Spy on Duty

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

He walked me inside a training room. There were punching bags in the corner. Sports equipment were all around.

"We.. we will talk alone? I mean just the two of us?" I asked with so much bravado in my voice, hiding the tension I felt in the inside.

"Yes. Got a problem with that?" He asked with so much confidence as he locked the door. I gulped. The night was cold but I was sweating.

"None. So what's your favor? You want me to laundry that bloody shirt of yours?" I asked gesturing my hand toward his shirt. I had never been this nervous all my life.

Sumandal siya sa mesang nasa harapan ko. "I hope it is that easy, but sorry, it's not."

"Then what do you want me to do, Mr. Ozera?" He looked at me from head to toe. I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Seriously, don't tell me my imagination was correct!

"Turn around." He commanded. He got an apple in the basket on the table without breaking eye contact with me. He bit the apple and the sound of it echoed in the room.

"Excuse me?"

"Turn around." He repeated with more serious voice this time. I wet my lips. I saw his gaze stayed at my lips and he swallowed.

Having no choice, I followed his command. Yeah, I turned around like some kind of idiot. His eyes roamed all over my body.

"It will be better if you have less clothing." My jaw dropped at his statement. My brain couldn't process!

"Excuse me?" I said, controlling my anger.

"It will be better if you have less clothing."

And that hit the button! How could he! How dare him! My anger rose up and I exploded. Maniac!

"You know what Mr. Ozera, I quit! I will never ever undress myself in front of you! Maniac!"

I raised my fist to punch him in the face when he caught my hand just in time. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ms. Austria."

"Maang-maangan ka pa diyan! Kitang kita ko kung saan napapadpad yang mga mata mo! Wal—"

"I am checking if you're physically fit and strong to do the work."

"Work? What work?"

Maingat niyang binaba ang aking kamay nang nakita niyang huminahon na ako. "I want you to work for me, Ms. Austria."

Humakbang ako paatras sa kaniya para ayusin ang aking paghinga. His presence was draining me too much.

"What kind of work?"

He crossed his arms across his chest as he narrowed his eyes at me. I mimicked his movements. I also crossed my arms on my chest as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I want you to be a spy."

Silence.

I waited for him to add 'just kidding!' but none came. He was just looking at me with his narrowed eyes like he was really dead serious.

None of us dared to disturb the silence of the night until I laughed. I laughed and the sound of it echoed in the room. I wiped the tear that flowed down because of my laughter.

That's the funniest, most ridiculous and most hilarious joke I've ever heard. Woooh! Coming from a robotic human being in the name of Damien Ozera!

"Why are you laughing?" His voice sounded like he was insulted. But I couldn't stop laughing! He's so hilarious!

"I..I.." I forced myself to stop laughing. My stomach ached. "Sorry. That's a good joke. Don't know that there's a sense of humor in you."

"I don't know how to make jokes, Ms. Austria."

Nabitin ang aking pagtawa nang makitang seryosong seryoso siyang nakatitig sa akin. Bigla na namang bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko.

"You mean you're serious? That's impo—"

"I'm dead serious, Ms. Austria."

I wet my lips. I saw his eyes gaze on my lips again. I cleared my throat and breathed deeply. I tried to compose myself.

Okay, I was in the Safronov Palace talking to a robotic pier agent that won over thirty agents alone just a few minutes ago. We were alone inside a training room and he was asking me to work for him as a spy. Ridiculous. I knew. Everything was just ridiculous.

"Look, Mr. Ozera. I am just an ordinary girl who works in a flower shop and you have hundreds of well trained agents here—!"

"How did you know that?" I wet my lips again, thinking of some kind of excuse. Bad trip, muntikan na ako doon ah.

"Well, I've done some research." I lied and shrugged, "I'll repeat, you have hundreds of great athletic agents here in Safronov. So why do you still need me to work for you? I am not a fighter like them."

"You have the spirit." He started, his manly voice echoing in the four corners of the room. "I have observed the way you fight for your freedom during that night."

