When she met Mr. Gangster

Chapter 12

Pumunta ako sa CR para mag re-touch. Papunta na sana ako nang may marinig akong ingay sa isang dulo. Sumilip ako at may dalawang staff na nag-uusap.

"Ilagay mo 'to sa pagkain ni Sen."

"Ayoko, baka mapahamak ako."

"Hinde, akong bahala sa'yo."

"Kahit na kailangan ko ng pera, hindi ko kayang pumatay."

"Hindi siya mamamatay, tatakutin lang natin siya. Nakalimutan mo na ba kung paano niya pinatay ang kapatid mo?" Nagulat ako sa narinig ko. Pinatay? Bakit may patayang nangyayari?

May narinig akong ingay sa tenga ko. "Cassie, stay right there.", sabi ni Josh. Ilang segundo pa, dumating na siya pero wala na ang staff. "Nasaan sila?"

"Narinig mo?"

"That's why I placed that there." Lumingon lingon siya para siguraduhing walang tao saka niya cinontact ang mga members na nasa Waitstaff Team. Itinuro ko kung sino ang mga 'yon. "Tara."

Pumunta kami sa likod ng hotel, sa tagong area. "Anong ginagawa natin dito?"

"Maghihintay." Ilang minuto pa hawak ng ilang mga naka uniform ang dalawang nakita kong nag-uusap. "Sino kayo? Anong kailangan niyo?"

"Hindi na importante 'yon.", sabi nong isang may malaking nunal sa baba na nasa mga 30 years old. "Pare-parehas kayo, mamatay na kayong lahat.", sabi niya at tumawa ng malakas. Tumitig siya sa akin at ngumiti na parang sasaksakin niya ako. Iniharang ni Josh ang katawan niya sa akin. Ilang minuto pa, dumating ang mga official security personnel ni Senator.

Anong nangyayari dito? Bakit may mga ganito? Lumabas si Job na naka security outfit at lumapit sa akin. "Cassie, you don't have to see this."

Nagpahatak ako kay Job pabalik sa lobby area. Napansin niyang nanginginig ako at kinuhanan niya ako ng tubig. "Are you okay?"

"Ano 'yon? Bakit nila gustong patayin si Sen?", sabi ko habang nagpapanic at nanginginig ang boses.

"This is why I'm hesitant to include you. You are not mentally trained to do this."

"Can you explain what just happened? What are they going to do to those two?"

"Cassie, do you remember the contract? You can't ask questions.", sabi ni Job. Tinignan ko siya nang nakakunot ang noo. "I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I'm here to debrief you. I will try to answer some of your questions generally but I can't tell you details."

"I think I can live with that."

"In this line of task, you don't believe everything. You have to get all the information before believing something. What you know should not get the best of you, because if it does, you're going to lose your mind."

This is not just an ordinary gang. This is closest to a Gang basing on the negative definition of this. Nakakatakot.

Ininom ko ang tubig hanggat sa maubos ang laman ng baso.

"Cassie, are you okay?", tanong ni Josh.

"She's in shock. Dapat hindi mo na siya isinama sa likod."

"I thought you're different.", sabi ni Josh.

"What?"

"I thought you can handle this but you're still a kid. Stop pretending to be strong outside when you can't even handle seeing someone get arrested."

"They were arrested?", tanong ko.

"Yeah, we reported them to the police. We saw some suspicious liquid on a vial from each of their pockets. If those are poison basing from the voice recording, they will be investigated."

"So, they're safe?"

"Safe? Maybe? They're under investigation now? What do you mean?" Kumunot noo niya. "Did you think we will kill them?" Tumawa ng malakas si Joshua.

"Josh tama na, she's in shock.", sabi ni Josh.

"Ano ba sa tingin mo sa amin mamamatay tao? Are you stupid?" Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

"Joshua.", sabi ng isang mababang boses.

"Pa.", Parang naging maamong tupa bigla si Josh nang tawagin siya nung lalaki.

"I've been looking for you. Bali-balita may girlfriend ka na." Tumayo ako bigla.

"Hello sir.", sabi ko. Tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa na hindi ngumingiti.

