3rd

'Twas a very tough week for us Fine Arts students. We were flooded with assignments and projects. I barely use my phone this past few days because of these shits that I'm doing.

I didn't even have time to train with my dad. I miss holding guns.

I checked the time and it's already 2:43 PM. I haven't eat my lunch yet. I glanced at Criz.

"Tapos ka na ba?" I asked Criz who is busy doing his sculpture.

"'Di pa nga, eh. Nahihilo na 'ko," He answered quickly. Just like me, he looks tired as hell.

"Mamaya mo na 'yan tapusin, kain na muna tayo. I'm really hungry," I said while I fixed my things.

"Teka," Sani niya't inayos ang mga gamit niya, he wrapped his sculpture properly and placed it inside his bag.

"San tayo kakain? Tapos na ba klase ni Shanley?" Criz asked.

"Not yet, tawagan mo na," sabi ko at tumayo. Sabay na kaming lumabas ng silid.

"Have you mastered 'yung pagb-blending ng colors? Nahihirapan ako," Sabi ni Criz.

"Your materials has a big role in blendability. Try using colored pencils first kaysa naman dederetso ka sa pagmi-mix ng colors using acrylic paint,"

"Eh sa mahirap nga eh,"

"Practice nga muna! Atat ka din eh no,"

Practicing on how to do art is like the very first time I tried shooting a gun. Learn basics first, master it. Then after that, explore another material to be used. In using guns, you have to learn the difference between basic guns; like a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol. Same as in art, learn the difference between two chosen materials.

"Anyways, ano update sainyo ni Isaac?" Biglaang tanong ni Criz habang nagt-type sa cellphone niya, kachat si Shanley.

"What do you mean update?"

"Duh, anong stage na ba! May pa-date date nga kayo nung nakaraan eh."

"Baliw, magka--" I stopped when I heard my phone ring.

Kinuha ko phone ko from my pocket then I saw my dad calling, "Wait lang, ah," Sabi ko kay Criz, he nodded as a respond as he continued chatting with Shanley.

"Where are you?" Wala man lang hello, attitude ka dad?

"School," malamang. "Why?" I asked.

"Mission later," sabi niya.

"I'm at school right now, can we talk about this when I got home?"

"Wala ibang kasama si Lucas sa misyon, we need you around 4 PM." I checked the time and it's 3:15 PM, I still have time para makapagpalit, ng lalaki.

Charot.

"Alright, I'll be there," I sighed. "Kami lang dalawa ni Lucas?"

"No, my men will come with you,"

"Okay, thanks," I dropped the call.

"Ano sabi ng dad mo?" tanong agad ni Criz na katabi na ngayon si Shanley.

"I have to go na, may ipapagawa si dad eh. Kayo nalang muna ah," I bid my goodbye then umalis na.

"Pull the trigger," I commanded.

Noises of bullets were heard as my men fired their guns to the enemies, actuates the firing sequence of the firearms.

"Keep an eye on your surroundings and keep your finger outside the trigger guard." I commanded again.

"Roger that," One of our men responded.

"Lucas," I called him as he typed some codes and datas in his laptop. "Any updates?"

"May isang kalaban na nagiwan ng code sa may 3rd floor, it could be used bilang pang-blackmail sakanila, let us check it first."

"Okay," I picked up my phone and called one of our armed men, "Henry, go to the 3rd floor, now. May iniwang code doon ang kalaban,"

"On it," Agad niyang sagot.

I was busy looking at Lucas' laptop while he's collecting information when one of our men called.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Open the CCTV, nakita na namin. Code 'tong nakalagay sa papel," Henry.

"Medyo malabo 'yan sigurado, at walang kuryente. puntahan mo kami sa office. The mission is done. Clean up the mess and head back to our office."

"Pwede naman naming i-on ang electricity?"

"'Wag na, just.. do what I say." Sabi ko.

"Noted." He answered and ended the call.

I sighed. I just wanna be a normal girl because this life is kind of tiring, knowing that my father is a business tycoon and also a mafia boss. And he's expecting me na magpapalit sa trono niya, that's why he trained me to do this.

