysterically complain. "Ayoko nang makita ang babaeng 'yon! Ako na lang ang maghahanap ng sariling impormasyon!"
Naiinis naman siyang tiningnan ni Jax. Tiningnan pa siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa tsaka 'di kalaunay nag-crossed arms ito. "Something really happened..." Jax uttered.
Umiwas naman ng tingin si Kernel. "Iniwan niya ako nang dalawang beses nang walang paliwanag at ayoko na siyang habulin pa! Pare! It's me, Kernel Santos the great! Tsk!" nagbibiro nitong sabi pero nakikita ni Jax na mukhang nasasaktan nga ito at nakikita pa niya ang galit sa mga mata nito.
Jax sighed as he didn't want to know more what happened to them inside the men's room. "Fine! Overreacting!"
"Bibili muna ako nang pagkain bago natin harapin ang mga bibwit na 'yan! Tsk!" pagtukoy niya sa isang itim na van na kanina pa nakasunod sa kanila. Simula kasi n'ong makalabas sila sa hotel, agad na may sumunod sa kanila. Hindi naman sila nito nilalapitan at nagmamasid lang. They act as if they didn't notice them.
Huminga na lang nang malalim si Jax at nagpatuloy sa pagyoyosi. Kahapon ng gabi lang nangyari ang recruitment sa tatlong gangs pero andami nang nangyari. Sunod-sunod pa ang mga ito kaya ilang oras nang walang tulog si Jax.
Pagkatapos ng recruitment sa court ay dumiretso agad siya doon sa hotel. Hindi pa siya nakatulog dahil sa dami ng pangyayari at sa dami ng iniisip. They even plan to leave the hotel at 4:30am but they were raided at 2am. Hanggang sa makarating sila sa lab ng Aeon at tuloy-tuloy na.
'They will be awake tonight,' Jax thought thinking about Kitkat and Alfonso.
The effectivity of that spray is only one day. At hindi pa siya handang pauwiin ang mga ito. Hindi niya mababantayan ang dalaga lalo na't may kailangan pa siyang gawin.
'There's a possibility that Mr. Summit belongs to the underground organization that Kernel's ex was talking about. If the three gangs were under him, then they were already part of underground organization and not just gangsters.'
It was just a hunch but Jax was excited. If they're already part of underground org, he can now kill them anytime without hesitation.
"Want some?" Kernel asked him as he handed a pack of popcorns. He bought alcoholic drinks too the reason Jax just frown but didn't ask.
"No!"
The moment they got away from that store, the black van once again follow them.
"Ayos! Gusto ko pa namang mambugbog ngayon!" sabi ni Kernel mula sa earpiece na muli nilang sinuot. "Let me lead!"
Pinabayaan naman ni Jax si Kernel na mauna dahil alam niyang maaasahan ang isang 'to.
...
"Where are we really going?" naiinis na tanong ni Jax nang halos isang oras na silang nagbyahe at hindi pa rin sila huminto. Mabilis pa silang magpatakbo. Nakasunod pa rin sa kanila ang black van at hindi alam ni Jax kung ano ba talaga ang plano ng kasama.
"We're here!"
Kumunot ang noo niya nang pamilyar sa kanya ang lugar. Nagmamadali silang pumasok sa loob ng malaking arena. Abandonado na ito at madumi na rin ang paligid.
Narinig din nilang may dumating na sasakyan at alam nilang iyon ang black van.
"Remember this place? This is where the last underground fight happen. Where you and Exseven had a one on one fight! Hahaha!"
"You were here that time?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Jax.
Sabay silang napatingin sa entrance ng arena at nakita ang mga lalaking naka-mask na pumasok. Agad nilang nilabas ang mga baril at patalim nila para harapin ang mga lalaking sumusunod sa kanila.
"Of course we're here that time. We knew about Yumi's plan that's why we backed them up. Our three groups. Lava was here too!"
Hindi naman makapaniwalang napatingin si Jax sa kanya dahil sa kanyang nalaman. "Lava were already part of Aeon that time. Gulat ka no?"
Hindi na siya nakapag-react nang sumigaw si Kernel. "Hey! Anong pakay ni'yo sa isang Kendrick?"
Walang nagsalita sa mga ito at bigla-bigla nalang naglabas ng mga baril. Agad namang naghanap nang matataguan ang dalawa para makaiwas sa mga bala.
"Anak ng! Wala man lang self-introduction? Kanina nagmamasid lang! Ngayon nambabaril na?" sigaw na tanong ni Kernel tsaka mabilis na binaril ang isa sa kanila.
