THE ASSASSIN

Chapter 2 : His Royal Proposal

NAPATINGIN siya sa orasan sa kanyang bedside table. It's 9 am already. Kakatapos lang ng una niyang klase sa araw na ito. At hindi siya nakapasok. She's tied again but this time, hindi na sa silya kung hindi, sa kama na niya.

"Wow." Napatingin siya sa lalaking kailanman ay hindi niya inaasahang makita pa ulit. He was one of the people listed on her blacklist. Once upon a time, she was ordered to kill the third prince of Oregon. She was twelve years that time and she have been successful in all of her missions. But the prince was her first failure hindi dahil sa marami itong body guards. It was because just like her, Pierce Magnussen at age twelve was also a trained soldier and a fighter.

She felt her soft blanket in her body. Kinumutan pala siya ng lalaki. Pinanliitan niya ito ng mata.

"What? I told you your n*****s are distracting. And your clothes are too thin." She rolled her eyes.

"What do you want, Princess?" Napangisi siya nang makitang kumunot ang noo nito.

Umupo ito sa silyang katabi ng kama niya.

"You're still sharp but you still need polishing." Napataas ang kilay niya. Ano bang sinasabi ng lalaking ito? And how dare he tell her she needs polishing?

"I'm good this way."

"Nope. I want to recruit you."

She looked at him, baffled. "For what?"

"Some mission."

She doesn't want to hear whatever it is. "No. Go bother my previous organization."

"But I want it to be you."

"And why me? Surely you have some trained soldiers in your palace."

"I want it to be you." Ngumisi ang lalake habang nakatingin sa kanya. She rolled her eyes.

"Bakit nga?"

"Because you know this mission very well." Napatingin siya sa lalake. Nakatingin rin ito sa kanya as if waiting for her reaction. Nang makita nitong tahimik lang siya ay nagsalita ulit ito.

"I am confiscating something from your previous organization."

"What?"

"You heard me," saad nito habang niluluwagan ang pagkakatali nito sa kanyang pulso.

"Paano kung ayoko?" Pinanliitan niya ito ng mata at tumawa lang ang lalake. Nakaupo na ito ulit sa silya habang nakatingin sa kanya nang mataman. It was as if one wrong move from her, she'll be doomed. As a previous assassin, she knows when not to move. She knows when to surrender. And this moment is one of those.

"Pinakawalan na kita, now don't do something funny. Just think of this as a compensation for what you have done to me years ago." Itinaas nito nang bahagya ang tshirt and she saw a scar on his stomach. She remember that scar very well. She made that scar.

Napatingin siya sa lalake and the guy just smirked.

"Years ago, you tried to assassinate me but you failed. Miserably. I don't know if you can still remember but I knocked you unconscious. The guards captured you. I told them not to tell anybody about it, even my dad. But seeing you in the prison doesn't move me at all kaya pinakawalan kita--"

"Alright, alright good samaritan. Saying those things won't make me change my mind. I won't join your secret mission escapade."

Sa totoo lang, mas pipiliin pa niyang makulong nalang nang mga panahong iyon. She failed to kill the prince that time and she's scared to face the punishment she'll receive once she gets back to the organization. And boy, she was right. Her punishment still hunts her even now.

Narinig niyang bumuntong hininga ang lalake at may kinuha sa bulsa nito. A piece of paper.

"This is an order, Natasha June Atkinson. To compensate for your sins of attempted murder to the third prince of Oregon, Pierce William Kingsley Magnussen, I hereby order you to help the prince complete his mission." Nilukot nito ang papel at itinapon sa basurahan na naroon sa kwarto niya.

"That paper was blank," she said monotonously.

The man sighed at bumalik sa pag upo.

"Oh come on! Don't you miss the thrill? You get to be yourself once again!"

"I am just an average girl, Your Royal Highness, what could I possibly do to help you in your mission?" she said hoping the prince would sense her sarcasm.

"I have no choice then." Kumunot ang noo niya sinabi nito. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay biglang nabasag ang kanyang bintana. Napatayo siya sa kanyang kama ang stood in her fighting stance nang makita ang mga lalakeng pumapasok sa kanyang silid. They were all wearing a uniform which means they're the royal guards. She can only curse in her mind.

"Choose, assassin." Ngumisi ang lalake at lumabas sa kanyang kwarto leaving her with the royal guards.

