Chapter 3- The PENTAGON

*Adelaide Sheridan*

"Tell me Ady, would you dare to live with me? Or would you rather die for me?" he asked me as if I'm going to answer his foolish query in his favor.

"I will die for the truth Roby. I live for my family not you. I don't even want to be with you." I answered.

He smiled but a bitter smile. He was disappointed from what he had heard.

"So hindi rin pala mapipigilan ng pagmamahal ko ang paghihiganti mo." he sounds so disappointed in me.

"All these years I wanted to find you, to finally serve justice for my family. At ngayon dumating na ang pinakahihintay kong araw. Maigaganti ko na ang mga magulang ko." I stated.

Ang tagal kong hinintay na mabigyan hustisya ang pagkamatay ng mga magulang ko.

"Then do it Ady." he said as he stepped forward at tinutok ang hawak kong baril sa noo niya.

"Do it Ady pull the trigger!" sigaw niya sakin.

I can't help but to cry, cry for myself.

Buong buhay ko wala akong ibang ginawa kundi paghandaan ang araw na maka-kaharap ko siya. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang mga nangyari. Hindi ko inaasahang mapa-palapit ako sa kanya. Nandito na ko at abot kamay ko na ang matagal ko ng hinihintay. Pero bakit ang hirap gawin?

Saglit na natahimik ang buong paligid. The light coming from the moon is slowly fading. Only his face can remain revealed in my eyes.

I slightly shook my head because I can't accept the fact that I can't even pull the trigger. I can't accept losing.

"I hate you Roby." I said with this blank expression on my face while tears randomly falling from my eyes.

"I hate you for making me doubt myself. I hate you so much!" I cried. I shouldn't be crying right now.

Before I can even say a thing again, I heard a loud shot coming from somewhere.

*******

Habol ang aking hininga mula saking pagkabangon. I keep panting as grains of sweat are exploring my whole body.

Napanaginipan ko na naman yun. Paulit-ulit ko siyang nakikita sa mga panaginip ko.

I've undergone therapy after that incident and still, I'm suffering from nightmares.

I took a deep breath before I stood up. I went to the kitchen and poured water in a glass.

I felt the warm water inside my throat. It calms me.

In every nightmare, water is my medicine.

Sometimes I put myself in a tub filled with hot water and relaxed myself.

I suddenly notice the clock on the upper side of the fridge.

It's 5 am in the morning.

Minsan talaga yung bangungot ko daig pa ang alarm clock.

I went straight to the bathroom to take a bath in a tub of hot water.

I was ordered to meet Benitez at the Pentagon today. It was the house built for any special mission. It's more like a hideout and the team was required to live there while we carried out the mission. It was built inside the premises of the Polygon.

Polygon is an organization associated by the special agents that deals with state matters.

The place was named after the organization. It has houses and facilities built in a wide space, more like a country club house. Every house has an allotted area of 1000 Square meters, there are 11 houses to be exact and other establishments such as medical facility, recreational park at resort na tanging miyembro lang ng special agents at piling Government officials ang may access.

*Pentagon*

"So Ady, you and Allen together with your three team members will live only here until the accomplishment of our mission." Benitez stated as he toured me and Marque in the area.

It was built with the highest technology inside and outside the country. He showed us the power room that was fully equipped by computers and panels which we can use for communications. I saw an empty glass board which can be a screen sometimes. So this is where we can make a plan.

I've seen this kind of technology before. But it's my first time to see something like this inside the country.

I explored my sight on the walls as I was fascinated by the whole concept of this house then I reached a view of Marque's face. He looks so serious, it reminds me of someone I've seen from the past.

I turned my head on the other side while thinking harder.

Parang may kamukha talaga siya?

I just don't remember who, but I saw that face before. He may be a resemblance of someone I knew back then.

Nakakunot ang noo kong nag iisip habang sumusunod ako sa kanila. Hindi ko na masyadong napapakinggan ang mga sinasabi ni Benitez.

Patuloy lang ako sa paglalakad and then suddenly I bumped into someone's back.

I stop and look up to see Marque's face. He's smiling at me. He gives me a look like he was looking at a little girl.

"Mind if you say sorry?" he said while still wearing that kind of smile.

"Sorry." tipid kong sagot sa kanya at nauna na naglakad.

