Present time...
⍟HARLEY⍟
"Ang alam ko isinara niyo na ang kaso regarding to this person but why are you suddenly opening this again Kap?" I asked and looked at Captain Amethyst who's carrying one of her twins. "Uhh...you want me to hold him?" I offered ng makitang nahihirapan itong hanapin ang isa pang file.
"Ah yes here, hold Tyler for me for a sec." She said at saka ibinigay sa akin ang anak niya, I smiled habang nakatingin kay Tyler na nakatingin din sa akin.
"Cute mo naman." I commented at pinigilan ang sarili na pisilin ang matabang pisngi nito. "You looked like your father, please don't be a heartbreaker." I added, and that made Captain chuckled.
"I am hoping also na hindi siya gumaya sa ama niya." She said at saka naglapag ng folder sa lamesa niya. "Anyways, about Jack Harata. Your big boss ordered me to open that case again and I am classifying him as a mission since he's still missing." She explained.
"I need to find him first?" I asked.
"Exactly." She said and looked at me. "After that, you can ask her what happened that night and I will classfying this mission as case." She added.
"Understand." I answered.
"Hindi ko talaga gets ang takbo ng utak ng kapatid ko." She commented at saka kinuha sa akin si Tyler. "Since Jaylene and Mikhail are on vacation, you can rely on Kia or Jaypee. Kung gusto mo si Lyka and isama mo." She suggested.
"I think I am fine with myself." I said at saka tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko.
"As expected." She said with a smile.
Nag-salute naman ako sa kanya bago tuluyang lumabas ng opisina niya. I sighed at saka tinahak ang daan papunta sa barn naming magka-kaibigan.
Napahinto naman ako ng buksan ko ang pinto, nandoon sa loob si Kia, Lyka, Jaypee at Jaylene. Kia and Lyka had a smiles on their faces habang si Jaypee ay parang namatayan ng alagang daga.
"What's happening?" I asked at saka naupo sa bakanteng bean bag na nandoon.
"Guess what?" Jaylene asked.
"What? naghiwalay na kayo ni Nikkoli? pumuti na ang uwak? lumilipad na ang mga baboy? what did I miss?" Tanong ko at kita ko naman ang pagsimangot ni Jaylene.
I mentally chuckled when I saw that reaction, wala lang masarap din kasi pag-tripan ang babaeng ito kahit na madalas ako ang pinagti-tripan niya.
May kinuha naman ito sa bag niya at saka iniabot iyon sa akin, kinuha ko naman iyon at saka binasa ang nakalagay sa likod.
Nikkoli and Jaylene's Nuptial.
"Oh, ikakasal ka na." I said nonchalantly at nakatanggap naman ako ng hampas mula sa kanya. I hissed at the heaviness of her hand. "Aray naman! gusto mo batukan kita!?" Banta ko dito but she just glared at me.
"Ikakasal na kaibigan mo tapos ganyan lang magiging reaksyon mo!?" Jaylene exclaimed.
"Ano bang gusto mo? magpa-party ako? wala akong pera hoy." Sagot ko at saka ipinatong ang paa sa coffee table. "Saka diba on vacation ka? bakit ka nandito? doon ka na sa Nikkoli na yon." dagdag ko.
"Kase nandito ako para imbitahan kayo sa kasal ko which is happening on the third week of this month." She answered. Tinignan ko naman ulit ang nakasulat sa likod ng envelope. "And Harley, you're my maid of honor." She added.
Kumunot naman ang noo ko at saka tinignan ito. "Wait, what?" I asked in confusion.
"You. Are. My. Maid. Of. Honor." Jaylene said word by word.
"Narinig ko gaga! I mean, bakit ako? nandyan naman si Gemma." I said. "Mas deserve niya yon since siya naman ang nagpasok sa atin dito." I muttered.
"I offered her first but she turned it down. Hindi ko naman alam kung bakit kaya ikaw na lang." She said and smiled. "Sige na please? I can't handle it kung pati ikaw tatangihan ako." She plead and pouted.
Naningkit naman ang mata ko. "Fine-fine, I'll be your maid in honor just stop pouting there naiirita ako." I said dismissing her and she clapped like a sea lion.
"Pumunta kayo ah! ang hindi pupunta mababaog. Itaga niyo yan sa magiging libingan ni Jaypee." Jaylene said.
"Luh? ba't sa akin? ikaw ang ikakasal dapat sayo." Sagot naman ni Jaypee.
"Bakit ako? saka magpapakasal ako hindi ako ililibing." Sagot naman ni Jaylene sa kanya.
"Ikaw ang nagsabi na itaga sa libingan, gulo ng buhay mo." Jaypee grumbled at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain sa isang tabi.
But Jaylene just mocked her by using her tongue bago tumayo at kinuha ang bag niya. "Sige na at bibisitahin ko pa si Kapitan at Big boss, sayonara!" She said at saka lumabas na ng barn.
Nang tuluyan na itong makalabas ay tumingin kaming tatlo kay Jaypee, tumaas naman ang kilay niya when he looked at us.
