Chapter 26: Who wants to play along?

Estelle opened her eyes. To her surprise, she is not in the forest anymore. A white ceiling and walls with a scent of medicine is surrounding her. Her body is alright and she can't feel any pain at all.

She slowly lift her body as she heard a running steps. The door immediately opened and she saw Loris letting himself in. She raised her eyebrows as soon as Oliver and Heartle followed. Without any words they immediately checked Estelle while she is still stunned as to why am she is here and the others too. Bakit nga ba?

"What happened?" Heartle mumbled while examining Estelle's body.

Estelle just shrugged her shoulder and look at Loris. Loris look at her too and sighed at the same time. "Estelle, I thought you are internalizing? God, I don't know but I suddenly felt something a while ago," he said while whispering the latter.

Estelle rolled her eyes. "Supposedly—"

"Shut it, Silly." Loris roll his eyes while caressing Estelle's hair.

Estelle rolled her eyes as well. "What's the big deal? I didn't felt pain and I don't feel hurt. It's just that, that trauma is attacking me again," she thought.

"By the way," —Estelle immediately glance at Heartle— "we got a masamang news."

The two, Loris and Oliver, glance at Estelle. Heartle looks away while biting her lower lip. Loris faces the ceiling as soon as Estelle gazed at him. Oliver put his lips together and look away.

"Whatever bad news is that, I don't mind for as long as it is not about dogs," she thought while slightly pout my lips and closed her eyes.

Heartle sighed loudly. "All of us" —Estelle open my eyes and face Heartle which is closing its eyes intently— "are required to accept that," Heartle said before she bowed to Estelle.

"That?" Estelle eyes narrowed while waiting for their answer.

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. Estelle's being became uneasy all of a sudden. Heartle grinded her teeth as she put her lips together. Oliver leaned his back on the wall while Loris put his hands on his pocket.

"What is that 'that'?" Estelle said.

Heartle closed her eyes and gripped Loris' hands. "Dynamite, Omelette and Gelatin."

"Dog?" Estelle whispered while narrowing her eyes.

On the other hand in the Anonymous Legionary, Anonymous Head called for a meeting. She is in her seat and is patiently waiting for everyone to come over. While waiting, she is playing with her nails while thinking about Estelle. It's been a while since they met. Should she meet Estelle again?

Her eyes started blinking when she heard some footsteps approaching. The door opened and ten cloaked person entered the room. She sat properly and put her lips together. When the members are on their spots, they bowed their head in unison. They took their seats after.

"So, what's the news?" Anonymous Head said immediately.

Anonymous R and Anonymous E exchanged glances. Anonymous R sighed and faced Anonymous Head. "The hag is back in action. She wants to organize a sports festival in a week from now. Thankfully," —Anonymous R look at Anonymous E— "she wants us, the SAC and COR, to do it for her."

Anonymous Head nodded her head. "Alright."

Nanlaki ang mata ng lahat. Does Anonymous Head want to play with the wicked hag? Does this mean she wants to end this sooner than later? Any other plans?

"Anonymous Head, are you—"

"Yes," —she smirked— "we are playing with them." She taps her nails on the table. "That will start today. Let's see who's going to go down," Anonymous Head said while whispering the latter sentence.

Few moments later, the HOLE Squad is already going home. Estelle was discharged after she woke up because her condition is   not that serious. Estelle also said that she can keep up that's why the staff let her go.

"Please stop," Loris said in a loud voice but just enough for them to bounce.

The three, Oliver, Heartle and Estelle, glared at him in unison. Loris sighed and close his eyes intently while he leaned his palms forward.

"How about the dog?" he said in a low yet clear voice.

"Crap!" Estelle immediately responded.

"Stellar, your stellar right?" Oliver said after he slowly faced Estelle. "Your better than this. Those dogs are nothing compared to you." He raised his both brows. "Unless you define yourself as a dog as well ni ano."

"Dog nino, Oliver?" Estelle said as she glared and narrowed her eyes at the same time.

Oliver immediately look away. "Dog of Despicable," he whispered but not enough to let Estelle hear it.

Heartle and Loris exchanged glances. Despicable? Oliver calls someone as Despicable and that is the one and only... Theo Nikter Vuitton. The place became silent as the night. No one dared to talk.

"Wait," —she raised her both palms on the air— "why did the ambience became like this?" She sighed and gazes each of them. "Alright, let's grab that fucking dog." She started walking. "Whatever."

