RICO SOGOCIO'S POV
Napaigtad na lamang ako when my phone suddenly vibrated inside my pocket.
Nervously, I quickly fished it out then heaved a shaky deep breath when I saw who the caller was.
Pagkatapos ng palpak na trabaho naming iligpit ang dalawang 'yon kanina, I decided to stay in an inn for the meantime with the other men samantalang hindi pa namin nahahanap ang mga ito.
ilang oras na kaming nandito but still, hindi parin tumitila ang ulan. Dumidilim narin ang paligid at tyak na mahihirapan na kaming maghanap sa kung saan nagsoot ang dalawang 'yon.
And now, boss was calling me now para magtanong ng balita. walang duda.
Preparing myself for his sermon, sinagot ko na agad ang tawag nito and put my phone against my ears.
"Sir."
"Rico, kumusta ang pinagagawa ko sa'yo?"agad na bungad nito sa'kin with his voice obviously irritated.
A sermon was really expected dahil sa parang mainit ang ulo nito.
"Sir. Hindi po namin nagawang mahuli man lang ang dalawang 'yon gaya ng sinabi nyo---"
"WHAT???!!"
I quickly took off my phone from my ear as I grimaced when he had shouted that from the other line. I can even imagine him almost ready to shoot me now dahil sa balita kong 'yon.
"Rico! Alam mo kung anong pwedeng mangyari dahil sa kapalpakan nyo! Lima kayong nandyan at dalawa lang ang pinapaligpit ko sainyo pero hindi nyo parin nagagawa!"
"Sir, hindi kasi namin alam na ganun pala katinik ang dalawang 'yon. They were even able to escape from us ng ganun lang kabilis---"
"Dahil mga gunggong yang mga kasama mo!"
I swallowed hard before I replied to him, careful with my answer before his anger would intensified.
"Sir, hindi ho kami titigil hangga't hindi namin naliligpit ang dalawang 'yon. I'll make sure---"
"No. Listen up, Rico. Gusto kong dalhin nyo rito ng buhay ang babae, that's the new order."
My forehead creases with that new order, not understanding him what's with the sudden change.
"Sir, may I know why you want that woman alive? Hindi na naman natin kailangan ang kahit sino sa kanilang dalawa now that we know where to find that file."
I heard him growled on the other line, sounding frustrated with that being mentioned.
"Just do what I say, Rico! Kung pumalpak na naman kayong gawin ang pinagagawa ko dyan sainyo, mas lalong palpak ang mga gunggong na tauhan natin dito! They weren't able to find that damn file dahil wala sa niisa mang libro ng pesteng Nickandrong 'yon ang may lamang file!"
Now that explains why he was so cook up right now. All throughout the trip of those two, nakabuntot na kami sa mga ito hanggang dito sa Bukidnon. And it wasn't long for Domingo Ganzan para sabihin ang matagal na naming gustong malaman mula rito.
Ang lokasyon ng file na'yon.
"Rico, you have to bring that woman to me as soon as possible.. That woman could be our only way para mahanap natin ang bagay na'yon so you better bring her to me pronto!"
When I heard him shouted that order again, agad na'kong tumango rito na para bang kaharap ko ito ngayon.
"Yes, sir. Hindi matatapos ang gabing ito hangga't hindi namin nahahanap ang dalawang 'yon. Natamaan namin si Mr. Del Fuero kaya hindi sila agad makakalayo rito."
"Good. Call me for some good news later."
The line instantly went off before I could even bid my goodbye.
Letting out a sigh, ibinulsa ko na lang uli ang phone ko. Agad na'kong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko then headed outside of that room and then down to the Reception area of this filthy place kung nasaan nakabantay ngayon ang apat na kasama ko.
Kailangan na naming kumilos ngayon if we don't want to get into our boss' nerves.
Malilintikan talaga kami if we couldn't even get that woman and bring her to our boss' bago paman matapos ang gabing 'to.
Pagkababa ko palang, agad ng lumapit ang dalawang kasamahan ko nang mamataan nila ako.
"Sir, aalis na ba tayo?" Armand greeted, the youngest of them.
