I revved up my black Ducati and raced past the red sports car. Ang tagal na mula nang maranasan ko muli ang ganoon—speeding up along a traffic-free province road, with the fresh morning air fanning away my denim jacket along with the dark part of my soul. Ni hindi ako nag-aalala kung mahuli akong nag-o-overspeeding as long as I was feeling good.
I heard the frantic beeping of the car’s driver, but I only smirked and let him know I didn’t care. Then I felt my phone vibrate inside my jean’s pocket. I sighed and slowed down a bit. I reached for a button on my helmet and pressed it. The internal speaker and microphone of my helmet activated and I heard a mad voice of a madman.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
I clenched my teeth. What the hell?! May balak pa yata siyang bingihin ako.
“Don’t shout at me! I’m not deaf and for your information, I’m driving!” I shouted back.
“You’re driving beyond the limit! Gusto mo bang makulong for overspeeding?”
I sighed angrily and didn’t answer back. Akala mo kung sinong makapagtanong. Eh, kung tutuusin senior ako ng unggoy na ‘yun. Matanda lang siya ng isang taon sa edad.
“Pull over!” The monkey ordered and ended the call.
I obeyed without arguing. I killed my motorcycle’s engine and get off. Sinipa ko pababa ang stand ng motor at pinatayo iyon. Sumandal ako sa motor at inalis ang suot kong helmet. The air felt sweet on my face, but it could do nothing to ease my irritation. Minsan ko na nga lang magawang mag-drive ng motor ko, may asungot pang pipigil sa akin.
Seconds after, the red sports car halted in front of me and a god came out—a handsome god with a pestering attitude. Handsome, but a pest nonetheless.
“Are you mad?!” tanong niya agad habang palapit sa akin.
I gave him a deadly glare and said, “Itanong mo ‘yan sa sarili mo.”
Isinuklay niya ang mga daliri sa buhok at tiim-bagang akong tinignan. It was one of the rare times I saw him that angry ever since I met him two years ago and unfortunately became my partner in the job.
I told my supervisors that I didn’t need one, but they insisted on appointing the guy as my partner. I had no idea of what they were afraid of—screwing a job I did alone for three years or doing stupid stunts like driving beyond the limit. But whatever, I knew I didn’t need a damn scolding partner.
Apollo Torralba—that’s the monkey’s name—sighed. His good-looking face eased some of his anger and worry. Yeah, I knew he was worried about me getting caught because it would also become his fault. That was one reason I didn’t want a partner. I never wanted for someone to be caught up because of my stupidity and I also never wanted to fend for someone’s.
“Ayoko lang na may mangyari sa ‘yong masama kaya para sa ikapapanatag ng kalooban ko, baka pwedeng bagalan mo lang ang pagpapatakbo mo ng motor.” My stupid heart skipped a beat because of what he said. Dammit! Since the last case we solved, I had been feeling a little giddy around him. “The agency allowed us to work like our normal selves in this mission, but that doesn’t mean na hindi tayo mag-iingat,” he added.
To work like our normal selves. That would never happen. Walang normal sa trabaho namin. Ang magpanggap ang unang kailangan naming gawin para sa trabahong ito at kahit kelan, hindi ‘yun normal.
I sighed, frustrated about myself feeling that way toward that guy and being scolded. I cherished my job so I wouldn’t say anything bad about it although it was difficult.
Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at muling sumakay na lang sa motor ko. I prayed for my silly heart to stop beating fast. I kicked up the motorcycle stand and started the engine.
“I’ll go ahead of you and don’t dare pull such stunt again,” sabi ni Apollo bago sumakay ng kotse niya.
I loved my Ducati better than any car kaya madalang lang ako sumasakay ng kotse liban na siguro nung simula akong magtrabaho ng may kapareha. Pero bago nun, ang motor na ang kasama ko sa mga misyon ko. May kotse rin naman ako, pero ginagamit ko lang ‘yun sa mga araw na hindi ako si Agent 13 at isa lang akong hamak na career woman.
Pinaandar na ni Apollo ang sasakyan nya at nauna na ngang umalis. Sinuot ko na rin ang helmet ko at sumunod. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo nang nag-vibrate uli ang phone ko. I pressed the button on my helmet again.
“What now?” Iritable pa rin na tanong ko.
