Chapter 28

Maingat ang mga galaw ni Eleanor habang tinatahak ang back exit ng venue. She was making sure na walang makakakita or makakapansin sa kanya. And she was thankful that a performance from the Delgarde’s youngest daughter was happening on the center stage. Kaya naroroon ang atensyon ng lahat.

 

Wala man siyang nakakasalubong na mga tao, o nararamdamang may mga kaaway, hindi na mawala sa sistema ni El ang pagiging alerto. As an unpopular guest, she was able to walk her way out of the busy party without anyone giving her any deep attention.

 

Hindi gaya ni Sky Kristos na seguradong kung ano-anong paraan na ang sinusubukan para makawala sa mga kyuryosong atensyon ng lahat.

 

‘I hope his patience last long.’ Kawawang Kristos, aniya sa isip.

 

Memorizing the venue’s structure for this kind of mission is a must. Kaya hindi na siya nahirapang hanapin ang pwede niyang gamiting exit ng malaking bahay – mansion to be exact.

 

“Elea-“

 

She grabbed the wrist of the hand that landed on her shoulder. Mahigpit niya iyong hinawakan at pinilipit, bago tadyakan ang likuran ng tuhod ng lalaki. She was about to knock him out, not realizing it was Sky.

 

She was on full alert mode!

 

“Sky!” singhap niya, “Ilang beses na kitang binalaan na-”

 

“I was in a hurry, I forgot!” daing nito.

Maingat niyang binitawan ang lalaki – making sure she won’t be exerting any force while letting go.

 

“Segurado ka ba’ng walang may nakasunod sayo papunta dito?” tanong ni El nang magsimula na sillang maglakad.

 

Mabilis na lumungo ang binate at sumagot, “I got a hard time running away from there.” He chuckled, “Pili lang nga ang mga media na nakapasok, pero may mga nakabantay parin sakin.”

 

Of course, that’s their job. Dapat nakabantay ang mga mata nila sa posibleng scoop. And his a Collins after all – at ang tagapagmana pa. And he’s the clever Sky Kristos she knows. Kaya may tiwala siyang nakapunta siya dito nang walang may nakasunod sa kaniya.

 

“Did you have what you want from that woman?” he asked, opening the door of the exit.

 

Masyadong maraming daan ang mansyon, masyadong marami ding pintuan. But with the floor plan encoded on their minds, Mabilis nilang nahanap ang patagong daan palabas.   

 

“Not everything.” She answered bitterly.

 

The door lead them to the backyard. Sinenyasan siyang tumahimik ni Sky habang turo nito ang direksiyon ng swing. Dalawang pigura ng tao ang kita nila mula doon – a man and a woman’s figure. Their gestures shows that they’re kind of… arguing.

 

Eleanor can’t put it to words, or fully know their identities but, the man’s figure seemed so familiar to her.

 

“This way, El.” Sky gestured.

 

Tumango siya at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad. She ignored what she saw and followed Sky. Baka mali lang siya ng hinala. And she got more important things to do.

 

They safely got inside Sky’s car. She felt relieved as she sat on the passenger’s seat. They took the road and started talking about what happened at the party.

 

“She didn’t say anything about getting her people back from us?”

 

Lumungo si El, “She doesn’t seem to care. Parang panatag pa siyang wala tayong gagawing masama sa mg tao niya.” Sagot niya, “She even said that I can use them.”

 

“What else did she tell you?”

 

Ysabella seemed to know a lot. Pero gaya nga ng sabi niya, limitado lang ang pwede niyang sabihin kay El. She sighed, feeling disappointed that she failed to think about the right question to ask.

 

Ano nga ba ang dapat niyang tinanong sa babae? What’s the question that she seek the answer for so long? Maraming katanungan ang nasa isip niya, pero bakit tila nablangko siya ng tinanong siya non?

 

“Her name’s Ysabella.”she answered, “And she kept saying that her answers are limited, and I only have one chance to ask her an important question.”

 

“Leave her identity to us.” Sky assured, “I’m sure my brother can find her even with just her name.” may kumpyansang aniya.

