The Great Pretender

Chapter 40: Concrete Jungle, Wet Dreams, Tomato

Happy reading! 💝

***

Vaughn Miguel

Kamila is powerful.

Iyon ang nasa isipan ko nang pick-up-in kami ng isang itim na benz. We're already set to go, matapos naming mag-impake ng damit. Our plan was going smooth so far because when we arrived at some Pier in Metro, ay agad kaming pinapasok sa malaki at mataas na gate.

As the car traveled inside the wide property, I could see containers and warehouses on both sides.

"Are you okay?" Narinig kong tanong niya sa tabi ko. I smiled at her when she reached for my hand. God. How can this woman be this perfect? She's rocking her casual clothes like a model, she is even more beautiful now that her face is bare from any cosmetic products. Her glowing red-orange, long hair is cascading down her shoulders.

"Yes, I am." Sagot ko at dinala sa aking mga labi ang kanyang kamay. "I can't wait for this to be over." I whispered and pressed another kiss on her knuckles. Her gray eyes gleamed with adoration.

She smiled. "It will, baby."

The car halted near a big blue ship. Nang bumaba kami sa sasakyan ay madilim na ang kalangitan at malamig na ang simoy ng hangin. Nagpasalamat naman ako sa driver nang bumaba siya at inabot sa akin ang aming maliit na luggage, mula sa trunk ng sasakyan. I then stood there in silence because that is the best thing that I can do at the moment, this is Kamila's expertise, she knew these people.

And so I watched her thanked and talked to the driver before he left.

Nang tuluyan nang naglaho ang sasakyan ay doon ko lang napansin ang stevedore na naka-orange na uniform. Kamila greeted her and introduced me. Then they

exchanged friendly hugs and talked for a little, until the stevedore led us to a big ship in front of us.

Ayon sa narinig ko mula sa pag-uusap nila ay cargo ship ang barkong ito at patungo ito sa 70 Hamilton Avenue, sa Brooklyn. We're safe here because it has already been inspected, so from here ay wala nang magi-inspect na government authority. The wind was even colder nang maabot namin ang taas ng barko kung nasaan ang napakaraming container vans. The smell of rust and steel filled my nose as we made our way through the vans. We stepped, hopped on some vans, and then walked on some stairs until we reached a red container van on top of the stacks.

My mouth parted nang buksan iyon ng stevedore.

Holy crap, I was expecting to see boxes of products inside, but we were greeted by a

a small but comfortable-looking room. There is a bed and pillows in the middle, a small table for two on the right side and a small fridge. Wow.

"Maraming salamat, Gacia." Sabi ni Kamila at niyakap ang babae. I smiled at her when our eyes met.

"Wala ito kumpara sa nagawa mo para sa akin, Kamila." She replied when they pulled away. "Oh, siya, kailangan niyo nang pumasok dahil lalayag na ang barkong ito in five minutes. My contact in Brooklyn will meet and cover for you, don't worry."

Kamila thanked her again, bago kami pumasok sa container van. When she shut the door behind us, I looked for a bit and sighed in relief when I saw four air vents on the corners, which means we're actually safe here and we will not suffocate.

Matapos kong ibaba ang luggage namin sa gilid ay umupo ako sa dulo ng kama. The material of my sweatpants brushed against the soft covering of the bed.

Samantalang naglakad naman siya patungo sa maliit na fridge, napataas ang mga kilay ko nang makita kong may mga sandwiches at ready-to-eat food doon na pwede naming kainin in the next sixteen to seventeen hours. Gacia is so generous dahil may mga bote din doon ng tubig at beer.