“We’ll head to the headquarters first.” As expected it was Apollo.
“Okay,” tipid kong sagot.
“Be careful,” he said and ended the call.
Apollo’s feelings for me was not a secret. Every people in the agency knew that, but I barely cared until lately. Pero wala akong oras para sa mga walang kwentang bagay dahil noon pa man isa lang ang goal ko sa buhay. Buti na lang at kontento na ang kumag sa mga pangangantyaw ng mga katrabaho namin at sa mga pang-aasar nya sa akin na ikinabu-bwisit ko lang.
Isa pa, we were the opposite. He was Day and I was Night.
Our organization spoke for its name. It was literally underground.Napapalibutan ng mataas na pader ang headquarters just like the other headquarters in different parts of the country. We gave our passwords before we reached the main and only building which was five kilometres away from the gate. Before they could enter, agents from other headquarters were provided a password through a cryptic message which only the members of the organization could decipher.Apollo parked in front of a huge white mansion. For an outsider’s eyes, it would look like a vacation house of a rich family, but we knew better. I parked my motorcycle next to the sports car. There were other cars too, pero walang ibang motor. Ako lang talaga siguro ang mahilig gumamit ng motor sa trabaho.Sinalubong kami ng dalawang security guards. They were both wearing black t-shirts and black fitted pants na bumabakat sa malalaki nilang katawan. Each had a pistol tucked in their belts.
We don’t yet know what kind of monster the killer or killers are, but we are sure it isn’t human.I stared blankly on the dark horizon before me while my mind drifted off to the far corner of imagination. The case was by far the most ridiculous thing that would ever happen to me.Hindi ko maitatangging naexcite ako ng ibigay nila ang kaso sa amin. Unang beses ko kasi iyon na hahawak ng isang kasong coded Black.All cases the organization handled were sorted according to how dangerous the case was and how much time it required. It was sorted in four colors: White, Grey, Brown and Black. White coded cases were the easiest. Three days was the longest timeframe for those cases to be solved. It also needed only one agent to solve it. Grey coded were the cases that required a week or two. Often it involved one or two agents. Sometimes it required a team. The brown coded ones were the cases which remain unresolved for the long period of time.
The next morning, we went underground after eating breakfast. Kasabay ko si Apollo samantalang nauna na daw si Justin sa amin.Dumiretso kami sa conference room tulad ng bilin ng guwardyang sumalubong sa amin sa labas ng elevator. Wala pa masyadong tao sa building sapagkat maaga pa naman, pero may mga mangilan-ngilan na abala na sa kanya-kanyang opisina at halata mong wala pang mga tulog.Resident agents of every district could go in and out of the establishment depending on them. Minsan may mga field agents na pumapasok lang para magreport ng mga nakukuha nilang impormasyon tungkol sa kasong hinahawakan nila. May iba naman na magre-report lang sa opisina kapag tapos na nila ang kaso. Ang mahalaga matapos nila ang kaso base sa timeframe na inilaan dito.Agents were classified based on their experience. It was not based on age or sa kung gaano ka na katagal sa organisasyon. New recruits were called Novice Agents. Sa kanila ibinibigay ang White coded cases o
The meeting didn’t last long. Xander just discussed what had been included in the folder, but he didn’t mention the ridiculous theory. It was either he didn’t know or he didn’t want to share it with the rest of the team. Like I said, trust no one.After the meeting, Senior Agent 7 led us to our office. Nasa iisang opisina lang kaming apat which was irritating. Buti na lang hindi namin kailangan araw-araw magkita…or so I thought.I checked myself in the mirror one last time before grabbing my handbag and a brown envelope containing my school documents. I was a college student again.Dumiretso na ako sa parking lot kung saan naabutan ko si Apollo na naghihintay. Tulad ko, naka-school uniform din siya. White polo, dark blue slacks at black shoes ang suot niya. Ganoon din ang kulay ng suot ko: white blouse, dark blue pants at black shoes. May idinagdag silang palda sa ‘costume’ ko pero ayokong gamitin ‘yon.
