Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 10

PAGOD na lumabas si Reese kaniyang opisina. Kung pwede lang siyang matulog roon, ginawa na niya. Paglabas niya ng kaniyang opisina, wala na si Artemis sa mesa nito. Malamang ay umuwi na ito dahil alas siete na ng gabi.

“Maganda gabi po, Ma’am,” bati sa kaniya ng mga security na nagbabantay sa may pintuan ng gusali.

Tumango naman si Reese.

Paglabas niya ng pintuan, isang itim na kotse ang nakahinto sa harapan ng gusali. Nakabukas ng bintana kaya naman nakita niya kung sino ang nakasakay sa loob.

It was Alaric.

Nagtaka naman si Reese at lumapit sa nakaparadang sasakyan. “Mr. Volkov,” she greeted. “What are you doing here?”

Nagmulat ng mata si Alaric saka tumingin kay Reese. “What do you think?”

Reese just shrugged. “I’m not a mind reader, so I can’t guess what’s in your mind,” she said plainly.

Napailing na lamang si Alaric. This woman has a sharp tongue. He thought as he opened the door for her from inside.

“Get in. I’ll send you home,” Alaric said. But his eyes suddenly caught something. From a building near the Sinclairs’, he saw a red color that flashed exactly pointing in their direction.

“Get in!”

Hinila niya ang dalaga papasok sa loob saka mabilis na isinara ang pinto ng sasakyan.

The bullet didn’t penetrate the car because it was bulletproof.

“Anong nangyari?” nagtatakang tanong ni Reese. Hindi niya alam na muntikan na siyang tamaan ng bala kung hindi siya hinila ni Alaric.

“Sniper,” simpleng sagot ni Alaric saka tumingin kay Julian na nasa driver seat. “Let’s go.”

Tumango si Julian.

Inilabas naman ni Alaric ang cellphone saka tinawagan si Ronan. “My fiancée was assassinated. Catch the sniper and find out who was behind it.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Alaric ended the call and looked at Reese. “Are you okay?”

Umiling si Reese. “I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you for saving me.”

“I did that so I won’t become a widow before the wedding.”

Reese tsked. “Widow? Iyon naman ang tawag sa mga kasal na namamatayan ng asawa. Hindi ka pa naman kasal, ah.”

Hindi na sumagot si Alaric.

“Are you really okay? You seemed calm after what happened,” Alaric said, studying Reese.

“I didn’t know that there was a sniper, so I was pretending that I was not assassinated—” she looked at her wrist watch, “—five minutes ago.”

Alaric couldn’t help but stare at his fiancée. Then he shook his head.

I don’t like her, but I get worried if she gets hurt. He thought while looking at Reese. Binawi niya ang tingin at nagkunwaring abala sa kaniyang cellphone.

“Just sent me home,” Reese said.

“Are you sure?”

Tumango si Reese.

“Okay.”

Alaric gave Julian a knowing looked and his assistant nodded his head.

Hinatid ni Alaric si Reese sa Sinclair’s mansion. At nang makita niyang nakapasok na si Reese sa loob ng mansyon saka lamang sila umalis ni Julian.

“Boss, I’m curious. Ms. Sinclair is your fiancée, but I can see that you like Ms. Agnes. You’ve been looking for her. Aren’t you contradicting yourself?” Julian asked.

Tumingin si Alaric sa labas ng bintana. Julian was his right-hand man, and he considered him as his brother, kaya naman hinahayaan niya ito sa mga gusto nitong itanong. Only Julian can have that kind of treatment from him. If it were other people, he was already dead before he could ask the question.

“Ms. Agnes was my savior, and I am grateful to her. Magulo ang mundo ko, Julian. No need to drag her into the chaos. Let her live peacefully.” Ashriel sighed. “As for Reese, she will become my wife soon. Of course, I will respect her as my wife. We’re matched because we are moving in the same world.”

“But, Boss, you said before, happiness is what matters.”

Umiling si Ashriel. “Since I became the Boss of the Shadow Organization, happiness was already out of my choice.”

Julian sighed.

Tipid na ngumiti si Ashriel. “No need to feel sorry for me, Julian. This was the life of a mercenary like us. It was always bloodshed.”

Hindi na umimik si Julian. Binilisan na lamang niya ang pagmamaneho.

The next day, as Ashriel was getting ready to go to his office, Ronan called.

“Report.” Aniya sa malamig na boses.

“Boss, nahuli namin ang sniper. But he poisoned himself. We didn’t get any information before we interrogated him.” Ani Ronan.

