Water

Chapter 32. Water

NANG makabalik na sina Bree at Rexton sa Maynila ay iyon pa rin ang usapan nila. Halos hindi na nga siya kibuin dahil ayaw talaga nitong pag-usapan ang bagay tungkol doon. She was told he's even planning not to accept missions anymore, he'd just finish the ongoing ones.

However, she was persistent and after a month, he agreed, but for one condition, she would not risk her life. Kahit alam nitong imposible iyon dahil para silang tumutulay sa alambre tuwing nasa misyon.

Now they're on their way to the agency to talk about the jobs. But Herrera didn't want to take her in for the reason that he's not trusting her.

Humalukipkip si Bree habang tamad na sumandal sa inuupuang swivel chair. They're in one of the meeting rooms and the other agents were on the vacant room just beside where they were.

"What if she's a double agent?" Stone shook his head. "I won't take any risks. Besides, we're not in need of sleepers in these missions. And, if we do, I'd rather take someone from our trained agents."

"Excuse me, Stone, I thought we're friends?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay. She met him during Chelin's eighteenth birthday and she got curious about him so she befriended him. Pero hindi niya type kahit maangas at malakas ang dating. Siguro kasi'y may iba na siyang natitipuhan noon pa man.

"We are friends, Bree. But that's not the case here."

"What makes you suspect me?"

He looked at her seriously. "You. Being an agent in AIA."

"I don't get it."

"Baka mamaya bata ka pa ni Arellano at ipinadala ka rito—"

"I told you that's not it," sabad ni Rexton. Medyo naiirita na.

"Yuck! Kilabutan ka sa sasabihin mo!" nandidiring bulalas niya kay Stone. The way he said those words were like he's insinuating that she had an intimate relationship with Arellano.

Though AIA's head still had his looks on his age, she would never flirt with an old man! He's probably even older than her dad! Literal na magiging sugar baby siya kung nagkataon, isang bagay na hindi niya gustong mangyari. At, kay Rexton lang siya magpapa-baby, 'no!

She didn't have anything against with those kind of relationship. It's not just really for her. She's okay with eleven to fifteen years ahead of her, pero huwag naman iyong mapagkakamalan nang tito o ama niya. Or worst, lolo.

But, wait, what's with their boss? Bakit parang may galit si Stone sa matanda?

"Oh, now you're acting clueless."

"I am clueless, Stone." Naiiritang binalingan niya ang jowa niyang tuwang-tuwa sa naririnig. "Rexton, magsalita ka naman!"

"What? If my boss said you can't join us, then, I can't do anything about it."

Something was off. And she's not dumb not to sense it. The way Rexton was staying silent and Stone being persistent on saying no, she got it already.

"You, two, planned this. You met him before me so I'm guessing he already asked you to firmly refuse my offer." She disappointingly shook her head.

Hindi sumagot si Stone at nag-iwas kaagad ng tingin si Rexton kahit sinabi nitong hindi.

"I want to have a word with you," aniya kay Stone.

"Sure, you can speak now."

"Alone."

There were some violent reactions from Rexton, but in the end, they were left alone inside that room.

"What is it?"

"Let me join you," matatag na bulalas niya.

"You know what? I agree with Rexton. You should quit your job and focus on your career instead."

"Hiatus ang Sunshine."

"Kahit ba hindi, titigil ka?"

"Oo." She was being honest. "I really thought of quitting AIA, but that's before I learnt that Rexton is in the same line of job with me. I want to help. I can."

"How can you prove you're not a double agent, then?"

"Make me your sleeper."

"You already told me tha—"

"Make me your sleeper agent." She stressed out the word 'sleeper'. Nakuha naman nito ang ibig ipakahulugan niya—kung saan ibe-brainwash siya't sasailalim sa maraming proseso para huwag maalala ang magiging misyon sa Phoenix Agency.

"You sure you want to forget after you work with us?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Stone at umupo na rin ito sa katapat na swivel chair na inuupuan niya.

"Yes. If that's how I can prove to you that I'm not a spy. Well, I will be spying against my own agency."

"You're talking as if we already have an agreement, huh?"

She looked straight into his eyes. "I won't take no for an answer."

"Still a spoiled brat."

Ngumisi lang siya, at may naisip. "I just realized you already know I'm an agent, even before Rexton told you."

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"When we accidentally met in Japan, I don't think it's just a coincidence. You were there for the same reason I had..."

"And what was that?" pagmamaang-maangan nito.

"You know it." It's just one of those minor jobs she took before. It's about a syndicate who counterfeited dollars, just the same mission she had back in Singapore. But now that she thought about it, those weren't just minor cases. Malaki ang tsansa na may koneksiyon ang mga gagong iyon sa mas mataas sa mga ito.

Nakakalokong tumawa si Stone at maangas na tumitig sa kaniya. "I'll give you a job right away, then."

She triumphantly laughed, too, because she just got in. Kaagad din siyang tumigil para tanungin kung anong trabaho ba.

May tinipa ito sa cellphone at ilang sandali ay may pinakitang litrato ng isang babae. "Look for this woman's background. I'm thinking she might be a spy."

