Hiding Secrets

Chapter 12

Narinig niya ang paulit-ulit nitong pagmumura habang siya’y nakahawak sa kwelyo nito. It was her turn to laugh. Ang maamong mukha ni Azariah ay nababalutan na ‘rin ng putik. Kung makikita lang talaga nito ang mukha nito ngayon.

“Damn you, woman!” para s’yang batang gumagapang sa putikan papalayo rito. Hinahabol siya nito ngunit hindi siya nagpatalo.

She ran as fast as she can away from Azariah. Bumunghalit siya ng tawa at napa-upo ulit sa putikan. Azariah looks like the hero who is covered in sand. She forgot the name of that certain character but he looks like it.

Pinalis nito ang mga putik sa mukha nito at tinignan ang sarili. Narinig niya ulit ang pagmumura nito at masama siyang tinignan. She stuck her tongue out to tease him more.

“Kasalanan mo,” tuya niya rito at tumayo.

Pinagpagan niya ang sarili nang may humigit sa bewang niya. Napatili siya sa gulat at hindi napaghandaan ang ginawa nito. Nagpupumiglas siya sa hawak nito nang mas hinigpitan nito ang pagkayapos sa bewang niya.

“Kapag nagpupumiglas ka ‘pa ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na ihulog ka rito, Ms. Montecillo.”

“Saan mo ba kasi ako dadalhin? I hate you, Azariah!” sinamaan niya ito ng tingin kahit hindi naman siya nito tinitignan.

“Well, I like you, Ms. Montecillo. Get ready for take off, honey.” Natigilan siya sa sinasabi nito nang naramdaman niya ang malamig na tubig na sumalubong sa kaniya.

Tinapon siya nito sa talon!

“f**k you, Azariah!” mura niya rito at umahon sa pagkaka-lubog sa tubig.

Humanap siya ng isang sanga at walang kurap na binali iyon. Sapphire targeted Azariah’s feet. Tumama iyon sa gusto niyang patamaan. Hindi naman malakas ang pagkakatama niya pero sapat na iyon para makaramdam ang tao ng sakit.

Now, this is fun.

“I didn’t know that you like it that way, Ms. Montecillo,” nang-iinis na aniya ng binata. Nakakaloko itong ngumisi habang pinagmamasdan siya. She took the opportunity to get another branch of wood and attempted to hit Azariah’s side.

Pero bago pa niya magawa iyon ay nahagip na nito ang kamay niya at dinala sa likod. She tried to loosen his grip but Azariah won’t budge. Nasa likod inya si Azariah habang hawak-hawak ang dalawa niyang kamay. She could feel his breathe in her ear.

“So you like it rough, huh?” nanlaki ang mga mata sa sinabi ni Azariah at ginamit niya ang boung pwersa para itulak ito.

When she bobbed her head to meet Azariah’s gaze, he is now smirking before turning his back to her. Bumuga siya ng marahas na hangin at initsa kung saan ang hawak-hawak na kahoy.

The f**k?

Pinunasan niya ang pawis bago nilisan rin ang lugar.

***

“When would we actually start our official meeting?” she seriously asked. Kumakain siya ng mangga habang sinasawsaw ito sa asin. It’s just so delicious that she could finish a lot of mangoes.

“Next week, perhaps.”

Tinignan niya ito, wanting to have more answers rather than that short reply. Pero mukhang wala ng balak pang sundan iyon ng binata dahil hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin.

Binalik niya ang paningin sa kinakain at pinagpatuloy iyon. She was busy eating the mango when she felt a heavy stare. Salubong ang kilay at tila ngayon lang nakakakita ng taong kumakain ng mangga.

“What?” sikmat niya rito.

“That’s your 3rd time eating that thing.”

“So?” tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. “And it’s not a thing, it’s called a mango, Azariah.”

“You might hurt your stomach for that.” Nakangiwi nitong sagot.

Sasagot na sana ako nang may maalala. Unti-unting umangat ang sulok ng labi ko at lumingon sa kanya.

“I thought you wouldn’t engage with some nonsense conversation, Mr. Vitaliano?” kumuha ako ng slice na mangga at dinala sa labi ko at saka nag-angat ng tingin habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanya.

