PARALLELED: Wait! Why Am I Suddenly Filthy Rich?

Chapter 17: Encounter

In the streets near the main office of SD Ventures, a group of people are running wild. As they are running after someone, they heed no care if they bump or push a few people aside. What matters to them is to catch that person: the imprisoned teenage boy hacker that just escaped.

And that teenage boy was Haru. 

Haru looked behind him one more time before turning at the left corner. He has already lost three men among the six guards that is after him. He now needs to lost the other three. He has been running on the sidewalks, crossing busy roads and turning into narrow corners yet he still can't shake the other three men off. 

Haru became desperate. He really needs to find a place to hide, as soon as possible. He's already too exhausted. He was never athletic and running around this much is giving a huge toll on him.

When Haru reached the end part of a narrow corner, he saw the public market of the area across him. He wastes no time and ran inside. He has now finally found an opportunity to hide and he won't let it slide. He looked around the area and found an empty vegetable store nearby. He quickly ran inside the stall and hid under the counter. 

He sat on the ground and catch his breath. All he needs now is to wait for a while.

He was really glad that his immediate plan worked. He has been worrying overnight that he would fail and get noticed but luckily, he was able to hack the security system of the building he's in without getting caught and triggered the fire alarm successfully. He chose to turn the fire security system on, causing a splash of water from the sprinklers everywhere. 

And while the person manning him ran towards the control room, he immediately went out of the room he's in and blended with the crowd. He also ran towards the emergency stairs along with the other regular employees. 

Right. Regular employees.

When he hacked the security system earlier, he realized the truth from the CCTV cameras. And that is, this building he's being held in for almost three weeks now, is a workplace for regular office workers. Meaning to say, whoever owns this building is the main culprit of his capture. 

That truth made Haru shiver in fear. Whoever this person is behind those bank theft schemes is someone to be feared of. He has already a quite successful company yet, he is still committing illegal stuffs.

Haru finally reached the ground floor. He is already about to exit, when the alarm turned off and the water from the sprinklers stopped. And since he continued walking out alone unlike the other employees, he attracted the guard’s attention making him run for his life, after.

Haru took a peek outside. When he felt like he's already safe. He went out from where he's hiding and immediately look for a ride, heading to Bulacan. The place where he and his sister decided to meet.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Tanya's project, a hospital for the poor named People's Medical Center of Bulacan, has commenced. And after a short speech and a series of photo pictorial with the people involved, the ceremony has officially finished. Tanya was honestly expecting this event to be tiresome but thanks to Russell, it is not. That is why, even when everyone was already packing and started leaving, she decided to stay.

"Are you really sure you're still staying? The staff are already cleaning up the tent. You won't have any shade to take shelter from after that. It's already pretty hot at this hour, too." 

Russell worriedly asked Tanya but the latter just nodded.

"I'm fine Rus, if I can't handle the heat no more. I'll just go home. Besides, we have this umbrella with us." Tanya said while pointing the umbrella that Monty was holding for her.

"All right. I got it. I really wish to give you company still but I'm afraid I'd have to go ahead instead. My secretary just called." Russell sadly said as he raised his phone.

Tanya chuckled. "It's fine. I'm also ordering you to go. That is surely to be important if you are required to go immediately. Besides, you know I will not be alone." She said, pointing to Monty who just nodded to Russell in agreement. 

The young CEO sighed and said his last goodbye, in which Tanya answered with a wave. "Be safe." She added when Russell hopped in, inside his car.

When Russell drove away, Tanya then decided to walk around the entire area in which the hospital for the poor will soon to rise. When she was looking for a perfect place for this project, she bumped into this property by coincidence. And when she checked the location, she already knew that this is the place she wants.

Though the location is almost at the outskirts of the Municipality of Bulacan and is quite far from the heart of the city itself, she still deemed the place perfect. Why? Because she knew that people from this type of areas are usually the ones who needs the help the most. 

'This is just the beginning.' 

Tanya announced silently. Though she still has other plans in mind aside from this, she wanted to proceed on doing them one at a time. The projects in her minds requires a huge sum of money to build as well as sustaining its needs. That is why, growing her money first is her priority. 

"Where have you been?" 

That sudden question from Monty cut Tanya's thoughts. She looked at the direction Monty was looking and saw Morty walking towards them. She is aware that Morty left earlier to relieve himself, and if he just came back, then that would only mean that he took 10 minutes to pee. Thus, Monty's investigative tone of questioning didn't surprise her.

