KEIRA’S POV
“Goddamnit!!” Sinalo ni Xander ang suntok ko na dapat sana ay sa pader tatama.
“I think you need to go to your room first, Big Boss.” He said while lowering my hand.
“No. I will stay here until we find out what the hell that Pyramid wants from us!”
“Em, I agree with Xander. If you want, just go get something to eat first and then come back here. The sight of you being pissed off with your baby is not very welcoming. It’s disturbing, if you ask me.” I shot Hale a glare pero hindi na ako nakapagsalita dahil iginiya na ako ni Ran palabas ng E-room.
“Leave her to me. Continue what you guys are doing here. We’ll come back once she’s calmed down.” And with that, lumabas na kami sa E-room but I didn’t talk to Ran. It’s not their fault, I know. Which makes it more frustrating to me.
We’ve been trying to find out kung ano ang maaaring pakay ng Pyramid sa Genesis at Apocalypse. We’ve been doing this for an entire month now pero wala pa rin kaming lead. Sinusuyod na namin ang database ng Apocalypse ngayon pero wala pa rin. Naubos nanaman ang pasensya ko kanina sa loob kaya ganun. I massaged my temple and Ran gave me gentle squeeze.
“Wag mo masyadong isipin yun, mahahanap din natin ang hinahanap natin.”
“Ran, we’ve been doing this for a month now. What makes you think na mahahanap natin kung ano man yun today or the following day or the day after tomorrow? Mauubos ang hideouts ng Genesis at Apocalypse at this-”
“I told you, we’re going to find it. Don’t you trust your Royal Guards and FMOA?”
“Of course I do.”
“That’s all that matters.”
“That was rude.”
“Hmm? What is?”
“Kissing me while I was talking.” He smirked at that at nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko.
“Is it now?”
“Ye- Ran!” He interrupted me again with his kiss. Well, hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako o ano but still…
“Come on, love. My son is begging me to feed him.” I scoffed at that.
“As if.”
“Sorry, did you say something?”
“No. You must be hearing things. Are you okay?” Pang-aasar ko sakanya and before he can retort, I left him there at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa kusina. As fast as a very pregnant woman can be. I’m almost eight months pregnant now so imagine how big my baby bump is. We were actually shocked because on my fifth month, biglaan lang ang paglaki ng tiyan ko. Mabilis na ding sumakit ang balakang ko these days dahil sa bigat na din ng baby ko.
Nauna akong nakarating sa kusina pero sa tingin ko talaga ay sinadya ni Ran na nakasunod lang sakin. Naupo ako sa harap ng kitchen island and I’m glaring at him as he enter the kitchen with a grin.
“You look like a Cheshire cat, Ran. Knock it off.”
“What? I enjoyed watching you waddle around.” I gasped and looked at him disbelievingly.
“Waddle?!? How could you!! I'm not a bloody penguin!!” I was actually offended but he doesn’t give two shits about it.
“No matter what you do, you will always look beautiful to me, love.” Then he gave me a kiss on the forehead. Okay, forgiven.
“Now, what do you want to eat?” He bent down para kapantay niya ang tiyan ko.
“Stop being stupid, Ran. He will not answer you.”
“Then, what do you want to eat, love?” Nag-isip naman ako ng gusto kong kainin at wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang tignan siya ng masama nang sabihin niya kung ano ang iniisip ko.
“Beef steak it is. Why do I always ask you this question if I know your answer in the first place? Stupid me.” Kung magsalita siya, parang wala ako dito eh. Hinayaan ko na lang siya na magluto at pinapanuod ko lang siya. I’ll never get tired of this. He’s using his apron. I bought one for each of them at lahat yun ay may design na Stitch. They all look good in it. Though I have to force them to use it at first, but now, sinusuot na talaga nila yun everytime na nagluluto sila. May mga katulong kami pero kapag mga gantong pagkakataon na wala sa oras ang kain ko, sila ang nagluluto para sakin.
He’s humming a song while cooking. He always do that. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya niya o hindi eh. Hindi ko rin naman naitatanong. This is the side of him na alam kong saakin niya lang pinapakita. His carefree side. Whenever he’s around other people, you will see his usual stern expression.
“Ran, anong kanta yan? It's nice.”
"The title's Serendipity. Nice, right?"
"Yeah. Sinong -" Itatanong ko sana kung sino ang kumanta ng kantang hina’hum niya pero tumunog naman ang phone niya na nasa tabi ko lang.
“Can you answer that for me, love?” Sabi niya ng hindi tumitingin sakin.
“Ayoko nga. Phone mo yan eh.” This time, lumingon na siya at pinakita ang kamay niya na may hawak na karne and said nothing more. Kinuha ko na ang phone niya at sinagot yun ng nakatingin pa rin sakanya. He’s still looking at me as well but with that bloody smirk again.
“Keira speaking.”
“Big Boss.” He paused and why do I have a feeling na nag’bow kung sinuman itong nasa kabilang linya. Tinignan ko kung sino ang caller and it says ‘3rd Div’. I gave Ran a straight face.
“What?” Hindi ko siya pinansin at hinintay na magsalita ulit ang nasa kabilang linya.
“Big Boss, Boss Ryuji and Boss Nam Tae are waiting for you outside.”
“I’m sorry, what?!” Uulitin na sana niya ang sasabihin niya pero pinigilan ko siya.
“No, it’s fine. Lalabas na ako.” Binaba ko na ang tawag and Ran is already beside me with his plastic gloves still on his hands.
“Who was it?”
“3rd Div.” I gave him a flat look again.
“Do something with your contact names, seriously.”
“San ka pupunta?” Okay, hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko.
“Outside.” Pumunta na ako sa labas at nakasunod naman si Ran. He actually looks cute with his apron and plastic gloves. Para siyang taong-bahay.
