Musical

Chapter 36. Musical

WHEN the Phoenix Agency's mole was discovered, Rexton already knew the internal spy's real identity. At hindi niya ito hahayaang mamatay sa kahit na anong paraan. Pagbabayaran pa nito ang kasalanang ginawa, lalong-lalo na sa pag-abandona sa sarili nitong anak at nagpatali sa kasamaan.

Bree was right, something was really off about the information that they acquired. Everything seemed fabricated before. Kung bakit pinatay ang mga Bustos ay hindi nalaman dahil walang motibo si Liwayway na siyang suspek sa pagpatay noon. The case was closed due to lack of evidences, witnesses and all. Pero isa lang ang sigurado siya—buhay pa ang mga tunay na magulang ni Hans. At tama ang hinala niya na nasa panganib ang buhay ng batang lalaki kung malalaman ang tunay nitong pagkatao.

"What's your plan?" tanong sa kaniya ni Stone nang nasa opisina nito silang dalawa ni Bree. Just a few weeks after his son's thirteenth birthday, Kristen Paras' cover was blown to some other agents, and she didn't have any idea about it. Sila nina Stone at Sinned, pati na rin si Bree saka ang ibang mga kasama ni Kristen sa misyon pa lamang ang nakakaalam sa totoong pagkatao nito.

"We will trap her."

"How?" takang-tanong ni Bree.

Sinned quietly listened to them.

"We're going to pretend we don't know anything yet."

"You mean, you're still not going to catch her?" si Bree ulit. "But she's a mole rat!"

"She can easily deny the truth, Bree," esplika naman si Stone.

"She can't. We can just easily do a DNA test—"

"I don't want to drag Hans in these missions, Bree."

Maang na napalingon sa kaniya si Bree at dahan-dahang napatango. Naunawan ang desisyon niya.

And that woman; Kristen Paras, the agency's mole rat, wasn't her real name. She was Luna Mae Bustos and she's supposed to be dead already. But fuck knew what happened to her. Nagpatali ito sa mga Devila at ngayo'y nagtatrabaho sa ilalim ng pamilyang iyon para mag-espiya sa Phoenix Agency. The motive was to keep them away from that family so their evil deed wouldn't get exposed. But, too bad for them. Because Stone decided to keep an eye with the Devilas. Starting with the supposed to be missing person, Nathaniel Devila.

Bree sighed and went on. "I just can't imagine that Luna and Nathaniel were Hans' biological parents." She disappointingly shook her head. "Mabuti na lang at sa atin napunta si Hans, at least lumaki siyang normal na bata."

"So it's true, huh?"

Sabay silang napalingon ni Bree kay Sinned.

"Huh?"

"That you two are together."

"Matagal na," Bree commented. Bree and Sinned didn't know each other that much. They just met at the agency many times.

Dismayadong umiling ang abogado na nagpairita sa kaniya.

"Anong nagustuhan mo sa gagong ito? He's a mind controlling freak."

"He is?" gulat na tanong ni Bree.

"Yes, Miss. He is."

Natatawang pinanood lang ni Stone ang nangyayari.

"He trains the sleepers to only follow his orders, even this man here can't do anything about it."

"Hey, it's because I gave him the power to handle them," depensa ni Stone.

"You're doing that?" Hindi makapaniwalang lumingon sa kaniya si Bree. Gusto niyang palipitin ang nguso ng abogadong ito ngayon.

"Well, it's easy to manipulate them—"

"Then, he's right." She glanced at Sinned who's satisfyingly smirking at the moment. "You're a freak!" She frowned.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya kay kay Sinned. "Are you getting back at me for what Candace did to me? I told you it's just a kiss!"

Stoned laughed out loud. "You're dead, man!"

Napangisi siya, pero nang mapagtantong sa kaniya sinabi ni Stone iyon ay natigilan siya at kinabahang lumingon kay Bree, na wala nang ekspresyon sa mukha nito bago bumaling kay Stone.

"I'm backing off with these missions."

Normally, Stone wouldn't let an agent back out on the last minute, but, he agreed.

"Miss, I want to have your autograph. Sign on my shirt." Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang nakangising si Sinned at tumikas ng upo. Pinagmayabang ang nagmumura nitong muscles.

"Oh, sure. Didn't know you're a fan."

"I'm not. I just want your sign."

She just shrugged and went near to Sinned, she looked around and when she saw the pen holder, she asked Stone to get her a pen. Sumunod naman ang huli at tulala niyang pinanood ang halos pagdampi ng kamay nito sa katawan ni Sinned.

