*Adelaide Sheridan*
I was sitting on the couch in my living room while having a good coffee.
It's been two days since they offered me a very crucial and confidential job and I still don't want to consider it but then that Benitez is still calling me and he's calling me now.
Blanko at walang gana kong tinititigan ang screen ng Cellphone ko kung saan nababasa ko ang mga numero at pangalan ng may ari nito.
Natigil sa pag vibrate at pagtunog ang cellphone at na transfer sa missed call ang tawag.. Saglit lang at muli na namang nag ring ito which made me sigh.
Ang kulit! Naiinis na ko!
Nung muling tumigil ang ringtone inasahan ko nang tatawag siya ulit and I was right.
I grabbed the phone and was about to turn it off but I saw Miranda's name on the screen.
Kaagad ko itong sinagot because whenever she calls me it's always about reasonable things.
"Yes Miranda?" I answered.
["Ady I need your help."] she said in a very weird voice.
"Hey? Bumubulong ka ba?" tanong ko dahil hindi masyadong malinaw ang mga naririnig ko mula sa kabilang linya.
["Yeah I guess I'm whispering Ady, I'm in a bad situation right now! May sinundan kasi akong tao na pwedeng maging lead sa serial murder case and now I think I'm trapped."] I heard Miranda's loud breaths as if she's panicking.
This is not good! She really put herself in trouble sometimes! Kung bakit ba kasi ang kulit ng prosecutor na to eh!
"Tell me where you are." I stated.
["I'll text you the details Ady! Be hurry I don't have time to waste!"] she said as she hung up.
Wala pang isang minuto ay nakatanggap ako ng text message mula sa kanya.
[From: Miranda
"Blue Tower, 31st floor Room 3110."]
The Blue Tower. It's a condominium. It was located in one of the richest neighbourhoods around the city. It is where you can find the tallest fancy buildings owned by wealthy corporates.
Kaagad kong kinuha ang susi ng sasakyan sa may bedside table ko at nagmadaling lumabas patungong garage, bumungad sakin ang Cosmic Blue na Honda Civic RS na nakaparada. Nagmadali akong sumakay at pinaandar ito. Kaagad din akong tumawag sa headquarters for back up, hindi ko alam kung anong pwedeng mangyari at kung kakayanin ba namin ni Miranda yun ng kaming dalawa lang.
In my perception it was 20 minutes away from my house, so in order to be there immediately I need to double up the speed.
Malayo palang ako ay tanaw ko na ang fascia ng isa sa pinaka-matataas na gusali ng lungsod na siyang nag-iisang pakay ko sa mga oras na 'to.
After I parked my car at the Blue Tower's underground parking lot kaagad akong tumakbo papuntang elevator dahil kailangan ko ng puntahan si Miranda sa 31st floor ng building.
Habang nasa loob ako ng elevator hindi ko maiwasang pagmasdan ito dahil sa labas palang kanina eh maganda na ang ambiance ng building, hindi mo aakalain na may kung anong krimen ang nagaganap sa loob mismo nito.
Well you really can't tell danger is anytime anywhere.
*Ting*
Tunog ng elevator hudyat na magbubukas ito, nasa 10th floor palang ako, okay pa kaya si Miranda?
Pag bukas ng pinto ng elevator bumungad sakin ang isang lalaking nakashades ng black, nakasuot ng polo shirt na black at nakajacket ng leather na black. Pinagmasdan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa, okay nakaitim nga siya. Namatayan ba siya? Gusto ko sanang mag abot ng pakikiramay pero hindi ko naman siya kilala at baka hindi naman talaga siya namatayan, pwede namang paborito niya lang ang kulay itim.
Marahan siyang lumapit sa gilid ng elevator kung nasaan ang control system nito at pinindot ang number 31 button. Dahil sa ginawa niya mas naging interesado ako sa kanya.
Interested not in a way of being curious. He made me think of him as suspicious.
Wait?
Pinagmasdan ko ulit siya mula ulo hanggang paa baka sakaling may mapansin akong kahina-hinala..
Bahagya siyang napalingon sakin dahil siguro sa cold stare na dulot ko. At dahil naka shades siya akala niya siguro hindi ko yun mapapansin.
Maybe just like me he started building up suspicions in his head.
Pinakiramdaman ko lang siya at umiwas na ng tingin para hindi ako mahalata ang kaso siya naman ang nakatitig sakin ngayon na napansin ko kahit sa peripheral vision ko lang siya nakikita.
He's staring at me and I think he already deduced that I'm against his team. Bigla siyang humakbang palapit dahilan para kumilos ako at suntukin siya using my right fist which he grabbed right before it landed to his face and attacked me. He leaned me into the elevator's wall as he placed my right hand at my back.
"What do you think you're doing?" He yelled at me. I gave him a smirk and did the counter attack as I stepped hard on his foot and threw punches on his face. He immediately covered his head using his crossed arms and started to cut my attacks by blocking them.
