NAKATUNGANGA si Themarie sa hangin at iniisip ang nangyari sa kanila ni Shun noong isang araw. Bumalik na siya sa apartment niya pagkatapos nitong malaman na may fiancé na siya, pagkatapos nitong magwala sa sobrang galit. He didn’t ask her to leave. Kusa siyang umalis nang lumipas ang buong maghapon na hindi ito umuwi sa bahay nito pagkatapos umalis.
Alam niyang suntok sa buwan, pero umaasa siyang kakatok si Shun sa pinto ng apartment niya. Pero walang Shun na nagpakita sa kanya. This morning, she tried to go back to his house, but she left her gate pass at his house and she couldn’t get in. Para siyang tanga sa labas na hinihintay si Shun, pero hindi niya nakita ang lalaki.
Parang nanghihinang bumagsak ang katawan niya sa kama saka napatitig sa cell phone na tumutunog. Wala siyang balak na tingnan kung sino iyon, pero sa isiping baka sa boss niya iyon, tiningnan pa rin niya.
And she was right. It was from her boss.
Thems,
The target is on the move. Attached to this message is a picture of Zy Wong and the necklace with two-inches in height tube as a pendant. That tube contains a new drug formula that is even deadlier than Chi Wong’s. That necklace was worn by Chi Wong’s brother, Zy Wong. Steal it. Bring it to me with the package you stole from Chi Wong’s house. After that, you’re free to go home.
-Boss
Itinapon ni Thems ang cell phone sa ibabaw ng kama saka mabilis na binuksan ang laptop niya para hanapin si Zy Wong na nasa Pilipinas na. Kung bakit ngayon lang siya kinontak ng kanyang ahensiya, hindi niya alam. Siguro, ngayon lang lumabas si Zy Wong mula sa pinagtataguan sa Pilipinas. Kung tama ang impormasyong nakuha niya, ngayong araw ire-release ang katawan ni Chi Wong pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon. It had been nearly two weeks since Chi Wong died. Parang mas maingat si Zy Wong kaysa sa kapatid nito.
Binuksan ni Themarie ang data base na magkokonekta sa kanya sa headquarters.
“Nerdy, can you look for Zy Wong for me? I’m having a hard time finding him,” sabi niya nang lumabas ang mukha ng isa sa mga magagaling na IT ng ahensiya nila sa screen ng laptop niya.
“Stop calling me Nerdy!” Mr. Saad hissed. He’s already in his late fifties and a genius. “Anyway, about Zy Wong, I’m sending you his location now. He’s on the way to the aiport with his brother’s body,” sabi nito. “Make sure to steal the necklace. It’s the only way we can save lives.”
Themarie nodded and closed the database before he went to change into tight denim jeans and leather tops. Kinulayan niya ng pula ang buhok at isinuot ang green niyang contact lens. She wore her black knee boots and slipped her mask in her pocket. She carried two daggers with her and a gun before leaving her apartment.
Ginamit niya ang motorsiklo na pag-aari ni Honey saka nagpunta sa lugar kung nasaan si Zy Wong. Kailangang bago matapos ang araw na iyon, matapos na niya ang misyo.
SHUN had to focus on his mission. Kailangan niya iyong matapos agad nang walang sabit. Chi Wong’s brother was on the move. Ngayon lang ito lalabas sa lunggang pinagtaguan nitong mga nakaraang linggo dahil ilalabas na ang katawan ng kapatid nito. Sigurado siyang matitinik na bodyguard na sanay pumatay ng tao ang mga kasama nito.
He’d deal with his messed up emotion and life later.
Hellion,
New Mission.
Kill Zy Wong.
This is a covert mission.
-Lord Vandreck
Iyon ang mensahe sa kanya ng pinuno ng organisasyong kinabibilangan niya.
I have to end this now.
