Chapter 2 - Goodbye

KINAHAPUNAN ay umuwi si Safhire para kumuha ng gamit. Habang pabalik ng mansion ay naisip ng dalaga na dumaan sa dalampasigan. Ni-record niya sa kanyang cellphone ang tunog ng mga alon na humahampas sa batuhan. Nagtungo rin siya sa isang pet shop at ni-record din ang awit ng mga ibon. Pati ang maiingay na tunog ng mga sasakyan sa lansangan.

"Traffic?" tanong ni Ghaile sa kanya.

Alam niyang natagalan siya. Maaring kinakalkula ng doctor ang oras na dapat siyang makabalik.

"May dinaanan lang ako."

" I see." Tumango ito at hindi na nag-usisa pa.

Iniwan siya ng lalaki sa loob ng ICU matapos ibigay sa kanya ang daily routine ni Sleeping Adonis na kailangan niyang sundin. Kinabukasan, pagkatapos ng agahan ay kinausap siyang muli ng doctor.

"I've done administering his medicine, all you need to do is monitor his vital signs and try to record the changes. I'll be in the hospital until two o'clock this afternoon. Keep me posted, okay?" he instructed and slipped out of the room.

Lumapit siya sa kama ng pasyente at naupo sa easy chair.

"Good morning, Sleepyhead! I have something nice for you to listen." Nilabas niya ang cellphone. Mula roon ay maririnig ang mga ni-record niya. Ang alon ng dagat na humahampas sa dalampasigan, ang awit ng mga ibon at ang maingay na tunog ng mga sasakyan.

Sa kinaroroonan ni Athrun, nakadama ng pagod ang diwa ng binata dahil sa naririnig na ingay ng mga sasakyan. Ayaw niya sa ingay na iyon. Nakaka-stress. Para siyang nasa magulong lansangan at nakikipagsiksikan. Gusto niyang pakinggan ang awit ng mga ibon at hampas ng mga alon.

Biglang nawala ang ingay. At muli ay nabalot ng tila walang hanggang katahimikan ang madilim niyang mundo. Maya-maya ay nagsalita ang babae. The same woman. Dati, parang napakalayo nito. Ngunit ngayon ay papalapit nang papalapit. Her voice is gentle, like an angel's whisper. Then suddenly he heard her singing.

Kiss me sweet, I'm sleeping in silence

All alone in ice and snow

In my dreams, I'm calling your name

You are my love

In your eyes, I searched for my memory

Lost in vain so far in the scenery

Hold me tight and whisper again and again

We'll never be apart

If you could touch my feather softly

I give you my love...

Mabilis na lumipas ang isang linggo. Nakadama nang lungkot si Safhire. She will miss Sleeping Adonis for sure. Marami siyang sinabi rito. Mga bagay na hindi niya masabi sa iba pero komportable siyang sabihin sa lalaking hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon ay nanatiling nakakulong sa sarili nitong mundo.

"Rachel will be here in a minute," sabi ni Ghaile. Nasa loob sila ng study room nito. "Thank you, Saf, for the job well done." May inabot na sobre sa kanya ang doctor. "Here, take this."

"Ano ito?" Kinuha niya ang sobre. Sinilip ang laman. Pera?

"A reward for the extra effort."

"Doctor..."

"I've seen your dedication. You took care of him as if he's one of your own family. Kung tutuusin, kulang pa ang halagang iyan. Walang katumbas na anuman ang pag-aalaga mo sa kanya."

"Pero, doc-"

"Safhire, that's just a gift."

"S-Salamat." Ang totoo, kailangan niya ng pera para sa kanyang mga plano. "Doc, pwede ba akong magpaalam sa pasyente bago ako umalis?"

"Sure! Go ahead and take your time."

"Thank you."

Lumabas ng study room si Safhire at pinuntahan ang ICU. Pumasok siya at banayad ang hakbang na lumapit sa kama.

"How I wish I am that princess whose kiss is powerful enough to wake you up. But I am not a princess. Still, allow me to kiss you goodbye." She bent forward and pressed a gentle and warm kiss on him.

Nagpapasalamat siya sa lalaking ito. Sa isang linggong pag-aalaga niya rito marami siyang na-realize. She shouldn't lose her hope. Ang mundo ay hindi titigil sa pag-ikot dahil lang siya ay nasaktan at naiwang mag-isa. Marami pa ang darating na magagandang bagay kapalit nang nawala. She will start her life again by finding justice for Ray.

"I will miss you, goodbye, Sleeping Adonis."

GOODBYE?