"Maiiwan na muna kayo ritong dalawa ni Hugo, Armand. Magmamatyag lang kami sa paligid kasama sina Samuel at Jaime. Magbantay kayong maigi rito. Maaaring dito sa inn na'to pupunta ang mga 'yon dahil ito lang naman ang pinakamalapit na lugar na pwede nilang puntahan."
"Yes, sir." The two said in unison with a nod of their heads.
"And one more thing, kung maaari, icheck nyo uli ang bawat kwarto sa lugar na'to. They could be just hiding here nang hindi man lang natin nalalaman."
Agad na namang tumango-tango ang mga ito sa'kin which I just returned with a nod as well. Agad ng umalis ang mga ito kasama ang dalawa pa naming kasamahan.
Buti na lamang at unti-unti naring tumitigil ang ulan ngayon kaya naman hindi na masyadong mahirap maghanap sa ngayon lalo na't maputik at madilim ang daan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAM'S POV
"Hmmm.."
Nang marinig ko ang ungol na'yon, my gaze shifted to the unconcious man lying on the bed. A wet towel was on his forehead habang maputla parin ito. Natanggal narin ang balang tumama rito at nakabenda narin ng maayos ang sugat nito ngayon.
Kanina pa'ko nakaupo sa upuang nasa gilid ng kamang hinihigaan nito, watching over him for almost two hours now habang wala parin itong malay. Nakabihis narin ito ng kupasing damit tulad ng sa'kin ngayon.
I can't just leave him here with him still unconcious and with high fever dahil ang gusto ko, pagkagising na pagkagising nito, I wanted to interrogate him--- ah no, masyadong seryoso ang interrogate dahil hindi naman ako agent. 'Castrate' him must be the right term to use here!
Because I will really castrate his balls for keeping those guns in his bag earlier! And other than that, kapag sasagutin na naman nya'kong 'Hindi ko alam..' kapag tatanungin ko na ito mamaya kung bakit nya 'ko hinalikan! Thrice! Ay mali-- twice lang pala.. Afterall I was the one who had kissed him the first time.
There's no way he can escape from my confrontation later!
"Hmmm..."
When again, umungol na naman ito with his face seems like he was having a bad dream, nilapitan ko na agad ito. I stared down at him at a close range with raised brow and with folded arms. As in just 'two inches' close range. As if I was studying some bastard under the microscope lens.
Normal naman ang paghinga nito at humuhupa na naman ngayon ang lagnat nito so I think he was just really having a bad dream this time.
Hanggang kailan kaya balak nitong matulog nalang dito while I couldn't even sleep a wink with my mind being baffled with the kiss earlier.
At the thought of that kiss, here comes the abnormal thudding in my chest again.
Bloody heart!
I don't know what he was doing to me pero ang alam ko lang, it stopped me from thinking kung ga'no kagulo ang buhay ko. My hand quickly clasped my chest when it just continued doing a weird beating. Bringing goose bumps to me..
Wala na talagang ibang ginawa ang gagong 'to kundi maging sakit sa ulo ko. And now, itong puso ko na naman ang ginugulo nito!
I just continued throwing him a glare while still trying to calm my heart.
And when still, there wasn't any sign na babangon na ito, I blew out a long sigh as I sank back at my seat na katabi ang dalawang maliliit na palangganang ginamit namin kanina para gamutin 'to. Isa dito ay may laman ng isang duguang bala. A bullet from caliber 45 pistol. I couldn't be mistaken with that.
I guess I just have to wait until he wakes up. Pagod na pagod na rin naman ako with all the strenuous activities I had done today.
Well, hindi lang naman takbuhan, kainan ng putik at pakikipaghalikan sa isang gago ang ginawa ko kanina.. pagkatapos nyang mawalan ng malay kanina, I quickly moved to ask some help with my weapons with me. Just in case na makita ko uli ang mga armadong lalaki na humahabol sa'min kanina.
And good thing I was able to find some farmer na malapit lang sa nabagsakan namin na tiyempo namang pauwi na sa bahay nito galing sa bukirin nito. That was why I was able to bring him here, sa bahay nito, sa kalapit-bayan ng San Isidro. Ang San Diego.. .
Dito sa gawang-kahoy na bahay na'to sa gitna ng malawak na palayan.
