CHAPTER 23

I just stared blankly at the dark sea while leaning on the railings of my room's balcony. I didn't know that the back of Atlas' house was near a cliff, and below it was the sea. It was probably a good decision of his to choose this as my room because I can meditate here.

I can still rest tomorrow before my actual training with Oceanus.

Should I drink Enervon tomorrow night? So I'll be more energetic on the day of my practice? Should I take an alaxan now so my body won't ache?

I just shook my head at my thoughts. I couldn't think of anything else to do tomorrow besides rest because I still feel tired. It's already late at night. and I should be resting, but I can't sleep. My body feels strange.

I sat down on the empty chair, my gaze fixed on the dark sea. I opened my phone and took a picture of the dark ocean. On the left side, there was the beach and small, glowing lights. I could also see other people who seemed to be enjoying themselves. There must be a party happening on the beach.

I went back to my seat to look at the photo. A smile crept onto my lips when I saw that the picture turned out well. I opened iMessage, where Raf and I used to talk. I knew I must look crazy doing this because sometimes I would send him texts even though I knew he wouldn't reply.

I paused mid-typing when I remembered something. My shoulders slumped as I realized that I was already dead in the Philippines.

"How can I text you now?" I said sadly.

My last text to him was on the last day before it was announced that I was gone. As usual, there was no reply. He became like my personal diary. I sighed and went inside my room. I made sure to lock the sliding glass door and pull the black curtains before lying down on the bed to rest.

My eyelids were getting heavy. I really needed to sleep. I looked at our conversation for the last time until I finally closed my eyes due to exhaustion. But I couldn't help but notice that my last text to him suddenly moved.

Read.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Are you okay, Sarah?"

I blinked when I heard Oceanus' voice. We stood in the front yard, observing him as he tilled the soil around Atlas' plants. If I didn't know Oceanus, I wouldn't think he was working for Atlas. He was just simply dressed, or maybe that's just how they are? He was transferring the large flowers to bigger containers so they could grow there.

"Y-yeah, why?" I asked, stuttering. Until now, I couldn't get out of my mind what I saw last night. He still had it on read.

Maybe someone opened his phone? But it's still questionable because I know his phone probably broke when the accident happened.

I stood there like a statue beside him, watching what he was doing. Atlas hasn't been in his villa since morning, so it was just Oceanus and me.

"Are you sure? It looks like you're not okay," he replied while tilling the soil.

"I'm just missing someone," I lied. But I immediately stopped myself. It seemed like I wasn't lying because I really am missing someone.

I heard his soft laugh, and he shook his head. Silence filled the air once more before he finally spoke.

"I know you're looking for Atlas. He's just downtown because he needs to see Ismael there."

"Why?" I asked and approached him.

He stood up and took off his garden gloves and gave me a small smile. "Ismael is asking for an update on the drugs he sent last month. He can't be at ease if he only reads it in his email, he wants it to come directly from Ismael."

I just nodded. "I see."

"Yes," he gestured for me to follow him after he finished cleaning up. It was also quick because I helped him. "Let's get inside. I'll make something for us to eat."

I just nodded in response and followed him until we reached the open area of Atlas' villa kitchen. I rested my chin on the kitchen island while watching Oceanus make quesadillas.

"Is Atlas that hands-on with his work?" I asked him as I watched him cook.

He made the quesadillas quickly because the shredded beef was already cooked. He just heated the tortilla in a flat pan, and there were already different fillings inside.

He placed the cooked food on the kitchen island and sat on the empty chair in front of me before answering.

"Yes. And I know there are new drugs coming in, that's why Atlas needs to be there with Ismael. There seems to be a big drug distribution in Tepito. He needs to check it carefully to avoid any problems," he replied and took a bite of the quesadilla.

"Tepito?" I asked.

