"So ano?Ganito nalang ba ako?Pupunta tayong Japan ,naka boxer ako?"
Gregory winced once again.This woman cannot just keep her mouth shut.Kanina pa ito salita ng salita mula ng hilain niya ito sa harap ni Chase at sumakay sa kotse.Pinagmasdan niya ang kabuuan nito sa kanyang tabi at mabilis niyang iniwas ang tingin sa mala labanos nitong hita.
He gulp.It's there again.Nakakauhaw si Rhian.Tila gusto niyang lumuhod ulit sa pagitan nito at tikman yong kanyang p********e.
Control yourself Gregory.That woman is a trouble.Delicious.But a trouble.
He regain his composure and focus.Ayaw niya munang isipin ang babae sa tabi niya dahil nakakadagdag ito sa stress niya.
"Basa na yong kili kili ko"
Hindi siya sumagot.
"Kailangan kong maligo"
He didn't look at her.
"Sobrang init at basa na yong pekpek ko.Nanlalagkit na din ako at wala pa akong kain at tootbrush"
It's a mistake bringing her .Fuck this woman.
"Hindi ka ba tatahimik?"
Wala siyang nagawa kundi muling tumingin sa mukha nito.And he was taken a back again.How could she look directly on his eyes ?Why is she so f*****g damn familiar?
"Basta mo nalang akong hinila boss at pinasok sa sasakyan tas ngayon mag dadalawang oras na tayong nagdra drive at kahit may aircon ang init init!"
Mabilis na kumuha ng baril si Gregory at itinutok sa babae.Bahagya itong napaatras.He had enough of this bullshit.
"Stop complaining.May dadaanan muna tayo at tsaka tayo didiretso sa airport"
Itinikom nito ang bibig pero umirap.What the...
Huminto sila sa Capital .He doesn't have much time.He needs to see his lawyer because it might be the last.
Gusto niyang iwan si Rhian sa kotse pero baka kung anong katangahan na naman ang gawin ng babae.He opened the door and dragged the woman out.Magulo ang buhok nito na tila hindi pa nasuklay mula kaninang umaga.
Hinila niya ito papasok pero natigilan ang babae ng makita kung gaano kagara at kataas ang papasukin nilang building.
"T-teka lang..Mag aantay nalang ako dito.Nakakahiya ,tignan mo naman hitsura ko"
"Are you complaining again?"
"Eh kasi naman boss nakakahiya.Mapagkamalan akong bosabos sa loob ng hotel na yan"
" So you rather stay here and die?"
Naglumikot ang mata nito
"H-uh?D..die?"
Clueless niya itong tinignan.This woman has no idea.
Wala siyang balak magpaliwanag dito at sa iniisip nito.He doesn't need to explain to her.She's just another thing to manipulate to feed his greed.
Hindi na ito nagsalita at kusa nalang sumunod sa kanya ng mapansing tumahimik ang paligid at maramdamang tila may nakatingin sa kanila.They are surrounded the moment he stepped out from the car.Everyone seems interested about him.
They wanted the bounty.But for the sake of him being a member of the organisation,they maybe having hesitations.
Muli siyang sinalubong ng black american na siyang manager ng hotel at masuyo siyang nginitian.Nakipag kamayan siya dito.
"Im meeting the lawyer "
"Master is waiting for you at the lobby"
He nodded .Muli niyang hinila ang babae at kitang kita niya kung paano natigilan ang lalaki sa harap nila ng makita ang hitsura ng kasama.Shock is understatement.
"She's with me"
Nilagpasan nila ang natitigilang lalaki at dumiretso sa lobby.Nakita niya ang pakay.He is sitting graciously at the expensive long chair with a wine on his hand.He is wearing a navy blue one cut suit with intimidating tux.He has no expression but has the aura of a ruthless Bulgarian.
Agad na tumayo ang lalaki ng makita sila.Huminto sila sa harap nito.Napatingin siya sa relo sa kanyang bisig.They said he was good.Let's see.
