Tailed

Prelude. Tailed

THEY said that it's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember, and Nami thought that that saying was true. Because right now, she's still trying to forget that person who had been her constant partner in every missions she had been. But, no matter how hard she tried, she always ended up thinking about those dangerous, and yet, so memorable days she spent with him.

During her college years, she became a vlogger and was eventually casted to be an actress at an entertainment agency after she graduated. But the truth was, being an actress was just her cover because her real job's a secret agent at Phoenix International Agency. It's a private intelligence agency devoted to the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information, through the evaluation of public sources. Phoenix sometimes worked with the National Security Police, and other agencies that would be needing their aid and intelligence. The agents sometimes obtained information deceptively or through on-the-ground activities for clients. At kadalasan ay pribado ang pagtatrabaho ng Phoenix.

Aksidente lamang ang pagkakatuklas niya sa naturang ahensya. Noong bago siya tumuntong sa huling taon niya sa kolehiyo ay hindi sinasadyang nahuli niya ang manliligaw ng kakambal niya na may kasamang ibang babae sa Sandoval Hotel. She was actually about to do a food review vlog at the hotel restaurant that was the talk of the town so she's in the same hotel at that time, and saw them. She discreetly tailed them, and to her horror, she caught them making out in the elevator. She immediately took an action and filmed secretly before the door closed down. But someone grabbed and carried her somewhere even before she could follow the two. Bago pa siya nakapagpumiglas ay naidala na siya sa isang hula niya ay pribadong opisina.

"Who are you? Are you with Mrs. Goldstein?" the man in tuxedo asked.

Kinabahan man ay pinatatag niya ang sarili. "Who are you?" balik-tanong niya. Naningkit ang mga mata niya nang makilala ito. "Wait, aren't you Mr. Sandoval's son?"

"You know my dad?"

Umiling siya. Nagkataon lang na napanood niya sa news ang press conference ng mga Sandoval kung saan hinayag na ang anak na lalaki na ang mamamalakad sa mga hotel na pagmamay-ari ng mga ito. It's the same hotel where she was.

"I don't believe you. Why are you here? Are you spying on us?"

"Sinabi ko nang namukhaan lang kita."

Nagdududa itong tumingin kahit totoo naman ang sinabi niya. The man in front of her was the type of a person you wouldn't easily forget. Aaminin niyang nagwapuhan siya rito kaya nga ba tinutukan niya ang press conference noong nakaraan at tinitigan nang matagal ang lalaki. She also searched about him as well. Pero hanggang doon lang.

"How can I be certain that you're not with her? At bakit ka nandito, kung ganoon?"

She raised an eyebrow. Oddly, she didn't feel threatened at all, but she's not lowering her guard. "I'm going to do a food review at C'est La Vie." It's the name of the restaurant where she's about to go.

"A food review?"

"Yes."

"Why?" He scowled.

"I'm a vlogger." As if that could explain everything. "You can check out my channel if you want to."

He immediately took out his phone from his pocket and gave it to her. Signalling to operate it and go to her channel.

After a few taps, she showed it to him. "Here."

"Whoa!" he exclaimed when she handed him his phone. "You almost have a million subscribers! But I still don't believe you."

Ngumiwi siya.

"Why were you on the fourth floor when the restaurant's in the second floor?"

He's not really going to let it go, huh? Nangangalay na rin siya sa pagtayo pero hindi siya nagreklamo. "I just want to roam around. That's all."

May kakaiba sa ngisi nito nang magtama ang mga mata nila. He told her to sit down and she did so. Hindi siya aaktong may ginawang mali kaya hindi siya aalis doon na parang may iniiwasan. Bakit naman siya kakabahan sa mga akusa nito kung wala naman siyang ginawa? Well, she tailed her twin sister's suitor and that woman he's with, and, secretly filmed them. Obviously, she could be sued for invasion of privacy or something like that, but, she had her reasons! Kailangang magising sa kahibangan ang kakambal niya sa lalaking iyon at kailangan niya ng ebidensiya.

She heard Mr. Sandoval talked to someone over the phone before he turned to look at her; she's being described.

"She's tall, slender. Beautiful. And she's a famous vlogger."

Sino namang kausap nito?

"Excuse me, Mister. I should go now," sabad niya.

"Nah, he's coming already."

"Who?"

He ended the call and phoned someone again. By the way he talked, she guessed it's his secretary. He glanced at her and asked, "Tea or coffee?"

Sumagot naman siya ng "tea".

Tumango ito at iyon ang sinabi sa kausap. Ilang minuto pa ay dumating ang isang babae na may dala-dalang tray na may tatlong tasa. At dahil pakiramdam niya ay nilalamig siya sa kaba ay kinuha niya ang tasa para kahit paano'y painitin ang kaniyang mga palad. The awkward silence that's dominating the room made her feel that way. Kinabahan siya na hindi niya mawari.

