Codename: Princess Trigger

Trigger 12 - The meeting

The meeting

Belle's PoV :

I was surprised when I got inside the HQ of Black Dia. Almost all of the agents, sub-agents, agents-in-training and I can see some of the top ten agents drinking and dancing. I especially fixated my gazed on that woman dancing sexy with her famous flirtatious look, like she's flirting all the guys there.

Hindi pa rin nagbabago. Napailing nalang ako. I walked towards them, and when they saw me, they flinched as if they saw a horrifying creature. Ganoon na ba talaga akong nakakatakot? 

???1: "Trigger! Finally! I missed you."

Belle: "Psh. As if you really mean it."

???1: "Is it that obvious?"

Belle: "Tss."

???2: "Oh? Ang tagal nating 'di nagkita-kita, nag-aaway na naman kayo? Grabe talaga."

???1: "We're not fighting, duh~ that's how we greet each other."

???2: "E 'di wow."

???1: "Oh my gosh, Micaela Jang, how did you learn to be sarcastic like that? You're hurting my fragile heart." (mocking)

Micaela: "You do have a heart, Demi Maryhills but that isn't fragile for sure."

Demi: "And what do you mean naman, Ela?"

Micaela: "I'm saying na you're heart is not fragile because it's a warrior's heart. It's strong."

Demi: "And that's what I like about you, agent Snow."

Micaela: "I like you too, agent Venus."

Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin at ininom ang red wine na kinuha ko kanina sa mga naglilibot na waiter sa paligid. I was enjoying my wine when a man sat beside me while drinking his tequila.

Belle: "How was your business going?"

Sinamaan ako nito ng tingin kalaunan ay napabuntong hininga ito. He sipped his drink.

CJ: "It's going smoothly starting tonight, again. I had to close it for a day because of the damages someone did to the place."

Belle: "That's why I'll pay for the damages but wouldn't let me."

???: "Kasi bayad na."

Bigla akong napatingin sa isa pang dumating at naasar ako sa klase ng ngisi nito. Magkasama na naman pala ang mag-best friend na ito. Ang dalawang maloloko. 

CJ: "Ely!"

Nagtitinginan silang dalawa at naglalakihan pa ang mga mata, na parang nag-uusap sila sa pamamagitan lang ng ganoon. Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin at patuloy kong ininom ang wine na bagong kinuha ko.

Ely: "Ah, bayad na nga, Belle, binayaran ni Carmona. 'Di ba pare?"

CJ: "Oo nga. Tama siya doon, Belle. Kaya 'wag ka nang mag-alala."

Belle: "Psh."

Therbie: "Tinatawag na tayong lahat sa meeting room ni Boss. Na-late siya dumating kaya hindi agad tayo nakapag-meeting kanina."

Nauna na akong tumayo at lumakad papunta sa Main office ni Boss kung saan ang meeting room. Nadatnan ko na doon sina Nicolet at Knight na kumaway pa sa akin, si Alchris, one of the top agents and that cute japanese lady sitting beside him, si agent Sakura, but her real name is Kyoko Kitamura. She stood and with a big smile, she came to me and gave me a big hug.

Kyoko: "Hisashiburi desu, oneechan?! I missed you!" {It's been a long time, ate.}

Belle: "I am too, but, you might need to loosen the grip you're suffocating me."

Kyoko: "OH!? Gomennasai, gomennasai! Daijyoubu desuka? Oneechan?" {Sorry, sorry! Are you OK?}

I patted her head and gave her a smile. Among the girl agents and all of us in the top, Kyoko is the youngest agent, at the age of 16, kinatatakutan na siya at kabilang pa sa top agents.

Belle: "I am OK. And Kyoko, 'di ba nag-aaral ka mag-tagalog? When you're here in the Philippines, speak in english or tagalog."

Kyoko: "Hai--I mean, yes.. po, ate."

Sabay na kaming naupo at tumabi na ako sa kanya dahil hindi na niya binitawan ang kamay ko. Tinanguan ko si Alchris bilang pagbati. Pareho kaming tahimik niyan at sa lahat ng mga lalaking agents, si Alchris naman ang pinakabata. We're of the same age.

Nagsipasukan na lahat ng agents hanggang sa lahat na kami ay nakapalibot sa oblong-shaped table na iyon at hinhintay si Boss.

Therbie: "It's been a while since we were complete like this.

Knight: "Oo nga. Kamusta naman mga naging mission niyo?"

Alchris: "Mine was fine. I finished the mission earlier than expected."

Ely: "E bakit kagabi ka lang umuwi? Tapos may kasama ka pa.."

CJ: "Hahaha! Huwag mong masyadong ginaganyan si Chris, baka mapurnada pa iyong mabubuo niyang love life."

