363 Retreat

Chapter 48. Retreat

SINNED drove the motorbike instead of the sedan he always used to. Mas madali kasing gamitin ang motor kung sakaling maipit man sa trapiko. Two days ago, they successfully infiltrated de L'Orage but they're still having a hard time to have connections with the clan the organization belonged to. Mahirap, lalo na kung wala namang opisyal na pag-uusapan.

While he's in the restroom, he spoke to Stone via earcomm.

"Why don't you just set a meeting with the higher-ups so we can move on already?" he asked.

Stone snorted. "You think I didn't? Ayun, ang ipinakiusap sa akin ay si Wesson."

"How about Smith?" The ones who handled de L'Orage in El Salvador were codenamed Smith and Wesson. But based on their initial investigations, there was Beretta years ago, but he went missing. Hence, the two took over the latter's position. Both were in charge of the drug dealings ang gun smugglings.

"She's busy negotiating in Italy. I doubt she can make it, though."

Mukhang may alam na ito, pero hindi na siya magtatanong. Ayaw niyang ma-curious pa. "Why don't you just sneak in—"

"Oh, shit! Someone's coming," bulalas nito at narinig niya ang mabibilis nitong mga yabag sa kabilang linya.

"Where are you?"

"Jesus Christ! I'm spotted!"

"Where the hell are you, Gaston?" madiing tanong niya at kinabahan dahil iba na ang boses nito; natataranta. Hindi mabilis mataranta ang isang Gaston Herrera.

"Fuck! Did you—"

"Retreat! Burn the safe house and all the physical evidences we acquired, Hipolito," hinihingal na utos nito at nakarinig siya ng putok ng baril. He was not kidding since he formally called him by his last name.

"Stone, what's happening?"

"Fucking retreat now! Leave the country first so they won't find you."

"Where are you? I'm going to send backups!"

The conversation got interrupted by another gunshot and the next thing he heard were static sounds, until he's hearing nothing.

He went out the restroom and was surprised that someone was actually waiting outside—it was Atty. Irish Luthers.

Ngumisi ito. "When he said you should retreat, you should have ran for your life." She tapped her left ear twice, signaling him that she was listening to his conversation with Stone a while ago.

"What's the meaning of this, Attorney?" Matapos niya itong samahan sa hotel suite noong nakaraan at wala naman itong pinakitang kopya ng tape ay iniwan niya ito. Bago umalis ay ipinahayag niyang magpapalit siya ng abogado, pero nanlilisik ang mga mata nitong sinabi na pagsisisihan niya ang pagtangging ginawa niya rito.

"You're such a dick. You could have just fucked me already, you know? But why did you not? Am I not a hotshot?" Umiling-iling ito at kunwaring bumusangot pa bago magpatuloy. "I like you. And, you should have just listened to me."

He clenched his jaw.

"Don't worry, I already cleared that bitch's names. But in exchange, you have to go with me—"

"Just fucking kill me now if that's where it would all end."

"Kill? No, I'm going to fuck you; marry you."

"You're crazy!"

"You choose. You're going to leave but even before you could, you'll be shot to death, or you'd come with me? The chopper's waiting." She even winked at him.

"Why would I listen to you?"

"You'll live a longer life."

He tried tapping his ear comm but no one was answering. Nang tingnan niya si Irish ay tumagos ang tingin niya at napansin si Rexton na ngingisi-ngisi. Duguan ang damit nito at sa paraan ng pagngisi ay alam na niyang may magandang balita.

Without ado, he closed the distance between him and Irish, he groped her ass and pressed his body against her as he roughly claimed her mouth. He raised his middle finger, signaling Rexton to pull the trigger.

But the woman managed to push him on the wall. However, he immediately flipped her; and now, she's facing the wall as she was panting.

"Oh, you want to fuck me while standing? Bring it on, lover boy. I'm wet for you anyway. Didn't know you're such a great kisser."

Akmang haharap ito pero mas idiniin niya ang katawan dito upang hindi ito makakilos, at nang tumingin siya kay Rexton ay may hawak lang itong cellphone at mukhang vini-video-han siya—sila ng babaeng ito.

