Lethal Numbers Series 1: Four, the Number of Affection

2

"Pffttrr- t*ngina!" Xhan quickly pulled the document away as Xade spat out the coffee he's drinking matapos nitong makita kung ano ang hawak ni Xhan.

"Xane, check the CCTV footages last night."

"Copy." Xane replied, at basta na lamang itong nawala sa paningin nila.

"Xhan, send that back to her." Ang tinutukoy n'ya ang hawak ni Xhan na Marriage contract na pirmado na n'ya. Sa totoo lang balak n'ya sanang makipaglaro sa dalaga, but given his status that time, he doubt he can hide his identify from her, he's a public figure after all.

He needs to be Congressman Ice Lander E. Vasquez to hide who he really is.

"How about me?" Xade raised his hand while sipping his coffee.

"Get out of my sight." He answered and left Xade there. Xade eyes' widen, filled with disbelief watching the Congressman turned his back to him.

"Sungit." Xade murmured, nailing na ininom na lang nito ang hawak nitong kape.

----

"Thank you so much Congressman, hindi ko talaga alam kung paano ako magpapasalamat sa'yo." Mahinang natawa si Mayor Emilio Rivera, tumayo na s'ya at tumayo na rin ang Alkalde. Ang tinutukoy ng Alkalde ay ang pinirmahan n'yang budget ng bayan para sa renovation at expansion ng health center.

"Hindi n'yo naman na ho kailangan magpasalamat Mayor, it's part of my job. Para saan pa't Congressman ako kung hindi ko tutulungan ang taumbayan." Magalang na sagot n'ya sa Mayor. He smiled, soft and it reached his eyes. The way he smile in front of the Mayor was very different how he smile behind close doors. Even his voice sound different. Marahan at panatag ang boses n'yang nakikipag-usap sa alkalde, iba sa kung paano n'ya kausapin ang mga tauhan n'ya.

Mayor Rivera stretched his hand, and he immediately accepted it.

"Maraming salamat, Congressman. You may stay here as long as you want." Ani Mayor Rivera.

"Patapos na ang opisina ko Mayor, I'll be moving in as soon as possible." Mabilis na inilingan n'ya ang Alkalde. He smiled again and took a glance on his wrist watch.

"I need to go, Mayor. I still have-" makahulugan n'yang tinignan si Mayor, and Mayor Rivera immediately understood what he meant. The mayor smiled again at mabilis na iginiya s'ya nito sa pinto.

"Of course, of course. I know you're busy. Thank you so much again, Cong. We're blessed to have you. Napakabait mong tao, pagpalain ka pa." He nodded, didn't bother to respond. Lumabas na s'ya at diretso na sa kanyang opisina.

The smile on his lips immediately shifted into a cold grin as soon as the door shut behind him. His eyes from warm turned dark again. Mabilis na tumaas ang isang kilay n'ya nang maupo s'ya sa kanyang swivel chair.

Mayor's word lingered in his mind.

"We're blessed to have you.

Napakabait mong tao, pagpalain ka pa"

He let out a mocking smile. That description doesn't suits him. He wonder... will they still praise him like that after knowing who he really is.

He leaned his head sideways, eyes narrowing. That made him exhaled sharply, he closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

But then, he opened his eyes when he felt the door opened. Bilang lang sa kanyang mga daliri ang may lakas ng loob ng pumasok sa kanyang opisina ng hindi kumakatok.

He looked up, eyes sharp as he welcomed whoever entered the door.

That familiar pair of brown eyes. No wonder.