Bago pa man mapatay ni Justin ang makina, nakalabas na ako ng sasakyan. I was fuming!Why on earth didn’t they tell me that the evil brother of mine was also working on that goddamn case?! Why?!Justin came out of his car and faced me. His handsome face was blank and I couldn’t read any expression on it. Or was I just so upset?“Huminahon ka nga!” Utos nya sa akin.“Sino bang hihinahon sa napaka-awkward kong sitwasyon? Oh, please!”“We don’t know yet kung ano ang role rito ng Dominic na ‘yon kaya ‘wag ka ngang aburido diyan. Ilalaglag mo tayo, eh!”Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga. Of course, it was possible that they would seek the help of Dominic in that case. It was a homicide and he was an excellent police detective!“What would I do now? Should I hide every time I see him? At tsaka you just said that you already met him. Then he probably knew you already
Pagkatapos ng klase namin, hindi agad kami nakaalis ng classroom. Sasadyain sana naming magpahuli na lalabas tulad ng mga nakasanayan kaso inulan na agad kami ng interview ng mga kaklase namin.Ang daming tanong—kesyo, saang school daw kami galing, bakit kami lumipat, gaano na katagal ang relasyon namin (na masayang sinagot ni Apollo ng dalawang taon), paano nanligaw sa akin si Apollo, anong pabangong gamit ko, paboritong ulam, pangalan ng aso ko, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. May nag-imbita rin sa amin na umattend ng Acquaintance Party sa darating na byernes ng gabi.Hinayaan ko na si Apollo na sumagot sa mga tanong nila. Matipid na ngiti, tango at iling lang ang isinasagot ko. Kahit na kating-kati na ako lumabas at sundan ang lalaki sa unahan ko, hindi ko na nagawa dahil mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro itong lumabas pagkasabing ‘class dismiss’ ng professor.Paglabas namin ng room (sa wakas!) ay dumiretso kami sa canteen ng college para bumili
“Nickie?”Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko dala ng pinipigilang inis.Lumapit sa amin si Apollo. I swear, kung hindi kami undercover agents sa mga oras na ‘yon malamang nabugbog ka na ang lalaking ‘yon. Siya ang maglalaglag sa amin, eh!“Halika nga,” I grabbed his right arm and tugged him to the stairs. Hindi naman pumalag ang loko. Natigilan kami pagdating namin sa second floor.Puno ng mga naghihintay na mga estudyante ang corridor pag-sapit namin doon. Inilipat ko ang pagkakahawak ko kay Apollo sa kamay niya. I acted as if I was in love although I was really fuming out of rage inside. Magkahawak kamay naming binagtas ang corridor.Pinagtitinginan kami ng ilang mga estudyante kaya hindi ko masesermonan si Apollo. Hinigpitan ko na lang ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya.“You’re hurting me, sweetheart,” matamis na bulong sa akin ni Apollo. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon siguro, natunaw na ak
I kept on running. I tried to fly, but I only succeeded in jumping high before falling again. The rice field seemed to go on forever and they were still in pursuit, then I arrived at a wide yard in front of an old grim-looking wooden house. I went inside and descended a stair. Yes, descended.A smell of something burning welcomed me upon reaching the foot of the stair. I looked around. I saw a four poster bed in the middle of the room. There was a wooden cabinet next to it and a side table on the other side of the bed. I saw a revolver on the table. The room was familiar as if I had been there before.Then I heard a gunshot and the scream of a woman. I turned around, but no one’s there. I could only see smoke. Then someone whispered my name directly in my right ear, “Anicka…”Dala ng pagkabigla, napabalikwas ako ng gising mula sa mesang kinayuyukyukan ng ulo ko at awtomatikong lumipad ang kaliwang kamay ko. Subalit bago pa man luma
I revved up my black Maserati at the same time the song "My Immortal" reached crescendo. The music kept me alert while driving. Mula kasi noong insidente sa lumang laboratory, madalas na akong mawala sa sarili. It wasn't remote viewing. Hindi na nga gumana 'yon mula ng gabing ‘yun, eh. I just...felt lost.It had been two weeks since that night. Apat na araw akong walang malay at nasa ospital. Sa loob ng apat na araw na 'yon, ang daming nangyari. My stepfather was brought to jail for homicide. Umamin siyang sangkot siya at si Raphael sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang ko. Kinupkop daw niya ako out of guilt at araw-araw niya raw pinagbabayaran ang kasalanang iyon. My stepmother didn't bear the news well. Mabuti na lang, nasa ospital pa siya kaya't nabantayan siya ng mga doktor nang malaman ang balita.Raphael was dead. He was cremated two days after para maiwasan na ring pagkainteresan siya ng mga bampira. Although malabong bumalik agad si Jacques Havillard sa ban
