Wind and Sail

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Dayn’s PoV

Precious was absent in the next few days of school after that internet fight. Wala naman pala siyang ibubuga sa personal pero umaariba sa social media. Nakalimutan na rin agad ang issue ko dahil natabunan na noong kay Precious at Perri. Hindi ko rin alam kung puri o insulto ba ang sinabi ni Sxan sa akin na kesyo ang galing ko raw magbaliktad ng sitwasyon. Well, it came with the job back then. I have got to pretend all the time and conceal. Our identities can’t be revealed to enemies.

 Naalala ko rin na tawagan si Alexie para humingi ng update. She said she’s still preparing for it. I am glad that she told Xian na that she’s pregnant. Xian was happy but he was also very worried, she said.

“How’s the baby?” I asked.

“Doing well, the bump’s getting bigger. So, gotta be more careful,” she replied.

“That’s great! Are you still accepting missions?”

“Yes, I mean no, not really because Xian do it instead of me. So yeah, he makes sure I get to rest well since he read that the first trimester will be a very critical time for me and the baby.”

I smiled. “Really? Tell him to be careful pa rin. We never know what’s going to happen talaga once we’re on the scene na. Please, be careful, the three of you.”

“Thank you, Dayn. You as well, be careful, I heard what happened last Monday. I am very sorry that I didn’t tell you that something like that was going to happen, I didn’t know. I also think they’ve got an intel na we’re talking. I am not sure, but we both have to take measures a lot more serious.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve handled that one just fine. I am not captivated or what, still here, hey.” I laughed.

“I also heard Karina is coming for you. I hope you know that already,” she said in a serious tone.

“Yes, I know.”

“She’s already moving. Are you aware?”

“Hmm,” I replied.

She hissed. “Yeah, no. Not that one. Sure, you can handle those stupid guys, but this one is different. She’s coming for your bones. I just don’t know how. She didn’t tell us. She was doing it with another team. She doesn’t know that I know these things.”

“What?” I was surprised. “N-no, I was not but now I am. But there’s really nothing much going on here. And with another team? She’s keeping these all from you?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“I have a lot to ask. Let me ask this one first.” I swallowed. “Sinong pumalit sa posisyon ko?”

“I really don’t know him. He’s new. He was sent here by Karina, so I don’t know, sorry.”

“He? A guy?” ulit ko sa sinabi niya. “So, Dark probably doesn’t know him?”

“Hindi ako sigurado, pero sa tingin ko naman kilala iyon ni Dark since kakilala iyon ng anak niya.”

“What? Wait, I am really confused here. Kung nito lang siya dumating, sino iyong nasa posisyon ko noong wala pa siya?”

“They kept it closed but told everybody that it was already taken. Siguro dati pa iyon nandito, kumbaga ngayon lang nagpakita,” paliwanag niya.

I agreed with her. She has made some good points.

“Do you know his name?”

“It was a pseudonym. I know his face because I’ve seen him maybe like twcie? It’s like he is working very discreetly. It’s— oh, s**t. Karina’s here, I have to go, sorry. Take care.”  

“Wait—” hindi na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil binaba na niya ang linya.

Matagal-tagal na rin ang pag-uusap namin na iyan. I can’t just text her whenever I want, it’s risky, because what if mabuking pa kami dahil sa text na iyon. Mas delikado para sa kanila dahil nasa loob sila mismo ng tiger’s den. Something bad will probably happen to me, but not as bad as what will likely happen to them.

Isang bala lang naman iyan si Karina, pero kasi naman, ang dami-daming tao ang pwedeng sumalo noon para sa kaniya.  

“Clarene!” Niyugyog ko nang malakas si Clarene para magising. Dito kasi siya sa amin nag-overnight. Ngayon ang cleaning project ng school.

“Hmm?” she just moaned. She pulled the blanket over her head then turned on the other side of the bed.

Pilit kong tinatanggal ang taklob niya. “Ano ba?!” gigil kong sabi. “Tumayo ka na riyan!”

“Maaga pa, five minutes,” sagot nito habang inaagaw sa akin ang kumot nang nakapikit ang mga mata.

“Taragis ka, five minutes mo mukha mo, inusod na nga sa nine ang pasok na’tin kasi wala namang classes for today tapos tinatamad ka pa?!”

Hindi siya sumagot. Binitiwan ko na ang kumot.

“Magn-nine thirty na siraulo ka. Late na nga tayo tapos hihirit ka pa riyan ng five minutes,” dagdag ko.

Marahas niyang inalis ang nakatalukbong na kumot sa kaniya. Lukot ang mukha niya at nakanguso.

“Palibhasa may pogi kang kalandian na naghihintay sa iyo sa school.”

I scoffed. “Hoy, ang kapal naman ng face mo. May naghihintay sa atin na gawain sa school, parang tanga ‘to.”

Pumikit ulit siya. “Kaya na nila ‘yon, they’re so madami na kaya roon, y’all don’t need my help. Ganda lang ambag ko ro’n.”

“Alam mo, kung ‘yong sinali-salita mo riyan ay bumangon ka at nagbihis, edi sana ‘diba tapos ka na ngayon at paalis na tayo? Eh, hindi, e, nakahiga ka pa rin. Mamaya matulog ka sa inyo pag-uwi. Bumawi ka nalang pagkatapos nitong week na ‘to. Wala namang pasok sa Friday.”

“And…”

“Ang what?” she says.

“And pumasok na raw si Precious ngayon.”

Nagulat ako noong bigla siyang tumayo at dilat na dilat ang mata. She looked at me aggressively then stood up and got off the bed, straight to the bathroom.

“Puta, pangalan lang pala si Precious makakapag-pagising sa iyo, pinatagal mo pa!” sigaw ko sa kaniya.

“Shut the f**k up!” she yelled back. Inayos ko na muna ang kama at umupo sa upuan sa vanity table habang hinihintay siyang matapos. I am such a good friend.

I was just scrolling through the web feed when Sxan’s message popped up.

Sxan:

Good morning, pretty girl. Where are you?

Ako:

At bakit mo naman ako hinahanap ha?

Sxan:

Kasi hindi kita makita?

Aba tingnan mo nga naman, oh. Namimilosopo pa ang gago,

Ako:

Wala, patay na ‘ko kaya hindi mo na talaga ako makikita.

Sxan:

Che! Asan ka nga?

Ako:

Nasa puso mo.

Ilang minuto muna ang nakalipas bago siya ulit nag-reply. Mukhang kinailangan niya muna atang huminga dahil sa kilig.

Ako:

Ano? Andyan ba ‘ko?

Sxan:

Andito ka naman talaga, para kang siraulo. Bilisan mo na pumunta rito. Hindi ka na nahiya, officer ka pa naman tapos late ka halos ng isang oras.

Ako:

Sus, ang sabihin mo lang namimiss mo na ako. Ang dami mo pang palusot, e. Alam na alam ko na iyan, Sxan. Huwag ako, huwag ako.

Sxan:

Ito, assuming ‘to! Pumasok ka na kasi late ka na. Pati si Clarene wala pa rin dito. Siguro magkasama kayo, no?

Ako:

Oo.

Sxan:

Aga niyo naman pala nagising edi sana pumasok na kayo nang maaga kaysa magchismisan. Mga marites ng taon.

Ako:

Tangeks, kagabi pa iyang si Clarene nandito. Dito siya nagovernight.