⍟HARLEY⍟
"He is at the guest's building, room 910 if want to see him." Napapitlag naman ako ng magsalita si Jaypee. Umupo naman ito sa swivel chair sa tabi ko. "You looked troubled, nakatulog ka ba kagabi?" He asked.
"Nope, she stayed up all night thinking about how she will tell Jack about us." Gemma answered.
"Us? what do you mean us?" Jaypee asked in confusion.
"The organization." Gemma replied while still looking at her computer monitor.
"Wait, what?" Jaypee reacted and then looked at me. "You already earned the right to do that!?" He exclaimed.
"Big boss already gave me the permission, actually, he has a right to know." I answered.
"Then tell him now, bakit parang naga-alangan ka?" Jaypee asked.
"Sige Jaypee, ipag-palagay mo na ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon. Ang pagkakakilala mo sa akin ay isang matinong tao pero ang totoo ay hindi pala." I explained.
At dahil naman sa tanong na iyon ay napakunot ang noo ng binata.
"Matino ka naman ah?" He asked.
"Oh my God. Bakit sa lahat ng tatanungin mo ng ganyan si Jaypee pa talaga?" Gemma asked.
"Right. I shouldn't asked you in that way." I said in realization. "Jaypee, paano ba gagawin ko? I-I'm so confused right now." I asked.
"Just go to him and then tell him na isa tayong organisasyon na pinamumunuan ni Big Boss Zaim Falcon. As simple as breathing." Jaypee said.
"Buti sana kung ganoon kadali yon."
"Ano ba kasi ang problema?"
"Ayokong mawala ang tiwala niya sa akin okay!" I exclaimed and let out a harsh sigh. "I just earned his trust recently then I will just crush it immediately." I added.
"Kayo na ba?" Biglaang tanong naman nito.
"What?" I asked in shock. "What the fuck are you saying?" I exclaimed again.
"Eh base sa kinikilos mo para kang girlfriend na takot umamin sa boyfriend na naglasing ka kagabi." Jaypee said and shrug his shoulder.
"Definitely we are not in a relationship." I said and let out a sigh again. "You know what, I'll go and tell him." I added and tried to gather my shit together.
"Tell me what?" Napahinto naman ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon mula sa likuran ko. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Jaypee for a split second bago ako tuluyang tumingin kay Jack.
"Jack, w-what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Uhm...I asked this girl to bring me to you." He said at saka tinuro si Lyka nasa likuran niya and she waved at us.
"Actually." Singit naman ni Gemma at saka tumayo sa kinauupuan niya. "You two, follow me to the cafeteria. Ilibre niyo ko." She said at saka umalis mula sa table niya papunta sa pinto.
Dinig ko naman ang pag-protesta ng dalawa habang sumusunod kay Gemma pero wala naman doon ang focus ko.
Dahil ang focus ko ay nasa lalaking nasa harap ko ngayon.
Nang tuluyang makalabas sila Jaypee at Lyka, naiwan naman kaming dalawa ni Jack sa office ng team namin.
Wala yung iba naming kasamahan since it was the start of vacation. Ang iba sa kanila ay umuwi sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya.
"Uhm...are you going to tell me something?" He asked. Kumurap-kurap naman ako mula sa pagkakatulala sa sahig at ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya.
Ngayon ko lang napansin na basa at medyo magulo ang buhok nito, he even has a new set of clothes. Jaypee must gave him something to wear.
"Right...I need to tell you something." I said. "Have a seat here first." I added.
Alam kong nagtataka ito sa sasabihin ko pero kahit na ganoon ay sumunod pa rin ito at umupo sa swivel chair kung saan nakaupo kanina si Jaypee.
"What is it?" He asked.
Nag-iwas naman ako ng tingin sa kanya and I grabbed my pen.
"Well, it's about me." I said. "Tell me Jack, what do you know about me?" I asked at nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kilay niya dahil doon.
"Well...your uhm...you're a part of Airforce...right?" He said more like a question. "Is there something wrong?" He asked in confusion.
"What's wrong?" I said and chuckled humorlessly and played the pen that I am holding. "Everything is wrong Jack." I mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
Tumingin naman ako sa kanya at matapang na sinalubong ang mga tingin nito sa akin.
"My name is Harley Robyn Santiago the former Captain of Air Force." Pagpapakilala ko dito.