"Fucking shoot now, dela Costa!" Napipigtas na ang pasensiya niya. Kanina pa niya ito hinihintay na kumasa.

"Wala nang bala," tamad na sagot nito.

That's why he hit Irish Luther's vital part on her and she lost consciousness right away.

Sumipol si Rexton. "Kaya mo naman kasing gawin iyan, bakit sinunggaban mo kaagad? Tigang ka na ba?" pangungutya nito.

Sinamaan niya lang ito ng tingin.

"Anyway, let's go now. Don't worry about Stone, he's being rescued by the sleepers and the hackers. Ang lakas ng loob na sumugod sa kuta ng kalaban, wala namang backup." Pumalatak ito. "Kung minsan, walang utak ang boss nating iyon. Nasosobrahan sa excitement kaya napapahamak ang gunggong."

Hindi ulit siya sumagot at tumalikod na. Baka mamaya ay may backup pala ang de L'Orage at ma-corner sila roon. There's no time for them to have some useless chitchat.

"O, saan ka pupunta? Sa taas tayo. Nandoon ang chopper."

Natigilan siya. Naghihintay ng kasunod na sasabihin nito.

"Sina Helium iyong nandoon, hindi alam ng babaeng ito na sila ang kasama mula kahapon."

Napatango na lang siya at sa elevator na dumiretso. Habang paakyat iyon ay nagtanong siya. "Anong plano ngayon?"

"For sure, we're backing out for now. You're right, Sinned, de L'Orage was bigger than what we expected."

"That's why I told you to not agree with the connivance." He meant with AIA. "They should've just focused on France." Nandoon ang iba pang mga kuta ng organisasyon. Mas marami kaysa rito sa El Salvador.

"Are you sure it's not in Italy?"

Umiling siya. "Romano's team checked out that before. Italy's clear since the clan doesn't have power in there."

Napatango na lang ito at bumukas na ang elevator, tanda na nasa helipad na sila.

NANGINIG ang kalamnan ni Rellie nang ipakita sa kaniya ng kuya niya ang ilang kuha ng CCTV kung saan may ka-date na babae si Sinned. Hindi lang basta-basta babae, bilugin ang pang-upo at malalaki ang dibdib! Maganda rin at mukhang sopistikada. Mas sumakit ang puso niya nang ang sumunod na ipinakita sa kaniya ng kuya niya ay ang pagpasok ng dalawa sa isang hotel suite.

Wala sa sariling nag-iwas ng tingin kasabay nang pag-iwas ng Kuya Arc niya sa cellphone nito.

"And what if he's shagging that booby woman? It's not like we're in a relationship for me to get mad at him." Pinatapang niya ang kaniyang boses.

"And you're okay with that?"

Her brother blocked her view so she looked at him and saw that he's raising an eyebrow. Tumayo siya at iniwasan ito pero sinundan siya kaagad.

"He said that he loves you, right? Then, why isn't he here?" He browsed something on his phone. "And this another video, what is the meaning of this?"

Napaiwas ulit siya ng tingin dahil ngayon ay malinaw na naghahalikan ang dalawa sa hallway at mukhang higit pa roon ang naganap. "B-baka tumitikim muna ng iba bago ako pakasalan." She tried hard not to sound bitter but she failed so.

"Nahihibang ka na ba, Aurelia? Hindi ka namin inalagaan na parang prinsesa para lang tratuhin kang basura n—"

"Tama na, okay? Masakit pa nga ang pakiramdam ko, kaya bakit mo pinakita iyan?!" Kahit naghilom na kasi ang mga sugat ay kapansin-pansin pa rin ang mga iyon. She's so certain some would leave scars and would stay in her body forever.

"You deserve to know this!"

"Wala kaming relasyon ni Sinned kaya malaya siyang gawin ang gusto niya. And, should I not be thankful to him? He saved me! I clearly remembered he did."

"We. Saved. You," paglilinaw nito bago napamura. "Bakit ba pinagtatanggol mo? Nililigawan ka niya, hindi ba? Paano kung ikasal kayo at mambabae siya nang mambabae?"

"Hindi..." Natigagal siya.

