Hiding Secrets

Chapter 19

Sapphire looked at herself in the mirror. Wearing a beige dress paired with a black ankle-strap sandal. Inilugay lang niya ang ma-along buhok at hindi na masyadong naglagay ng kolorete sa mukha.

She was busy locking the necklace when Azariah appeared in her doorstep. Nakahilig ito sa hamba ng pintuan at pinapanood siya.

Mahina niya itong nginitian at ibinalik ang atensyon sa sinusuot na necklace. Napaka-liit kasi ng lock nito at dumudulas sa kamay niya.

“Let me.”

Napa-atras siya ng kaunti rito ng abutin nito ang kwentas niya. She could feel his breath in her nape. Her breathing halted for a moment when his fingertips touch the glimpse of her skin.

“Thank you.”

“You ready?”

It’s not her first time to be a part in a mission with her co-agents. But this will be surely a first time to be part of a mission with new faces around her.

“How did you planned all of this? I mean, in-ensayo kana ba talaga para sa ganitong larangan?”

“It’s all from experience, Sapphire. You fail, learn. When you’re wrong, reflect. There’s a lot of things to looked forward than to be in the same place stepping backward. And to answer your question, it’s my choice to enter this kind of world.”

“Paano kung magkamali ka? What would you do about it?” tanong niya sa binata.

Matagal itong hindi sumagot.

“It’s two things, to learn from it o habang-buhay ‘mong ikukulong ang sarili mo sa pagkakamali na nagawa mo. It wouldn’t be easy to get out but it will hunt you most times if you keep gripping on it.”

Matagal niyang pinakatitigan ang lalaki. There’s something deep in his words that would keep you wonder. On how he was able to sum things up without even having second thoughts. Tila ba hinimok na siya para sa ganoong bagay.

There’s a lot to learn from him. She could say. He must have a dark past to reflect of all these things. Mas lalo lang lumalaki ang paghanga niya sa binata.

Kahit hindi man niya sabihin, kahit hindi niya ipakita, she knew in herself that she’s already starting to like him. And she’s starting to doubt if where is this feeling heading to.

“Let’s go, they are already waiting for us outside. The both of us will use Elveister’s chopper, are you okay with that?” tanong nito habang binabaybay nila ang daan palabas.

She could hear a propheler’s wailing outside already.

“Walang problema, but how about your friends?”

Azariah was about to answer when he was interrupted by Vaughn” Don’t worry about us, Sapphire, ayos lang talaga kami pramis. May favoritism kasi ‘tong gago na ‘to. Pag nakasakay na kayo, pakiusap, pakihulog na ‘din ng lalaking iyan.”

“Oo nga! Kapag nahulog na ‘yan ah, wag ‘mong sasaluhin ‘yan.” Tila ba merong ibang kahulugan ang pagkakasabi niyon ni Rhyle.

“Morons.”

Kaagad siyang inalalayan ng binata hanggang sa makasakay sa helicopter. When they got inside, her breathing hitched when they were so close to each other. He handed over the muff to prevent hearing such noise. And as the helicopter ascended to the sky, the wind blew her hair a bit.

When he glances at Azariah, she caught him staring at her.

"What?" untag niya rito.

He heaved a sigh and folded his arms. "Nothing. You look beautiful."

Nabigla siya sa sinabi ng binata. Naramdaman niya ang pag-init ng pisngi kaya napaiwas siya ng tingin. She heard him chuckling lightly.

Inayos niya ang pagkaka-upo at itinuon ang paningin sa labas. She can see the city lights from there. Nagmistulang mga tuldok ang mga ilaw ang nakikita niya sa ibaba.

Namamangha niyang sinuyod ang kabuuan ng siyudad. Ang mga ilaw naman galing sa mga kabahayan ay nagmistulang bituin sa paningin niya. From the myriad lights of the city, the ash gray skies, and the cold breeze embracing the two of them.

“Loving the view?” Rinig niyang tanong galing sa binata.

She pressed the PTT button and talked. “Yeah, hindi nakakasawang pagmasdan.”

While looking at the view, hindi niya maiwasang malungkot. Years have passed… and so much has changed. Malayong-malayo sa nakasanayan niya.

“Hindi nga nakakasawang pagmasdan.” Nag-angat siya ng tingin rito at tignan sana ang pinagmamasdan nito nang nakita niyang nakatitig ito sa kanya. Her heart suddenly beats violently.

Is he referring to her?

Bago sa kanya ang mga nararamdaman niya ngayon. She kept on denying what she feels, but her heart felt otherwise. Gusto niyang bigyan ng kahulugan ang mga sinasabi at ginagawa nito pero natatakot siyang mali ang mga hinuha niya tungkol sa binata.

Umiling nalang siya at nilibang ang sarili sa napakagandang tanawin. It didn’t took them long and Sapphire could already see the rooftop that they need to land. There were lots of securities and special ops gathering the area just in case.

As the the helicopter descended to the rooftop, the securities were alert and position their weapons consecutively. Malayo siya ngunit ramdam niya ang sniper na nakatutok sa kanila sa paligid. She acted as if she didn’t feel anything to not be suspicious in front of Azariah.

Nang makababa ay humilera agad ang mga tauhan ni Azariah sa paligid na tila ba isa kaming hari’t reyna na kailangang bigyan ng magandang pagpugay. She stood tall and roamed my gaze at the view. Higit sampo ang mga naroroon at alerting-alerto sa paligid.

“You ready?” napagitlag siya nang hindi namalayang nasa likuran na niya si Azariah at gahibla nalang ang pagitan nila. Mahina siyang tumango at dumating na rin ang maghahatid sa kanila.

“Are you the owner of this?” tanong niya rito ng makapasok sa loob. It’s all elegant looking every corner of the place. May kaya sila sa buhay pero iba ang karangyaan sa larangan nila Azariah.

“My brother’s.” Maikli nitong sagot at diretsong nakatingin lang sa harap.

Nasa hallway pa lang sila ay kitang-kita ang pagkagara ng lugar. She already expected this. This is owned by a Vitaliano at apelyido pa lang ng mga ito ay bumubuga na ng yaman. The high beaming chandeliers on the ceiling, and even the combination of gold and cream inside screams richness.

Meron ‘ring mga paintings na nakasabit sa mga pader. They stopped at a door and two waiters greeted them. The double front doors with windows even scream with elegance and class. The waiters were also wearing their suits and white gloves.

So elegant, huh?

“Enjoy your dinner, senyora and senyor.” Bati sa kanila ng isang waiter na naghihintay sa labas. Ngumiti siya rito at tumango. They open the doors for them and wandered her eyes through the room.

The room gives a Filipino-Spanish atmosphere. High- ceilinged brasserie-like space and it has a bahay na bato inspired interiors. The solohiya furniture also added homey vibes inside.

“This place is wonderful,” namamangha niyang bulong sa binata.

“I’ll take it from here. Mr. Klein will be here any minute by now. You already know the drill, Sapphire.”

Kaagad niyang inayos ang postura at tinanguan ang binata. She hid the earpiece device by covering her ear with her hair. Her eyes gaze sharpened as she wandered through the crowd.

A waiter, or should she say, a professional bodyguard from Azariah’s team escorted her to her seat. Iginala niya ulit ang mga mata sa paligid at napansing kakilala lang nila Azariah ang naroroon.

Fake customers, huh?

Sapphire tapped her fingers on the table boredly as she wait for the wanted guest. Ngumiti siya nang namataan ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Azariah na nasa beverage section.

“He is just in time,” rinig niyang sabi ni Azariah sa kabilang linya.