250 Hiatus

Chapter 24. Hiatus

THE NEXT day, Bree was called by Timo Estacio in the agency. Inisip na niyang tungkol sa binigay na misyon sa kaniya iyon, na hanapan ng kasiraan si Rexton dela Costa.

"Have a seat," bulalas nito nang makapasok siya sa opisina nito. Why were they alone though? Saka bakit sa opisina nito? Hindi ba dapat ay sa meeting room?

She remained standing.

"Mangangalay ka—"

"Bakit tayo lang? Nasaan ang iba? Si Devon?"

"We sent back your partner to El Salvador, but as a client of de l'Orage."

Nangunot ang kaniyang noo. "Maiiwan ako? Kailan ang alis niya?"

"I said sent back. He took the flight this morning."

"Why didn't I know? We were together last night..."

"You were together, huh?" malisyosong tanong nito. "Do you want us to fuck tonight, Agent Athena? Your partner left you alone. I bet your nights will be cold."

"Gago! Aalis na ako—"

"I'm just kidding. Come here and take a seat."

"Bakit pa? Wala ka namang sasabihin."

"Mayroon."

Pero nanatili siyang nakatayo.

"Sabihin mo na ngayon."

"Bakit hindi ka muna maupo? Baka mangalay ka nga kasi riyan. It's not like I'm going to do something to you while you're seated?" nakataas ang kilay na anito.

She only rolled her eyes. She noticed that sometimes, he's doing everything on purpose. But since she knew she's hating him to the bones, she didn't entertain any of those thoughts that'd make him look good. Demonyo ito noong unang taon niya sa AIA kaya mananatiling ganoon ang tingin niya rito.

Pero sa totoo lang, kakatwang hindi na sagad sa buto ang galit niya sa Estacio na ito, samantalang noon ay halos gusto na niya itong patayin. Mukhang nakipag-meeting ito kay Satanas noong maaksidente at nagbabagong-buhay na ngayon dahil nakatikim na ng impiyerno. Natakot siguro.

"Alright, suit yourself," sumusukong wika nito. "I called you to say you can quit AIA now. I heard you got an offer to be a member of a band."

"Why do I need to quit?"

"Why? Don't you want to? Hindi ka na matatali sa mga misyon, mamumuhay ka na ng normal nang hindi hinahabol si Kamatayan."

"Paano ang trabaho ko? Ang misyon ko? You told me to keep an eye with Rexton."

Ngumisi lang ito. "You can stop now. He's not an important person, so, we'll leave him alone."

"Oh, yeah?" Para siyang nakahinga ng maluwag sa narinig. Dahil sa totoo lang ay natatakot siya sa mga maaari niyang malaman tungkol sa lalaki. Pero pinaninindigan niyang malinis ang kababata niya, na hilig lang talaga itong hindi pabor sa lahat.

"Or if you want, you can still work with us but not like the way before. Tatanggapin mo lang ang misyon kung sa tingin mo ay kaya mo," Timo gave her another option.

"Bakit? Hindi n'yo na ba ako kailangan kaya binabasura n'yo na lang ako? Is it because I don't kill in just a snap like the other agents? Am I too soft?"

"Killing isn't the reason. This is actually an order by our head. Lahat kayong mga ipinadala sa The Storm Mission noon ay tinitiwalag na sa AIA."

Nagtaka siya roon. Timo was pertaining to that mission about de L'Orage. Mukhang nakuha naman nito ang pagtataka niya at nagpatuloy ito.

"I don't know the reason why. I'm just following Arellano's orders."

Napatango na lang siya. "How about Devon?"

"He'll stay with us. He doesn't want to leave."

Ngumuso na lang siya. "Can't I stay with him, too?"

"No."

"Even if I fuck you, Estacio? Matagal mo na akong gustong makuha, hindi ba? I'm giving you your chance no—"

"No bargaining."

Of course she wouldn't let that happen! She's just checking if could she stay, too. But she guessed that the order was absolute.

"So? Should we process it today?" Tungkol iyon sa pag-alis niya sa agency.

Umiling siya. "I'll take the other offer. I don't think I can quit right away. Nasanay na ako sa trabahong ito, hindi ko sigurado kung kaya kong iwan agad-agad."

