|| Adriano
I suddenly felt the need to get out of this venue hall. Not because I didn't enjoy the apertivo, but because something's telling me to check the spy cameras.
I tapped Lawreign's shoulder. "Hey. I have to check the spy cams."
She gave me a look. "Ichecheck ang spy cams o ayaw mo sa entrée?"
I knew she was going to ask this. I may be Italian, but I'm not quite salty as my nonnas or mia madre when it comes to Italian food.
I shook my head. "No. No. It was exquisite. I really have to check the spy cameras. Kindly bring my food upstairs."
I also excused myself to Maryl and Carlo in a whispery voice and went upstairs immediately.
I went into our suite and was about to take out my coat when I heard a sudden doorbell. I opened the door, and it was one of the Midford's butlers. With him is a utility cart with covered trays of food, a bottle of wine in a bucket, and utensils.
He bowed down and asked. "Buona sera, Signore Martinenghi. Should I take these inside?"
"Sì. Come in."
He pushed the cart inside and placed it near our dining table.
"May you enjoy your meal, signore." he bowed and left immediately. He also closed the door.
I'm not that hungry and would eat when I feel like to, but I'm glad their service is quick.
I went into our room, took out my gray coat, red tie, and brown oxford shoes. I opened my laptop that was placed on the bed, and sat down with my legs on the bed and my back leaning on the soft headboard.
It seems fine; some intermission numbers, eating and chatting.
I placed the 5 spy cameras at the venue hall, and I made a sudden change in positions; 1 facing the stage, 2 facing the audience, 1 at the entrance, and 1 in the technical booth.
I made use of the extras as well. I placed 2 at 2 of the parking lots, and 3 in "their" cars.
I silently watched what they're doing, my heart was beating fast.
Some moments after, it did happen...
The lights went off, the motion sensors from the camera beeped. A man wearing a black hat, black masquerade mask, and black suit did it. He seems knowledgable about technical stuff.
I saw the spy cameras activated their night mode. I saw how they shot Kuya Ryze... and how they dragged Ate Firenze out of the hall. They placed a handkerchief on her nose and mouth. I know it's a knock-out drug.
Nangigil ako bigla. I can't believe it's legit.
I knew I have to do something, so I took my phone out of my pocket, opened the OP: SEIRA app and called Maryl. She's the only one that is currently online, and I saw her wearing a Bluetooth headset.And this is also a chance to talk to her, but this is not the time to tell her directly that she looked stunning tonight.
"Hello Adriano?" she answered
"Hello Maryl, follow them. Call the backup. Immediately." I commanded in my deepest tone.
"Wait. Give me the details." she asked calmly.
When Maryl requested, I saw someone getting in ta black sedan car. The same man I saw who switched the lights off in the technical booth.
I quickly told her the details, trying to be as calm as possible. "Located at parking 1, [redacted] black sedan-type, with the plate number SHF ****."
"Copied. We're on our way." she agreed.
I turned off my laptop and quickly put on my oxford shoes, necktie and coat. I left the suite locked as fast as I could. I should help the butlers and our family appease the confused and panicked guests.
Bahala na, this is the least I could do. I hope nasundan nila yun. But I'd like to thank Maryl for she did a great job on motion sensors. It was commonly used on anti-theft systems, but for these spy cameras, it was used for potential threats.
-----
Reign
Damn. What the fuck.
Who the fuck just targeted my freaking kuya! Ako lang ang may karapatan bugbugin at ibully kuya ko! Kahit gago gago yun madalas, mahal ko pa rin yun! Kung sino man yun humanda sakin yun! Gigil niya ko eh. Pag nakita ko talaga yun, ay nako jusko talaga!
"Lawreign."
Ramdam ko yung pisil at hila ni Maryl sa braso ko. Alam ko rin na tinawag niya ako. Di lang ako makagalaw kasi sa gulat.
"Adriano gave us instructions. We need to follow them asap."
Buti nalang pala umakyat ang hayop na yun.
Joke lang di siya hayop hehe. Siya pinakaboss ng engineering department eh.
Tumayo agad ako at tumakbo kami papuntang elevator since nasa P1-P5 pa ang mga parking lot. Nakita kami ni Axis na umalis ng venue so humabol din siya.
Una sa lahat, bakit ngayon pa na masikip ang damit ko at nakaheels pa kami ni Maryl. Pangalawa, halos lahat ng elevator ay either paakyat o pababa palang pagkarating namin. Di naman kasi lahat aware sa nangyayari. Sino kasing may sabi 69 floors in total dapat ang hotel na ito?!
"Don't you have any spare elevators here?" Maryl asked.
