"Mission Failed"
Tahimik siyang nagmamasid sa paligid at tinitingnan ang bawat isa. One wrong move and he knew he'll fail. He is in the nightclub for his mission: He needs to catch the most wanted in their drug list, the notorious drug dealer and human trafficker named Raymond de Vega.
Actually Raymond de Vega is not his true name; he's just hiding in someone's identity. The real Raymond de Vega is a retired police officer who died on his hands. The worst thing about it, he use Raymond's de Vega's identity and committed heinous crimes in the city. But those cases remained unsolved because they couldn't find concrete evidences that they could use against him.
He puts on disguises, kaya walang nakakilala ng totoong itsura nito. Ang tanging alam lang nila ay bulag ang isang mata nito na tinatago ng kalahating maskara na laging suot nito. Ayon sa mga kuro-kuro, nabulag raw ito sa isang engkwentro, gawa ng isang taong pinatay din nito.
He also paid people to disguise like him to distract the police attention so they can't catch him. The police authority became stricter when it comes to false statements and they implemented strict protocols and trained lots of policeman that will capture that abominable criminal.
Tulad ngayon, nagtungo sa isang nightclub ang binatang pulis na si Alejandro, kasama ang kanyang team sa Special Task Force upang tugisin ito. Ilang linggo ring silang naghanda para sa misyon na ito. Kung sakaling hindi man niya mahanap ang totoong salarin, maari nilang paaminin ang kung sino mang nagpapanggap sa katauhan nito na siguradong may koneksyon sa totoong kriminal.
He sat on the counter and ordered tequila. He smoothly drank the liquor and looked at the middle aged man who's now flirting with the one of the hottest prostitute in the club.
"Do you like her?" the bartender asked him.
"Who?" he asked back without even bothering to look at the bartender. Kanina niya pa napapansin na nakantingin ito sa kanya.
"Oh c'mon don't play innocent I know you know what I'm talking about," the bar tender answered with a chuckled.
Napailing na lang siya at hindi pinansin ang lalaki. It's funny to think that the guy mistook his motive, pero mas mabuti na iyon kaysa malaman nito ang totoong pakay niya. Mahirap nang makatunog ito at magsumbong pa sa amo. Siguradong mabubulilyaso ang plano nila. He have to make sure their plan will work this time.
The people go crazier when the show started. Isang prostitute ang nagsimulang sumayaw sa stage. Sumasabay ang bawat kembot ng baywang nito sa saliw ng malamyos na musika. The prostitute slowly unbutton her shirt and stripped her clothes one by one hanggang sa isang manipis na tela na lamang ang bumalalot sa katawan nito.
The guys went nuts when the girl was about to strip the last fabric covering her body. But Alejandro is not one of them; he remained serious and seems uninterested. Pero hindi tinuloy ng babae ang paghuhubad at dali-daling tumakbo sa backstage.
Dismayado ang mga manonood, nagreklamo ang ilan ngunit sinagot lamang ng pabalang ng tagabantay doon. Anito, doblehin daw ng mga kostumer ang bayad kung gustong masiyahan sa palabas. Walang nagawa ang nga ito kundi tumahimik na lang at maghintay ng susunod na palabas.
"Hindi niya talaga kaya maghubad," the bartender commented behind him.
"So, she supposed to strip her clothes?" he thought to himself. Akala niya at sinadya nitong bitinin ang mga manonood, so they can crave more at bumalik pa sa mga susunod na gabi. Some nightclub have that kind of strategy.
Muli siyang tumingin sa kanyang pakay. Mula sa kinaroonan ay kitang-kita niya ang pag-aabutan ng droga. Ngali-ngali na siyang sumabak pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. He need to wait for his Chief's signal first. Hindi nila ito kasama sa field pero monitor nito ang mga galaw nila mula sa headquarters. Kailangan pa rin niyang hintayin ang back-up bago simulan ang operasyon. That's one of the things he hate being a policeman, they trained to follows rules. Kung siya lang mag-isa ay kanina pa siya sumugod.
"Sir ubos n'yo na 'yong alak, do you want to order another glass?" tanong muli ng makulit na bartender.
