CHAPTER 4: Training in Secret, Hiding in Silk

CHAPTER 4: Training in Secret, Hiding in Silk

“Aanhin ang ganda ng silk kung 'di ka marunong manakit?”

Zeyna muttered as she stared at herself in the mirror. Wearing another expensive lace dress, pearl earrings, and slippers na parang hindi bagay sa assassin.

She turned to the side and lifted her arm.

Flabby. Mahina. Mabagal.

“Celestina, anong diet mo before? Hope and tears?”

Napailing siya.

Pero hindi siya susuko. She wasn’t Zeyna Valez for nothing.

Secret Training: Night One.

11:47 PM.

Tahimik ang buong Alfero estate. The guards were switching shifts. The cameras were all focused on perimeter zones. Perfect window for Zeyna to sneak out.

Nakasuot siya ng itim na hoodie na ninakaw niya mula sa laundry. Pajama pants. At isang fake ID ng isang cleaner na "accidentally" nawala sa system.

She slipped out of her wing and made her way to the abandoned greenhouse sa likod ng estate.

Walang pumupunta ro’n. Hindi dahil haunted — pero dahil luma na ang lugar at laging may ahas daw.

“Cute,” she whispered. “I like snakes.”

The place was dusty. Sira ang glass panels. Overgrown na ang vines. Pero may enough space for what she needed.

Movement. Control. Recovery.

She set down the small mat she brought. Tiningnan ang sarili sa reflection ng glass.

“I’m not strong yet,” she told herself. “Pero araw-araw, I’ll fix that.”

She breathed in.

At nagsimula.

Push-up.

Isa lang muna.

Then dalawa.

Then sampu.

Aray.

She collapsed face-first.

“Tangina… I miss my abs.”

Sit-ups.

Four lang ang kaya niya bago sumakit ang likod niya.

Pero tiniis niya.

She did squats next — hanggang sa nanginginig na ang tuhod niya.

Bruises. Sakit ng kalamnan. Pawis. Lupa. Dust.

Pero habang hinahabol niya ang hininga niya, ngumiti siya.

“Good. That means I’m alive.”

The next day.

In public?

Celestina looked exactly the same.

Mabagal lumakad. May yaya pa rin sa gilid. Tahimik. Parang lost princess.

But beneath the long sleeves, may bagong bruises. Bagong cuts. Bagong lakas.

At lunch, she noticed something strange.

A few guards were suddenly nicer to her.

One even refilled her water without being told.

Another offered to carry her umbrella papunta sa garden.

Hmm.

She was being watched.

That night, balik ulit siya sa greenhouse.

This time, may dala siyang dumbbell na binili niya online. Secret delivery.

Training ulit.

Push. Pull. Jab. Dodge. Breathe.

And while she trained, she kept talking to herself — sa tono ng commander.

“Strike clean. Stay light. Don’t hesitate.”

SLAM!

Accidentally, she elbowed a pot behind her and knocked it over.

CRASH!

She froze.

“Shit.”

Steps. Distant voices.

“May narinig ka?”

“Oo. Dito sa greenhouse.”

Panic? Nope.

Zeyna ducked under the table, rolled to the back, and slipped out through the broken side panel. Nag-slide siya sa ilalim ng halaman.

Covered in dirt, bruised, and sweaty, she whispered:

“This is not how mafia princesses should look. But whatever.”

Back in her room.

“Celestina, bakit parang galing kang gubat?” tanong ng yaya niya.

“Hmm? Ah… nag-meditate lang sa nature,” she smiled.

“Eh bakit may damo ka sa buhok?”

“Kasi I was one with the grass, yaya. Chill.”

That night, habang nakahiga, tinitigan ni Zeyna ang kisame.

She was starting to feel it again.

Her body — though weak — was slowly listening to her again.

Her mind — still sharp.

Her soul — ready to kill.

At habang sinasabi ng buong mafia world na si Celestina Alfero ang pinaka-kahihiyan sa lahat…

Zeyna whispered to herself:

“I’ll make them choke on their words.”

Somewhere far away…

Inside a dimly-lit office, a man in a black suit sat in silence.

Reading documents. Watching faces.

His gaze paused on a photo.

“Celestina Alfero,” he murmured.

Emotionless. Still. Cold.

But for some strange reason, he looked again.

And this time, he didn’t turn the page.

END OF CHAPTER 4

✨ Chapter 5: “The First of the Four” — Coming Next! (Introducing the first second male lead)

Author's note!! [Ano kayang mangyayari sa susunod na chapter? Hulaan niyo ay HAHAHA]

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