Tumingin ako sa mga gilid gilid at around. Lahat ng elevators ay gamit, isa lang hindi. Nasa pinakadulo siya, maganda pa ang design ng spare, may kung anu-anong lace/vine engraving.
Wait, teka. Di ba yun yung...
Ay damn oo nga pala. May executive elevator nga pala kami dito! Worth it din pala 'tong gastos ng mga magulang ko. Kala ko sagabal eh.
"Sundan niyo ko. May spare kami dito." sagot ko.
Sinundan nga nila ako at pumunta sa dulong part ng hilera ng mga elevator. Tinap ko yung card ko na akala ko nasira na sa loob ng phone case ko. Yun kasi ang way para mabuksan ang elevator na 'to. Exclusive for employees and siyempre, kaming may-ari. Hintay ko muna sila pumasok bago ipress floor ng parking lot kasi mag clo-close kaagad yun.
Mga ilang segundo lang, nandito na kami sa parking lot. Eto yung pinakamabilis na elevator, obviously. Kung may mahihilo man, probably si Axis lang yun.
Umalis na ako kaagad at hindi ko na hinintay kung sino mahuli umalis sa elavator.
Bahala na siya kung sino man maistuck doon since wala siyang pang tap para magbukas, kasi kahit pwede namang ihold, kailangan pa rin ng card.
Papunta na kami sa mga sasakyan namin, magkatabi lang naman nakapark ang pulang BMW X6 ko at black Tesla Model Y ni Maryl, pero may naisip siyang magandang plano.
"Okay so ganito; 2 of us will chase the getaway car, and 2 will call for back up at susunod dun."
Tinignan niya ako ng seryoso. "Reign? Tayo maghabol."
"Teh. Gugustuhin ko man, pero tignan mo naman damit ko. Tapos nakaheels pa ako." sagot ko sa kanya.
Although kaya ko naman kasi may dagger ako sa kotse, may binabalak ako hehe.
Napabuntong hininga siya nang malalim. "Okay, that leaves me no choice." tinanggal niya yung tulle skirt na nakabalot sa gown niya at ibinigay niya sa akin, kinuha ko naman. Biglang hinila ni Maryl si Carlo papunta sa susunod na kotse since napatigil kami sa harap ng kotse ko mismo.
Sila na muna maghahabol hehe.
Unang pumasok si Maryl siyempre, kotse niya eh. Binaba niya rin yung window na nasa passenger seat sa tabi niya.
"Get in here." command ng natatarantang naiinis na Maryl.
"H-huh?" tanong ng absent-minded na Carlo kasi siguro akala niya na sa back-up siya.
"Get in the motherfucking car Giovanni! We gotta chase that car!" inis na command niya.
At almost at limit na ang ating Chinese engineer/medical practitioner mga kaibigan. Di ko rin siya masisisi kasi parang ate na namin si Ate Florence eh.
"O-okay!" sagot ni Carlo at pumasok agad. Agad naman din na pinaandar ni Maryl ang kotse.
Binuksan ko muna kotse ko sa backseat para ipasok yung tulle skirt, agad ko rin naman sinara.
Kinuha ni Axis ang phone niya para magrequest for backup kaso...
Bored ako sa buhay kaya hinablot ko phone niya at itinago sa likod ko para di niya maabot!
Nagulat siya at nagcommand "Hoy Lawreign Ellison, ibalik mo phone ko!"
"Ayaw ko nga. Titignan ko pa history ng internet mo dito!" nilabas ko dila ko, sabay tumakbo papuntang elevator. Nagtap ako kaagad at clinose yung elevator.
Stress reliever talaga tong si Axis eh. Napapatawa ako nang malakas nang di oras. Hayyy buti nalang kaibigan ko yung hayop na 'to.
Pagdating sa lobby, agad akong lumabas at nagtago sa pambabaeng cr ng venue hall, sa isa sa mga cubicle dun para di ako mahalata.
So ayun binuksan ko muna phone niya.
Una sa lahat, di naglolock ng phone ang hayop na to. Galing. Pangalawa, yak, si Jia pa rin lockscreen at homescreen wallpaper neto? Di pa rin binabago ang wallpaper simula noong pinakealaman ko to sa Divisoria. Ay nako. Cringe
So ayun ulit, tinignan ko yung history ng phone niya. Tsk tsk tsk, napapaclick nalang ako ng dila sa nakikita ko. Hindi man lang nagdedelete ng history! Manyak talaga itong hayop na 'to.
Nagscroscroll ako ng history, kung hindi galing porn sites, yung mga dating pictures ni Jia sa mga kung anu-anong sites and magazines, yung iba naman lowkey provocative pictures ko, ni Maryl at ni Nathalie na hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nasa searches niya. Eto ba ang lawyer na sinasabi niya?!