"What?" He asked and Lyka chuckled then pat his shoulder.
"Ano? inuman na ba?" Kia asked at sumimangot naman si Jaypee habang ako ay napa-iling sa sitwasyon nilang dalawa ni Jaylene.
Love? psh, it's just a waste of time.
"Speaking of wedding, ikaw Harley. Kailan ka ikakasal?" Kia asked at gaya ni Jaypee ay napataas din ang kilay ko.
"Bakit ako?" I asked.
"Girl, sa mga ganyang edad oras na para magpakasal." Lyka butted in. Naningkit naman ulit ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.
Did she just told me indirectly that I am 'that' old? I am still in my twenties for pete's sake!
"Sakalin kaya kita? excited ka?" Banta ko dito.
"Ako na gagawa gusto mo?" Tumingin naman kami kay Gemma na kakapasok lang.
"Ang laki talaga ng galit mo saken Gemma!" Reklamo naman ni Lyka and I chuckled when I remember their banter on our first encounter. But it doesn't seems like a banter for some other people.
"Tuwing nakikita kita naiirita ako." Gemma answered.
"Same here." Jaypee commented.
"Weh? eh ba't mo pinatulan to noon?" Kia asked pertaining to their one week relationship.
"Hindi maayos ang tulog ko noong mga panahon na yon." Jaypee answered as Gemma sat on the bean bag where Jaylene previously sat.
"I see, namigay na pala siya ng invitation." Gemma said when she saw what I'm holding.
"Sabi niya ikaw dapat ang maid of honor pero tumanggi ka, bakit?" I asked.
"Nah, it's not my style." She answered. "And besides, mas deserve mo yon." She added then winked at me.
"Are you trying to be cool right now?" I asked and she chuckled.
"I'm always cool Harley." She said.
"Confidence." Lyka muttered and tat made Gemma chuckle.
"Anyways, inuman na ba? ano na Jaypee?" Gemma asked as she looked at Jaypee.
"Oo magi-inuman tayo mamaya." Sagot naman ni Jaypee and that made Gemma laugh.
"I told you, humanap ka na ng iba." She adviced. "Dati ko pa sinasabi to sayo di ka talaga nakikinig." She mumbled then rolled her eyes.
"Since nandito ka na rin naman Gem, kailan ka ikakasal?" Kia asked.
"At paano naman napunta doon ang topic?" Gemma asked and crossed her arms.
"Maski ako nagtataka din sa daloy ng usapan natin." I commented.
"Wala naman, curious lang kami sa lovelife niyo ni Harley." Kia explained. "You two are different yet you have some similarities." She said.
"Similarities? like what?" I asked.
"You two are both mysterious as fuck." She exclaimed and that made Jaypee snickered. "Ni hindi nga namin alam kung ano bang type niyo sa isang lalaki, hindi tuloy kayo ma-set up ni Lyka sa blind date." Pagre-reklamo nito and I grimaced at the thought of me having a blind date.
"Kung usapang pag-ibig ang pagu-usapan natin wag na tayo mag-usap Kia." I commented.
"Alam niyo kase, ang pag-ibig hindi minamadali yan. Kusang darating yan kaya Lyka." Gemma said and turned to her. "Kalma lang sa pakikipag-date ha?" She added and gave her a closed-eye smile.
I chuckled at saka napa-iling ulit.
"Pero seryoso Gemma, anong type mo?" Jaypee asked.
"Bakit? liligawan mo ko? baka gusto mong barilin kita." Banta naman ni Gemma.
"Curious nga lang." Jaypee said at saka sumimangot.
"Wala naman akong specific na type kasi kapag dumating ang pag-ibig mawawala din yan." Gemma answered.
"I agree." I commented.
Kia put her palms together like she's praying then she closed her eyes at tumingala.
"Sana makahanap na ng lovelife si Gemma at Harley." She said.
"Siraulo." I muttered while Gemma just laugh beside me.
~
"Hoy Jaypee, free ka ba ngayon?" I asked ng makita ito sa cafeteria.
"Bakit date tayo?" He asked mischievously.
"Suntukan." Panghahamon ko dito.
"Eto naman di mabiro, ano ba kase yon." He said at saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan na nandoon.
"Samahan mo ako, may mission ako." I said.
"Himala at nagpasama ka, ano bang mission mo?" He asked at saka sumubo mula sa palabok na in-order niya sa counter.
Yup, he's eating again.
"Susugod tayo sa mansion ng isang makapangyarihan na pamilya, according to my investigation Harata and that family used to be an allies but later on they broke apart." I explained. "Saka kailangan din arestuhin ang pamilya na yon in order to stop them from selling more drugs." I added and after that sunod-sunod naman ang naging pag-ubo nito.
"Wait what? tama ba ang dinig ko? tayong dalawa susugod sa isang mansion? sa pagkaka-alala ko member tayo ng Falcon's Army at hindi ng suicide squad." He said and looked at me.
"Ako ang susugod ikaw ang magii-snipe." I answered.
"May mission kayo? sama ako." Singit naman ni Lyka na kadarating lang.
