Who Are You Again?

CHAPTER 13

Ang Scarface Cartel. Ang Roadside Club. Scarface himself. Lahat ng ito ay tila puzzle pieces na pilit binubuo ni Kyla habang nakaupo sa kanyang opisina. Habang nagbubukas ng laptop, hindi niya mapigilang mangarap kung paano tatakbo ang headlines kapag nailathala niya ang kwentong ito. Siguradong hindi lang ito magdudulot ng positive impacts sa kanilang company, but it will also increase the sales, the value, and the credibility of the K Newspapers and Magazines Company. After all, ito lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nag-stay siya dito sa Pilipinas: to make her business successful at all costs, which also makes her the best journalist in the city.

Pero isang bagay lang ang sigurado niya: the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to danger. Although it shakes her a bit, ngunit nangibabaw pa rin talaga ang kanyang kagustuhang mai-cover ang Scarface Cartel. It is a gamble at kahit na anong mangyari, she must bear the risk of it.

However, while busy at her laptop, creating a draft and zoting down all the information she got, hindi niya namalayan na kanina pa pala nakatingin sa kanya ang kanyang driver na si Watt Yabro.

“Ano ba talaga ang pinapasok mo, ma’am Kyla…” tanong niya sa sarili habang nakaupo lang sa sofa ng office ng kanyang boss. Kanina pa niya nafe-feel ang kakaibang tensed at atmosphere sa kanyang masungit na boss, kaya gusto rin niyang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari.

Mabilis na sinimulan ni Kyla ang pagsusulat ng draft para sa kanyang bagong exposé. Ang bawat salitang inilalagay niya sa dokumento ay puno ng lalim at emosyon. Ito ang kwentong magpapakita sa publiko ng madilim na katotohanan tungkol sa Scarface Cartel. Even though she had already been told of the risk of publishing the existence of the mafia in the country, she risked it. She, somehow thought na mas mabuting maging knowledgeable ang mga tao at maging aware sa mga nangyayari.

“This will be it. This will change everything,” bulong niya sa sarili, habang patuloy na nagta-type.

Ngunit habang abala siya sa kanyang ginagawa, biglang tumunog ang telepono sa kanyang mesa. Sinagot niya ito nang mabilis, at agad na narinig ang boses ng kanyang kaibigang Chief of Police ng City na si PltCol Hidalgo.

“Kyla, I heard you’re digging into the Scarface Cartel,” sabi nito at may bahid ng pagkabahala sa boses.

“I am, Hidalgo. And you know me, I won’t stop until I get the whole story,” sagot ni Kyla, puno ng determinasyon.

“You need to be careful. Hindi basta-basta ang mga taong yan. They have eyes and ears everywhere. Kung malaman nilang ikaw ang nag-iimbestiga sa kanila, baka ikaw ang sunod nilang target.” Sagot naman mula sa kabilang linya. Well, Hidalgo, of course, knew it all about this dahil katulad ng mafia, malakas rin ang kanyang koneksyon. He was the Chief of Police, tho.

Sandaling tumahimik si Kyla. Alam niyang totoo ang sinasabi ng kaibigan, pero hindi siya uurong. She already bet resources, money, and even time, kaya wala siyang nakikitang dahilan para umatras. “I know the risks, Hidalgo. But this story needs to be told. The people have the right to know.”

Tumikhim si Hidalgo sa kabilang linya.

"It might cause an errand to the public… look, I am not doing this because ayaw kong gumawa ka ng publication about the Scarface Cartel. Ugh… Ghad I know you won't listen to me. Just watch your back, Kyla. Hindi lahat ng tao sa paligid mo ay pwede mong pagkatiwalaan.”

Napatingin si Kyla sa bintana ng kanyang opisina at huminga ng malalim. When he leaned back towards the office, she saw her driver staring at ger, yet she never care at all. Hindi niya pinansin iyon at bagkus ay mas nangingibabaw ang kanyang kagustohang i-cover ang Scarface Cartel.

