DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

V | A Step Forward

Adriene Constance 

Public hospital 

Nang makarating siya sa hospital ay agad siyang sinalubong ng kanyang ina. Mangiyak-iyak ito habang naglalakad papunta sa kanya. When she was within arm's reach ay saka siya nito hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat. 

"Maooperahan na ang lola mo, anak," saad nito habang umiiyak. Adriene felt relieved and hugged her mother. The Crown immediately sent the money as soon as she signed the contract. At ngayon maooperahan na ang kanyang lola. 

"Saan mo galing ang pera?" tanong ng ina niya. Ngumiti naman siya dito. 

"Pinag-ipunan ko po iyon. At saka, mabait ang boss ko ma. Sinabi sa 'kin na pwede akong umutang sa kanya at babayaran ko lang kada-sweldo," saad niya sa ina. 

Nakatingin naman ang ina niya sa kanya na para bang tinitingnan kung nagsasabi ba siya ng totoo o hindi. Adriene sighed. "And I got promoted. Kaya naglakas-loob akong umutang kasi malaki-laki na rin ang sweldo ko." 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng kanyang ina habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Napromote ka?" 

Tumango naman siya habang nakangiti. "Opo, ma. At baka maassign ako sa ibang lugar. Malayo rito." 

Nawala naman ang saya sa mga mukha ng ina niya. "Pasensya ka na, anak." 

"Ma, I told you ayos lang. And besides, mas malaki na ang magiging sweldo ko at mas malaki na maipapadala ko sa inyo." 

"Magtira ka naman sa sarili mo. Hindi mo na kami responsibilidad. Malaki naman ang natatanggap namin sa Crown." 

Tumango naman siya sa ina at saka ngumiti. "Tungkol po diyan, nakausap ko po ang naghahandle ng finance ng Crown. Dahil daw po may sakit si lola, idodoble raw po nila ang matatanggap niyo buwan-buwan." 

Napatakip sa bibig ang ina niya at saka napatingin sa kanya. "Totoo ba iiyan?" 

"Opo, ma." Ngiti niya sa ina habang mangiyak-ngiyak itong nakatingin sa kanya. 

She has made her decision. Hindi niya alam kung anong aasahan sa pagtatrabaho niya sa Crown pero kung ang kapalit niyon ay kaginhawaan sa pamilya niya, hindi siya magdadalawang-isip. 

Ilang oras silang naghintay sa labas ng operating room habvang inooperahan ang kanyang lola. At that time, she couldn't help but think of so many things—it was either her new job or her grandma's operation. Adriene doesn't know how to tell her mother that she will be gone for six months and that she might not come back. Mas lalong hindi niya kayang sabihin iyon sa kanyang lola. Kaya napagdesisyunan niyang huwang nalang iyong sabihin kung nasaan siya at kung ano ang gagawin niya. 

Matapos ang ilang oras ay dumating ang doktor. Labis naman ang saya niya nang mabalitaang maayos na ang kalagayan ng kanyang lola. They said it would take her grandma days to wake up and it was fine. She looked the box of cake she brought earlier and watched her mother taking care of her grandma. She knocked on the door and that caught her mother's attention. Lumingon ito sa kanya at ngumiti nang makita ang dala niyang box. 

She staye inside the hospital room for hours and when she saw her mom finally settling down, she heaved a sigh and looked at her. 

"Bukas na po ako aalis, ma." 

Napalingon naman ang ina niya sa kanya. "Bukas agad? Saan bang lugar iyan?" 

She pursed her lips.Hindi niya masabi kung saan siya pupunta. Ariela told her she is not allowed to disclose any information about the mission. 

"Sa labas po ng bansa ma, eh." 

Kita niya ang saya sa mata ng inay niya nang sabihin niya iyon. "Talaga ba, anak? Nako, masisiyahan si lola mo niyan. Pero bukas ka na talaga aalis?" 

She nodded. Adriene didn't risk opening her mouth and saying something because if she does, she might break down and cry and tell her mother everything. She had to lie. And seeing her mother getting happy with her lie is somewhat comforting. It was better than seeing her worry about her working under the crown. 