When that good Samaritan had asked me what happened to us, mas minabuti ko nalang na sabihin dito ang totoo. Well, not really everything.. Ang part lang na 'bigla nalang kaming hinabol at pinaputukan ng mga di kilalang tao' and just that. I don't want to freak him out pero kailangan ko lang yong sabihin lalo na't kinailangan ko ang tulong nito kanina para kunin ang balang nasa katawan ng kasama ko. Malayo pa rito ang ospital and he'd lost more blood kapag hindi pa namin agad ito magagamot.
Just thinking all the events happened earlier, napapabuntong-hininga na lamang ako while still staring at his form.
Hindi parin tumitila ang ulan sa labas as the heaven kept rumbling outside. I know this bastard won't wake up till later, kaya mas mainam sanang umidlip man lang sana ako but I cant in this seat. Kung hindi lang sana mukhang kapre ang gagong 'to, edi sana kakasya pa'ko sa komportableng kamang hinihigaan nito ngayon!
At that thought, I cant stop but throw him another glare.
I just hope na nakaalis na ang mga taong humahabol sa'min kanina dahil kung hindi, malilintikan talaga kami kapag natunton nila kami rito.
And I just hope na natanggap na ngayon ni Mason ang mensahe ko so that we can leave here the soonest possible time. May konting signal na sa lugar na ito pero masyadong mahina that you'd even doubt your messages had been really sent to its receiver.
Masyado na kaming natatagalan rito at-----
"Adora.."
Napalingon agad ako sa may pintuan when I heard that familiar voice called that name.
That pretend name na ginamit ko para magpakilala sa taong tumulong sa'kin kanina. Just to be safe.
I smiled when Mang Suping stepped inside that room habang may dala-dala itong isang nag-uusok pang baso.
The good Samaritan.
Matanda na ito at nag-iisa lang na namumuhay dito sa gitna ng malawak nyang palayan. A place that suited well for us dahil malayo sa maraming tao. Katamtaman lang ang laki ng bahay nito, sakto lang para sa isang taong namumuhay ng tahimik sa bukid.
"Mang Suping, may kailangan po ba kayo?"
"Wala naman. Dinalhan lang kita ng kape para mainitan ka naman dito 'day." he answered with a smile sabay abot sa'kin sa dala-dala nitong kape.
"Thank you po."Tanging sagot ko na lamang rito as I took the hot mug from him dahil tingin ko, kailangan ko nga ito ngayon.
"Kumusta na ang kondisyon ng asawa mo?"
I almost spill the hot liquid from my mouth when he asked that beside me.
Oh yeah shit. Nasabi ko na bang asawa ko ang gagong 'to ang ipinakilala ko sa kanya kanina? A newly married couple in a honeymoon exactly.
Adora and Diego Marquez. The couple explorer.
I know Mr. Del Duero won't approve of this stupid idea but heck! As if gusto ko rin ang ideyang 'to! Wala lang talaga akong ibang maisip na kwento kay Mang Suping. Buti na nga lang Mang Suping was so innocent enough to buy that story.
Kahit na gusto ko ng matawa sa kalokohang 'yon, I just choose to swallow the liquid in my mouth before I answered him.
"Ah mukhang okay naman po sya, Mang Suping. Humuhupa na rin po yong lagnat nya at siguro pagkagising na pagkagising nito, pwede na kaming umalis rito."
"Hindi ba delikado 'yon para sa asawa mong bumyahe agad-agad?"
oh yeah shit. That asawa term again.
"Malala ang naging tama nya kaya tyak mahihirapan kayo." He continued, sounding so sincere with his worries kahit na hindi naman nya kami ganun kakilala.
And he was right. Delikado nga 'yon but I have no choice but do that before our enemies would even find us here.
"Okay lang 'yon, Mang Suping. Mas delikado po rito kapag natunton po kami ng mga taong humahabol sa'min. Ayoko ring madamay kayo rito."
He just slowly nodded at me, clearly understanding my point.
"Ikaw ang bahala 'day.. "saad nito maya-maya which I just answered with a small smile.
"Oh sya, maiwan ko na kayo rito. Gumagabi na kaya naman kailangan ko munang magluto ng hapunan natin." Paalam pa nito before he started to head to the door.
"Ah mang Suping, gusto nyo po bang tulungan ko kayo?"
When he heard me offered that, he just smiled with a shook of his head for refusal.
