Chapter 25: Chapter 25

FARHISTT awoken to the sound of a chicken crowing outside. He did a push up first, then did sit-ups before finally standing. He also put the bed away and sorted the mat filing to one side.

He first met the woman named Odessa in the kitchen, where she was cooking breakfast when he arrived. When the girl saw him, she became awkward and was not immediately comfortable with what he was doing, so he decided to go outside and hang out in the yard. He'll just breathe the provincial air. Only later will he begin his assignment, and no one will suspect his movements and actions as a newcomer in this area.

"M-might you want some coffee?"

He turned to face the woman, who was carrying a cup of black coffee and shyly handed it to him. He accepted and tasted it without a smile.

"Thanks." The coffee was delicious, and it was pure coffee.

As he drank the coffee slowly, the girl went back inside. If he is the one to make the decision, it is nice to live in the province. But the job he has now... it's hazy.

He had also served in the army for three years and was not known for his bravery on the battlefield. He and Cuhen were once sent to Marawi. Several times, Satan came close to taking their lives, but it was afraid to take off their lives.

He took a look at the high-tech watch he was wearing. He returned to his upstairs room to speak with his agents. He flipped open his hologram watch. When the contacts of Dark X members became public, he called Maccabi first.

"Yx!" On the other end of the phone, he said. It obviously hasn't slept in a long time.

"What happened to you?"

On the other end of the line, Maccabi simply laughed and scratched his head. "That spoiled brat ran away from me again last night," he said, bored. "You should not have given me this dreadful assignment, Yx. It's not fair to me!"

He simply raised the corner of his lip and shook his head, "Find this man," and sent Don Hernandez's background file to Maccabi. This was all he could rely on, except that the task he was given to him was not dangerous.

"My new assignment?" His blood began to revive and eventually awoke.

He nodded and turn off the call. He will begin today. He was too preoccupied at the time to do nothing. He went to the kitchen and bring back the coffee cup. He noticed that the woman was not there, but that she had prepared rice and had a pot on the wood stove. He decided to leave the house when he noticed Odessa chopping wood with an ax outside.

He stopped and looked at the girl, who appeared to be used to men's work. He made the decision to help her.

"Let me do that..."

His presence surprised her, and the redness quickly spread to her smooth cheek. It became awkward, and she couldn't bear looking into his eyes.

"I c-can do it…"

"No, you do not. I will finish it as soon as possible." Farhistt was no longer waiting for Odessa to respond. He moved closer to the girl and removed his shirt without saying anything.

She was caught off guard by what he did and immediately lowered her gaze to his six pack abs. Odessa bit its lip and close her eyes. He was simply taken aback by the woman's innocence.

Without hesitation, he began to chopped down all of the shrubs and trees. It's a good feeling. Farhistt's muscles stretched, and the fresh air that morning gave him a strange vigor. After chopping all of the wood, he assisted the girl in arranging the wet wood to dry in the sun, and he carried the dry ones to the kitchen.

"Where is the stream here?" he asked seriously, despite knowing the direction. Before he could leave town to gather information, he needed to take a bath.

"A few hundred meters ahead. When you see a large tall tree, turn around." Odessa was still unable to look at him. Perhaps because he wasn't wearing a shirt.

Mang Bartolome suggested from the living room that Odessa accompany him later to the stream, and that he might disappear. He wants to laugh because, at least this time, he isn't getting lost. He has many options if he so desires, but because he is a regular citizen of this barrio, he must live as one of the locals, who will not notice what kind of person he is.

"What are you doing in here?"

He didn't respond to Odessa's question. He expected it to ask why he was stuck here, which was normal.

"How old are you?"

This resulted in silence on his question, she hesitated, and he knew, even though he didn't say it, that the woman's cheek was red again.

"You can refer to me as big brother—"

"I'm 24 years old!"

He gave a nod. It's not obvious at her age because she appears to be only twenty years old. She looks fragile, easily broken objects. She was very innocent and modest. Quite unlike the women he sees and meets on a daily basis in Manila.

A beautiful stream opened up to them, which was very clean. There are many trees in the area where they are standing, making it difficult for sunlight to enter. He began to remove his top, leaving only his boxer shorts. The girl quickly averted her gaze from him and moved to the front.

"Be careful; the rocks here are a little slick."