We immediately ran to the main building where Xander said they found the hostages (I was still trying to be objective). Nadatnan namin siya sa isang silid na nakaambang sa likuran ng main building kung nasaan ang tambakan ng mga lumang laboratory and hospital equipment."Where are they?" Bungad ni Dominic. Lalapit sana siya sa bintanang kinaroroonan ni Xander, pero pinigilan ko siya. Baka masira niya ang diskarte ng The Hunter."Andoon sila sa gitna ng tambak ng mga sirang gamit." Sagot naman nito nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa telescopic scope ng sniper rifle niya. "Strapped on an operating table with wires connecting to heart monitors and bags of IV fluid injected to each of them. They're alive, but unconscious."So they were treated like the man we saw in a laboratory on the third building. Anong gagawin sa kanila?"Thank you. I got a picture." Sabi ko at pumihit patungo sa pinto."Saan ka pupunta?" Pigil sa akin ni Justin."I'll
Pinuri ko sa isip ang galing ng Gemini sa paghahanap ng ginamit naming mapa ng lugar. The place was accurately the same as the one on the map they obtained from some 'resources'.There were three buildings: one was the main building that formerly housed the offices. Nasa gitna iyon ng lugar. Beside it on the eastern part was the second laboratory. Nasa west ang unang lab. Sabi ni Alexander, maaaring nasa isa sa dalawang laboratory ang mga 'hostages'.I was being objective to focus more on the mission. Mukhang ganun din ang ginawa ng kapatid ko.Anyway, the first team (the Gemini, Agents 67 and 91) entered the main building; Xander and his group on the west lab; and kaming apat sa east lab. The teenagers played their part as well. They divided themselves into smaller groups of three and dispersed. Then the hunt began.Justin led our team while I brought the rear as we penetrated the east lab. There was no noise except for the slight sound our steps m
Agent Zero's office was in the last floor of the building. It was anything I expected, wide and white. Aakalain mong nasa langit ka na kapag tumapak ka sa opisina niya.She offered us to sit, pero walang umupo sa amin. We were too agitated to sit. A trip to her office was another lost of our precious time, but we just couldn't argue with her, could we? Kahit pa nga hindi buo ang tiwala namin sa kanya bilang mukhang may kinalaman din siya sa mga nangyayari bilang si Helena Soriano.Agent Zero leaned on her table and looked directly at me. "I believe you already know where the diamond is.""I do." Walang gatol kong sagot. Ramdam kong pinagtinginan ako nina Justin at Alexander."Good. Then we have nothing to worry about. Kailangan mo lang makuha 'yon."I smirked and shook my head. Ridiculous. "No."Lumukot ang mukha niya, hindi na naitago ang pagkadismaya. "You're being stubborn. Your family's lives are at stake! Bakit ayaw mong makipag-c
"Mga bampira rin ba?" Tanong ko kay Xander."No. And they're waiting for someone." He said, boring his eyes on me.With that look in his eyes, I already knew the answer, but I still asked. "Who?""Ikaw."Napapalatak ako. Pinagsiklop ko ang mga braso ko sa ibabaw ng aking sikmura at sumandal din sa dingding. Tsaka ko na-realize, hindi pa pala ako naliligo. Haayyy..."My life sucks." Himutok ko na lang. Hindi pa rin maka-get over ang utak ko sa nangyari sa amin sa kuta ng kulto, nadagdagan na naman ng panibagong alalahanin.May naghihintay nang sasakyan sa labas ng building pagbaba namin. Iyon ang nagdala sa amin patungo sa District Zero.Pagdating naman doon, dumiretso na kami sa conference room kung saan namin naabutan ang ilang miyembro ng The Furies liban kina Agent Three, Dos, Agustin at Yu. Naroon din ang kapatid kong mukhang tumanda ng sampung taon sa loob lamang ng ilang araw. Saglit kaming nagpalitan ng tingin. No smiles.
