Chapter 2

We got back safely in New York. Pagkarating namin ay agad kaming nagpunta sa La Corde kung saan kami nagtatrabaho bilang mga agents. Naibigay na rin namin ang GEMS sa mga scientist at pinag-aaralan na ito nang iniwan namin sa kanila.

La Corde is a legal but secret organization that assists the National Bureau of Investigation, the CIA, and the FBI from several countries. We've been taught to capture anyone who makes a mistake, breaks the law, or does anything else. Because our agency employs the best agents, some individuals are curious about the organization. At gusto rin nilang magtrabaho ang mga agents sa kanila.

"Where's Dad?" tanong ni Summer na kakarating lang sa office.

His dad, Tito Sebastian, is the owner of the La Corde and Summer is his youngest daughter, and the heir of this organization. He's the one giving us the mission.

"Kinausap pa siya ng mga scientist. Pabalik na rin siguro," sagot ni Wayne habang nakahiga sa sofa.

Sa sobrang lawak ng office ni Tito Sebastian ay parang ginagawa lang naming tambayan ang lugar. Though pinapagalitan niya kami kung minsan dahil office niya ito pero ginagawa lang namin na tambayan. Tito Sebastian's office has the most rigorous security, and no one except us is permitted to enter.

We, as agents, have headquarters in several areas of New York. We also have our room, where we could be alone. We also have a meeting room that only we have access to for ourselves and most of the agents to have their quarters.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na rin si Tito Sebastian. Agad namang umayos ng upo si Wayne dahil papagalitan 'yan kapag nakahiga pa rin. Masyado kasing pa señorito ang mokong.

"So, how's the mission?" pangangamusta niya muna sa amin saka umupo sa swivel chair niya.

"Exhausting! I haven't been to the bar in about a month, Tito. You know, I missed the aroma of the booze. Plus, wala akong nakuhang glow-up. The only glow-up that I get is the bruises!"

Britney caught a cushion I threw in her direction. This girl has no intention of keeping her mouth shut. Natawa na lang si Tito Sebastian sa sinabi ni Britney.

"I'm asking about the mission, not about your life in the bar,” pambabasag ni Tito Sebastian.

Britney pouted as she stomped her feet on the floor. "Tito naman! Siyempre nakakapagod, 'no! Ikaw ba naman ang maghabol ng mga criminal 'tapos sa huli tatakbo rin lang. Nakakapagod kayang tumakbo!" She fixed her bangs. "At nakakapagod ding maghabol!"

Natawa lalo si Tito sa reklamo ni Britney habang kaming tatlo naman ay napapailing. Kung hindi ko lang talaga ito kaibigan, kanina ko pa siya naitulak ng building. Walang preno ang bibig at akala mo naman hindi Boss ang kinakausap.

"How about you, Exis? I heard that a guy saw your face. What happened?" Sa akin naman ngayon natuon ang atensyon. Those three were already aware of what had happened.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "My mask was pulled off when he attacked me. Hindi ko na napansin na nahulog na ang maskara ko." Napakagat ako ng labi. “And, as always, I dispatched them.” My voice became cold as winter, and no expression could be seen in my face.

I know I shouldn't be killing them, but everyone, even my enemies, will find me if they start talking. Sobrang init ng mga mata ng mga kalaban ko sa akin. They either wanted me dead or wanted me to engage in something criminal with them. And I'm not like it. So, as long as no one can locate me, it's better this way.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay pinauwi na kami ni Tito pagkatapos ng kumustahan na nangyari at para na rin makapagpahinga. He'll delegate the assignment to the other agents and provide us with a one-month vacation. Pambawi sa halos dalawang buwan naming palipat-lipat ng bansa.

Nakatulog agad ako pagkahiga ko sa kama. Nagising na lang ako dahil sa isang tawag. Sinagot ko ito at hindi na tiningnan ang caller's ID.

"You came back?" It was Eli's voice, who was also a member of Black Rose.

Black Rose is made up of twenty people. There are fifteen guys and five girls. Since we were teenagers, we've all been buddies, and we all went to school to become agents. Our parents were first reluctant, but they agreed to let us be agents after seeing how persistent we were.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit tumatawag itong lalaking 'to. Eli and the rest of the team are on a mission as well. Since we are twenty, we rarely have to be on one mission. Pero ayos lang. Kapag nagsama-sama ang lahat, paniguradong may riot na magaganap. Paligsahan kung paligsahan kahit magkakaibigan pa kami.

"Yeah. So, please stop bothering me. I'm sleepy," I spoke and then hung up. I didn't even bother to bid Eli goodbye. Bumalik na lang ako sa pagtulog.

Someone rang the doorbell a few days later when I was working out. I peeked through the peephole to see who was ringing the doorbell, but when I realized no one was there, my brows furrowed. I suppose my neighborhood's children were once again playing. Tsk, tsk.