"Atty. Dorcas Almaktum"
"Gregory Monasterio"
They shared a hand shake.It was not firm,he was still contemplating if he'll trust this guy.Nakikita niya ito noon occasionally sa isla at ang iba pang member.The irony ,he's one of their founder.Pumasok sa isip niya ang hitsura nito sa loob ng initiation room kung saan sila huling nagkita.Inirekomenda ito ng head founder nilang si Lawrence para maging abogado niya at iyon lamang daw ang kaya nitong itulong sa napakalaking problemang kinakaharap niya.
Tinignan din siya nito ng mariin.Baguhan siya at ang hirap niya ring pagkatiwalaan.He was impressed with the guy's utmost professionalism.He's here as a lawyer.
Kodac should better be good. At some point, at least, he's thankful that they accepted him as their member when he was an outcast from his former organization.
They settled on the sofa.Maluwang ang paligid at tumatagos ang sinag ng araw mula sa pagkataas taas na ceiling ng hotel.Sila lang ang tao sa lobby dahil ipinasara ang buong Capital dahil nandito ang isa sa mga founder.
Hinila niya si Rhian para umupo dahil namumutla na ang babae.Malamig ang paligid at napayakap ito sa sarili.Is she even wearing a brassiere?He doesn't give a damn.
Dorcas was regarding them intently but he didn't say anything.
Inabot niya dito yong mga papeles na dala niya.
He accepted the envelope and opened it with furrowed brows. He moves so fine and classy. Like a symbol of walking intelligence, na tila lahat ng legal papers na hawakan nito ay may kasamang pag iingat.
Rhian stared dumbfounded at him.
"Stop staring at him"
"Ang guwapo niya.Para siyang mga sinaunang duke sa mga fairy tale"
"Takpan mo mata mo"
Binalingan siya ng babae at bahagyang umirap.
"Will you stop doing that?"
"Problema mo?"
Tinignan niya ito ng nagbabanta at agad itong tumahimik.Sa tingin niya kailangan niya ring dalhin kay Chase yong babae para gumaling mula sa sakit nito sa utak.
"I didn't know your wife survive"
Natigilan silang dalawa ng magsalita si Dorcas.
Napatingin din siya kay Rhian na tila taong grasa na nadampot niya sa labas dahil magulo na ang buhok nito at hindi na mahitsurahan dahil sama ng loob.
"Anong wife?"Nagtatakong tanong ng babae.
Lumunok si Gregory at hindi nakapagsalita.Dorcas must know his wife because they were in the same circle, she lived as a lawyer.
Dorcas gave him a sly smile.
"Oh, she's not?"
"Let's get straight to the business. I don't have much time.”
“Sure, but let me tell you one of my rules, Monasterio. I’m a Lawyer but, I’m still one of your founders. So, act like a man. Ayoko ng pinaghihintay ako.”
Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito at hindi nagsalita.
Ipinakita ni Dorcas isa isa yong mga papeles kay Gregory at ipinaliwanag ang ilang bagay mula doon.
Dorcas doesn't know where did he extract it but those are strong and concrete evidence to point out that one of the elders is a mole.He was the one who plotted Gregory's bounty and everything after that.They follow certain rule or general protocol amongst organization set by the Triad.He needs to review if Gregory broke a major protocol for them to imposed the bounty.Bukod sa pagpatay sa mga espisipikong tao na nagkasala dito na kung tutuusin pinapayagan naman ng Triad basta't sumusunod siya sa ibinigay na polisiya at may matindi siyang dahilan para gawin iyon ay walang magiging problema.
"I thought this doesn't concern you"
"I can kill that bastard whenever I want, but if the odds don’t get me to him and I die during the process, make sure the law and your f*****g justice do their job.Marami pang sisiraing buhay ang taong yan kapag nagtagal siya sa Triad.He needs to be exposed."
“f*****g justice? Natawa si Dorcas na siyang pinagtaka ng dalawa ."I can control the law in my own terms , Monasterio.Only if your resolve convince me."
"I know who you are Dorcas"
"Convince me more"
"I'm willing to exchange my life for his head. I'm willing to die in the name of Kodac"
Walang expresyon niyang sagot.