He did not respond. In the cold, he began to wade into the water and closed his eyes. Ideally, he can think while immersing himself for a brief moment in the deep part. He could no longer hear the girl's voice, so he closed his eyes and leaned back against the large rock, which was surrounded by water.

"Ayy!"

He dashed to Odessa's spot at four o'clock. "Are you okay?" he was taken aback. Her entire body was wet, and she slipped and fell into the water.

“Y-yes! I'm… I'm fine."

He nodded and never asked again if she needed assistance because she appeared to be fine. He decided to keep soaking so that he could go to town right away. The sooner he start, the better.

FARHISTT was forced to bring Odessa to town. Mang Bartolome insisted him to let Odessa tag along. He was dressed in a faded t-shirt and jeans so that no one would suspect him. He also wore a faded hat and slippers, as if he were a regular citizen. He wished he could go alone so he wouldn't get into trouble, but he didn't have a choice.

"F-frahisto," Odessa said quietly to him.

They are now riding a motorcycle to town and sitting next to each other. Odessa felt awkward next to him, but he ignored it, thinking that maybe she wasn't used to his presence.

"Yes?"

"Bisaya is what the people here speak—"

"It's all right; I understand that language."

She nodded and didn't say anything else until they arrived in town. Many people turned to look at them, as he had predicted. Some of the women were staring at him. He quickly looked around, secretly observing everyone's movements. He was perfectly normal.

They were the first to arrive at the wet market. Everyone knows Odessa, so he can say she's friendly. Someone inquired about his relationship with the girl, and Odessa blushed every time someone spoke to them. Farhistt was shaken in secret by the thought, not the one like Odessa his type in terms of women. He hasn't been interested in anything since losing his family. His focus is more on the things that give him a distinct vitality.

"Kagwapo ba nimo dong, oi. Gikilig ko kayo nimu jud guwang naku." Your charming son. Even I'm an adult, I'm attracted to you!

He secretly laughed at what the elderly vendor of vegetables and rice said. It even provided them with free vegetables. Odessa gladly accepted it as he continued to look around.

"Frahisto?" He turned to face Odessa. "Don't you have anything to buy?" she asked, blushing.

If he says no, she may be left wondering. He went grocery shopping for his two-week stay. The girl was astonished by the amount he spent, especially when he purchased a small TV for Mang Bartolome to keep him entertained at home.

"You purchase a lot of items."

When they got off the motorcycle on their way home, he just smiled and didn't say anything. He effortlessly carried a sack of rice and a carton of groceries in one hand and the small TV in the other. Odessa offered to help him, but he did not let her. Mang Bartolome was even surprised when it saw how much they had purchased.

He went upstairs to his room and dialed Maccabi's number using the watch hologram. He'll question him about whether the man did what he told him to do in order to take Don. Hernandez.

"Yes, I have him."

“Good. Bring him to the Fortocarrero mansion and place him in the guest room." He quickly hung up the call and returned his attention to the laptop he was carrying.

He took it and went to Dark X's secret website. He nodded as he reads every report. Because there was no issue with any of his agent's assignments, he will not visit their group first during his two-week stay in Bayog town.

He got down and went into the kitchen, where he found Odessa busy preparing lunch. He approached her and offered to assist her. She became anxious right away and couldn't look him in the eyes.

"D-don't worry, I can do it."

He didn't push, so he decided to leave the house and take a quick breather under the tree ahead. He simply frowned at the three men who passed by on their way to the stream. When he heard the girl's loud scream inside the house, his instinct was to follow. He dashed inside and discovered that it was terrified of the snake coiled on the kitchen ceiling.

He took a step closer and fearlessly pulled the snake's head off, killing it with his hand. Fearing that he would be bitten, the girl cried out. He simply laughed, as he was not afraid of snakes. Humans should be feared because they are more dangerous than animals or venomous insects.

"Hey, Odessa? Are you all right?" He was concerned about the girl's inability to move aside. He had to approach her and shake her shoulder.

"I'm... I'm fine." She said this while her face turned pale and her hand trembled. She resumed her cooking, but he grabbed and restrained the woman's arm.

"I'll cook; you just relax. You're trembling."

"Has anything bad happened here?" Mang Bartolome rushed in, worried.

"Not at all, father. It's just a snake, but Frahisto has already dealt with it."