"I want it here, too," nakakalokong dagdag ni Sinned at tinuro ang bandang puson. Just below his fucking navel.

That was it. He stood up and grabbed Bree's hands so they could get out.

Hindi sila nagkibuan habang nagmamaneho siya. At nang maihatid niya ito ay dire-diretso itong bumaba sa sasakyan at walang lingong iniwan siya.

Kaagad na sumunod siya dahil hindi siya makakatulog nang ganoon sila sa isa't isa. He must explain to her that that happened unexpectedly, and he didn't respond at all. However, they still kissed. And he's already with Bree.

Damn it... Was that considered cheating?

Bumati siya sa mga magulang ni Bree at mukhang nakuha ng mga ito na may tampuhan sila ng nobya. He immediately excused himself to follow her upstairs.

"Get out!"

Of course he didn't. He explained everything and she said she got it, but, she's obviously jealous. He had to make it up for her so she let her take control on the bed. He was tied and she scribbled lots of nasty things all over his body, and she took a shower. She left him cold, and hard on the bed, and when she got out, she untied him and told him to go home already.

He groaned because he wanted to make love to her.

"I didn't initiate that kiss, Bree," aniya sa tinig na nagsusumamo.

"I know. Just go home already."

"Love..."

Bumaling ito sa kaniya, nakaupo ito sa gilid ng kama, tanging pulang roba lamang ang suot. Habang siya ay nakaupo sa bandang gitna ng kama.

"Please, forgive me. Hmm?"

Tumango ito pero halatang may bumabagabag.

"Ano'ng iniisip mo?"

She sighed heavily. "I get it. You didn't cheat. But, why are you calling Jinny yours? You always say 'Jinny ko'."

Natigilan siya. Nasanay na kasi siyang pang-asar iyon kay Timo noon pa man. At iyon nga ang sinabi niya kay Bree.

Tumango lang ulit ito. "Okay. I get it."

That's it? But she didn't look okay at all. "Baby..."

"Umuwi ka na nga. Lalo lanh akong naiirita." Nakabusangot na ito, hindi mukhang naiirita.

"How do you expect me to go home if we're like this?"

"Meron nga kasi ako!"

His jaw dropped when she irritatingly said that. Then... was the reason why she's not in the mood wasn't really because she's jealous? But because she's on her period?

He only shook his head and didn't have a choice but to go home having a boner; took care of it under the cold shower.

Just three days after that, he got a call from Stone saying he should accompany their hacker, Dice. It's because the mole made her move, and her lover didn't know anything about that.

Luna and Nathan had Hans when that woman was just fifteen years old. And at barely seventeen, she started working under her beloved's family's nose. Ni hindi man lang nito naisip na ipaimbestiga ang nangyari sa anak nito. Nagpabilog ito sa 'asawa' at nagpagamit sa masasamang gawain ng mga ito.

At ngayo'y may dinukot nga itong babae, na wala naman kinalaman sa alinmang mga misyon, dahil lamang sa matinding selos.

Mabuti na lamang at kaagad silang nakarating ni Dice sa lokasyon, kung saan isang abandonado at masukal na gusali.

Pinakalag ni Dice ang pagkakatali ni Ms. del Rio, ang babaeng dinukot ni Kristen o Luna, at mabilis namang tumakbo ang babae para habulin si Dice pero sinadya niya itong harangin.

"Whoa!" bulalas niya.

"Excuse me—" Bago pa makaalis ay niyakap niya ito para hindi maabutan si Dice. "Let m-me go!" pilit na nagpumiglas siya. Pero imbes na pakinggan siya ay binuhat niya ito.

Nang makarinig ng ugong ng motor at pinahaharurot nang palayo ni Dice ay roon pa lamang niya binaba ang babae. Napaupo ito, marahil at naramdaman na ang mga sakit sa katawan.

"You are Kanon del Rio, aren't you?"

Napaangat ito ng tingin sa lalaki. He knew her. He once scouted her to be a talent in Montreal. She's a famous vlogger and an influencer, too.

"Si Dice iyon, hindi ba? I can't be wrong... I know my fiancé—"

"Your fiancé?" putol niya sa sasabihin nito at bahagyang tumaas ang kaniyang kilay. Pagkuwa'y iniluhod niya ang isang tuhod para makatukod at magpantay ang mga paningin nila. "I thought you loathe him?"

"I... I don't! I love him—"

"Then, help him."

Nangunot ang noo nito.

"Help us, to be exact."

