CHAPTER TWO

"Sugatan ang dalawang tao ko, General. That is impossible."

["A chopper will get your wounded team tomorrow, by noon. The rest of you-

"Hindi ako papayag, General. The rest of my team will go back there."

Nasa isang hospital sina Pietro at ang team niya. Kasalukuyang ginagamot ang dalawang kasamahan nila na sina Gareth at Craig. Pareho na lamang na nililinis ang mga sugat nito at nilalagyan ng gamot. 

Nasa dulo naman ng hallway si Pietro kausap ang kanilang General sa telepono. 

["Captain, you have to do it whether you like it or not. This is still part of the mission."]

"Our mission is to obtain and dispose the tons of marijuana and cocaine, including the smuggled salt. Hindi kasama sa misyon namin ang makuha ang pinuno nila. Malinaw ang nakuha naming utos mula sa'yo, General."

["Alam ko, Captain. I am adding this to your tasks."]

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Pietro. Lumingon siya sa mga kasama na naghihintay sa labas ng emergency room. 

"We need the chopper early tomorrow. I will bring Kenneth with me to check the task."

["Alright. That's a deal then."]

Bumalik si Pietro sa mga kasama. Nabasa agad ni Breen ang mukha niya. 

"Ano'ng sabi ni General?"

"We have a new task."

"Pero-

He raised a hand to stop Bart. "Ako at si Kenneth lang ang mag-aasikaso no'n. The rest of you will accompany our team back to the base. We'll be back tomorrow midnight."

"Sige. Mag-iingat kayo, Captain." Gordon

"Ano ba ang bagong task, Captain?" tanong ni Kenneth.

"We received an intel that the leader of the largest smuggling group has checked-in in a hotel. Pupunta kami ni Tamayo para kompirmahin ang impormasyon."

"Paano kung oo nga?" Breen

"We have to get him, alive."

Hindi naman agad nakaimik ang mga kasama ni Pietro hanggang sa magsalita si Bart. 

"Pwede akong sumama, Captain."

"Hindi na kailangan, Bart. This is not a formal task yet. I'll handle it."

Lumipas pa ang mga oras. May malay na si Craig at maayos na rin ang lagay ni Garreth. Sa tuktok ng hospital naghihintay ang helicopter na isasakay sila pabalik sa kanilang kampo. Inihatid ni Pietro ang mga kasama patungo roon. 

"Captain, mag-iingat kayo. Pasensya na sugatan ako," hinging paumanhin ni Craig. 

Pietro tapped his unwounded arm. "Ayos lang."

"Mauuna na kami, Captain. Tawagan mo nalang kami kung kailangan ng back-up," ani Garreth. 

Tumango si Pietro. Bago pumasok ang mga sundalo niya, sumaludo ito sa kanya. He saluted back to his team. 

"Ingat kayo, bud," Breen said to Pietro and Kenneth. 

Pumasok na sina Breen, Craig, Bart, Gordon, at Garreth sa helicopter. Unti-unti nang umangat sa sahig ang helicopter na sinasakyan nila. Hanggang sa tuluyan na itong lumipad palayo kina Pietro at Kenneth na nakatayo pa rin sa rooftop. 

Nang makaalis ang helicopter saka lumingon si Kenneth kay Pietro.

"Ano ang plano natin, partner?"

Pietro looked at him. 

"Let's go."

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Philippine Airlines welcome you to Manila. We hope that you enjoyed the in-flight entertainment. We are now preparing to land. The local time is 8:31 pm. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened and keep the aisles clear until we parked at the gate. Please ensure all electronic devices including laptop, computers and computer games are turned off. May I also remind everyone to complete your arrival and immigration documentation by the time we arrive. This is Deana Sophie Villegas, your in-flight director, signing off."

Deana turned her microphone off. Lumabas siya sa announcement room. One of her friends was waiting for her outside. 

"We'll do the cross-check," she said to her. 

"Swak na swak talaga ang boses mo sa pag-a-announce. Nakakatuwa na napromote ka na."

Malawak lang ang ngiti ni Deana. 

"Yeah. At nandito na naman tayo sa Pilipinas."

"Wala kang magagawa, ugat mo 'to." 

Deana laughed. "How I hope na ipanganak ulit ako in a different nationality."

"Bakit ba ayaw na ayaw mo rito? Kada landing natin nakalukot na 'yang mukha mo."

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Deana. 

"Some reasons you'll not love to know."

After the cross-check, flight attendants including Deana were also asked to their seats and fasten their seatbelts for landing. 

Napatingin si Deana sa relo niya nang maramdaman na ang pagtama ng gulong ng eroplano nila sa lupa. Huminga siya ng malalim. It will be days of nightmare for her again. 