Nagpapaalam ba sa kanya ang babae? Hindi mapalagay ang diwa ni Athrun sa madilim na kinaroroonan. Gusto niyang kumilos. Ngunit hindi niya magawa. Pakiramdam niya ay may mga kadenang nakagapos sa kanyang katawan.

He tried with all his might, giving everything he got. Gusto niyang makaalis sa kadilimang yon. He tried harder. Suddenly, the chain broke.

No!Don't go!Don't leave me alone in this place!

Matapos pagmasdan nang may pagsuyo si Sleeping Adonis ay lumabas na ng silid ang babae. The doors shut just when Athrun's fingers started to move. Kasunod ang dahan-dahang pagbukas ng mga mata nitong kasing-bughaw ng langit.

"S-Safhire Magdalene..." a whisper came out of his lips.

GHAILE froze dead on his tracks.

"Athrun..."

What a relief...Gising na si Athrun. Ligtas na at maayos. Makalalaya na sa mga tubong nakakabit sa katawan nito at kayang-kaya nang hugutin ang hininga gamit ang sariling lakas at hindi sa pamamagitan ng makina.

Humakbang papalapit sa kama ang doctor.

"Welcome back, Athrun..." aniyang nakangiti.

Tumingin ito sa kanya . "Ghaile..."

"I'm so glad you make it."

Marahang tumango ang lalaki. "I guess I'm back."

Napansin niyang gumala sa buong paligid ng silid ang asul nitong mga mata. Tila ba may hinahanap. Pareho silang napatingin sa may pintuan nang pumasok ang maid.

"Doc, dumating na po si Ms. Rachel," balita nito.

"Send her in," utos ni Ghaile.

Mabilis na tumalima ang katulong.

"Where am I, Ghaile?" tanong ni Athrun sa tinig na kababakasan ng pagod.

"The same place you're staying when you had your last seizure."

"Did I sleep long?"

"Five weeks, more or less. I guess you're having a very nice dream out there," biro niya rito.

Bahagya itong ngumiti at tumitig sa ceiling. "Sorry, Ghaile...for causing you so much trouble."

"That's nonsense."

"You and the boys, I was able to pull through because of you." Binawi nito ang paningin at ibinaling sa kanya. "Thank you."

"It's nothing. Just be sure to live longer. That way you could pay us back."

"Guess I have. How's the weather outside?"

"Gloomy. A low-pressure area is coming according to the report. Why did you ask?"

"Nothing in particular. Just curious."

Sinipat ni Ghaile ang oras. "It's time for your medicine," he announced, swung around to prepare the medicine.

***

DUMAAN sa hospital si Safhire at ipinasa ang resignation letter niya bago siya umuwi ng apartment. Kinagabihan ay nag-impake na siya. Gusto niyang umalis nang maaga bukas para makahabol sa unang biyahe. Patapos na siya sa pagliligpit nang dumating ang hindi inaasahang bisita.

Si Vhendice Queruben.

He is wearing a civilian attire nothing like the formal suit he wore back at the PBI office when she first met him. In fairness, he is a beautiful-looking super hunk.

"Good evening," bati nito.

"Good evening din. Pasok ka." Nilakihan niya ang bukas ng pinto at itinabi ang sarili.

"Thank you. Hindi ba ako nakaabala sa iyo?" Pumasok ito.

"Hindi naman." Isinara niya ang pinto. Iginiya ang bisita sa maliit ngunit maaliwalas na sala. "Upo ka. Anong gusto mong inumin? Beer or coffee?"

"Kahit ano, okay lang."

Saglit niya itong iniwan at kumuha nang malamig na beer sa refrigerator sa kusina.

"Here," inabot niya sa lalaki ang beer in-can na umuusok sa lamig.

"Thank you."

"So, anong sadya mo?" tanong niyang naupo sa single set kaibayo ng pandalawahang sofa kungsaan nakaupo ang kanyang bisita.

"I just want to clarify if you are really leaving for La Salvacion?"

"I am."

"Pupuntahan mo ba ang lugar kung saan naaksidente ang fiancé mo?"

"Correction, hindi siya naaksidente. Pinatay siya." Pagtatama niya.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I stand corrected." Maagap nitong hingi ng despensa.

"Bakit? Anong tungkol doon?"

"Kailan ka aalis?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Tapos? Anong gagawin mo 'pag nandoon ka na?"

"Hahanapin ko ang pumatay kay Ray."

"Alam mo na ba kung sino siya?"

"Hindi pa. Pero nararamdaman kong mahahanap ko siya." Matamang tinititigan siya ng agent. Matagal. At nakadama siya ng pagkailang kaya iniwas niya ang mga mata.

