2
BLUE'S POV
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
YEAR 2015
"BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY, Class Warriors, SUMMA CUM LAUDE, VELEZ MAGNAYON, BLUE EZEYKEL."
I look at my parents sitting beside me,
I already expected this award cause of my hardship and perseverance in all the years of studying just to get this latin award, but hearing it announced make me felt like I just want to brag about my achievements.
"Escorted by his parents, PNP Chief of Staff General Alfred Velez and Our former Miss Philippines '79 Dr. Estifina Velez Phd."
I shook my head secretly, why do they need to say their status? Even up to now, I still felt awkward on the elite status of my adoptive parents.
15 years ago, my adoptive mother was there at the hospital when I got admitted because of the burns that I've got when the incident happened in the orphanage.
They found out that I don't have parents and the incident, due to my mom's plea, They adopted me.
My mom is the giver while my dad is the manipulative and strict one.
So I did my best so they can be proud of me.
As we ascend the stairs of the stage to get my diploma, My eyes caught the black bracelet that I weave 15 years ago.
I remembered how Ash's eyes smiled when I gave him the pair of this bracelet.
His sweet smile that I miss, his laughs, everything..
I look at my diploma with hope in my heart.
'I will find you Ash.. I'll do my best'
️️
ASH'S POV
"You're heading to ABO now?" Gene lift up his eyes on me from writing something in his laptop. He's an exclusive writer of Heart's Pages.
A romance books publication.
Ashes of Blue Orphanage was the meaning of the ABO word,
I founded that orphanage five years ago, the same place where the burned San Manuel Hospice was. In Blue's memoir.
Wherever he may be, Alive or not or in the States, I hope he will see me now.
I'm the CEO of our pharmaceutical company originally owned and founded by our foster father, Don Manolo Sanueztre.
He adopted us.
After that fire, we are evacuated in another orphanage, we saw that the kids are slowly getting adopted, until only five of us remained.
Gene, Anson, Tawan, Mix and me.
I am the youngest amongst them.
We are so happy when Don Manolo came and adopted us all.
We are sent to prestigious school, he gave us names, adopted us and after that.. He trained us.
He trained us to kill and fight.
But we aren't hurting innocent people.
Our aim are to pull the root and branches of the dirty politicians and those bastard abusive government officials.
Also those syndicates that sells drugs, and illegal firearms.
Up to now I don't know where Dad get this enthusiasm to do this things to those scumbags.
He even said that we can only get out of this so called small organization when we reach the age of 30.
I just turned 24 last December. I still have 6 years, then I will be free.
I nodded at Gene.
"Yes.. I'll visit the children.. You coming?"
Gene shook his head, "I'm rushing this manuscript for the deadline. Maybe next time."
"Where are the others?" I look around the living room.
It's unusual, today is Sunday, it's their normal routine to stay here at home.
"Brother Tawan went to Makati with Dad, they said they will settle something, Mix is on a mission. While Anson is pissing Mommy Luz in the kitchen." Gene shrugs.
So that's why they aren't here.
I nodded at him and fix my bag.
"I'll go ahead, tell Mommy I already left though I've already ask for permission last night, it's better to let her know again."
"Okay, take care." Gene just wave at me and he focus on his laptop again.
I rode my car, it's a brand new Audi, I've bought this from my part of the money that we get from the Taiwanese drug syndicates that we encounter before,
It's Dad Manolo's ultimate rule, whatever syndicates or transactions we encounter, we will only get the money, burn the drugs and put the illegal firearms on our secret safe houses.
He said that we can help everyone in need with the money.
We are kinda like Robin hood or something. I smirk on that thought.
I've reached the orphanage in a calculated time, after parking my car to safety, I got out and walk towards the entrance.
The kids in the orphanage runs towards me.
I almost fell down when they hug me while laughing.
"Careful babies..." I laugh while trying to got up after they assaulted me.
"Ash, My God.. I'm glad you visit, Children.. Get off your brother..." Sister Seon happily beams at me after she scolded the children, I for her hand and put it on my forehead as a form of respect.
"I don't have anything to do sister.. How's the children? Looks like they are quite a handful now. So stubborn." I dusted my shirt and open my back pack, I give her the thick envelope with money. "Here's my sponsor sister, spend it anyway you need.. I bought food for today." I pointed the van who followed me, it was loaded with food from a famous fast food chain, My secretary already prepared those before I came here.
"Thank you so much Ash.. This sponsorships that you've been giving is really a big help.. Not go mention that you founded this orphanage.. You're truly an angel." Sister Seon wipe her teary eyes.
I inwardly laugh at the Angel word.
We are actually an Angel.
Angel of death.
I shook my head, I already accepted this fate.
I divert my attention to kids, we feed them and I had fun playing with them. I stayed in the orphanage for three hours.
I remembered Blue again.
***
BLUE'S POV
"Son, not because you graduated with a high honor, you already have a position.. You should start at the bottom. Reach my position in your own striving way and not because you are a son of a high rank official." Dad said on the day of my first job.
He put me as a Private Investigator 1 in National Bureu of Investigation.
I lifted my head with pride and meet his gaze.
"Yes Dad.. I will strive on my own."
"Good luck." he tapped my shoulder.
That's what really happened.
I work on NBI as a normal investigator.
Not as the son of the PNP chief of Staff.
Until the time that I received my special assignment.
I'm so excited and thrilled. Finally after years of sitting and trying to solve any written crimes, Finally.. I'll gotta do some action.
"Velez, the Director wants you."
I hurriedly got up my chair, I'm really bored in this office. It felt like my trainings are wasted. But I can't whine on that, I don't want to risk the pride of my parents.
I make a warning knock before pushing the door of the Director's office.
"Sir. PI Velez. Reporting for duty."
I saluted on him, while he look at me from head to toe. I'm confidently standing there, unbothered.
He saluted at me and pull down his hand first, I followed suit.
It's a rule. If you're paying respect to the higher level officials, don't pull down your hand while doing salutations. Let them to do it first and you will follow.
"Sit down Velez.. I always admire on how you respect your father.. Imagine you agreed to be PI1, in the lower position, though you had a great academic excellence in the University. Well anyway.. All of us went that way. We start from the bottom to the top.. Even your father. So here's a special case for you. This small time organization of Vigilantes are the primary suspects upon the killings of the high profile government employees, senators, governors and many more. They are all notorious. Great..
Each one of them has their own mission, base on our preliminary investigation,
They have their insignias. But in the past months, there's only one member of them remains.. Here's the well known informations about them." He handed me a red folder.
I reached out to get it and open it eagerly.
" OPERATION : ARREST A. K. A KANA"