"Oh siya. Kainin nalang natin itong cake para magcelebrate." Agad kinuha ng ina ang cake at binuksan. SHe smiled sadly when her mother gave her a slice and they ate in silence. 

After a few hours, she found herself in front of the cake shop bringing with her a small piece of luggage containing her clothes. At maya-maya pa ay may humintong sasakyan sa kanyang harapan. It was the men in black, ready to take her to Sinclaire, where she will be doing her mission. 

Nang makapasok siya sa loob ay labis nalang ang gulat niya nang makita si Ariela na naroon. Tinanggal nito ang shades na suot at saka tumingin sa kanya. "Since you're here already, I assume you have already bid your family goodbye?" tanong nito sa kanya She nodded slowly. 

Ariela studied her for a moment before she said, "Before we begin, I will have to tell you things you need to know." 

And then they drove off to the Crown's building but her mind was not into it. Not when she knows she's walking right into a lion's den. 

Ariela led her to a different room. Different from the one she had been to the last time. The sound of their footsteps were the only sounds echoing inside the area and it rang back to her as if a warning that this place is dangerous and that she shouldn't be there in the first place. But what choice does she have? The Crown is a dangerous enemy to begin with. It already threatened to remove the supporting money for her grandma's medication. Who knows what else they were capable of doing. 

Kaya naman sinundan niya si Ariela papunta sa isang silid. Akala niya ay kagaya lang ito noong una—isang mesa at dalawang silya. But she was wrong. Dahil sa loob ng silid ay isang mesa at sa ibabaw nito ay mga sandata. 

Ariela stood in front of the table and looked at her. Naguguluhan man ay hindi nagtangkang magtanong si Adriene. Mainly because she was afraid to know the answer. 

Then Ariela said, "You will be given a gun for the whole of your mission. Dont lose it, please." Napatingin ang babae sa kanyang dalang bagahi at saka aibinalil ang tingin sa kanya. 

"Follow me," sad ng babae at saka naglakad papunta sa isa pang silid na naroon. Sumunod naman siya. 

"Discard the clothes you have. We will provide you with...appropriate ones." Saad nito at saka tiningnan siya  mula ulo hamggang paa. Napatingin din siya sa ayos niyang simpleng pantalon at t-shirt. 

Hindi na rin siya nagsalita pa at sumunod nalang sa babae. Nang makapasok sila sa isang silid ay doon niya nakita ang isang kwartong punong -puno ng iba't-ibang klase ng mga damit. 

Ariela didn't as much look at her and started picking dresses. Dresses! She was choosing same styles of different dresses and some pants and shirts but are stylish enough to fit in Sinclaire City. 

Then Ariela faced her and said, "Because you can't seduce the leader of Ivory Skulls with that get-up." She gestured at the clothing she was wearing. 

"Excuse me?" 

But Ariela ignored her and walked towards her, handing her the clothes she picked. "Now get rid of all your clothes and put these in your bag." 

Hindi man makapaniwala sa mga nangyayari at sa natanggap na insulto ay sinunod nalang niya amg babae at inilagay ang mga damit sa kanyang bagahe. 

*** 

Rhysand Marfori 

Sinclaire Grande 

He had a long day but a productive one at that. 

It's dawn and he was the only one in the room. Pinauwi na rin niya ang nagseserve ng mga inumin doon. The dim light from the counter was his only source of light as he sipped on his god knows how many glasses of scotch. 

Illegal drugs. Iyon ang laman ng crate na nakita nila kanina sa Garson. And when he investigated further, he found out that it's supposed to be sent to Davos Fillian, the chief of police of Sinclaire City. 

Rhysand scoffed. Of all people luck chose, it was him. Luck was on his side when he received those illegal drugs. He knows what the costs are. And he's ready to pay and play. That's what he's good at after all. It's what the Ivory Skulls do and he will make sure that everything will go in their favor. 

Maya-maya pa ay narinig niya ang pagbukas ng pinto at ang yabag ng mga paa. Hindi na niya kailangan pang lumingon para malaman kung sino iyon. Marcus sat beside him and took his own glass. Rhysand poured him a scotch and they both sat in silent, chugging the contents of their glasses.  

