Code Name: Mercy

CODE NO. 05

R A I N

It’s a silent and freezing night in the Lagrima City. Matapos ang mahabang araw ng trabaho, there’s no doubt na ang sarap nang matulog. If I were given a chance to rest, tiyak na papatulan ko talaga ang kahit anong klase ng tulugan. I won’t really give much care kahit may mga kasama pa ako sa kwarto o kaya ay kulang ang size ng kama na gamit ko. I won’t even mind kahit na manipis ang kutson nito. I am willing to let the non-luxurious lifestyle slide for eight hours of sleep. Hindi na talaga ako magrereklamo.

Pero imposible ito, lalo na at may trabaho pa ako. It’s a night full of stars. Perfect for a goo—no, even a great sleep! Yet, despite it ay nandito ako sa rooftop ng SMART ONE. Hawak ko ang isang compact tracking device. Ito ang gamit ko para i-check ang location ng target ko.

“This is just so annoying. I have to end this guy’s existence as soon as possible.” Medyo maswerte pa ako dahil 8 AM pa naman ang trabaho namin bukas. If I can make it back before three o'clock, maybe I can still sleep.

I just hope a night with a full eight-hour of sleep could pay off all the days I spent being an assistant. Like, OMG! Hindi nga talaga madaling maging assistant.

Good thing I tracked Marco’s location in advance. I did it after Lian and I were done cleaning the dressing room. I took a picture of the contact number and made a quick call while I had my tracking device on.

“Lian, CR lang ako,” paalam ko sa kanya nung masigurado ko na wala na kaming dapat na gawin. Ayaw kong maputol ang momentum ko just because I forgot to put the trash out or forgot to dry clean one of Ethan’s concept outfits.

But of course, nagsisinungaling lang ako tungkol sa CR. Ang totoo ay bumalik talaga ako ng dorm namin to get my tracking device and did the phone call in the dorm. Wala rin si Korina roon as she was with Mr. Efrhain.

Yes. I sprinted all the way from the main building up to the annex just to steal a few minutes in a phone call.

As soon as someone answered the other line, I began to make up another lie.

“This is Nitro Cosmetics. I am Celine from the advertisement department.”

“Good afternoon, this is Katya, Mr. Marco Torres’ personal assistant. He’s unable to entertain calls at this moment as he’s in a meeting. Uh, won’t you mind telling me your intentions?”

“How unfortunate. Honestly, I would like to talk to Mr. Torres if possible. I am actually looking for TV shows, so I am seeking for certain producers. Our brand is launching a kid-friendly cosmetic collection and I happened to stumble in Mr. Torres’ program, the Shining Star.”

“Ah! You’re doing endorsements?”

“Y-Yeah? We…. Kind of– yes. Want you to endorse our brand so yeah. Like that…”

Mukhang hindi pa ata sanay sa field na ito ang PA ni Marco Torres. Maliban sa unprofessional niyang tono, she’s also not a good listener. 

I just hate assistants who can't listen properly.

Anyway, nagtunog excited ang boses ng babae, she also sounds reluctant pero ilang sandali lang ay may narinig akong mga boses. It’s just that, the voice is inaudible so I don’t know what they are talking about.

Pero hindi naman iyon importante, what’s important is that she’s taking a long time. Kaya naman may oras ang tracking device ko na i-download ang coordinates ng location ng phone. And they happened to be so close. Mukhang residence ng mga broadcasting and talent agency buildings itong lokasyon ng SMART ONE, at isa sa mga buildings na ito ay ang kinaroroonan ni Marco Torres.

As soon as the numbers were downloaded ay pinutol ko na rin ang usapan namin ng babae sa kabilang linya. Tapos na ang sadya ko sa kaniya.

“Uh… Uhm, hello? I think I will call you back later after Mr. Torres’s meeting is over.  Thanks!”

I am sure that she was about to talk pero pinindot ko na ang red button sa screen ng phone ko. Then casually sent the coordinates to Daddy’s office. Buti na lang at ginawa ko ito dahil hindi match ang address na nasa papel at itong coordinates ng location na nakuha ko.

I looked it up more to be sure, and just like I originally guessed, I discovered na nandito lang pala siya sa area na ito for a summit meeting. So, the personal assistant wasn’t lying. I did some research after dinner, and discovered that the meeting is for an upcoming ball. For him to join such a thing, mukhang importanteng personalidad nga itong lalaking ito. He must be very influential. And the most influential ones are mostly the most abusive and evil.

“It’s a three-day meeting. Kasali nga diyan si Madam Josephine,” banggit sa akin ni Lian.

So, they also knew about it.

Thanks to that information, it gave me an idea.

Kaya naman nandito na ako ngayon sa rooftop ng SMART ONE that coincidently a perfect place to get the target - Marco Torres.

Mr. Torres’ accommodation room can be seen from the place I am standing right now. Although it’s still two blocks away, there's nothing a sniper gun can’t kill in that distance.

“Ah~ Dad sure knows to give me the easy kill.”

Yup, this is just an easy kill. Mukhang alam na ata ni Daddy ang mga kilos ng lalaking ito. He knew that he’ll be in that building, and (un)coincidentally, I am just around the corner kaya sa akin niya binigay ang mission na ito.