Lahat sila parang na-curious sa sinasabi ng dalawa, kahit ako rin naman hindi ko lang pinahahalata. And then, napatingin ako kay Kyoko na nasa gilid ko dahil bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at humihigpit pa iyon. I had to look at her face to see why she's like that but I saw her smiling and her face was flushed.

Could it be..?

Belle: "You and Chris..?"

Kyoko: "Well... I like him and he likes me too, that's why were dating! What's masama about that?"

Knight: "Wala namang masama doon, Sakura. Masaya nga kami kasi masaya kayo. 'Wag mo nalang pansinin iyong dalawang kolokoy dyan, nanti-trip lang 'yan."

CJ: "Oo nga naman, Kyoko, we're happy for you."

Ely: "Chris is a man now. Hindi na siya totoy! Bwahahaha."

Chris: "Shut up!"

They were all laughing. Pero natigil iyon nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Boss at ang assistant niyang si Ara. Seryoso si Boss kaya naging seryoso na rin kami.

Boss: "I missed you guys. Mabuti naman at kumpleto tayong lahat dito."

Demi: "We missed you too, Boss D. Kamusta po ang love life niyo?"

Micaela: "ahaha, Demi! Para kang sira."

Demi: "What's wrong with asking that? Eh halos lahat na nga sa atin dito luma-love life e."

Boss: "Love is in the air pala dito. Kaya pala medyo I feel bitter e."

Nicolet: "Boss, ang conyo mo lang. haha."

Boss: "I know right? Anyway--ehem--be serious now agents. Alam niyo na ba kung bakit ko kayo ipinatawag lahat ngayon? You have any idea what this meeting is about?"

Walang sumasagot sa amin. 

Boss: "I thought so. Ang meeting na ito ay para pag-usapan ang muling pag-aayos ng rank ninyo, bilang top ten. Naaalala ninyo na ba?"

So this is the team building, the BDA's way, huh? This will gonna be excited.

Boss: "Ara, ano-anong rank nga ba ang mga nasa top ngayon?"

Ara: "10th--Demi Maryhills or Agent Venus. 9th--Kyoko Kitamura or Agent Sakura. 8th--Ely Salazar or Agent Spike. 7th--Micaela Jang or Agent Snow. 6th--Alchris Cordillero or Agent Max. 5th--CJ Carmona or Agent blaze. 4th--Nicolet Panganiban or Agent Angel. 3rd--Knight Durano or Agent Knightwalker. 2nd--John Therbie Romero or Agent JT. and the top one.. 1st--Belle Clementine Meyer or Agent Princess Trigger."

Boss: "Sa loob ng apat na taon, parang halos hindi naman nagagalaw ang ranking na 'yan. Ngayon kayang taon, may magbabago? We'll let's see. The team building which will determine the new ranking of top ten agents, will be happening after a month. Binibigyan ko kayo ng isang buwan para sa mga agents na kakatapos lang ng mission nila ay makapagpahinga, at sa mga may current mission ngayon, mai-ayos niyo muna ang iiwanan ninyo for 3 days and 2 nights. is that clear?"

All: "Yes, sir!"

Boss: "Alright, then. Enjoy the rest of the night, children. Maaari na kayong makalabas. JT, Knightwalker, stay here. The rest may go outside."

Hindi ko maialis ang tingin kay Therbie dahil nagtataka ako kung bakit may sarili silang meeting. Para saan kaya iyon? May mission ba sina Knight at Therbie? Is it that confidential?

Nicolet: "I wonder why my Dada and Therbie needed to stay here."

Belle: "I wonder, too."

Nicolet: "You are?"

Belle: "Psh. Masama bang magtaka ako?"

Nicolet: "H-hindi naman. Grabe ka talaga sa 'kin, Belle."

Belle: "I didn't said anything. I'm just asking."

Lumakad nalang ako palabas at hindi na rin ako magtatagal dito. Uuwi nalang ako hindi naman ako mahilig sa mga ganitong party. I hate crowded places. I'm a loner kind of person and I value my peaceful and quiet time the most.

Bago pa ako makalabas sa Agency premises ay may tumawag sa akin.

Demi: "Belle!"

Belle: "Yeah?"

Demi: "Be serious about the team building, darling. I'll be serious too. I'll steal your ranking. Challenge accepted?"

Belle: "You know me. I don't back out on a fight."

Demi: "Very well."

Hindi naman ako nagpapatalo sa kanya noon pa man. At ine-expect ko na rin na lalapitan niya ako para hamunin na naman para sa mataas na rank ko. I don't really care about the ranking but I am a competitive person so I'll give her a serious fight, like she wanted me to do.

In a month, I'm gonna be much stronger.