Undercover Cinderella

CHAPTER 2

“You’re unbelievable, Ella. Anong gagawin mo ngayon, ha? Makipag siksikan sa bahay ng pamilya ko?”

Sumipsip ako sa kape mula sa mug na inihanda sa ‘kin ni Mandy. Kaninang hapon matapos kong magimpake ng mga gamit sa mansion ay dumiretso ako dito sa condo nila Mandy at Erik. Well, their love story cringes me, I admit. Masyadong cliché at colleague-dating type.

Wait, do I sound like I’m too jealous for their relationship? I hope not.

“For the meantime, Mandy. Please?” I make a sad face.

“No. Stop that annoying face. May mga anak at asawa na ako ditto, wala nang bakante. Mag rent ka nalang muna ng apartment. Or if you have enough money, buy a condo. Para naman magkapit bahay tayo.”

Mas lalo akong napasimangot. “I have no cash, no money in my bank account. Walang wala ako ngayon, Dydy.”

“Sa kalsada ka matulog.”

“Dydy naman, e.”

“Hindi mo ‘ko kadugo, lumayas ka sa pamamahay ko.”

“Bff naman kita, e.”

“Katrabaho mo lang ako. Hindi kita kilala.”

Padabog akong tumayo kaya nagulat si Mandy sa inasta ko. Nakakunot ang noo kong tinitigan siya. Pero nang makita ang galit niyang mukha, biglang nanlambot ang itsura ko’t nakangiti na.

“’To naman, ‘di mabiro. Pahiram nalang ako pang renta ng isang buwan.”

Bumuntong hininga si Mandy at parang sumuko na sa pangungulit ko.

“Isang buwan, Gabriella. ‘Yan lang ang ibibigay ko sa ‘yo kundi kutusan kita.”

Tumatalon akong yumakap sa kaniya at pinasalamatan siya. Success!

“Ako na maglaba ng panty mo, Dydy!”

“Tangina mo kadiri ka!”

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ♕ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ♕ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ♕ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ♕ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Bandang alas-syete ng gabi ay umalis na ako sa condo nila Mandy at dumiretso sa HQ. It's quite exhausting since galing pa ako sa pag-unpack ng mga gamit ko sa guest room nila kung saan ako matutulog o mags-stay for a month. Erik didn't know I'm going to live with them for a month, though. Gugulatin ko nalang.

And speaking of Erik, nandito kami sa meeting room para idiscuss ang mission ko. Although we're a team in one mission, ako yung nakatokang magtrabaho sa field while sila yung magiging, well, sidekicks or assistants ko. Or some of them may be a lookout, location detector, and technical staff, and hackers.

Well, we are the twelve infamous Class A agents. My late father, Gabriel Davidenko, used to be the Agent Virgo. And so when I got recruited, ako na ang pumalit sa pwesto niya. I've been recruited the moment I turned 18, which was eight years ago. My father died when I was fifteen, from a car crash, and that was the moment I stopped my training. Because Papa was the one who trained me to do combats.

"You're late as usual, Ella."

"Sorry po. I had an errands to do while unpacking my things up. Naglayas ako, e."

"Sa'n ka na nakatira ngayon?" Erik asked as his fingers flip through the pages of a pile of papers on his table.

Umupo ako at pinagmasdan isa-isa ang mga itsura ng mga kasama ko. The Class A agents, or also known as the Twelve Zodiacs. The table is long enough to fit the twelve agents. Nasa gitna nakaupo si Erik. On the right side where I'm sitting is Mandy, Mustafa, July, Andrew, and William. Sa tapat naman namin ay sina Noah, Aaron, Annie, Clint, and the twins, Apple and Cider. Yes, Apple and Cider, funny names.

Actually, we're the new generation twelve agents. Si Erik lang ata yung nauna sa 'min at naabutan pa sa first generation which is sila Papa.

"Sa condo niyo po." I casually answered Erik's question. Mabilis na napatingin sa 'kin si Mandy at pinandilatan ako ng mata. I raised my hand and did a peace sign.

Oops. I guess I spoiled their moment.

"What?!" Tiimbagang bulyaw ni Erik.

"Capricorn," tawag ni Mandy sa alyas ni Erik. "We'll talk later."

Muli akong pinandilatan ni Mandy at itinuon ang pansin sa kaniyang notebook. Bago magsimula si Erik ay pinandilatan niya rin ako ng mata at kinuha ang takip ng projector para makita sa white board ang mukha ni Gambino.

Gambino's wearing a luxurious shades, black thick leather. Sa tansya ko ay nasa isang airport siya dahil sa helicopter na nasa likod nito. He's quite looking good in that stolen photo, ha. I think he's like, uhm, the same age as me or two years older. Base lang sa napansin ko sa litrato at sa itsura niya.

"Liam Gambino. Twenty-eight years old, born and raised in California. His father is a Filipino who died in an airplane crash, and his mother died right after his father was buried six feet under. So Gambino was eighteen years old when he started his crimes," panimula ni Erik at pinindot ang remote niya para mag-next slide ito. "A very known man in business tycoon for his famous luxury wines, furniture, and clothing line. He is the supplier for the underground business, too."

Sunod na ipinakita ni Erik ang mga litrato na kinuha ata sa isa sa 'min. Probably Aaron, since he always brings his camera with him. Tapos siya pa yung naka-assign palagi kapag may kukunan ng litrato as evidence.

"So what we're looking for is the evidences about his illegal doings. And in that way, mapatumba natin ang kumpanya niya at makukulong siya. Kaya ang naka-assign ngayon sa field ay si Agent Virgo." Lumingon sa 'kin si Erik at gamit ang hawak niyang naka-stapler na papel, tinuro n'ya 'yon sa 'kin. "Alam mo na gagawin mo, hindi ba?"

"Yes sir."

Ah, the flirty mission is back. The last time I had a mission like this was a year ago.

Pinindot ulit ni Erik ang remote at naka-flash sa white board ang mukha ng lalandiin ko.

"This is John Gotti. Right hand of Liam Gambino. Thirty years old, been working with the Gambino for ten years."

He's hot as f**k. Oh God, sorry, pero pakiramdam ko diko kakayanan ang itsura nitong Gotti na 'to.

"So..." Nagsimula nang mag explain si Erik patungkol sa individual na gagawin.