"Mr. Nathan Radcliffe?" both of them were just roaming around as the party haven't yet officially started.
Natigilan na lang silang dalawa ni Gale sa paglalakad nang may tumawag sa pangalan nito, "Senator," pahayag ng anak ni Senyora nang mamukhaan ang nakamaskarang senador kasama ang heneral sa tabi nito.
Poor them for not knowing anything despite having everything.
"It's my pleasure to finally meet the man behind the NR Businesses!" nagagalak na saad ni Philip na inilahad ang kamay sa anak ni Senyora upang makipagkilala.
"Who would ever reject a five-star General and Senator Alcazar's invitation?" sagot nito sa dalawa na nakipagkamay sa senador at nginitian ang heneral.
"I like this man, Senator," maligayang pahayag ng heneral habang hawak-hawak nito ang isang wine glass at paminsay umiinom mula roon.
"Senator," napatingin silang apat sa isang lalaki na hawak-hawak ang isang tray at mula rito ay may dalawang nakapatong na wine glass kaya ngumiti ang senador at kumuha mula roon.
"Thank you," pahayag niya sa lalaki kaya ganon na rin ang ginawa ng kinikilala nilang 'Mr. Nathan Radcliffe.' Pagkatapos noon ay umalis na rin ang lalaking naglahad ng wine sa kanila.
"I was just thinking... " natigilan ang senador sa pag-inom, when out of nowhere after Senyora's son took a sip from his wine glass, tila napaisip ito at muling uminom bago itinuloy ang pagsasalita.
"It's already time but why haven't the party started yet?" pagtataka nito na napatingin sa suot niyang relo.
Nagkatinginan ang senador at ang heneral bago sinagot ang tanong nito, "Well, we have a very, very important announcement which is why I've not been speaking in front of everyone yet," sagot ni Philip.
"May I know the reason then, senator?" gumuhit naman ang masamang ngiti sa labi ng anak ni Senyora— a little bit of sarcasm.
"As much as I want to tell you now, I want everyone here to hear it later— by the way, would you like to introduce us to your... ?"
Just a few more blink and their attention swifted to only one direction, "My wife," sagot nito kay Philip. He even encircled his arm on her waist para mas mapalapit pa ito sa kanya nang mapunta kay Gale ang atensyon ng dalawa.
"Oh your wife? How lovely she is," Philip responded without even knowing the truth behind her mask.
"What's your name, my lady?" -Philip
"Amoure Vianice Radcliffe," sagot ng anak ni Senyora. In a snap, tila mabibitawan naman ng senador ang hawak niyang wine glass, napako ang tingin nilang dalawa ng heneral sa ipinakilalang asawa nito dahil sa pamilyar ang kanyang pangalan.
There was a bit of recognition from Philip's eyes while the general was just gazing lovingly to her.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Senator 'Philip' Alcazar," they might recognize her voice which is why she had a little bit change of it, a voice of formality yet with a sense of interest and cordiality.
Inilahad ni Gale ang kamay nito sa senador hanggang sa bumalik sa reyalidad ang senador at nakipagkamay kay Gale, "I-it's my pleasure to meet a very beautiful lady behind her mask."
"I am now wondering how beautiful that face is without a mask. I shouldn't have held a masquerade party," dagdag pa nito.
"You're right. She's beautiful but I don't permit anyone to see her beauty other than me. Her ex husband might have regret leaving her, right Amoure?" pahayag ng anak ni Senyora na tinignan si Gale.
"How sweet of you Mr. Nathan but is it true, my lady? You have an ex husband?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng heneral.
"Unfortunately yes, Mr. General," sagot ni Gale.
She just felt her partner's grip on her waist so she knew that speaking wouldn't make sense anymore not until something popped up from her mind. Gumuhit ang masamang ngiti sa labi nito.
"How I wish to meet you again, senator," saad niya kay Philip kaya malapad namang napangiti ang senador.
"Of course we can meet anytime you want, especially if it's all about business, right?" tumingin naman si Philip sa kinakasama ni Gale.
