"That Great Babaylan's kid has in it for me, I was this close to letting him go!" A young man sighed in frustration.
"Calm down, that's the same reason why he's hard to track down... But even how much a person with Gift tries to hide who they truly are, no matter how good they are, their righteous and kind nature would always take over, making it easier for us tracking them down." The old man dressed in white, silky garment smiled, eyes filled with hope.
Eyes that hopes to save his remaining flicker of faith in this world, a person, a person that keeps the thread of sanity that holds him altogether.
"I know, but he's just too good of an actor!" He chuckles.
"I could imagine your face after hearing from my son's discovery..." The old man joined in and raised a glass of wine to celebrate.
"Boss, can I ask one question?" He leaned in after taking a sip on his wine.
"Go on?" The old man smiled as he pours him another glass.
"How do you know beforehand that this kid's our best option?"
"I didn't, I was just running out of time. After Maester Sherraine's passing, I knew that we have to continue the search for that kid!" The old man answered, recalling their last Spiritual Healer's tragic death.
"There's a lot of Babaylans on the south, why do you specifically wanted the kid of the so called Great Babaylan? The Healer who tainted his Practice and angered even the Gods? The same kid who stopped his Practice for four years now- are we sure he could even lift the effects of the Curse from the Young Master?" He tried to reason, but the old man's mind was already set.
"Just like what you said, he's the Great Babaylan's child, the sole heir to his father's power. And if we let him be taken by the wrong hands, he also might turn out like his father- and I can't let that happen, now that we found him..." The old man answered.
"I don't care if he's the one, I just want to do something good for a change!" The old man continued.
"Please don't talk like you're leaving, that witch would never let you leave this earth that easy!" He tried to lift the depressing atmosphere by cracking a joke.
A bad one!
"YOU!" A blood curdling scream of a woman suddenly disturbed their quiet conversation.
"Seems like we've underestimated the kid!" The old man smiled, unfazed by the terrifying scene unraveling in front of him.
"HOW DARE YOU INVOLVE THE SCION?!" A figure of a withering woman appeared and tried to get close to them but the silky garments of the old man seemed to forbid her from getting near.
"Scion?" The young man asked as he tries to hold unto a wooden figure of a bird.
A Totem of Protection.
"You'll pay for this!" The woman screamed as a blinding black smoke ate both her and the old man.
"BOSS?!" The young man screamed, unable to do anything but watch them vanish in front of him!
***
Achan's P.O.V
A grand entryway, inviting me into a warm, welcoming soft ambient lit, expansive living room. A polished marble floors that compliments the sprawling city nightlights. Flushed with furniture, arranged to embrace both comfort and conversation. The walls, adorned with modern artworks that give the space an air of refined creativity.
This place even has its own private theater, tucked away on its velvety doorway. A terrace filled with fresh air that swirls around the plants that were carefully picked to-
"Come, before the soup gets cold!" He pulled me inside his dining room.
I was enjoying my little self touring when he suddenly came to find me after I left the dining room for too long to take a leak.
"Do you like my father's taste?" He asked with a smile on his face.
"This place is massive, I don't know if I could clear the Witch of the Forest's lingering Mana before she could manage to infect somebody else!" I sighed.
"Do not worry about that right now, just eat first!" He insisted as he places a bowl of soup in front of me.
"You shouldn't have-" I was about to refuse his serve, afraid of making him thinking that I am taking advantage of him.
"You saved my life, feeding you healthy foods while you're overworking for my- my company's sake is the only thing I could offer you!" He said as he grab my spoon and scoop it into my soup and offered it into me.
I- I can do it myself, thanks..." I tried to take the spoon from him but he just tightened his grip.
What's with this guy's strength? A month ago he looks like a vegetable, but now, he's-
"Ahh?" He asked me to open my mouth after seeing me just staring at him.
"Aren't you overworking yourself?" He asked after we ate.
"It's nothing, I can't just stand idle knowing your father's life is still in danger!" I tried to smile as we both walk into his doorway.
"But it's only been a week and you've done a lot. Do not fret, she wouldn't harm him, at least physically..." He tried to cheer me up but it seemed like it back fired at him.
"Thanks for the meal, I had fun talking to you!" I widened my smile.
He just chuckled and stared at me.
"Also, thank you for finally having time to talk to me... I can finally see that you're back to your full health!"
"Thank you for saving my life, I owe you!" For the first time I saw his smile. A genuine one!
"I- I gotta go. Are you available tomorrow? I still need to monitor your health." I tried to escape his gaze.
"Here!" He handed me a box that he was carrying earlier when we left his dining room.
"A phone?" I looked at him after seeing what's inside.
"My number's the only one saved there, so that you could contact me- just in case..." He looked to away after he explained why he's giving me a phone.
"Tha- Thanks, I appreciate it!" I bowed at him and ran out.
"Fuck!" I sighed after closing my room's door, holding my panting chest as I leaned on the wall.
I'm not used to him being this kind.
"What was that?" I whispered to myself.
Well, he did say he owed you his life Achan, don't read to much into it.
