"Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian!" Mrs. Furadan gasped seeing them dripping wet as they enter the lobby.
Agad na inutusan nito ang bellboy na kunan sila ng tuwalya. Magnus arm stilled on her shoulder. Ngayon nila ramdam ang lamig but they conceal it with their cold look.
Agad na nakabalik ang bellboy at inabutan sila ng tig-isang tuwalya. Magnus put the towel on her shoulder tapos ang isa naman ay sa ulo niya kaya walang tuwalyang natira para dito. Nilingon niya ito at pasimpleng sinamaan ng tingin. He's wet, too. Bakit sa kanya binigay lahat ng tuwalya?
"We're far away from the hotel when it suddenly rains." She said.
"James, bring them soup on their suite." Utos ni Mrs. Furadan sa bellboy na nag-abot ng tuwalya sa kanila kanina.
"You should change! You might get sick." Nag-aalalang sabi ni Mrs. Furadan.
"We'll go now." Paalam ni Magnus at nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad.
Tinungo nila ang elevator. They're leaving wet footprints on the floor kaya todo sunod naman sa pag-mop ang janitor.
"Use the towel in my head, Magnus. Basang-basa ka rin." She hissed.
"It's fine. Malapit na rin naman tayo." Magnus said and open the elevator.
Pagkasirado ng pinto ay hindi nagsayang si Magnus ng segundo. He pull her closer and kiss her lips. Tumugon siya sa mainit na halik nito na nakakabawas ng lamig sa katawan. Sounds an advantage pero kakaibang init naman ang sumiklab sa katawan niya.
"Magnus, we just did it." Mariing saad niya at muling napapikit ng lamutakin nito ang leeg niya.
"It's quick and only once. Kulang pa, Hera." Anas ng binata at muli siyang siniil ng halik sa labi.
When the elevator door opens. Naghiwalay sila at inayos ang tindig. Back to their cold and stiff aura, especially that there are people standing outside elevator as the door opens.
Takang napatingin ang mga turista sa kanila dahil basang-basa sila. They just step outside the elevator silently. Halos hindi na nga magkadikit ang balat nila dahil sa pagdistansya.
PDA is not their thing. Pwera na lang siguro sa nangyari kanina sa tabing dagat. But there are no people around so that's an exemption.
Pagpasok nila sa suite ay doon na muling bumalik ang apoy. She dropped the towel on her shoulder and jump to Magnus. Agad naman siyang sinalo ng binata at isinandal sa likod ng pinto.
"Magnus..." She gasped when he grind his hardness to her wetness.
Akmang ibababa ng binata ang strap ng dress niya nang may kumatok.
Ang soup.
Sabay silang mahinang napamura. Binaba siya ng binata. Inayos niya ang postura at pinulot ang tuwalya sa sahig. Dumistansya siya at si Magnus na ang bumukas ng pinto.
"The soup, Mr. Sebastian." Sabi ng bellboy.
Naglakad na lang siya patungo sa silid nila. Magnus let the bellboy in to put the soup inside. His brows knotted upon seeing the unfamiliar face of the bellboy. Tuloy-tuloy naman sa pagpasok ang bellboy sa kusina habang siya ay nanatili sa likod nito at palihim na kinuha ang baril na itinago niya sa mesang madadaanan niya.
"Where's James?" He asked coldly.
Natigilan sa paglapag ang bellboy sa bowl sa mesa. Lumingon ito ng kunti sa kanya saka ngumisi at biglang itinapon ang bowl na may sabay sa direksyon niya. Mabilis siyang umilag pero natalsikan pa rin siya ng mainit na sabaw.
"Fuck." He hissed and glared at the man.
Ngumisi ito at binunot ang baril pero mabilisan niya itong sinugod at sinipa sa mukha. Sinubukan nitong tumayo but he's already showering him with strong punches. Nang manghina ito ay saka niya kwinelyuhan ang lalaki.
"What's happening here?" Hera's cold voice filled the room.
"What organization you're serving for?" Malamig na tanong niya sa lalaki.
Hera step closer. Kumunot ang noo nito ng hindi makilala ang lalaki. She's also expecting that James to deliver their soup. There's a sabotaged.
"Kill me. I wouldn't tell." The man smirked.
Hera drop down and held the man head to twist it. Akala niya ay papatayin na nito ang lalaki pero pinakita lang ng asawa sa kanya kung anong nakatattoo sa likod nito.
Vanacci.
"Fuck, Vanacci." Mura niya at tuluyan ng pinatulog ang lalaki.
"Nakaalitan niyo ang mga Vanacci?" Hera asked probably wondering why a Vanacci is attacking him.
Playing innocent, Hera? Act like you don't know anything but you're probably the Paragon...or Eris.
Nilingon niya ang asawa at mariin itong tinitigan but like the usual, she just give him a cold look.
Hmm. Let's play your game, wife.
