Chapter 27

Andrius Lexton's POV

"Mukhang huli na tayo," sabi ni Clinton habang pinapalibot ang paningin sa kabuuan ng lugar na kinaroroonan namin ngayon.

"Wala akong makita na nanlaban sila or what. Nasa ayos ang lahat ng bagay sa loob..." sabi naman ni Brimme na kagagaling lang sa loob ng maliit na bahay.

"Are you sure that they are here?" Lumapit ako sa may pintuan at yumuko. 

"Oo, may mga bangko at lamesa sa likod. Doon siya nakaupo sa litrato habang nakatingin sa kalangitan 'di ba?" 

Kinuha ko ang isang piraso ng papel na nasa sahig. The paper was crashed, and it looks like someone step on it. 

"Damn, bakit nila nalaman na pupunta tayo rito? Sinong traydor sa ating tatlo, hah?!" Hindi ko pinansin ang patutsada ni Clinton at binuksan ang nakalukot na papel.

'Someone that close to your heart.' 

That's what the letter said. Did someone accidentally throw this? O' may tao talagang sinadyang naglagay nito rito? Either of the two, we need to seek something. Kahit isang clue lang kung saan sila dinala o' sino ang nagkuha sa kanila.

"Someone that close to your heart? What does this thing mean?" Kinuha ni Brimme ang papel sa kamay ko at sinipat-sipat ito.

"Hindi ko alam, but one thing is for sure, hindi lang isa ang naghahanap kay Sheiha, marami tayo." 

"Guys! Punta kayo rito!" rinig naming sigaw ni Clinton mula sa malayo. Mga isa o' dalawang kilometro ata ang layo mula sa bahay. 

Agad naman kaming tumakbo ni Brimme at pinuntahan si Clinton. Nang makarating kami sa may maliit na harden, may tinuro si Clinton sa likod ng puno.

"A basket... full of ripe vegetables?" Clinton hummed, "But... someone was hiding here last night. Nakita rin kaya siya?" Kinuha ni Brimme ang basket at tinumba ito.

Kung sino man ang gumamit ng basket na 'to, hindi niya alam na may papel sa loob na nakasalupit sa gilid. When Brimme open the second paper we found and just like the other one, there's a letter inside.

"She's safe. She is with someone who'll keep her safe," pagbasa ni Brimme sa sulat. 

Kumunot ang noo ko. Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nagtataka at naguguluhan sa kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng sulat. Kung sino ang tinutukoy nitong ligtas.

"Is she pertaining to Sheiha?" Kinuha ni Clinton ang papel mula sa kamay ni Brimme.

Huminga ng malalim si Brimme at tumayo, "Wala na sila rito."

"Teka, may numero sa ibaba." 

Lumapit kami kay Clinton at tiningnan ang sinasabi niya. Tama nga siya. May maliit na numero sa ibaba ng sulat. Kung hindi mo sisipatin ng maayos, hindi mo ito makikita.

"Wow, isang importanteng bagay ay nakaligtaan ni Brimme! One point for me, hehehe...." Umingos lang si Brimme at nilabas ang cellphone para tawagan ang numero.

"This number is familiar though..." opinyon ni Clinton. When I look at the number again, it does seems familiar.

"May sumagot na," inilayo ni Brimme ang cellphone sa tainga niya at ini-on ang speaker.

We gathered in circle and wait for the person on the line to speak. After a minute, we heard a familiar man's voice.

"Hello, Brimme?" 

Nagkatinginan kami, gulat sa narinig.

"Damon...?"

____

"Where's Sheiha?" Iyon agad ang bungad ni Brimme. 

We trapped Damon on a place where the four of us are the only human specie there.

"Hindi ko alam," the way he speak, malalim ang iniisip niya.

"Alam na namin na nakasama mo si Sheiha! Someone told us." Tiningnan lang ni Damon si Clinton at pinalis ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kwelyo niya.

"Dapat ngayon alam niyo na kung sino ako at si Dane. Kung ano ang pagkakaiba naming dalawa," Inayos nito ang nakusot na suot na jacket. Isa-isa kami nitong tiningnan, "You three are pathetic."

"Anong sabi mo?" Pinigilan ko agad ang akmang pagsugod ni Clinton.

"Let him explain first," I suggest.

Pumiksi si Clinton sa pagkakahawak ko at tumalikod sa amin. He is frustrated as I do, but I won't show it. Iba mag-isip si Damon kay Dane. When Damon felt like he's been triggered, there would be a war. Logically and verbally.

"Ikaw ang nagpadala ng mga litrato, tapos sasabihin mong hindi mo nakasama si Sheiha? Sinungaling," patutsada ni Clinton habang nakatalikod.

Ngayon, gusto ko siyang batukan. Ano ba ang pinagmamaktol nito? Kung palagi siyang ganiyan, he better shut his mouth. Masisira ang plano namin sa ginagawa niya, e.