A moment had pass. The sun's rising- yet I'm still awake, wide awake.
"My fucking Achan, you read too much into it!" I cursed after seeing myself, hair's a mess, darkened undereye.
Didn't sleep.
"Six Forty?!" I screamed at my phone after seeing the time.
It's been five hours, and I still can't sleep, damn it!
"I can't take a day off!" I said to myself because it's only been a week since I came to his company, I can't set a bad impression to my co-workers!
"Good morning Chief, may I get this forms signed?" Kammil entered my office.
Assistant Spiritual Director Kammil Constantino, one of my department's senior employees.
"Thank you ma'am!" I thanked her after I signed the papers.
Seems like she's also been working hard, those are the transcript of medical records from the other branches, seems like I gave them too little of time to prepare...
"No need to thank me, it's my job after all!" She smiled.
But I know a fake one when I see one, I basically invented it!
"I know it's a little too late but, we should have a get together later, I haven't officially met our team-"
"No need Chief, we know you've been working TOO HARD at keeping the heir alive!" She smiled again with those same fake ones.
"No, I insist! If we're gonna be together for a long time, I think I should treat the team for a good time-" I was cut off.
"Really, Chief?!" Her bland expression turned into a sparkly one after hearing a special word.
"Yes, my treat!" I smiled at her, making it seemed more genuine.
"Then I have to bring the good news to everyone!" She took her papers then ran.
*Chuckles* One down, four to go!
"Well, it is my fault for not introducing myself on my first day!" I told to myself as I recall the time I first arrive here...
Flashback:
"Where's the Young Master right now?" I asked Miss Irene after we arrived at the city where he's at right now.
"Manager told me he'll be at the main office- hey wait for me!" She yelled after I left her on the luggage area.
"You do realize that he's still not fully healed, right? Why didn't you stopped him when he tried to leave the villa?!" I yelled at her out of frustration.
The aftermath of the Witch of the Forest's Curse is not to be reckoned with, her toxic energy still lingers within him, he needs to be Purify for another day before it fully leave his body!
"I'm sorry..." Miss Irene stopped following me.
"This is not the time Miss Irene, he's in grave danger!" I came back to her and took her luggage.
"I know, but seeing you this concerned... I feel bad, it's like, you have more care to the Young Master- it's just. It's just making me feel bad for forcing you into this life-" She cried.
"If you don't want me to regret my choice, take me to him, now!" I raised my voice before grabbing her hand.
"I feel relieved to see that the Young Master finally had somebody that would take care of him!" She said that stunned me-
"Fuck, I almost forgot about that!" I moaned after recalling the wrong thing.
Anyway, after that, Miss Irene had to help Chief Clarence to figure out sir Arthur's whereabouts. Leaving me here and making me figure out things all by myself- luckily Manager arrived a day after, helping me settle on my place and giving me a hand at preparing all necessary items I needed for Purifying and taking me to the other facilities and branches that the joint company has.
Though, I still need to Purify this building and few more branches overseas.
Luckily, I met the Young Master earlier than I expected, he's too busy so I tried not to bother him that much. And now that I can call him anytime-
"You seemed happy, is that a phone? You finally bought one?" Manager suddenly entered my room.
"Oh, Mana- Ricco, you're here?!" I was startled, almost dropping the phone in my hand.
"Yup, I'm just here to give you back all the jars that you gave to the Young Master, he's done with his maintenance, right?" He placed a whole bag of empty jars on the coffee table on the side of my office and sat on a chair that he placed next to me.
"Tha- Thanks, I do need those for my next Ritual!" I smiled at him before slightly moving my chair away from him.
He's too close, I can't stand him staring.
"You don't look well, should we postponed tonight's Purifying?" He leaned to me and touched my forehead.
"Oh, right, I do need to ask you to cancel our plans for later... I kinda asked my team to go out, I haven't officially met all of them after all, they kind off need to meet their boss?" I leaned on my chair and tried to play it cool.
"That's good! You need to unwind sometime, you're too stressed because of the Young Master these past few days!" He sighed and smiled at me.
"Thanks, we should do it next time!" I nodded.
"Then, it's settled, tomorrows the date then?" He stood up and messed with my hair.
*Blag!* A sudden loud noise startled the both of us.
"Who was that?" I asked him but he just shrugged.
"Dunno, might be your sassy ass." He chuckles before sitting back down.
"Oh, I thought you're leaving?" I looked at him.
"I changed my mind!" He smiled.
"Then, I have to ask you something-"
"What is it?!" He stood up and leaned in front of me, locking both his hands on the side of my chair.
"A- About that night?" I tried to open up the conversation.
"What night?" He moved closer.
"The- The night..." I remained calm.
This has been lingering in my mind for days now, I must know what happened the night he left the villa!
"Oh that night? Don't worry, I didn't do anything else!" He smiled after realizing what I meant.
"Really?"
"Don't worry about those, I just thought it would calm you- well, I gotta go!" He said before walking out of my office.
"What was that?" I asked myself after his sudden changed of demeanor.