"What do you mean?" tila kinakabahan at natatakot na tanong nito. Bumuntong-hininga pa ang babae para pakalmahin ang sarili. Mukhang determinado nang hindi na mapapaikot pa ng nagpapanggap na Lemuel Castillo na iyon, na ang totoong pagkatao ay si Nathaniel Devila.

"Ano'ng kailangan kong gawin?"

"Are you sure you want us to talk like this?"

Natigilan ito at umiling.

"I want you to meet someone first." Ngumisi siya at iginiya ito papasok muli sa gusali.

He's fucking determined to bring Luna Bustos down. She's going to crumble with that asshole, Nathaniel Devila. Sa tuwing naaalala niya ang gabi kung paanong gamuntikan nang mamatay si Hans ay siya mismo ang gustong gumawa ng mga bagay na naranasan ng bata sa mga pabayang magulang nito. Lalo na sa ama nitong tila kinain na ng demonyo ang utak. May kinalaman ang tarantadong lalaking iyon sa balak na pagpatay sa sarili nitong anak. Bakit? Dahil ayaw nitong may maging kaagaw sa mga yaman ng Devila. Having Hans around could only mean that the child would be the next heir.

Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita. Napansin kasi niya ang mga sugat na tinamo ni Ms. del Rio. "Or maybe, I should bring you to the hospital fi—"

"Just please tell me how can I help Dice," she interrupted, almost sounding a bit arrogant.

"But, first of all, don't you want to have a sweet little reunion with a friend of yours?"

She frowned as they went inside and saw the woman who tortured her, who was now tied on the same chair where she was tied a while ago. But unlike her, she's not gagged and wasn't blindfolded.

"Bakit n'yo ako tinali?! Ano'ng kagaguhan ito?!"

"Why don't you say hi to your dear old friend first, Kristen Paras? Did you not miss her?" Kahit magaan ang pagkakasabi niya sa mga katagang iyon ay matindi ang pagkakakuyom niya sa kamao.

Maang na napalingon si Ms. del Rio sa kaniya habang siya'y kakila-kilabot na ningisihan si Luna, mahahalatang nagpupuyos siya ng galit.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know her very well, Ms. del Rio..." He smirked even widely.

"Fuck you, dela Costa! Papatayin kita!!!" Pilit na nagpumiglas ang babae habang nagmumura.

Walang kiyemeng dumukot ng baril si Rexton at inasinta iyon dito. He pulled the trigger without blinking an eye; she screamed excruciatingly. Nadaplisan ang kaliwang braso nito.

Bumaling siya kay Ms. del Rio, at kung saang banda ng katawan nito ang may mga paso ng sigarilyo na nakita niya, ay roon din niya pinatatamaan si Luna na walang habas sa pagsigaw sa tuwing pinapaputok niya ang baril. Nanggagalaiting sinamaan niya ito ng tingin dahil kulang pa ang mga iyon.

"You know I won't miss the next bullet—"

"Stop it!" nahihintakutan at garalgal ang tinig na sigaw ni Ms. del Rio. Nanginginig na humawak ito sa laylayan ng t-shirt niya para pigilan siya sa gagawin. Mukhang nabigla niya ito sa nasaksihan nitong pagbaril niya. He was ruthlessly aiming towards that woman.

But, he stopped.

"Don't worry, Ms. del Rio, I will never kill your dearest friend. She must atone for her sins..."

Napakurap-kurap ito nang bumaling ulit sa babae, at pagkuwa'y sa kaniya. Hindi nito kaagad na nakuha ang sinabi niya. But eventually, she'd get what that was. Or who's friend was he talking about.

Hinabilin niya sa ibang mga kasamahan si Luna na dalhin sa agency. He would interrogate her later... in the most torturing way he knew. Mental torture.

BREE knew that Hans' real parents were caught by Phoenix already. Just a few months after, the real Nathaniel Devila was already serving his life in prison, but she still didn't have any news about that woman, Luna.

Pero dahil siniguro naman na ni Rexton na ligtas na ang buhay ng bata ay hindi na siya nagtanong at nag-focus na sa pagbabanda. While Rexton continued working with the agency, and handled MI Ent. Ito rin ang isa sa may pinakamalaking shares sa chain of malls ng pamilya nito, kaya nga ba halos nawalan na sila ng oras sa isa't isa.

She hadn't even told her co-members that they're in a relationship. Mukhang tinigilan na ang pagtatanong sa kaniya nang sabihin niyang magkaibigan lang naman sila ng kababata.