Noong chineck ko pictures ni Maryl dun, gets ko na kung bakit asar niya dun ay kung may sugar daddy siya. Artistic and aesthetic kasi pictures niya, kahit random shot ng gamit lang niya. Saka ramdam mo yung emotions and atmosphere ng mga yun. Note: Walang pictures na nakacompletely nude kami, ang pinakakita ang balat namin ay mga sleeveless o shorts. Not to the point na pang-FHM na ang datingan.
Chineck ko gallery niya, ganun rin; karamihan pictures nilang dalawa or si Jia lang, pero may pictures pa rin namin nina Maryl at Tally.
Di ko pa rin gets kung bakit nasa searches at gallery niya kami. Pero anyway, masave nga pang blackmail. Hehehehe.
Nagselfie na rin ako ng wacky at ginawa kong lockscreen at homescreen wallpaper niya. Hehehehe. Bahala na sila magaway ng jowa niya.
Bago ako umalis ng cr, napansin ko na detachable pala yung tail part ng damit ko. Sinubukan ko tanggalin at isuot sa bandang waist ko dahil ayoko ng may hawak hawak na fabric paglabas.
Uy ang cute. Pwedeng pang-cocktail party. 1-inch above the knee yung skirt niya ngayon pero keri lang. Galing talaga ng designer neto.
So ayun, umalis na ako sa cr at bumalik sa nagkakagulong party para magappease ng mga nabiglang guests nang biglang nakita ko si Axis na papasok.
Ginamit niya yung employee elevator, bakit ko alam? Kasi naman puno pa mga elevator at may kasama siyang employado ko.
Tsk nakahabol pa, dapat pala nagstay ako konti sa cr. So iniwan ko yung mga guests at tumakbo nalang ulit ako papuntang stage.
"Lawreign Ellison, yung phone kooo!!" sigaw ni Axis habang papalapit sa akin.
"Bahala ka sa dyan buhay mo. Epal ka ihh." sagot ko.
Habang naghahabulan kami ni Axis ay nakita ako sa gilid ng dalawang nakakabwiset sa buhay ko. Papalapit sila sa amin dahil mga nagseselos, so tumigil ako sa pagtakbo saglit.
Tinignan ko yung naloloka kong kaibigan. "Axis saluhin mo ah pag to hindi mo sinalo, bahala ka na. Tanga tanga mo pag di mo 'to sinalo." Hinagis ko yung phone papunta sa kanya.
Obviously masasalo niya yun kasi sakto lang naman pagkahagis ko.
"Arggh! Humanda ka sa'kin Lawreign sa meeting! Pasalamat ka may nangyari lang ngayon!" banta niya.
"Kahit naman bawian mo ako ngayon, hindi ka parin makakabawi dahil nasa teritoryo kita fyi." sagot ko at umalis sa side ng venue hall na yun with poise and grace.
Yung dalawang taong papalapit sana samin hindi na natuloy. Na stuck na sila sa paglakad sa gulat, kaya pumasok nalang ulit ako ng cr at tumawag sa mga police for back up.
Susundan ko naman talaga sina Maryl, papaunahin ko lang sila. I also told them na baka magoverspeed si Maryl, at baka mamaril sa sinasabi niyang kotse para aware sila.
Pumasok ulit ako at pumunta sa lugar ni Ian dahil napa-appease siya ng mga guests nang di oras.
Nilapitan ko siya, at tinignan niya ako.
"I told you to call for backup!" command niya.
Ngayon ko lang yata nakitang seryoso si Adriano Martinenghi ah.
Napangiti nalang ako nang sweet. "I already did, susunod na nga ako eh."
Ian looked around tapos nagtanong. "Si Axis, nasaan?"
"Kasama yata bebe niya, bahala siya diyan." sagot ko.
Napabuntong hininga nalang si Ian.
Nilapitan kami bigla ni Tito Marcello at Tito Sebastian na parang may something.
"Oh mio figlio Adriano. Kilala mo na pala si Lawreign?" gulat na tanong ni Tito Marcello.
"So that means, you already met her? Your future wife?" tanong ni Tito Sebastian.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Adriano, alam niya kung ano tinutukoy nila. Tinignan ko sila tito.
I am confused...
Ano 'to...
Ba't wala akong alam?
Sino ikakasal?!
Tinignan ko ang dalawang tito at nagexcuse. "Uhm mga tito, ayoko pagusapan ito ngayon. May gagawin pa po ako. Byeee." agad akong lumabas ng venue hall para sundan sila Maryl.
-----
Carlo
"Get in here."
"H-huh?"