It’s not like I am the only assassin in this business. I’m sure na kung hindi lang siya malapit sa location ko baka sa iba na binigay ni Dad ang mission na ito.

From this position, I can only see a small image of Marco from the windows. It’s already past midnight, pero gising pa siya. Maliwanag pa rin ang kanyang kwarto at mukhang may kausap mula sa loob.

“Great, he’s a night owl.” Hindi ko na kailangan na pumuslit pa sa silid niya because he’s all awake, stanidng in the balcony. Mukhang ine-enjoy niya ata ang night light at night sky.

“Enjoy as much as you want. You’ll be dead in 3, 2…” Pinuwesto ko na ang sniper gun ko. I took the rifle’s bi-pod, I properly positioned myself and placed my face on the cheek piece. And once I am all comfortable I began navigating the day scope and locked on the target. I still had yet to pull the trigger when someone suddenly emerged behind Marco.

It’s a woman wearing sexy lingerie.

Woah! Akala ko ba summit meeting ang pinunta niya dito, bakit may babae? I mean there’s nothing wrong if he brings a woman with him, but why in sexy lingerie?

I was about to finalize the target of the gun. Wala naman akong pakialam kung may kasama siya o wala. He needs to die now. I was ready when a call came in at muntik ko nang matabig ang trigger sa gulat ko.

I sighed. Of all time, ngayon pa talaga? Seriously?

Gustuhin ko man na hindi pansinin kaso hindi pwede. Baka kasi galing sa office ni Dad ang tawag. He might give me last minute instructions or whatnot so I cannot ignore. 

I received the call ng hindi inaalis ang mata ko sa target. I waited for the person calling to speak first. Who knows who this might be? I have to be careful.

“Señorita Mercy?”

“Oh, goodness! I’m in the middle of shooting the target.” Bulalas ko nang makumpirma na mula nga sa office ni Dad ang tawag.

“Lo siento. But are you not done yet, Señorita?”

“It would have been over if you hadn't called.” Pagtataray ko.

“Lo siento. Lo siento, Señorita. Señor was waiting for your call. I was just getting anxious because it’s taking a while. We tho–-”

“What? It hadn't even been ten minutes since I got to the roof top. Then you're asking me if I've done it?”

“Lo siento, Señorita.”

“Oohh! Stop saying sorry, por favor. I’ll be over soon. At huwag kayong umasa na matatapos ko ito agad dahil hindi ako si Laura!” bulyaw ko sa phone bago pinutol ang tawag. Well, I’m not sure kung naiintindihan niya ang huling mga salitang sinigaw ko.

Well, kung hindi naman, he can just ask some Tagalog staff in the office about it.

Alam ko naman na kung si Laura ang gagawa nito ay tiyak na mas mabilis itong matatapos. But I have to keep reminding those people that this is not my real profession. This is not my expertise. Relatively, I am just a newbie in assassination. Siguro nga I have learned the basics with Laura when we were younger but I never proceed or practice those skills to excellence kasi hindi naman talaga ako para dito. Kaya nga nag-artista ako, hindi ba?

“Kanina pa kasi dapat ako natapos kung hindi lang sumulpot itong babae sa likod ni Marco.”

I placed my eye on the scope once more and focused on the target once again. Maswerte ako na nag-uusap lang silang dalawa. The lady is lustfully talking with him. Nagmumukha siyang higad na lasing sa ginagawa niyang pagpapagewang-gewang. Para rin siyang may alipunga sa dibdib dahil sa panay ang paghaplos niya rito.

“Let’s put terror on your face,” I whispered as I locked the target.

Alisin natin ang kalandian ng babaeng ‘to.

I mean, I may not be as skilled as Laura, but I am still an assassin by blood so I am kind of used to seeing dead bodies.

“Bye bye!” I uttered before pulling the trigger.

A quiet noise of gun shot was silently heard in the middle of the night. Napakahina lang naman, sakto lang para ako lang ang makarinig. 

Samantala ay nahinto saglit sa paggalaw niya ang babae at napatingin sa kalangitan. She must have felt something. Well, I wouldn’t be too surprised. Nakay Marco lang kasi ang atensyon niya kaya tiyak na hindi makakatakas sa kanyang paningin ang biglaang pagbulusok ng mistulang invisible na bala sa ulo ng lalaki.

And the next thing she saw, the moment she turned her head to Marco again, she was indeed filled with horror.

“… aaaaaahhhhh!” The woman’s voice echoed from the balcony of Marco's accommodation room. Her screams traveled from the balcony up to the SMART ONE’s rooftop. A shrieking waves of sound.

“I bet that’s loud.” Ako nga na ilang metro ang layo mula sa kanila ay narinig ang sigaw niya, paano pa kaya ang nasa same building lang nila?

I casually retract my weapon, folding it from the stock for a shorter length and easy carry. Then, I put the gun in the case and raised my phone to call my dad’s office.

“Si, Señorita?” the same voice answered enthusiastically.

“I’m done, tell that to Dad. And don’t call me for the next five hours. My eyes are about to fall out from lack of sleep.”