Oddly, she's comfortable conversing with him. Ni hindi niya napansing umupo na siya sa katapat na upuan nito. Tumayo ulit siya para makaalis na. Nataranta kasi siya nang makitang alas diyes na ng umaga, baka mamaya, isipin ni Rexton, nakalimutan na niya ang usapan nila. Mabuti na lang pala at hindi sila naglasing ni Devon kagabi. At kaya naman pala ayaw nitong mag-inuman sila ay may flight pala ito ng umaga. Kapag nagkita sila ng lalaking iyon, sasabunutan niya hanggang sa makalbo ito. Ni hindi man lang nagpaalam!

"I believe we are all set? Can I go now? I have an appointment."

Ngumisi lang ito at tumango. "I'll see you around, Ms. Mendoza."

"Alright... But don't you ever think that we're in good terms, Mr. Estacio. I still didn't forget what you did to me."

HINDI malaman ni Rexton kung paanong ipapaliwanag kay Bree ang mga nakita nito. Pinalipas niya ang magdamag na halos hindi siya makatulog kaiisip. Kinabukasan, kung hindi pa siya ginising ni Hans para sabihin nandoon na ang Tita Bree nito ay hindi pa siya babangon. Nagulat pa siya na alas onse na pala ng umaga kaya nagmadali siyang pumasok sa banyo, at nakuha pa niyang mag-shave habang nag-iisip kaya nasugatan siya ng blade sa pang-ahit niya.

He's kind of expecting she's waiting for him in his room, but she wasn't. Nasa ibaba lang ito, sa sala, habang hinihintay silang mag-ama. Kinakabahan siya nang bumaba pero mukhang wala lang naman kay Bree ang nakita. She's smiling sweetly when she saw him, but eventually frowned.

"Why did you shave?"

Natigilan siya. Baka napansin nito ang sugat niya kaya nagtanong. "It's just a small cut. Lalagyan ko na lang ng band-aid."

"I like it better when you—" Ito mismo ang natigilan nang mapagtanto ang sinasabi. "I m-mean, mag-iingat ka sa susunod na mag-ahit ka."

"What were you saying?" He's certain he heard her say she liked his beard. Or maybe he's just hearing things. Kaya sinigurado niya. "Mas gusto mong may balbas ako?"

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

"Gusto mo nga."

"Well, for a change. Bagay mo kasi, hindi ka naman nagmukhang dugyot." Hindi pa rin ito tumitingin sa kaniya.

"How about my hair, then? It's getting longer." Look at me, Bree.

She stared at him. Napangisi siya dahil iyon mismo ang dahilan kung bakit tinanong niya ang buhok niya. Gusto niyang bumaling ito sa kaniya para matitigan niya rin ang mukha nito.

"Should I get a haircut today? What do you think?"

"Ikaw ang bahala." She avoided his gazes again.

They spent the rest of the day going to places that Hans wanted to go to.

MONTHS after, the members of the all-girl band, Sunshine, were finally complete. Instead of 'Sunny', the board of directors came up with 'Sunshine' instead, Rexton also gave the tentative month of their debut and it'd be on June, the following year.

Bree spent her birthday with the members and their manager, then, they booked an en suite at the Sandoval Hotel. Naiiling siya noon dahil nagmistula siyang driver ng mga ito. Doon niya naisipang kailangan din ng driver ng mga ito kaya nagpasya siyang i-hire ang isa sa mga naging bodyguards niya noong teenager pa siya. Si Kuya Teban.

He also hired some men from Phoenix Security Agency to be the members' bodyguards. Iyon nga lang ay hindi gaanong lalapit ang mga ito sa mga babae para hindi mailang.

And almost a year after, the girls finally debuted. Dahil na rin sa kabi-kabilaang promotions—bukod pa sa talaga namang magagaling at talentado ang mga ito—ay mabilis na nakilala at minahal ng madla ang banda. He must admit, they were exceptionally good, and he's not being biased. Naka-set na nga ang ringtone niyang dati nama'y default ringtone lang, pero ngayon ay title track na ng banda.

His heart was melting whenever he's watching Bree performed. Binubuhos talaga nito ang pagmamahal nito sa pagkanta.

Today, he's bringing Hans in the office since he told him that Sunshine band would be having a recording for their special song. Tuwang-tuwa ang anak niya dahil iniidolo nito ang banda. Manghang-mangha raw sa Tita Bree nito dahil napakahusay kumanta. Mapa-ballad, rock, o kahit anong genre pa.

"Daddy, kapag lumaki na ako, I want Tita Bree to sing in my wedding."

Nasamid siya sa binanggit ni Hans. Lulan sila ng kaniyang sasakyan at papunta na ng agency. "Why are you talking about marriage, Hans? You're only seven."

"I have a crush po, she's my classmate..."

"And you're already thinking about marriage?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya.

