Cyrus's POV
"What brought you here, Cyrus? After months of ignoring my phone calls and hiding at your hide-out which no one knows, except you ofcourse, at pupunta lang sa Reckless bar para maglasing and now you're here. Should I call the others so we can throw a party for your come back and celebrate?" Asar na sabi ni boss Black nang pumunta ako sa secret agency namin para makausap siya but I ignored all he's said and told him only one thing.
"I want a mission."
"So, tapos ka na pala sa pagsira ng buhay mo kakainom ng alak dahil lang sa isang babae?"
"What do you know? You know nothing! And even if I told you-----"
"Even if you told me I still wouldn't care. She----Clover, I mean, I don't care anymore about her and I already forgotten that she's been part of my agency unless she comes back again. I want you to forget about her as well if you wanted to remain as one of my assassins here."
"What do you mean?" I asked, not really knowing what is he talking about.
"You've been neglecting your job here at my secret agency after you've approved to do a mission and then not doing it exactly! Because you've been drunk all the time! And I knew that's because of her. And because of that, I'm thinking of getting you out of my agency until you comes back."
"You're wrong. It's not always about her." Sabi ko bago ko pa man mapag-isipan ang dapat na sasabihin ko at kitang-kita ko ang pagtataka sa mukha ni boss Black.
"Whatever your reasons are, I'm still thinking of getting you out of your job kung hindi mo ititigil ang bagay na dahilan para hindi mo magawa ang ipinangako mo bago ka pumasok sa secret agency ko."
"I already stopped. That's why I'm here. Gusto kong ibuhos nalang lahat ng oras ko sa mga mission na i-a-assign mo sa akin and I promised not to messed up anymore."
"Tama! Tama na ang ilang buwang palugit na ibinigay ko sa'yo ng hindi mo nalalaman para ayusin mo 'yang sarili mo. And now, I am giving you not your usual mission because this one is for me."
"What do you want me to do?"
"My friend was killed by a hired assassin but his son is still alive and they are looking for him, too. His son contacted me before you came in here and he's asking for a protection because his father told him what I was before he died. He also told me his location so I want you to get him and bring him at your hide-out, the one you and your friends owned. And here's where you can find him." He said before he throw me a piece of paper with the name, age, the looks of this guy and the location he wrote where the guy he wanted me to save is hiding.
"Affirmative, boss." I said and turned to leave his office.
"Cyrus." He called and waited before I turned again and looked him in his eyes.
"Don't mess this up again because I promise you once you did, you will no longer be part of my agency anymore."
"Yeah, I know and don't threaten me with that because you know damn well that I can work alone without your agency and without you as my boss."
"Don't worry, I already quit at my job so I'm practically no longer your boss if that's what you want." He said and now he's smiling like this is what he really wants afterall.
"You what?"
"Hahaha you said you can work alone without me as your boss but you're acting as if you can't lose me. C'mon! I'm already with my first wife and I am not into same sex relationships."
"The fuck! The hell with what you were saying!" I shouted at him but he only laughed more with his heart's content.
"But......since when? And why are you still here if you already quitted your job? And who's the boss now?"
"Argh! You really didn't know? Ayan ang napapala ng mga taong naglalasing. You were at the Reckless bar when Jagger told you about that dahil hindi ka na nga umuuwi sa hide-out ninyo. I guess you are not listening to him, too, when he told you that he and Trixie were now the new bosses of this secret agency. And you have to thank them for stopping me na tanggalin ka na sa agency na ito. And as for me being here, gusto ko lang makita kung ano na ba ang nangyayari dito sa agency ko."
"Ha! Baka lasing na nga ako nung sinabi niya sa akin ang tungkol diyan o kaya hindi ko lang talaga siya pinapakinggan. So Creed nalang pala ang dapat na itawag ko sa'yo ngayon? At kung alam ko lang kanina na hindi na pala kita boss edi sana namura na kita sa dami ng sinabi mo sa akin kanina, you son of a bitch!" Tumatawang sabi ko sa kanya kaya tumawa nalang din siya.
"Get out of here now and save the son of my friend, asshole!"
"Hahaha freaking old bastard!" I said and leave his office before he say something more.