It was Marcus who tipped his head back and laughed so hard before clapping his shoulder.  

"You were right," Marcus said. "It was indeed supposed to be sent to Davos Fillian."  

Rhysand nodded and poured himself another drink. He heard Marcus laughed again. "I bet he's pissing himself that his crates are gone."  

He played his tongue inside his mouth, the alcohol slowly kicking inside his system. "Don't forget brother that he is Davos Fillian. The chief of police. Someone connected to the Crown."  

Napatinign naman si Marcus sa kanya na nanlalaki ang mga mata. "You think the Crown has something to do with this?"  

But Rhysand just sipped on his alcohol and said, "He might be. Or he might be working on his own. After all, the Crown is cutthroat when it comes to anomalies--as far as they're concerned. I think he's working on his own."  

Marcus placed his glass down and looked at him. "Is that good?"  

He nodded. "Very," he said and clapped his brother's shoulder.  

Marcus nodded and looked at him curiously. "What would we do with the drugs then?"  

Rhysand looked at his brother before he said, "WE wait until the owner claims it."  

"What if he won't claim it?"  

Doon napatawa si Rhysand. "He will come. He knows we have his stuff. And he knows we are the people who should not have his stuff."  

Napangisi naman si Marcus saka siya nito tinapik sa balikat. "Sa ating lima, ikaw ang nagmana kay mama." At tumawa na naman ito. 

That was Marcus Marfori. The eldest, and perhaps the one who got all of their father's recklessness. Ito ang palaging nasasangkot sa gulo at siya naman ang palaging nag-aayos nito. 

"So what's the plan?" 

He swirled the ice around his glass before he said, "They are going to come as soon as possible. Possibly today. So prepare the men. I will give further information if I receive new ones." 

Akmang tatayo na siya at maglalakad palabas nang pigilan siya ni Marcus. Napatingin naman siya sa kapatid.  

"What if they're going to do a surprise attack?" 

Marcus made sense. "With his illegalities exposed, there is no doubt  that he will do everything to take us down." He inserted his hands inside his pockets. "But Davos is not stupid enough to take the Ivory Skulls down. He knows there will be costs and they are costs he's not willing to pay.  Go and prepare the men." He gave his brother a lopsided grin before he turned and walked out of the bar. 

Nang makalabas siya ay sinindihan niya ang kanyang sigarilyo at ibinuga ang usok niyon. Saka naman tumunog amh kanyang telepono. When he saw that it was an unregistered number, a smirk curved his lips before he answered it. 

"Rhysand Marfori," saad ng nasa kabilang linya. 

Rhysand scoffed and puffed a cloud of smoke. He didn't need to say something to let the man know he's listening. 

"I assume you already know why I am calling you at such an hour?" 

"Bold of you to assume that." 

Narinig niya naman ang pagbuntong-hininga nito sa kabilang linya. "Look, I know you got the wrong crate because I got your wines and other things that shouldnt be transported in Sinclaire in the first place." 

He puffed one last smoke and then threw the cigarette butt on the ground before he stepped on it. "And I got your drugs that shouldn't be transported here in the first place." 

Natahimik ang kabilang linya at napangisi nalang si Rhysand. "All illegalities—the Ivory Skulls is always known for it. Even if you report that to the higher authorities, what's new? But your drugs..." he chuckled. "To think that you are a servant of the Crown—so righteous—and here you are, looking for his missing crates." 

"What  do you want?" 

"I should be the one asking that question,  Mr. Davos," he said. "What do you want?" 

Davos went silent again and he knows he had driven the man to the edge. He knows he has a complete reign of the situation and that he might already have control over the man. 

"I want to have the crates back," the man said. 

"And what fo I get in return?" 

"You get your wines back. What do you expect?" 

"I am afraid I require payment for my silence." 

"Seven sharp at the Garson, Mr. Davos," he said and hung up. Agad naman niyang tinawagan si Marcus. 

"Gather the men tomorrow at the Garson. Seven sharp." 

Rhysand walked home. Sinclair is a free city. And they rule the whole of it. Later, they will have complete control of it. 

It was a productive day indeed. 

* * *