"Well, I have my own business apart from my husband's business. We can talk sometimes about that but I know that your wife wouldn't like the idea that we're alone together since I cannot bother my husband all the time, am I right El Marido?" saad pa ni Gale na inilapit ang mukha sa kasama.
"N-no, it's actually fine," ibinalik naman ni Gale ang tingin kay Philip dahil sa isinagot nito. Senyora's son definitely knew that Philip is starting to like his own wife.
"How about... meeting your wife right now, Senator? I would love to see her so we can get permission from her?" dagdag pa ni Gale.
Nagkatinginan sina Philip at ang heneral na sandaling natahimik, "I-i'm sorry but my wife is not here," sagot ng senador na hindi siya matitigan ng diretso.
Aktong magtatanong pa si Gale nang bigla namang may lumapit na isang lalaki sa senador at may ibinulong dito. Katapos umalis ng lalaki ay nilapitan ng senador ang anak ni Senyora para bumulong.
"Can I have a minute with you, Mr. Radcliffe?"
"Does it have to be right now, Senator?"
"Yes. It's about the business that we'd like to offer," saad pa nito.
"Fine, Senator. Just give me a minute please," marahan nitong hinila si Gale papalayo sa kanila at binulungan ito.
"Do you see those men out there?" tanong niya dahilan para tumingin si Gale sa tinitignan nitong direksyon at tumango.
"Yes."
"They are my men. Go there and never leave not until I finish my business with your husband and father."
"What?! Hindi ba ako pwedeng sumama?"
"No, you can't," pag-iling ng anak ni Senyora.
"Bakit hindi?"
Napatingin ang anak ni Senyora sa isang kwarto kung saan pumasok ang lalaki na binulungan ang Senador, "I'll surely be surrounded by the army and maybe politicians. Someone might recognize you and your husband might even ask you to remove your mask. He's got a liking on you."
"Paano ka?" sa kabilang banda ay hindi naman maiwasang hindi mag-alala ni Gale.
"No one will know about me, Serenity. So go."
"Mr. Nathan?" napatingin naman ang dalawa nang lapitan sila ni Philip.
"Si. Te amo, el marido," pahayag ni Gale na napatango at nginitian ang anak ni Senyora. Well, she had been taught a little bit of spanish but there's only one word there that she didn't even know the meaning.
(Yes. I love you, .......)
"Te amo, amoure," pahabol ng anak ni Senyora sapat na upang marinig ni Philip na siya namang nakapagpabilis sa tibok ng puso ni Gale.
Nginitian niya rin ang senador bago siya tinalikuran ng dalawa. And just like what he said to her, she's a bit of a hard-headed woman and went the other way around.
...
They used to call him by his undercover name. He's rich, famous, built his own company who started to rise within the span of two years. He has everything... money, face, good image in public, good reputation. Hence, he wants more and he won't stop not until he gets to manipulate everything through his hands.
He has been the model of every underground's heir. They wish to be like him. All of his hard work are starting to pay off one by one. He knows that it is dangerous but he's willing to take the risk.
Pinagbuksan sila ng pintuan habang nakasunod sa likuran ang heneral.
Pagkapasok nilang tatlo sa loob ng kwarto, bumungad sa kanila ang napakaraming guwardiya ng senador at iilang mga sundalo na nakapalibot sa buong kwarto. They were all wearing formals because it is the senator's birthday and they had to look as it is. Naupo sila sa gitna kung saan may nakahapag na isang bote ng wine sa lamesa.
Magkatabi ang senador at heneral habang katapat nila ang anak ni Senyora "What do you want to talk about, Senator?" tanong niya pagkaupo nila.
Kinuha ni Philip ang wine at nagsalin sa tatlong baso pagkatapos ay iniabot sa kanya. Wala sa pagdadalawang-isip niya itong kinuha at maiging minasdan ang kakaunting likido na nasa loob ng baso at pinaikut-ikot na tila hinahalo.
