Chapter 2
I tried to be extra quiet today. Kagagaling ko lang sa, what do you call that? FBI headquarters. Yeah. Doon ako dinala ni Raphael. I met some of the higher ups. I learned that Raphael is under the Criminal Investigative Division and he has the right to take in field agents. Siya ang namamahala doon.
If ever I complete the training sessions, mae-enlist daw ako as isang special agent. Siguro that means, more field work for me. Actually, I'm starting to feel the action just around the corner. Parang hinihintay akong lumabas ulit.
And I can't help but feel excited. I missed the adrenaline. I missed the rush. And I'm just about to experience them again. Guess I can't permanently kick out my past, huh?
I carefully opened the apartment door. Mahirap na, baka magising ko pa si Andriel. He'd get angry, I'm sure. I'll just explain everything tomorrow morning.
"Welcome back."
I tensed at the voice. Oh crap, he's still awake. God, I'm doomed.
"Riel! Gising ka pa pala. Haha...ha." I closed the door and faced him. Naroon siya at masama ang kanyang tingin sa akin.
"What the hell are you wearing?" inis niyang tanong. I looked down at my clothes. Ah, it's the clothes I got from the FBI. Pinahiram nila ako ng black na sando and camouflage pants. I forgot to change out of them. Guess I just panicked when I learned I was so late. Hindi ko rin kasi namalayan ang oras.
"Uhm, I-i just bought it," palusot ko. Damn, why do I have to have a second mom? I felt a familiar pinch in my heart when I thought about Jam. But I decided to ignore it.
"Please be honest with me, Heaven. Where the hell have you been?" seryoso niyang tanong.
Oh shite. I can't tell him, can I? But I know I can trust him. Hinding-hindi niya ipagsasabi ito. It's one crucial information about me and once na may nakakaalam ng sikreto kong ito, it may ruin my potential operations in the future. Funny, I used to use the word 'missions' instead of 'operations'.
"I'm going to be working under the FBI," I told him with my littlest voice. Nanlaki ang kanyang mata.
"What the fuck?!"
"Geez, calm down, Riel. Okay lang ako," I insisted. Mukhang nagagalit na nga siya. Nagulat na lang ako nang mukhang susugudin niya na sila. Agad ko siyang pinigilan at pilit na tinutulak pabalik. "Calm down! Dude, they have dirt on me, okay? Wala ka ng magagawa! Wala na tayong magagawa! It's either I work for them or I rot in prison. And I'd gladly work for them."
"That's not your only choice, Heaven. We can escape. You can live a normal life. We'll run away," sabi niya habang frustrated na kinamot ang ulo.
"But Riel," I gave him a small smile, "I don't want a normal life."
Napatigil siya at napabuntong-hininga. "Fine. Fine. Do what you want. I'm right here. I'll always be right here if you need me," mahinang sabi niya. He closed his eyes as if parang pagod na siya sa mga kahibangan ko. But he's still willing to stay. And I'm thankful.
"Thank you."
"Hey Ven! Do you want to go get some pizza?"
Walking my way towards my locker, tumabi sa'kin ang isang mestiso at matangkad na lalaki.
"Sorry Ramon, I can't. I have plans tonight," sabi ko sa kanya.
Ramon's my friend. Isa siya sa mga naging kaibigan ko pagtungtong ko sa University na ito. He's a good friend. Kaso nga lang, he started to develop feelings for me. Nung isang araw lang ay nagconfess siya sa akin na gusto niya ako.
Of course, I turned him down. Tsaka it's going to be unfair to Riel. He's been there for me since the beginning but I didn't date him. If I decided to be in a relationship again, I'd choose Andriel first.
Pero eto namang si Ramon, hindi raw siya sa susuko sa akin. So he's been trying to take me out on dates and he also gives me flowers and chocolates sometimes, pero it's really not working. At anong magagawa ko kung ayaw niyang sumuko diba? Hinayaan ko na lang siya.