Ngumuso ito. Malusog pa rin ang anak niya at chubby cheeks, mabilis ding pamulahan ng mukha.

"What did I tell you about having a crush?" he tried to sound serious so he'd take him seriously. Kahit natutuwa siya ay ayaw niyang i-normalize nito ang pag-iisip sa mga ganoong bagay. Baka mamaya kasi ay masanay ito na kapag may crush ito, kasal na kaagad ang kasunod.

"That it's an adoration po. Admiration," he answered.

"How about marriage?"

"That only two people who love each other should marry... That marriage is sacred po."

"And?"

"Dapat po big na pareho. Saka kaya nang magka-family."

"I'm glad you remember. Keep those things in your mind, okay?"

"Opo. Sorry na po, Daddy."

"Forgiven. Where do you want to go later?"

"Can we go with Tita Bree? Miss ko na po siya."

"Miss ko na rin siya..." he murmured.

"Po?"

"What?"

"You were saying something po?"

"Nah. I must be hungry. Gusto mo bang kumain muna tayo? It's still eleven. One o'clock ang schedule ng Sunshine."

"Sige..."

They pulled over a fast food restaurant and they ate for about thirty minutes only.

Tuwang-tuwa si Hans nang personal na makilala isa-isa ang miyembro ng banda. After watching them record their special song, he immediately switched from Bree's avid fan to the whole band's.

"Tita Bree, Tita Bree!" he excitingly called for his Tira Bree's name.

"Yes, Hansel? You grew taller, little boy."

"Then, I'm not a little boy anymore if I'm taller now."

"Don't grow up fast, boy, enjoy your youth—"

"Hey," putol niya sa sasabihin ni Bree. Hindi na naman siya patutulugin ni Hans mamaya kapag may narinig na namang WoW sa kanyang kababata. Short for Words of Wisdom. Noong nakaraan kasi, sinabi ni Bree na huwag paglaruan ang damdamin ng babaeng magiging crush nito, ay buong gabi siyang inulanan ng tanong ni Hans kung ano bang ibig sabihin niyon.

"What?" she mouthed.

Nangunot ang noo niya nang mapansin ang puson nito. She had a piercing on her belly button.

Damn, it looked so cool.

Nagpaalam na ang ilang miyembro pero naiwan si Bree dahil sa niyaya ito ni Hans na kumain silang tatlo ng hapunan. Mabuti pa ang anak niya, madaling nayayaya si Bree, samamtalang siya, kung ano-ano pa ang naiisip kaya sa huli ay hindi na niya natutuloy ang balak na yayain ito.

Kumain silang tatlo sa isang sikat na restaurant, ang The Dreams. Tuwang-tuwa si Bree dahil paborito pala nito ang pagkain doon. Bagay na hindi niya alam dahil kailan lang pala nito nalaman ang restaurant na iyon. And he couldn't agree more, because the cuisine was really tasty. 'Ika nga'y sulit ang binayad.

Hindi na rin sila nagtagal dahil pagod na raw si Bree at gusto nang magpahinga, hinatid nila ito at hindi na rin tumuloy sa mansiyon ng mga Mendoza kahit pa nga gusto pa rin silang papasukin ni Bree.

His kid told her, "You should sleep na po, 'Ta Bree, para palaging maganda at healthy."

She gave Hans a peck on his forehead while she only waved at him. Gusto tuloy niyang bumaba at kunin ang goodbye kiss niya rito.

"I wish I have Tita Bree as my mommy, Daddy."

He's surprised when his boy told him that. He thought he might have noticed that he liked his Tita Bree, but he realized he's just really fond of her.

Kung alam lang nito, gustong-gusto niya ring mangyari iyon...

Just a few months after, Sunshine's keyboardist fell ill, leaving him no choice but to oust her on the band. But the members asked—no, they begged for him to let them be on hiatus until their beloved member would recover.

Isa iyong sugal para kaniya pero pinayagan niya. Not because he grew fond with them but he's agreeing that Sunshine band wouldn't be Sunshine without their keyboardist, Acel Mariano.

Aside from Bree, the remaining members were casted by the manager—Milka Guerrero, the bass guitarist; Jinny Canciller was the lead guitarist; and the drummer's name's Lana Santiago—and they're all in their early to mid-twenties now.

He saw potential in them so he granted their request and allowed them to go on hiatus. May mangilan-ngilang sponsors ang nag-pull out ng shares nila nang malaman ang desisyon niyang iyon, pero mas marami pa rin ang nagtiwala. Most probably because it was him. It's his decision.