"It's Petrus Claugne. An expensive french red wine which is mainly the product of Bordeaux and Pomerol region. Have you heard of it?" natigilan ito sa pagtitig sa baso at napatingin kay Philip. He defined the wine confidently knowing nothing that Radcliffe knows better than him.
'This man really thinks that I'm not aware of these things. I want to make him look stupid.' saad ng anak ni Senyora sa sarili niya.
"I just heard it now from you, Senator. You really like to search things beforehand, right?" bahagya itong ngumiti bago uminom sa baso pagkatapos magsalita.
Honestly, he's comfortable with wine more than the presence of the people around him.
"But you know what's bad about this wine... " ibinalik naman niya ang tingin sa baso, "It cannot stay too long outside its bottle or else, it would turn into a poison. What it doesn't like most is if it kept waiting to be felt in someone's tongue. So if I were you... " muli niya silang tinitigan.
"Drink yours and spill it."
Nagkatitigan ang dalawa bago kumuha ng baso at uminom mula doon kagaya ng sinabi niya. Pagkababa ni Philip sa baso ay sandali itong napaisip bago nagsalita. Radcliffe was actually waiting for them to speak though he had the idea of what would be the purpose of their conversation. It's one of the plan yet he doesn't like waiting.
"We're here to ask for your support in the coming election."
"My support, Senator Philip?"
"Yes."
"And why would you be needing my help? You already have a good image and reputation to the public. It will just be useless for me to do that."
"No, it won't. Your support is actually a big help. You have a wide influence, you and your business. With you, the senator will surely be able to compete with other candidates to be included for the position," pagsasalita ng heneral.
"There are allotted fifty positions for the senators, right? And why would you be needing to compete when you will surely be included?" pagtataka nito yet he already knew what would be the answer to that. He was just acting as if know nothing.
"By winning the trust of the people, I already have my position but I am running to be included in the tenth rank senators or if we work together, I can make it higher than that," bahagya namang ngumiti ang senador sa mismong mga salita na nanggaling sa kanya.
"And how am I going to be of help to you?" tanong niya kay Philip kaya nagkatitigan ang dalawa nitong kausap at ngumiti ng masama.
"We have a business to offer, Mr. Radcliffe," muling nagsalin ng alak si Philip sa baso nito.
"And if you comply with our terms, I am willing to sell shares with you."
"Interesting, Senator. What would the business be?" muli itong uminom sa baso.
Sinenyasan ni Philip ang isang tauhan nito kaya napatingin sila doon. Humarang ang lalaki sa pintuan para siguraduhin na walang sinuman ang makakapasok.
Bahagyang lumapit ang senador sa anak ni Senyora para bumulong, "Poisoned bullets."
And this is the thing that he wanted to know long time ago, kung ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ng senador at ng heneral... kung saan at paano sila nakakakuha ng kapangyarihan at sandamakmak na pera sa loob lang ng ilang araw.
"What do you mean?" pagtataka nito.
"Well, Mr. Radcliffe... as you know, our country is in fact known for its weapons used in history. Our ancestors made them to the point that they cannot easily be destroyed." -Heneral
"They were made during the world war one to protect the country against threats. The materials cannot be seen nowadays which makes them expensive and priceless," dagdag pa ni Philip sa pagsasalita ng heneral.
"We trade weapons of the army with other countries in exchange of poisoned bullets." -Heneral
Naipatong na rin ng anak ni Senyora ang isang kamay sa arm chair dahil sa pagiging interesado nito, "So what do you mean by poisoned bullets?"
"It is the basic and most common rule of the army to not let anyone be killed in a battle, whether it is an ally or an enemy in compliance with the basic human rights which is to protect life... " natigilan ito sa pagsasalita habang nakatingin sa kausap hanggang sa napatango ang anak ni Senyora.
"I got your point, General. The army is known for targetting enemies through their feets using bullets with a drug called barbiturate to make them asleep during a battle in order to peacefully imprison them... but you're trading weapons of the country for poisoned bullets. It only means that you attack your enemies with those poisoned bullets, once they are in prison they will die after a few days because of the poison yet it would look like they have committed suicide so that the army wouldn't be accused for killing though it was intentional. Am I right?"