Pakiramdam ko mula nung araw na una kaming magkita eh hindi ko na siya kayang kausapin ng normal. I sometimes rattle lalo na kapag nakatingin siya at nakangiti sakin. Minsan nga gusto ko na siyang sapakin. Sa madaling salita, hindi ako komportable sa kanya.

"Masyado atang malalim ang iniisip mo." he mumbled as he walks beside me.

"Mind to mind your own business?" I asked sarcastically and walked towards Benitez who was still explaining the rules and regulations of the house kahit na kanina pa walang nakikinig sa kanya.

Matagal-tagal rin akong titira sa bahay na to. Naisip ko tuloy bigla si Miranda. Paano na lang siya kapag nasa mission na ko? Paano siya kapag napahamak na naman niya ang sarili niya kaka-hanap ng lead sa mga kasong hinahawakan niya?

Saglit akong napalingon kay Benitez na sakto namang napalingon sa akin.

"Can you do me a favor?" I asked.

"Yes, anything." he answered.

"Can you randomly check on Miranda while I'm here?" he coughs like he was choked by something.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"Sabi ko pakibantayan mo si Miranda. Ayaw mo ba?" I gave him a 'don't you dare decline my request' look.

"O-okay. Pero hindi ko masisiguro na palagi ko siyang mababantayan. I have lot of works to do. For all you know I'm a busy person." he said as he walked out of the scene.

"Wait Ady, can I ask a question?" Marque uttered.

"Ano yun?" maayos kong tanong sa kanya.

"Is there something going on between Miranda and Ezekiel (Benitez)?" he asked me with a curiosity on his face.

"M-Y-O-B." I answered as I left him hanging there thinking what M-Y-O-B means.

Mind Your Own Business.

Ang sabi ni Benitez maya-maya darating na rin yung mga makakasama namin. Marque and I parted ways after Benitez left the house I don't know where on part of this house he is right now.

Well I already fixed myself on a couch here at the library while reading a Manga entitled Detective Conan. I really love this Anime series. I'm amazed by how the writer wrote Conan's deduction in every case he solved.

I read and read and read and read until everything went blurry and diminished.

********

I heard a shot coming from somewhere. I know it's a sniper. The goal is to keep the Prince safe, but not for me. I want him dead. I wanted to kill him.

That's what I thought until I saw his body lying on the ground.

He's going to die in front of me. And it kills me. I don't know what to do. I just stared at him while he's blood ran out from his chest.

I started crying.

"Roby." I called his name.

"G-go!" he said and blood stained his mouth.

I shook my head. No, I don't want to leave him. He needs me right now.

"Roby." Banggit ko ulit sa pangalan niya pagkatapos ay lumapit ako para bigyan siya ng first aid kahit pa hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin.

Akala ko matutuwa ako kapag nakita ko siyang patay na. Pero ngayon na nangyayari na lahat ng gusto ko, bakit parang hindi na ko masaya? Bakit parang mas nasasaktan ako sa sitwasyong ito?

"Save yourself A---ady."

*******

"Roby no!" sigaw ko. Namulat ang mga mata ko. I can't see anything. It's blurry. I blink twice to make my sight clear. And then I saw a face.

A face

Wait what???

Kaagad akong bumangon nung ma realized kong may tao sa harap ko at sa hindi sinasadyang pangyayari. My head bumps into his head.

"Argh!" we both exclaimed.

"Miss sorry!" he said while caressing his forehead.

"What are you doing here? And who are you?" I asked.

Simula ata nung ma-meet ko yung Marque na yun sunud-sunod na ang mga ganitong encounter sa buhay ko.

"I'm Sebastian Crisostomo. But you can call me Sebie. I'm part of the special team." he introduced himself and stretched his right arm towards me.

And now I've encountered both of them in very weird ways.

"Oh great, I'm Ady." I stated and looked to the other side.

Gosh I hope they don't make weird impressions on me.

"Ady sorry ulit ah? Hindi ko rin kasi alam na may tao dito I was just about to read some book when I found out that there's someone sleeping on the couch." he explained.

"Its' okay." sagot ko ulit sa kanya.

"Gigisingin sana kita kasi mukhang nananaginip ka kaso naunahan mo ko."

Tinignan ko lang siya. Hindi na ko sumagot para manahimik na siya.