"Get in the motherf*cking car Giovanni! We gotta chase that car!" she yelled annoyingly.
Oh my lord, this is the first time in years that I've seen her this angry... and bossy.
"O-okay!" I got in the car as soon as I could and she drove the car immediately
So she drove from Midford Hotel Alabang seriously. She looked so focused and cannot be disturbed.
Her car is a Tesla, it's fast yet clean since it's powered with electricity.
The fact that she was too fast, this feels like a Fast and Furious movie, but still obeyed traffic signals though.
"Hey Ryl, do we even need to dr---"
"Shut up! I'm trying to look for that black sedan car." she answered.
As soon as we reached the sky way, she removed her bracelet from her wrist and tied her hair into a messy bun with both of her hands.
"What the fuck, are you trying to crash this car?!" I asked worrily.
"The autopilot is on! Chill the fuck out!"
Oh yeah, I just remembered.
An awkward silence has arrived, and she got back to driving. Since there is no traffic jam, we reached EDSA-Taft after around 20 minutes.
"Ayun puta. I saw them." she uttered and unzipped a zipper from the left slit of her gown, revealing a black thigh holster belt. She pulled out a black Beretta gun with her left hand whilst stirring the wheel with her right hand.
"Really now, Maryl? Di ka ba natatakot?" I asked.
She gave me a look. "There's another gun in the storage compartment Kunin mo yun." and refocused on driving. "Kunin mo na rin yung handcuffs sa loob."
I opened the storage and took the other black Beretta gun, and handcuffs.
"Marunong ka naman siguro magkasa?" she asked.
"Yeah? Maybe?" I answered.
"Good."
"But... bakit meron ka baril sa kotse mo?" I asked curiously.
"You know, safety purposes." she answered in an unusual tone.
"No, seriously."
She gave me a look. "I am serious."
Nahabol namin yung sinasabi niyang kotse, and she opened the window on her side. "Angle check, target reach."
She pulled the trigger, aimed the car's back wheels three times, which made it deflate, and made the car stop completely. The police surrounded us in a perfect timing.
We immediately got out of the car with guns on our hands. Maryl ran to the driver's seat's door, opened it and pulled the driver out. She took a handcuff from her holster belt and handcuffed the driver. She pointed the gun onto them while handcuffing. The police officers opened the other passenger doors and I opened the backseat door just behind the driver seat ones, and saw Ate Florence's unconscious state.
I bet they made her inhale a knock-out drug, but gladly her clothes are still intact, and no signs of rape.
I pulled the nearest man inside whilst pointing the gun onto him, and handcuffed him.
They are 4 in total.
A police officer princess-carried Ate Florence and asked Maryl. "Ma'am, saan po namin dadalhin si Ms. Martinenghi?"
"The backseat of my car is open. Pakipasok nalang po siya dun." she answered.
The officer agreed. "Sige po Ms. Liu." and he brought her to Maryl's car. The other officers dragged the suspects to their cars.
She put her gun back to its case, which is on her holster belt. I placed her other gun at my back. She carressed her arms and shoulders, trying to get warm. She's shivering in late night's cold.
"Bro, you okay?" I asked.
She bit her lower lip and nodded fast.
I sighed and removed my coat. "I know you're not. You shouldn't wear provocative clothing in this cold next time.
I placed my coat around her.
She shockingly gave me a look. "B-but..."
"Shhh." I placed my right index finger on her lips and hugged her tight. "Nilalamig ka. Wag kang manermon. Liit mo kasi."
She lifted her head and gave me a glare.
Our faces were close to each other. I could remove my mask and sneak a kiss anytime.
I looked back with a hidden meaning. "What?"
She innocently smiled. "You're so warm. Thank you." she laid her head on my shoulder. I patted her head.
I hope she couldn't feel my rapid heartbeat right now, but I can feel hers, even how she was breathing deeply.
An impulse made me remove my mask from covering my mouth and kissed her forehead. I put it back on and looked at her. I saw her blushed.
Minutes after, a police officer interrupted. "Mr. Fulgenzio, Ms. Liu, dadating po si Ms. Midford dito. Aantayin niyo pa po ba?"
"Di na--" I covered Maryl's mouth before she could answer fully and hugged her tighter. "No problem sir." I answered.
She punched my chest gently. "Walang hiya ka."
"Shhh." and squeezed her with my hug. "Ms. Maryl Juneaux Liu, wag ka nang magingay."
I loved every single second of this moment.
-----
Translations:
(It.) Nonna - Grandmother
(It.) Mia madre - My mother
(It.) Buona sera - Good evening
(It.) Signore - Mister
(It.) Sì - Yes
(It.) Mio figlio - My son
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 12: Getaway Car • © mxylms