"Ano naman gagawin mo dun? gagamutin yung mga itutumba ni Harley? grabeng kawang-gawa naman yan." Jaypee asked.
"I know how to fight also." Lyka retorted.
"Then let's go, the more the merrier." I said at saka tumingin kay Lyka. "But remember, you are on your own when it comes to the battlefield." Pagpapa-alala ko dito at tumango-tango naman si Lyka.
"Okay, sama na din ako." Jaypee said.
"Good, then mamayang gabi aalis na tayo. Sibat na muna ako." I said at saka lumabas ng cafeteria.
Nang makarating naman ako sa opisina ng Gamma Team, some of my other colleagues greeted me and I just nod at them.
Wala lang talaga ako sa mood bumati ng good afternoon pabalik.
Umupo naman ako sa designated cubicle ko at sinimulan ang paghahanap kay Jack Harata through the database of the HQ.
I need to go back from the start since laging dead end ang resulta. After the massacre of his family, wala na siyang ibang data na na-record.
It's either patay na siya or nagtatago.
And like our big boss ordered, I need to find him which means hindi pa siya patay.
But how did he survived through that gruesome massacre? Leighton didn't left anyone alive.
I sighed at saka sumandal sa kinauupuan ko habang nakatitig sa picture niya na nasa data.
Just where the hell are you Jack?
"Uy sino yan?" Napapitlag naman ako ng biglang may magsalita sa likuran ko and it was Kia.
"Really? speaking all of the sudden behind my back?" I deadpanned and she just giggled. "Kapag ako inatake sa puso sasagutin mo ba ang pampa-hospital ko at ang pagpapa-opera ko?" I asked.
"Opera kaagad? di ba pwedeng gamot muna?" Kia answered. "Saka isa pa nandyan naman si Lyka at Jaypee, baka nakakalimutan mo doctor ang mga yon." She added.
"Tch." I said at saka ibinalik ang tingin sa picture na nasa computer ko.
"Sino yan? ang gwapo ha." She commented habang nakatingin sa picture na nasa screen. "Jowa mo?" She added at sinamaan ko naman ng tingin ito.
"Ikaw kanina ka pa sa barn ah." I said and she giggled.
"Sorry na!"
I snickered at saka sumandal sa kinauupuan ko. "Jack Harata, ang susunod na magiging 'head' ng Harata Family. Candidate sa The Empire." I said.
"So it is still connected to 'that' organization huh." She said at saka tumango-tango. "Required ba talaga na gwapo ang maging head ng isang pamilya?" She asked at saka hinila ang swivel chair na nasa katabing cubicle ko which is her cubicle.
"Aba malay ko." I said and looked at the picture again. "Whatever it is, he is still part of 'that' organization." I added.
"Oh, ba't parang galit na galit ka sa The Empire?" She asked when she noticed my tone.
"They are the reason why did I joined the gang." I answered at bumalik naman sa alaala ko ang mga nangyari sa akin noon. "One of their members claimed the land kung saan nandoon ang orphanage na pinanggalingan ko. In the end, nagpalaboy-laboy ako sa kalsada and I found that gang." Pagku-kwento ko sa kanya.
"Grabe..." Kia reacted.
"Yup, grabe talaga." I said. "When someone told you that money doesn't control the world. Slap them hard because clearly their eyes are still closed about the dirt and crueltyor this planet." Pagpapa-alala ko dito.
Tumingin naman ako sa orasan and my eyes widened ng makitang malapit ng mag-ala sais. "Fuck, tatlong oras na pala ang lumipas. I need to go." Paalam ko dito.
Hindi ko na siya hinintay sumagot saka dali-daling lumabas ng opisina.
Sakto namang nakasalubong ko si Lyka na papunta na dapat sa opisina para tawagin ako dahil si Jaypee daw ay nasa kotse na.
"So where are we going?" Jaypee asked ng makasakay sa kotse, nasa backseat si Lyka katabi ang case kung saan nandoon ang sniper rifle niya.
"Here." I said at saka inilagay sa lagayan ng cellphone ang phone ko. "See that red dot, diyan tayo." I instructed.
"Did you already checked the area?" Lyka asked habang nakatingin sa map na nasa cellphone.
"May abandonadong building malapit diyan sa mansion, pwede ka doon pumwesto Jaypee. Lyka, you're coming with me invading the mansion." I explained.
"Gosh, totoo talaga ang warning sa akin ni Gemma. Laging pang-suicide squad ang plano mo." She commented.
"Mas delikado, mas masaya." Sagot ko.
"No thanks, mahal ko pa ang buhay ko." Lyka answered.
"Sasama ka ba? pwede ka ng bumaba." Jaypee asked.
"Siyempre hindi naman pwedeng hindi ko samahan ang kaibigan ko. Sasama ako sa ayaw at gusto mo." Lyka said and Jaypee started the engine of the car.
"Let's do this." Jaypee said at saka pinaharurot ang kotse papunta sa mansion na iyon.
End of Chapter One
Welcome to the third book of The Black Rose Series guysueee, thank you for the support!
~Rep