Decoding Rose

Chapter 2

"READY?" tanong ko kay Hyacinth mula sa earpiece na sout ko. Nasa isang malaking bulwagan ako ngayon dahil sa ginaganap na party.

"Lumiko ka sa bandang kaliwa mo," saad ni Hya. Alam kong ngayon ay nakahanda na ang siya mula sa kabilang bahagi ng building. She's ready to shoot our target and that is a piece of cake to her. She has the sniper with her.

Lumingon ako sa aking kaliwa at agad kong nakita ang target namin na nakikipag-usap sa ibang business men. With my bloody red dress with a long slit on my leg and red matte stilettos, I walked towards them, seductively but dangerously.

Hinawakan ko ang maskarang sout ko na tanging nakikita lamang ay ang kalahati ng ilong ko at bibig. Nang makalapit na ako sa kanila ay agad natuon sa akin ang kanilang atensyon.

"What a beautiful lady. Miss?" anito at lumapit sa akin.

"Rose," I replied.

He smirked. "Hmm. What can I do for you?"

Malandi akong tumawa at ikinawit ang braso ko sa kaniya. "I just wanted to have a one on one talk with the owner of the most reigning casino here in the Philippines."

Tumawa siya nang malakas at napa-iling na siya namang ikinakunot ng noo ko. Bumitaw ako sa kaniya at nilingon ang mga kasama nito na napapangiti. What the hell is going on?

"Rose? I think, we got it wrong. Hindi siya ang may-ari ng JD Casino." Tinig ni Hya mula sa earpiece. Damn it!

"Miss Rose, you know what?" He caressed my arms. "I really like to flirt with you but—"

Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa pinaka-stage ng bulwagan nang umilaw ang parteng iyon. Lumitaw ang emcee sa bandang ibaba at may hawak na microphone.

"Ladies and Gentleman! Magandang-magandang gabi sa ating lahat. I would like to introduce to you all, the owner of the most reigning casino in the Philippines the JD Casino! And there he is! Our very own, Mister Jack Reule De Salve!"

Malakas na kumabog ang puso ko matapos marinig ang pangalang iyon. What is really happening? Sa stage na iyon ay unti-unting umakyat ang isang pamilyar na lalaki.

The way he stood up makes him look so powerful. He dipped his fist in his pocket and showed his killer smile. Those smile I missed. Those lips I used to kiss. Pero bakit nga ba hindi ko agad na-isip?

"J-jako," I mumbled. Napalunok ako at tumalikod. Hindi p'wede na siya ang target namin. He's the last person on earth I would like to encounter.

"Rose, naka-position na ako. I'll count three and I shoot him—"

"No!" sigaw ko at hinawakan ang earpiece. "Don't you dare shoot him, Hya."

Kahit hindi ko nakikita ay alam kong nakakunot ang noo niya. I looked back to the man on stage. He was still there, standing in a very confident way. Muntik na akong matapilok nang hindi sinasadyang magtama ang mata namin.

"s**t!" I cursed and I run as fast as I can. Hindi niya ako p'wedeng makausap. I'll lost myself again if ever. I'll break my wall again if Jako touch me again.

"Rose!"

Ilang ulit akong napamura nang marinig ang baritonong boses niya. Bwisit! Bakit kasi hindi ko man lang naisip na JD means Jack De Salve? How idiot I can be? At bakit naman kasi sa dinami-dami ng p' wedeng maging may-ari ng JD casino ay bakit siya pa?

"Rose, I'll shoot him if he keeps on running after you!" It was Hya.

Tumalim ang tingin ko. "I can ran faster, Hya. 'Wag mong subukang saktan siya or else, I'll kill you."

"Damn! Who the hell is he ba?!" Hindi ko na siya sinagot at patuloy pa rin sa pagtakbo. Damn it, I'm wearing a f*****g heels for Pete's sake!

Hinubad ko ang sout kong heels at basta na lamang tinapon iyon. I'm running with my bare foot and it was painful as f**k.

"Rose!"

"Bwisit," bulong ko sa sarili. One more shout of my name from him. Pakiramdam ko, kusang titigil ang mga paa ko.

"Rose—"

Screech sound is what I heard after his voice calling me. Mabilis akong napalingon habang kumakabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko. Where is he? Nasagasaan ba siya? Oh God.

Naglakad ako pabalik upang hanapin si Jako mula sa nagkukumpulang tao at mga sasakyang nagbangaan. I feel like I lost my breathing.

"J-jako?" I tried to call him. He was just running after me few seconds ago, and now? Where is he?

I gasped as I felt someone grabs my waist and in one swift move, a strong arms wrapped around my body from behind. Mula sa likuran ko ramdam na ramdam ko ang paghabol niya ng hininga. We were both panting and our hearts beat rhythmically.

"I got you," he whispered next to my ears.

Dahan-dahan niya akong ipinaharap sa kaniya at tinanggal ang sout kong maskara. He cupped my cheeks and brushed it with his thumb.

"You look so beautiful, My very own siren," aniya at ngumiti. Ang pamatay niyang ngiti na araw-araw kong pinapangarap na makita.

Tinulak ko siya palayo sa akin at umatras. Pain across through his eyes and I'm trying to ignore it. He sighed and bury his fist in his pocket.

"Go."

My eyes went wide. "A-ano?"

He smiled. "Go now, my siren. Umalis ka na habang kaya ko pang bitawan ka."

Napalunok ako at para bang sinaksak ng ilang milyong punyal ang dibdib ko dahil sa sakit. Bumuka ang bibig ko at muling isasara. I don't know what to say.

"You have nothing to say. Just..just go," he said with a glint of bitterness in his voice.

I sighed. "Jako, we're enemies—"

"We are not. We are lovers who can't be together."

My mouth parted. "P-pero.."

He chuckles. "You didn't change, my siren. Ikaw pa rin ang babaeng si Rose na minahal ko."

Hindi ko mapigilang irapan siya. I didn't know where the hell this sudden happiness came from. Tumalikod na ako at napangiti.

And before I take my step he spoke.

"The next time we meet again. I won't stop myself from holding you. Because the next time we cross our paths, I won't let you go."

I closed my fist and took a deep sighed. Damn it, he'll be the biggest disturbance for my mission. Bilang isa sa matinik na bulaklak ng prinsipeng si Keiv, hindi dapat ako nagkakaroon ng kahinaan.

Mabilis akong tumakbo at iniwan si Jako na nakatayo lamang doon. Agad akong sumakay sa pumaradang sasakyan sa harap ko.

"Okay ka lang?" Tanong ni Hya. Tumango ako at nilingon ang kinaroroonan ni Jako.

My eyes went wide as I saw him holding my heels. Nakangiti pa siya habang tinititigan ang red stiletto na iyon. I can't stop myself from smiling.

"Baliw talaga ang mojakong 'yon."