"Yes. They're bad." Sabi niya.
Kumunot ang noo ni Hera at umiling.
"No, they're not. They help the underground to maintain the peace even tho it's naturally chaotic. They eliminate organization that try to start a bloody war underground." Hera contradict.
Kumunot ang noo niya at tumayo. Binitawan ang walang malay na lalaki.
"That's Poderoso's work. Not the Vanacci." Mariing saad niya.
So, that's how she played being innocent? Na kunwari ay kinakampiham nito ang Vanacci para hindi halata. Tsk. If he happens to be a stranger to Hera, he might believe her. But he's her husband, kaya alam niyang nagpapanggap lang ito. Ang problema lang ay hindi niya alam kung ang Paragon ba o si Eris ang dalaga.
"Poderoso? That shitty organization that's composed of narcissistic men?" Hera said mockingly.
His jaw clenched on what he said. He shouldn't be trigger kasi alam niyang nagpapanggap lang ito. That she's on Paragon's side pero why does her acting is so good that he's starting to believe that she's neither the Paragon or Eris.
"Poderoso are much better than Vanacci. They play dirty. Inaangkin nila ang gawa ng mga Poderoso." Mariing saad niya.
"Do you have any proof na gawa niyo 'yon? Or you're just saying that because narcissism runs in your ego that you can't accept Vanacci's are much better than Poderoso?" Panunuya pa nito.
His jaw clenched. Hindi niya gusto ang patutunguhan ng usapang ito.
"Stop." He said firmly.
"If you weren't my husband, I'll side the Vanacci. But my loyalties lies in the name I'm carrying now. You should be thankful." Malamig na saad ni Hera at iniwan siya sa kusina kasama ang walang malay na Vanacci.
Inis niyang tinadyakan ang lalaki. If it weren't for him, okay pa sana sila Hera at naglalaro na sa apoy! Fuck.
HINDI na sila nagkibuan pagkatapos nilang maligo at magbihis. They're already packing their things dahil sa isang emergency meeting. They're already on the private plane now. Magkalayong upuan na at kapwa walang planong imikan ang isa't-isa.
That's for the whole ride. Pagkarating nila ay diretso sila sa kompanya ni Vistal.
Everyone's eyes followed the both of them as they entered the Vistal Inc. May isang metrong distansya sila sa isa't-isa.
"They just really marry each other for convenience." She can hear it even if it's a whisper because of the loud silence.
Agree.
Masasabi talaga ng ibang tao dahil halos walang ebidensyang mag-asawa sila ni Magnus ngayon. The distance and the cold treatment towards each other is the same treatment they had when they're still not married yet. Ganoon naman talaga dapat, 'yon ang nasa kondisyon niya, ang walang magbabago sa turingan nila sa labas ng silid nila.
Pumasok na sila ng conference room. Everyone went silent as they both entered. Magkatabi na ang upuan nila ni Magnus pero pasimple niyang inusog palayo ang upuan sa binata.
"What option did you choose? Option 1 or 2?" Malamig na tanong niya kay Vistal.
Their last meeting was about the option voting. Pantay ang boto at magkaiba ang boto nila ng binata.
"There's no option 1 and option 2 anymore." Vistal sighed in defeat.
"What do you mean?" Magnus asked dangerously.
"The engineer took the money. He even bombed the place where we will build the project." Bigong balita ni Vistal.
Her jaw clenched thinking about the money she invest on this project. Nagtiwala siya kay Vistal na magagawa nito ng tama, and although it's not his fault, its still his responsibility.
"B-but don't worry, we're close in finding that traitor." Vistal assured.
"Make sure on that, Vistal. Hindi lang option 1 and 2 ang mawawala kung hindi ang CEO ng Vistal Inc." Magnus threatened cruelly.
Namutla naman ang matanda.
Magnus left. Tumayo na rin siya at nag-ambang umalis pero nilingon niya si Vistal.
"Do you know who's behind the bombing?" She asked coldly.
"T-they leave a mark on the bomb area. They write V-vanacci." Vistal answered.
Her jaw clenched and nodded. Lumabas na rin siya ng conference room. She almost jumped in surprise when she saw on his peripheral vision Magnus is leaning on the wall beside the door. Probably listened on her conversation with Vistal.
"Defend your beloved Vanacci. See what they've done?" Magnus smirked mockingly.
Hindi pa pala ito tapos sa pagsasagutan nilang dalawa sa pagitan ng Poderoso at Vanacci.
Lumingon siya sa binata at tinapunan ito ng malamig na tingin.
"What if Poderoso did it? Tutal sabi mong inaangkin ng Vanacci ang gawa ng Poderoso. And now as a revenge, Poderoso is starting to make Vanacci look bad." Bato niya pabalik dito.
That made him shut up.
Inilingan niya lang ang binata at iniwan ito.