Saklay ang maliit na shoulder bag at hila-hila ang isang maleta nang maglakad si Deana papasok sa isang hotel. 

"Good evening ma'am. Welcome to Sky City Hotel."

"Good evening. I'll check-in, a room for one."

"What is your name, ma'am?" tanong ng receptionist.

"Deana Sophie Villegas."

While waiting for the receptionist to process her check-in Deana saw two men passing by her. Parehong nakasombrero ang dalawa kaya't hindi niya naaninag ang mga mukha nito. Walang ano-ano'y nakaramdam siya ng kaba.

"Ma'am, we have already a room for Ms. Deana Sophie Villegas."

"What? Pero ngayon palang ako pumunta rito. I haven't called your service too."

The receptionist showed her the computer monitor. 

"But it says here ma'am, Deana Sophie Villegas. And the picture also matches you, ma'am."

"Look- wait, excuse me."

Natigil si Deana nang makatanggap ng tawag sa cell phone niya. Nang makita ang pangalang tumatawag doon humigpit ang hawak niya sa cell phone.

She answered the call. 

"Stop doing this, Zandro. For goodness sake!"

["Chill, sweety. I'm coming to you in an hour. We need to talk."]

"How did you know that I'll come here?"

The man behind the call laughed.

["Sweety. I booked all the hotels near you because I know you will not tell me after you land."]

Sa galit, pinatay ni Deana ang cell phone niya. Hinarap niya ulit ang receptionist.

"What room?"

"Room 096, ma'am."

Nagtuloy-tuloy na lamang si Deana sa pag-akyat. Pagdating sa hotel suit niya hindi na siya nagulat pa nang mamahaling kwarto ang bumungad sa kanya. It was cozy and the bed is spacious for her alone. 

Nilapag niya ang mga gamit sa kama saka naglabas ng mga pamalit na damit. She took off all her clothes and went to the bathroom that is half huge of her living room. Deana opened the shower and started to clean herself. 

After showering she covered herself with a white robe, and a towel on her wet hair. As she was about to go out all the lights are off. Napaatras ang isang paa niya pabalik sa banyo. Iniwan niyang bukas ang mga ilaw niyon kaya't nakakasiguro siyang may mali sa kanyang paligid.

As she was about to close the door of the bathroom a man suddenly came, pushed her on the tile wall after simultaneously switching the lights off. Now it was pitch-black. 

"A-Ano'ng kailangan mo?"

"Where is the man?" 

Deana found his voice dangerous more than her father and her fiancé. 

"H-Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo. P-Please... pakawalan mo ako."

"Stop bullshitting. Kasama ka ba niya?"

Umiling si Deana na nanlalamig ang mga kamay. She started to cry because she was afraid for her life. 

"D-Did my father hire you to abduct me again?"

Paunti-unti'y bumaba ang kamay na bahagyang nakasakal kay Deana. Kinapa ng lalaki ang ilaw saka binuksan iyon. 

Nasilaw si Deana noong una ngunit nakalma siya nang makita ang pares ng matang nakatitig sa kanya. His looks pierced through her eyes. Bagamat nakasumbrero ang lalaki, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ni Deana ang kabuuan ng mukha nito. 

His eyes is shouting authority. The bridge of his nose is just perfect to run through her fingers. His protruding lips was never left by her eyes. 

A knock on the door came. 

"Captain, may parating."

Lumayo si Pietro sa dalaga. Ngayon ay may distansya na ang mga katawan nila. 

Deana wiped her tears. 

Hindi nagtagal pumasok si Kenneth sa kinaroroonan nila at sakto naman ang pagbukas ng pinto sa labas.

"Captain..." hindi natuloy ni Kenneth ang sasabihin nang mapansin ang babaeng nakaroba pa.

"Kenneth." Pietro warned. 

Bumalik ang tingin ni Kenneth kay Pietro. "May tao sa labas." Itinuro niya ang direksyon gamit ang baril na hawak. 

Doon lamang napagtanto ni Deana ang mga hawak nito. The two men in front of her are armed. 

"Deana? Deana? Come out!" the man yelped outside.

Deana composed herself. 

"Miss, hindi kami masamang tao. Nandito kami para-

"Lumabas ka na. I'll put a bullet in your head if you say anything." Pietro threatened her.

Kagat-labi namang napayuko si Deana. 

"Huwag kayong lalabas dito. Sigurado akong armado rin ang mga kasama niya. Ayaw kong maipit sa gulo ninyo, so please... just stay here. Gagawa ako ng paraan para makalabas kayo ng tahimik."

"Alam mong armado ang mga kasama niya? Bakit lalabas ka pa?" Kenneth asked. 

"The man outside... he's my fiancée."

