Hypocrisy (4): Silver

A person who refuses to accept the reality,

Will be led to believe in their own lies.

Because believing in truth is frightening,

While making up and believing lies gives us fake assurance.

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"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice spoke from my back.

"Who are you?" I asked when I turned my back and saw a guy with piercing eyes staring at me like I was the annoying thing in this world.

"You shouldn't be here. Dapat sayo nagtatago." Sabi niya at hinawakan ang damit ko. Hinatak niya ako palayo sa kinaroroonan nila Arth at dinala sa loob. Nang makapasok na kami sa loob ay binitawan niya ang damit ko at dumeritso sa kusina. Bumalik naman siya kaagad na may hawak na isang baso.

May itanapon siyang isang brown envelope sa mesa. Nagpapalit-palit ang tingin ko sa envelope at sa lalaking nagtapon nito. I stared at him intently waiting for him to talk but he suddenly choked while drinking water.

"Screw off!" I offered him a towel with my blank face. He hurriedly took it and wiped his self.

"What are you looking at?!" he asked while creasing his eyebrow.

I pointed the envelope on the table with my mouth.

"Open it," he instructed.

And why should I open it? Just because a stranger told me so? I completely ignored him and just stared at him blankly. Does he think that I am a push-over?

30 seconds...

1 minute...

2 minutes...

3 minutes...

"Are you not going to open it?" He asked in annoyance.

"Isn't it a bad habit to not introduce yourself before ordering someone?" I asked.

"Silver, now open it." It's positive, he was the guy from last night.

I began to open the envelope and pull the several papers in it. I scanned it and I was surprised to find the familiar silhouette on the pictures. I can't be mistaken. Kahit hindi makita ang itsura, this build... I know it.

"Is this d—dad?"

"February 3, XXXX, 3:00 PM, in Venice Italy, he was last seen. This picture was only gathered in the café, where he and the boss met." He said.

"Where is he? Is he safe?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

"No, nevertheless, I can vouch that he is alive." He gulped the remaining water and sat on the chair across from my position.

"And maybe, only you can save him."

"What do you mean?" How can I save my dad?

"Joke lang." He cracked in between the serious conversation.

Pigilan niyo ako, kung hindi sisipain ko 'to. I'll kick him for one hour straight without resting. I don't care if he's bleeding to death.

I heard him chuckled kaya tiningnan ko siya ng matatalim kong mata. A sly smiled formed on his lips as he leaned his head on his hand.

"It's amusing to see you being upset."

"Linoloko mo ba ako?" Galit kong tanong. I don't have time to play around. I can't grasp the whole situation yet that's why I'm not making a move but if they take me as a fool I wanted to burst.

"A bit." I gave him a punch but he just evaded it easily. This guy is pissing me.

I pushed the table towards him making him slide back with his chair.

"Woah, woah!" He exclaimed. I jump at the table and gave him a flying kick targeting his head but he blocked it with his hand using the defensive stance of boxing.

"Aren't you so hot-headed?"

"I apologize, these past events made me so insensitive. I hope you do understand my circumstances." I replied full of sarcasm. I punched him straight to his chin but he deflected it with his palm.

He's fast.

This time I targeted his stomach but he easily grabbed my hand, raised it in the air, and pulled me near to him. Now our face was somewhat 10cm away from each other.

"Anong nangyayari?" Arth suddenly barged into the room.

"..." Hiro.

"Oh—what the hell Silverio?!" Maqu with a surprised expression shouted but later on his expression changed into a sly one.

Agad ko siyang tinulak at lumayo sa kanya.

"Can I kill this guy?!" Agad na baling ko kay Arth habang tinuturo ang lalaking halos patayin ko kanina lang. Hiro silently exited the scene, habang si Maqu naman ay humagikhik na umalis at si Arth ay naiwan para hilahin siya.

"Excuse us for a moment, may pag-uusapan lang kami." She said with a forced smile on her face while dragging the guy away from me.

