Redemption

CHAPTER 25

Chapter 24. Almost (Edited Version)

Boe

Maybe this could be f*****g it, right? My last line. I closed my eyes as I see my daughter's face in my head. I smiled bitterly while watching her smile beautifully. I promised to stay alive but it's always impossible because of this line of work. Maybe, I should have resigned when I already got the chance. Maybe, if I'd close my eyes against the truth, I would get to be with my family for more years.

But, I was a stupid cop wanting justice even when I know it's impossible because there are always somebody out there keeping me out of the light.

Kung sana ay pinili ko na lang mapagod sa trabaho, but why do I f*****g love this job so much?

I'm staring at my hand holding a grenade while having that thoughts. The only choice left for me now is to bomb this place with myself because I was already surrounded by the enemies.

Fucking traitor.

I'm in a f*****g building, about to do a buy bust operation inclined with my most target but when we arrived here, the ambushed happened. Hindi ko alam kung may iba pang buhay but the way I saw the damage earlier made me think I was the only one remaining. Out of 20 men including me, all dead, because somebody from the inside sold us out.

Motherfucker.

I was just doing my job but why they keep on messing it? Gaano ba ka-importante ang pesteng sindikato na ito at ganito ang klase ng pagpo-protekta nila rito?

Napapikit ako ng may malakas na sumabog mula sa labas. I sighed and prayed hard. I need to do this. Papatayin din naman nila ako. Hindi ko hahayaan na sa kamay nila ako mamatay. Never. Tinitigan ko ang hawak kong grenade at tinanggal ang pin nito.

Fuck! Kinakabahan ako. Hindi ganitong kamatayan ang inisip ko noon. Most probably I would die from bullets. But this? f**k!

The door busted! I closed my eyes and waited until they come inside para sama-sama kaming sumabog. Bahala na. Kung mamamatay ako, hindi pwede na wala akong isasama sa hukay.

"Boe! What the f**k!"

Napadilat ako ng marinig ang boses na 'yon. I opened my eyes and saw M wearing full gear while holding an M-16. She was standing in front of me, staring at me, and on my hand. f**k! Agad kong dinampot ang pin sa sahig at binalik ito sa lock nito.

"I can't believe you will surrender your life like that."

Napatayo ako! I want to cry but I know I should not. I saw the area getting cleared by our men. They wiped out the enemies although for sure our target has already escaped. I almost did it? I can't believe this.

Muntik na akong sumuko. And then I remember my family! Naiiyak ako pero pinigilan ko ng sobra. I'm sorry. My God! I'm sorry. What was I thinking?

"Thank you," the only words I could say.

I look at my hands and noticed how it was trembling in fear. Doon ko napansin ang panlalamig ng katawan ko at pakiramdam ko'y namumutla ako. Iyon na pala talaga 'yung pakiramdam kapag hindi mo pa gustong mamatay.

Feds came to me and helped me. Kinuha ng isa ang hawak kong granada, ang isa naman ay tinanggal ang mga naka suot sa akin. Then, I was given a jacket.

"It's nothing, Boe, compared on how many times you saved me." M said.

She's way younger than me, parang anak ko na kung tutuusin. I was her mentor since she started at the Academy. She has been my partner ever since. But she was promoted first into the higher level because her father was a general back then. I don't mind. As long as I trained her enough and become her very best.

We successfully arrived at the station. Marami ang agents ang nakakalat sa paligid at kanilang mga mobil. Natanaw ko na mula sa malayo ang mga boss ko. I sighed and make a façade I used to show them. Pagbaba namin ng sasakyan, I was greeted by the generals. I knew some of them weren't happy to see me alive. Sa daming beses akong muntik mamatay, it would be a pleasure for them to see me die but it just couldn't happen.

Isa akong tinik sa ahensya na 'to. Isang pusang hindi mapatay pero hindi gusto ng marami dahil sa dami kong nalalaman, hindi nila ako nabili ni minsan. Marami akong napatanggal sa puwesto na mula sa matataas na ranking dahil sinisiwalat ko ang baho nila. I know that wasn't very practical, making enemies along with your job but anong magagawa ko? I could never close my eyes and ears.