"You bastard." Mura niya dito. Napatingin siya sa mga royal guards na nakakalat na sa loob ng kwarto niya. Kung papipiliin siya, she'd rather want to fight these men kahit patayin siya ng mga ito rather than going back to being an assassin. She can't and she won't.

Napagtanto niyang limang royal guards lang ang nasa kwarto niya ngayon. She doesn't want to do the things that is connected to her past as much as possible but her body seems to remember the moves too well. Tila hindi nito iyon nakalimutan. And what's worse is that kung kailan niya gustong gusto lumayo, ang gulo naman ang lumalapit sa kanya. Kagaya nalang kahapon at ngayon.

Kinuha niya ang kumot na nakatakip sa kanyang katawan at initsa iyon sa tatlong royal guards na nakatayo hindi kalayuan sa kama kung saan siya nakatayo. The three guards struggled to free out of the blanket habang nakikipagbakbakan siya sa dalawa pang royal guards. Wala itong dalang mga baril. As if they know na kaya niyang makipagsabayan sa barilan. Sinipa niya sa tuhod ang isa dahilan para mapaluhod ito at agad rin niya itong tinuhod sa mukha.

Kinuha niya ang tsinelas niyang makapal na nasa sahig lang at isinampal iyon sa mukha ng mga ito. She heard them groan and she muttered a curse under her breath.

Hinablot niya ang charger niyang nasa gilid at ibinato ang ulo nito sa isang guard na nagtangkang lumapit sa kanya. Hindi na siya nagsayang ng oras at agad siyang tumalon while using the bed as a lift. She found herself on top of the guard's shoulder habang pinagsisiko niya ang mukha nito. Agad siyang bumaba and used the charger wire to choke the other enough to make it unconscious. Dalawa nalang ang natira.

She smirked at the two guards remaining.

"I could do this all day. How about you?" Bago pa man makagalaw ang mga ito, she attacked. She sent numerous punches and kicks. Agad siyang sumakay sa balikat ng isa dahilan para matumba ito and she gave him an arm lock dahilan para humiyaw ito sa sakit. Tinadyakan niya ito sa mukha dahilan para mawalan ito ng malay. Agad niyang sinipa ang paa ng isa nang magtangka itong lumapit dahilan para matumba ito ay mabagok sa gilid ng kama.

Hinihingal siyang umayos ng tayo and scanned her eyes around. Tumunog ang telephone niya na naglambitin sa kanyang bedside table. Kinuha niya iyon at sinagot.

"As what I've expected." She grit her teeth nang makilala niya ang boses. Ramdam niyang nakangiti ito habang nagsasalita.

"I won't do it. You find another one to do the job with you. Get these bastards out of my room and next time, send a much better opponent." Agad niyang binaba ang telepono. Napahinga siya nang malalim as she watched her wrecked room.

"Damn it." Ayaw na ayaw pa naman niya sa kalat. She's a clean freak.

May 11 o'clock class pa siya kaya napagdesisyunan niyang magbihis nalang at magpunta sa paaralan. Nang makalabas siya sa kanyang apartment, bigla siyang napatigil sa paglalakad nang makita ang lalake na nakasandal aa motorsiklo nito. He was waiting for her to get out. Nakita siya ng lalake and he waved his hand habang nakangiti ng malapad. Nilapitan niya ito hanggang sa nasa harapan na siya ng lalake. Hindi pa rin mawala ang ngiti sa labi nito.

"You're much prettier with those clothes earlier." Sinipat nito ang kabuuan niya dahilan para tamaan na naman siya ng inis. Kung hindi lang ito prinsepe, she could've twisted his neck in one snap.

"Listen here, asshole. Once I get back here later at five pm, I want my room back to what it was before you and your minions barged in. Understood?" Mas lumapad ang ngiti nito kaya napairap nalang siya at nagsimulang maglakad. Fortunately, hindi naman siya nito na sinundan.

MALAKAS ang tawanan ng mga kaklase niya sa subject na iyon habang nakatalukbong siya sa kanyang mesa. No, she wasn't that type of student who sits in the back and knows no one. She's quite popular in her block. She's smart after all. And she appreciates her blockmates not disturbing her habang natutulog siya. They don't pester her kapag gusto niyang mapag isa at kapag nasa mood siya, sumasama naman siya sa mga ito.

