Chapter 1
Feeling tired, I slowly trudged my way back into my apartment room.
"You sure you don't need any help?" Andriel asked. He was following me, making sure I won't fall down.
"Yes, I can handle myself, thank you very much," I said. Huminga ako ng malalim at bumuntong-hininga. Sobrang sakit ng buong katawan ko. God, I forgot what intense training felt like.
It's been years! Grabe, anim na taon na rin pala ang nakakalipas. Wow. I don't want to get into the details because I still remember it like it was yesterday. But maybe this is part of my moving on scheme. Kailangan ko rin siguro ito.
When I first moved out of the building, I was so lost and broken. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. It felt like the only thing I knew was being a personal bodyguard and being an agent. Pagkalabas ko ng building na yon, parang hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko.
Sino nga ba si Heaven Fajardo bukod sa isang personal bodyguard at isang agent? I was nothing without the organization. I don't know my worth. Halos kalahati ng buhay ko ay ibinigay ko sa organization. At ngayong aalis na ako, hindi ko na alam kung saan mapapadpad ang buhay ko.
But there was one person who stayed by my side. Of course, it was Andriel. It was always him. I owed him big time. Siguro, kung wala siya sa tabi ko, baka matagal na akong nawala sa landas. He was there. He always is. And I'm very grateful.
He was the one who redirected me my life. Siya ang umasikaso ng lahat. Where we'll live, what I wanted to do (I pursued Criminology. Guess I couldn't actually leave what I've become, huh?) and my plans for my future.
It was hard at first. Of course it was. The wound was still fresh and it goddamn hurt every night. I always cried myself to sleep. Ayoko pa ngang pumasok doon sa University kung saan binayaran ni Andriel ang tuition fee ko para makapag-aral ako eh. But yes, reality dawned on me. He was a great guy willing to help a friend, tas itataboy ko lang yon? Syempre, na-guilty.
I started going back to school again. He was still working for the organization. I met new friends. Found new opportunities for me. I fell in love with my course. Hanggang sa unti-unti ko na ring nakakalimutan ang nakaraan ko. Just recently, sabi ni Andriel ay umalis na raw siya ng organization.
We're both on our own now. And it's actually going well so far. Nago-on-the-job-training na rin ako. The chief police loves me (He said that I might become the next chief if I keep it up).
And now, just after six years, I'm under intense training. Ang sabi nga rin ng chief, may mga nakapila na raw na kompanya na kunin ako pagkatapos na pagkatapos kong maka-graduate. I'm one of the best.
I almost tripped at mabilis ring gumalaw si Andriel para alalayan ako. "Easy! Fuck," inis na sabi niya. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong binuhat.
"O-oy! Ibaba mo ako! Kaya ko sabing maglakad eh!" sabi ko at pinipilit na makawala sa mga bisig niya.
"Yeah right. Just sit on tight, princess. Ako na ang bahala sayo," sabi niya at diretso na siyang naglakad sa apartment ko. Namin.
Andriel? He's not bad. I'm actually beginning to like him. But, even after all he's done for me, parang hindi ko pa rin kayang makapasok sa isang relationship. My last relationshit was shitty. Ang hirap ng magtiwala ngayon. I just couldn't. Kahit na alam kong hindi ako kayang saktan ni Andriel.
"Grab the keys, Ven," sabi niya nang nasa tapat na kami ng pintuan. I groaned at nagsimulang akong kapain ang bulsa niya. "Damn it. Watch where you're touching, woman," inis niyang sabi.
Napatawa na lang ako. "Oops. Eto na, found it." I fished the apartment keys out of his pocket at binuksan ko na ang pintuan. Tuloy-tuloy na pumasok si Andriel sa apartment at dumiretso siya sa kwarto ko. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at doon ako iniwan sa kama ko.
"Do you need anything?" tanong niya.
"Yeah. A hot bath and pizza," nakangising sagot ko. Umiling-iling na lamang siya at lumabas na ng pintuan.
Nang wala na siya sa kwarto ko, gumulong ako paalis ng kama at pumunta ako ng banyo. God, my muscles hurt. Nakalimutan ko ng makaramdam ng ganitong sakit ng katawan. I turned the hot shower on and undressed. Damn, bukas ng maaga ay magu-undergo na naman ako ng training.
I let the hot water caress my sore body. It actually worked. Ilang minuto rin akong nakatambay sa ilalim ng shower dahil nababawasan ang sakit ng katawan ko. Naalala ko lang na umalis ng banyo nang narinig kong may kumatok sa pintuan. The pizza man is here!
Agad akong lumabas ng banyo at kinuha ang t-shirt na nakakalat. Alam kong kay Andriel to. He likes to be shirtless. And I liked wearing his shirts. I'm comfortable in them. Nagsuot na ako ng panty but I forgot to wear my bra on. It doesn't matter anyway. Andriel respects me and I do, too.
Paglabas ko ng kwarto, nakita kong naka-set up na ang living room namin for a movie marathon hangout. Napangiti ako at agad na sumalampak sa sahig katabi niya.
"What do you want to watch today?" tanong niya.
"Ikaw bahala. Ako na yung nag-suggest ng isang araw. It's your turn," sabi ko at kumuha ng isang slice ng pizza mula sa box at kinagatan ito.