Bakit parang puro lalaki yata ang mga makakasama ko? Hindi ata ako na informed ni Benitez.

I stood up to meet the other members.

*Living Room*

I saw a dark haired guy sitting on a couch while watching a baseball cup on a 60 inches television.

He's wearing eyeglasses which make him look so witty. He has fair skin and is a bit skinny and it makes him look weak.

"By the way Ady, that's Troy." Crisostomo mumbled.

"Wait, ako lang ba ang babae sa grupo?" curious kong tanong sa kanya.

"No. Demeter would probably be here one of these days." he looked at the guy on the couch and called his name again.

"Troy, si Ady teammate naten." lumingon lang siya saglit at nag iwas din ng tingin, so this one is a snob.

"Pasensya ka na Ady, introvert ata yang isang yan eh. Actually kanina pa siya diyan pero di nagsasalita." pabulong na sabi ni Crisostomo.

Napalingon ako ulit sa kanya. Mukha nga siyang suplado. Sobrang seryoso ng mukha niya, halatang naka focus siya sa pinapanood niyang tournament.

Maya-maya sumulpot si Marque sa Living room at tumabi sa snob na lalaking yun.

"Sino ng lamang?" tanong niya dito na hindi naman siya inimikan. Inilapag ni Marque ang bowl na may lamang popcorn sa mesa na nasa harapan nila.

"Do they both know each other?" tanong ko kay Crisostomo na mukhang di naman nabigla sa dalawa.

"Allen said they're best of friends." he answered.

Oh... I see.

I walk away from the living room, I don't wanna join them. I would rather create my own world than mingling with them.

"San ka pupunta Ady?" Crisostomo asked me.

"Magpapahangin lang.." sagot ko bago ko sila iwang tatlo doon.

********

It's been hours, I took a walk in the yard. The air gives me chills as its breeze touches my skin.

It's really cold outside.

I saw my own silhouette as the light coming from the moon covered me.

This place is calm and peaceful. I've been here for an hour and I still enjoyed the view.

"Baka magka sipon ka niyan."

I was shocked to death when I heard a voice coming from somewhere.

I explored a sight on the balcony and saw someone standing up there looking straight at me.

"May balak ka bang patayin ako sa gulat?" naiinis kong tanong sa kanya.

Nagulat ako sa sunod niyang ginawa. He jumped from the Balcony. Though it wasn't really that high but it's still dangerous for someone like him. I've mentioned it a while ago that he looks weak.

He landed safely as if he only jumped on a two stepped stair.

He stood up looking cool and seemed like he didn't get sprained or broke any bones in his body.

He walked towards me while his two hands were hiding inside his pocket.

"Wala ka bang balak isara yang bibig mo?" he asked with sarcasm.

Okay. Sino ba namang hindi mapapanganga sa ginawa niyang pagtalon? Hindi ko ba alam pero kaninang umaga pa talaga ako wala sa mood at naiinis sa mga kasama ko.

"Nagyayabang ka ba? What if you broke your leg? What if namali ka ng tansya at bumagok ang ulo mo?" I hissed.

"Seriously, are you some kind of nuts or what? Have you ever jumped on a bridge, or a building? And you call yourself an agent?" ganti niya. Wait, Iniinsulto ata ako ng isang to?

I watched him cross his arms.

"I guess you don't have proper training yet." he stated.

"Hindi naman ako na informed may kasama pala kaming matchstick na puro kayabangan ang alam." I sarcastically stated and walked away.

"Matchstick?" pahabol niyang tanong pagkatapos ay sumunod sakin.

"Troy, Ady, tara kain na!" bungad samin ni Crisostomo nung makarating kami sa may backdoor. It's connected in the kitchen and a passage way para makarating sa garden kung saan ako tumambay kanina.

"Troy ba't mukhang galit tong si Ady?" Crisostomo asked the matchstick standing beside me.

"I think that's just her normal face." he stated as he started walking away from me.

I heard Crisostomo laughed from his comments. He was busy laughing while looking his way and that makes me so irritated. He was still laughing when he turned his head on my way and he saw a poker faced girl named Ady. He stopped from laughing and began to cough.

I just gave him a cold stare then he suddenly raised two fingers in his right hand making a peace sign.