Project Eclipse: Hidden Pains

Chapter 2

"You all ready?"

Tanong ni Shin sa aming lahat ng makasakay na kami sa sasakyan. Shin was on the driver's seat, Hart is on the passenger seat habang ako at si Kate naman ang nasa backseat. Tumango na lamang kami.

I look at the rest house one last time bago naisipang ipikit ang aking mga mata kasabay ng tugtog ng musika sa radyo. Mukhang matatagalan pa kami makapunta sa hangar kung nasan ang jet na sasakyan namin pabalik so tiis tiis muna.

I close my eyes feeling the weariness of my eyes, putting myself in a deep slumber as slowly, my eyes drift to sleep, welcoming the spirit of calmness in my veins. Di ko alam kung anong oras ako nakatulog but knowing na pagkagising ko, ay nasa hangar na kami.

I just bought my backpack habang naglalakad patungo sa jet. There, I saw Austin, one of my great friends in the organization standing at the front door of the private jet going back to the philippines.

"How's your mission, Agents?"

Pambungad niya sa amin wearing his oh so radiant smile. Ngumiti lamang ako bago sumagot.

"Well, buhay pa naman kami Austin, don't worry." biro ko dito. Tumawa lamang ito at iginaya na kami sa loob ng jet. Napamangha na lang sila ng makita ang nasa loob ng jet. Looks like a passenger private jet pero sa labas lang pala yon. This jet is almost a freaking control room like the air force 1. Baka nga mas maganda pa ito kaysa don.

I look around the controls. Different colors, different sizes and different functions. All for the boardings of 4 people.

Halos nagtagal ang byahe namin ng 12 hours, at ngayon, naglalakad na ako papunta sa HQ kasama sila Shin, Kate at Hart at si Austin. Agents look at us, especially sa akin. They will be looking at me with those eyes na ayoko lagi tinitingnan. Di ko na lang pinansin at nagdirediretso sa control room.

Pagkapasok namin, people look at us especially the director. He looks at us. Lalo na sa akin. Katabi niya ang isang lalaki with those physique na halatang nabuild-up for so many years. He looks at me, may kung anong emosyon ang mga nasa mata niya na di ko mapangalanan, ngunit di ako natinag sa pakikipagtitigan niya sa akin. He smiled at me, di naman ako snobber so I smiled back, but not the genuine smile.

Napaiwas ito ng tingin nang nginitian ko siya. Damn, heart. Bakit nung nginitian ka niya bigla kang nagwala? Ano yon? Inaatake ka? The director coughed to caught our attention. I look at him. He's a man in his 40's. With slight white hair and all.

"You did a great job agents.  Pinagaaralan na namin ang data na Binigay niyo. But there's a file that caughts my eye. The Project Eclipse"

Napatulos ako sa kinatatayuan ko ng marinig ko yon. Ngunit, I managed to stay calm as soon as possible. Tumingin silang lahat sa akin.

"Maia. do you know something about this?"

Umiling ako bago nagsalita. "Aside sa part ako ng project na yan, no. I don't know anything at this moment sir."

"Make sure you don't know anything, Maia. This is a very urgent information we are talking about."

"Alam ko sir" but I'm sorry. I can't freaking tell what is that information behind that project. wag muna sa ngayon.

Nilingon niya kami isa isa bago nagsalita. He look to that guy who looked at me earlier. Hinawakan niya ang braso at iniharap sa amin.

"Everyone, this is Ethan Monteverde. He will be the part of the Alpha from now on. Shin, he's on the espionage division. He will be accompanying Maia on their next mission."