"Former? what do you mean former?" He asked in more confusion.
"This building and headquarters was actually owned by a person named Zaim Falcon. We often call him here as 'Big Boss'." I said.
"I-I don't understand." He said.
I let out a sigh at saka tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko.
"I am a part of an organization and an army named Falcon's Army. We are doing missions and cases that the normal police and soldiers can't do." I explained.
"So you are just lying to me all the time?" He asked.
"Well...partly yes but--"
"But you still lied to me and asked for my trust." Pagputol nito sa sasabihin ko. "May hindi ka pa ba sinasabi sa akin?" He asked in exasperation.
"I-I'm sorry." I muttered. "Pero maging miyembro man ako ng Airforce or ng Falcon's Army, iisa lang naman ang gusto ko para sayo. Yun ay maging ligtas ka." I said trying to explain everything to him.
Hindi naman ito sumagot, instead ay tumayo lang ito at saka nilagpasan ako.
"Jack." Pagtawag ko dito pero hindi naman ako nito pinansin at tuloy-tuloy na lumabas ng opisina. I let out a sigh at pabagsak na umupo ulit sa swivel chair ko.
Inaasahan ko na magiging ganto ang reaction niya pero bakit ang sakit pa rin para sa akin?
~
GEMMA stopped walking when she saw that Jack walked out from their team's office.
I think it already happened. she thought at saka pumasok sa sa opisina nila and she saw Harley sitting on her swivel chair with a slumped shoulder.
"Base on your look right now, everything went downhill." She commented.
"You tell me." Harley answered and that made Gemma chuckled then she took a sip from her coffee.
"Give him some space, for sure he is just trying to absorb everything what you told him." she adviced.
"I still broke his trust." Harley said and looked at Gemma. "I'm the worst." She added bago tumayo mula sa swivel chair niya at lumakad palabas ng opisina.
Gemma shrugged her shoulder and took a sip from her newly ordered coffee na nilibre sa kanya ni Jaypee.
I never thought that this day will come. She thought and sat on her swivel chair then faced her computer monitor.
"I never thought that Harley will fall inlove to someone." She whispered and grinned as she continue to type.
.
"PUT this on the priority section." Utos naman ni Gemma sa kausap nito na isa sa mga kasamahan niya sa team bago ito nilagpasan at lumakad papunta sa open area ng headquarters.
Napahinto naman ito sa paglalakad nang makita si Jack na nakaupo sa ilalim ng isang puno at may hawak na beer. Nakatulala ito sa ilang mga sundalo na nagte-training hindi kalayuan sa puno.
Umiling-iling naman ang dalaga at saka lumapit dito. Nang makalapit, umupo siya sa tabi ng binata.
"It's been two days, still mad at Harley?" She asked. Hindi naman sumagot ang binata sa halip ay narinig nito ang mabigat na pagbuntong-hininga niya. "Did you know that Harley is an orphan?" She said at dahil dito ay napataas ang kilay ni Jack.
"Why are you telling me that?" He asked in confusion and that made Gemma smile. So he's listening huh, she thought.
"Wala lang, nagbaka-sakali na gusto mong malaman." She answered and shrugged her shoulder.
"Who are you...I mean...the real you?" Jack asked and that made Gemma smirk this time.
"The real me? you didn't wanna kmow Jack." Gemma answered and looked at the man. "I'm Gemma Dimaano and I'm Harley's superior." She added and offered her hand pero hindi naman kinuha iyon ni Jack kaya ibinaba niya na lang ang kamay niya na yon.
"Why did she...lied?" He asked.
"She lied because she want the best from you, yun ay ang ilihim ang organisasyon na ito at sabihin ito sa iyo sa tamang panahon." She answered. "Look, this organization is not just a simple organization okay? we are acknowledged by the government and you can also call us the last defense of our country." She explained.
"And?"
"And? do you think ganun lang kadali sabihin iyon sayo?" And this time, she's the one who asked him. "Look, Just understand Harley's side because she understand your side. It's like give and take or some sort like that." Gemma added bago tuluyang tumayo mula sa kinuupuan niya at pinagpagan ang likurang bahagi ng pantalon na suot niya.
"She has a lot of missions waiting yet she still chose your case and she still chose to protect you. You're lucky to find her." Ani nito bago tuluyang lumakad palayo sa binata.
