Chapter 3 - Tattooed in her mind

Umayos ng upo si Zea sa kanyang first class seat. Labing siyam na oras na siyang nasa eroplano pabalik ng Pilipinas pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya mapalagay. Tumingin siya sa kanyang relo, ngunit ang nahagip ng mata niya ay ang kanyang tattoo sa bandang ilalim ng kaliwa niyang pulso.

Her eyes followed the trail of an artistically made circular ambigram tattoo that twisted into a yin yang design forming the initials of K and Z.

Parang unti-unting nilamukos ang puso niya habang minamasdan ang itsura nito. Hindi tuloy mapigilan ng isipan niya na maligaw muli sa alaala ng nakaraan...

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong niya habang tumatakbo, kasama ang isang lalaki na kanina pa hawak ang kanyang kamay. Hindi niya tuloy mapigilan ngumiti matapos masuyo nitong pisilin iyon at lingunin para sa isang matamis na ngiti.

Nagtungo sila sa sentro ng bayan at tumigil sa harap ng isang pulang gusali. 

"You said you wanted to have a tattoo, right?"

Kaagad napalingon si Zea sa binata.

"Let's have one together."

Hindi siya kaagad nakapag-salita. It was just a silly wish out of rebellion from her overly strict father. Muli siyang napatingin sa binata. She's just amazed at how this guy remembers every single thing that she says and his dedication to fulfilling it.

Ilang minuto pa ay lumapit na sa kanila ang isang lalaki na sa tingin niya ay ang tattoo artist.

"Kayo ba magpapa-tattoo?"

Parang nahiya pa si Zea no'ng tingnan siya nito at bahagyang nagtago pa sa braso ng kasama.

"Oo. Yung custom design na binanggit ko sayo kahapon." Itinaas nito ang magkahawak nilang kamay saka ngumiti. "Gusto ko yung design na mag-tutugma yung ambigram kapag hinawakan ko 'yung kamay ng girlfriend ko."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have arrived in Manila..."

Biglang bumalik ang isipan niya sa kasalukuyan matapos marinig ang announcement ng flight attendant. She quickly stood up, put her black jacket on, gathered her things, and stepped out of the plane. She walked into the airport's lobby and saw a guy wearing a black suit. Holding a placard in his hand with a RED VELVET note written on it.

Nilapitan niya kaagad ito at naglabas ang lalaki ng maliit na card scanner. She pulled out a carbon black card,  put it on top of the device, and a blue laser light immediately scanned it.

"Identification verified..." the automated voice prompt confirmed.

The man in a black suit gave her a small silver case. At kaagad naman niyang kinuha ito sabay sakay sa itim na Lamborghini Aventador.

"Welcome, Agent Red Velvet," bati sa kanya ng automated voice prompt.

Kaagad niyang binuksan ang silver case at kinuha ang isang highly integrated flash drive na karaniwan nilang ginagamit sa kanilang mission.

She quickly connected it on her car's device. At kaagad nagload ang holographic screen sa inner windshield ng kotse habang nagmamaneho siya.

Name, Astrid Garcia. Age, seventeen years old. Senior high school student from SVC University. Mother and father, both in France. And living alone with one guardian.

Bahagya siyang nangiti. "Last statement is so damn relatable."

Ni-review niya ang iba pang detalye ng mission and before she knew it, she was already at the hotel where she and Ethan was supposed to meet.

Pumasok siya sa presidential suite at nadatnan niya roon ang binata na kanina pa naghihintay sa kanya. Nakaupo ito sa mahabang sofa, nakataas ang paa sa lamesita at nagbabasa ng magazine habang inaasikaso ng stylist ang buhok niya.

"You're late."

"One minute late," diin ni Zea.

"Whatever babe. You're still late."

"Nadelay ng konti yung flight ko anong gusto mong gawin ko?"

Uupo na sana si Zea, nang mapansin ang isa sa mga assistant na may hawak na silver syringe. Maingat nitong hinawakan ang dulo nito saka itinuturok sa leeg ni Ethan.

Huminga ng malalim ang binata at ilang sandali pa ay humarap na rin sa dalaga. Halos napatanga si Zea. Lalo na no'ng makita ang itsura nito.

They cut his hair short, almost on the same level of his thick yet sculpted brows. His hazel brown eyes that peeped in between the strands of his ash black hair.

But what really amazed her was Ethan's face. He looked 10 years younger from his real age. Almost believable as a college student.

Napangiti kaagad si Ethan no'ng makitang natulala si Zea.

"Guwapo ba?" wika nito sabay kindat.

Nakakainis mang aminin. Pero guwapo talaga ang binata. School outfit na lang ang kulang papasa na siya bilang college student.

"Experimental drug?" tanong ni Zea sabay dampot sa silver syringe na itinurok kay Ethan.

"Magkano rin ako inabot sa serum na 'yan ha. Ang hirap makakuha niyan sa black market." tugon nito, habang tamad na tamad na humiga sa couch habang hawak ang magazine.