"WE didn't do it. Talagang nagsimula ng umingay ang mga Vanacci. Naghahasik ng lagim dahil unti-unti na nating binunyag ang panloloko nila sa ibang organisasyon na sila ang mabuti." Agad na tanggi ni Zero ng akusahan niya ang mga miyembro na sila ang gumawa sa pambobomba.
"Zero is right. I already took down three of their bosses and already send evidences to other organization that Poderoso maintains the peace not the Vanacci. They're starting now." Hover said.
"Then, let's start eliminating them." Eris said while playing a dagger on her hand.
"We won't waste more time. Move." Paragon said strictly.
Nagsitayuan na sila. Kanya-kanyang punta sa sariling locker para kumuha ng gagamiting armas.
"Saang HQ ka?" Eris asked.
Hindi niya pinansin ang babae at tuloy sa pagkuha ng armas saka isinara ang locker at umalis.
He doesn't care if Hera is the Paragon or Eris. His business on the illegal underground stays on underground, and on his normal life, illegal underground stays out of it. Hindi niya dapat hanapin at tukuyin ang asawa niya sa underground. He married Hera on his normal life, on on underground. At kung ang Paragon man ito o si Eris, may rason naman siguro ito kung bakit hindi nito sinabi sa kanya.
And also, he's afraid to make mistakes. What if he'll assume that Paragon is Hera? But it's actually Eris? Or vice versa...or probably neither. He won't commit mistakes and ruin his marriage life.
"You'll go to their headquarter in south." Bilin sa kanya ng Paragon.
Tinanguan lang niya ito ng tipid at lumisan niya. Riding his chopper, kasama ang mga tauhan at piloto niya, they went to Mindanao. Poderoso scattered around the Philippines to take down the bosses.
"Even the Paragon is going South, too. Pati si Eris." Balita ni Dion Calizar, his right hand on the underground while watching two choppers flying with them.
"Fuck." He silently groaned and closed his eyes in frustration.
Kung kailan plano niyang iwasan ang dalawa. Saka naman sasama.
When they arrive on the HQ. Hindi na sila nag-aksaya ng oras na makipagpalitan ng bala. Lalo pa't naalarma na ang mga ito sa pagdating nila. He glance at Paragon who removed its cloak, releaving what type of body the Paragon had.
And Paragon is a woman. Hapit na hapit ang suot nitong itim na body suit, and he can't even tell the difference between her and Eris. Lalo pa't walang pinagkaiba ang katawan ng dalawa.
"Hey, watch out!" Alarma sa kanya ni Dion ng muntik na siyang matamaan.
Nagpasikot-sikot siya sa loob. Balita nila ay may meeting ang dalawang boss ng Vanacci dito. Ang isang boss ay dati ng miyembro at ang isa ay baguhan pa lang. When he opened the door, there are two people talking inside. Because of the soundproof room, hindi nito rinig ang nangyari sa labas kaya walang ka-alam-alam ang dalawa.
They also wearing a full face mask. Gaya-gaya talaga sa Poderoso. The old member, is on his 50's while the other one is..a woman.
Sumugod ang babae sa kanya na agad niyang ginantihan ang bawat atake nito. With his free hand. He shoot the other boss directly on chest and he fell on the ground lifeless. Tinuloy niya ang pakikipagsuntukan sa babaeng boss ng Vanacci.
His jaw clenched when the woman punched his face. Napaatras siya at hindi sinasadyang napatingin sa kabuohan nito.
Her body is familiar. The same physique with his wife, she also has the same body built with Paragon and Eris.
Fuck. Wala na talaga siyang planong alamin kung sino man but he'll turn into mad man if he won't know who's his wife.
May pumasok sa silid. The Paragon. Sumunod naman dito si Eris na pumasok na rin. Mukhang tapos na ang paglilinis at ito na ang huling destinasyon.
Now, he's left with three woman with the same outfit, same body build, same full face mask.
In between the long silence, he can feel it. On of them is his wife.
But who?
May pantay-pantay na ebidensya si Eris at Parahon na maaaring isa sa kanila si Hera. Atay isa pang nadagdag. This Vanacci member can also be Hera. Knowing how she defended the Vanacci.
Pero bakit kung kasama niya si Hera ay hindi niya maramdaman kung ito ba ang Paragon o si Eris. And he won't accept the idea if Hera is a member of Vanacci.
Biglang tumakbo ng mabilis ang babaeng miyembro ng Vanacci at tinalon ang bintana. Nabasag iyon kaya nakalabas ito at nakatakas.
Eris hissed on his stupidity om how he just stared at the escaping enemy. Tinutukan naman siya ng Paragon ng baril sa ulo.
"One more mistake, Magnus. I'll kill you." Paragon threatened and stormed out of the room.
Naiiling na lang si Eris at sumunod sa Paragon habang nantili siyang nakatayo doon.
Fuck. This is getting worse.