The Charmed Thief

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (I)

PINANGKO ni Sasha si Ley at dinala ito sa silid niya.  Nakatulog na ito sa couch kakahintay sa pagtawag ni Intel.  Maingat niya itong ibinaba sa kama niya.  Seeing her sleep on the same bed he slept in brought some unfamiliar emotions inside him.  Like a feeling of propriety.  Because she was his and she belonged there.  Napahinto siya.  Wala pang dalawang araw simula nang muli silang magkita and he was already laying a claim on her.  Another two days and he might find himself proposing to her.

Napailing siya.  Hindi na niya maintindihan ang nararamdaman.  Yes, he was attracted to her.  But this clenching feeling inside his chest goes way beyond a simple attraction.  His desire to monopolize her was so strong it even surprised him.  Kahit minsan ay hindi pa niya ito naramdaman para sa kahit na sino.  His relationships mostly consist of one night stands with women who know how to play the same game.  No promises, just one night full of pleasure.  Sa klase ng pamumuhay na meron siya, forming a relationship with someone would just bring unnecessary complications.  Mga komplikasyon na hindi niya kailangan.  Pero habang tinititigan niya ang magandang mukha ni Ley, he suddenly doesn't mind taking all those complications.  Heck, he was even fine making promises.

Damn.  He was really in deep shit right now. 

Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha nito.  He resisted the urge to kiss her at lumabas na ng silid bago pa kung saan-saan makarating ang tinatakbo ng isipan niya.  Paglabas niya ay nakita niya si Parker na nakaupo sa may bar counter at kumakain ng junk food.  Sa tabi nito ay may bukas na isang can ng beer.

"Is that your lunch?" tanong niya dito.

"Yeah.  And I'm not giving you any," wika nito na pagkasubo ng chips ay uminom naman ng beer.

Napailing niya.  "Alam mo one of these days magigising ka na lang na may sakit sa bato dahil d'yan sa masama mong eating habit."

"I'll cross that bridge when I get there."

There was a beeping sound na nagmumula sa laptop niya.  It must be Intel.  Lumapit siya sa laptop at binuksan ang secure line.  Lumitaw sa monitor ang mukha ni Intel.  Pero bago pa niya matanong dito kung kumusta ang pinapagawa niya dito bigla na lang sumingit sa tabi nito si Cameo.

"Tell me it isn't true," bungad nito sa kanya.

"Ah, what's not true?"

"That you're helping that... that annoying piece of twig."

Marahas siyang lumingon kay Parker.  "You told her?"

"She called me earlier.  She told me she'll give that Monet painting I want kung sasabihin ko sa kanya kung ano ang nangyayari.  So I told her."

"Sasha, sagutin mo ang tinatanong ko," wika ni Cameo sa wikang Inggles.

Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na buntung-hininga.  "Yes, I'm helping her."

"Shit, seriously?  We all agreed to lie low for the time being, right?  Is this your idea of lying low?  By looking for a murderer?  That's a fine way to attract the attention of the police," ani Cameo.

"It's fine.  I can handle it."

"No, it's not.  You need to stop.  Right now."

"Cam, I said it's fine."

"Kaya mo ba tinutulungan ang babaeng 'to kasi interesado ka sa kanya?"  Nang hindi siya sumagot ay nahilot lang nito ang noo.  "Then just have sex with her and get her out of your system.  No need to go out of your way like this."

Nainis naman siya sa sinabi nito.  "She's not that kind of girl.  I will help her and that's the end of this discussion.  Can I talk to Intel now?"

Cameo's face scrunched up.  "Fine!  Do whatever the hell you want.  Just don't blame me if this go sideways."  At padabog na itong umalis.

"She's definitely going to sulk for a long time," komento ni Parker.

"And I'm the one who's going to suffer for it," dugtong naman ni Intel.

"Anong mga nalaman mo?" tanong niya na lang kay Intel.  Siguro nga sa umpisa ay magtatampo si Cameo, but she will surely come around.

"I-se-send ko siya sa 'yo, then basahin mo na lang siya."  Nagsimula itong tumipa sa keyboard, maya-maya lang ay may dumating ng mga files sa kanya.

Pinindot niya 'yon at sinimulang basahin.  Napakunot ang noo niya at habang pinagpapatuloy niya ang pagbabasa ay mas lalo lang lumalalim ang gatla doon.  Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Intel nang matapos niyang basahin 'yon.  "Are you absolutely sure about this?"

"Yeah.  I double-checked everything."

Lumapit naman sa tabi niya si Parker at sinimulang basahin ang files.  Pagkakuwan ay bigla na lang itong napasipol.  "That's a lot of gold.  No wonder she got killed."

Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa files.  Yes, this much gold could get anyone killed.  Pero ito ba talaga ang dahilan kung bakit namatay si Shane?