The same night,
"toooooot, toooooot, toooooot, toooooot"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"D*mn it, he's on another call!"
Gwen who couldn't contact Bats after what happened sent him a message.
On the other hand, Bats who was on the hotel was on a phone call.
"I checked your report on your Progress Billing you sent via email. I'll wire you the money tomorrow. If you have a concern about the project, don't forget to contact me."
Bats hanged up the phone, then saw a notification message from text message and messenger. It was from Gwen's.
-Hey! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST INFORM ME IN PERSON? WE WERE JUST METERS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN THE RESTAURANT AND YOU JUST SENT IN VIA MESSENGER? ARE YOU CRAZY? HOW ABOUT THE MONEY WE SPENT, YOU SAID IT'S YOUR TREAT!!!-
-IF YOU READ THIS. RETURN OUR MONEY THIS INSTANT! HERE IS MY UNIONBANK ACCOUNT NUMBER 100096********-
-I'M WARNING YOU! IF YOU TOLERATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, WE'RE FINISHED! Do you UNDERSTAND? I'm just giving you a chance because I still love you!-
As he read the inbox, he burst out of laughter.
"Hahaha, this b*tch deserved it. We're finished? Are we even together? Giving you a chance my ass! Hmmm, how about I send a Php1.00 in her bank account....Hahahahaha"
"Nah, I'll just mark it unread. I have better things to do than to entertain this sh*tty woman."
Early in the morning, Bats and his brother went to nearest Unionbank to deposit money. Following that, Bats wired the money to Manager David.
When they were walking into an overpass near Center mall, Bats saw a homeless man with messy long hair and beard, his face was covered in dirt, his clothes were ragged all over sitting in a lotus position while holding a can. Bats thought he was maybe hallucinating because the homeless man looked familiar. When they were near him, Bats recognized what the homeless man was wearing. A patch on the left shoulder bearing an image of that of a black panther(Musang). That red border line signifies the blood, sweat and tears shed by every Ranger during his course, the sword symbolizes the special unit capability, and the words WE Strike symbolizes their capability to go anywhere, any place and anytime(Tabak)! No doubt about it...
"Ricardo Dalisay..."
Bats muttered to himself as he saw the homeless's ragged uniform.
Bats who was surprised seeing a retired legend and suddenly gave him a salute in front of him making the people passing by including his brother Christian looked at him with curiousity. The homeless man started to shed tears as he didn't expected someone to recognize him. Bats then whispered to Christian to buy a food nearby.
Bats took a sit in a lotus position also near Ricardo Dalisay. The last thing he know about Ricardo Dalisay was supposed to be with his family. Out of curiosity, Bats thanked him first then asked.
"Uhm. Thank you for your service Sir. If you wouldn't mind me asking Sir, why would a known legend in FSSR be in a situation like this?"
Ricardo Dalisay even shed more tears as he doesn't want to remember what happened but still replied,
"Why would someone like you want to know about it little brother? I'm surprised someone recognized me in this state."
Bats wouldn't have recognized the uniform if not seen closer as it was ragged all over. It was only recognizable seeing it closer.
Ricard Dalisay then later on explained his situation to Bats. After minutes of telling his stories, Bats became frustrated when he heard about the reason why he was such in a situation.
Following that, Christian who was panting due to running came back with the food he bought.
"Here Big Brother, I'm sorry I took longer. There were too many people buying that's why."
"It's ok." Bats replied then looked at Ricardo.
"Here, have something to eat first."
Ricardo then took it with both of his hands and bowed to show his sincerity.
"Thank you for this food."
As Ricardo started eating, Bats took his chance. A little longer, Ricardo who now doesn't had a place to go agreed to Bats request under one condition. Who wouldn't want a chance to make Ricardo Dalisay- a lone Ranger in his thirties who wiped out the new named terrorist's branch's camp consisting of 70-100 terrorists on his own to be his training instructor knowing that the apocalypse will descend soon?
They went to a public bathroom after that then bought him set of clothes. Bats gave him money and decided to let him stay in the hotel just next to his room.
---Next Day---
Bats and Christian took Ricardo to the bus station and waived goodbye. It was Ricardo's condition, to go back home in Quezon City to take his important belongings and the main reason is to visit his late son's grave.
On the other hand, Gwen who was in her condominium was still trying to contact Bats.
"Damn this! How dare this Bats! You're only a spare tire to me and yet you have the audacity on doing this?"
"Why won't you answer!!!"
Gwen angrily said while looking at her phone and throwing things all over.
Bats who saw her message just ignored it.
After a week, Ricardo contacted Bats and came back.
"Welcome back Sir!"
Bats excitedly said.
Ricardo who was in a happy state smiled and replied,
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I had my time visiting my late son's."
Bats came closer towards him and patted his shoulder as he was about to shed tears. But moving on,
"Ok, that's enough moment for now. Let's get to the main point. Last time you asked me to become you and your brother's training instructor. Now that the condition has been met let's get started."
Ricardo smiled sinisterly as he said,
Bats gulped for a second and replied,
"How about let's start for tomorrow? Let's celebrate first your comeback Sir."
Ricardo was hesitant at first but later on they went outside to celebrate.
---Next Day---
Early in the morning, Ricardo knocked and knocked to Bats room.
Bats was awakened by the noise of knocking and woke up his brother.
"Christian, go look who's at the door at this early hour."
Bats said with his sleepy eyes as he looked at the clock, it's still 3:02 am.
After a minute of waking up, Christian opened the door to look who was it.
"GET YOUR LOUSY ASS OUT HERE! It's time for a 10km run! GET YOUR BIG BROTHER NOW!"
Ricardo shouted as Christian opened the door.
Christian was shocked and surprised.
"Sh*t"
Bats muttered to himself when he heard this in his room.