"Ano bang nakita mo sa lalaking iyon?"

"Bakit ba kasi ayaw mo sa kaniya? Akala ko ba, magkaibigan kayo? Nakasama mo pa nga nang matagal sa Phoenix, hindi ba? Dapat, suportado mo kami!"

"Because I know how madly he was in love with his wife!"

"Was in love with his ex-wife!" She gave emphases with the words 'was' and 'ex-wife'. "Kuya, wala na si Candace, alangan namang tumandang mag-isa si Sinned? At saka, wala ba siyang karapatang magmahal ulit?"

"I don't know if you're stupid or what! Iyan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko kina Mama noong ipa-homeschool ka. Ayan, ang dali-dali mo tuloy mauto!"

"Bakit nasali ang homeschooling ko sa usapan?" That was like ages ago.

"Because that's exactly when you became this gullible!"

"Can you hear yourself? At isa pa, hindi ako inuto ni Sinned! Pumayag ako sa lahat ng gusto niya kasi gusto ko rin!"

"Kahit ginamit ka lang niya?"

Nangilid ang luha niya. Bakit ba siya inaatake ng kuya niya nang ganito? "Matagal na iyon... G-ginamit ko rin naman siya..." Para punan ng lalaki ang kuryosidad niya at sekswal na pangangailangan.

"Kahit na, hindi pa rin niyon mabubura na inuto ka niya, at may kontrata pa talaga kayo, huh?" pangungutya nito. Mukhang matagal-tagal pa bago matanggap ang nangyari sa kanila ni Sinned noon.

"Pakialam mo ba?! Pinakialaman ba kita kay Ate Hyra noon? Ikaw nga, inuto-uto mo rin na maging subject mo siya. Hindi na ako magtataka kung may kontrata rin kayo—"

"Huwag mong itulad si Hyra sa iyo!"

Parehas silang natigilan sa nasabi nito. His gazes avoided hers as he guiltily swallowed hard.

"Bakit ba kayo nagsisigawang dalawa? Ang aga-aga, eh."

Napalingon siya sa kaibigan niyang si Hapi. She still couldn't believe she's once an agent, too. Ano iyon? Lahat ng nakapaligid sa kaniya, mga secret agent?

"Sinned called—"

"Shh!" mabilis na awat ni Arc sa sasabihin ni Hapi.

Naningkit ang noo ng kaniyang kaibigan. "What?" Pagkuwa'y natutop ang bibig. "I mean, has Sinned called you already?"

That stopped her tears from falling and she rolled her eyeballs. It was obvious that they're hiding something from her.

"Hindi ako maniniwala sa ipinakita mo. I'll wait for him to explain himself." That's all and she decided to take a walk around the city. May mga nakakilala pa rin sa kaniya at pinagbigyan niyang mapa-picture at nakipag-usap na rin.

Maghapon siyang naglibot; bandang alas sais na nang nagpasyang umuwi at pagkabalik niya ay sinalubong siya ng kuya niyang mukhang kanina pa siya hinihintay.

"Let's sketch outside?" yaya nito at bahagyang inangat ang dalang bag na naglalaman ng mga lapis at sketchpad.

"I'm tired to go out again. And it's getting dark already."

"How about we paint instead? Sa terrace tayo?"

She sighed her defeat. Ayaw niyang magtagal ang tampuhan nila kaya pumayag na siya.

While painting, she subconsciously mixed different shades of blue and gray, and stroke her paintbrush on the canvas in no particular direction. Matagal na katahimikan ang namayani sa kanila ng kuya niya, sa tantiya niya ay nasa dalawang oras din. Pansin niyang panaka-naka itong tumitingin sa kaniya at nang hindi makatiis ay bumaling siya rito at parehong natigilan nang sabay na mag-angat ng tingin.

He sighed heavily and so was she. And they both uttered:

"I'm sorry."

"Forgive me," her brother.

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi at hinintay itong magsalita, pero mukhang pinauna siya kaya nagpatuloy siya. "I know Ate Hyra's pure when you, two, met again. She also told me that you never took advantage of her during those times she was modeling for you... And even if that happened for real, I do not have the right to say those mean words."