"Sige, bigyan mo'ko ng isa," he doesn't have the plan to get drunk but he think he needs to order another glass. Baka makahalata ang bartender sa kanya.
Muling nagsimula ang palabas at isa pang babae ang umakyat sa stage, maharot itong sumayaw at mapang-akit na ngumiti sa mga manonood. Which make the audience scream and curse bad words.
The girl parted her legs between the pole. Her string underwear was no use, everyone can see her woman flesh attracting everyone's view. Napansin niya na habang palalim ng palalim ang gabi, palaswa rin ng palaswa ang palabas.
"Do you enjoy watching the shows, Sir?"
Hindi niya pinansin ang makulit na bartender at nagmasid ulit sa paligid. Lumipat ng upuan ang target at ang mga customer naman doon ang inalok nito ng hawak na droga. Nang matapos ang usapan ng mga ito ay muling naglibot ang lalaki sa paligid hanggang sa gumawi ito sa kinaroon niya.
This is the moment he's been waiting for. The suspect took his bait. Inalok siya nito ng droga at nagkunwari naman siyang bibili. He smiled when the drugs landed on his hand; not because he want it, but because of the thought that he's finally handing the strong evidence against the culprit. Ngumiti sa kanya ang lalaki bago muling naghanap ng susunod na pagbebentahan.
Mayamaya ay dumating ang back-up niya. He give signals to his underlings at agad lumapit ang isa sa babae sa stage, binalutan nito ng tuwalya ang katawan ng babae na natigilan sa pagsasayaw at animo'y hindi alam ang gagawin. Aside from their motive, they're also aim to save women from prostitution. Some of them are forced to do the job, tulad na lamang ng babaeng tumakbo papasok sa backstage.
Nagkagulo ang mga tao na walang ibang nasa isip kung paano makakatakas. His gaze caught Raymond de Vega storming out of the bar. He took his walkie talkie out of his pocket and called one of his back-up.
"Palabas na siya!" he whispered but in an intense tone. He feel his heart beat so fast. He took a deep breath and try to keep calm. Hindi siya pwedeng pangunahan ng emosyon...it will distract him.
He was about to follow the target when the bartender spoke beside him.
"There's a way out here." Turo nito sa may bandang kitchen. Furrowing his brows, he looked back and saw the more easy way out of the bar. Mas madaling dumaan doon kaysa makipagsabayan sa mga tao sa main exit.
"By the way I'm Alexis Mendoza, a former police officer," after saying those words, the guy walked pass on him, and together they search for the target. "N'andoon sa likod ang kotse niya siguradong hindi pa nakakalayo iyon!"
He followed the bartender's step and he's right... they found the target who's now accompanied by his men and they're now escaping the place.
Pinaulanan niya ng bala ang gulong ng sasakyan ng mga ito. Good thing he always bring an extra gun, he threw it in the air, Alexis is a good catcher, he catch the gun without even looking directly at it.
Natamaan ang kaliwang gulong ng sasakyan dahilan para bumagal ang takbo nito. They run chasing the target until they both run out of bullets. He reloaded the gun with a new magazine and continued to shot, he targeted the tire. For the third bullet, the van finally stopped.
Bumaba ang mga sakay nito at hinarangan sila. Nanatiling nasa loob ng sasakyan ang pakay nila. Both sides pointing a gun on each other.
"Sumuko na kayo!" the tallest guy smirked and walked a little closer to them. He so walked a step forward.
"Mag-ingat ka madami sila," bulong ni Alexis sa tabi niya.
He doubt if the guy was really a former police oficer, simpleng bagay pa lang ay halatang takot na ito.
"I know what I'm doing!" he answered. Hindi niya kailagan ang opinyon nito.
Sinalubong niya ang isa sa mga lalaki ng sipa ngunit maagap nitong naiwas iyon at ginantihan ang sipa niya. Natamaan siya sa balakang. He lose his balance but he maintained to stay upright. He grabbed the guy's arm but the latter twisted it and now they're on a different situation. They staring at each other and no one seems to drop the look.
On the other hand, two armed men fighting with Alexis. Base on their moves, he know that they're certified assassins.