The woman walked away from him, giving the two of them some space. The old man sighed and said good-by. It returned to the living room, where it enjoyed watching the TV show.

"Just relax there," he advised.

She nodded and sat on the bamboo chair, allowing her to relax. She just stared at him as he prepared the dish for cooking.

Farhistt no longer had difficulty moving as if he was very used to this lifestyle because he was used to it while still in the Army. While he was cooking, the girl just stared at him and said nothing. He felt her stare at him, and when he looked at her, both her cheeks turned bright red.

"Where do you get your drinking water around here?"

"To the neighbor's faucet."

He gave a nod. He noticed that the water containers were empty, so he decided to get some water later.

"Are you married already?"

He fixed his gaze on Odessa's abrupt question, who was now staring at his hand, particularly at the ring he was wearing. When she realized the question had been too personal for him, she immediately covered her mouth.

"Yes," he replied unequivocally. His wife has been in heaven for quite some time. No one can make him change his mind, so he always wears it.

It was nothing new for him that many people were disappointed when they found out he was married. Someone else attempted to flirt and tempt him in bed, but it had no effect. His heart had long died, and all he wanted to do was focus on the organization he had created.

ODESSA is secretly watching Frahisto fetch water. She don't know, every time she looks into the man's eyes, she seems to be hypnotized and she can't help but shudder. She just tries to act casual in front of him but she can't stop mumbling every time she talks to the man. It's sad, he is married.

She was saddened by that part but she also ignored it immediately. She will admit that she liked the man when she first met him here. Maybe because it was the first time she had seen such a handsome creature come down to earth. With its extreme appeal, it seemed like she didn't want to lose sight of the man.

"Odessa?"

She was slightly surprised when he called to her. She felt her cheek turn red as she looked at the man.

"W-why?"

“You go home first. I can be here on my own.”

She bit her lip. Even the man's voice is so hypnotizing! It's so good to hear his baritone voice. She no longer wondered why the other women next door were peeking out the windows. Like her, they are also thrilled and dream that Frahisto will notice them.

"O-okay," she shyly replied and looked back.

She still can’t really look him in the eye, ‘tis the truth. She started to step back home. They fetched water from a distance because they did not have her father's own water.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Elementary Education, major in Filipino in the town. She plans to teach here in this area, apart from the fact that she sees a lack of teachers in this village, her uncle is also here whom he recognized as father. She couldn't leave even though her mother was urging her to go home.

"Good day, Odessa!"

She frowned as she noticed two men. How handsome Frahisto is, or, on the contrary, the faces of those two who she has no idea where they came from because of their ugliness.

The two men were in their home, talking to his father. She smiled at the old man and ignored the two African catfish. The only thing that irritates her is that his father is too open to strangers.

But why, Frahisto, its okay? Her brain inquired.

"They're your suitors, Odessa."

She simply smirked at what his father had said. "I'm not dating them. They're hideous."

The elderly man laughed and immediately apologized in front of the two. She refuses to accept any courtship, especially from someone who appears ugly. Later, she felt a man follow her into the kitchen and ask for water because it was thirsty. She ignored it, thinking she was going to prepare a dish to cook when an african catfish grabbed her arm.

"What the?!" she exclaimed as she withdrew her arm

"What's the deal with you being so picky? We are the ones who are patiently courting you; you are still acting out! But it's too obvious, you like me so much."

When she slapped it hard, his face twisted. The thickness of the face! But she also immediately backed away when it looked at her in a bad way. It was about to lay a hand on her when it flew to one side. It had fallen asleep before she could scream. She saw Frahisto punch the man.

His companion rushed to his aid, carrying his sleeping companion, and then flee away.

"T-thank you..."

Frahisto simply nodded and set aside the water he had taken. He said goodbye to ventilate outside first, and instead of waiting for her to nod, he went straight out.

Odessa sat down in a wooden chair and calmed herself. Frahisto moved like a gust of wind, and she had no idea he was approaching.

"Are you okay, Odessa?" It's Mang Bartolome. It had a worried expression on its face.

She made a quick smile. "Yes, father. Relax, I'll take care of it." The old man nodded and said good-by.

This is the first time her vile suitors have used violence against her. She was scared, but when she saw Frahisto, she felt at ease.