One time, she called in AIA, reporting that she had a free time. Pero imbes na isali siya sa mga misyon ay binigyan siya ng trabaho kung saan magmamanman siya sa Phoenix Agency. Apparently, they knew that her boyfriend belonged to Phoenix and they wanted her to spy on them. Which she agreed.

Then, she reported to Stone immediately.

"I think you're right. AIA isn't really the agency I thought it would be. Arellano is greedy. He only wants power. Money."

Nadismaya siya sa mga nalaman—na napapaikot pala ng sindikato at ibang mga naglalakihang kumpanya ang boss nila, at nalaman niyang hindi ito ang solong founder ng AIA. Na pinapatay nito ang isang angkan, na ang haligi ng tahanan ng mga Altaraza ay ang kasama nito sa pagbuo ng agency noon.

Lumipas pa ang halos isang taon at napag-alaman niyang napabagsak ng Phoenix Agency, sa tulong ng National Police, ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking sindikato sa bansa. She's also beyond proud that her boyfriend belonged to some of those missions, too. She could imagine him fighting just as how she watched in the films. Sayang nga lang at umatras siya, pero ayos lang naman. Kinain na kasi ng schedule ng Sunshine ang oras niya kaya hindi rin pala siya makakatulong kung sakali.

On the band's fifth anniversary, which was supposed to be their disbandment, they were surprised when Rexton announced that they're not a project group anymore the board had decided to extend their their contract for another five years. Everyone was blissful and congratulated them. And they're most thankful to their Sunnies who never got tired of supporting them.

And since they were given a vacation, she didn't have anything to do but to kill time at home since her parents weren't around.

At binigyan siya ng trabaho ni Stone, gusto nitong ipasok siya sa Wang Xi, at ang rason ay para makakalap ulit sila ng ebidensya laban sa mga ito. Ang idadahilan niya sa paglipat ay gusto niyang magpalit ng agency.

Rexton came while she was home alone—well not really alone. Manang and the other house maids were there. Ang mga magulan naman niya ay kasama ang mga magulang ni Rexton. Nag-cruising. Hobby na 'ata ng mga magulang nila ang maglayag nang maglayag sa iba't ibang karagatan.

As the two of them were watching movies, he told her the reason why he suddenly showed up that day.

"I'm against of this mission, Bree. Masyadong delikado."

"Kailan ba hindi naging delikado ang mga misyon natin?"

He sighed.

"Besides, I'm certain that there's a prostitution in Wang Xi, Rex. I could never forget what happened in Singapore—" Natigilan siya. Nadulas lang kasi sa sasabihin. "Kumain na tayo!"

"What happened in Singapore?"

Ayaw na sana niyang pag-usapan pa iyon pero sa huli ay ikinwento niya ang nasaksihan. The orgy disgusted the shit out of her. Walang-walang sinabi ang mga porn stars sa mga nakita niya noon.

"You were an artist, too, but, why were you spared?" Naningkit ang mga mata nito.

Hindi na nga niya binanggit ang tungkol doon dahil ayaw niyang magselos ito, pero tinanon pa. "Devon," mabilis at tipid na sinagot na lang niya.

"What do you mean?"

"Stop asking, Rex. Nanggigigil ka na, o." Idinaan niya sa biro ang pag-igting ng mga braso nito.

"Did you fuck—No, I was your first." At bigla itong natigilan, may napagtanto. "He touched you, didn't he?"

"Let's not talk about it. Ako nga, hindi ko ma-take na isipin o pag-usapan ang mga nakasiping mo rato..."

Marahas itong suminghap at bumuntong-hininga. Pagkuwa'y niyakap siya.

While eating, they talked more about the upcoming mission, then, he suggested she should have someone to go with her. But, they couldn't think of someone who's fitted in the job.

"What if..."

Maang na tumingin siya kay Rexton. "You're not telling me to grab someone from Sunshine, aren't you?"

"Kilala mo talaga ako." Ngumisi ito. "How about Jinny?"

"I knew it!"

Mas lalo lang itong ngumisi. "Mas kampante ako kung may kasama kang kaibigan."

"We can just call someone from Phoenix, too."

"Pero mas kapani-paniwala kung parehas kayong miyembro ng Sunshine. And I really think it'll be easier if you have a partner."

"Then, make sure that Timo will be in this mission, too." Dahil mas makakampante siyang hindi pababayaan ng lalaki ang kaibigan niya kahit nasa misyon na.

"He's quitting already."

"Don't make him quit!"

He raised his eyebrow. "Thought you didn't like him?"

"I didn't. But I do now."

Nangunot ang noo nito na agad niyang inagapan.

