Rekindled Hearts (TAGLISH)

One

Alas otso y media na ng gabi, yan ang nakalagay sa kanyang relo ng tingnan niya ito. Biglang umihip ang malamig na hangin sa isang abandonadong building kung nasaan sila ngayon. Sinenyasan ni Insp. Chavez ang kanyang mga kasamahan, mataman silang nagmatyag sa paligid. Isang linggo rin nila itong pinagplanuhan. Nakakalap sila ng intel na may gagawing malaking palitan ng droga sa abandonadong building na ito. Ito na ang pagkakataon niyang mahuli ang druglords ng siyudad.

"Castro, anything suspicious?" Tanong niya gamit ang nakakabit na earpiece sa kanyang tenga.

"Negative, sir," sagot ni PO2 Castro sa kabilang linya. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It's already nine in the evening. Mahigit isang oras na silang naghihintay pero ni anino ng mga kalaban ay wala silang makita. Ayon sa intel, alas nuebe gagawin ang palitan ng droga pero parang may mali.

"Something is off. Something is fvcking off in this operation." Di mapakaling sabi niya, nagsitinginan naman ang mga kasamahan niya sa kanya.

"Move out! Search the area." Utos niya. Nagsi-alisan naman sa kani-kanilang puwesto ang mga kasamahan niya at sinunod ang utos niya. They started to search the area and a loud booming sound interrupted them all. He heard screams and shouting of names and saw some of his mates drenched in their own blood.

"Trap!" He shouted. "Castro, call for backup. We've been fooled," he angrily said through the radio. It was a close call, kung hindi niya pinaalis ang mga kasamahan malamang pinaglalamayan na silang lahat ngayon. Dinaluhan niya ang isang kasamahan na malapit sa kanya. Shrapnel hit him in his belly, kinuha niya agad ang panyo na nasa bulsa niya at inilapat iyon sa sugat ng kasamahan. Naglulumikot ang kanyang mata tila may hinahanap sa paligid. At hindi nga siya nagkamali, may nakita siyang isang lalaking tumatakbo paalis sa abandonadong building.

"Ramirez! 3 o'clock!" sigaw ni Insp. Chavez. Kaagad na tumango si Ramirez at hinabol ang estranghero. "Torres, ikaw muna ang bahala dito," sabi niya at kaagad na sinundan ang kasamahan. Ramirez caught the scrawny boy and grabbed him by the hand. Biglang naglabas ng patalim ang lalaki at akmang sasaksakin si Ramirez pero agad itong nakuha ni Chavez sa kanya. Tiningnan niya ang binatilyo. Kaagad naman kinapkapan ni Ramirez ang binata.

"Sinong nag-utos saiyo?" Tanong ni Insp. Chavez, yumuko ang binata at umiling-iling. Napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha. He grabbed the boy's shirt, lifting him to the ground. With his height, standing 6ft tall, he could easily do it. Nanginginig naman sa takot ang binatilyo.

"Wala po akong alam! Hindi ko po sila kilala!" sigaw ng binata. Binitiwan niya ito nang marinig niya ang sirena ng pulisya at ambulansya. Kinuha ng kasamahan niya ang binatilyo at isinakay ito sa mobil para kwestyunin sa presinto. Malutong na napamura ang Inspector. His operation failed and worse, his mates got injured. It was supposedly his big case but someone alerted those criminals.

"Fvck!" Hindi niya mapigilang mura at sinipa ang pader. How did that bomb get passed them? Lumapit sa kanya ang kapwa niya Inspector na si Katrina Del Mundo at inabutan siya ng tubig. Kinuha naman ito ni Alexander at kaagad na binuksan para inumin.

"Chief called. You need to see him," Katrina said. He knew Chief is angry about what happened. He sighed. Aalis na sana siya nang pinigilan siya ni Katrina.

"May sugat ka, Lex," sabi nito at itinuro ang nagdurugong balikat niya. Kaagad niya naman itong hinawakan at napangiwi sa sakit. Naaawang tiningnan ni Katrina ang sitwasyon ni Alexander. She knew Alexander since their Academy days and admired him for the passion he showed. Alam ni Katrina na pinaghandaang mabuti ni Alexander ang operasyon na to kaya ganon na lamang ang gulat niya nang mabalitaan ang nangyari. Katrina was about to pull her handkerchief out, but was interrupted by a call.

"It's Chief Romualdo," she said.

"Tell him, I'm coming," sabi ni Alexander at nagsimula nang maglakad papunta sa sasakyan niyang nakapark na may kalayuan sa building. Nang makarating agad niyang binuksan ang pinto ng kotse at pumasok. Kinuha niya ang first aid kit na palagi niyang dala-dala at sinimulang gamutin ang natamo niyang sugat. After treating his wounds he started driving back to the office. Pagkababa na pagkababa niya sa sasakyan agad na nagsisaludo sa kanya ang mga kasamahan. He saluted back and went to his office. There, he saw the Chief in his back, looking outside the window.

"I'm pulling you out on the case, Alexander," Chief Romualdo said and faced Alexander.

"But Chief! I was so close to catching Santiago and his pals. Give me another chance!" Alexander begged. He can't lose this case.

"I can't give you another chance, Alexander. Ten injured police in this failed operation. Ten! And you didn't even manage to find solid evidence to pin Santiago down!" sigaw ni Chief Romualdo. "I am assigning you to a new case," he said with finality in his voice. Nilapag ni Chief Romualdo ang isang envelope na may nakalagay na 'Confidential' at naglakad na palabas ng opisina ni Alexander.

"Fvcking hell!" Inis na sigaw niya. Mabilis na kinuha niya ang jacket na nakasabit sa isang upuan at lumabas ng opisina.

"Oh, Chavez! Balita ko palpak ang operasyon mo ah?" Tanong ni Insp. Kyle Estacion na nakangiti. Alexander glared at him. He really hates this guy. Matagal na siyang duda kay Kyle pero hindi siya kumikibo. But this guy really gets on his nerves. Hindi niya ito sinagot at diretsong lumabas sa presinto. He wants to go to the bar and get drunk. He found spare clothes on his car kaya naman mabilis niyang pinalitan ang maruming damit at nagtungo sa pinakamalapit na bar.

BAR

He quickly scanned the crowded bar and found a place to drink. He ordered a glass of whiskey. Paano natunugan ni Santiago ang operation? He knew damn well that he perfectly planned this fvcking operation.

"s**t!" He cursed and drink another shot of whiskey.

"Hi, handsome, alone?" The girl beside her said. He's not in the mood for s*x, but upon seeing the woman, he changes his mind.

"I'm not because I have you beside me." He answered and flashed his sexy smile that instantly made the girl fall for him. Who wouldn't fall for Alexander? Chiseled jaw, hazel blue eyes, and broad shoulders, tall and oozing with s*x appeal and handsomeness. Alexander Chavez, son of Alfonso Chavez, a business tycoon here in the Philippines. Aside from being an heir and a cop, He is also known for being a chic magnet.

"I'm Chassy, you are?" Tanong ni Chassy ng nakangiti. Lumapit sa kanya si Alexander.

"I'm Alexander Chavez. Remember it because you'll gonna scream it later, baby," he sweetly whispered to her ear.

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