Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 41: Peace and Chaos

"James, if your decision-making is biased, you shouldn't be here." Lola Divina nila ang nagsalita. "You know it's the right course of action, but you don't like it because of the girl."

Tumango ang lalakeng katabi niya na mukhang kasing tanda lang ni Kuya Jupiter. "We've been playing hide and seek for weeks. I'm getting bored. Tama na binunyag sa publiko ang nangyari."

"Boredom shouldn't be the reason for making drastic decisions. We're provoking them to make a move. Instead of offense, we're in defense."

"Why not do both?" Another man chimes in. "Agents are trained for a reason."

"You used to be fun. Where is the fun, James?" May isang babae naman ang nagsalita, she looks mid-30.

"He's gone when people's lives are at stake."

"Lives like your girlfriend?"

My heart skipped a beat when I was mentioned.

"Yes. Of course." Tumaas ang kilay niya. "And my agents. We don't produce qualified agents on a whim. I lost a lot of talented comrades for fucking nothing."

"I agree. There's a smarter way of doing things. Secretly. Now, Itasaki isn't our only problem. We also have the press, the public opinion, and the police to think about." Pag explain ni Kuya Jupiter.

"We can't undo what happened, do we? What do we need to address now?" Sabi ng lola nila na parang teacher na nagtatanong sa klase. Alam niya na ang sagot pero magtatanong pa siya.

"Press. Police. Point problem." Bulong ni Jamie sa tabi ko at halos sabay silang nagsalita ng kambal niya na nasa loob.

"Press, the police, and the issue itself."

"I have Molina on the line. We wouldn't be involved. Our operations will remain covert." Sabi ng isang council member. Agad kong nakilala ang apelyido na binanggit niya bilang chairman ng isang news agency.

"Sino aasikaso sa mga pulis?"

Lumingon ang lahat sa lalakeng tahimik at naka krus lang ang kamay—ang bestfriend ni Kuya Jupiter. Nang mapansin ang mata ng lahat ay nagsalita siya, "I need a bargain to negotiate with the General."

"You're here to work that out yourself." Napataas ang kilay niya sa tono ni Sir Archie ngunit hindi rin ito umimik.

"What else do we need?"

"With all due respect, Sir, you didn't inform us about this, and that's the issue." James faced his father while his fingers tapped the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern. "We weren't prepared. We'll have a problem if you continue to disregard us in the future."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No. I'm informing you."

"Let me remind you, Agent, that you're supposed to be suspended because you released confidential information. You're here because I allowed it. Don't overstep your position because I make the final decisions here."

"Bakit ganyan magsalita si Daddy?" Bulong ni Jane.

"This is why they don't want us in that circle." Umiling si Jamie pero nahuli ko ang tumulo niyang luha. "They're family, and they know our relationship with them would be ruined if we knew they're like this."

"Pag namatay sila, pwede niyo baguhin ang paraan ng kanilang pamamalakad."

"Are you joking?" Jane looks at me, horrified.

Nag isip ako ng ilang segundo, "Yes?"

Tiningnan naman ako ni Jamie ng matagal. "You realize our father, our grandmother, is in there. And you're telling me you can't wait for them to die."

Kumibit balikat ako. "Totoo naman. Someday."

Tumawa siya ngunit naging seryoso, at lumingon sa salamin. "Why not make changes now?"

Tumango ako at inisip ang mga pinag-usapan nila. Alam kong tungkol ito sa pamilya ko... pero anong nangyari? Ano ang impormasyon na sinabi sa publiko?

Kinuha ko na ang sarili kong cellphone at sinearch ang article na pinakita ni Jamie kanina. Mabilis ko itong nahanap.

Kaso ng Kamatayan ng Aktibistang si Ceara Janette Del Valle, Muling Binuksan

Lumabas ang bagong impormasyon at mga bagong testigo na nagbigay daan sa pagbukas ng imbestigasyon...

Reading through the article made my heart ache. Confusion and hope bloomed at the same time, and I quickly ran outside. Narinig kong tinatawag ako ni Jamie.

Kailan niya ginawa 'to? Wala siyang sinabi sa akin.

(づ •. •)?