"Wag na, 'day. Bantayan mo nalang muna yang asawa mo." Then with that, agad na itong lumabas mula sa silid na'yon. Leaving me feel so guilty dahil sa kasinungalin ko rito kahit na ang bait naman nito sa'min.
But whatever. It's not as if I have any choice here other than making up stories.
Sighing, I just continued sipping my coffee.
I have to think a way on how to get to the bus station without those men catching us.
Alam kong alam ng mga ito na natamaan nila ang isa sa'min kanina so I'm sure they won't evacuate this place so soon dahil alam ng mga ito, mahihirapan kaming kumilos ngayon.
Matapos inumin ang kape ko, pinalitan ko na naman ang tuwalyang nasa noo nito saka kinumutan ito ng maayos. As the night came, lumalamig pa lalo ang klima sa lugar na'to.
I was just about to sit back to my seat when suddenly, I heard those voices from outside of the house.
I frowned with that.
Wala naman kaming ibang kasama rito na pwedeng kausapin ni Mang Suping.
Curious to know kung sino ang mga ito, I quickly took a peek through the window malapit sa'kin by slightly opening it, just enough for me to have a look at those people outside.
With the help of a single light bulb present outside, tanaw ko si Mang suping mula rito na may kausap na dalawang kalalakihan while the other one was as if checking around the house.
I studied those people closely, trying to recognize their faces kung sino ang mga ito.
Hindi ko kita ang mukha ng kausap mismo ni Mang Suping dahil nakatagilid ito.
But In just one close look, I can conclude they're not someone na taga rito. All of them were wearing those black jackets na parang pamilyar sa'kin.
Those jackets na parang suot rin ng mga humahabol sa'min kanina.
Oh shit! Parang Dumating na nga ang kinakatakutan ko. Nagsisimula na'kong kabahan ngayon sa posibilidad na natunton nga kami ng mga ito.
"Manong, may napansin po ba kayong dalawang tao na nagawi rito kanina? Isang babae at lalake po."
Hearing them asked that in tagalog, I couldn't help but let out another curse.
They're here!
With that knowledge, hindi na'ko nagdalawang-isip pa and just quickly turned off the light. Then with cautious steps, I took out my gun and the other one from my bag saka agad ng ikinasa ang mga ito and then held it in each of my hand. These guns were already intact with bullets now dahil siniguro kong lagyan ito before I even searched for a help kanina.
My heart was starting to thud loudly now as I tightly hold my guns.
With Mr. Del Fuero still unconscious, imposibleng makatakas pa kami rito. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong sinabi ni Mang Suping sa mga ito but we couldn't be so sure. Baka itinuro na nga niya kami rito.
So that leaves me no choice now but fight with them head on.
To kill or to get killed. That's the only choices I have right now.
With held breath, agad na'kong nagtago sa gilid ng nakasarang pinto and just waited there with my guns in hand.
Then in a few minutes, bigla nalang tumahimik sa labas, making me tightened my hold at my guns as I clenched my teeth hard.
This time, I could even feel my pulse pumping through my veins now as I nervously waited there.
At mga ilang sandali nga lang, I could hear a hasty footsteps in a wooden floor na patungo na sa direksyon ng silid na ito. Causing me to heave a shaky deep breath as I prepared my gun with me, fingers preparing to pull the triggers.
And then in a few seconds, those footsteps had stopped sa harap mismo ng pintuan kung nasaan kami.
Now the thudding inside my chest intensified lalo na nung may nagsimula ng pumihit ng pinto mula sa labas.
It wasn't lock so whoever was outside is welcome to come in and have a 'meet-and-greet' with me for their death.
Not long, the door had started to slowly open beside me kaya naman agad ko ng itinutok ang baril sa kung sinumang papasok dito. And when that someone had completely stepped inside, agad ko ng isinara ang pintuang 'yon sabay tutok ng baril sa ulo nito before he could even move and turned to my way.
"Don't move or basag 'yang bungo mo!" I firmly ordered with low voice dahil baka nasa labas parin ang mga kasamahan nito.
Kahit na madilim sa silid na'yon, I could still clearly see that someone went rigid on his feet habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay nito sa ere.
Probably scared by my threat. Because I won't even hesitate to pull the trigger and make his brain splattered everywhere in this room.
