Kain

Chapter 16. Kain

REXTON's current job was supposed to be Wang Xi Entertainment Company's current CEO. But before he could make a move, he was ordered to back off. Nagkaroon sila ng bagong plano.

"Do you know this man?" Sinned Hipolito, the one who's briefing the case asked him. They're inside one of the Phoenix Agency's situation rooms. Or simply, meeting rooms.

Umiling siya. "Who's he?"

"Valentino Morris Estacio. He's working at TBS. Bata ni Torres." He meant Luigi Torres, the CEO of Torres Broadcasting System.

"Bakit nasama ang TBS? Thought we're after Wang Xi?"

May nakapag-tip kasi sa kanila na may nagaganap na prostitusyon roon. Karamihan sa mga biktima ay ang mga models na hawak ng kumpanya, o mga talents. Subalit wala silang sapat na ebidesya para madiin ang mga ito sa krimen.

"TBS is Wang Xi's sister company. And this man here—" The laser pointer on the man's picture thay was shown on the projector screen. "—is an agent like us. He's working under AIA, and the head's righthand man."

Napataas siya ng kilay. He had heard about Arellano International Agency before, they're on the same line with Phoenix.

"Agent ito? Mukhang hindi nga marunong manuntok." pangungutya niya. Hindi halata sa mukha ng lalaking iyon na kaparehas nila ng linya ng trabaho. Sabagay, sila rin namang nasa loob ng silid na iyon ay hindi aakalaing mga secret agents.

"dela Costa," Herrera called him out. "You will lead this mission."

Nakauunawang tumango siya. "What should I do?"

"You will hire his services since his work as a private investigator is shown in his public profile."

"Then?"

"You should focus at Montreal now, too. I-atas mo na muna sa iba ang pamamalakad sa mga malls ninyo."

"Alright. What else?"

"You're going to debut that all-girl band that Ms. Gozo will be handl—"

"What? I can't. The members aren't complete yet." He's planning to put some secret agents in Montreal Agency. Siya na ang humahawak ng nasa Pilipinas. Pero hindi naman lahat ay gagawing espisya sa bandang itatatag. Baka sa napusuan lang niyang maging gitarista ibigay ang trabaho kung sakali.

"Asikasuhin mo na kaagad. They will be our backup plan if ever we fail this one," utos ni Stone Herrera.

"How about that idol group instead? The other members are doing great on their trainings," suhestisyon ni Sinned Hipolito.

That idol group would debut, probably this year or next, and would be working as spies under Phoenix, too.

Iyon ang unang plano. Titingnan-tingnan daw muna kung ano ang magiging pasya.

"We'll see. But for now, we're done. I'll call for another meeting if we finalize the mission and the agents that will be joining."

Tumayo na siya at dire-diretsong umalis sa Phoenix. He rode his Mustang and went straight to the mansion.

Tamad na tamad pa siyang pumasok sa tahanan nila, pero natuod siya nang marinig ang pamilyar na malakas na boses ni Bree sa tuwing humahalakhak ito.

Bumaling siya sa en grandeng sala at hindi nga siya nagkamalaing nandoon si Bree! She's playing Jenga with Hans and Chelin while his mom was filming his laughing kid. 

"You lose, baby boy. Where's my biscuit?"

Damn, I want you to talk to me that way, too.

"Tita Bree, nitamaan mo naman po ang mesita," nagrereklamong bulalas ng anak niya.

Tumawa na lang din ang iba pang nandoon. Napangiti siya.

"Alright. I admit it. I'm sorry, baby boy—"

"I'm not a baby anymore, 'Ta Bree," pagtatama ni Hans.

"Handsome little boy, then."

The little boy giggled as she slightly pinched his cheeks.

"But, the reason why I did that is because I want to tell you that you should always admit your mistakes, accept and move forward learning from it."

Napakamot si Chelin dahil napaka-seryoso ni Bree nang  sambitin ang mga katagang iyon. She even palmed Hans' chubby cheeks to look straight into his young boy's chinky eyes. Malayong-malayo sa mga mata niyang hugis almond.

"Opo, Tita Bree. Pero huwag na ikaw mandaya, ah? Hindi po 'yon ganda gawain sabi ni Daddy kong pogi."

Bree chuckled as she nodded and started fixing the Jenga pieces. Tinulungan ito ng anak niya habang si Chelin ay napalingon sa kaniya.

"Shh..." Sumenyas pa siya na huwag itong maingay dahil gusto pa niyang tingnan ang dalawa. She just shrugged and helped them on fixing the pieces.

Whenever he's watching Bree and Hans together, it was touching his heart. It's like his deepest desire was becoming a reality—Bree, as his children's mother.

At napansin na ni Hans ang presensya niya ay bumaling sa kaniya.

"Daddy!" patakbo itong lumapit sa kaniya at nagmano. Turo iyon ng mama niya.

"How's your day, little boy?" Binuhat niya ito at hinalikan sa pisngi.

"Happy! I have a total of six stars po, Daddy. Look, o..." Magiliw nitong pinakita ang tatlong stamps ng star sa likod ng kaliwang palad nito. Ginulo naman niya ang buhok nito.

"Nandito ka na pala," ang mama niya. "Sandali, ipaghahapag ko kayo ng makakain. Umalis kasi si Manang, nag-grocery."

Tango lang ang naisagot niya rito dahil pinakita pa ni Hans ang tatlong stars na nasa kabilang kamay nito.

"Ayaw niyang ipatanggal kasi ipapakita pa raw niya sa iyo," pagbibigay-alam ni Chelin.

Pinansin naman ulit niya ang mga naipon nitong stars at pinuri.

"Wow! This green one says 'Very Good!' I bet you did really, really great."

"Hm!" Masigla itong tumango at nagpababa na. Patakbo itong bumalik sa pwesto para yayaing ulit sa paglalaro ang Tita Chelin nito.

At siya nama'y nanatiling nakatayo sa pwesto. Hindi niya namalayang nasa harap na niya si Bree. Napakatamis ng ngiti nito sa kaniya.

"Na-miss mo ako, 'no?" nanunudyong bulalas nito at walang sabi-sabing yumakap sa kanya. Tumingkayad at kinintalan siya ng mabilis na halik sa pisngi. "'Miss you! Kumain ka na?"

Napakurap-kurap siya. "Tumaba ka..." The fuck are you saying, Rexton Hans?!

Bree pouted and her face reddened. She must be trying to look embarrassed but she failed to do so because there's a ghost of smile on her luscious lips.

"Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita, pero itong taba ko pa ang pinansin mo. Don't worry, busog lang ak—"

Yumuko siya para kintalan ito ng halik sa gilid ng labi, nagtagal nang bahagya iyon kaysa sa mga halik na iginagawad niya noon. She moved a bit that was why his lips exactly met her full and soft lips. And even before he could claim her mouth sensually, she moved away.

"'Kain na tayo. Nagugutom na ako, eh. 'Tulungan ko lang si Tita sa kusina."

Paulit-ulit siyang nagmura sa isipan dahil ito mismo ang gusto niyang kainin sa mga oras na iyon.