As he tried to block my punches he yelled another good question.
"Who are you? Who do you work for?" galit niyang tanong sakin.
"Why would I even bother to tell you?" I said as I let a left hook escape from me to punch him but then he grabbed it again. Pinatid ko siya para bumagsak na siya ng tuluyan sa floor but we end up hitting the ground together. He pushed me to the floor as he was placing on top and asked me the same question.
"Who do you work for? Sinong nag-utos sayo na patayin ako?" galit niyang tanong at kaagad akong napa-kunot noo sa sinabi niya.
Why does he sound like he's a very important person na hindi pwedeng mamatay? I mean anyone deserves to live but he sounds like a big loss if ever he died.
"Patayin ka? You're the one who has intentions of killing me!" I answered.
Kumunot din ang noo niya at kaagad na tumayo but still in a defense position. Tumayo din ako at ginaya siya.
He's on the right side and I'm on the left.
"Wait miss bat naman kita papatayin? And for all you know you attacked me first!" tanong at depensa niya ulit sakin.
I laughed as he said those words.
"I just attacked you before you could kill me! I already knew that you're one of them, you can't lure me with your fraud innocent questions." I answered.
And then he laughed. He laughed so hard to the point na naiinis na ko. I decided to attack him again, I grabbed and twisted his left arm and made him face the wall.
He's still laughing.
"Argh!" he reacted as I pinned him harder on the wall.
"Miss sorry I think this is all a misunderstanding. " and he's still on his innocent act.
"You know what? That won't buy me anymore. I've faced a lot of criminals and put them to bars, so if you think you can fool me I'm sorry caused I'm not as stupid as you think."
He sighed as he stopped laughing.
"Ah so you're some kind of law practice officer? What are you then Prosecutor, Police, Navy or a Secret agent?" I pinned him again.
"Argh!" at nasaktan na naman siya.
"Stop asking me questions or else I'm going to cut your throat!!" I threatened him.
"Okay-okay, Sorry na. Just hear me out, first I'm not a criminal. Second, I have an important business around the area kaya ako nandito. Kung inaakala mo na aatakihin kita kanina nagkakamali ka. Pupulutin ko lang sana yung calling card na nahulog ko." He explained.
Saglit akong lumingon sa ground and I saw a piece of rectangular shaped paper.
Okay I think I need to apologise.
Ang hirap sa mga secret agents lahat sa'min kahina-hinala at siguro nakadagdag pa yung pag-aalala ko kay Miranda, hindi ko alam kung okay pa ba siya.
Binitiwan ko siya at kaagad akong lumayo. He faced me while checking his hand.
"Sorry, akala ko kasi---"
"It's okay, sanay na ko napagkakamalan pero madalas artista you're the first to think of me as a criminal." he cut me.
Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magrereact sa sinabi niya dahil ewan ko kung nagbibiro siya kasi hindi naman nakakatawa.
Pinulot niya ang card na nasa ground at inilagay ito sa bulsa ng pants niya.
*Ting*
Oh good! Nasa 31st floor na ko!
Pag kabukas ng elevator kaagad akong tumakbo para hanapin si Miranda.
Room 3110
Hindi ko na pinansin yung lalaki kung saan na siya nagpunta.
Pagkarating ko sa tapat ng room 3110 hindi na ko nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at kaagad na binuksan ito. Hindi locked ang pinto. Hindi muna agad ako pumasok at pinakiramdaman ko munang mabuti ang paligid, something's weird.
Binunot ko ang baril ko at ikinasa ito. I don't know what's in there so I need to be ready.
Pagpasok ko ng room pinagmasdan ko muna ang paligid. May couch, Television, may bookshelves at mga libro. It has a very good combination of gray and white walls. The interior is very fascinating.
Isa lang siyang ordinaryong unit katulad ng sa iba there's nothing in here and I found it weird.
"Ady." napalingon ako kaagad at nakita si Miranda na lumabas sa mula sa kitchen area.
"Are you okay?" tanong ko sa kanya. Maya maya pa may lumabas pang isang tao mula sa kitchen, si Benitez.
Oh great. Mukhang na set up ako.
"So you're abducted by your ex boyfriend?" I teased her.
Hindi muna sila umimik na dalawa.
"I think you're really in great danger right now." I teased her again.
"I'm sorry Ady, ito lang ang naisip kong way para makausap ka." Benitez uttered.
"Para makausap ako oh si Miranda?" pang aasar ko rin sa kanya.
"Ady stop it." she mouthed.
"If this is about that Job I'm sorry but I have to decline it." I answered.
"Ady this will be a great opportunity for you. Magkakaroon ka na ng access sa Blue House. Pag nagkataon pwede ka ng makakuha ng lead sa murder case ng parents mo." He stated.
I sighed and patted my forehead.
"I don't want to be in your team." I stated.
