After I went home, Clayd went home earlier and we had a short briefing regarding our upcoming mission, with Zel and Blake who are already in Cebu.
I can't still believe what Ice told me, tho. But I need to focus on this job first. Let's make our self busy until this is finally finished. Wag muna natin e entertain ang kalandian niya. Focus! Focus!
Early at 5:25, Clayd and I were already at the airport. Since we'll be boarding by 6:15am.
"Are the luggages safe?" I suddenly asked Clayd while we're walking to the departure area.
"Of course, they sure are." He just answered.
I just nodded as I straightly walk inside.
Dapat lang. Those luggages shouldn't be inside the airport dahil nakalagay doon ang mga gagamitin namin para sa trabahong gagawin namin sa Cebu. But it will be as easy as pie kung may mga tao ka saloon para maipuslit ang hindi lang isang pinagbabawal na armas.
"Calling all the attention of the passengers of PR 2983 Manila to Cebu. We will be boarding by 6:00 in the morning."
Sinuot ko nalang ang headset ko habang nagakasandal lang sa inuupuan ko. While si Clayd ay busy sa phone niya na nasa tabi ko.
After thirty minutes ay nagsimulang mag tayoan ang mga tao na kasabay namin para pumila at pumasok papunta sa eroplano. Tumayo narin kami ni Clayd at nakisabay sa iba hanggang makapasok kami sa loob.
This trip will take an hour, so I guess iidlip lang muna ako.
Nang nakarating kami sa Cebu ay malakas na ihip agad ng hangin ang sumalubong sa amin.
Nang makalabas kami ng airport ay tinanong ko si Clayd kung ano ang sasakyan namin papunta sa hotel.
"I rented a car, of course." Tanging sagot niya at naunang maglakad papunta sa parking.
I just followed him. And later saw him talking to someone.
"Thank you. Let's go Shein." Sabi niya sa kausap at sa akin.
Tumango nalang ako at sumunod sa kaniya, dala dala ang maleta ko.
I didn't say a word and just go inside the Mercedes Benz na nerentahan niya.
"Let's go at the other side, nandon na ang mga dala natin." He suddenly said after siyang may tingnan sa cellphone niya at nagsimulang magmaneho.
Nang makarating kami sa may exit ay lumabas agad siya ng sasakyan at kinausap ang isang lalaking nasa thirty's na seguro.
Hindi ko marinig ang pinaguusap nila but Clayd smiled and tap the man's shoulder then naglakad sila patungo sa likoran ng sasakyan.
May dalang dalawang maleta ang lalaki at isinakay nila iyon sa compartment ng sasakyan.
"Thank you again." Dinig kong sabi ni Clayd bago siya pumasok sa driver seat.
Tahimik at nag sound trip lang ako buong byahe. I even took a nap. I need some rest since nakakapagod talagang bumyahe, and for sure, later, puro trabaho na ang aasikasuhin ko.
After two hour na byahe ay nakarating din kami sa Western Cebu Harries Hotel.
Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone sa bag para tawagan sina Zel at Blake habang naghahanap ng mapag paparkingan si Clayd.
"Shein!?" Agad na bungad ni Zel nang sagutin niya ang tawag.
"We've just arrived. Nasa parking lot pa kami. Anong ginagawa niyo ngayon?" Sabi at tanong ko naman sa kaniya.
"Kanina pa kami naghihintay, eleven o'clock na kaya... Nasa restaurant kami ngayon ni Blake sa may first floor ng hotel. Punta kayo dito?" Sunod sunod niyang sagot.
"Nope, I'll stay in my room once we arrive. Maybe Clayd." Sabi ko at sinulyapan pa si Clayd.
"You're not gonna eat lunch?" Clayd asked nang makapagparking na siya.
"Yeah, I need some sleep." Sagot ko sa kaniya.
"Okay, see you later nalang Shein." Huling sinabi ni Zel bago ko siya babaan ng tawag.
"Let's go in." Sabi ko at naunang lumabas nang sasakyan.
Nagpatulong siya sa security guard na dalhin ang ibang gamit namin hanggang sa lobby.
Ang tanging hawak ko lang ay ang bag ko. Nauna na akong pumasok at pumunta sa front desk habang nakasunod lang si Clayd sakin.
"Good morning ma'am, sir, do you have any reservations?" Nakangiting tanong ng babaeng sumalubong sa amin. At tumango naman si Clayd.
"Clayden Jame Castro. " Sabi niya.
May tiningnan naman yung isang babaeng kasama sa computer nito. Since dalawa silang naka uniform nasa likod ng front desk.