As soon as I asked the question, they started laying out their plans. Inis na napailing lang si Justin, pero hindi na siya nag-komento. Si Xander naman, ayun. At home na at home. Aakalain mong myembro din siya ng "law group" kuno na 'yon.Hindi pa nagtatagal, nagtatalo-talo na naman 'yung tatlo. Si Dos naman, tahimik na nakikinig at mahinahon na nagbibigay ng opinyon. The worst was Senator Cortez. Napaka-close minded niya. Kaya marahil naisip kanina ni Justin na maaari ngang sarilinin ng grupo 'yung itim na bato.Huh. And I began to wonder bakit mainit ang dugo niya sa senador.Naramdaman kong may tumapik sa akin kaya't nilingon ko ang katabi kong si Alexander. Mataman siyang nakatingin sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo."Ang lalim ng iniisip mo, ah." Aniya na ikinagulat ko.Nasa kabilang dulo kami ng mahabang mesa, medyo malayo sa mga nagtatalo-talo. Marami pang bakanteng upuan kaya't nakapagtataka rin na tumabi siya sa akin. Eh, si Justin ng
We flew to God-knows-where. Eh, malay ko naman. Parang google map lang ang natatanaw ko mula sa himpapawid. All I knew was that we landed atop a building.Pagbaba namin, natanaw ko agad ang mga nagtataasang building na nababalot ng maitim na smog. It was the indication that we were in the city. In the Lion's den perhaps? Pero sabi ng leon, patungo kami sa "Scorpion's Lair" though there's no Scorpion in PUGITA. None that I knew of anyway.Walang imikan kaming pumasok ng building. Nagpatiuna si Dos sa paglalakad kaya't lumakas ang hinuha kong alam niya ang lugar. Nakasunod lang ako sa kanila ni Xander nang marinig kong magsalita si Justin sa tabi ko."That's weird." Aniyang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Dos.Saglit ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin bago ako nagpatuloy sa pagmamasid ng paligid. Kanina pa ako binabagabag, eh. Kahit nung nasa Singko pa kami."Which is?" Tanong ko na lang kay Justin."Earlier in District Five. Those who fired at
Magtatanghali na nang makarating kami sa mainland. Pagbaba namin sa pantalan, natanaw ko agad ang pamilyar na itim na Audi at ang may-ari nitong akala mo ay nagshu-shooting ng commercial dahil sa porma."What's up, Villanueva?" Bati ni Justin kay Xander na umayos ng tayo pagkakita sa aming papalapit.Nakasuot ito ng puting t-shirt na napapatungan ng itim na hooded jacket. Tinernuhan niya iyon ng fit denim jeans at itim na military boots. Kinumpleto pa ng suot niyang dark shades ang get-up niya. Para talaga siyang mag-po-photoshoot kung hindi mo lang mapapansin ang baril na nakasuksok sa kanyang kaliwang tagiliran."Sinundo ko na kayo para sabay-sabay na tayong pumunta dun." Aniya at napansin si Alexander. "Santiago." Matipid nyang bati rito.Tinanguan lang sya nito."Dala ko 'yung private helicopter ni Dos. Naka-park sa helipad ng hotel." Aniya.Oo nga pala. Marunong sya magpalipad ng helicopter at eroplano. May lisensiya din 'yon, eh.
I woke up disoriented. Hindi ko agad naalala kung nasaan ako. I was still feeling scared and at the same time, lonely.Hindi natapos sa pagkamatay ng aking mga magulang ‘yung panaginip. It was a long shitty one. It was like a walk back to all the things that happened in my life – a frightening walk.May isa roon noong seventh birthday ko. A woman came in the house. Kilala siya nina Daddy Samuel at Ninong Raphael. Remembering it now, I just realized the woman was Helena De Leon-Soriano.“Two days.”Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. Nakaupo sa sahig katabi ng papag na kinahihigaan ko si Justin. Tsaka ko naalala na nasa isang kubo kami sa may Mt. Bandilaan.Bumangon na ako at pinasadahan ng tingin ang kasama ko. Mukhang kagigising lang din niya dala ng magulo pa ang kanyang buhok.“Anong two days?” tanong ko sa kanya.Sinalubong niya ang aking tingin. “Two days tayong wala sa mundo. Nauna lang a