"Nice meeting you, I hope to get to know you soon.", sabi niya sa akin. Ngumiti ako at tumango lang siya. Napaka cold, parang si Joshua. "Job."

"Sir."

"Umuwi kayo agad.", sabi niya. Umalis siya at pumasok na sa hall. Tahimik silang dalawa at hindi makatingin sa isa't isa.

"I thought he wouldn't come."

"How would you explain to him Josh?", tanong ni Job.

"Sabihin mo lang break na tayo agad.", suggestion ko.

"No.", sabay nilang sabi. Ha? Hindi ba ganoon ang plano?

"It's not that easy Cass.", sabi ni Josh. "I can't introduce you now and then break up with you."

"Why? Sabihin mo lang na ako nakipag-break." Nagtinginan sila Job at Josh tsaka tumawa.

"Yeah, like that's believable.", sabi ni Josh. "I will make a proposal. I want to hire you."

"Hire me? I don't need a job, I'm rich."

"Regardless, I need to hire you as my girlfriend." Tumawa ako.

"Your what?! No way you're serious, do you think I'm a joke?!"

"Hindi ko ibabalik locket mo."

"What happened to you're a man of your word? Biglang hindi na?"

"You don't know my family. You're scared of your Dad, I'm scared of mine." Nako, ginamit niya na ang Dad Card.

"Job? Are you not hearing this? Are you agreeing to this?"

Huminga si Job ng malalim. "I'm sorry but it's the only way to clean up this mess.", sabi ni Job. Why is he siding him?!

"Three months, para lang maging believable, let's just say it didn't work. You don't have to act out while we're at school, it's an on call basis. Once in a while, I'll call you or video chat you while I'm with Dad."

"Why are you doing this?"

"You can't ask questions." This is killing me. The curious cat inside of me is dying with all these secrets.

"You can't do this to me. How can I act if I don't know your reasons huh?"

"One step at a time Cassie, one step at a time. Deal?"

"Just 3 months? No commitment?"

"Just 3 months. No commitment.", sabi ni Josh.

"May magagawa pa ba ako, you better keep your word or I will expose you."

"Whatever.", sabi ni Josh. "Tomorrow, tambayan, I'll draft a new contract."

Nauna na akong umalis at hinatid uli ako ni Job. "Hindi ka magkkwento?", tanong ko sakanya.

"Ayoko na ngang magsalita baka may makwento akong hindi mo dapat malaman."

"Ang daya.", sabi ko. "By the way, how do you know him? You're not brothers are you?"

"Kind of?"

"What?!"

"I'll tell you sometime. Not now. Alam kong hindi sasabihin 'to ni Josh pero since nandito ka na sa sitwasyong to sasabihin ko na. The reason why he can't just break up with you soon was because he is trying to get the approval of his Father. He's trying to build up his name and kung nalaman niyang bumalik si Josh sa pangbababae, mawawala nanaman mga pinaghirapan niya."

"Why can't he just say that it was for an undercover."

"Cass, if things are as easy as that, ginawa na namin."

"You mean, hindi alam ng papa niya ginagawa niya to?" Tumango siya. 

"Our family doesn't know that Slayers have these kinds of activities. Except, alum parents of course so it is important for you to keep this as a secret."  

"Napaka complicated naman ng buhay niya."

"Oo, that's why he have to make your break-up believable."

"I see." Tahimik siyang nag drive pero rinig ko ang malalim niyang hininga na parang kinakabahan siya. "Okay ka lang?" tanong ko.

Tumigil siya at itinabi ang sasakyan sa gilid.

"Cassie I like you.", sabi niya na nakatingin sa mata ko. Nagbubugbugan na mga brain cells ko, rinig na rinig ko ang lakas ng t***k ng puso ko at lakas ng hininga niya. "I can't bear seeing you with him. I want to tell you this now before I lose my chance."

Inalis ko ang tingin ko sakanya at hindi sumagot. Itinuloy niya ang pagmamaneho at 'yon ang pinakamatagal na byahe ko pa-uwi. Dali-dali akong lumabas sa sasakyan niya at walang sinabi hanggang makapasok ako.

I have a crush on him since the day I saw him but this is too sudden, is he for real?