Hindi rin naman kasi ako nagbibigay ng motibo.
"Plans? Really? Or baka iniiwasan mo na naman ako? Come on, Heaven. Di ka ba naaawa sa akin? It's been a year," angal niya.
"I already told you, wala kang chance sa akin. It's your choice. You can stop courting me para wala ka ng poproblemahin. Marami namang babae diyan na gustong-gusto na i-date ka. Bakit ako pa?" sabi ko habang nilalagay na sa locker ang mga librong dala ko.
"Because! I know you're different Heaven! I can feel it. You're the one for me. Ikaw lang," sabi niya.
"Sus, korni mo. Di gumagana sa'kin yan," pabiro kong sabi.
"It's true! Hindi ako nagbibiro," pagpipilit niya.
"Sorry, pero mayroon talaga akong gagawin mamaya, Ramon." Isinarado ko na ang locker ko at nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Susunduin nga pala ako ni Andriel ngayon. Gusto niyang sumama sa akin papunta sa FBI building. He wants to see it for himself.
"Fine! Pero next time hindi mo na ako ire-reject okay? Promise yan ha!" sabi niya.
"Oo na!" sabi ko para matapos na to. Lumabas na ako ng university at nakita ko agad si Andriel na nakasandal sa gate.
"Uy, aga mo ah," nakangisi kong pagbibiro.
"Well, I've got nothing to do. Nasa'n na yung sundo mo?" tanong niya habang tumingin-tingin sa paligid. Nagtataka rin akong napatingin-tingin sa paligid dahil dapat ay naririto na sila Raphael.
"Oh, here they come," sabi ko when a familiar black car was in sight.
Tumigil sa harapan namin yung kotse at bumukas yung bintana. Raphael's head popped out of the window.
"You must be Andriel Knight. Hop in, kid," nakangising sabi niya at binuksan na ang pintuan. Pinauna ko siyang pumasok at sumunod naman akong tumabi sa kanya. Looks like wala si John ngayon. Umandar na ang kotse.
"You're no exception. Interestingly enough, someone else wiped your criminal record clean. So you have no debt to pay," sabi ni Raphael na parang wala lang ito.
"What?! Sinong---" Nanlalaki ang mata ko habang nakatingin kay Andriel. Agad naman siyang umiwas sa titig ko.
"Let's not talk about it," matigas na sabi niya.
"Anyway, Heaven. I just discovered another interesting skill that you have. You're some kind of pro-hacker, am I right?" Raphael then changed the subject.
I am. Actually, that's the only thing I'm good at until now. Maybe it's genetic, but I just can't forget about hacking. It's permanently stitched to me. I still remember all the codes and commands needed to perform a certain task.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Good. You're so much useful than I thought you'd be," nakangising sabi niya.
I didn't know if it was a compliment or not so I didn't answer. Nakarating na rin kami sa Headquarters. Pagpasok ng building ay may sumalubong sa amin na babae. She looks highly sophisticated and she has this aura of authority surrounding her. She reminds me so much of my Ate. I felt a familiar pang in my chest.
"Oh! Heaven, this is Sheryl. She's my boss. She's the Executive Assistant Director," pinagmamalaking pinakilala ni Raphael ang babae. "And this is my new recruit, Heaven."
"Ah. She's the sniper, isn't she? It's good to have you here, Heaven," malaki ang ngiting sabi ni Madam Sheryl sa akin. She looks nice. And mukhang hindi rin siya istrikto. "Raphael, there's a meeting about the recent crisis, ok? Don't miss it."
"Yes Ma'am!" sagot ni Raphael at pabirong nag-salute pa siya. Tumango naman si Madam Sheryl at paalis na sana nang napansin niya si Andriel.
"Knight. Long-time no see, huh?" nakangising sabi ni Madam Sheryl. I noticed it. She checked him out! Holy cow. They know each other?
"Zamora," sabi naman ni Andriel at tumango.