___________________
So my job today is to save a guy hunted by assassins who killed his father. They're probably wants to kill him too because other agencies work like that. Because maybe he was at the same place where his father was killed. One man to kill for their mission pero idadamay nila ang lahat ng makikita nila sa lugar kung nasaan ang papatayin nila. Maybe this guy intervened the assassins from killing his father so they are after him, too, at himalang nakatakas siya sa mga ito.
Argh! I never thought that after months of not doing any missions ay ito lang pala ang gagawin ko. I feel like my job is not being an assassin anymore but a babysitter. Such a big deal mission I am having right now! I didn't even brought with me a lot of weapon for this mission and I only bring one gun, the one I am always with.
According to what's written on the piece of shit boss----Creed gave to me, this guy was at his family factory na matagal nang nakasara at hindi nila pinupuntahang mag-anak kahit minsan man lang.
I'm already outside the factory and parked my motorbike behind a wall where no one can see it kung may darating na ibang tao bago ako naghanap ng mapapasukan ko.
Inuna kong buksan ang pintuan na nasa harapan ng factory pero naka-lock iyon at wala akong balak buksan iyon gamit ang paraang alam ko. Kung sa bintana naman ako dadaan ay masyado iyong maliit para makapasok ako.
Kung nandito nga ang taong ililigtas ko ay malamang niyan ay may pintuan siyang dinaanan para makapasok siya at hindi sa bintana.
I walked at the right side of the premises while looking around me in case he changed his mind by staying inside the factory and was hiding somewhere near. I've found a small door here but it's also locked so I walked again and tried the left side of the factory.
Nang makarating ako doon ay nakakita na naman ako ng isa pang pintuan na maliit na hindi ko na kailangan pang buksan dahil nakabukas na talaga ito na parang lahat ng tao ay welcome na pumasok doon.
I peaked inside the factory at nakita ko ang maraming shelves na may nakalagay na malalaking mga box na may tatak na sapatos. So....this factory was built to make shoes. I don't care!
Where is this guy anyway?
Isinara ko ang pinto sa likuran ko bago ako sumigaw para magpakilala sa kanya. He must have already know I am here kaya bakit pa ako maghahanap ng taong alam kong tinataguan din ako para proteksyunan ang sarili niya?
"Hey! I know you're afraid of me but you don't have to feel that way because I am here to rescue you. I am Grey, and Creed sent me here after you called when your father died." I shouted while I'm still at the back of the door pero mukhang wala parin siyang balak na lumabas kung nandito nga siya at nagtatago.
"Okay, if you want you can call Creed again and tell him about me so we can go out of here soon before any of the assassins who killed your father find out about this factory. I promise you--------"
"Alright! I'm here." Sabi ng boses ng isang lalaki bago ko siya nakitang tumayo sa pinakadulo ng factory.
"You believe me, huh?"
"Yep! After I texted Creed and he confirmed what you've just told me."
"Okay, smart enough. Let's go!" Sabi ko at mabilis naman siyang sumunod sa akin na parang hindi na siya makapaghintay na makaalis sa lugar na iyon at makapunta sa safe na lugar. Sino nga bang hindi pagkatapos ng nangyari sa father niya?
Maayos kaming nakaalis sa lugar na iyon ng hindi man lang nabawasan ang bala ng baril ko. This is the best mission, ever!
"You know, this is my only mission that I don't have to use my gun and now I feel like using it. Can I shoot you?" I joked.
"Shoot yourself then." Galit na sabi niya.
"What?!? Baka nakakalimutan mong iniligtas kita kanina lang?"
"At hindi kasama sa pagligtas mo sa akin ang pagiging mayabang mo. At saka pwede ba, huwag mo nalang akong kausapin kung hindi lang din matino ang sasabihin mo."
"Damn rich kids!"
"And damn assassin!"
Sakto namang pagkasabi niya noon ay malapit na kami sa hide-out namin kaya pagkahinto ko palang ay bumaba agad ako para harapin siya.
"Wanna fight, huh? Tamang-tama dahil matagal ko nang gustong makipagsuntukan sa ilang buwang wala akong mission."