“ 'Wag kang mag-alala sa akin, Hunter Hidalgo. Walang gulong hindi ko nalalampasan. Besides, I know you have information down there. You better tell me right now or I'll slit your throat out.”

“Alright. This is in violation of the police operating procedure, and this information is very classified. But if this will help you with that curiosity of yours, then be at the Roadside Club 2 days from now at exactly 0200h in the morning. We will conduct a synchronized raid because the Intel reports reveal that they'll be having huge transactions with the Italian Mafia– the Sinaloa Cartel.”

She couldn't even hide her feelings matapos niyang narinig ang sinabi ng Chief. “Italian Mafia? Are you sure? Yo–you mean, Si-Sinaloa Cartel!?” Hindi makapaniwala si Kyla sa kanyang narinig mula kay Hunter Hidalgo, kaya napasigaw siya at napatingin kay Watt Yabro, then she realized na malakas pala ang volume ng phone niya and probably his driver heard everything. Halata ito sa mabigat na tingin ng driver niya sa kanya.

“You heard it right, Kyla. Italian Mafia– The Sinaloa Cartel. The Scarface Cartel is no ordinary mafia organization. I know you knew this all along. Their transactions, their connections, and their preciseness. They are a threat to the people, Kyla. I have to stop them. We have to.”

Bumalik ang atensyon ni Kyla kay Hunter Hidalgo sa kabilang linya, ngunit nakikita pa rin niya sa kanyang side eyes na mabigat pa rin ang tingin ng driver nya sa kanya.

“Alright I'll be there, Hunter Hidalgo.” Huli niyang wika bago niya pinatay ang tawag.

“No you can't, ma'am Kyla!” Tumayo si Watt na para bang isang lalaking pinaninindigan ang kanyang prinsipyo sa harap ng isang hari. “No, you can't do that!” Muling sabi niya at naisip niyang it really make sense. Kaya pala masyadong tense si Kyla kanina dahil pala ito sa Scarface Cartel.

“The mafia organization is far beyond what you think they are, Ma'am Kyla. You don't have to cross the line if you don't want to bet your life on it.”

“Stop lecturing me , Watt Yabro. I had enough.” Iritadong sagot ni Kyla sa kanyang driver. She was frustrated to the fact na narinig lahat ng kanyang driver ang lahat ng kanyang hassles.

“How careless of me to even let you stay here…” Mahinang tugon niya ngunit mababakas sa boses nito ang inis kaya napailing na lang sya.

“I'm not lecturing you, Ma'am Kyla. I'm trying to protect you.” Wika naman ni Watt Yabro. He thought na magiging delikado lamang ang buhay ng kanyang boss kung ipagpalatuloy niya ang mga plano niya. Why? Why does he know na magiging delikado lang ang buhay ni Kyla? And how could he act like he was sure about it?

“Ano ba ang alam mo sa Cartel ha, Watt Yabro!?” Sagot ni Kyla sa kanyang driver. This time, she let her frustration carry things out for her. Ang kanyang boses ay malakas at rinig na rinig sa buong room.

“You know nothing about the mafias, Watt. Ilang araw pa nga lang kitang driver feeling close ka na agad? Sino ka ba para lecturan ako? You know nothing about me. You know nothing about my hassles so stop acting like you care!” Muling sabi pa nito at napapikit ng kanyang mga maya. Then she caressed her forehead na para bang pinunasan ang pawis sa kanyang noo. “Ghad… this is frustrating!”

“I am a…” Mahinahong sagot ni Watt Yabro sa kanyang boss, habang nakatitig sa mga mata nito, but he stopped it. Something pulled him off na para bang sinasabing ‘wag mong ituloy, Watt Yabro.’ He seemed like about to disclose something he shouldn't have to, mabuti na lang at napigilan niya ang sarili. “I am a driver. Yes. You're right, ma'am Kyla. I shouldn't mind your business.”

“You’re right! You are just my driver, Watt You are not my consigliere. You do your job and drive me, but do not cross the line, or else I'm gonna fire you right now and right now!”