"Dalawang room ang pinabook niyo sir?" Tanong nito.
"Yes." Simpleng sagot ni Clayd.
"Room 298 and room 299. Here's your keys. Have a pleasant stay sir and ma'am." Nakangiting sabi nung babaeng unang nagsalita at ibinigay sa amin ang mga susi ng kwarto namin.
Inutusan niya yung isang lalaking na trabaho nila para dalhin ang mga gamit namin sa kwarto.
"I'll go ahead, sa kwarto mo nalang muna ilagay ang iba kong gamit, kunin ko nalang later." Sabi ko kay Clayd matapos hingiin ang susi ng maging kwarto ko.
Nauna akong naglakad habang may nag guguide sakin patungo sa room ko. Naiwan naman si Clayd sa lobby para aasikasuhin ang mga gamit namin.
Nang makarating ako sa kwarto ay hindi na ako nag babad sa cr, kunting linis lang kasi gusto ko nang matulog.
When I woke up, it's already 4:24 pm. I decided to contact Clayd to bring the 'things' to my room.
Hindi pa man nag te-ten minutes na nag text ako, ay may kumatok na sa pintoan.
"Hi, here's your things madam. I'll be back I'll go get the others." Mabilis niyang sabi at bumalik sa kwarto niya matapos ilagay sa harapan ko ang isang maleta at bag.
Ang dami naman ng dala namin para sa dalawang araw na pag stay dito. Well, these are the things we'll need for our mission.
After kong ipasok ang mga gamit ko ay bumalik ako sa may pinto para salubongin si Clayd.
"Call Blake and Zel. We'll hold a meeting tonight." Agad na sabi ko sa kaniya at iniwan siyang hawak ang isa pang maleta. Pumasok ako sa loob at hinayaan siyang sumunod.
After minutes of waiting, dumating si Zel at Blake, kaya nagsimula kaming mag usap-usap tungkol sa planong gagawin namin to perfectly execute our mission.
"By the way, who organise the upcoming event?" I suddenly asked when I remember the event tomorrow here in this hotel.
"Dunno." Blake and Zel both answered.
"I also don't know. I haven't checked this site." Sabi naman ni Clayd.
"Check it. I feel like there is something wrong on this event." I seriously stated.
Tumango naman si Clayd at may kinalikot sa laptop niya. While Blake and Zel were suddenly quiet.
I feel like something's not right to this party. They will really hold a party the night Gwalior Sharman will run away with the treasure? And they even said they'll hold the guest not to go out when the party begins. For what? Para makalusot si Gwalior Sharman? No way, I won't let that happen.
"I get it." Clayd suddenly said after a minute kaya napatingin kami sa kaniya.
"It's the Borromeo Trading Company. They'll be having a celebration for the successful trading with the European Union. Tomorrow at nine in the evening, all the business partners are expected to attend." Clayd added while still looking directly to screen of his laptop.
"And? Is that all?" I asked again.
"Nope..." He answered then looked at me.
"...Gwalior Sharman is invited to the party. It looks like he is acquainted to the President of the Borromeo Trading Company."
Napangisi ako dahil sa sinabi ni Clayd.
"Wow, tama nga ang hinala ni Shein." Komento naman ni Zel.
"Good job Clayd." Then I smirked at kinuha ang laptop ko na nasa center table.
"Mukang mahihirapan tayong pumuslit nito." Dinig kong sabi ni Blake.
"I guess so too. Since the owner of this Hotel is also their business partner." Sagot naman ni Clayd sa kaniya.
"But I know for sure, we can go out without anyone knowing." I heard him added kaya napa- ngisi nalang ako.
Gaya nga ng sabi ko kanina. I can feel and smell things that aren't in the right way. I always trust my instincts, kasi never pa akong nagkamali ng hinala.
It might look hard to get away from their trap but not for me, not for this team. I am well trained to escape from little holes.
"It looks like the President of Borromeo Trading Company is really good in doing unwanted things behind the CEO." I said while reading the information I get from the BTC.
"Huh? What's that?" Zel asked at sumilip sa laptop.
"I guess, he made this for his on good." Clayd said while also looking at his laptop.
"I think, we'll be changing roles." I told them at sumandal sa upuan ko.
"Sure, if it's fun." Naka-ngising sabi naman ni Zel.
"I'm sure the BTC President's helping Gwalior Sharman for his own pleasure. Maybe, Sharman did some trade with the President." Sabi naman ni Blake.
"Looking into the information we have, I guess that's what happened." Sagot naman ni Clayd sa kaniya.
Right, the book's not hard to read. They are both businessman, and thinking about what they will gain if they succeed, it is worth the hassle.