"I don't have time for your gibberish. Where's Creed?!?"
Imbis na sagutin ang tanong niya ay binuksan ko nalang ang gate ng hide-out at dire-diretsong pumasok sa loob. Wala akong pakialam kung sumunod man siya o hindi dahil baka hindi na ako makapagpigil pa at tuluyan ko na siyang mabugbog!
I was just joking for fuck's sake! But he gets mad so I get mad at him, too.
Naririnig ko ang ingay na nanggagaling sa loob ng hide-out kaya binuksan ko agad ang pinto para malaman kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob.
"Cyrus?" Gulat na sabi ni Trixie ng makita niya ako.
Pero nagulat din ako ng makita ko silang lahat dito including Reid's family.
"Hey!" I said bago ko sila tiningnan lahat at ang huli kong nakita ay si Erika na nasa likod ni Creed.
She looks the same but her baby bump is already showing off. Ilang buwan na ba ang baby namin? I mean, niya? At ganoon din si Katarina na mas halata na ang tiyan kaysa sa kanya?
"Ah, excuse lang." Sabi ng bwiset na lalaking iniligtas ko na nasa likod ko na pala at hindi pa nakuntento kaya pumunta pa sa harapan ko.
"James!"
"Reid!"
Ha? Kilala siya ni Reid?
"Sinabi na sa akin ni papa ang nangyari and I'm sorry your father died."
"Ha? Father mo si Creed? I thought your father's dead?"
"Long story, man. But I'm glad you're okay." Said Reid.
"Yeah! Hindi ko nga akalain na makakatakas pa ako sa tatlong assassin na pumatay kay dad. And thanks to this bastard who fetched me at my whereabouts." He said and looked at me with anger in his eyes but I ignored him para tingnan ulit si Erika na ngayon ay nakatingin na kay James the asshole.
"Anong nangyari at mukhang galit ka ata dito kay Cyrus? And I didn't know that you know my son Reid." Tanong ni Creed sa kanya.
"We met years ago when I was at a bar and he saved me from getting hit by a drunk man. But, Cyrus? I thought his name is Grey?"
"Codename, asshole."
"That's enough! Kung ano man ang problema ninyong dalawa ay sarilinin niyo nalang dahil nandito tayo para sa------"
"Erika? Is that you?" Gulat na sabi ni James at nilapitan pa niya si Erika sabay hawak sa isa niyang kamay.
What the fuck?
"I thought you would never recognized me." Erika said while smiling at him.
Why is she smiling at him?
"Ha! You? Who wouldn't recognize a.........you're pregnant?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni James.
Yeah, dude! And the baby is mine!
But I can't have them.
"Yap! I'm five months pregnant with a baby girl." Sabi niya ng nakangiti parin bago tumingin sa direksyon ko. Pero imbis na tugunin ang ngiti niya ay tumingin nalang ako sa TV na nakabukas.
A girl? Our baby is a girl?
"O-kay. Well, congrats. Where's your husband?"
Lalo kaming natahimik na lahat.
Bakit kailangan pa niyang itanong iyon? Ano bang pakialam niya?
"She doesn't marry because the son of a bitch left her." Sabi ni Reid ng may galit sa boses niya.
And that son of a bitch is me!
Mabuti pang umakyat nalang ako sa kwarto ko kaysa marinig ko pa ang palitan nila ng usapan. Pero bago ako makaalis ay nagsalitang muli si James.
"Hey! I remember that today is your birthday, Erika, and so is your twin brother. You said you have a twin, right?" I heard James said, smart enough to change the subject dahil nawala na ang tensyon sa paligid namin dahil sa sinabi ni Reid.
But, what the hell?!? Bakit alam niya kung kailan ang birthday ng kambal? Gaano ba nila kakilala ang isa't isa para pati birthday niya ay malaman ni James?
"Oo, birthday nga namin ng kambal ko ngayon at naalala mo pa talaga ha? At dahil nandito ka narin lang naman welcome ka na ding makisalo sa handa namin."
"Sure, sure. Ikaw pa!"