"Oi, the princess is awake at last!" Napangiti siya nang mapuna siya ng isa sa mga naging kaibigan niya sa kanilang block. Si Jeriko. Matalino rin ito. Nag aaral two weeks ahead sa exam. Ang tanging nagpapahanga sa kanya sa lalake ay ang penmanship nito.

"Nagwalwal ka kagabi no?" Napailing nalang siya habang nakangiti kay Janniel. Isa rin sa mga naging kaibigan niya.

"Oi, ba't nagsosolo ka? Free pa naman ako kagabi." Hinampas siya sa balikat ni Paul. Hindi man halata sa lahat, but he's gay.

"I thought you were doing your thesis?" Tanong niya kay Paul. Napasimangot naman ito.

"Heck. Iyon nga ang dahilan kung bakit free ako kagabi. It stressed me out kaya itinigil ko muna." Pinanliitan siya nito ng mata.

"Eh ikaw tapos ka naman na sa thesis mo. Last sem pa. Ang daya niyong tatlo, tinapos niyo agad." He pouted dahilan para mapangiti siya. She consider them a blessing. She was very mysterious to them pero nakipagkaibigan pa rin ito sa kanya. They were eager to know her kaya tanong ito nang tanong noong una but they stopped after realizing she doesn't want to talk about it. Sometimes she wondered kung kakaibiganin pa ba siya ng mga ito if they finally know what was her past and what she did.

Napatingin siya sa kanyang tabi at ginising ang natutulog rin doon. Si Dianna. She was the very first friend she met.

"Andyan na si sir?" Tanong nito habang nagpalinga linga.

"Wala pa. Pero kailangan mo nang gumising. Five minutes nalang eleven na."

"Kapagod naman."

"What's new? Lage ka namang pagod." She smiled at umayos ng upo. Someone sat beside her kaya napatingin siya doon only to find Lorreille.

"Hi June!" She greeted her in a high pitched voice and hugged her afterwards.

Bago pa man siya makasagot ay pumasok na ang professor nila sa subject na iyon.

During the class, hindi mawala sa isip niya ang nangyari kaninang umaga. Why would a prince recruit her for some secret mission? She already quit the job. At hinding hindi na siya babalik sa lugar kung saan nagsimula ang lahat. But judging the prince, he looks quiet persistent. Hindi niya alam kung mapapadali ang trabaho niyang balewalain ito. Damn it.

"Almeda." Napapitlag siya nang marinig niya ang kanyang pangalan. Pinandilatan siya ni Lorreille ng mata. Napabuntong hininga nalang siya at tumayo. Her professor darted her a piercing look. Double damn. What does he want?

"What is the answer, Miss Almeda?"

"I'm sorry sir. What was your question?"

Nanliit ang mga mata nito habang nakaekis ang braso sa dibdib nito. He just jerked his chin to the projection on the board.

Napatingin siya sa reporter sa topic na iyon. Nakayuko ito. Therefore she conclude na napagalitan ito ng professor nila. Napabuntong hininga nalang siya and walk towards the center. Napatingin sa kanya ang reporter. Tinapik niya iyon sa balikat at nginitian. Tipid itong ngumiti.

She transfered the slide to the previous one and studied it a little.

"Native tree species are advisable for tree planting since they are native. If we use foreign tree species then that would be detrimental since it's foreign, it's not well acquainted with the weather, the climate and even the soil properties of that local area." I transferred it to the next slide. "Whereas if we use native species, they're more used to the weather, the soil characteristics and any other outside factors making it more resilient to natural calamities."

Napatingin siya sa kanyang professor na seryosong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Good. Sit down." Nakangiting nakatingin sa kanya ang mga kaibigan niya habang naglalakad siya patungo sa kanyang upuan. Lorreille and Dianna even showed her their thumbs up. They hated the professor kaya ganoon nalang ang tuwa ng mga ito nang masagot niya ang tanong.

The rest of the class hours, hindi na siya nakinig. Her mind wandered again to the incident earlier this morning. Agad naman siyang tumayo nang idismiss sila.

Going to school never fancied her when she was young. At an early age, all that was taught to her were instincts of survival, how to hold a weapon, how to break a spine and how to get away in a critical situation. She never fancied going to school and learn abc, count numbers and make friends. She learned all those in a hard way. And now, that she's trying to live a simple life, hindi naiiwasan ang gulong lumalapit sa kanya.