Dorcas lips formes into a devil's smile. Isang kaluluwa na naman ang binibili ng kanilang organisasyon.
"Now, Let’s get back to business. May kinalaman ba siya sa pagkamatay ng asawa at mga anak mo?"
Sumeryoso siya ng marinig ang tanong nito.Biglang pumitik yong ulo niya at tila umikot yong paligid.Like everything went hazy and he sees nothing but red.The bloodlust is starting to run against his veins .He needs the medicine Chase gave him.
"Okay ka lang?"
Hinawakan ni Rhian yong kamay niya at unti unting luminaw ang maganda nitong mukha sa harap niya.
Iwinaksi niya ang kamay nito at ibinalik kay Elliot ang atensyon.Kumalma yong pakiramdam niya ng hindi tinanggal ng babae ang nagtatakang tingin nito sa kanya.
It was just a second.His craziness is taking over him again.Hindi siya nagpahalata.That triggered him a second.Pinilit niyang magsalita sa kabila ng sakit ng ulo.
Naalala niya ang mukha ng lalaking hinahanap at agad na sumikdo ang dugo niya.He cannot kill him before because of the rules,but he's done waiting now.
"I've waited for this."
Yon lamang ang isinagot niya sa tanong ng lalaki .
Muli itong ngumisi.
"Matatanggal ka sa listahan at tatanggalin sa ulo mo ang pabuya kapag ginawa natin ito gamit ang batas ko, Mr. Monasterio ."
Tumutok ang golden brown nitong mata sa kabuuan niya bago muling nagsalita
"I will give you a citizenship in my country "
Nanlaki ang mata ni Gregory. He's aware that this man is more than a lawyer. He is the current crown prince of Dubai and the second general of UAE's armed forces.
"Pero lahat ng ito ay magkakaroon ng kapalit.Puwede ding ...wala.Kung makakapag antay ka pa,maari ka pang mabuhay at maenjoy ang negosyong meron ka kasama ng Kodac. "
"I don't give a damn about that anymore.Im on my way to Japan to kill certain people before him.Kaya kapag hindi na ako nakauwi,ikaw na ang bahala.If ever I survived and manage to go home,I'll kill him in the most painful ways you can imagine"
“Hmm,” Dorcas sighed. Napatitig siya sa kaharap at nag isip. This young man infront him has a sheer will but too much anger will really make one crazy.
It's not just about their organization but the whole Triad.Ang table na nagtatakda ng mga batas at panuntutan na dapat sundin ng lahat ng organisyon hindi lang sa black market kundi maging sa buong mundo.Gregory was considered dead in everyone's eyes after the Triad announced of his seven million dollar bounty.Once they imposed the bounty above your head,they will considered you as an outcast.Lahat ng miyembro maging ng ibang organisasyon ay puwede kang patayin para sa pabuya.Gregory is set into a hunting game once he leave the Capital.
Pero desidido na ito.He's a good asset in the organisation but he's a person of will.May mas malalim itong rason kung bakit ito sumali sa Kodac at nabubuhay ang lalaki para dito.
Lumipat yong mata niya sa kasama nitong babae partikular na sa bilugan nitong mata na tila ba pamilyar sa kanya.Interesting.He can sense that Gregory is playing with dangerous plot twists.
"That woman will bring you more pain, Mr Monasterio"
"How do you know?"
Baliwalang sagot ng kaharap.He gave him a questioning look, asking if he has still an important thing to say.
"Feisty"
"With all due respect your highness,"
Clueless namang nagpalipat lipat ang tingin ni Rhian sa kanila na kanina pa naguguluhan sa kung ano ang kanilang pinag uusapan.
Ngitian niya lang ito ng makahulugan.
Dorcas smirked before speaking again. "You're almost at the finish line. Don't add more distractions"
Hiniklat na ni Gregory si Rhian bago pa magtanong ulit yong lalaki sa harap nila.
"She's not"
Kinaladkad nito ang babae at bahagyang yumukod sa kausap at tsaka lumabas na sa hotel.