Though, this is exciting because I got the rights to command and control some of our men. Besides, firing a gun is my thing. Aside from doing art, this excites me.

Umalis na kami sa 10th floor building ni Lucas. This place is abandoned at hindi masyadong nadadaanan ng mga tao, kaya ginagawa nilang hiding place 'to.

Nasa parking lot na kami ni Lucas at nakita ko na Pagani Huayra Imola niya. Gift 'yan ni daddy sakanya. As an only child and unica hija ni daddy, gusto niya talaga ng lalaki na anak. Kaya yan si Lucas, pinsan ko, ang binigyan niya ng mamahaling sasakyan.

'Di ko nga alam sino ba talaga anak niyan, ako o si Lucas?

"Pasok," sabi agad ni Lucas ng na-unlock na ang mga pinto ng sasakyan niya.

"Hintay, nagmamadali?"

"Hinihintay na tayo ni tito sa lobby, bilisan na natin." I nodded as a response.

I was browsing through my phone when daddy called. "Yes, dad?" I answered.

"Office na kayo dumeretso, I'm waiting at the lobby. Nandito na rin sila Henry. What's taking you so long?" Daddy.

"Inayos pa namin 'yung mga sinet up namin. Besides, nasa 10th floor kami dad. Walang kuryente sa building na 'yon sa we have to take the stairs." agad na sagot ko.

"Akala ko ba in-on niyo 'yung electricity doon?"

"Oo, para magamit namin ang elevator papuntang 10th floor. But of course we need to turn it off as soon as possible, baka malaman nilang may gumagamit pa sa ibang floor."

"Sige, code ata 'tong nakasulat. 'Di ko alam 'to eh."

"Ano bang naka-indicate, daddy?" tanong ko.

"I don't know. Puro dots, hyphens, slash... and I don't know. This doesn't make any sense at all." Halatang confused na sagot ni daddy.

"It's okay, we'll have them translated. Baka alam din ni Lucas 'yan." sagot ko.

"Okay. See you, ingat," daddy said then ended the call right away. Attitude talaga 'tong tatay ko. Di man lang ako nakakapag ba-bye.

My mom is a complete opposite of my dad. She's sweet and caring most of time, lalo na sa'kin. Ayaw niya sa guns. She doesn't want to be involved in any of these. Kaya sa kumpanya lang siya nakatutok. While my dad... well, he's caring too. But he's more focused on his work most of the time. Since my mom doesn't want to be involved in this mafia things, saakin nalang ipinasa ni dad ang responsibility ni mom.

I was trained to fire a gun when I was 7. 'Di pa 'ko magaling, I still commit mistakes. Nakakaba naman kasi humawak ng baril.

Nakarating na kami ng office at agad 'kong nakita si dad na nakaupo sa sofa na nasa lobby. I immediately kissed him on his cheek, while Lucas just nodded at dad. Dad just did the same thing to us both.

"Where's the note, dad?" I asked him. He handed me the note with a confused face.

"I really don't know kung ano 'yan. Baka pinaglalaruan tayo?"

"We'll have them check, dad. Don't worry. Go to your office na." I reassured him and he nodded. He headed back to his office.

I faced Lucas while the note I'm still holding the note. "Ano kaya meron dito?" tanong ko.

"Open it, paano natin malalaman kung hindi mo bubuksan?" Sagot ni Lucas.

"Napaka-pilosopo mo tangina," I answered. He just laughed.

I was nervous when I opened the paper. In my surprise, tama nga si daddy. Puro dots, hyphen at slash.

"Anong nakasabi?" Tanong ni Lucas sabay silip sa papel.

Agad kong pinakita sakanya yung nakasulat sa papel.

.. - / .. ... / .... .- .-. -.. / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- / - --- / ..-. .. -. -.. / --- ..- - / .-- .... --- / .-- . / .- .-. . --..-- / --. .- ..- -- --- -. -.. / .-.-.-

I smiled, "Morse code."

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thank you for patiently waiting.