He nodded and pointed to the food in front of us, telling me to take some. I just followed what he said because my stomach was already growling.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mention that Tepito is a very infamous place for black markets." He leaned closer to me as if someone else could hear us even though it was just the two of us. "Ismael and Atlas have a drug cartel here in Mexico. The Guzcazo Cartel, or Cartel De Guzcazo, also known as the GUZMAN-COLLAZO Organization, it's like a Federation or Blood Alliance, and their organization is a large and international organized crime syndicate based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. They specialize in illegal drug trafficking and money laundering."

My eyebrows furrowed at what he said. So that means Atlas is involved in two organizations. El Orden Del Abismo and the organization he and Ismael have called Cartel De Guzcazo.

"I didn't know Atlas could work for two organizations."

He shrugged. "I guess it's possible. Besides, Atlas is more focused on El Orde Del Abismo than on their drug cartel with Ismael. As far as I know, Ismael met Atlas here in Mexico, I don't know how Atlas ended up here. I also heard that Atlas has a great potential in making drugs. Atlas is a graduate of BSC, summa cum laude."

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry? I couldn't help but be impressed. It's no wonder he has this kind of job. He's good at making drugs, it's just that he used it for the wrong thing.

"It seems like Atlas has gotten too attached to his drug cartel with Ismael, so he can't let go. That's why the Guzman Cartel became the Guzcazo Cartel because they are the ones leading it."

I nodded at his story. I ended up drinking the orange juice that Oceanus gave me because of what he was saying. I became even more curious about Atlas. It seems like he has a lot of hidden things that you can't understand.

I wiped my lips before speaking again. "Where did you hear that? Did Atlas tell you?"

He's Atlas's right-hand man, so maybe they're close, and Atlas told him that. It seems like Oceanus has been working for him for a long time because he feels really at home here in Atlas's villa.

"No. I just heard it from their men in the drug cartel. I also visit them because sometimes Atlas tells me to check new drug packages," he replied and chuckled softly.

I just shook my head. "I didn't know you were so nosy," I whispered softly.

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

I've eaten quesadillas several times now. It's really delicious, and it looks like it will be my favorite food while I'm here in Mexico. I was holding the quesadilla in my right hand as we walked along the beach with Oceanus.

This is the beach I saw while looking out from my room's balcony. I couldn't help but look at my feet sinking into the sand. Oceanus and I are now sitting on a large wooden log that looks like it was washed ashore by the waves. It's old, but it's still sturdy enough to sit on.

We decided to hang out and relax here. We've been walking for a few minutes because he was also giving me a tour. So far, he's only taken me to places near Atlas' villa.

"If I were you, you should think of your code name while they're processing your data," Oceanus suddenly said.

His voice was a bit loud because of the loud music coming from behind us where other people were having fun. It's like an open club here on the beach.

"Why?" I asked, frowning and taking a bite of my food. "Do I need that too?"

He nodded and swallowed his food before speaking. "Yes. It's needed. Because you're not allowed to tell your true name. You need to make your own code name, Sarah. It would be better if you think of your code name early, so that if Atlas asks for it later, you'll have something ready to give."

I just sighed and finished eating. A few minutes later, he excused himself to buy us something to drink. And now I'm just watching the sun slowly setting, the sea in front of me is almost the same color as the sun. The sea is calm, and it's accompanied by the chirping of birds that I can hear even though the music is loud in the open beach bar behind me.

"I noticed that your code names are related to Greek gods," I said when Oceanus returned to my side.

He handed me the coconut shake he was holding. I drank it immediately because I was also thirsty.

"It was Cronus' idea. So that we can have a trademark in headquarters. For example, if one of our code names is mentioned in their meeting agenda, they will immediately think of our factions. He's cool, right?"

I just smiled and nodded.

"He's so vain. He wants to be different."

I suddenly turned to him and then to our surroundings because of what he said. Isn't he afraid that someone from Cronus' men might be watching us? And yet he's saying things like that. It's like whatever comes to his mind, he'll say it right away without hesitation.

