Most Wanted

Chapter 2

Sulli's

"Ma'am?" A feminine voice called.

"Yes," Huminto ako sa pagbabasa ng mga documents at nilingon ang secretary ko.

"Mr. Tiangco called, he's asking about the proposal."

I leaned on my swivel chair and crossed my legs. "Give him a call back, tell him to set a meeting and we're going to talk about it "

"Copy, Ma'am." She nodded. She quickly typed it on her tab. "Anything else?"

"My schedule for today." I said flatly.

She skimmed through her notes. "Lunch meeting with our new investor at 11:30am and a conference meeting at 2:00pm."

"Thank you. You may go back to your office now."

She murmured a weak thank you before she went out.

Hinagod ko ang buhok ko at blankong tumingin sa kisame ng opisina ko. I briefly closed my eyes at nakita na naman ang imahe niya sa isipan ko. Iminulat ko ulit ang mga mata. Bumuntong-hininga ako at ibinalik ang paningin sa binabasa ko. These files were the list of well-known business tycoons and I need to negotiate with them to create a new line of investors because we're planning to open a new commercialize building—a mall, perhaps.

"Sulli."

I looked up and saw Vanessa, standing right in front of me. Hindi ko namalayang nakapasok na pala siya. "Vanessa, we're in the office—"

"You rejected my call." She cut me off. Kababakasan ng tampo ang boses nito.

"Oh, that." I remembered. I forgot to call her back. Masyado akong occupied because of September, that's why I lost my focus. "I'm sorry—"

"You rejected my invitation last night, and now..." Her eyes started to look glassy, an indication that she's going to cry.

I started to panic inside. Damn, what am I going to do with her?

"V-Vanessa—" Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya ico-comfort o pakakalmahin or whatever kaya hinagod ko na lang ang likod niya. Geez, I am not really into this. "I'll make it up to you. Just...just don't cry."

She looked at me, a tear fell into her left eye. "Really?"

Binitawan ko na siya. I took a step backward. Tumikhim ako. "Yes."

Nagbago bigla ang expression niya. Napailing ako mentally. Mukhang alam ko na ang sasabihin niya.

"There is this one bar in this town na hindi ko pa napupuntahan. I wonder if you can..." She trailed off, then threw an innocent smile. "Come with me?"

Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? I sighed. "Fine. Ngayon lang ito, okay?"

"Yes!" She raised her fist in victory then kissed it afterwards. She looked at me with a triumphant smile. "I love you, best!"

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. "Yeah."

She really reminded me of someone. Someone I can't forget kahit na gustuhin ko pa. Maybe that's the reason why I accepted her as my friend.

Bumalik ako sa table ko habang siya ay nagsisimula nang mag-victory dance. Naisahan ako, ah. I sighed at bumalik na lang ulit sa pagbabasa.

"Sulli."

"Hmm—" I was surprised when she suddenly pecked me on the lips. "Vanessa!"

She laughed and smiled innocently. "What? Come on, Best! Smack lang 'yon!"

Hindi naman 'yon ang problema. "But..."

"Anyways," She mumbled as she check her watch. "Gotta go, Best. Asikasuhin ko na yung report ko." Binuksan niya ang pinto at lumabas nang hindi na lumilingon. Makakahinga na sana ako mang maluwag kaso biglang bumukas ulit ang pinto. "By the way, your lips taste sweet. Toodles!"

Fuck.

Because of Vanessa, naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kanina. That September was really weird. Unbelievable.

"Yey, glad I'm full! This is the best breakfast day, ever!" September said nang matapos siyang kumain. Nakailang request din siya ng milk. Weird.

I simply rolled my eyes upon her comment. Niligpit ko yung pinagkainan namin at dinala sa sink para hugasan.

"I love your food and your milk here, and I'm starting to love you na," She giggled. "Pwede ba akong mag-breakfast ulit dito?"

"No." Walang-lingon na sagot ko sa kanya.

"Aw. That's bad, then. Nag-enjoy pa naman ako." I heard her sigh.

