CHAPTER 6: Men in Black

"HOW'S THE INTERVIEW WITH RAIZEN POLICARPIO AT SA KANYANG ANGKAN—”

"Shut the hell up, Kyree. I'm not in the mood.”

Pabalibag kong nilapag ang bag ko sa table at pabagsak akong umupo sa bagung-bago na signature chair ko. I close my eyes tight as I start to massage my temple.

"Get me my usual double shot espresso. Make it two,” utos ko habang minamasahe pa rin ang sentido ko.

"Parang stress na stress ka naman, madam. Kalmahan mo lang—”

"Am I asking for your comfort? Can't you just give what I am asking you to? Daldal!” I interrupted him.

"Y-Yes, Madam.” Narinig ko pa ang nagmamadali n'yang pagtakbo palabas ng office.

Kahit na late ako sa interview na hiningi ko sa panig ni Raizen, they still had no choice but to let me in. The interview went well; intense, just like my previous interviews. Always.

But even so, that won't erase the fact that I, Winter G., finally broke my record against tardiness. I feel so unprofessional after everything that happened. And all of that was caused by Damon. S'ya rin ang may kasalanan kung bakit sirang-sira na ang araw ko ngayon. Usually, a successful and intense interview is enough to make my day. But not now.

I still can't believe that jerk of a man! First, he left without even saying goodbye. Second, he left me with nothing but some… cheap fast-food items. I might appreciate a goodbye note more than those cheapskates. Third, he made me pay the hotel bill! Tinagurian pang apo at tagapagmana ng trilyones, kuripot naman pala ang gago!

'Wag n'ya lang talaga masubuk-subukan na tawagan ako dahil maiihi talaga s'ya sa takot. I swear it on his future grave!

"Madam, 'eto na—”

"Just put it right here. I'll be going home once I finish that.”

It was obvious that Kyree's so surprised. Pero mas pinili na lang n'yang manahimik dahil siguro sa takot n'ya sa pwede ko na namang sabihin o gawin.

Despite my espresso's high temperature, I managed to finish it in a few sip. Hindi na rin ako halos nakaramdam ng init. Gano'n naman talaga 'ko. Kapag inis ako at imbyerna sa isang bagay, I am failing to see or even feel some details.

After taking the last sip of my espresso, I immediately stood up.

"I'm going. May mga aasikasuhin lang ako; babalik din ako agad. So, don't fantasize about taking my position again. Maliwanag?” sabi ko. It was serious rather than sarcastic.

"Madam naman—” I signaled my hand to tell him to stop. Which, he did.

Lumabas na 'ko ng office pagkatapos no'n. I didn't bring any aside from my bag. Maliligo lang naman ako at magbibihis sa bahay ko and after that, babalik na ulit ako rito. I just realized that I haven't been able to take a bath. Huling ligo ko ay kagabi pa; bago ako nakipagkita sa demonyong Damon na 'yon. Nakakainis dahil late na nga ako sa meeting at interview ko, wala pa 'kong ligo at matinong ayos. Bukod tuloy sa pagiging unprofessional, pakiramdam ko ay napaka-unpresentable ko rin ngayong araw. And I have to wash away that feeling.

Habang palabas ako ng building, napansin ko na nakaabang sa malayo si Tyler. I haven't seen him since the night at the party. 'Yung muntik n'ya na 'kong ma-abduct if not only for Damon. So, thanks to him, I guess?

Saglit akong tumigil sa paglalakad para makipagtitigan kay Tyler. Kung 'yon ang gusto n'ya. Seconds later, he made a move. I can tell that he was about to come near me. But even before he could do so, a shady man in black appeared to approach him.

I stayed on my position as I stare at Tyler and the man. They are talking. A few moments after, they both look at me. I immediately felt uneasy as my eyes met theirs.

Hindi na lang ako nagtagal sa pwesto ko. I immediately went to the parking lot and eventually, inside my car. But of course, I did it when they're not already looking at me. Mahirap na, baka masundan pa nila 'ko kung sakali.

I drove my way out of the parking lot. Nagawa ko pang dumaan sa harapan ni Tyler at ng lalaking nakaitim na kausap n'ya nang hindi nila ako napapansin. Thanks to my tinted windows.

When I managed to get in the private subdivision where my house is locared, it was already four p.m. Usually, out ko na sa mga oras na 'to but because I came to the office late, I've decided na mag-take na lang overtime. Regardless kung ako na lang ang maiwan mag isa sa office; o sa buong building.

I parked my car just outside my house. Saglit lang naman kasi ako. I'm not planning to stay here for long, anyway. Maliligo lang ako at magbibihis. Then I'm good to go.

After stopping my engine, I was about to step out of my car when I suddenly notice something's off. Aksidenteng nahagip ng paningin ko sa rear view mirror ng kotse ko ang dalawang lalaki na nakatayo at nag uusap sa 'di kalayuan. They are wearing an all black outfit. Kagaya ng sa lalaking kausap ni Tyler kanina. But I'm certain na 'yung lalaking 'yon ay iba pa sa mga lalaking natatanaw ko ngayon.

"What the hell is happening?” usal ko sa sarili. Those men could be working for some network in the media industry. Pwede ring parte na naman ng pakulo ni Tyler para i-pursue ako na makipagbalikan sa kanya. Hindi naman kasi imposible sa kanya na gawin 'yon. He may be a nonsense man but still, he's one of the leading businessman in today's circle. Well technically, he isn't. He's not a businessman himself. Anak lang s'ya ng isang kilalang business tycoon sa Pilipinas. But still and at least, it will do. May connect pa rin naman.

