Match Made in Hell

MMIH [6]

"Stop with the disturbing smile, Heaven. It's creeping us out," Jeymi protested.

We are having our late dinner tonight since all of them just came from that underground place. "Huh?"

"What do you mean 'huh?'? Will you stop daydreaming?" she replied. Jam shook his head in disapproval.

"She's been like that simula nang kumain sila ni Gabriel sa labas," Jam said. My smile got wider when I heard his name. Sure, I had fun.

"Wait, don't tell me that that dude kissed you?" gulat na tanong ni Joy. Napatayo naman si Jeymi.

"What?! Inosente ka pa, Heaven! How dare him!" sigaw niya.

Napanguso ako. "Stop being over-dramatic, Jeymi. Kung makasabi ka naman ng 'inosente', you're opposing."

"That's the point. I'm not innocent, pero ikaw na inosente 'yung pinatulan niya!"

Nanlisik ang mata ko. "And what do you mean by that, Miss Rodriguez?"

"Okay, stop the fight. Sit down, Jeymi and Heaven, for heaven's sake, stop smiling!" Jam ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Jeymi and I both answered in a monotone voice while I heard Joy snicker.

Before I could take a bite of my dinner, Joy asked. "Ano bang nangyari on your date?"

My smile appeared and I heard Jam and Jeymi groan out in frustration. "Joy naman eh!" protesta ni Jeymi. "I would never ever ask that question lalo na 'pag ganyan ang mood ng babaeng 'yan! I'll bet she won't stop talking."

But too late, I already started my story and tuned them out. "I experienced riding in his motorcycle! Tapos I heard na it's the first time that she let a girl ride on his bike. OMG, seriously, am I really special?"

"Okay, I'm done eating!" Jam stood up and left us. I continued my story.

"He asked me kung saan kami kakain and I said kahit saan. Then in my head, I was like 'Surprise me, Gab.' Tapos the next thing I knew, nasa harapan kami ng isang pangmayaman na restaurant!"

"Okay, I won't go through this s**t. Goodluck, Joy." Jeymi looked at Joy pitifully but I didn't mind them.

"Jeymi! Help me!" sabi ni Joy but I pretended I didn't hear anything.

"And then, he ordered the 'usual' but I don't know what food they serve so I ordered the same as his! Although I didn't know the exact name of the food, it was very delicious naman! Let's pay a visit sometimes! By the way, I think Kiel owns the restaurant because he appeared and then promised to treat us on our dinner!"

"Uh, mauuna na ako, Heaven. I have some things to do tonight," Joy said awkwardly. I stopped talking and gave her my meanest glare, and she immediately sat back down.

"As I was saying . . ."

***

"Good morning!" I greeted cheerfully. Too cheerful to my liking. I've never been this pleasant before.

"Morning, Heaven!" bati ni Jam na nagluluto na ng breakfast.

"Morning!" Jeymi yawned as she went out her room. She was still in her pyjamas while Jam already took a bath. Morning person talaga 'tong si Jam, I salute her.

"It's a good thing na holiday ngayon. How many hours have you been rambling on and on, Heaven?" Jeymi teased.

"I don't know. I think it was midnight when I was sleepy na. Now I feel guilty about Joy. I forced her to stay awake just to listen to my pointless dialogue."

"No, you aren't guilty," Jam rolled her eyes. "You actually looked pleased dahil you shared your kilig to other people."

I grinned while Jeymi shook her head. "By the way, alis tayo ngayon, girls?" Jam suggested.

"Sorry, I think I'm going to visit my Ate today," I replied while looking at my watch. I noticed they tensed at my words pero Jam shrugged it off with a smile.

"Bakit mo naman naisipan, Heaven?"

"I missed her. I think two months na kaming hindi nagkikita. Puro Skype and Facetime na lang. I want to hang out with her. She's been very busy lately. At isa pa, I'm getting curious about the company she's handling."

"I think it would be better kung mag-shopping na lang tayo! Let's leave your Ate alone for the moment kasi like you said, she's busy. Baka maistorbo mo siya," Jeymi contradicted.

"Really? Okay," I replied nonchalantly pero alam kong something's up. Pinipigilan nila akong makita si Ate, why is that? I walked back to my room and locked it.

Kinuha ko ang laptop and called her. She immediately answered. I noticed that she changed her hairstyle. She straightened out her curly hair.

"Heaven, you called?"

"Ate! Can I come?"

Mukhang nagulat siya. "W-what?"

"Gusto kitang puntahan! Can I? Let's hang out, we haven't seen each other for like, decades! I missed you na!"

"Sorry Heaven, now's not the right time. I have a meeting with my employees in five. Gotta go!" she winked at me and disappeared from my sight. Napanguso ako. Why did she turn me down? This is so unlike her. She promised pa naman dati na kapag nag-aya ako, she would automatically agree.

I sighed. Guess I just have to understand na mahirap 'yung ginagawa niya ngayon. I really want to see her! I sighed again. I already made up my mind. There's no stopping me, today.

Binuksan ko 'yung app ko and tried to locate her IP address. I got my results in seconds. I opened the map and typed a code and tsaka lumabas na roon ang way na pupuntahan ko to get to her location.

Okay, I know where she is. I dressed up tapos prinint ko rin 'yung map then found a shoulder bag to put my things inside. I also stashed in some money para sa transportation and for my food. Kinuha ko 'yung cardigan ko and put it on.

"Okay, everything's set." I played some songs on my stereo and set the volume up high. This way, alam ng 3Js na 'wag akong idi-disturb. They're probably afraid that I would give them the cold shoulder like last time.