But if I am the BTC President, I won't be doing obvious plans like this. They're just helping us think of a most effective plan to perfectly execute our mission.
Tsk. What a laughable sight.
We discussed briefly the whole evening in my room. Hindi na kami lumabas para mag dinner, instead nag order nalang kami ng food.
We did some changes. Just a little changes. This is to make sure, we'll properly executed our mission.
It is almost midnight when they head back to their room, since medjo natagalan kami sa pag pre prepare.
So, early in the morning ay inayos ko ang ilang gamit na gagamit namin, na gagamitin ko.
Since mamayang gabe ay gagawin na namin ang trabahong pinunta namin dito.
Since medjo madami pa kaming oras para mamaya, ay nahiga lang muna ako sa kama. I don't have plans on going outside para kumain, since pwede namang mag pa deliver.
And I'm sure they're all busy in their rooms, too. Since they already know their task.
Habang nakahiga ay nag vibrate ang phone ko na nasa katabing table ng bed, so inabot ko ito para tingnan kung sino.
[ Don't just sleep there, may trabaho tayo later, I know you haven't eaten yet. It's already 10:30. ]
Napailing nalang ako dahil sa unang message na nabasa ko mula kay Clayd.
[ Look into the footage, Sharman's currently in the restaurant with the BTC President ]
Agad akong bumangon sa pagkakadapa sa kama at kinuha ang laptop ko sa may table malapit sa kama.
I immediately open the cctv footage of the hotel since it is now connected to our gadget.
Agad kong hinanap ang sinabi ni Clayd.
And immediately saw the man who would be dead later, talking to a man in his 30's I think.
"They seems not wary that someone might suddenly choke them." I mumbled to myself.
Well, let see later before midnight.
Since I am now infront of the cctv, and wala pa naman akong ginagawa ay tinulungan ko nalang si Clayd na mag observe sa target namin. Also, sa trabaho ni Blake and Zel, na nag hahanap ng butas kung saan kami dadaan mamaya.
Medjo madami ang tao sa buong hotel since may gaganaping event mamaya, at may mga dumadating pa.
Ng mag lunch time ay na boring ako kakahiga at kakapanood ng laptop ko kaya lumabas muna ako ng kwarto ko.
Since I entered this hotel yesterday, I didn't went outside, ngayon lang. So I guess, I still have ample time to feel the fresh air.
As I walk together with some stranger in the hallway, I looked at my wrist watch. It's already 12:15 nn.
There's a pool and benches in the back left part of the hotel. And ganda dito actually, kaya ang daming tao.
Since may food stall doon malapit sa pool ay nag decide ako na dito nalang mag order ng some delicacies.
I texted the three na nasa baba ako, just wanna catch some fresh air, para hindi na nila ako hanapin.
While I'm sipping my melon juice, I feel like I saw a glimpse of a familiar face, kaya napatigil at hinanap ng mga mata ko ang pamilyar na muka.
Baka kamuka lang. I told myself and continue eating.
There's no way Cian would be here.
After I finished, I've decided na bumalik na sa kwarto ko.
Kakapasok ko palang ng elevator when I saw a familiar figure na pumasok rin.
'Why the heck am I seeing things?' I asked myself.
It is the girl, Joellen and I encountered days ago in Reinarchleitte University, I think her name's Allyza?
"I really don't know why they refused." Dinig kong sabi niya sa kasama.
I step backwards and stayed sa pinakagilid nang elevator, while they are infront of me, of course may iba pa kaming kasabayan sa loob.
"Don't think about it, they're here naman eh." Ang conyo mag salita ng kasama niya ah.
"My god Hillery, you'll get upset if you heard what they say." Parang inis na sabi ni Allyza.
Napatingin ako sa biglang pagbukas ng elevator at lumabas ang dalawang babaeng kasabayan namin.
"Oh, sorry." Mahinang bulong ng kasama ni Allyza ng masagi niya ang kaliwang braso ko.
I just smiled a little when they both look at me and I moved aside. Then crossed my arms on my chest and then look straight to the floor number and the door.
I can feel someone's staring at me, and I know who was it. They were also quiet. When the elevator stopped once again, I glance at them and smiled before going out.
Alam kong tinatanong ni Allyza ang kaniyang sarili kung saan niya ba ako nakita. But I know, she won't recognise me when I am in my usual self.
No eyeglasses. Elegant and sophisticated.
That what truly Elshein Jewelle is, too far from the Elshein Jewelle Estamante they knew in school.
I bet even Ice and his friends haven't see me this way. They just saw the 'natural' Elshein.