"First of all, hindi ko sinabing hindi ko nakasama si Sheiha. Nagtanong kayo kung nasaan siya kaya sinagot ko kayong hindi ko alam dahil iyon naman talaga ang totoo," Umingos ito at pinaikot ang mga mata. I look at Clinton who's back is facing us. I'm sure narinig niya 'yun, and Damon is right, also I agree. 

"What's with the picture? Kung nakasama mo siya, bakit hindi mo agad sinabi sa amin?" Humalukipkip si Brimme at pinakatitigan ang lalaking nasa harapan namin.

"I can't and even though I can, I won't." 

"And why is that?" Clinton asked as his back is still facing us. Nakapamewang pa ito.

He cunningly smirked, "And why is that you can't face me? Guilty? You play a part where Dane got a chance to take over this body when in the first place, it's my time to come out."

"Anong..." 

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Brimme sa dalawa, so did I. Something is off...

Clinton faced us and tsked,

"Hindi lang kayo ang matatalino na pwedeng gumawa ng plano, ano?" 

"Tang-na," Brimme started to walk away.

"Hoy! Wala ka bang tiwala sa boyfriend mo?" sigaw ni Clinton habang hinahabo si Brimme. Hindi pa man nakakalayo ang babae ay bumalik ito saka hindi pinapansin ang lalaki.

"Did they just got back together? For real...?" Damon asked as we looked at the two coming back from where they are earlier.

"I doubt that," I smirked as my and Clinton's eyes interact.

"Bakit naman hindi ka naniniwala? Totoo kaya, nagkabalikan na kaya kami. 'di ba, babe?" 

Napangiwi si Brimme at umiling,

"He is just having a daydream, don't mind him."

Clinton tsked, "You always deny me."

"Whatever."

Natawa kami ni Damon. 

"Kayo!" Pinagtuturo niya kami isa-isa, "Sana hindi maging successful mga love life niyo, mga timawa kayo!"

Brimme tsked, "If you don't stop being childish right now, I'll flee." 

"Now, back to business." Tiningnan ko si Clinton, "What does Damon mean when he say that you partially the reason why Dane–whatsoever, blah, blah, blah."

"Si Dane 'yung nagligtas kay Sheiha noong kinuha siya," sagot niya sabay iwas nang tingin.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "Elaborate."

"Ano... paano ko ba sasabihin 'to." 

Damon place a blanket on the grass and sit on eat, "What? Nakakangalay kaya kapag nakatayo lang tayo. It's uncomfortable and tiring to tell and listen to a story if we're standing."

Where did he get it in the first place though? Nevertheless, I agree with him. It isn't that we don't have a choice, cause we have but like what he said, it's uncomfortable and tiring to just stand while listening.

We sat on the blanket and relax ourselves. Sometimes, it is advisable to relax in the midst of a chaos to clear our minds. To avoid panicking and other unnecessary reactions that could made the problem even worse.

"Sige, simulan na ang story telling. The host today will be Clinton!" Hinayaan na lang namin si Damon sa ginagawa. Kung saan siya masaya, kailangang suportahan.

"Ano, paano ko ba sisimulan?" Tumikhim siya at umayos ng upo, "Napag-alaman ko na nagtatrabaho si Dane sa isang sindikato."

"Totoo ba 'yan? Sino o' saan ang source mo?" tanong ni Brimme.

"Just heard somewhere..."

"I also know that." Tumingin kami kay Damon, "Syempre alam ko 'yan, parte kaya ako ng pagkatao ni Dane. Myself is my source."

"I also saw him with a mask guy, well... Hindi literal na nakita, may nagpadala lang sa akin ng mga litrato. That mask guy is the leader, and he order Dane to bring Sheiha with him." As he explain further, nakukumpirma ko nang may third party sa larong nilalaro namin. 

"About the take over, take over this body thing. Ano 'yun?" Gusto ko ring kumpirmahin ang hinala ko.

"Ito kasi 'yun, hindi natin kayang iligtas si Sheiha ng tayo lang. Kailangan natin ng tao na may malakas na kapit sa isang malakas na tao. Even our agency can't do anything to save Sheiha kahit ito pa ang pinakamalakas sa lahat ng pribadong organisasyon. Dane still have feelings for Sheiha and he'll do everything to save her."

"Let me guess, Dane asked his boss to help him rescue Sheiha?" tanong ko. 

Tumango siya.

"Pero bakit at paano naging parte ng sindikato si Dane?" segundang tanong naman ni Brimme.

With that, tumingin kami kay Damon.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ito,

"That's his action. Wala akong alam diyan, but we have the same goal. Kaniya-kaniya kami ng paraan para maabot 'yun. Kung iisipin niyong mabuti, Dane is more on taking action while me, puro salita lang. Magaling siya when it comes to moving while me, my specialty is verbally. Finding info and doing something through any verbal ways."

"'Yan din ang napapansin ko. Dane is so quite and mysterious while you, ang daldal mo. But it suits you well cause you knew a lot. Hindi mo nga lang sinasabi ng deretso, you tell it logically sometimes. Pasakit sa ulo," saad ni Brimme.