I opened the door since hindi yun pwedeng hawakan ni Ran kasi nga, karne ang hawak niya kanina. Agad kong nakita ang sobrang daming men in black. My men bowed at me pero karamihan na tao dito sa labas ay nanatiling nakatayo lang. I looked around para mahanap yung dalawa pero humarang si Ran sa harapan ko so I glared at the back of his head instead.
“What’s going on?” Tanong niya dun sa pinakamalapit na nagbabantay dito sa labas.
“Excalibur and Yakuza’s leaders are here, Boss.”
“What?” And as if on cue, binuksan ng mga tauhan nila ang pinto ng dalawang sasakyan sa harap at sabay silang lumabas. Napairap na lang ako. Agad na tinakbo ni Ryu-nii ang pagitan namin at mahigpit akong niyakap at parang noon niya lang napansin na buntis ako. Tinignan niya ang tiyan ko for a couple of seconds as if mawawala yun kapag tinitigan niya lang. Nakalapit na sakin si Nam Tae-oppa and he shoved Ryu-nii out of the way. I have to contain my laughter at that.
“Excalibur reporting, milady.” He bowed in front of me and half of the men in black that I don’t know bowed with him.
“Yakuza reporting, milady.” Ryu-nii bowed as well and his men followed suit.
“Let’s get inside first.” That was Ran at nauna na siyang pumasok na nakakunot ang noo.
Pagkapasok na pagkapasok namin ay humagalpak ng tawa yung dalawang bagong dating. Pinagmasdan ko lang sila na parang nababaliw na sila. They’re both looking at Ran na para ng mangkakatay ng tao. Okay? Anong nangyayari?
“Knock it off!” Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Ran. Sigawan daw ba yung dalawa?
“Mi-mian.” Nam Tae-oppa said in between laughs. Ryu-nii couldn’t stop laughing. Nagpatuloy lang sila sa pagtawa. Halatang naaasar na si Ran but I watched them both with interest. What made them laugh this hard? Huminga sila ng malalim and composed themselves.
“Sorry ‘bout that but what the fuck are you wearing?” Tanong ni Ryu-nii kay Ran. Nakatalikod silang dalawa sakin habang nakaharap naman sakin si Ran.
“Just so you know, I was cooking for my wife and son.” He answered him seriously. Wi-wife? Parang uminit ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya kaya umiwas ako ng tingin.
“And you, for Pete’s sake! Why the hell didn’t you tell Round Table that you’re pregnant?” Parang galit naman na tanong sakin ni Nam Tae-oppa.
“Woah, would you calm down?”
“How can I? You know that your safety is our first and top priority but we didn’t know that you’re carrying a child.”
“I’m sorry. I -” Hinigit niya ako at niyakap ng mahigpit pero sinigurado niya na hindi naiipit ang tiyan ko.
“Please don’t do this again. You have no idea what we went through when we thought that you died seven years ago.” Niyakap ko din siya at hinagod ang likod niya. Bigla naman nakisali si Ryu-nii kaya naipit na talaga ako sa pagitan nilang dalawa kaya natawa na lang ako. They laughed with me as well.
“Em?” Humiwalay na ako sa kanilang dalawa at nakita ko ang Royal Guards at FMOA ko na andito na sa living room. Hindi na rin naka’apron si Ran. Aww, shame.
“I don’t like the way the four of them are looking at us, Kei-chan. Who are they?” Tinignan ko sina Titus at pare-parehong ang sasama ng tingin nila sa mga katabi ko.
“T, H, A, G. Come over here and drop that look.” Lumapit naman sila sakin without saying anything. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Tumayo ako sa tabi nilang apat.
“Meet my Four Men of Apocalypse. The name’s too long so I call them my FMOA.” Pinakilala ko sila isa-isa at pinakilala ko din yung dalawa.
“So, you’re the guys from Apocalypse. Nice meeting you all.” Kinamayan nilang dalawa yung apat ang Titus apologized for their demeanor earlier. The two of them dismissed it with a wave of a hand.
“Introduction’s over. Let’s settle down so we can discuss things.” Pumunta kami sa opisina ko so that we have enough chairs. Hindi na makakaupo lahat sa living room.
“Let me get straight to the point. What are you two doing here?”
“Armageddon asked the other mafias to help you here since Round Table’s CIU (Central Intelligence Unit) found out that Pyramid’s main force is gathered here in the Philippines. Even Griffin’s elite unit is here. Nam Tae-kun and I volunteered to go here first. We only brought our elite members as well.” Ryu-nii.
“What?! Why is it that I don’t know anything about this?”
“Well, first off, your line is always closed. Second, Mr. Smith thought that you won’t agree for us to personally go here as it will leave our own mafias defenseless.” Nam Tae-oppa.
“Good that you know. Why did you leave your mafias?”
“Don’t worry about Yakuza and Excalibur, Kei-chan. We made sure that everything will be just fine while we’re here.” Ryu-nii.
“The other mafias will be here as soon as they can. Well, except for Mr. Smith as he needs to monitor thing in the CIU himself but he will send some of his men.” Nam Tae-oppa.
“I can never thank you enough for this.”
“No worries, milady. Anyway, Mr. Smith also mentioned that he has no luck in finding the reason why Pyramid has its eyes on your mafias and he asked us to check it here. Any luck?” Sasagutin ko na sana siya pero naunahan ako ni Clark.
“About that, Big Boss. I think we found out what it is that they want.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. Kaya nga lumabas na kami ng E-room eh.” Kumunot ang noo nilang dalawa sa sinabi ni Ash. They can’t understand the Filipino language.
“Well? What is it?”
“The direct access to Pyramid’s centralized database.” Yan, Hale and Clark said at the same time.