He’d deal with Themarie later. He was so busy tracking this asshole down that he didn’t have the time to talk to Themarie again after she left his house. Gusto na niya itong makita kahit galit pa rin siya. Gusto niya itong makausap kahit kinakain pa rin ng selos ang buong sistema niya. Pero kailangan niya munang tapusin ang lahat ng iyon.
Mabilis niyang pinatakbo ang sasakyan papunta sa airport. Malapit nang umalis si Zy Wong. Kailangan niya itong mapigilan para hindi na makapanakit pa ng ibang inosenteng buhay.
Tiningnan niya ang AS50 niya na nasa passenger seat. Isa iyong sniper riffle, with direct impingement, semi-automatic, with 1,500m effective range and five to ten round detachable box magazine.
Let’s see what you can do, baby.
Pumarada si Shun sa labas ng mataas na gusali, kaharap ng airport—pero may-kalayuan pa rin—at nagpunta sa pinakamataas na palapag. He already read the blueprint of this building so he knew that there was one bathroom in the fortieth floor that was facing the airport.
Nang makapasok sa banyo, mabilis niyang inisa-isang buksan ang cubicle para alamin kung may tao. Nang masigurong wala namang tao kahit isa sa banyo maliban sa kanya, ini-lock niya ang pinto saka binuksan ang attaché case at ini-assemble ang sniper riffle na nasa loob niyon.
Then, Shun slightly opened the small sliding window, facing the airport parking lot. Inilabas niya sa maliit na bukas ng bintana ang kalahati ng baril saka tiningnan sa teleskopyo ang mga papasok sa airport.
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Shun nang makitang may babaeng nakahilig sa nakaparadang motorsiklo sa harap mismo ng airport. Agad siyang kinutuban sa nakita. Parang kaparehas ito ng babae na nakalaban niya sa bahay ni Chi Wong. She was even wearing the same mask!
Humigpit ang hawak niya sa sniper riffle at handa nang kalabitin ang gatilyo nang lumabas si Zy Wong mula sa sasakyan nito. His bodyguard was hovering around him.
Shun was about to shoot one of the guard to have a clear shot on Wong when the woman with red hair moved. Inatake nito ang mga bodyguard ni Zy Wong nang walang kahirap-hirap. She punched, kicked, backfliped and dodged. The woman had skills, he could tell.
Madaling napatumba ng babae ang tatlong bodyguard ni Zy Wong. Shun was expecting the woman to attack Zy Wong, but no, after she and Zy Wong fought hand to hand, she crippled her opponent then ripped the necklace off of Zy Wong and then ran like the demons were chasing after her.
Shun sighed, aimed at Zy Wong’s head and pulled the trigger. Siniguro niyang sa ulo niya tinamaan si Zy Wong. His blood and brain were splattered on the pavement. He was dead. He mentally patted himself on the shoulder.
Good job.
Then, he turned his attention to the woman running. Tinanggal niya ang magazine at pinalitan ang balang laman. Isang espesyal na uri ng bala. Then, Shun aimed at the woman… and shot. The woman crashed to the ground, but she quickly got up and ran again.
Ibinalik niya ang snipper riffle sa lalagyan at pasimpleng lumabas sa banyo. Nakangiti siyang sumakay sa elevator saka nagpahatid sa lobby ng gusali. Nang makalabas sa elevator, sumakay siya sa sasakyan at binuksan ang tablet niya. He opened the GPS then started tracking the woman.
Shun smirked when he saw a red blinking dot. “Gotcha.”
Mabilis niyang pinatakbo ang sasakyan papunta sa babae. He now had her location.
As Shun round in the fifth block, he stopped his car. Lumabas siya ng sasakyan at walang ingay na lumapit sa babae na pilit tinatanggal ang tracking device na ibinaril niya rito.
“Don’t move,” he said.
Nakatalikod sa kanya ang babae. Nakita niyang natigilan ito nang marinig ang boses niya. Itinutok niya rito ang maliit na kutsilyo na dala saka hinawakan sa braso. “Humarap ka sa akin.”