"Masaya kaya, try niyo rin minsan." Hindi ata sapat sa kaniya ang umupo lang para mag-relax. Humiga siya sa kumot at pumikit, "Kapag naabot na namin ang dapat naming maabot ni Dane, I hope we became one as Damon Dane Sanchez and not just Damon and Dane Sanchez."

"Pagod ka na?" Umiling siya sa tanong ko na 'yun.

"More on, giving way to free someone. Opening the gate so that he can freely and fully take over what's his in the first place." I understand what he mean by that. And it isn't easy to give something that is also part of you. 

"Ayan na naman 'yang parang bugtong mong mga pananalita," reklamo ng top one reklamador sa lahat ng taong nakilala ko.

"Ang slow mo lang kasi."

"May I know what that goal is...?" Suddenly, Clinton asked in curiosity. Even I is curious as to what goal he wanted to reached. 

We set our own goal to reach. But I am curious as to what his goal is. Ano 'yun at gaano kaimportante para magdesisyon si Dane na sumali sa sindikato. It must be big and so valuable.

"It is for you to not pry," Umingos si Clinton sa sagot ni Damon. 

"Tungkol naman sa take over thing n 'yan, I and Damon made a deal. It's a win-win situation for us that time and it surely is until now. Pero ang hindi lang natin alam, kung saan sila dinala at kung sino ang kumuha sa kanila. May kasama si Sheiha na nakatakas base sa nakita nating basket kanina. Wala naman atang magtatago ng basket na puno ng gulay sa likod ng puno ano? Kung meron man, siguro magnanakaw 'yun. But it doesn't make sense dahil kung ninakaw niya, bakit niya pa iniwan 'di ba? At 'yung sulat, hindi lang 'yun aksidenteng nailagay doon bagkus ay may naglagay talaga," mahabang paliwanag ni Clinton.

"Paano kung hindi siya nakatakas, fully? Ibig kong sabihin, nagtangka siyang tumakas pero hindi niya naituloy dahil nahuli siya? Kung tutuusin, siya ang nag-iisang clue natin para malaman kung sino ang kumuha kay Sheiha," Brimme is expressing her opinion.

"Hindi lang siya ang nag-iisang clue. We can asked Dane about that thing," Nangingising ani ni Clinton habang nakatingin kay Damon.

"No way! I let him take over for a week, dahil nagmakaawa rin ang isang 'yun. I won't let that to happen again, never. Nuh-uh..." Umiling-iling ito, saying no he won't ever let us do what we have in mind.

"Pero iyan lang ang natatanging paraan, just give us a minute or two to asked him." Clinton is persistent.

"You know that your not the host of that body. Dane can take over whenever he wanted to. Wala ka nang magagawa if ever he also wanted to come out," If his persistent, so do I.

"Huwag niyo nang pilitin ang ayaw. The more you pursue him, the more he will refuse." Brimme sighed and shrugged, "Let him be."

Damon smirked, "Listen to her. She got a point you know. Saka paano niyo naman nasisiguro na gustong lumabas ngayon ni Dane?" 

"Kakasabi lang ni Clinton kanina about your deal. Dane will do everything to save Sheiha, he'll come out for Sheiha." It's now time for me to smirked. Even of this thing made me mad, I need to do this.

"Why don't you save that weak girl yourself? Aasa na lang ba kayo palagi kay Dane?" He tsked.

"Dane, we need to talk to you..." I said.

Dinilat ni Damon ang mga mata at umupo mula sa pagkakahiga,

"He won't come out. Kahit ilang tawag pa ang gawin niyo." 

"The more you pursue him, the more he will refuse. Do you really have an idea what that quote mean in psychology?" Tumayo ako at namulsa, "The more a persona got frustrated, the host that guide them will try hard to come out to calm down the raging persona." 

"So you planned on getting me frustrated so Dane will make his way and calm me?" He laughed and stand. He face me and smiled widely, "Before you get me frustrated, ikaw ang mauunang mapipikon. Alam mong hindi ako pikunin..." 

I smiled widely. Tinapatan ko kung gaano kalawak ang pagkakangiti niya. I don't often smile but in the sake of my plan to work, I need to make a fool on my self. Damn, I really hate stretching my mouth. 

"I know a thing that will make you frustrated. Just one word and I'll make sure that it would make you go crazy mad." 

Naningkit ang mga mata niya,

"And that is...?"

I took a step and lean on his ear, whispering the word. When I resurface my head, I smiled even more widely.

"You demon!"

"Sounds like Damon to me..." Akmang susugod siya when he got halted.

"Damn! Its my time!" He shouted and shut his eyes.

"You need to calm down first, before I let you take over again." He open his eyes and breath calmly.

"It's not nice to meet you again, Doc. Lexton." 

"Likewise..."

Lumapit si Clinton at bumulong,

"Anong binulong mo kanina?" 

"It's for you not to pry..." Tiningnan ko siya para lang ingusan niya. Anong meron sa ingus ng isang Clinton Cameron?

"Now, let's have a deal. Shall we...?"