I smiled fakely at them, they does that too. Wala na akong pakialam. Noon, nasaktan ako. Pero habang tumatagal, mas lalo ko silang kinakamuhian na mas maigi na sa akin ang ganito. Sa dalawang dekada kong pagsisilbe rito, ni minsan hindi naman sila naging patas laban sa katotohanan. Pero ako lang naman itong makulit, patuloy umaasa na matutuwid ko lahat. Kahit na malabo.

"I hope they rot in hell." M spoke,

Ngumisi na lang ako, "Huwag mo akong gayahin. You have a bright future. Don't make them your enemy, M."

Pagod akong sumalampak sa couch sa loob ng opisina ko. Pumasok din doon si M at si Gado, kapwa detective na kabilang sa team ko.

I rested my head at nilatag sa isip ko ang mga nangyari. Sa team ko, si M at Gado lang ang wala given ng mission na biglang binigay sa kanila. The rest, patay. Bibigyan lang nila ulit kami ng tauhan pero gusto kong malaman kung sino ang nunal sa poder ko, o sa ahensyang 'to.

"You were busy, I was busy. Autumn called us numerous times since yesterday. I tried to call her back pero cannot be reached na."

I look at M while saying that. She's sitting on the front couch while holding a folder.

"Sana naman maganda ang balita niya." I said.

"Based on this tiny details we got on that building, the syndicate we're looking for is called the Company." M started.

Nadilat ko ang mata ko at bumangon. I look at them both.

"the Company started as an organization with main purpose is to give their client the best hitman they got. It lasted for three decades until last three years, they decided to go far and join the underground." Gado

"The Nail tattoo is actually the founder's name. Nolasco Anton Iba Lopes." mariin titig niya sa akin.

That's not tiny but too much information already. With that organization name and its founder can already lead us into something. Pero iba ang nakikita ko sa mata ni M. I sighed,

"But, what is it? There's but right?"

"We've got zero evidence to officially surveillance them. The ones we took from the senator's phone, it wasn't enough."

"We need to improvise." I said,

M nodded, "We will. Chief won't allow us to eye them if we have nothing for them."

"Gado, bring in your team. You will sneak into the senator's house. Gather information, top secrets if there's any. Took a photo of it and submit." Gado immediately nodded. Lumabas na siya ng opisina para i assemble ang team niya.

Hindi namin ito unang beses kaya naman alam na nila ang mga gagawin kapag ganitong mag i-improvise kami. All we need to do is to be discreet. Once malaman ito ng chief, tanggal kaming lahat.

"I will contact Autumn. If possible, puwede na natin siyang i-pull out sa Frontier since may alam na tayo sa hinahanap natin. We can now start."

M shook her head, "I don't think that's possible now, Boe. The Frontier isn't allowing any outgoing students once the devil battle has began."

I sighed. "What should we do? Hindi naman puwede na tumagal siya roon? Kaylangan din natin siya." nang may maalala ako, "she has to be here."

"Why?" M asked,

"Autumn Niebes started at the Company as a hitman. Something happened that the Company targeted her that she flee to the states and make a living there as a hitman again. Sa ating lahat, mas may nalalaman siya sa loob."

"Didn't you told her about the tattoo? Malalaman niya dapat iyon once marinig niya, but she didn't tell us. Boe, what if she already betrayed us?" M,

Napaupo ako at saglit na nagisip. I only said about the nail tattoo. Well, hindi naman ito agad mapagtatanto ng tao kung hindi pa masiyadong specific. Maaari na nakalimutan niya. I doubt Autumn will betray us. She wanted this freedom badly at hindi niya 'yon makakamit kapag niloko niya ako at tumakas siya.

I have to trust that kid even when I should not.

"I trust her, M."

She sighed, "Fine, then. Ilalabas natin siya sa oras na magbigay ng go signal ang Frontier. Hangga't wala, doon siya."

"Hindi ba natin puweding kausapin ang headmaster?"

"No, Boe. It doesn't work like that. They have their own rules, we have to accept that. If we don't-"

I nodded, "They kill us."