"Wow. You haven't changed a bit," sabi ni Madam Sheryl na para bang namamangha, "well I guess your body got a bit . . . meatier." She grinned.
Nakita ko rin ang paglaki ng ngisi ni Riel. "Thank you."
"Oh wait! Baka matulungan mo ako. Good, thank god you're here," sabi ni Madam at sinenyasan niya si Riel na sundan siya. Hindi naman nag-alinlangan si Andriel na sumunod sa kanya.
Ni hindi man lang siya nagpaalam sa'kin kung pwede ba siyang sumama sa kanya. Gosh. Parang nakalimutan na agad ako ni Andriel.
"Holy shite," nanlalaki ang matang sabi ni Raphael. Agad akong napatingin sa kan'ya.
"What?"
"Nothing. I just realized, hindi kasi gano'n si Sheryl eh. She doesn't flirt. I've heard rumors about her ex that she's still in love with until today. Don't tell me, it's Andriel Knight?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya.
"W-what?" Hindi ko alam, pero parang kinabahan ako sa sinabi niya.
"Well she badly needs a relationship right now. Or else she'll turn into a freaking monster boss again. I think Knight is the right man for her. Siguro naman kaya niyang patinuin ang boss ko," natatawang sabi niya. "Ok, let's go Heaven. You're late for your training session."
"H-ha? Okay . . ." Damn it. Now I'm freaking distracted. Damn you, Andriel.
"Good! You're looking great!" sabi ng instructor ko.
The familiar scent of the rifle. It's weight. It's texture. God, I missed it all. I missed holding my gun. Damn, I should've taken my baby rifle when I left the organization. It feels so good to be holding one right now. It's like we're fated to be together.
"Wow! 1500 meters! In just two days! Just, wow, Heaven!" puri ng instructor.
"Thank you," nakabungisngis na sabi ko. Ok, I also missed being praised for my perfect aim.
"Okay! Let's call it a night, shall we? I'm hoping for more surprises tomorrow," sabi niya.
"You won't be disappointed then." Hirap na hirap ako nang ibinalik ko na ang sniper rifle na pinahiram lang sa akin ng kompanya. Still, there's no perfect gun for me except for that rifle back in the organization.
Lumabas na ako mula sa training room at napansin kong kakaunti na lang ang tao. Wow, akala ko hindi natutulog ang mga tao rito. Naglakad ako papuntang lobby at nagtaka dahil wala pa rin si Andriel doon.
Nag-text siya sa'kin kanina na dito niya raw ako ime-meet. Nasa'n na kaya siya ngayon?
Oh well. I'll just wait for him here. Baka nag-cr lang naman. Umupo muna ako at nag-decide na i-text siya na nasa lobby na ako. Just before I hit send, bumukas ang elevator doors.
Pagtingin ko, nakita ko na si Andriel. Saan ba siya galing?
Wait. Kasama niya pala si Madam Sheryl.
"Hey, why don't you visit again tomorrow?" sabi ni Madam Sheryl sa kanya. "I missed you."
"Sure. I have nothing to do at home anyway," sagot agad ni Andriel. Ang sarap lang tanggalin yung malaking ngiti niya sa labi. Pero . . . ano nga bang magagawa ko? I'm not his girlfriend or anything.
"Oh. Nandyan na pala si Heaven. Take care, Knight. Good night," nakangiting sabi ni Madam.
"Good night, Sheryl. Sweet dreams."
Tumayo na ako at sabay kaming lumabas ng building ni Andriel. Gusto kong magsalita, kaso walang lumalabas na mga salita sa bibig ko.
"You ok?" nag-aalalang tanong niya sa'kin.
"Yeah," otomatikong sagot ko. Yeah, I'm absolutely okay. I'm perfect. Just perfect.
***
A/N:
Hi guys, natuwa ako sa mga comments niyo sa last update TTuTT Kahit na simpleng thank you lang, sobrang kinilig ako. Hahaha <3 Eto na reward niyo!
Thank you for reading!