It's been four years living like how a normal nineteen years old live their lives. Nagugustuhan na niya ang buhay niya ngayon. She doesn't want to go back. She wanted to ran away and bury that memory deep inside her mind hanggang sa hindi na niya ito makita pa muli.

When five pm strike, agad siyang umalis. She did not even look back nang tawagin siya ng mga kaibigan niya. She works part time at 6 pm. Nang makarating siya sa kanyang apartment, napahinga siya ng maluwag nang makitang maayos na ulit ito.

"That bastard did clean up the mess."

NAGPUNTA siya sa kusina nang tawagin siya ng manager nila.

"Nat, can I ask you a favor?" Nagmamakaawa ito.

"Sure. What is it, ma'am?"

"Could you close the shop later? Please. Aattend kasi ako ng meeting and your workmates aren't available. Ikaw lang. Okay lang ba?"

"Sure." Nginitian siya nito at agad umalis. Wala siyang choice kundi tugunan ang pabor nito.

She immediately attend the costumer's orders. Marami rami ang costumer nila kapag lunes at biyernes kaya hula niya'y alas dose pa sila makakapagsara.

"Nat, pakitapon naman ng basura o. Ang bigat kasi. Ikaw lang naman nakakabuhat non."

"Sige. Ikaw na muna bahala dito."

"Salamat talaga." Nginitian lang niya ito at agad nagpunta sa kusina para buhatin ang basura. Mabigat nga ito. A normal girl like Jillan won't be able to lift it up.

Agad niya itong itinambak sa basura sa likuran ng shop and heaved a sigh. Ngayon lang niya naramdaman ang pagod niya simula pa sa pakikipag suntukan niya kanina. She even have bruises ngunit hindi naman ito agad nakikita. Her day was exhausting indeed.

Akmang babalik na siya sa loob nang may biglang magsalita.

"Wow."

Nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin siya sa lalakeng nasa harapan niya ngayon. Nakasandal ito sa motorsiklo nito.

"What the heck are you doing here?"

Natataranta niyang tanong. Napamura siya sa sarili. Bakit siya natataranta?

"I should be the one asking you thay question, Miss Assassin. Anong ginagawa mo sa lugar na'to? I got here first you know. I was in fact shocked to see you get out of that door." The prince smirked. Alam niyang hindi ito nagsasabi ng totoo.

"Tingnan mo nga naman. You are really interesting." Naglalakad na ito papunta sa kanya. Agad niyang hinanda ang kamay niya.

"Woah. Relax. Wala akong gagawin sa'yo. Nanununtok ka agad, eh." Nagpatuloy pa rin ito sa paglapit sa kanya.

"Go away you asshole." She threw a punch straight to his face ngunit nasangga lang ito ng lalake. She grit her teeth.

Hinawakan ng lalake ang pulsohan niya at hinila siya palapit dito dahilan para mahawakan rin nito ang kanyang isang pulso. Her instinct says get away from him as soon as possible ngunit hindi niya magawa iyon. She's completely trapped. Akmang gagamitin na niya ang paa niya ngunit mas mabilis ang lalake at agad siyang isinandal sa pader while pinning both her legs leaving her completely immobile.

"Damn you." Mura niya. Ngunit sa inis niya'y ngumisi lang ito.

"Not so fast baby. I won't do anything to you, except..." Inilapit pa lalo ng lalake ang kanyang mukha.

"To persuade you to help me."

She felt shivers down her spine as she felt him lick her neck.

Agad kumulo ang dugo niya.

"You damned pervert!" Nakawala siya sa hawak nito at sinipa ang papa ng lakake dahilan para mapaluhod ito.

Hinila niya ang necktie nito at pinatayo. What annoyed her more was the fact the the prince was still wearing a smile on his face.

"Listen carefully, your highness. Whatever you do, hindi mo ako mapipilit. Go bother someone else at baka mapatay na kita sa susunod na pagkikita natin."

"You failed the first time, though. Remember?" blankong sabi nito. She closed her eyea firmly, leasing the temper inside of her. Binitawan niya ito at agad pumasok sa loob.

She just hope na hindi ito sosobra sa pamimilit sa kanya. She hope that one day, she won't find herself face to face with a sword ready to cut through her neck for speaking to a prince like that.

"Hell." Was all she can mutter at the moment.

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