Now they both know na may nag-utos lang sa mga ito.
Magkaibang pwesto sina Jax at parehong nakipagbarilan sa mga ito. Napapatingin pa si Jax sa kasama nang makitang gaano kagaling bumaril at umasinta si Kernel.
Mabilis at magaling din naman si Jax pero nalalamangan talaga siya ni Kernel. Napapalingo na lang si Jax sa bilib pero hindi niya pinakita sa kasama.
"Hoy! Gusto ko ng hand to hand combat para maipakita ko ang gigil ko! Ano ba!"
Jax rolled his eyes then he rolled over to the side to change place and to avoid the bullets. Agad niyang nabaril sa paa ang isa at bago pa ito tuluyang matumba, binaril na niya ito sa ulo.
"Tangina sino bang mga 'to!" sigaw na naman ni Kernel tsaka mabilis na nag-reload.
Dahil nasa sampu lang ang kalaban ay mabilis lang nilang napatay ang mga ito maliban sa tatlong natamaan lang pero buhay pa. Sinadya itong hindi patayin ni Kernel.
Mabilis na lumapit ang dalawa sa tatlong nakahandusay sa sahig at namimilipit sa sakit dahil sa tama ng baril.
Hinawakan ni Kernel ang isa sa kwelyo nito at tsaka tinanggal ang mask. Hindi nila kilala ito kaya tinanong ni Kernel ang lalaki pero hindi ito nagsalita.
Agad namang nilapitan ni Jax ang isa at mabilis na tiningnan ang dibdib nito. Nakita niyang walang eye tattoo dito.
'They're not those unknown assholes!' Jax thought.
"Who ordered you?" tanong ni Jax pero katulad ng isa pa ay hindi ito nagsalita.
"Pinakaayaw ko talaga sa lahat ay uubusin ang pasensya ko! So who ordered? Ba't ngayon ni'yo lang kami naisipang patayin? Tell me if you don't want my bullets entered in your small brain!"
Umiling lang ang lalaking hawak ni Kernel at ayaw pa rin magsalita. Nakuha pang samaan ng tingin si Kernel at nginisihan.
"D'you think I don't mean it, don't you?" natatawang tanong ni Kernel. "Okay!" sabi niya at 'di nagdalawang-isip na barilin ito sa noo ng dalawang beses.
Pagtingin ni Kernel kay Jax ay napahinto siya dahil sa pagkakunot ng noo nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. "What?"
"You're hot headed! Did you do this to those unknown org?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ni Jax na tinutukoy ang dalawang nahuli nito at ni Veign.
"Of course!" proud pang sabi ni Kernel.
Naging sarcastic naman ang mukha ni Jax dahil sa narinig. "So that's why you didn't get an intel? You just kill them without an effort of interrogating?"
"Tsk! They're after us so they'll come to us in no time," balewala nitong sabi. Hindi naman sumagot si Jax dahil may punto naman ito.
"Ikaw? Hindi ka rin magsasalita?" Hindi pa ito nakasagot nang agad niya itong sinuntok nang mabilis sa mukha. "Ayaw mong magsalita? Sinong nagpadala sa inyo at ba't niyo kami sinusundan at basta-basta nalang binabaril?"
Hindi pa rin nagsalita ang ikalawa kaya sabay na nagkatinginan sina Jax at Kernel. Sabay silang nagbuntong-hininga at kinasa ang mga baril tsaka 'di na nagdalawang-isip na barilin ang dalawa pa.
May tinawagan naman si Kernel na mga tauhan ng Dakumasuta para magligpit ng mga kalat dito. Naunang lumabas ng arena si Jax at papasakay na sana siya sa kanyang motor nang may makita siyang isang tao sa malayo, naka-motor din. Hindi niya makita ang mukha dahil sa helmet pero alam niyang lalaki ito base sa porma.
Tinitigan niya ito at alam niyang nakatitig din ito sa kanya. Ilang segundo pa ay umalis agad ito. Sakto namang lumabas si Kernel.
Hindi na niya binanggit sa kasama ang taong iyon at agad na silang bumalik sa Aeon's lab.
Mabilis na naligo ang dalawa at nagpalit ng damit. Nakita pa nila si Violy na tiningnan lang sila at hindi nagtanong. Nagpaalam lang itong pupunta muna sa main hideout.
Muli niyang tiningnan si Kitkat sandali tsaka inaya siya ni Kernel na mag-inuman. He didn't agree and just sit in the living room where he saw Kernel starts drinking.