"I know you only said those things because I angered you. I said a lot of meaner things as well, that's why I'm really sorry."

"Kasi naman, hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit ayaw na ayaw mo kay Sinned. Doesn't he deserve a second chance? It's not like he fooled me, that he cheated on me. I'm already a consenting adult when we happened and I exactly knew what did I enter."

He sighed harshly. "Hindi ko lang matanggap ang bagay na iyon kahit kaibigan ko pa siya. At saka alam niyang kapatid kita noon pa, sana, pinigilan na lang niya."

"But I was happiest that time. Kahit na alam kong wala kaming kasiguraduhan, naging masaya ako sa kaniya. He may look cold-hearted, but I saw that he was not heartless at all. I've felt it. Kulang lang siya sa salita kasi naguguluhan din naman siya noon."

"Are you sure it's not just your heightened libido talking?"

She's not uncomfortable talking about it to her brother at all. Arc was her best friend back in the days; her comrade; and the best brother she ever had.

"I don't think I can accept this yet. Dapat ay pinigilan ko nang paglapit ninyo noon pa. Alam kong crush na crush mo siya, pero hindi ko naman inakala na umabot kayo sa ganoong kasunduan."

"But you said you didn't intervene because you somehow hoped he'd like me, too. Which he did. Mahal na nga niya ako ngayon, hindi ba?"

"Sigurado ka na ba? Marami pa nama—"

"Pero nag-iisa lang si Sinned sa puso ko."

Ngumiwi ito.

She chuckled to loosen up the mood. "Was that too cheesy?"

"A bit," amin nito.

"'Ku, ganito ka rin naman kay Ate Hyra. Malala pa nga."

"Guilty."

Tumayo ang kuya niya at lumapit sa kanya. He tapped her head light but she stood up instead and embraced him. "Umuwi na tayo, Kuya. Alam kong nami-miss mo na ang mag-ina mo."

Natigilan ito at kumalas sa yakap. "Pero hindi ka pa magaling."

"Sa Pilipinas na lang ako nagpapagaling. At isa pa, may mga magagaling din namang doktor doon na siguradong matutulungan ako." She also meant a psychiatrist. She was diagnosed with PTSD—Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—a trauma from the hell-like things she experienced.

"Umuwi na tayo bukas? Don't worry, Stone informed me you can use your identity now. And we can easily take a flight as well using their airlines."

"Really?" Napatalon siya at napatili.

"Mabuti naman at nagkaayos na kayo. Kanina pa lumamig itong tinimpla kong tsaa," si Hapi iyon na kanina pa pala nakaupo sa isang tiffany chair sa bandang likuran nila. Ni hindi man lang niya napansing nandoon ito. "I'll prepare dinner now. Hindi pa pala ako nakapagluto. Oras na."

Looking at her friend now, she realized that the latter had changed a lot. She became so tough, gone with that soft Happiness she met before. But still, she's soft when it came to her. Hindi rin niya makalimutan noong makita niya ulit ito. Ang saya-saya nila at parehong napaiyak na lamang.

Bumalik ang atensiyon niya nang sumagot ang kuya niya. "Don't bother, magpa-deliver na lang."

Tumango ito at tinanong kung anong gusto nila.

"Ikaw nang bahala," si Arc.

"Hapi," she called her attention.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to go back home?" seryosong tanong niya.

Natigilan ito at pagkuwa'y umiling. "I don't have a home anymore, Rellie. I am lost." Nagkibit-balikat ito at saka pumasok na sa loob. While she and her Kuya Arc stayed there. Gusto niyang sundan ang kaibigan pero baka kailangan nitong mapag-isa saglit.

She continued painting and she mixed her work with some pastel colors: peach, light pink and lilac. Her mood brightened up once again because she and her brother weren't fighting anymore. Idagdag pa na naisip niya si Sinned. Excited na siyang makita ang lalaki.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ay sumilip ang kuya niya sa kaniyang ginagawa.

"Since you're humming a lively song, I assumed you're happy already?" Tumitig ito sa canvas. "And based on the colors you used, aside from the bluish grey one, you're indeed happy," he stated.