The three exchanged gazes. What just happened?

Loris pulled himself together and chuckled a bit when he realized where is Estelle going. "Estelle," he said.

Estelle stopped and turn her body around. "What?" she said while rolling her eyes and letting out a frustrated sigh.

Heartle and Oliver chuckled with Loris. Estelle narrowed her eyes on the three. Why would they laugh at her?

"We are going in the Central, Estelle. We need to, according to you, pick up the dog. Right?" Loris said while trying to keep a serious face despite of the laughter he wants out.

Estelle raised her both brows while looking away. Estelle's face reden as she bit her lower lip. That was embarrassing on Estelle's part, big time. On the other hand, the three is chuckling.

"Crap! This is the second time I've been in shame," Estelle whispered.

Estelle rolled her eyes and faced them again. She is now using her usual poker face. "Let's go then." She immediately started strolling.

The three is still laughing. It's a rare opportunity to see Estelle like that. Estelle is always alert despite of whatever she feels. The big question is, who changed her? Despicable or its dog named, Chicco?

Anyways, the HOLE Squad proceeded into the central part of UA. Loris is leading the way because unlike the others, he knows where to go. They are inside of the Underground Mall.

Since it is lunch time, the mall has many costumers. The three, Estelle, Oliver and Heartle frowned when Loris entered a vacant cottage. They glance at each other while still following Loris.

The three entered the cottage with confusion written in their minds. Loris examined the area while the three are looking at him. Loris put his palms on the wall suddenly. He turn his head into the three and he nodded after. The three shrugged their shoulders and followed Loris.

The three lift their palms to touch the wall. The moment that the wall and their palms touched, they fell just the way when they entered the UA for the first time.

Their buttocks dropped straight into the ground. They cuss in unison as they felt the pain. When they dropped, that was a big slam so they are cussing back and forth.

Heartle is grinding her teeth while she tried standing up. Loris is clenching his jaw. Estelle bit her lower lip as she massages her buttocks. Oliver let his back feel the cold wall as he continuously cuss.

"Bakit this is happening ulit? Gosh!" Heartle said while her breathing is echoing freely.

Loris, Oliver and Estelle just shook their heads and tried standing up despite of their state. Heartle have already stood up so she started walking away from the three. They are in another passageway again. The only difference is this looks like a tube.

"Heartle," Estelle, Oliver and Loris said in a warning tone.

Heartle can't help but to roll her eyes. She turn around and grimaced at them. Oliver and Loris sighed as Estelle still keeps her poker face. Oliver started strolling at Heartle with the same look. Heartle raised her brows.

"Hey," said by someone distant from them.

Biglang nanlaki ang mata ni Estelle. Her heart starts beating erratically again. Her hands were shaking just like the vibration of a mixer. Those sounds sends chills and shivering sensation down her spine.

Slowly someone came into the picture. It was Theo with his German Shepherd dog. The dog keeps on barking on them. Estelle is shaking her hand to release the pressure but that is so useless because she still feels the same way.

Hindi pa nga nakakalapit si Theo at may narinig na naman silang tahol ng aso. Another dog came and it is a Belgian Malinois. The dog is alone approaching them. Because of this, Estelle's feeling doubled.

"Baba?" Heartle mumbled.

When she said that, the dog immediately approached her while barking loudly. Heartle smiled widely while Estelle's sweat is already falling down her neck. Her color vanished already and her breathing became uneasy.

Heartle hugged the dog. "Baba, you came back!"

Theo just shake his head. "Anyways, that dog's name isn't Baba."

"Yeah, it is not a sheep," Oliver replied immediately.

Theo look at him flatly. "This is Chicco, my dog," he said while looking at the German Shepherd that he is beside with. Theo pointed the Belgian Malinois. "His name is Ch—"

"Chuckie!" Oliver laughed at what he said. He pointed the German Shepherd. "Chicco and" —he pointed the Belgian Malinois— "Chuckie!"

Estelle's fear instantly vanished. Instead, she looked at Oliver flatly. "What a weirdo," she thought.

"How did you know?" Theo said while looking straight at Oliver.

Heartle, Loris and Estelle's eyes widened. Don't tell me that is true?

End Of Chapter 26

Other works:

KEEPING THE KEEPER

LOVING MY LOVER

TAKE A ONE-SHOT

Dedicated to acanii, frustratedwriter048 & dark_in_ash