Ashriel let out a sigh. “Don’t investigate any further. They were after Reese, and I know they will come again. From now on, focus on protecting her.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Tinapos ni Ashriel ang tawag.

Napaisip siya. Many people were coming after Reese. And those people have ulterior motives—they were after something—the Sinclair System.

Nahilot ni Alaric ang sentido. Pero wala na rin siyang pinagkaiba sa mga ito. He is marrying Reese because he wants to get access to the Sinclair System to investigate his parents’ death. Gusto niyang malaman kung sino ang nasa likod nito—the designer of that AEGIS-535 and the person who was responsible for releasing it.

“Julian, this afternoon, don’t accept any appointment,” he said. “May gagawin akong importante.” Huli na ng ma-realize niya kung ano ang kaniyang sinabi.

Tumango si Julian. “Yes, Boss.”

He has another appointment this afternoon.

And his appointment was at the jewelry store.

Namulsa siya at sandali niyang tinignan ang entrance ng jewelry store bago siya pumasok. Hindi niya alam kung ang pumasok sa kaniya at siya mismo ang pumunta rito upang mamili ng wedding ring. He could send Julian to buy it for him, but his mind insisted on going.

Alaric stood at the counter with his eyes fixed on the glass case. He was listening as the sales associate explained material and cuts, but he barely registered them in his mind. His focus wasn’t on sparkle or symbolism but on what Reese had said, ‘simple’.

“Take your time, sir,” the associate said politely, stepping back.

Isang tango ang naging tugon ni Alaric.

Habang tumitingin siya sa mga singsing na naka-display, isang presensiya ang naramdaman niya. He turned slightly, and then he froze.

Rica Agnes stood two steps away from him, browsing a separate display. Nakasuot ito ng plain na jacket, bahagyang nakatali ang buhok, and her attention seemingly fixed on a row of minimalist bands.

Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Alaric.

“It’s you again,” Rica said, glancing up.

“Didn’t expect to run into you here,” Alaric said as he recovered quickly. Pero parang na-imagine niya si Reese kay Rica.

“Same,” Rica replied in a flat voice. “Buying something important?”

Tumango si Alaric. “Yes,” sagot niya. He didn’t elaborate.

She studied him for a moment, then gestured toward the case. “Let me guess. You don’t know what you’re looking for.”

“Obvious ba?”

Pilit na ngumiti si Rica. “Your face says it all.”

Alaric exhaled. “I need a ring.”

Napatigil si Rica. “A wedding ring?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered with no hesitation.

Rica nodded slowly, as if filing the information away. “Your fiancée is not with you?”

Umiling si Alaric. “I guess she’s not interested.”

Napatikhim si Rica. “Bakit mo nasabi ‘yan?”

Ngumiti lang si Alaric saka umiling. Hindi na niya sinabi na arranged marriage lang sila ng fiancée niya. “You’re a woman. Can you help me?”

Tumango si Rica. “What does your fiancée want?”

“Simple.”

Ngumiti ng tipid si Rica. Something unreadable passed through her eyes at that. He really wanted to find a simple ring.

Alaric watched Rica look at the rings displayed inside the glass case. Then she pointed to a pair of rings—it was a simple band ring—brushed metal, clean edges, and nothing ornamental. “It will suit you and your future wife.”

Tinignan ni Alaric ang singsing. He nodded once. “That one,” he said.

The associate stepped forward to retrieve it. The ring was placed into a small black box. Alaric took it and stared at it in his palm before closing the lid.

Pagkatapos magbayad ni Alaric, tumingin siya kay Rica. Inilahad niya ang kamay. “Thank you. I’m Alaric, by the way.”

Tinignan ni Rica ang kamay niyang nakalahad bago nito idinaop ang palad sa palad niya. “Rica.”

Natigilan na lamang si Alaric nang maramdaman niya ang pamilyar na pakiramdam sa tuwing hinahawakan niya si Reese. Why am I feeling this way for Rica?

Rica smiles.

Mabilis na binawi ni Alaric ang kamay. Pakiramdam niya ay sobrang pamilyar sa kaniya ang dalagang nasa kaniyang harapan. He stepped back and headed to the door. Bago siya lumabas, lumingon siya kay Rica at nakita niyang tumitingin ito sa mga nakadisplay na kwintas.

Alaric withdrew his gaze from her and then touched his chest. His heart was beating so fast.

Reese was wearing a mask, while Rica was showing her face. Both are the same person, but they have different identities. Even if Alaric was a keen person, he failed to see and recognize the person in front of him.

Finally, someone has surpassed the keen eyes of the formidable mercenary leader of Asia.

And Alaric had no idea he’d just taken advice from the woman he was about to marry.