He's the kind of person who quickly assessed things even before they get to be explained.
"Yes, you're right. How excellent your mind is, Mr. Radcliffe," ngumiti naman ng masama ang senador.
"It's illegal. You trade weapons which is supposed to be for the country and by using poisoned bullets." -Radcliffe
"No it is not," inilapit naman ng heneral ang mukha nito sa lamesa, "They are enemies. They are supposed to die to stop the endless war and it's the best thing to do to protect innocent lives."
Sandaling napaisip ang anak ni Senyora bago muling nagsalita, "Then what are the benefits and advantages of buying shares for this business?" napangiti ng masama ang dalawa ng tanungin niya 'yon.
"You'll get more than this if you would support me. Imagine having shares with the business and allotting a position for me in the tenth rank of senators... everything will pay off Mr. Radcliffe. You won't regret this. I could even give you a title in politics."
Uminom siya mula sa baso bago sinagot ang senador, "I don't intend to enter politics. I have a purpose for planning to support you Senator but I only have one condition."
"Tell us, what is it?" saad ng heneral na halatang gusto nilang makuha ang suporta nito.
"Can you give it to me?"
"Yes, anything just to convince you." -Philip
Nakita na lang nila na may hawak na itong sigarilyo at sinindihan 'yon habang nakalagay sa bibig nito. Muli niya 'yong hinawakan at naglabas ng usok sa bibig nito bago nagsalita, "I want to have titles in all of your businesses."
Nanlaki naman ang mata ng dalawa sa isinagot niya, "A-and what attracted your attention to our small businesses?" tanong ng heneral.
"Your underground business surely makes a lot of money but it is not enough. You won't get the people's complete trust not until you make all of your businesses known, and that is if you're willing to give me a position. You don't just need me, you need the support of the people."
"Why are you suddenly interested with our other businesses?" nagtatakang tanong ni Philip and that made him felt suspicious.
"Honestly, I am not interested with those at first but now, I am going to support you but that illegal business alone is not enough. People will feel suspicious... " lumapit naman ito para bumulong, "Just like what you feel right now, Senator," at ngumiti ng masama bago umayos ng upo.
"You only have small businesses based on my research and only senators included on the tenth rank requires a wider range of businesses because they have higher responsibilities such as donating internationally, supporting international deserving leaders and many more. You can't show the people that you have that kind of illegal business, right? Don't tell me, you want to be included yet you don't know the terms and conditions?" tanong nito na ngumiti ng masama.
Sandali namang napaisip ang senador, "He's right, Philip. We need to show them the legitimacy of our businesses for you to show that you're actually enough to provide more internationally." -Heneral
"If you really want my support, I will help you in all of your businesses but I need to have a control. Therefore, my support will not be enough because there are billions of people there supporting other candidates and you're just going to be influenced 40% of my support. My control in other of your businesses will make it 80%... reassuring that you will get higher than the tenth rank or surely, fifth rank and above," nagtuluy-tuloy naman ang usapan nilang tatlo nang makuha niya ang loob ng heneral at senador dahil sa mga salita nito.
Halos nakahalati na niya ang sigarilyo dahil sa patuloy na paggamit nito hanggang sa iwanan niya 'yon sa isang lalagyanan na nasa lamesa nang matapos ang usapan.
Without hesitation, they all agreed and decided to part ways because in a few days, they have to set all things done. Pinagbuksan siya ng pintuan hanggang sa makalabas ito and he diverted his attention to his men who were observing on one side.
Lumapit siya doon hanggang sa matagpuan niya si Gale na tinitignan ang paligid, "Is there anything wrong?" nabigla naman ito sa biglaan niyang pagsulpot.
"Anong nangyari sa usapan niyo?"
"Don't answer me with a question. I told you to come here after we parted ways earlier so where have you been?"
"Restroom," maiksing sagot ni Gale.
"It's time," sabay hawak ng anak ni Senyora sa kamay niya kaya napasunod siya dito. She already knew what will going to happen next.
Continua...