"Huwag ka nang reklamador diyan, bumata naman yung kutis mo."

"Hoy! Similya palang ako, naka-tadhana na ang kutis 'kong 'to. Kaya huwag kang ano..." magsasalita pa sana si Ethan, no'ng biglang dumating ang mga taong mag-aasikaso kay Zea.

Naupo kaagad si Zea sa recliner seat saka nginitian ang isa sa mga stylist.

"So? What treatments have you prepared for me?"

"Ma'am, we're going to cut your hair a little shorter, straighten your curls. Darken up your hair color to black and a little bit of bangs on the side. Para mas magmukhang teenager po kayo."

Natawa bigla si Ethan. "Himala na kailangan niyan."

"Tumahik kang animal ka ha." Muling hinarap ni Zea ang mga tauhan. "Any necessary surgery that should be done on my face? Prosthetics or something?"

"Ma'am, the only instruction is to do four sessions of laser tattoo removal on your left arm."

Zea froze upon hearing what the girl said. "W-What?" She slowly gazed at her tattoo. The only memory that was left, that reminds her of the only man that she loved.

She immediately felt anxious. She doesn't want it to be removed.

"Can we just cover it up with make-up?"

"Sorry Ma'am, but we can't."

Ethan quickly put down the magazine he was reading. "Can you leave us for a minute?" he smilingly asked the whole team.

Mabilis namang lumabas ang mga tauhan at iniwan sila sa suite.

"Should I ask Uncle Ram to relieve you from this mission?"

His happy demeanor quickly changed into a dark one. There was an awkward silence inside the room and Zea can't even look him in the eyes.

 "You don't need that Zea. You're not Zea anymore. You are about to become Astrid Garcia." Ethan reiterated. 

She glanced at her tattoo once more and back into his serious gaze. 

"Anong pipiliin mo? Pakakawalan mo 'yang tattoo na' yan? O ang pagkakataon na makilala mo 'yung mga taong may kinalaman sa pagpatay sa tatay mo?"

Hindi siya nakapagsalita. Alam niya ang pinupunto nito at hindi niya nakakalimutan ang kanyang misyon. Pero may malaking parte sa puso niya ang unti-unting namamatay naiisip pa lang niya na mawawala ang marka na yun.

"Alright..." With a heavy heart, Zea sat back on the chair.

Ethan turned on the intercom. "She's ready."

The whole team entered the room again. They started off with her hair while they talked about what teenagers would commonly wear nowadays.

Ipinasok din sa kuwarto ang mga bago nilang gamit. Gamit sa eskuwela at mga personal nilang gamit. Dumating din ang technical team dala ang iba't-ibang mga gadgets na ni-request ni Ethan. Pinaliwanag nila ang bawat isa nito at kung paano ito gamitin.

"Ma'am, you can rest your arm right here. The first session won't take long." the staff said politely.

Inumpisahan na nila ang laser tattoo removal at halos mapapikit si Zea no'ng maramdaman na dumampi ang device. Mariin niyang kinagat ang kanyang mga labi. Pilit pinipigilan ang nagbabadyang luha sa kanyang mga mata. At pati na rin ang mga alaala ng nakalipas.

Tears started to well up as she looked at her precious tattoo, slowly fading.

Pero nahigit niya ang kanyang paghinga no'ng mapansin ang matalas na tingin sa kanya ni Ethan.

"I want that tattoo gone. Flawless and traceless." Ethan coldly said.

At this point, Zea can't help but glare at him, sharply.

"What? Are you gonna curse at me right now?" he asked.

"No, but I'm about to."

He naughtily grinned at her.

"Someday, you'll gonna thank me for doing that."

Pumasok si Ethan sa kabilang kuwarto at matapos ang ilang minuto ay lumabas ito na may dalang silver case.

He opened it and pulled out a black syringe filled, with a blue liquid inside. He walked up to her and gently turned her head.

"Hold still." he said, then injected a quarter at Zea's neck.

She felt the thick serum ran into her veins and she felt her skin tightened in an instant.

"Ano to?"

takang tanong ni Zea.

"Gayuma."

Tinalasan niya kaagad ito ng tingin at labis naman itong ikinatawa ni Ethan.

He grabbed the mirror from the desk and tossed it to Zea. She quickly looked at herself and her mouth fell open in an instant.

"Oh God..." she whispered. She can't believe it. Her skin became youthful again. Like how she supposed to look when she was in high school.

Makinis naman talaga siya to start with, pero mas naging kutis dalaga pa siya ngayon.

"Ayusin mo 'yang boses mo, alalahanin mo high school student ka. Mag-pahinga kang mabuti ngayon. Marami tayong aasikuhin bukas," paalala ni Ethan saka tuluyang lumabas ng kuwarto kasama ang buong team.

Pinagmasdang mabuti ni Zea ang kanyang sarili sa salamin.

I swear, this high school student will gonna bring this shit down.