Napatingin si Kenneth sa Captain niya na nanlalaki ang mga mata. 

"Leave," Pietro said once more. 

Humugot muna ng isang malalim na hininga si Deana bago tuluyang lumabas. Naabutan niya sa dulo ng kama ang fiancé na nakaupo lamang.

"Hey..." aniya.

Lumingon ito sa kanya at ngumisi nang makita siya ng buo. Tumayo ang lalaki saka nilapitan siya. Dumukwang ito upang halikan siya. 

"I missed you," the man uttered between their kisses. 

Deana slightly pushed the man that gave their faces a distance. 

"Sabi mo may pag-uusapan tayo. Let's talk it over a coffee."

"No. We will talk here, sweetheart."

Bumaba ang kamay ng lalaki sa tali ng roba niya. Hinawakan niya iyon.

"Zandro, stop. I told you I'm not ready for this."

"You're always not ready, Deana. We are fucking engaged!"

"I know! But, sino ba ang may gusto nito, ha?! Hindi ba kayo lang naman ni Dad?"

"That doesn't change the fact that you are mine now, Deana."

"My life is not yours! No one owns me and no one will!"

Kumuyom ang mga kamay ng lalaki. He pointed at her. 

"Shut up."

Zandro walked across her. He then removed his clothes and approached the bathroom. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Deana kaya't mabilis niya itong hinarang saka hinawakan ang mukha. 

"O-Okay, fine. I'm sorry." 

Zandro sighed and held her hands on his face. His eyes darted on her mouth. Hindi na nag-aksaya ng panahon si Deana. She pushed him to the bed and kissed the man. Zandro seemed to like it when he started to undo the knot of her robe. 

Deana distanced herself for a while. She's catching her breathe. 

"Where are your bodyguards? I want them out of our room."

Sandaling nakipagtitigan sa kanya si Zandro bago ito naupo. Nasa kandungan pa rin siya nito. Zandro took his phone on the bed-side table and dialled a number. 

"Wait for me in the car."

["Yes, boss."]

Then the call ended right away. Mabilis ang kabog ng puso ni Deana nang matapos na ang maikling tawag. 

"No one will disturb us now, sweetheart. I love you, okay?"

He caressed her face. Zandro closed their distance again. This time he switched their places, with Deana beneath him. 

"Deana, you're mine. I will kill every man who touch and look at you the same way I do."

Deana nodded. "Can I use the bathroom real quick?"

Zandro smiled. "Sure."

Umalis ang lalaki sa ibabaw niya para bigyan siya ng hagdan. She tied her robe again before getting into the bathroom. 

Naabutan niya ang dalawang lalaki na nakasandal lang sa pader. 

"I will give you a sign when you can go out," she said in a very low tune of her voice. 

Aalis na sana ulit siya nang may pumigil sa braso niya. The man pulled her back. 

"We can save ourselves. Stop being stupid."

Inalis ni Deana ang kamay na nakahawak sa kanya. 

"Just get out. I don't need any words from you."

Tuluyang nakalabas si Deana. She went back to Zandro who had a call in his phone. 

"That's real quick, huh."

Their interrupted scene continued. Sa lumalalim na gabi, isang vase ang bumagsak sa nag-iinit na gabi nina Deana at Zandro. 

"I'm sorry," Deana whisphered between Zandro's kisses. 

"That's fine." 

Samantala...

"Captain, pwede na tayong lumabas."

Pietro was tensed up when Kenneth noticed it.

"Tayo na," maikling sabi ni Pietro. 

Dahan-dahang binuksan ni Kenneth ang pinto. They sneaked out of Deana's room. Napalingon pa si Kenneth sa dalawang taong abala sa kanilang gabing pinagsasaluhan.

"Damn..." bulong niya.

Nakalabas nga sila ng ligtas sa silid na iyon. Ngunit bumaba ang tingin ni Kenneth sa kamay ni Pietro na siyang kumasa ng baril. 

"Captain, ano'ng gagawin mo?"

"If that was their leader, I'll get him."

"Teka lang, Captain!" pigil ni Kenneth sa kanya. "Paano kung hindi? Baka mali ang intel na natanggap ng kampo. Tingnan mo, simula pa lang sa babae na nakapangalan ang kwartong 'yan. Nang makapasok tayo babae pa rin ang nandiyan at fiancé niya 'yong dumating."

"Nakalimutan mo na ba? Her fiancé is armed. It's not allowed for a common person to carry a gun outside. Isa pa, may mga kasama siyang bodyguards. Hindi siya simpleng tao lang."

"Narinig kong pinapalabas niya kanina ang mga bodyguards niya," saad ni Kenneth. 

Nagkatinginan sila ni Pietro.

"I have a plan."