I suddenly opened my eyes and realized that I was surrounded in darkness.
“Dustin?” I started walking even though I’m scared.
“Dustin? Wo sind Sie? Ich habe Angst. (Dustin? Where are you? I’m scared.)”
Biglang nanghina ang tuhod ko at napaupo ako sa sahig.
Nasaan ba ako? Bakit ang dilim-dilim sa lugar na ‘to?
“Dustin!” sigaw ko.
Maya maya pa’y nasilaw ako sa isang kumikinang na bagay sa dulo ng kwarto o kung anumang lugar ito. Nilapitan ko iyon.
It’s a mirror. I can see my whole reflection. Nagulat ako nang makita ko kung ano ang suot ko ngayon. Ito ang damit na suot ko noong araw na namatay sina mommy at daddy.
“Why am I-”
“Who are you?”
Nagulat ako nang biglang mag salita ang aking repleksyon sa salamin.
“I am Ace.” I bravely answered.
Nilabanan ko ang takot ko. Kahit na naguguluhan ako sa nangyayari ngayon.
“No,” she smirked. “You are a murderer! HAHAHAHAHAHA”
I clenched my fist in anger.
“I am not a killer.”
“You are. Pinatay mo nga ang mga magulang mo, di ba?” She was staring straight at my eyes. I stared back at her. “You are Amarah Chanelle. The daughter who killed her parents and ran away with her brother.”
I clenched my fist harder.
“You are nothing but a dream. A nightmare. I’m not scared of you. Hindi ka totoo.” I answered back.
“You can fool yourself, Ace. Balang araw, ikaw ang magiging dahilan ng pagkamatay ng pinakamamahal mo. You will lose your loved ones because you are an assassin. Accept your fate! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
I was about to punch the mirror when I suddenly heard someone crying and screaming.
Biglang nagbago ang paligid ko. Nasa simenteryo ako. There was a man standing in front of me, holding a dark crimson red rose. I can’t see his face because my vision suddenly went blurry. I tried to rub my eyes.
“Dustin?” Sandali kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Nang muli kong imulat ang aking mga mata, nagulat ako sa nakita ko. “Tris-”
I woke up when I suddenly felt someone touching my head.
“You’re awake.” the man smiled. ‘Thank God.”
Si sir Tristan ang nakagising sa akin. He was touching my forehead.
“We’re at my place right now.” natauhan ako.
Nasa bahay niya? Wait! How did we even get here?
I suddenly saw him close his eyes and hissed.
His shoulder!
“Your-”
“I’m fine.” he tried to smile.
Pero halata pa rin sa kanyang mukha na masakit ang balikat niya.
“Your face says otherwise. Why did you do that?”
“Do what?” he asked.
“You were touching my forehead.”
“I was checking your temperature. You fainted while you were holding me.” He placed his palm across his face before shifting his attention back at me. “You’ve been out for almost two days. Are you feeling fine now? May masakit ba sa’yo?”
Maybe he asked out of concern?
“I’m.. I’m fine.” Pakiramdam ko nanunuyo ang lalamunan ko. I was about to step out of bed when he suddenly stopped me.
“Where are you going?”
“Papunta sa kitchen. I feel thirsty.”
“There’s a pitcher on the bedside table.” Napilingon ako sa tinuturo niya. May pitsel at baso sa ibabaw ng table. Bigla akong napalunok. I really feel thirsty.
Kinuha niya ang baso at pitsel bago sinalinan ng tubig ang baso. Ibinigay niya iyon sa akin. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at ininom kaagad.
“Si Dustin?”
“He’s in the other room.” Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang baso at muli niya iyong ipinatong sa ibabaw ng table.
“A doctor came here immediately once we were brought here. Mrs. Ramirez came here yesterday. She asked me to take care of you while she’s away.”
“Ah, okay.” I suddenly clenched my fist. “Did you see the woman’s face?”
“Yes. But we’re still verifying her identity.” I felt his hand holding my clenched fist. “Don’t worry. I will protect you.”
Sandali ko siyang tinitigan.
“How sure are you that you can protect me? Did you forget that you were shot while trying to protect me? Paano kung namatay ka?” He suddenly caressed my face. Napapitlag ako sa gulat.
“I'd rather die than see you get hurt. I work for the government, remember? I can handle myself.”
I slapped away his hand.
“No. You can’t! Hindi mo ba nakikita ang itsura mo ngayon?”
“I’m already used to it.” That suddenly broke my heart.
“Sir Tri-“Hindi niya ako pinatapos.
“Clyde. It’s just you and me here. Just call me Clyde.”
I bit my lower lip.
“Well,” napalingon kami ni sir Tristan sa may pintuan. Nakatayo doon si mommy ninang. “looks like both of you are well acquainted.”
I shook off his hand that was holding my hand.
“Nandyan po pala kayo.”
“Baby darling,” nilapitan niya ako. “I hired Tristan to be your bodyguard. It’s his job to protect you.”
“Pero, mommy ninang-“
“I don’t trust anyone in the mansion. So, I hired him as a bodyguard for you and Dustin.”
