Montague Academy has a perfect reputation-a famous school known for its identity as "the School for the Elites," where most of its students come from wealthy and notorious families. Nathalie had never imagined herself entering this school. But one i...
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"No, I won't," I firmly said habang diretsong nakatingin kay Greg. "Gusto kong sumali."
"This girl," gigil na sabi ni Greg. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin, a deep frown was plastered on his face. "Alam mo ba ang pinapasok mo, ha? Hindi ko alam kung nagtatanga-tangahan ka ba o sadyang tanga ka talaga—"
"That's enough Greg," singit ni kuya Nathan sa pang-iinsulto ni Greg. Tinignan niya ako sa mata na para bang nagtataka kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at nagbabalak akong sumali sa mafia. "Sure ka ba talaga Nat? You'll undergo rough training and also, are you really going to risk your peaceful life?"
I can't help but roll my eyes at his statement. "Does being chased by ugly gangs, hit by a bullet, and about to be used as an experiment considered as having a peaceful life? Atsaka this is for the best, I think?"
"You're not sure?" Napatingin ako sa nagsalita... si suplado. "That's funny. Miss Goody-Two-Shoes slash Know-It-All doesn't even know what she's doing."
Kunwari na lang wala akong narinig. Wala namang ibang alam ata sabihin 'yan kundi masasakit na salita e.
Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay kuya Nathan and gave him the most pleading look that I could muster. "Please, kuya Nathan."
He sighed a deep breath. Halos walang umiimik at mukhang iniintay na lamang ang desisyon ng 'king' nila.
"Sige na nga," sabi ni kuya Nathan habang nakasimangot. I, on the other hand, feel like I can jump with glee. But my happiness went downhill after the next words he uttered, "but, for now, you're just on training. Please go out because matters to be discussed are for official members only. Sorry Nat."
Damn mafioso.
***
Napabalikwas ako ng upo nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto ng warehouse. Tapos na yata ang meeting nila.
Kanina pa ako nakatambay dito sa gilid habang hinihintay matapos meeting nila. Umaasa kasi akong may maririnig ako. Oo na. Oo na. Pwede na akong maturingang Queen of Eavesdropping. But I just can't help it. Can you blame me?
Nakita kong lumabas na ang Black Cards at sila Greg. And, again, I tried my best to hear their conversations but all I could hear were hush murmurs. Wow, ang secretive nila masyado ah.
I decided to go back to the warehouse nang masigurado kong nakaalis na sila and I suppose na nasa likod na sila ng main building.
I was on the way doon sa room kung saan nagmeeting nang mapahinto ako sa boses ng dalawang tao.
May tao pa pala.
What should I do? Leave them alone or stay and listen to their conversation?
Too late. Nakita ko na lang ang sarili ko na naglalakad palapit sa pinto at sumandal dito—pinapakinggan ang usapan nila.
"I tell you, Nathan, nanganganib na ito ngayon. You need to tell your dad. They are planning something. He is coming back."
"Last time I checked, it is still safe. Atsaka huwag mo nga iyon problemahin. It's not something you should be concerned about," rinig kong sabi ni kuya Nathan.
Nakarinig naman ako ng bahagyang tawa mula sa kausap niya. "Of course it's not my problem to be concerned about. But my boss' problem is my problem also. At tatanungin nga kita, paano mo nasabi na safe 'yon? Are you blind? Hindi mo ba nakikita 'yung news about sa mga raid na 'yon? They are trying to find her by hook or by crook."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Put your men to action. Find her before they find her first. Kapag naunahan kayo, it's the end."
Parang nagiging intense na ang usapan kaya mas lalo kong diniin ang tenga ko sa pinto. Man, my curiosity is getting worse.
"What if I don't? Paano kung ayaw ko? Lingid naman sa kaalaman ko na may paparating na war sa underground. My men are training for that not to hunt her."
There was a slight pause bago nagsalita ang kausap niya. "Ganyan ka ba sa kadugo mo? Kung ayaw mo, kami na lang ang hahanap. But you won't like it if we find her. Sa oras na mahanap namin siya, it's still a lost for you. Nanahimik sila for how many years, and now that they're back kahit anong training niyo ay mahirap sila talunin. They have something that you don't. You have no choice but to need her."
"What if nahanap ko na pala siya?"
"Then, good. Pero nasabi mo na ba ang totoo?" I hear him tsked before continuing, "kaunting bilis lang ah. Hindi mo lang napapansin but he has let someone here. Blind Dominguez. In no time, maaaring mapaikot na niya kayo. You know how manipulative that man can be, right?"
Nakarinig na ako ng mga yapak ng paa kaya nag-hesitate ako kung aalis na ako o hindi pa. Pero napatigil ako nang magsalita si kuya Nathan.
"Dustin," simula niya. "Bakit ayaw mo ito ipaalam kanina sa meeting? Bakit hindi mo ito sinasabi? Why are you pretending innocence? Why are you pretending as if you're not Agent Bryce?"
What? Anong Agent Bryce?
"There are some things that needs to be kept as a secret, Dominguez."
"At least tell me who you are working for." Nakaramdam ako ng awa sa tono ng boses ni kuya Nathan. He sounds so helpless.
"I'll say it again, there are some things that needs to be kept as a secret. We all have our secrets Dominguez. We have our own hidden motives. If you don't want complications, stop asking me questions I don't want to answer. You might not like what I would ask in return."
Okay, tmi! Too much information. Mukhang that's the end of their conversation kaya agad ako tumakbo paalis.
Tumakbo na ako pabalik sa likod ng main building as fast as I can. Mahirap na mahuli.
Pero habang tumatakbo ako ay maraming katanungan ang pumasok sa isipan ko. Puro tungkol kay Dustin. Agent Bryce? Atsaka sinong man? Anong war? At sino yung babaeng hinahanap nila?
Sabi na nga ba't masama ang mag-eavesdrop lalo na kung mukhang di mo kakayanin ang information na maririnig mo.
Hay, nang makarating ako sa likod ng main building ay pumunta ako sa usual spot ko at umupo doon. Napasandal ako at tumingal sa makulimlim na langit. Isang katanungan ang naglalaro sa aking isipan.