Hindi ko muna tinuloy 'yung tangka kong paglabas ng sasakyan kanina. Instead, I waited and watch those eerie men. Pasulyap-sulyap sila sa pwesto ng sasakyan ko kaya nasiguro ko lang lalo na ako nga 'yung pakay nila at wala nang iba pa.

Nag uusap pa rin 'yung dalawang lalaki pero mayamaya rin 'yung pagsulyap nila sa pwesto ng sasakyan ko.

I paid attention to my house. Kinalkula ko kung ilang hakbang ang magagawa ko bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa loob. I have been thinking to run my way inside the house. Pero naisip ko rin na magmumukha lang akong tanga. I don't want myself to look like some scared little girl. Or a pathetic coward rat either.

Sa huli, napagdesisyunan ko na umakto na lang ng normal. I went out of my car. Siniguro ko rin na naka-lock ang mga pinto at bintana n'on. Then I normally walk towards my gate habang pasimple kong tinitingnan 'yung dalawang lalaki na ngayon at mukhang focus na focus na sa panonood sa'kin. Parang binabantayan nila bawat kilos na gawin ko. What for?

Habang sinasara ko 'yung gate, palihim ko pa rin silang tinitingnan. I saw one of them talked to what looks like… a mic. Covert mic or spy mic, to be exact. It seems like he just said an update to someone on the other line. But the question is: what update? Was it about… me?

I brushed off those thoughts as I continued my way to finally enter my house. Whoever those men in black are, and whoever their mastermind is, I know that I should find out. Hindi ako mapapakali sa seguridad ko hangga't hindi ko nalalaman ang puno't-dulo ng biglaang pagsulpot ng mga goons na 'yon.

As soon as I am inside the house, I throw my bag in the couch as I gently removed all my clothes. I did it on my way to the bathroom. Nakasanayan ko na 'yon. It is how comfortable I am in my home. Besides, panatag ako na wala namang ibang makakakita sa'kin o sa mga ginagawa ko sa loob ng bahay ko dahil first and foremost, mag isa lang akong naninirahan dito. Wala akong kasama. I didn't even get myself a maid. Well, I can. I can get as many maids as I want to. But I don't want to. May resources ako, oo. Busy ako, oo. Pero hindi ako tamad at mangmang sa basic living knowledge.

I said to myself that I won't take long in here. Pero nagbago lahat ng 'yon sa naisip ko. And that exact thought made me want to drench myself more in the waters. More like, drown myself. I remembered all the encounter I had with Damon last night. And all the negative energy he managed to build in me. Mahaba-habang babaran at marami-raming tubig ang kailangan ko bago mawala sa'kin 'yung kilabot na dulot ng damuhong Damon na 'yon. Mukhang hindi pa nga tuluyang mabubura 'yon. It seems like his negative aura that lingers within me has been etched using

Deinococcus Radiodurans. It was one of the strongest bacteria when base on its nature, anyway. Kahit yata 'yung SG na sabon na nagcla-claim na kayang pumatay ng 99.9% ng germs ay hindi kakayaning burahin ang mikrobyong dala ng hudas na lalaking 'yon.

Nangilabot ako sa naisip—making my body shrill.

"Bwisit talagang lalaki. Perwisyo na nga, 'di pa mabura-bura sa utak ko.”

Tutol man sa gusto ko, kinailangan ko ring tumigil sa pagligo at lumabas ng shower room. I have so many things to do rather than waste my precious time erasing those traces that that jerk left on me. Nagbihis lang ako ng simpleng suot—hindi ko na pinabongga masyado dahil malamang na ako lang naman ang mag-o-OT mamaya. Wala kasing night shift sa kumpanya. Hanggang 5 P.M. lang ang working hours at kung may mga nag-oovertime ay hindi rin naman lumalagpas sa alas siyete ng gabi. Bihira pang mangyari.

Instead of my usual office attire, I just wore a simple tube dress and coat. Aalisin ko rin 'yung coat mamaya once na nasa office na 'ko at mag isa. I still put on some makeup, of course. Hindi ako pwedeng lumabas nang hindi ko nasisiguro na presentable ang itsura ko. Earlier was an exception, alright. Pero una't huli na 'yon. I have to make sure of it.

I grab my glasses and bag as I went to go out. Nakita ko rin ang oras—mag-aalas sais na pala.

I was about to hop in my car when suddenly, I took notice of the men in black again. Nawala na sila sa isip ko kanina kaya hindi ko na naalala na baka nasa labas pa rin sila at naghihintay—bagay na mukhang ginagawa nga nila dahil hanggang ngayon ay nando'n pa rin sila sa pwesto nila kanina. Mukhang naalerto pa nga sila pagkakita nila na lumabas na 'ko. But just like before, I still tried my best to never pay any attention to them.

"Bahala kayo sa buhay n'yo d'yan. Mapapagod kayo sa kasusunod sa'kin pero walang mahihita na kahit ano 'yung amo n'yo tungkol sa'kin.”

I smirked at the thought and set to fly my wheels. Sumulyap pa ulit ako sa salamin para silipin 'yung dalawang gunggong. Mukhang nagre-relay na naman ng impormasyon sa kung sino 'yung isa. Hindi ko na lang 'yon pinansin. Huminga na lang ako ng malalim at binuhay na ang makina ng sasakyan ko. Then I eventually send my wheels "flying".