"Your mouth has no filter, huh? What if one of Cronus' men hears you? What if they're watching you," I whispered softly to him.

He frowned at me. "Huh? Why would Cronus do that?" After a while, he laughed at what I said and shook his head as he spoke. "It's true that he's vain, so believe what I said."

I ended up drinking my coconut shake again and didn't argue with him.

"We share a similar fate with Atlas, Sarah," he suddenly said.

When I turned to him, he was now looking at the vast ocean. The sun had completely set, and it was dark in our spot. Thankfully, there were small lights hanging near the tree beside us, so it wasn't completely dark here.

"He's the one who pays my tuition fee until I graduate from college. After that, he requested that I need to work under him. Because I wanted to get away from my abusive father, I agreed. And before that happened, I killed my father, and Atlas helped me to turn the story around. As a thank you, I agreed to him and started working here at El Orden Del Abismo," he explained.

It seems like Atlas is a decent boss since Oceanus has worked here for so long, or maybe there's no one else who could replace him, so he had no choice. I blinked at my thought. Why am I thinking about that? I just shook my head and cleared my throat.

"Is Atlas a good boss?" I asked softly.

He nodded quickly. He threw the empty shake container in the trash bin, and it went in perfectly.

"Yes. He's hands-on with his employees, even though sometimes he's a bit asshole."

My eyes widened at what he said.

"What are you talking about? Stop saying things like that. I'm scared of you. Atlas might shoot you suddenly."

"Why? What I'm saying is true. You think he's going to go through menopause because he's so grumpy or always seems angry, but he's actually kind."

"Can you say it again, Oceanus."

Oceanus and I were both stunned in our seats when we heard Atlas' voice. We looked at each other for a few seconds before turning to him. My heart was pounding so hard.

"A-Atlas. You're already here, I thought you'd be back tomorrow because you still have something to do with Ismael." Oceanus stuttered and suddenly asked him about something else.

I saw Atlas cross his arms in front of Oceanus before looking at me. I swallowed hard and raised both my hands as if surrendering. I pointed at Oceanus and myself, then shook my head to say that I was out of it because Oceanus was just being talkative.

"I said, Can you say it again?" Atlas said emphatically. Oceanus didn't say anything and just smiled awkwardly at Atlas. "Oceanus."

"Yeah, yeah. You're asshole," Oceanus replied quickly when Atlas mentioned his code name in a serious tone.

Then I saw a smile play on Atlas' lips, and he nodded at us.

"That's good. Let's go home. We need a lot of rest," Atlas emphasized the last part of his statement and turned away from us to walk ahead.

"Shit," I heard Oceanus curse loudly.

What's going on?

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

It was only four in the morning when the three of us were already on the beach. Oceanus was beside me, wearing a black compressed shirt and black gym shorts. Atlas, on the other hand, was only wearing a white tank top and black gym shorts. As for me, I was wearing the oversized black shirt I brought and black biker shorts. I was confused and kept glancing between the two of them because of what was happening.

I thought Oceanus was going to be my trainer today!?

"Start your jogging now. 10 laps for you, Sarah, and 25 laps for Oceanus."

10 laps?!

My eyes widened as I looked at Atlas. Oceanus was about to open his mouth to speak, but Atlas cut him off.

"I'm asshole, right? Now go ahead, start doing what I told you, and I might add more," Atlas said seriously.

"I won't complain, Atlas," Oceanus replied and smiled at him. "It's nice to sweat again. Thank you."

I just swallowed and looked down at the sand. Jogging would be even harder because both Oceanus and I were on the sand. I hope I could last the 10 laps. Just thinking about it, I might just collapse on the sand from exhaustion.

Oceanus was so talkative last night, I think I got dragged into this!

"Start now," Atlas said seriously.

I had no choice but to follow Oceanus in jogging when I heard what Atlas said.

SHANGPU