"I don't like him romantically, okay?"

"I know. I just felt... I don't know."

"Jealous."

"Yeah."

Nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain. Nagplano na pawang pagpapanggap lamang ang gagawin nila, lalong-lalo na silang dalawa.

Pinaniwala nila ang iba na isa nga siyang sleeper agent na laging minamanipula ang memorya. It was a difficult task but they managed to do it.

"Bree," malumanay na tawag sa kaniya ni Jinny nang nasa kalagitnaan na ng misyon.

"Hmm?"

"Bakit mo pinilit na dapat ay makaalala ako? Wouldn't it be better if I forget all of these?"

"Nothing." She shrugged. But the truth was her friend was right. But she couldn't just let her forget about everything. She'd be very sad if that happened.

"Bakit lumungkot ka naman?"

Naiinis siya, hindi nalulungkot. Kasi sa tuwing inaasar-asar ni Rexton si Timo sa pagiging possessive kunwari kay Jinny ay nakararamdam siya ng selos. Alam naman niyang wala lang iyon. But she couldn't do anything to claim her man.

And it's saddening, too, because they were just acting about everything. Kinakain siya ng konsensiya sa tuwing naiisip na parang niloloko na rin niya ang kaibigan sa pagpapanggap na wala siyang maaalala pagkatapos ng misyon kahit naaalala naman niya ang lahat. It was tough.

But, she's a good actress.

She sighed heavily. Maiintindihan naman nito kapag nagkaalaman na. She knew her friend. She's the most understanding person she had ever known. Kaya siguro ito ang napili ni Rexton na isama sa kaniya sa misyong iyon kahit pinilit naman na niyang siya na lang mag-isa.

While in the mission, they were all pulled out because the organization erased all of the evidences. Gaya noon ay naiwang malinis ang record ng WX Ent. At wala silang nagawa kundi ang umatras.

NANG umatras sila sa misyon ay hindi matanggap ni Rexton ang resulta. At dahil determinado silang lahat ay nagpatuloy kaagad sila matapos lang ng ilang araw. Pero hindi na niya pinasama sina Bree at Jinny, at ang alam ng mga nito ay wala nang misyon.

Pero nahuli siya ni Bree na nasa misyon pa rin nang araw na magpalit sila ng sasakyan ni Timo. Ang minamaneho niya ay ang sedan ni Bree, na lagi na niyang ginagamit nang mga nakaraan, at para makasigurado na hindi masusundan ng mga kaaway si Timo—dahil ayaw niyang mabuliyaso ang proposal nito sa nobya—ay nakipagpalit siya ng sasakyan. Para siya ang sundan ng mga kung sino mang sumusunod kay Timo.

But he was wrong because Timo wasn't the only one who's being tailed, it was both of them.

"You're still on that mission and you didn't tell m—"

Naputol ang tawag ni Bree nang pinaputukan siya ng baril ng sumusunod sa kaniya at tumama sa cellphone niyang nasa cellphone holder. Mabuti naman ay nagawa pa rin niyang magmaneho ng mabilis, at nailigaw ang mga ito.

Bree was mad because of what happened, but she focused on her friend. Nadisgrasya kasi sina Timo at Jinny.

But he was madder because he didn't know that Bree was also in the mission. And that night when he was being chased by Torres underlings, Luigi fucking Torres spiked her drink and almost took advantage to fuck her. Kung hindi ito nakatakas ay baka bangkay na itong natagpuan kinabukasan.

Pero hindi niya pinairal ang galit. Maraming nangyari at alam niyang walang paroroonan ang galit niya.

Ilang araw ay hiningi niya ang kamay ni Bree sa pamilya nito, pero walang kaalam-alam ang kasintahan.

"Damn you, dela Costa! I thought you'd never have any plans on marrying my sister."

Nginisihan lang niya si Brian.

Chelin commented, "Tama si Bree, ang bagal mo. Mula pa noon, makupad ka na pagdating sa kaniya."

Napanguso naman siya. He learnt about Bree's condition as well but that didn't even lessen his wanting to be her husband. He's even more eager to wife her up. At, napangisi pa siya sa naisip na pipilitin nilang magbuntis. Ibig sabihin, mas maraming 'loving-loving'.

Pero hindi rin sila kaagad na ikinasal. Paano, gaya niya ay determinado si Bree na mapabagsak ang Wang Xi Entertainment.

And they're back on the mission to gather concrete evidences—Bree, along with Jinny, would be on a musical play. This time, they'd never fail and would definitely bring Luigi Torres down.