~
JACK knocked on the door and minutes later, someone opened it. It was a girl who's shorter than Lyka, the first friend of Harley he met.
"Hi there, who are you?" Malumanay na tanong ng babae.
"Uhm...I'm Jack, nandyan ba si Harley?" He asked.
"Ay sayang, wala siya dito eh. May mission siya kasama si Jaypee." Sagot naman nito. "Pero don't worry, babalik din naman sila ngayong araw." Dagdag nito.
"Ah sige...salamat..." He trailed off kasi hindi niya alam ang pangalan ng dalaga.
"Kia. I'm Harley's friend." Pagpapakilala naman nito sa binata.
"Nice to meet you, I better go. Sorry for disturbing." Paalam nito bago tuluyang lumakad palayo sa barn na itinuro sa kanya ni Lyka na kaibigan din ni Harley.
After being 'lectured' by Gemma, he realized that it is also hard on Harley's side to tell him about the organization. He just acted like a 'bitch' when he learned the truth.
And now, he is looking for her to tell her he is sorry for his action last time they talked.
"And there he is. Hey Jack!" Tumingin naman ito sa tumawag sa kanya and it was Gemma. May katabi naman itong babae na ngayon niya lang nakita.
"OMG, siya na ba yun?" Tanong naman ng babae.
"Magtigil ka nga." Saway naman ni Gemma. "Jack, this is Jaylene our friend." Pagpapakilala naman ni Gemma sa babae nang makalapit si Jack sa kanila.
"Hi." Bati ni Jack and they shakes their hands. "Nice to meet you." Ani nito sa babae.
"Nice to meet you too, finally nakilala din kita." She said at may kinuha sa bag nito. "Here."
"Uhm...para saan to?" Jack asked.
"It was my wedding and you are invited. Um-attend ka ha?" Jaylene said.
"Uhm...I guess?"
"What do you mean I guess?"
"I mean, I'm not even close to all of you and--"
"Oh shush, kahit sino pang kaibigan ni Harley kaibigan ko na rin. Attend ka ha?" She asked again.
"Oh...okay...sure, I'll go." Sagot naman ni Jack and that made Jaylene clapped happily like a sea lion.
Umiling-iling naman si Gemma sa ini-akto ng babae sa harap ni Jack. "I'm so sorry about her, hindi siya naka-inom ng gamot niya nga--"
"What do you mean gamot!? grabe ka sa akin Gemma!" pagputol naman ni Jaylene kay Gemma at saka hinampas ito sa braso.
Jack just looked at two because he was not sure what he will do.
"You are harassing our guest Jaylene!" Sagot naman ni Gemma at tumingin ulit kay Jack. "Right, I'm so sorry about her she is a bit hyper than usual and---" And again, naputol na naman ang sasabihin ni Gemma nang may marinig na sigawan at nagmamadaling sundalo hindi kalayuan sa kanila.
"What is happening?" Jack asked. Gemma pulled out his radio transmitter.
"Shield to whoever it is, what the fuck is happening? sino ang nasa stretcher and why does Lyka look frantic?" Tanong naman ni Gemma.
Mula sa kinatatayuan ng tatlo ay kita nila ang pagmadali ng ilang kasamahan nila sa pagtutulak ng isang stretcher. Nakasakay doon si Lyka at tuloy-tuloy ang pag-revive sa kung sino man at pasyente na nandoon.
"Shield to Cross." Gemma muttered again when she saw Jaypee was following the stretcher.
"Cross to Shield, something happened to her. I'm sorry I didn't do my part." Ani naman ng isang boses mula sa radio transmitter.
"What do you mean Jaypee?" Gemma asked.
"We didn't expect an ambush and it was too late to call a back-up. I'm so sorry." Sagot ni Jaypee.
"Please don't tell that was Harley." Ani naman ni Jaylene at dahil doon ay napahinto si Jack.
"What happened to her!?" Tanong naman ni Jack kay Gemma and Gemma repeated the question to Jaypee.
Natahimik naman ng ilang segundo si Jaypee bago sumagot.
And after hearing Jaypee's answer, Jack's body went cold like someone dumped him a water full of ice.
"Harley was shot near at her heart."
End of Chapter Ten
Happy Reading @MsJoleng eto na update mo wag ka ng mainis haha.