Bumalik ako sa pagwo-workout at wala pang isang minuto ko sa push-ups, isa pang tunog ng doorbell ang narinig ko. Pinisil ko ang iong ko para pakalmahin ang sarili.

"Alexis, it's too early to get annoyed. Not now, okay? They're just a kid. Keep your cool, Alexis." Ilang beses akong huminga ng malalim para lamang pakalmahin ang sarili.

Pero naging sunod-sunod ang pagdo-doorbell kaya padabog kong binuksan ang pintuan ng condo ko. But to surprise, walang tao. Are they playing on me? Come on! Papasok na sana ulit ako nang may napansin akong box sa ibaba, sa tapat mismo ng pintuan ng condo ko. Nangunot ang noo ko habang tinitingnan 'yon.

What the hell is this? Kanino naman ito galing? Did someone send this to me? Or is it Eli that's why he contacted me last night and asked me if I was home already?

Maybe.

But he's not that kind of person. Kung may ibibigay siya ay sa personal niya ia-abot at hindi niya ipapa-package. Dinoble kong tiningnan ang box kung kanino galing ngunit walang pangalan ang nakalagay. Para makasigurado ay tinawagan ko si Eli. Pumasok muna ako sa loob at pinatong ito sa lamesita. Hindi rin nagtagal ay sinagot niya rin ito.

"Yow, did you sleep well?" Although he was still on a mission, he was able to respond.

"Yeah. Perhaps, did you send me a package?" I asked while looking at it.

"Huh? Anong package? I wou—"

"Sh*t!" Agad kong pinatay ang tawag saka nagmamadaling buksan ang box.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang picture kung saan may hawak akong baril habang nakatingin sa isang bangkay. These pictures happened during our raid in Morocco, and this person saw my face! I'm relatively sure about it!

Tiningnan ko pa ang ibang mga picture. Nakuha ang side kung saan kitang-kita ang mukha ko at ibang mga anggulo. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. My instincts had been correct all along! Someone else had recognized me!

I dialed Wayne's number right away. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya ngayon. I'm not confident if he'll even pick up the phone. We seldom see one other on vacations, and we usually switch off our phones so that no one can reach us.

"Come on, answer it!" Kinakabahang saad ko. Paikot-ikot ako sa living room habang hindi mapakali. Napapakagat ako ng kuko ko dahil sa kaba.

In that circumstance, how could anyone recognize me? Then I recalled the CCTV, although, at the time, Wayne was the one who was hacking it and deleted all the footage of CCTV.

"Why?"

"Oh, goodness! Thank you for answering your goddamn phone!" I was on the verge of yelling on the phone.

"Ano bang problema? Nasa bakasyon kaya ako—"

"Are you sure you took down all of the recordings from our Morocco raid?" pamumutol ko sa kanyang sasabihin habang naninigurado.

"Yup. Is there something wrong?" Wayne questioned.

I bit the inside of my bottom lip. Nagdadalawang-isip kung sasabihin ko ba na baka may nakakita sa akin. That person also has a photo of me without the mask.

Even though he couldn't see it, I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm just making it sure. I'm being cautious, you know."

But I decided not to tell him. I'm still investigating to see whether anyone spotted me that day. Kapag sinabi ko ay mag-aalala lang siya at baka magsumbong pa siya. This is my problem. I must resolve it on my own.

"Call me if anything happens."

Kinagabihan ay lumabas ako sa condo ko para makalanghap ng sariwang hangin. Ilang araw din akong nagkukulong doon. Nagpapadeliver na lang ako ng mga pagkain kapag wala ako sa mood magluto.

Kasalukuyan akong nasa beach ngayon. Hindi gaano karami ang mga tao ngayon. Tumayo ako't naglakad-lakad sa gilid ng karagatan habang nasa loob ng jacket ang mga kamay ko at dinadama ang lamig ng hangin.

This is one of my best-loved feelings while on vacation. Whether it's day or night, I usually go to the beach. Kapag hindi ako makapag-isip ng husto o 'di kaya'y gusto kong mapag-isa ay nagpupunta ako sa beach. When I go to the beach, it feels so good. All my life's worries suddenly faded away.

Kung minsan naman nagpupunta ako sa library para i-relax ang sarili. Others may think it odd, but I don't. Kung minsan din ay nagpupunta rin ako sa computer shop para maglaro. It's just a habit I've developed over the years, especially since most of our friends were guys.

Habang naglalakad ay may nakabanggaan ako. Sa lakas ng impact ng pagkakabangga namin sa isa't-isa ay napaupo ako sa buhangin.

"Ouch," daing ko habang nakatingin sa kamay ko na may gasgas. Tumama ito sa bato nang mapaupo ako sa buhangin.

"Oh, my goodness! Are you fine?” Boses babae. Nakahoodie ito kaya hindi ko nakikita ang kanyang mukha.

She extended her hands, which I took as she assisted me in standing. I would express my gratitude to her when she said something that made me shudder. I quickly let go.

"We've finally met, Exis."