"But we can't stay up too late, though. Maaga pa ang pasok mo bukas." He switched the t.v. on and inserted the CD into the DVD player. Dahan-dahan akong sumandal sa kanya habang komportableng kumakain ng pizza. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na ako sa sobrang pagod.
"Late na ako!" I was panicking first thing in the morning. Nakalimutang mag-set ng alarm clock si Andriel and now he's still asleep on the living room floor. Nagmamadali akong naligo at nagbihis bago ginising ang mahimbing na natutulog na Andriel.
"Riel! Gumising ka na! Aalis na ako, okay? Bye!" Inalog-alog ko siya hanggang sa bumukas na ang mga mata niya bago ako tumakbo palabas ng apartment. Mabagal rin yung elevator ngayon kaya nagpasya na lang akong maghagdan para mas mabilis.
God, sana hindi ako parusahan.
Pagdating ko sa police station, agad akong sinalubong ng chief. "Sorry I'm late!" agad kong sinabi.
"No it's ok, Heaven. Anyway, you're going to a different place. Kukunin ka raw ng FBI under their authority. Looks like you've just earned yourself a job after you graduate, kiddo," nakangisi niyang sabi.
"P-po? Bakit po?" I actually like it here.
"Hindi ko rin alam, iha. Pero mas mabuti na rin sigurong sumama ka. Thanks for your good work! Keep it up," sabi ng chief bago ako itinulak sa isang lalaking nakasuot ng casual clothes.
He looked right about my age. Wait, taga-FBI to? Is he serious? "Heaven Fajardo. Let's go," masungit na sabi niya. Wow, hindi talaga siya nagpakilala. Ang sarap niyang barilin. He walked towards the direction of a black car. Agad akong kinilabutan. Sure ba si chief na taga-FBI to? Oh my god, mamaya isang kriminal pala to.
"Stop hesitating and get in the car, Ms. Fajardo," matigas na sabi niya. Agad akong pumasok sa loob ng kotse dahil natakot ako sa biglaang pagbabago ng boses niya. There was another man inside the car. Tumabi sa'kin yung masungit na lalaki at ngayo'y pinapagitnaan nila akong dalawa.
The car started to move.
"Uhm, bakit ako?" I managed to get my voice back. The tension inside the car was so high, nakakatakot gumalaw. Pero I needed to know why they'll be taking me.
"We've been trying to track you down for years now, Ms. Fajardo," sabi ng lalaking naroroon na sa kotse. He was probably around his thirties. Nakasuot siya ng black glasses, parang doon sa Men in Black.
"W-what? Why?" Nagsimula na akong matakot. Only one thing popped in my mind. The Organization. Crap, I'm in hella trouble.
"You know why. You're a criminal, working under that organization's rules, aren't you? You've broken so many laws. You ought to be rotting in prison right now," malamig niyang sabi.
Para akong binagsakan ng langit at lupa. I'm a criminal. Were they here to arrest me? Was I on the run for six years? Paano ang bagong buhay ko ngayon? Damn. I can't help but be emotional.
"But," My heart was in the process of breaking, "we could offer you a deal. We'll wipe your criminal record clean." Right now, my ears were listening. "If you agree to work with us."
"W-what?" Now, that's the last thing I expected them to say. I mean, what could I do? Matagal na akong walang experience d'yan. I'm just starting to experience everything again after six years.
"You've been working as an agent under that organization and we've taken note of your skills. Specially your perfect aim. You're pretty popular in the sniper world, missy," he said. "You're better than our best student," he added and then gestured towards the young man beside me.
Oh.
"We'll be grateful to have you," walang emosyon niyang sabi.
Gustong-gusto kong tawagan si Andriel ngayon, pero tingin ko ay kailangan kong magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. "Well, it's not like I have much of a choice. If I don't take a deal, I rot in prison. So, I'll take your damn deal," I said with dignity.
"Great. I'm Raphael. I'm going to be your partner until you "graduate"." He took off his sunglasses. "And that annoyed kid beside you is John. He's still under training but he's probably pissed off because someone's better than him."
"Shut up, old hag," inis na sabi ni John, yung masungit na lalaking sinundo ako kanina.
I resisted the urge to ask about how the organization was doing. I'm still not ready to take on news about what happened to my friends, my sister and especially, to the man I loved. Siguro mas mabuting wala akong alam sa ngayon.
"We'd like to get you started on your training once we get there. Is that okay with you?" sabi ni Raphael, nawala na ang nakakatakot na aura niya.
"Yeah okay." Honestly, not okay. God, nararamdaman kong mananakit na naman ang buong katawan ko mamayang gabi.
"You might be too rusty after six years though. We shouldn't be too rough on you," sabi ni Raphael habang malalim ang iniisip.
"Yes please."
I thought my life about guns and dangers were over. But I was deeply wrong. It was the start of a new, dangerous life.
***
A/N:
Hi guys! Eto na po ang chapter 1 <3 Excited ako sa kalalabasan ng istoryang to. Sana maganda *u*
Anyway, I'm going to promote JGliobear's first story, Alexis: Goddess of Goddesses. Subukan niyo po at baka magustuhan niyo! :)
Thank you for reading! Cya guys :D