It's a miracle that for an hour, Kernel didn't utter a word and just lost in his thoughts. They're silently doing their own business. When Kernel seriously offered him again a drink, he accepted it and again they're both silent.
Veign suddenly arrives with Marj and Ethird. "Kernel Santos? Nag-e-emote? Hahahaha!" Ethird sit beside Kernel together with Marj.
It's first time for Jax to see the two that's why they introduced themselves.
"I'm Ethird. How are you Jax Blaine?"
"I'm fine," he casually said because he doesn't need to introduce himself.
"This is Marj, my girlfriend," Ethird introduced her and Jax shook her hand when she extended it.
"They're also Aeon's members," Kernel stated as he drink the liquid in his bottle.
Napatingin naman si Jax sa mga ito. Hindi niya alam kung anong kaya nitong gawin pero malakas ang kutob niyang magagaling din ang mga ito.
"Where's Kevin and Clent?" tanong ni Marj.
Veign throw a quick glance at Jax. "They're not yet ready to meet someone," he said and Jax knew that he's pertaining him.
"That's fine. Kakabalik pa lang din ni Jax sa mundo. It's still eight months ey?" biro ni Ethird na ikinatawa nilang lahat. Nawi-wirdohan naman silang tiningnan ni Jax.
"Si Vanvan naman busy sa studies niya," dagdag ni Marj.
"Dude! Ba't parang emote na emote ka diyan? Dito mo pa talaga naisipang uminom? Himala hindi ka pumunta ng club?" Ethird asked Kernel and he boringly replied, "I'm not in a mood!"
The three of them looked at each other and they're exchanging glances while suppressing their laughs. Then they all look at Jax. "Ikaw ang kasama niya, anong nangyari?" Veign asked.
Jax frowned. 'Why he's comfortable with me now?' he thought.
"She met his ex-girlfriend," Jax casually commented and drink the remaining alcohol in his bottle.
Nakita niyang napanganga ang tatlo na halata namang pinipigilan ang pagtawa. Alam na kasi nilang naka-move on na ito sa unang minahal ng binata, iyong engage na. Pero ngayon hindi pa naka-move on sa ex-girlfriend. Tanging si Veign at Jax lang din ang nakakita sa mukha nito kasi hindi naman sila pinakilala rito.
This setting is really new to Jax. Drinking with them is like a strange and unfamiliar feeling. He cannot say he's comfortable but he can't also say he isn't.
After an hour, Kernel decides to sing a song and he's just repeating it for three times like a broken hearted man. Well, he really is.
"But I love you sooo... Please let me gooo... I love you sooo!"
They continue what they're doing. The three still laugh and joke whenever Kernel looks emotional while feeling the lyrics that he repeated already three times.
'A broken hearted idiot!' Jax thought.
"I'm gonna pack my things and leave you behind! This feeling's old and I know that I've made up my mind!" pag-ulit niya sa kanta na ika-apat na beses na.
"I hope you feel what I felt when you shattered my soul! 'Cause you're too cruel and I'm a fool! So please let me go!.." pagpatuloy pa niya.
"But I love you so!" pagsabay n'ong mag-couple na Ethird at Marj habang natatawa.
Napapailing na lang si Veign habang nakakunot pa rin ang noo ni Jax.
'I don't know but I can feel his emotions. And cannot deny that I once experienced that when I'm struggling to move on back then. But now, I can already say I'm not hurting anymore because of Cath,' Jax thought and smirk when he know who is the reason.
He quickly stands up and walk out of the living room. The others didn't mind him and just continue doing their business. He opened her room and walk straight towards her.
He sit beside her as usual. He glance at his wrist watch and saw it's only two hours left then she'll gain consciousness. He stared at her once again after holding her hand and played with it. Jax imagine what will her reactions be if she finds out that he's staring her like this. Jax knew that the woman loves his attention.
'She'll be giggling as always!" he thought.
After a while, Jax sighed and looked away.
He wanted to love again, and he wants her in his life. But there are so many circumstances that he's afraid of.
He knew he still have some things to do and to solve. Especially, he feel that there are many enemies are now lurking around him.
He took off the necklace with the paperclip that she gave to him then hide it. He looked at her again lovingly yet sadly. He planted a kiss on her lips. He cannot help it. He really wanted to do it. He wanted to feel her lips this time... For the last time.
"Thank you and I'm sorry!" he whispered then caressed her cheeks.
'I know that what I'm going to do will just hurt her... But this is the only thing what I see is right.'
He quickly get some things and decided to meet up with Noreen.
...
Itutuloy...