"You don't want to execute Khaled but it's okay if it's Rob?" I was shocked to hear it from him. I automatically looked at the other side to avoid his gaze.
I remained silent, I don't know how to react to what he has said.
"That night saving his life wasn't your priority but killing him." He uttered. I faced him before I spoke.
"I have reasons and that's a different matter!" I slightly raised a voice. My hands start to crumple as I'm trying to suppress the tension flowing on my body.
"They're just both Royals. They're brothers. Rob was assassinated and now Khaled is planning on a revenge which will affect the nation, who knows what he was capable of." he said.
Before, I was determined to kill one of the royals but the plan didn't turn out the way I wanted. And now I was living my life away from that chaos but people are asking me to execute the Prince. This is funny.
"You're feeling guilty because of what happened six years ago. You like Roby that much? You decided to bury the justice that your parents deserve because you love the Prince." he again stated. He's simply trying to convince me to join his team by spilling out the beans, that's annoying.
"I like Roby, really? Who are you to speculate my own feelings? And who says that killing a Prince could bring justice to what happened to my family? You're funny." I said.
"I once became his best friend and I know everything about you and him. Maybe killing Roby won't buy your family's justice. But executing Khaled could prevent the possible chaos that our country will be dealing with in the near future." he answered. I hate it when people act arrogantly and smart out the other. If Miranda's not here I could have punched his face ten million times.
"How arrogant." I mumbled to myself.
"Please Adelaide, our country needs you." Benitez said in a serious manner.
Alam kong kapag tinanggap ko ang trabahong to ay posibleng mabigyan linaw na ang matagal ng tanong sa isipan ko. Pero hindi ko maialis na mag alala, natatakot ako sa posibilidad na baka magkamali na naman ako.
"Ady please, para na rin sa pamilya mo." he added.
Aminin ko man o hindi the past still haunts me. Hindi na nga siguro mabubura ang nakaraan. Wala na tayong magagawa sa mga nakalipas ang tanging maaaring gawin ay itama ang mali upang baguhin ang hinaharap.
Napabuntong hininga ako sa sinabi ni Benitez. I guess I don't have any choice but to say yes. This could be a win win situation for me anyway.
"Make sure na hindi magiging pabigat ang mga makakasama ko. If not, I'll definitely give you a letter of resignation." sabi ko, gumuhit sa mukha nila ni Miranda ang isang ngiti.
Magsasalita pa sana ako ang kaso biglang may nag doorbell.
Pare-pareho kaming napalingon sa may pinto.
"Sorry I forgot to tell you that there's someone you need to meet." Benitez said as he walked towards the main door.
"Miranda bahay niya ba to?" tanong ko kay Miranda habang lumalakad palayo samin si Benitez.
"Ah oo, he got this house the day before we broke up." she answered.
I wear a silly smile on my face before I speak.
"So, you've been here before right?" I asked her. She gave me a tiger look expression.
"Wanna die right now Ady?" she said with a very sharp eye contact on me.
"You know I really wanted to kid you sometimes." I said as I followed Benitez in the living room. She just looked at me before she followed.
"Ah Ady, Miranda I want you to meet Allen Marque, he will be part of the special team."
I was shocked to see his face. I don't know where to hide right now. I wanted to shrink in an instant.
"So you're a secret agent?" he asked me. Miranda and Benitez both looked at me with a big question mark in their faces.
"Wait do you happen to know each other?" Miranda asked me.
"No."
"Yes."
Sabay naming sagot, I sighed and he smirked.
"Ahem!" Miranda cleansed her throat as if she's waiting for an explanation.
"Oh well! I thought you're really in danger so when I rushed to get here he suddenly appeared and you know I thought he's one of the villains so I punched him." I stated.
"Ah oo, binugbog niya 'ko sa loob ng elevator kanina lang. Akala niya kasi papatayin ko siya." Allen said while wearing a big smile on his face.
"Nag sorry na ako okay?" I said as I looked at Miranda trying to restrain herself from laughing.
"Oh well this Allen guy here would be your partner for the meantime." Benitez stated.
"What partner? Akala ko ba grupo kami?" tanong ko. Kasi parang nabanggit niya sakin na limang tao ang bubuo ng Special Team .
"Don't be excited Ady, you'll soon meet them." he answered.
"For the meantime, Allen would be very glad to learn about the Royal Family from you." he stated.
We're shocked when we heard a noise from the door. It was forcefully opened by someone.
Mas lalo kaming na shocked nung pumasok ang mga lalaking naka full gear at nakasuot ng uniporme ng S.W.A.T.
"What's happening here?" gulat na tanong ni Benitez.
"We've received an emergency call for backup Sir!" masiglang sagot ng isa sa kanila.
"From who?" tanong ulit ni Benitez.
Saglit na natahimik ang buong kwarto at isa-isa silang napalingon sakin.
Binigyan ko lang sila ng isang malaking ngiti.
Gusto ko ng mamatay. Pwede na ba ngayon?