Umupo siya sa tabi ko. Tumayo naman si sir Tristan
“I’ll be back. I’ll just tell the maids to prepare the food.”
Tumango si mommy ninang at umalis na si sir Tristan.
“Chanelle, you know that I love you, right? Mag aalala talaga ako sa inyo ng kapatid mo lalo na ako ang tumatayong nanay n’yo ngayon.” She smiled. “I know Eduard and I trust him taking care of you both. Pero hindi mapapanatag ang loob ko kung hindi ako nakakasiguro na safe kayo.”
“Mommy ninang, hindi n’yo naman po kailangan gawin yun”
“There is someone targeting you and Dustin, Chanelle.” Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni mommy ninang.“For now, we still don’t know their identity. But just to be sure, I want you to stay with Tristan for now.”
“No! I want to go home.” Kailangan kong makauwi. Dahil may naiwan ako sa bahay.
Tumayo si mommy ninang at tinitigan niya ako.
“You’re staying here until we’re sure you're safe. That’s final, Amarah Chanelle.”
“Are you staying here as well, Mrs. Ramirez?” Pareho kaming napalingon kay sir Tristan.
“No. I need to go back to the headquarters tonight. You should go as well once you’re both done with dinner.”
“I will.” Umalis na si mommy ninang.
“You’re leaving?”
“After dinner. Like what I’ve said before, we are still verifying that woman’s identity.”
“Bukod sa kanya, wala ba siyang ibang kasama noong pinasok nila ang bahay ni tito?”
“There were some people caught. But they committed suicide while they were being held inside the headquarters.”
Gusto kong sumama. Pakiramdam ko marami akong makukuhang impormasyon kapag sumama ako. They work for the government right?
“I want to go with you.”
“Chanelle.” That voice with that tone again. He’s worried, isn’t he?
“Ako ang target nila. Don’t I have the right to know? Gusto kong malaman kung sino ang gustong pumatay sa ‘kin.”
Sandali niya akong tinitigan sa aking mga mata bago muling nagsalita.
“Go prepare and get changed. We will leave after dinner.”
Lumabas na siya sa kwarto.
Pinuntahan ko muna si Dustin sa kabilang kwarto. Nabutan ko siyang nag lalaro ng computer games.
“Dustin,” napalingon siya sa akin. Tinanggal niya ang kanyang headphones. “sasama ako kay sir Tristan papunta sa headquarters nila. I need you to prepare something for me before we leave.”
*********************
Pagkatapos naming kumain, umalis na din kami kaagad. Nang makarating kami sa headquarters nina sir Tristan, pumasok kami kaagad sa loob. Isa itong normal na company building sa labas. Pagkapasok mo, makikita mo ang mga taong busy sa pagtanggap ng mga tawag at pagko-computer.
Security service company ba ito?
“This way.” Nagulat ako nang biglang hawakan ni sir Tristan ang aking kaliwang kamay at hinila ako papunta sa isang pintuan. Nang bukasan niya iyon, may nakita akong hagdan pababa. “The headquarters is under this building. The company is somewhat like a disguise for the headquarters.” paliwanag niya.
I already knew what they were because of the terms they were using. Isang retired na secret agent si tito Eduard. So I’m not totally surprised. It’s just that, I’m not expecting that they were this careful to hide their organization.
Dumaan muna kami sa isang security check bago kami tumuloy sa paglalakad papasok ng headquarters. Nakarating kami sa isang kwarto kung nasaan si mommy ninang. May kausap siya.
“Then to whom is this woman related?”
Binitiwan ko ang kamay ni sir Tristan at pinindot ko ang button sa wirst watch ko. This is actually a recorder. Nakalusot ito sa security check dahil may ginawang sensor si Dustin dito na hindi madedetect ng security ang recorder device na dala ko.
“She is the girlfriend of Warren Monteverde.” natigilan ako sa narinig ko.
Warren? Not Walter?
“Who are you talking about?” bigla kong tanong sa kanila.
“Tristan, why is she here?’ Tanong ng lalaking kausap ni mommy ninang.
“He got my permission, Alec.”
“Miss R, aren’t we supposed to be hiding our identity? Bakit n’yo pinayagan makapasok siya dito?”
“Watch your words, agent. I am still the head of this organization.”
Napahilamos sa mukha ang tinatawag ni mommy ninang na Alec.
“Chanelle, this guy’s name is Alec. Alec, this is Amarah Cha-”
“I know her.” Hindi pinatapos ni Alec si sir Tristan.
“Anyways, this guy is one of the agents working on identifying the people who attacked Mr. Eduard’s mansion.” Muli niyang nilingon si Alec. “Where’s Seven?”
“Tulog sa kwarto.” May itinuro siya pintuan sa may kanan ng malaking monitor sa harap namin. “Kakatapos lang namin i-verify ang mga pangalan ng taong namasok sa bahay ni Mr. Zchiewenzie.”
“As what Alec explained, the guy who died at Chanelle’s birthday party was Warren Monteverde. Walter Monteverde’s twin brother.” Paliwanag ni mommy ninang. “It seems the killer thought that she killed Walter that night.”