Just as when she was about to say she should go again, the door was opened harshly that made her almost jumped out. Bahagyang tumapon ang tsaa, at mabuti na lamang ay hindi na iyong gaanong mainit.

Lumingon siya roon at napamaang nang makilala ang pumasok.

"Why are you here?" naniningkit ang mga matang tanong nito sa kaniya. She's not close with him since she didn't grow up with her sister and didn't meet her best friend. Bata pa lamang sila nang magkahiwalay ang mga magulang nila at siya ang isinama ang kaniyang ama at nanirahan sila sa probinsya. Kolehiyo na nang lumipat siya ng Maynila at tumira sa dormitoryo kasama ang kakambal.

"Why are you here?" ulit nito sa tanong.

Bigla niyang naalala ang sitwasyon kung paano siyang binuhat at dinala ng estranghero sa opisinang iyon. "Ikaw? Bakit ka nandito?" Binitiwan niya ang hawak na tasa ng tsaa kung saan niya iyon kinuha kanina.

"I'm asking you, Kasey."

She rolled her eyes. "Does Glaze know that you are here, making out with an older woman? Who knows? You probably had sex already." She emphasized the word 'older' because obviously, that woman he's making out with was way older that him. Halata sa wrinkles kahit takpan iyon ng kahit anong cream.

She noticed him gulped. "D-don't..."

She disgustingly shook her head. "You had sex with her?!" Though, she grew up in the province, she's not demure like those she became friends with. She could easily say vulgar things, too.

Umiling ito at tumiim ang bagang pero hindi na niya hinintay na magsalita pa.

She dialed her twin sister's number. But even before she could answer her call, he came forward and closer to her. Marahas na tinabig nito ang kamay niya kaya bumagsak sa sahig ang mamahalin niyang cellphone. Sa lakas niyon ay hindi siya sigurado kung nabasag ba ang tempered glass niyon, o ang screen mismo.

"Hey! I just bought it last month!" Hindi niya alintana ang nasaktang kamay.

"Bibilhan kita ng bago!"

Sinampal niya ito. That phone was the first thing she ever bought for herself using her own money, then, he'd just say he's buying her a new one like it was just nothing? She's strongly offended!

"Did you just slap me?" Hinuli nito ang kamay niya at bahagya siyang napaigik.

"I did! And I'm so telling Glaze to dump you because you are a great big jerk! At, ano? Bibilhan mo ako ng bagong cellphone? Bakit? Nagatasan mo na ba iyong sugar mommy mo?!"

"Sugar momm—what?!"

Malakas na halakhak ang namayani sa opisinang na iyon. Oo nga pala, nandoon pa si Kieffer Sandoval.

"Don't mind me." Pinigilan nito ang pagtawa.

"You're accusing me—"

Sinamaan niya ulit ang lalaking namumula na ang mukha sa pagkairita. Kung nairita ito puwes, mas doble ang naramdaman niya!

"Look, it's not like that." Pilit na pinakalma nito ang sarili.

"Eh, ano pala? Nag-jak en poy lang kayo sa elevator, hanggang sa suite, ganoon?"

"It's not really what you think. Please don't tell Glaze." His grip on her left wrist was tightened again.

"What makes you think I won't tell her?"

"If I tell you the truth, will you believe in me?"

"It depends."

He sighed his defeat and let go of her wrist. "Sorry about that." Nakatingin ito sa namumulang parte ng kaniyang kamay na tinabig nito kanina.

"Huwag mong inililigaw ang usapan." Umirap siya.

Bumuntong-hininga ulit ito.

Sandaling katahimikan pa ang namayani bago ito nagsalitang muli.

"I'm on a mission. I—"

"Whoa! Wait, bro, are you seriously going to tell her the truth?" Sandoval interrupted. Ito naman ang sinamaan niya ng tingin kaya tumahimik ulit ito at hinayaang magpatuloy sa pag-esplika ang lalaki.

"I'm a secret agent, Kase, and my job right now is related to that woman."

Wait, what?

But he patiently explained to her everything she needed to know, except from the vivid details of the mission. She guessed it's because of the confidentiality. Or probably, every missions were confidential.

On her peripheral vision, she saw the other man shook his head so she looked at him.

"Are you a secret agent, too?" she asked Kieffer.

"Man, now I'm exposed, too."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it. Not interested."

Tumikhim ito at nagpaalam na may pupuntahang meeting. Naiwan sila sa opisina ng lalaking patay na patay sa kakambal niya.

"So..." panimula nito. "You won't tell her anymore?"

"I will—"

"Please don't," agap nito.

"—not," she ended the sentence, smirking.

Sa pakiwari niya ay nakahinga ito ng maluwag.

"But I have a condition."

Sa uri ng tingin nito ay nakuha niyang naghihintay ito sa mga susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Whenever I ask about your job, tell me about it."

Nagtataka man ay tumango ito.

And just by her curiosity, she found herself being trained to be a part of the agency few months after that, and she started working on missions right after her graduation.