SILVERIO

"Ano bang ginawa mo doon at nagalit siya?" Arth scolded me.

"Nothing."

"Nothing mo mukha mo! Kumusta lakad mo?"

"Her old man was held captive, that's what the old hag said. I already relied upon it on her. Pero hindi ko pa natapos sabihin sa kanya lahat." She slammed her face on the wall. Is she nuts?

"How about the boss?"

"The old hag is surely fine, the fact that she called means she's breathing."

"Eh ano ang susunod na plano?"

"We need to obtain the file." Obtaining the evidence is the first thing we need to do. Somehow, if that file falls in the wrong hands, especially, in the hand of our enemies, chaos might take place in this society. However, the problem is that girl. She seems clueless about the file that we're asking for. If she's just acting then I must praise that she has the talent.

"Tss." This is wrecking my brain.

"Sil, I know you have a lot on your plate but at least alam mo kung ano ang gagawin mo. Pero siya, she's confused, she may not show it to us but probably she's scared and frustrated. Huwag mo siyang tuksuhin and tell her everything that she needs to know." Arth said with a serious expression. She tapped my back and smiled at me.

"Well, maliban sa mga restricted information," she added.

"We need to comfort her,--ohhh maybe you're teasing her because she reminds you of yourself?" I creased my forehead at her.

"Joke lang, bahala ka na dyan. A while ago she looks like she wants to ask a favor at me, can you ask her?" I nodded at her.

I came back as soon as I finished talking to Arth. When I came back she was on guard and looks like she's ready to hit me again.

"I'll explain the whole situation." I said and sat on the chair.

"Can you explain it shortly? Directly but precise? Yung wala sanang halong biro?" Her expression seems dark.

"Your dad went to Italy to meet our boss but unfortunate events happened. Your dad was held captive, and we don't know who it is, for the meantime. The file that your dad possesses can be compared to a nuclear bomb that will surely shake the higher-ups if it is not released carefully."

That file is like a pandora box, all the dirt, crimes, and everything that no one expects to happen. The truths that those hypocrites don't want to unveil.

"The people that were chasing you yesterday were proven not affiliated to the guys that captivated your father. And that will be our next target to know. As you can see, seeking help from the authority is useless so that's not a very good option." I look at her and she seems flooded with her own thoughts.

"What about dad? You said that he's alive. Is there a way to save him?" Her dad is alive but I can't guarantee that he will get out in one piece. Even if he gets out alive from that situation some ferocious hypocrites will still come for his life. It will be an endless cycle unless both of them will die or the enemies will be thrown to prison or death.

"Yes, there is a way. The old hag is doing her best so just trust her. But you know, even if your father was rescued it doesn't mean that the two of you are safe. The pursuers will not stop chasing both of you."

"What if dad just hands out the evidence that they want?" I thought this girl is smart but she's stupid.

"No, if they're bad people, they won't hesitate to kill us after they get what they want." I nodded at her remark. Maybe she's not stupid.

"So could you please cooperate with us and tell us where the file is. Don't worry as long as you're under our protection nothing will happen to you,---probably." I just mumbled the word probably.

"Probably." I heard her repeat it.

Yikes! Did she hear it?

"How about we make a deal that can benefit the two parties?" Alok ko sa kanya.

"What kind of deal?" She's interested to make a deal.

"Help us to find the evidence in exchange for your protection and bringing your dad alive. How about that?" Napaisip siya sa alok ko. To be honest, she's the one who will benefit from this deal the most. 

"I'll help you." She said. I smiled because of success, I really need to obtain that evidence to drag him down.

"I don't know what file you're talking about but I'll help you. I won't entrust my life to you but please, save my dad." She said with determination. I smirked, she has guts. I'm done here, I need to go to that old fart. Oh, I suddenly remember Arth's request.

"Do you need something?" I asked her. Her expression softens a little.

"Yes," I hope it's not something troublesome.