The woman slowly faced him and her eyes captured his. Natigilan siya sa ganda ng mga mata nito. Sinamantala naman iyon ng babae. Sinipa nito ang kutsilyo na hawak niya dahilan para tumilapon iyon, saka siya malakas na sinipa sa tiyan.
He rubbed his stomach. That hurt. He glared at the woman.
Galit na inatake ni Shun ang babae. Ilang suntok at sipa ang pinakawalan niya na madali nitong nasasalag. Pero may mga atake siyang tumatama sa katawan nito. Natutumba ito, pero madaling nakakabawi.
Mabilis ang kilos ng babae. Bawat atake, malakas. Pero mas malakas siya at ekspertong nasasalag ang bawat pinapakawalan nitong sipa at suntok. Agad niyang ibinabalik dito nang doble ang lakas at bilis.
They kept on attacking each other, until Shun got a hold of the woman’s mask. He ripped if off her. The woman whipped her hair back, showing her whole face to her and stared straight into his eyes.
Shun’s body went rigid as he saw the woman’s full face. He knew those green eyes. He knew those plum lips. He knew that face. He knew her!
He paled as he stared at the woman. Napakalamig ng buong katawan niya. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya sa sobrang gulat.
“Themarie…” he exhaled. “W-wa… H-how? W-why?”
Tinitigan lang siya ni Themarie, walang emosyon ang mukha at mga mata. Parang hindi siya kilala. Mayamaya, mabilis itong tumakbo palayo sa kanya.
Shun was still shocked to the core. He couldn’t move to go after her.
Themarie? His Themarie? Ito ang babae sa bahay ni Chi Wong. Fuck!
“This is getting crazier and crazier,” he whispered to the air.
Shun pushed himself to run towards his car. Tiningnan niya ang GPS. Hindi na gumagana iyon. Parang natanggal at nasira na ni Themarie ang device sa likod nito.
He exhaled harshly. Kailangan niya itong makausap. He stomped on the gas and drove to Themarie’s apartment.
“HONEY!” Hawak ni Themarie ang tagiliran na may tama ng baril habang kausap ang kaibigan sa cell phone. “I got shot.” Agad niyang sinabi rito kung saan siya nagtatago. “And delete every information about Themarie Alfonso in every data base there is. Alam na ni Shun kung sino ako. It only means one thing. It’s time to go home. I want Themarie Alfonso to disappear without a trace.”
“On it,” sabi ni Honey saka mahinang napamura. “I’m coming to get you. Hang in there.”
Pinatay niya ang tawag saka bumaba ang tingin sa tagilirang dumudugo.
Shun killed Zy Wong, she was sure of that. Nang makuha niya ang kailangan kay Wong, tumakbo siya. As she ran, she looked back and saw Wong getting shot in the head. A perfect aim and shot. Her boss would be pissed. Ayaw nitong mamatay si Wong. Gusto muna nitong alamin ang lahat ng impormasyon tungkol sa lalaki sa pamamagitan ng pag-eespiya rito.
But now, he was dead. Thanks to Mr. Shun Kim.
Mariing ipinikit ni Themarie ang mga mata nang maramdaman ang sakit sa likod niya. That was where Shun shot her with that fucking tracking device. She knew it was Shun. Sino pa ba ang ibang gagawa niyon?
Nakuha na niya kanina ang tracking device na ibinaril ng lalaki. She dug into her own flesh to get it out. The pain was excruciating. Then, she destroyed that fucker.
Nararamdaman niya ang likido na dumadaloy sa likod niya. Her blood.
Her wound in the back was now starting to darken her vision. Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata at iminulat ulit. She felt weak because of blood loss. But she needed to stay awake. Damn it! She was in a secluded alley. Baka may masasamang loob na pagdiskitahan siya habang walang malay.
Themarie tried to stay conscious until Honey came to get her out of there.
“Thanks, Honey,” sabi niya habang inaalalayan siya ng kaibigan.