Silence. Akala ko mananahimik na siya but she kept humming to herself.

"Can I borrow your phone?" She asked after a couple of awkward minutes.

"Why?"

"To call my friend. Naiwan ko sa kanya yung gamit ko, including my phone. Please? Pahiram ng phone, pretty please? Please, please, please, my dear Sulli." She plead.

Napailing na lang ako sa inaakto niya. Parang bata. "Kunin mo na lang. Nakapatong diyan sa may table."

"Thankies!"

Tumahimik saglit. Napalingon ako kay September nang marinig kong nagri-ring 'yong phone. Kumunot ang noo ko.

She raised both of her eyebrow. "What?"

"Bakit mo ni-loud speaker?"

"Oh. Well, just to show you that you don't have to worry having me around. Just like that."

"Whatever." I said flatly. Ibinalik ko na sa hugasin ang atensyon ko.

"Hello?" A manly voice echoed. Ang gwapo ng boses.

"Beks! Si Sep 'to. In fairness, naakit mo ako sa boses mo."

"What the actual fuck...bakla!" From manly, naging girly na ang boses ng nasa kabilang linya. "'Langya ka, kaninong phone ang gamit mo? For the nth time, may nabiktima ka na naman!"

"Sira!" September laughed. "Don't worry, I hadn't got laid last night."

Saglit akong napahinto. This woman was surely a fan of one night stand.

"Wew nemen. It's a mirakol! No s*x for a night? It really is a miracle!" The man on the other line exclaimed.

Why am I here anyway? Right, this is my unit. Right. I kept on reminding myself that because this woman behaved like she owns the place.

"Beks, alam ko namang pinagnanasahan mo ako and you want me by yourself that's why you're acting like that." She teased.

"f**k you, Sep. Ayan ka na naman!"

"Aw, come on! I can't believe na ganyan ka ka-excited. Don't worry, you'll have me later. Which place do you prefer? Mine or yours?"

I heard the guy's faint gagging sound. "Sus ginoo, mandiri ka nga! Adonis ang gusto ko, Adonis!"

September laughed loudly. "Just kiddin'! By the way, dalhin mo 'yong gamit ko sa unit, 'kay?"

"As usual. Babush!"

The call ended. At tapos na rin akong maghugas. Tinuyo ko muna ang mga kamay ko bago humarap sa babaeng kasama ko. I crossed my arms. "Pervert."

"What?"

"Pervert. You are a pervert."

She threw her hands in the air. "Oops. Guilty."

Whatever. Nilagpasan ko siya at pumunta sa sala. I sat on the sofa matapos kong buksan ang TV. Maaga pa naman din.

"Mr. Gonzales, owner of the R.G. Company died yesterday."

Pumunta si September sa harap ko. She leaned closer to me, she propped her arms on both of my sides. Now, I'm trapped in her arms. Hindi ko maiwasang mapairap. "Umalis ka riyan at nanonood ako."

"He was believed that he was assassinated by no other than the most wanted criminal, Kill, because of the bullet found in the victim's body—"

Hindi nagpatinag ang babaeng nasa harap ko. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin kaya nagsimula na akong mailang. Nahihirapan akong salubungin ang kakaibang tinging ipinupukol nito sa akin. I know, I'm used to it, there are lot of people I bumped into who used to give me looks—different kind of looks, may I say, pero iba sa kanya.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang bumaba ang tingin niya. I bit my lower lip.

She hissed. "s**t. Stop seducing me."

She crushed her lips towards mine before I could even utter a word.

I automatically closed my eyes, like it was an instinct for me to do so, cling my hands on her nape, and pulled her closer. I felt her straddling me habang bumababa ang kamay niya sa baywang ko.

Here we are, kissing─again.

Hindi ko na naririnig ang ingay na nagmumula sa TV. Now, my thoughts and my body...si September lang ang focus.

"s**t, s**t, shit." I mumbled as memories of her filled me. Damn you, Sep!

"Will you moan my name for me?"