 

“And speaking of your brother, he’s calling.”

 

Sky answered Cloud’s call without taking his eyes off the road.

“I got a sudden notice.” Deretsong bungad nito. “Dad’s back. He’s currently at the airport. You need to pick him up.” Tukoy nito sa kambal.

 

“What? Hindi ba niya kasama si James?” Sky’s forehead ceased in confusion.

 

“No.” he answered, “James said that Dad wanted him to go back alone. Nagpaiwan daw siya sa Sicily at pinauwi si James, saying he needs to do something. Nang mag-isa.”

 

“And he didn’t announce his arrival?” tanong naman ni El.

 

“No.” Cloud sighed, “I started tracking him two days ago after James told me. And I got the notice that he’s here.”

 

It was unusual. Both of them looked at each other with confusion. Ni minsan ay hindi pa ito nagagawa ni Tanda. Lahat ng pinupuntahan nito noon ay palaging alam nila kung saan at bakit. And he always announce his arrival with balloons and confetti.

 

“Ok, we’ll go there now.”

 

What did he do in Sicily?

 

“We’re being followed.” Sky whispered while looking at the rearview mirror.

 

Kaagad na lumingon si El para tingnan ang kotseng nakabuntot sa kanila.

 

“Nasundan ka ba kanina ng media?” bato niya kay Sky.

 

“Do paparazzi carry guns instead of cameras these days?”

 

Napatingin si El sa lalaking lumabas sa bubong ng kotse.

 

Did she just expected that it’s a paparazzi? Of course, it’s some damned armed men from whosever’s mafia group!

 

Sky maneuvered the car when they started shooting at them.

 

“Turn there.” She instructed.

 

Akma na siyang kukuha ng baril nang muling mya tumawag kay Sky. It was an unknown number.

 

At dahil abala si Sky sa pag-iwas sa mga baling pinapaulan sa kanila, she answered the call.

 

“It’s me.” A woman’s familiar voice came in, “Take another turn to the right and we’ll take care of these men.” Ang mahinahon niyang boses ay parehong-pareho sa personal.

 

“Empress?” Sky was waiting for her call.

 

She nodded and Sky took a turn to the route that Ysabella said.

 

“Sorry for this inconvenience, Empress. Till we meet again.” And the call went off.

 

Right after that, they heard some continuous number of exchanging gunshots from where they came from.

 

It slowly faded as they drove farther towards the airport’s direction.

 

“Who’s that woman?” Sky mumbled.

 

Except for her name, that’s the mystery Eleanor’s still going to find out.

 

“Cloud’s calling again.” She informed.

 

“What happened?” bungad niya, “My system got blocked!”

 

And both of them spent their next five minutes listening to Cloud’s rants about his system getting blocked and how he plans to upgrade it.

 

“Anyway, I’m opening the airport’s cams. “ He ended.

 

He becomes talkative when it comes to his computers. “Dad’s at the entrance.” Ani Cloud.

 

“We can see him.” Sky responded.

 

“Did he call for our men to pick him up?” Tanong ni El kay Cloud.

 

Hindi pa gaanong ka klaro ang mga mukha ng mga lalaki at ng kotse. When they drove closer, El scanned the car.

 

“Stop, Sky.” Utos niya, “Look at the car, it’s not Scarletti’s.”

 

Maaging napatingin din doon si Sky. “I recognize those two men.” Anito, “They’re from the new recruits.”

 

“I checked with everyone. Tanda didn’t call anyone to pick him up.” Pagpapaalam ni Cloud.

El and Sky immediately grabbed their guns and opened the car doors. Ikinasa nila ang kanilang mga baril at lumabas ng kotse.

 

But before they could even take a step closer to where Tanda is, they both ducked after hearing a big explosion. El’s ears rang and felt the ground shaking from the impact. Hindi pa man nakarecover doon ay madali siyang tumayo at ibinalik ang tingin sa kung nasaan si Tanda.

 

The man who stood by her side since her parents died and acted as her father figure is laying on the cold cement, unconscious, with half of his body caught in fire.