"You sure took your time, eh?" Monty added.

"Jeez. I just went ahead and didn't notice the distance, brother." Morty explained. 

"Really? Or did you actually take a dump?" Monty seriously asked with a poker face, confusing anyone who sees it, if he was joking or not. 

But Morty perfectly read his brother. "Not even an inch of fun bro." He commented and Monty chuckled. "Forget it. Oh, and by the way. When I was looking around, I actually saw an abandoned carnival just a few meters away from here." Morty shared instead.

"Oh? So that laser eyes of yours actually caught a glimpse of a girl over there? That explains why you took your time." Monty said suspiciously 

"What? No. I just find the entire place creepy." Morty denied. "The hell with you, bro? Do I seem like I always pick up girls from anywhere?" He asked, faking to be hurt with the accusation.

But Monty didn't care and just gave a straight "yes" as a reply. 

"The hell?" Morty exclaimed. "You're right!" He playfully added, making his brother laugh together with him.

Tanya, who was listening to this usual conversation of this brothers, chuckled. But their laughs were interrupted when suddenly, two consecutive gunshots echoed from somewhere.

Monty and Morty immediately surrounded their bodies around Tanya. Each, who already are equipped with guns, took it out and looked around. However, they saw no one. The shot also doesn't sound like from a sniping rifle. If that's the case, then was that shot not aimed at them? And if not, then to whom and where does it come from?

Bang!

Another gunshot echoed. And this time, Morty immediately recognizes where it came from. "The abandoned carnival!" He announced.

"What? Are there actually people there?" Monty asked.

"I don't know. Did not see one!" Morty replied.

"Then let's go, check it out." Tanya suggested but the two strongly disagreed in unison.

"No, Miss Tanya. We can't do that. If those gunshots are really from that place, then it will really be dangerous for you. We can't let that happen." Monty explained.

"I agree. Those shots have nothing to do with us, Miss. It's better if we don't stick our noses." Morty added.

But Tanya can't help it. That's just who she is. "Then let's use our car. It is bulletproofed right? If I will just stay inside while you two check, then I will be safe. I can't just let this situation go, boys. Judging from the sound and the numbers of the shots fired. Someone must really be in trouble. We need to help them. Monty. Morty." Tanya called his bodyguards name.

"But-"

Morty's words was stopped by Monty. Seeing the determination on their master's eyes. How can they disobey?

The brothers looked at each other and nodded. "Then be sure to stay inside Ms. Tanya." Monty said before they ran towards their car. When they reached the place, Tanya noticed a black-colored van in front.

"That car is suspicious. Let's go brother." Morty said and hopped out swiftly with a gun in his hand. Monty quickly followed and together, they went inside.

Tanya looked around and noticed that there are a few houses nearby. But as they also heard the gunshots earlier, every door of the houses is shut close. The street in front is expectedly empty, too.

Tanya was relieved that there are no casualties around the area, but as the same time, is anxious too as that only means that the gunner was surely still inside that abandoned carnival. 

She really wanted to go and help Monty and Morty. However, guns are involved in this situation. No matter how strong she is as a fighter, she still can't win against a gun. And she also doesn't know how to use one, too. She is aware that instead of be of help, she might turn into a burden.

But knowing herself, she also can't just sit still. Thus, he hopped out of the car and waited behind it. She will never let anyone escape no matter what.

And her hunch was right when she heard running footsteps coming. She took a peek and saw a pair of a teenage boy and an early-twenties woman, running. They both were catching their breath and was looking behind them. Tanya followed their gaze and saw a middle-aged man with a gun, limping. And when the man raised his hand, she need not deep thinking to realize the situation. She quickly picked up a stone on the ground and yelled. "On the ground, now!" 

The two who got startled with her voice immediately laid on the ground, escaping the bullet that was shot by the man behind them. But as the gunman also heard her voice, he turned towards her direction and aimed at her. But before he could pull the trigger, he was already shot with a stone on his face and then later on, was shot by Monty behind.

Tanya immediately ran towards the two people on the ground. They both were unconscious in shock.

"What should we do with them Ms. Tanya?" Monty asked after he gave a scolding to his master for a bit, as she did not follow the promise to stay inside the car and stay away from danger.

Tanya already gave it a thought before answering. "Let's bring these two, home." She ordered.