Napahilamos ako sa mukha at bumuntong hininga. I felt myself getting bothered again just by mere remembering it. Hindi namin ginawa iyon, the actual s*x. I can't give it to her, not now, not ever─I can't.

But you almost give yourself to her, idiot!

Napailing ako. Muntik na nga. Pero...something stopped me. It's a memory, something I can't and will never forget.

"Sulli, akin ka lang."

Napangiti ako nang mapait. Hindi ko iyon nakakalimutan. Alam ko.

--

September's

"Please, huwag!" The man at his forties plead habang mabagal na lumalapit ako sa kanya.

I smirked and shook my head. He's trapped between me and the dead-wall. Natunugan niya akong sinusundan siya—maybe because of his awareness that someone was here to kill him.

Business really does the cruelty.

Sinubukan niya akong takasan at iligaw pero masyado akong matalino para sa kanya. Napadpad kami sa isang eskinita na secluded sa ibang tao. "No one can save you here unfortunately."

"I want him dead. Fifteen million for his head as you wish."

My client's voice echoed in my head. Ang lalaking ito kasi ay nakaka-apekto raw ng company niya. Hindi ito pumayag na maging investor niya, instead, isa ito sa nagtangkang umagaw ng mga future investors niya. I guess that's what we call life. Cruelty and shits—full of  shits.

"S-sabihin mo, sinong nag-utos sa'yo? Magkano ang binayad niya? D-dodoblehin ko! J-just spare my life." Nahihintakutang offer niya. He's desperate to live, but, no.

"I'm afraid I can't, buddy. The transaction between my client and I will take effect as soon as I accomplish my mission. So...next time na lang." Humakbang ako palapit at umatras siya. I did the former hanggang sa dumikit ang likod niya sa malamig na pader. He gulped, namumuo amg pawis sa noo nito. Namumutla. Takot. Desperado. Pero wala akong magagawa.

"I'm sorry, I have to do this." I whispered, itinapat ko ang baril ko sa bandang puso niya. "May gusto ka bang sabihin bago ka mawala?"

Sa bihirang pagkakataon, nakaramdam ulit ako ng awa. Awa para sa kanya. Unti-unting naglandas ang luha sa kanyang mata.

"My daughter. P-please, watch her for me." I can't help but frowned my forehead. Bakit niya ibinibilin sa akin ang anak niya? I'm the one who will kill him. "Kilala mo ako, kaya alam ko, makikilala mo siya. P-please..." nagmamakaawang pakiusap nito, "Tell her how much I love her. Please, ako na lang ang natitira sa kanya. P-please."

I smiled and nodded. It was sad that I had to lie. I am his killer, why will I do the honor of granting his last wish? Ngumiti siya.

"Salamat."

And then. A gun shot was heard.

Napahawak siya sa baril ko, patungo sa kamay, hinawakan niya ito nang mahigpit. Malamig ang kamay niya, ramdam ko ito sa ilalim ng glove na suot. Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat at dahan-dahang inupo sa semento. Tuluyan nang pumikit ang mata niya.

Tumayo na ako at umalis sa lugar na 'yon. Sooner or later, may makakakita din ng katawan niya.

Umalis ako sa lugar na 'yon, thinking of my false promise to him. For some reason, I have this desire of fulfilling it. Aalagaan ko ang anak niya, babantayan, bubuhayin. Ako ang sasalo ng responsibilidad na iniwan niya, na inalis ko sa kanya—but how the f**k am I going to do that?

No, I don't think I can be that person. I  kill, who am I to support a kid to live? For sure there will be relatives that can do that, I'm just no one─even to this victim.

Sa maraming pagkakataon na ginawa ko ito, tinanggal ko na naman ang karapatan ng isang taong inosente na mabuhay. Habang tumatagal, mas nasisira ako. I am practically selling my soul to the devil. I am a sinful, unsatisfied, broken soul. A heartless woman.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko. Kinuha ko ito at binasa ang text. Napangiti ako kahit na papaano.

From: Dexter

Sep! Bar later?

Oh, well. Buhay na naman ako mamayang gabi. I tapped for a reply and smiled.

Yeah, sure.

_____