“Anytime.” Pinasakay siya nito sa dala nitong sasakyan, “Handa na ang sasakyan mong eroplano,” sabi nito habang nagmamaneho at pasulyap-sulyap sa kanya. “Pero ipapagamot muna natin `yang sugat mo.”
All Themarie could do was groan as she leaned on the window. At habang nakatitig siya kawalan at pahina nang pahina ang katawan, nasa isip niya si Shun.
She ran away from him. Iyong gustong-gusto niya itong makausap, pero tinakbuhan niya. Alam niyang maraming itong katanungan na hindi niya puwedeng sagutin dahil alam niyang hindi iyon magugustuhan ng IIEA—ang organisasyong kinabibilangan niya. Pagod na siyang magsinungaling kay Shun.
And maybe that was her cue. Her cue to leave and go back to her old life that she abhorred. Tapos na ang pagpapanggap niya bilang Themarie Alfonso.
NANG hindi naabutan ni Shun si Themarie sa apartment nito, para siyang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. The whole place looked deserted. It looked cold. Just like its previous occupant.
As he walked around her apartment, a strangled chuckle escaped his lips. She left.
She left me. Where the hell are you, Thems? You’re making me crazy.
Nagsisisi si Shun na inatake niya ang babae. It was a knee-jerk reaction. And he was a stupid son of a bitch. Pero kung totoo ang pinagsasabi ni Themarie na gusto siya nitong makasama, bakit ito tumakbo at iniwan siya?
Was it because of her fiancé?
Galit na umalis siya sa apartment ng babae at umuwi sa bahay niya.
I will find you, woman.
Nang makapasok sa bahay niya, agad siyang nagpunta sa basement. He would find her.
Umupo si Shun sa harap ng mga laptop niya. Binuksan niya lahat ng law enforcement data base at lahat ng government data base kung saan siya nakakonekta saka nag-umpisang maghanap. There was only one name in the entire search box engine—Themarie Alfonso.
“Where the hell are you?” he whispered to the air. “Come on, Thems.”
Tatlong data base na ang not found.
No! His fingers were fast as he typed Themarie’s full name again and again in the search box.
Not found.
He typed Themarie’s full name again.
Not found.
He typed again.
Not found .
He searched again.
Not found.
And again.
Not found.
“Fuck!” Shun shouted with anger and frustration.
Galit niyang itinapon ang laptop na wala namang silbi. He had been searching every database that had connections to every law enforcement agency in the world, but nothing. Every time he searched Themarie Alfonso, there was nothing about her. Walang lumalabas na sagot. Wala siyang mahanap kahit isang impormasyon tungkol dito. Para bang may bumura niyon lahat.
“Fuck!” Sinipa niya ang isa pang laptop na wala ring sibi. It fell to the floor and cracked.
Humarap si Shun sa dalawa niyang laptop na inaasahan niyang magbibigay sa kanya ng impormasyong kailangan niya.
99% searching…
Not found.
“Fuck you!” he hissed and looked at his last remaining laptop.
Mas nadagdagan pa ang frustration na nararamdaman niya nang makitang not found rin ang sagot niyon sa kanya. That was the data base of FBI, CIA, Interpol, NBI, DAE. He even hacked the government police files he could find, but nothing.
“Where are you, Themarie?” tanong niya sa hangin. “Please, magpakita ka sa akin.” Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa sofa at napasabunot sa sariling buhok.
Fuck this! Why did I fall in love with that cunning woman?
Shun gritted his teeth. Hindi siya susuko. Using his last laptop, he hacked into different banks database and looked for Themarie, but none.
Wala itong bank record, hospital record, passport record, driver’s license at kahit na ano pang record na mayroon ang isang normal na tao. Wala siyang mahanap.
Shun stared at his laptop, shocked. Then he remembered what Garnett said about the owner of the fingerprint when he visited the HQ after Chi Wong’s death. The owner of that fingerprint was confidential.
Kumuyom ang kamao niya. “Who are you, Themarie Alfonso?”