Azariah’s forehead knitted but soon remained his composure.

“This conversation is making me interested so it’s not pointless.”

Ahh, talaga ba Azariah?

“Okay, madali naman akong kausap.” Patuya niyang sagot.

Pagkatapos kumain ay kaagad niyang nilinis ang pinagkainan. Deep thoughts filled her mind. What would await for her if Azariah would found out that she came from a secret organization? Na nagpapanggap lang siya?

Though it’s true that she don’t have that much knowledge to the situation she’s currently in right now, hindi pa rin siya mapanatag. Maite just gave her this mission and told her that she’s excuse from the organization.

She can feel that Maite is powerful in their organization. She can pull every connection that she has to aim her goal. Walang tapon. Their organization has no name and every group that they has consist of powerful people. Maski ang mga hindi niya inaasahang mga tao ay nandoon.

Compose of powerful family, individuals holding an important vault from their generations and even a famous personality known today. Head leader, special ops and even the high guaranteed security are in the organization’s circle. Hindi ka kailanman bibiguin.

I heaved a sighed.

There’s something lacking. Kulang na hindi ko matukoy kung ano. I never doubted our organization’s belongingness, but the more I delve on it, the more I gather information that I know I shouldn’t. There were lots of holes kung sakali man.

“Ms. Montecillo, are you listening?” I was stopped mid way when I heard Azariah’s serious voice.

“Ha?” aniya nang matigil ang malalim na pag-iisip.

“You’re spacing out.”

Napakurap-kurap ako at inihilig ang likod sa upuan.” What is it that you want to discuss about?”

“About the mission. I want you to promise the team.” He licked his lower lip before leaning in the chair. Nakadekwatro itong umupo habang hawak-hawak ang isang nakabuklat na folder.

She shouldn’t be nervous when it comes to this but she just couldn’t help it. Kabado akong tumingin sa kanya at tumango. It’s like if she do something wrong, there’s a beast inside that would come out.

“Na ano?” she asked.

“Wala kang pagsabihan tungkol rito. Not your family, not your friends. No one, Sapphire. Am I understood?” He said as if commanding her to follow. Na wala siyang choice kundi tumango nalang.

“It depends,” nagsalubong ang kilay ng binata dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Sapphire.” He called me with a warning tone.

“Fine, I’m good with that.” She winked at him and raised both of her eyebrows to convinced him. Malakas na napabuntong-hininga si Azariah at sinapo ang noo.

“You better be or you wouldn’t like it when you violate it, Sapphire.” Nanindig ang balahibo ko nang marinig ang sinabi niya. His rogue expression is visible and there’s not a hint of tease on Azariah’s face. Bigla tuloy siyang napalunok at napaayos ng upo.

“I-I promise not to tell it to anyone.”

“Good, I’ll be glad working with you. Like a normal worker, you could also get your salary and high benefits from this mission. Security and protection is also guaranteed solely for you. Your needs and wants will be given by the organization. Just do you work neat and clean. Estoy intendedo?”

In her group, all her needs are also given by the organization. Lahat ng mga kailangan mo ay binibigay nila whether how big or small it is.

Our organization is also compose by subgroup who became our shadow when we partake a dangerous mission.

Our security and protection will be doubled and each square meter of the raid area will be covered by the special operatives.

In short, lahat ng mga nagtratrabaho sa kanila ay mga high maintenance. Hindi niya mahitsura kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ni Azariah kapag nalaman niyang may isang organisasyon na akong kinabibilangan.

He would be furious for sure. But that’s part of her mission and she should be ready for the consequences that would lie ahead.

Kahit hindi niya naintindihan ang huling sinabi nito ay tumango siya at kinakabahang ngumiti rito. Kahit kailan man ay hindi ko inaasahang makatagpo ang taong kagaya niya. He is dangerous and mysterious at the same time.

Matagal niyang pinakatitigan ang binata at sinaulo ang bawat detalye ng mukha nito. Nasisiguro niyang hindi siya basta-basta, and she shouldn’t underestimate their means of work.