When both brothers finally woken up, they both changed clothes and went to the sports complex at Wangal, La Trinidad.
A few minutes later,
"Hey big brother. Why am I in here?"
Christian who was confused asked while running and keep on panting.
"No time to ask a question, it's for your own good."
As Bats replied while almost out of breath.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BOTH TALKING ABOUT! KEEP ON RUNNING YOU B*STARDS! IS THAT ALL YOU CAN DO, THE TURTLES RAN FASTER THAN YOU! MOVE MOVE MOVE YOU IDIOTS!"
Ricardo shouted while following both brothers from behind.
After running how many laps to reach 10km, both brothers lied down due to exhaustion. Both brothers were full on sweat.
"I can't take this anymore big brother. I almost died out of breath."
Christian told Bats who was lying down and keeps on a hard breathing.
Bats didn't replied but keeps on breathing due to exhaustion. Later on,
"Ow, look at this skinny bastards resting! NO TIME TO REST UNTIL YOU GIVE ME 100 PUSHUPS NOW!!!"
Ricardo shouted angrily again at them as what instructor do.
Then both brothers started doing push ups as they saw Ricardo holding a stick knowing he'll spat their asses. Christian couldn't even take 15 push ups gave up then lied down again. While Bats who could only do 25 push ups lied down also.
"IS THAT IT?IS THAT IT? YOU LAZY M*THERF*CKERS!!! GET ON YOUR POSITIONS AND START DOING THE F*CK AGAIN!"
Ricardo shouted angrily while spatting both their asses.
"F*CK!"
Bats accidentally shouted while lying down.
"HOW DARE YOU CURSED BACK AT YOUR INSTRUCTOR!!! ENOUGH DOING PUSH UPS, GIVE ME 10KM RUN AGAIN NOW!!! AND CALL ME SIR! YOU UNDERSTAND???"
Ricardo shouted again as he walked around Bats while lying down.
"Sir! Yes Sir!"
As both brothers said when they both stand up.
They went again for a 10km run while Ricardo watching both of them not from afar. The same day, they were struggling to do a 100 pushups for their first day training, even a 30 pull ups. But they did a 100 sit ups, 100 squats, 50 push ups, 20 pull ups and 50 meter tire pulling.
They struggled on their first day. As they went back to the hotel, takes a bath, and eat their dinner then went directly to bed. They were tired to the point they wanted to sleep.
Early in the morning, the same time. Ricardo knocked again, both brothers felt pain all over their body as they were awaken by the noise. They still wanted to sleep as they felt tired and felt pain all over their body.
But that wasn't the case for Ricardo.
It was Bats request when he met Ricardo at that time, "No matter what happens, you must train me at any cost" Bats told him as he remembered.
Both brothers went back training again and again and again and again....
They did this ever single day, pushing beyond their limits.
---6 Weeks Later---
Both brothers finished their training early before lunch. As it became their habit, they went to eat then directly went to bed. Bats who was asleep didn't notice many notifications keep popping out on his phone.
After almost 3 hrs of sleep, Bats checked his phone at it keeps ringing. It was a call from his Mom. He then answered it,
"Hello Mom, What is it?"
As he said with a sleepy voice.
"..."
"What? What Birthday?"
He replied when he heard something from his mother.
Bats didn't even notice it that it was his birthday today. He immediately checks the date on his phone. It was already July 28.
"No wonder, why many notifications keep popping out."
He muttered to himself.
He then thanked his parents. Later on he opened the messages one by one. Many people greeted him. But Bats used to be alone even his past birthdays because of their status before. He wasn't use to throwing such party or whatsoever. But he told his parents to have a party to their village to celebrate for his birthday even if he was not there.
Bats checked a message from a group chat, it was from his companions. It was full of greetings from them and then thanked them. He then sent a money to Romel, for them to spent for their dinner as a celebration for his birthday.
On the other hand, Gwen who was in a condominium lying down from her bed with a man.
-Uhm, Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎈🥰. How about a date to celebrate your 25th birthday. I promise this will be your most memorable day on your life. I already forgive you for the past about what happened on our vacation last time😘-
Gwen sent her message.
Bats continued scrolling until he saw a message from Gwen. He then read it and chuckled.
"This woman remembered my birthday?Most memorable day huh? Wait I'll send you a memorable one."
He muttered to himself.
Bats suddenly took something from his Space Store, he took out bundles of money! He scattered it on his bed, woke up his brother and took a picture of him while lying down to the scattered money on his bed then sent it to Gwen with a caption,
-You remembered my birthday?😱Yes, today is the most memorable day in my life😉-
Gwen who was kissing the man on his bed heard her phone's notification sound. She stretched her arm and took her phone and read the message.
She suddenly pushed back the man from her and got up biting her own nails as her habit.
"This spare tire does have a lot of money!I must get him back no matter what!"
"Hey stop, stop!"
As she said and pushed back the man name Arthur.
"What is it? Is something wrong? You suddenly stopped when you looked at your phone. Let me see that."
Arthur said as he took the phone on Gwen's hand.
"Owww, Is this the one you were talking about? You're lackey boy?"
Arthur chuckled and said,
"Wow, was that real money? Damn! That's more than millions!"
"Yeah, he said he won a lotto or something like that before to me. He didn't told me about the exact amount, but I bet hundreds of millions maybe. I must make him fall on me no matter what! That money will be our ticket on having a good life for life."
Gwen replied to him while still biting her nails.
"How about let's make a plan, it's important to get closer to him first. The only problem is that you're here in Manila and he's in Baguio City."
Arthur said as he kissed Gwen's neck.
"That's not a problem. The boss said we're having a branch office at Baguio this week right? As he added, our team will be the one incharge of it. Looks like luck's on my side."
Gwen chuckled and smiled with her creepy face.