Shit! Nakakaasar na ang sobrang lapit niya kay Erika ha? Don't get me wrong, guys. Hindi ako nagseselos, ayoko lang sa lalaking 'to kaya ako nagagalit.
"Teka, paano nga pala kayo nagkakilala ng kapatid ko?" Singit ni Reid sa usapan nila.
"Kapatid mo si Erika, Reid?"
Ah! Atleast my hindi siya alam kay Erika.
"Oo at si Jagger din." Sabi ni Reid sabay turo kay Jagger na nakikinig lang din sa usapan nila. "So, paano kayo nagkakilala ni Erika?"
"Schoolmate kami nung college, kuya at nagkakilala kami sa library ng university namin nung time na kaming dalawa lang ang nandodoon at kinausap niya agad ako. We became friends after that."
"And I actually courted her back then pero hindi niya ako sineseryoso sa ginagawa at sinasabi ko."
"Kaya nga friends lang, diba?" Mahinang sabi ko na narinig pala ni Katarina kaya napatingin siya sa akin. Anong problema niya?
"Halina muna kayo doon sa kusina at nandodoon ang handa nitong kambal para makakain na tayo lalo ka na James and I want you to tell me again what happened to your dad at your company." Sabi ni Creed dahilan para mawala ang ngiti ni James.
"My dad! Kailangan ko siyang puntahan ngayon na!" He said and started to freak out.
"You can't. The best thing you can do right now is to stay here. Nalaman kong hinahanap ka parin ng mga assassin na pumatay sa dad mo at kapag nakita ka nila......."
"I'll be dead, I know. Pero hindi ko pwedeng hayaan nalang si dad. Walang ibang mag-aasikaso sa kanya kundi ako lang."
"What about your mom?" Asked Erika habang nakahawak pa sa braso ni James.
"She's dead. She died last year in a car accident. At ngayon naman ay si dad." Naiiyak na sabi ni James at mabilis na napaupo sa sofa ganoon din si Erika na naiiyak na din para sa kanya.
I know I should have felt sorry for him pero hindi parin mawala wala ang asar ko sa kanya lalo na at napakalapit ni Erika sa kanya. Kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko ngayon isa lang ang katapat niyan. I need to go at the Reckless bar, tutal naman ay nagawa ko ng maayos ang napakadaling mission na ginawa ko. So I'd better go.
"Don't worry about your father's burial, James. I already take care of it at pupwede mo lang siyang puntahan sa mismong libing niya para na din sa kaligtasan mo."
I was about to walk to the door when I heard Erika's voice.
"Maybe you can live with us, James. Sa mismong bahay namin nila papa."
"You sure? Well, if that's what you want then I'll say yes."
Huh? No way!
"Hindi. Mas mabuti nang dito nalang si James para mabantayan namin siya dahil lahat kami dito ay assassin. Baka madamay pa kayo kapag nagkataon."
"And now you're being nice to me? After you told me if you can shoot me dahil lang sa napakasimple lang ng pagrescue mo sa akin kanina? Anong------"
"I was just kidding that time kaya nagulat din ako sa reaksyon mo kanina. Anyway, nasabi ko na ang para sa akin ay ang tamang gawin mo at iyon ang manatili ka dito hangga't may mga assassin na naghahanap sa'yo. Pero kung gusto mo na ding mamatay, go ahead the door is always open and you can get out of here whenever you like, walang pipigil sa'yo." Asar na sabi ko sa kanya bago ko hinarap sila Erika at Erwin. "Happy birthday pala sa inyo. Mauuna na akong kumain kung may pag-uusapan pa kayo diyan. Matagal na kasi akong hindi nakakakain ng matinong pagkain simula nung hindi ako umuwi dito. Sige." Sabi ko pa bago ako dumiretso sa dining. Ang dapat na pag-inom ko ng alak ay ibubuhos ko nalang sa mga pagkaing nandirito.
Natakam kaagad ako sa mga pagkaing nakahain sa lamesa kaya hindi ko na talaga sila nahintay pa at nagsimula na akong kumuha ng makakain ko. Atleast dito maganda at mabubusog pa ako sa nakikita ko kaysa doon sa sala na may lalaking akala mo naman ay may iuubra sa akin.