thirty

The Numb by JeAnnPulido

Chapter 30: A breathless sight

Ashley's POV

Orion.

So they were here. How could I possibly not notice them?

You'd probably think about the constellation called Orion meaning the 'Light of Heaven' but there's another meaning to it: it's a person that hunts. In our world, they're the tycoons of the World of Gangsters. They're the experts when it comes to money and gambling.

The Orion fooled him? That's probably just the start dahil buhay pa siya't maayos pa ang itsura. Kung gusto na talaga nilang tapusin ang trabaho nila, wala ka na dapat hininga at ari-arian. They're basically the most shameless and the most ruthless thieves of today's society – a typical b*llcrap type of a gang.

Tama siya sa isang bagay: It's either they kill you or you kill them. Pero kung iniisip niya na kaya niya silang saktan, then that'll be a huge mistake and he'd be basically be digging his own grave more earlier than he will even expect.

Nang marinig ko na ang tunog ng siren ng mga police cars ay agad ko nang binaba ang kalo ko't sumiksik sa kumpulan ng mga tao para makalayo. I absolutely don't have the leisure to go the police station for questioning.

The police station isn't my turf after all. I don't want to feel uncomfortable for no prior reason.

"Fck! Magsusumbong 'yun sa mga pulis! Patay tayo kay boss nito!"

"Sino bang nagpatumba sakanya?! Malakas naman 'yung gag*ng 'yun ah?!"

"It's that btch! Get her!" pumalakpak ang tenga ko nang marinig ko ang usapang 'yun

Pagkakita ko palang na may papalapit sa akin na mga malalaking tao na mayroong Orion emblem tattoo sa mga bisig nila ay agad na akong tumakbo palayo sa mga tao.

"Perfect exercise for indigestion," bulong ko sa sarili ko nang habulin ako ng mga magiging human punching bags ko

Zac's POV

Can't handle sweets or cold food? Whenever she ate too much of it, it affects her health? Why didn't she tell me?

She was eating with gusto when I bought her so many sweets yesterday.

And why did I bring her to a sweets shop? Tsk. I never should've listened to Ashton saying girls like sweets. I'll deal with that guy when I come back. Halata namang hindi tulad ng ibang mga babae si Ashley. She's so much more than that.

Even though she was cute chewing sweets together with those fair and rosy puffed cheeks, I kind of feel angry when I thought about how she felt after. She probably feels uncomfortable or worse.. no.. I don't even want to think about it. Okay lang kaya siya?

"Stop," the moment the taxi stopped, I immediately fished some bill in my wallet, gave it the to the driver and ran out

Who would've thought na ang pinakauna kong masaksihan sa store ay 'yung mismong pagtakbo ni Ashley palampas sa akin.

"Ashley!" tawag ko kaya naman agad siyang napatingin sa akin, obviously shocked upon seeing me in her neighborhood

"Oh, hey! Gotta run away from the crowd first!" sagot niya't tuloy tuloy lang sa pagtakbo

Hindi naman nagtagal ay sinundan ito ng mga grupo ng mga lalaking mukhang humahabol sakanya kaya naman sinundan ko lang sila ng tingin hanggang sa mawala sila sa paningin ko.

Bumugtong hininga nalang ako saka ibinulsa ang mga kamay ko't nagsimula nang maglakad papunta sa direksyong pinuntahan nila.

Not far from where they were, I heard endless howling and terrified screams coming from men.

Pagkadating ko sa lugar na kung saan nakikipaglaban si Ashley ay napangiti nalang ako.

So much for worrying for this reckless woman

Seeing how she was just fighting so effortlessly as hell, I couldn't help it anymore and laughed.

She's probably not taking this seriously.

Tsk. Just how strong is she?

Hindi naman nagtagal ay natumba na ang pinakahuling lalaki kaya naman ipinagpag niya ang mga kamay niya't nagsimula nang maglakad papalapit sa akin.

"Ha, it's you again," I smelled helplessly hearing her annoyed voice that almost seemed like music to my ears

"Yeah, I'm glad that you're okay," bulong ko

Nang biglang bumangon ang isa sa mga lalaking pinatumba ni Ashley at biglang naglabas ng baril ay agad ko nang hinila si Ashley at itinago sa likod ko.

Pulling out my gun, aiming it at the man, I pulled the trigger without hesitation.

What followed the sound of the gunshot was the man falling to the ground, wailing from the pain.

Tumalikod na ako't tinignan si Ashley na mukhang hindi inaasahan 'yung sumunod na pangyayari.

"I though they wouldn't dare to bring it out. They're ruthless but they don't usually use underhanded methods like using guns" rinig kong bulong niya kaya naman kumunot ang noo ko

"The worst thing you could do in a fight is to let your guard down. What's wrong with you?" napakamot naman siya ng batok niya

"I'm not feeling well," mas kumunot ang noo ko dahil dun

It's my fault.

Ashley's POV

Kumunot ang noo ko nang maramdaman ko 'yung pag-iba ng ekspresyon ni Zac.

Why is he mad? May problema ba siya? Mukhang ang bigat ng problema niya dahil nakatulala siya't ang dilim ng paningin niya eh.

"So bakit ka ba nandito ha?" tanong ko dahilan kung bakit siya nagising sa pagiisip saka ako nginisian

"Wow. How about my thank you?" napa-"Hah" nalang ako kaagad

"I never asked for help" sagot ko saka ko siya tinignan na parang siya ang pinaka-weirdong lalaking nakilala ko sa buong buhay ko dahilan kung bakit siya natawa

"That's cute" napakagat ako ng labi ko't sinamaan siya ng tingin dahil sa sinabi niya

This smooth talker. Anong cute don?

"Whatever, thanks anyways" sagot ko't iniwas nalang ang tingin ko

Hindi ko na pinansin 'yung mga members ng Orion ng mala-ninja silang kumakamang palayo sa amin.

Mga baliw. Hindi nalang sila tumayo't tumakbo palayo. Sus. Para namang sasaktan ko pa sila.

"Hey, want some dinner? My treat, okay?" tanong ni Zac kaya naman napakunot ang noo ko saka ko siya tinignan

Why does he keep on clinging into me and treating me with food? Mukha ba akong medaling ma-bribe gamit ang pagkain?

"You saved me, shouldn't it be the other way around?" tanong ko pabalik pero ngumiti lang siya

"I'm the man here, so I should pay for it of course"

"You.. you're so haughty" sagot ko dahilan kung bakit siya natigilan at tumingin sa akin na nakakunot ang noo

"What?" tanong ko dahilan kung bakit siya lumapit sa akin

I was caught off guard when he suddenly held my hand tightly making me feel electrified for some unknown reason.

"I'm not being haughty. Ikaw lang ang nag-iisang babaeng nilapitan ko ng kusa, Melody," sagot niya kaya naman natigilan ako't napatingin sa mga mata niya

Looking straight back at him, I was immediately entranced in the amazing yet dangerous glimmer of his dark irises.

He's.. serious.

A breathless sight. That's what he is.

Ako lang ang nag-iisang babaeng nilapitan niya ng kusa? Wala ng iba> Sa dinami dami ng mga babaeng nagkakadarapa para sa atensyon niya, ako ang binigyan niya ng pansin?

Ha?

Why? What am I to him? Was I special? Wait.. what the fck am I thinking? And why would I think that? He's from a different world from me.

He's the King of Gaein Academy. He's got it all. So obviously, he can have the best women out there.