I clenched my fist. DUSTIN, YOU’RE DEAD!
“I think they knew that there would be someone attacking that night.”
They knew? So we were tricked?!
“It seems so.” Alec started tapping on his keyboard and showed something on the big computer screen. “Looks like our girl is looking for something that was supposed to be given to her.”
The screen showed the picture of the card and the cellphone that I am keeping right now. I need Dustin to decode that card and find useful information from it.
“So these were stolen?” tanong ni mommy ninang kay Alec.
“Yes, miss R.” sagot naman ni Alec. “We need to capture Warren’s girlfriend, Arden Santillan, in order to know more of her connection to the organization who attacked Amarah’s family.”
Organization? Tama ako. Hindi lang isa o dalawa ang may kagagawan ng nangyari kina mommy. There’s more of them.
“What is their next move?”
“They’re planning to attend an auction event in the coming month.”
Napasapo si mommy sa ulo niya.
“Thank you, Alec. You take a rest now. Kakausapin ko muna si Tristan at Chanelle.
I can feel Alec sending me death glares before leaving. What’s with this guy?
“Chanelle,” Napalingon ako kay mommy ninang. “you’re no longer safe. There’s a big organization that’s involved in this.”
“Anong gusto ninyong gawin ko?”
“Sa bahay ka muna ni Tristan pansamantala.” Tinitigan ni mommy ninang si sir Tristan. “Will that be okay with you, agent?”
“I’m fine with that.” he answered without hesitation.
“Good.” napalingon naman si mommy ninang sa akin. “Then, marry my Goddaughter, Tristan.”
WHAT?!
“They are targeting Chanelle. Mas mabuting magpakasal kayo para hindi sa iyo naka focus ang target ng organisasyon na yun.”
“Are you saying that they are targeting-” hindi pinatapos ni mommy ninang si sir Tristan.
“If my guess is right and that card contains information related to the company, they are targeting Chanelle, the current heiress of Empire Corp.” paliwanag ni mommy ninang. “Sa nakikita ko sa sitwasyon, they killed your parents because of the ownership of Empire Corp.”
“Are you saying that you want Empire Corp to merge with my company out of this marriage?”
“Yes.” Mukhang seyoso si mommy sa sinabi niya. “It’s both a request and an order, agent.”
"Mas maaalagaan ninyong dalawa ang business ni Natalia kung tatanggapin ninyo ang suggestion ko. We did research about your parent's company, Chanelle. Maraming gustong pumalit sa posisyon mo. Kaya ang daming gustong pumatay sa inyo ni Dustin. Half of the board of directors were... mafias." natulala ako sa sinabi niya.
Nilapitan ako ni mommy ninang at hinaplos ang aking pisngi.
“We’re running out of time. But I want you to think about this carefully, baby darling. Para sa kaligtasan ninyong magkapatid.”
I bit my lower lip. She patted both of my shoulders.
“May kailangan pa akong asikasuhin. Tristan, ikaw na muna ang bahala kina Chanelle at Dustin.”
Hindi na niya hinintay sumagot si sir Tristan at umalis na siya.
“Chanelle.”
“Why didn’t you react?” Tanong ko sa kanya na may halong sama ng loob.
“I’m so surprised by that request as well that I don't even know how I should react.” He answered. “Umuwi na muna tayo. Your brother might worry.”
Muli niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. Naglalakad kami palabas ng building at pumunta sa may parking lot. Sumakay kami sa kotse niya.
“To be honest, I think Miss R has a point. Those bastards will divert their attention to me since I will become a part owner of your company.” Napatingin ako sa kanya. “And besides, you have a lot of time to get to know me while we live in the same house.”
*********************
No one’s POV:
Samantala, sa bahay ni Tristan.
Kausap ni Dustin sa kanyang cellphone si Maria Ysabelle Alcantara, ang bestfriend ni Chanelle.
“He’s not just a simple businessman, ate Ysa. It’s just so weird.” nakatitig si Dustin sa screen ng kanyang laptop habang kasuap si Ysa.
[Observe for now. Baka naman maling akala mo lang yan, Dustin.]
Nasa coffee shop si Ysa. Siya kasi ang nag mamanage ngayon ng sarili niyang business. Ngayon ay nagbrebrew siya ng kape habang kausap ang binata sa kanyang cellphone
[By the way, nadecode mo na ba yung flash drive?] ang tinutukoy ni Ysa ang card na nakuha ni Chanelle kay Warren.
“Ina-identify ko pa yung logo nitong card bago ko idecode. Hindi ako makapag research habang nandito si kuya Tristan. For now, I need to verify which organization this card belongs to. Para malaman ko kung anong password ang gagamitin ko.”
[Sige. Send me an update if you find anything.]
“Roger that.”
Nag end call na sila. Maya maya pa’y tumunog ang phone ni Dustin.
Chanelle sent a recording to his email address. He smirked after listening to it.
“Looks like we’re going to have a new mission soon.”