I opened the window to my room and smirked. It's a bad thing na nasa second floor 'yung room ko kaya medyo mataas ang tatalunin ko. First, I threw down the bag. The ground's soft so I don't have to worry about my iPhone being smashed. Then lumabas ako ng window and grabbed onto a pipe that was just on top of the window.

From there, I skilfully climbed my way to the right side of the house. Buti na lang talaga at marunong akong mag-monkey bars. When the pipe was descending down, I slid down and used my feet as to not fall straight down.

I successfully escaped the 3Js! Pinagpag ko ang kamay ko kasi there's too much dust on the pipe then I ran while grabbing my purse. I hailed a taxi just before I saw Jam looking out the window. Whew, that was a close one.

"Sa'n po kayo, miss?" tanong ng driver.

"Dito po, kuya." Inilabas ko 'yung map at ibinigay 'yun sa kanya.

"Ate, here I come. Surprise~" nakangiting sabi ko while looking out the window.

***

"Ugh! I'm starving!" I groaned. Tumigil ako malapit sa company ni Ate. I just really needed to eat. I didn't know na medyo malayo pala 'to and it's almost lunch time but I haven't eaten anything.

Nakakita ako ng Jollibee na sign and did not hesitate to walk in. Kahit ano atang pagkain, kakainin ko! I'm really hungry!

"Your order, ma'am?" tanong ng cashier lady.

"One ultimate burgersteak, large fries, large cokefloat, and a regular hamburger please." After kong magbayad, I waited for my food and I grunted when my stomach grumbled.

Buti naman at konti ang tao dito! I can eat instantly and peacefully. As I thought, nilamon ko ang isang ultimate burgersteak within 15 minutes. Napahinay-hinay na lang ako sa pagkain when I was eating my fries. I took my time, since mukhang wala namang customers na pupunta.

"You're gonna kill what?!" My ears perked up nang marining ko 'yun.

"Lower your f*****g voice, Xandrei!" A girl hissed. Pasimple akong napatingin sa table na 'yun and saw three people talking.

"We can't do our mission without your help," the other guy said. Since I'm right next to them, I can hear them loud and clear.

"This is crazy! I've never killed anyone and I don't plan to!" The Xandrei dude said.

"Don't worry, we promise you that if you get caught, we'll take the blame. We really just needed your help. If we don't finish our mission by tonight, it's us who get killed. They only take in the best of the best. We can't back out now that we've came right in," the girl said with a hint of sadness and determination.

"And I don't plan to die earlier than planned. Masisira ang plano ni Boss if that happens," bulong ng guy.

"Seriously, what have you gotten yourselves into? Fine! Okay, fine! I don't want to hear anything that this incident is linked to me, you got it?"

"You can count on us, Xandrei. Thank you."

Hindi ko napansin na naubos ko na pala 'yung fries ko and that I've been sipping ice these past minutes. I cleared my throat at ibinulsa 'yung burger ko.

Okay, I don't what I just heard and if I'm going to do something, or pretend I didn't hear anything. Seriously, I won't get myself in that mess.

Nagpunta ako sa counter-area to order another coke float then took my leave. Dire-diretso ako hanggang sa gates ng 'company' ni Ate. I was about to pass nang bigla akong hinarangan ng guard.

"Your i.d. Miss?"

"Huh? I'm here to see Evangeline Fajardo, she's the one handling the company."

"Wag ka ngang magpatawa, Miss. I.D. or leave. Dalawa lang 'yan."

I was confused and irritated. s**t itong guard na 'to eh! Akala mo kung sinong mayabang! I just wanted to see my Ate pero hindi ako na-inform na kailangan pala ng I.D. dito!

"Kuya, just let me in and talk to my-"

"Hindi nga pwede miss. Do you want to die?"

Nagulat ako. Die agad?! OMG, what kind of security guard is this? Nananakot pa! Isusumbong ko 'to kay Ate mamaya.

"Kuya, I really just-"

"Leo!" I was interrupted by someone from the inside. Nakita ko 'yung gulat na expression nung guard before he closed the door. Oh gahd, he didn't!

"Who was that?" tanong nung guy from the other side.

Napasimangot ako and started knocking. "Hello! Is someone there?" I asked loudly.

The gate immediately opened again at nagulat ako when I saw someone familiar. "Sorry Kaz, she was a stubborn one. Ayaw umalis." Andriel dude raised up his palm to silence him.

"What are you doing here?" I bit my lip kasi sabay naman 'yon natanong. Then I raised an eyebrow.

"I asked first. What the hell are you doing there?" sabi ko.

"Why are you here?" He completely ignored my question! Ugh!

"I'm here to see my sister. Ayaw akong papasukin ng guard," I said then eyed the guard.

"Non-employees are not allowed inside the vicinity. Haven't your sister told you that?"

"Teka, bakit alam niya ang about sa place na 'to? If her sister's in there, the connection is supposed to be completely cut off-" Napatigil sa pagsasalita 'yung guard when Andriel glared at him.

"What did he mean, And-" He put a palm over my mouth kaya napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. Annoyed, I shooed his palm away. "How rude!" inis kong sabi.

He looked around, as if careful enough na walang makakakita sa amin. Then he pulled me in.

"Kaz! Bawal!" sabi nung Leo.

"Inform the Director and the Big Boss. They should already know. I need an I.D. for a visitor pass." Ibinigay ng guard ang isang I.D. at ibinato naman sa'kin 'yun ni Andriel.

"I'm going to let you in. But make sure you can keep yourself alive, Heaven. You don't know what you got yourself into."

Oh god, I don't know if I should be excited or not to see my sister. Because literally, the whole company is giving off a dangerous vibe.