Hacker Vs. Hacker

Chapter 6

Akala ko male-late na ako, pero hindi pa pala.

"Good morning, Sir Paul," bati ng isang staff sa akin.

Tumango lang ako.

Agad kong tinungo ang Audio-Visual Hall namin kung saan gaganapin ang meeting.

Pagdating ko doon, naroon na lahat. Including Genesis. Hindi naman ako late, sadyang maaga lang sila.

"Paul, my man, how's life?" bati ni Genesis sa akin.

"Good," tipid akong tumawa.

Agad namang nagsimula si Genesis.

Wala namang bago, ang pag-uusapan ang status parin ng front business namin. Yeah, front business to hide our individual dirty businesses.

Oo, mga sindikato kami lahat. Itong kompanya namin, pang-front lang namin. Iba-iba rin kami ng mga dirty business dito. Magkakakilala lang din kaming lahat. We were college friends. Pero pinaka-close ko sa kanilang lahat ay si Genesis. At isa siyang human trafficker. He's kidnapping kids and making them beg for money.

Others are con artists and human traffickers like Genesis. Ako lang ang nag-iisang hacker sa amin. Isa rin ako at si Genesis sa may malalaking stocks dito sa kompanya namin.

Maghapon akong nag-stay sa opisina pero palagi akong tumitingin sa relo ko. Napansin naman 'yon ni Genesis.

"Date?" tanong niya.

Tumawa ako, "Yeah."

"So, you're getting laid?"

Whoa,puwede. bakit di ko naisip yon?

Tumawa ulit ako, "I don't know, we'll see."

Nang mag 5pm na, agad akong lumabas ng building. Excited yata ako? Ewan, lol. Tinawagan ko si Penelope.

"Yeah?" sagot niya sa kabilang linya.

"Hi, beautiful, I'm going to pick you up."

"Okay, I'll wait for you, then."

Napangiti ako habang binabalik sa bulsa ko ang phone ko.

Pagdating ko sa harap ng building nila, tatawagan ko sana ulit siya. Pero nasa parking lot na pala siya. Looking so sexy in her leather jacket while vaping. How can she make smoking looks so cool and sexy at the same time? Only Penelope can do that.

Binusinahan ko siya dahilan para mapalingon sa gawi ko. Nakataas ang kilay niya nang humarap siya at lumakad palapit.

Bumaba naman ako para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Nang maka-upo siya sa tabi ng driver's seat, agad niya akong tiningnan.

"Do you really have to that?" nakataas pa rin ang kilay niya, "And what's with the suit?" tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Do what? And I've been on a business meeting."

"Ang bumusina ng malakas, duuh?" she rolled her eyes. Cute.

"Sorry about that," I chuckled.

She just shrugged, "So, where are you taking me?"

Shoot. Hindi ko pala napag-isipan 'yon.

"Gasgas na ang fancy restaurants, so I'm gonna cook for you," I answered while putting my seat belt on.

"Oh, you can cook?"

"Konti lang," I paused, "Put your seat belt on, lady."

"Anong konti lang?" napangiwi siya.

"Basta nakakapagluto ako," tumawa ako.

"You're aware that if you'll poison me, my team will find it out and will drag you to jail," she said looking so cute.

"And why would I poison you?" I asked while laughing. Nakakatawa siya, ang advance mag-isip.

"I don't know," she shrugged.

Tinitigan ko siya.

"you're creeping me out, don't look at me like that ," she made a face.

"Look at you like what?" patay malisyang tanong ko.

"Like you've seen me naked."

Oh, no. Not naked, love. You were wearing a sexy lingerie when I was staring at you on my computer.

Tumawa ako, "You're funny."

"Taking that as a compliment," she smiled sweetly.

Nakatingin ako sa kanya habang nagmamaneho.

"Eyes on the road, Mister—" naputol yung sasabihin niya tumingin siya sa akin, "Oh, by the way, I didn't get your complete name. Sabi ni divine grace half brothers lang kayo, so, probably iba family name mo."

Clever. Pero sinong divine grace?

"Sinong divine grace? Si Ian?"

Tumawa siya, "His family name is Divinagracia, right? In-english ko lang."

Tumango ako habang tumatawa.

"So, ano ngang pangalan mo?" tanong niya ulit.

"I'm Paul Frederick Garces," I smiled at her.

She arched a brow, "And I'm Shajhanni Penelope Garcia, nice to meet you Mister Garces," naglahad siya ng kamay.

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya, "The pleasure is all mine Miss Garcia," I smirked.

She rolled her eyes, "You're really such a flirt, you know that? Biruin mo, hindi pa natin alam ang pangalan ng isa't-isa, date na agad?"

Ikaw lang naman ang hindi nakaka-alam sa pangalan ko, eh.

"Doon din naman papunta eh, bakit pa patatagalin?"

Note: original draft, unedited.