"Anong kailangan niyo sa'min? Sagot!" Agad na usisa ko rito sabay diin pa lalo ng baril sa ulo nito na syang ikinatigas pa lalo ng pagkakatayo nito.
"A-Ako 'to, A-Adora.."
Pagkarinig sa boses na'yon, bigla na lamang akong napatigil as my eyes widened in surprise.
Holy shit!
Don't tell me----
Then my eyes widened more as I let out another curse when he slowly turned around at me. Confirming my suspicion.
Holy shiit indeed!
"Mang Suping??" Gulat na tanong ko rito nang masino ito sabay baba ng baril na nakatutok sa ulo nito.
"A-Ako nga ito, 'day!" takot na takot nitong sagot.
My goodness! Akala ko kung sino na.
With a hasty strides, I quickly turned on the light saka humarap dito.
And oh yeah shit. The poor old man looks like he was about to pee on his own pants now dahil sa putla at panginginig nito dahil sa takot. No doubt.
I hastily put those guns in a safety locked and then slid it behind me bago ko ito nilapitan with an apologetic look.
"Mang Suping.. pasensya na talaga. Akala ko kasi kung sino na ang pumasok kanina. Kayo lang pala..." Napapangiwing paghingi ko ng paumanhin dito nang makalapit. Guilty with what happened.
Oh God.
I noticed his Adam's apple bobbed up and down habang parang kumalma naman ang mga balikat nito. Probably now relieved that his life had been spared. Making me feel more guilty.
"I'm sorry talaga, mang Suping. Akala ko kasi---"
"O-Okay lang 'yon.." putol pa nito while slowly nodding his head, reassuring me that it was okay kahit na alam kong hindi pa ito okay dahil nanginginig pa rin ito hanggang ngayon.
"Okay lang 'yon, Adora. N-Naiintidihan kita..hindi ko naman sinabi sa mga taong 'yon na--" he paused to breathe in before he continued.
"na nandito kayo kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala ng asawa mo. Ligtas kayo rito" He uttered with reassurance.
Pero kahit na sinabi pa nitong okay lang ito, I couldn't still stop myself but be worried with him dahil baka atakehin pa ito sa puso dahil sa'kin.
Hindi na'ko umimik pa and just looked at him with guilt.
Naging mabuting mabuti 'to sa'min and then ito lang ang gagawin ko sa kanya. Ang bait mo talaga, Sam. You have almost killed your saviour in a heart attack!
Ang galing!
Napansin siguro nitong sinisisi ko ang sarili ko sa nangyari sa kanya that's why he had given me another reassuring smile at tumayo na ng maayos.
"Okay lang 'yon, 'day.. okay lang ako. Naiintindihan kita kung bakit ginawa mo 'yon."aniya pa saka nagsimula ng lumapit sa pintuan.
"Pinuntahan lang namn kita rito dahil baka gusto mo ng kumain ng hapunan. May naluto na kasi ako. Pumunta ka nalang sa kusina, okay?" He added. Then with that, agad na itong lumabas and closed the door on his way.
The moment the door had closed, I couldn't stop but blew out a deep sigh as I sank back at my seat.
Tingin ko, kailangan kong bayaran lahat ng perwisyong naidulot ko sa kawawang matandang 'yon. A simple 'thank you' isn't enough to pay everything what he had done for us but a large sum of money is.
Yeah right! Dapat bayaran man lang namin ito ng malaking pera para kahit papano, makabawi naman kami rito. Lalo na sa muntikan ko ng pasabugin ang ulo nito kanina.
At that thought, I can't help but nodded at that idea.
And I know a certain someone who could pay him that large amount of money.
At the thought of that, my gaze shifted to the unconcious man at the bed and then I smirked.
Oh yes. Dahil kasalanan naman niya ang lahat ng ito, why don't we let this bastard pay for that then? Mayaman naman ito so money wouldn't be an issue for him. Ang tanging issue lang naman sa gagong 'to ay ang labis na pagkakuripot nito.
Well, tulog naman ito so he can't stop me from taking some bills from his wallet.
With that thought, my smirk turned in a wide evil grin as I looked at him with malicious gaze while nodding my head.
A money it is!
~~~~~~~~