"May suspect na ang PBI. Si Haydees Andromida. Kilala mo ba siya?" anito.

"Haydees Andromida? I think I've heard the name." Muli siyang napatitig sa kausap.

"How about Nephilim and Andromida Conglomerate?" It seems like he's doing a pressure interview.

"Nephilim is an organization and Andromida Conglomerate is a business empire operating all over Asia and America."

"Right, you're well informed. Haydees Andromida is the deputy chairman of Andromida Conglomerate. He is also a Nephilim member, in fact, he is one of the commanders in the organization. He is in-charge of the Reapers Guild, the group of professional hunters."

"Why are you telling me this?" Nagpunta ba rito ang lalaking ito para i-discourage siya? Para iparating sa kanya na wala siyang magiging kalaban-laban sa suspect na si Haydees?

"Believe me, I am not doing this to discourage you." Nabasa nito ang kanyang iniisip. "But I want you to understand something. You're wrong if you thought even for a second that you stand a chance against a merciless and cold-blooded hunter like Haydees. On top of that, beyond being an assassin he is a type of person whose existence is formidable."

"Anong gusto mong palabasin? Huwag na akong pumunta?" May bahid ng iritasyon sa kanyang boses.

"It is for your own good. Let the PBI handle this job for you."

"Not a chance, Mr. Agent. I'm going there, no matter what the consequences are," determinadong pahayag ni Safhire.

"Matigas ang ulo mo," kastigo ng agent.

She flashed a sarcastic smile. "You have no idea."

"And you're stupid as well," dagdag pa nito.

"Thank you. I'll take it as a compliment." Pang-iinis niya.

"Let's see. Aside from the name, what else do you know about Nephilim city?"

"Nothing."

"I see. Going into a place without anything, so you're really stupid."

"Thank you again. Nakadalawa ka na."

"You must be very happy." He's mocking her. "After all, that is a compliment."

Kumukulo ang dugo niya. Parang gusto na niyang bigwasan ang lalaking ito.

Nakalimutan yata nito kung nasaan ito. Ang lakas ng loob na tawagin siyang stupid.

"Mahal mo ba ang buhay mo?"

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Si Ray ang buhay ko," straight-forward niyang sagot.

Muli ay matagal siya nitong tinitigan na wari ay inaarok ang katotohanan ng kanyang sinabi. "You know, I admire your courage."

Hindi siya sumagot. Hinintay niyang may kasunod na pabalang na naman itong sasabihin.

"The honest truth is, I was also told to go there. The PBI headquarters wanted me to investigate the different transactions happening in that city including the series of extra-judicial killings. Well, if you really insist to put yourself in danger, I can't stop you but I would like to suggest something. I did some background check on that place. It would be easier for you to work on things if you have me and the information I've got."

"Are you suggesting we work as partners?" Parang hindi siya makapaniwala. This is a sudden twist. From being a nurse she would become an instant PBI agent partner?

"Partners? It could be, but that's a little transparent. And remember, we will be dealing a professional hunter plus his comrades in Nephilims. Haven't you heard how good and skilled those bastards are?"

"Okay, ano pala kung ganoon?"

"Lovers or a newly wed couple spending their honeymoon, how about that?" He smiled arrestingly and gave her a seductive wink.

"W-What?" Napamulagat siya at namula ang mukha. Lovers? A newlywed couple spending their honeymoon? Is he serious?

Natawa ang agent sa reaction niya. "Magpapanggap lang tayo. Don't get so flustered too much, it's scary." He teased her. "And stop wearing that defensive looks. We will be doing it to avoid any impression."

Tumango siya. Hindi makapagsalita at inaarok ang sarili. But still, it feels awkward to play as a lover of another man other than Ray.

"I guess you don't have a choice after all. You're stubborn," he retorted and stood up. Preparing to leave after giving her the brown envelope. "If you have some spare time, try reading this. I'll see you at the terminal tomorrow morning. Six o'clock. We will be catching the first trip at six-thirty. Don't be late, Mrs. Queruben," biro nito at nagpaalam na.

Tamemeng sinundan niya nang tingin ang lalaking lumabas sa pintuan. He's unbelievable. He didn't even give her time to think it over. Mukhang mapapasubo siya sa agent na iyon. Binuksan niya ang envelope at sinilip ang laman. Mapa iyon ng lugar na pupuntahan niya.

Nephilim City, formerly Andromida estate is an island that lies near the border of Philippine National territory and part of La Salvacion Province. It is a fast-growing city officially owned and developed by the Andromida family.