"So, you don't really forget about our encounter?"

He ignored what I said and he continued to speak. "You have a strong will. You don't know how to give up. You're brave and you got the fighting spirit. Anyone can be strong, Ms. Austria. Anyone can fight but not anyone can have the courage and strong will like you possess."

I didn't know what to feel after he said those words. Should I be flattered or should I punch his face right here, right now? And for the first time, I thought the service of my body was a better option than working for him as a spy.

"Look, Damien I don't know how to fight—"

"Then I will teach you."

"I don't know how this agency works—"

"Then I'll show you the details."

"I have a job—"

"I will pay you thrice your salary. And you don't have to meet me everyday. We can make a schedule about our training."

I slid my fingers between my hair. I tried to make other excuses on why I could not be a spy but he always had answers!

"Seriously, kailangan talaga ako?"

"We lost many agents during our last encounter with the Tenebrous—"

"Tenebrous what?"

"I'll explain it to you next time. You see, many of our agents died in the battle. Kulang kami sa mga tao ngayon. At isa pa, spy ang kailangan ko. Lahat ng agents sa Safronov ay may tattoo." Ipinakita niya ang tattoo niya sa kaniyang braso. "Paano magiging spy ang mga agents kung may tattoo sila? Malalaman agad ng mga kalaban namin na Safronov sila."

"That's why you're asking me to be the spy?"

"Yes."

"That's ridiculous. I don't know if I can do this."

I wiped my palm on my face. This was just impossible. I mean, why would I work for him? This would just add mess in my tangled life. This would just make my complicated life, more complicated.

"Are you backing out, Ms. Austria?" Mapaghamon niyang tanong. My fist clenched at his challenge. I never backed down. I never quit. But this was a different story. This was something big.

"Just tell me if you're quitting—"

"I am not quitting." Matapang kong sabi. And as the words tumbled out of my mouth, I slapped myself mentally. Saying 'I am not quitting' was also a way of saying 'I am accepting the challenge'. Urgh! Blame my pride! Blame my ego!

"Does that mean you agree to be a spy?" There was victory in his voice, and I hated it. I hated it with all the nerves in my body. Saying no to him right now meant quitting. And if I quit I would look like a pathetic loser right in front of him.

"If you discuss to me the plan, and I'm cool with it, then that's the time that I would agree to be your spy. Just set up a day where in you're free to discuss the details and I will meet you." I won't. I will not see you again. Ever.

"I'm good with that. So when are you available?" He asked, still calm and emotionless.

"Anytime." Never.

"Write your number here so I can contact you."

He handed me a piece of paper and a pen. Sinulat ko doon ang number ni Lola Rosa. Bahala siya kung gusto niyang makipagtextmate kay Lola Rosa at nang magselos sa kaniya si Lolo Carding. Pagkatapos ay inabot ko na sa kaniya yung papel.

Dati kong sim ang ginagamit ni Lola Rosa kaya memoryado ko ang numero nya. Nagpalit kasi ako dati dahil gusto ko na sa ibang network. Saktong wala siyang sim ng mga panahong iyon kaya binigay ko na yung akin. Kaysa gumastos pa sya.

"So I will just see you soon?"

"Yes, see you." No. Hard no. You won't ever see my face again.

"Remember Ms. Austria, once you said yes, there's no turning back." His words sent shivers down my spine. Like agreeing to be a spy was between life and death. And I knew that. I knew that once I involved myself in this kind of work, there was no way out.

"I'll remember that Mr. Ozera."

Umalis na siya sa pagkakasandal niya sa lamesa at lumakad papunta sa pinto. Pinagbuksan niya ako. Pinauna niya kong lumabas bago siya lumabas at sinara niya ang pinto sa kaniyang likuran.

Maglalakad na sana ako nang tawagin niya ako.

"I forget to tell you an important note, Ms. Austria." Nilingon ko siya.

"What is it Ozera?"

He bit his lower lip and his gaze traveled from my head down to my toes. "You're not really my type. So please stop assuming."