"Mukhang hindi na kami kailangan dito!" sigaw ng lalaking nakatayo malapit sa van.
"Gumawa kayo ng paraan para makatakas si Master, kami na ang bahala sa dalawang bubwit na ito," sagot naman ng isa sa mga nakikipaglaban sa kanila.
Madali naman ang kilos ng lalaki na malapit sa van at sinakay sa panibagong sasakyan ang kanilang amo. He did nothing but to look on the car that now slowly fading on his sight.
Bumaling siya sa lalaking kaharap, the side of his lips curled up into a playful grin. What he hated most is when someone question his ability. He will going to prove to the man in front of him what he can really do.
He adjusted the gun on his hand, at kahit pinlipit ang kamay, he managed to click the trigger. The bullet landed on the man's foot which makes him gritted his teeth. The man's cool expression shifted into pain.
Now, the ball is on his hand, it's for him how to handle it and make sure not to spill it out of his reach.
Nabuhayan din ng loob si Alexis at pinipilit na kumawala sa pagkakagapos ng dalawang lalaki. Nang masigurong hindi na makatayo ang kalaban ay dumako siya sa gawi ni Alexis para tulungan ito. He grabbed the guy by his collar and punched him hard straight in the face. Ang isang lalaki naman ay tinuhod ni Alexis, cause him to shout in pain.
Punches were thrown, kicks was flying everywhere. Nakaramdam din siya ng sakit ng katawan ngunit 'di niya pinansin iyon.
Ilang sandali pa ay napatumba na nila ang kalaban. Pagkatapos ay nagmadali silang tumakbo upang habulin ang mga nakatakas. Ngunit sa bilis ng takbo nito ay alam nilang wala silang laban. The car was exceeding the limits—drastically. It's sped through the main road, expertly overtaking other vehicles.
Hindi na sila pwedeng magpaputok ng baril dahil baka may mga ibang sasakyan na madamay. He balled his fist and blew a exasperated sigh.
He run as fast as he could. For him, it's a matter of life an death. Hindi niya pwedeng hayaan na makawala ito sa mga kamay niya.
"Stop!" Alexis said but Alejandro did not listen. He still catching up for his breath but he forced himself to run again.
"I said stop!"
With a knotted forehead he looked back and shouted. "Pwede ba kung napapagod ka na umalis ka na!"
Ginawa niya ang lahat. He look insane racing with the cars pero hindi niya ininda ang pagod at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo ngunit sa kasamang palad ay hindi na niya ito naabutan.
Carrying a bad news, he went back to their headquarters, with Alexis. Their Chief—who's obviously waiting for him—asked him what happened.
"Nakatakas sila," he muttered disappointedly.
"Ano!?" His Chief shook his head and close his eyes in disbelief. They've plan this for a long time and now they failed. Hindi nila alam kung paano muling sisimulan ang plano at kung makikita pa ba nila ang target.
"We planned this for a long time, tapos ngayon ganyan ang ibabalita mo sa'kin?"
Wala siyang nagawa kundi napayuko na lang at tanggapin ang pagkakamali. Just like his chief, he's also disappointed with himself.
"I'm sorry to say this... but you lost your aim promotion Garcia."
He is currently a police inspector and aiming for a higher position. He don't want get promotion for any reason, he doesn't want fame, he didn't even aiming for a higher salary. He just wanted to have a little power, a little power that he can use to do his main reason why he became a police officer in the first place.
After hearing his chief's sermon, he went back to his desk. Heaving a exasperated sigh he closed his eyes and leaned his head on the chair.
"What's your plan now?" Alexis took off his jacket and sat beside him. Tinanggal rin nito ang suot na cap at pinamaymay sa sarili.
Alejandro open his eyes and search for Alexis's voice and he was shocked on what he saw.
Alexis short hair framing her small lovely face and she's wearing a plain white tee inside her jacket. Dahil manipis ang damit nito, he can see the shape of her body. He narrowed his eyes and look at her curiously.
"Babae ka!?" it came more on a confirmation than question.
"Bakit mukha ba akong lalaki talaga?" she answered with unbelievably smile.
👮👮
A/N: I know you guys are seeking for justice. I told you I'm not good at this.😅