"I'll give this to you. Palitan mo na iyong nasa bahay mo. Antigo na iyon, ah." She's pertaining to that abstract painting she made years ago. Ikinuwento niya rin dito ang rason kung bakit ganoon ang kinalabasan niyon.

"Jesus! I knew it! Si Hipolito na naman!"

She only giggled and took a glance at Arc's artwork. It was a rough sketch of his wife and their child. Napangiti siya't nagpresinta na siya ang magkukulay niyon dahil gusto niyang mas bigyan ng buhay ang simpleng gawa ng kuya niya.

Pero nasa kalagitnaan na siya ng pagpipinta nang tila tuksong bumalik sa kaniya ang napanood na video clips kanina at parang gusto niyang bumuga ng apoy nang mapagtantong nagpapakasasa ang lalaking iyon habang siya'y hirap na hirap na nagpapagaling.

NAABUTAN ni Sinned si Rellie na abalang-abala sa pagpipinta ng kung ano. Tinitigan niya iyon ay napagtanto niyang portrait iyon ng bayaw at pamangkin nito. Subali't naningkit ang mga mata niya nang harangin siya ni Arc dahil akmang lalapit na siya sa babae. He badly missed her and he wanted to be with her already.

Kadarating lamang niya at doon kaagad dumiretso kung nasaan ang tinutuluyang bahay ng magkapatid. At ang sumalubong sa kaniya sa ibaba ay si Hapi. Hindi na nagulat ang huli sa pagdating niya.

"Good luck, man. She thought you screwed other women while she's still recovering." Arc playfully told him about that as he grinned.

"The fuck?"

"She's not vocal about it, but I perfectly know what's lingering on my sister's mind right now. I don't think you can tame her once she realized everything."

"What are you talking about?" gulong-gulong tanong niya.

Bumaling siya kay Rellie nang mapansing natigil ito sa pagpipinta at malalim na bumuntong-hininga. Nawala na rin ang masayang aura nito na naabutan niya kani-kanila lang.

"Oh, the dragon inside her is awakening. Good fucking luck, Ash!" Nakaloloko pa nitong binanggit ang nakasanayang palayaw nito para sa kaniya. He somehow used that name in other missions as well.

"What the hell is happening?"

Arc only grinned. "You're not going to win her easily, I made sure of that." Nakalolokong tinapik pa nito ang kanang balikat niya.

"K-kuya? Sinong kausap mo?" bakas ang kaba sa tinig ni Rellie nang tumuwid ng upo. His heart melted upon hearing her soft voice. He missed everything about her.

Pagkuwa'y binitiwan nito ang paintbrush at tumayo. Saka bumaling ito sa banda nila, sa may pintuan, at parang wala na siyang ibang makita kundi ang napakaganda nitong mukha. Napatitig siya sa katawan nito at tila siya nabunutan ng tinik nang mapatunayang wala itong ibang tinamong malala bukod sa mga sugat at bugbog na naghihilom pa ang iba. Nagkalaman na rin ito kumpara noong ma-i-rescue.

Now, he wanted to regret why did he not follow her right away and took care of her as if that's the only thing he knew what to do. He heaved a deep sigh of regret.

Nang bumalik ang tingin niya sa mukha nito ay napalunok siya't dumagundong ang kaba sa kaniyang dibdib dahil dumilim ang mga titig nito. Nagmistulang apoy ang kulay ng mga mata nito, at saka pinagtaasan din siya nito ng isang kilay.

"What are you doing here?" she coldly asked; and she was vividly not happy to see him at that moment. Ano ba kasi ang tinutukoy ni Arc kanina? May kasalanan ba siyang nagawa? Sa pagkakaalam niya ay wala naman.

"Get the bloody hell out of my face, Attorney. I don't ever want to see you again." Nagtagis ang bagang nito matapos ihayag ang mga katagang ayaw niyang marinig.

Natuod lamang siya sa kinatatayuan at si Arc naman ay sumisipol-sipol na iniwan sila roon ni Rellie.

He gulped nervously for this was far from what he expected, but he tried to not lose his composure.