"Ha? Puro ka spy. May trust issues ka ba?"

"I do. I still don't even trust you now."

She rolled her eyes. "Kaya nga ang sabi ko, gawin mo na akong sleeper."

"Si Rexton ang magdedesiyon niyan."

"What? Bakit si Rexton pa?"

"He's in charge with the sleepers, Bree."

"But you're the boss." Ang katuwiran niya ay kaya nitong gawin iyon nang hindi na idinadaan kay Rexton.

"I don't think he'll agree on this."

"Kaya nga pinaalis ko, kasi sa iyo ko lang gustong sabihin."

"You trust me too much. How sure you are that I won't tell him what did we talk about? That this conversation isn't recorded?"

"Why? Is it?"

Ngumisi ito at kinuhang muli ang cellphone na nakapatong lang sa mahabang mesa, itinutok iyon sa kaliwang tainga nito.

Napapikit siya nang mariin at nagmulat matapos marinig na may sumagot sa kabilang linya.

"Destroy the recordings. Make sure there won't be any copies, Usui."

Iyon ang narinig niyang utos nito sa kausap. Ilang sandali pa ay mas lumapad ang pagkakangisi nito. At ganoon din siya.

They now had a deal.

"Do your first job, and I will decide if should I accept you or not."

Tumayo siya at tumango, saka na umalis sa silid na iyon.

She's expecting Rexton to be just waiting outside that room, but she guessed he's already in the parking, waiting for her in front of her sedan. Ang sasakyan kasi niya ang minaneho nila papuntang Phoenix dahil dinaanan niya ito sa mansiyon kanina at sinabing huwag nang imaneho ang sasakyan nito.

Tumuloy siya sa pag-alis sa gusali pero pagkalabas pa lang niya ay nabungaran na niya si Rexton sa Smoking Area, naninigarilyo at malalim na nag-iisip.

He looked devastatingly hot with his troubled look. At alam niya kung bakit ganoon ang itsura nito ngayon. Na hindi talaga nito gusto ang ipinipilit niyang sumali sa trabaho nito.

HINDI naging madali kay Bree ang pagpapanggap na walang nagbago sa kanila ni Rexton. Bukod sa naging extra sweet ito, ay ganoon pa rin naman sila sa isa't isa. At marahil ay nasanay naman silang malapit na sa isa't isa noon pa man kaya walang nakakapuna na may relasyon nasila nang higit pa sa pagkakaibigan. Lumayo lang naman ang loob nila noong pinili niyang maging abala sa mga misyon niya sa ibang bansa.

Lumipas ang isang taon at bumalik na sa pagtugtog ang Sunshine. They became busier than ever. Siya naman ay pinagbigyan na si Rexton noon na huwag nang ipilit ang pagpasok niya sa agency, pero ang akala ng ibang agents ng Phoenix ay isa siya sa mga sleeper. Naging madalas kasi ang pagpunta niya roon nang hindi siya abala dahil gusto pa rin naman niyang mapapayag si Rexton na hayaan na siyang makasali sa mga ito.

Hanggang sa siya na lang ang sumuko at ipinagpatuloy ang normal na pamumuhay.

Rexton stopped pursuing Liwayway Bustos and she knew it's because of her though she clearly told him to go on with the plan. But maybe, he just couldn't. Especially now that they were finally together. Mukhang ingat na ingat itong huwag siyang masaktan sa kahit anong paraan. And honestly, she's glad he stopped acting like Liwayway's sugar daddy-slash-baby.

Magkasama sila ngayon sa condo unit na pagmamay-ari ni Rexton sa Nievieras Condominiums, doon ito umuuwi minsan sa tuwing maraming ginagawa at hindi makakauwi sa mansiyon. Pero ngayon ay nandoon sila sa isang rason: unang anibersaryo mula nang magkaaminan sila.

Rexton was in the shower when she grabbed his phone that's on the side table. Hindi naman magagalit si Rexton kung pakialaman niya ang cellphone nito. She's not reading any messages at all naman. She only liked to check his smartphone's gallery. Ang dami kasi nitong selfie at mga pictures kahit saan. And her favorites were his topless photos. Damn, his ripped abs were showing off.

She was zooming in when the phone rang, and she accidentally answered it.

"Who's this?" bungad niya, nakalimutan nang mag-hello sa sobrang pagkataranta.

The one on the other line didn't respond.

"Hello?" she called that person's attention but the call got disconnected.

Nagkibit-balikat siya at tiningnan ang Caller ID. The name that's registered was: Timo - Patay na patay kay Jinny ko.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya't bumangon at dire-diretsong nag-martsa papasok sa banyo. She's taken aback when she realized he's taking a dump.

"Ang baho!"

"Fuck, get out of here!"

"Mas malakas pa sa teargas iyang amoy ng ta—"

"Get out, Bree! You're ruining my concentration!"

Napahalakhak siya nang mapansing namamawis ito at namumula ang mukha. Iiling-iling na lumabas siya ng banyo. Hindi talaga ugaling magsara ng pinto ng lalaking ito sa tuwing nasa banyo.

She grabbed a bottle of water in the fridge and went back in the bathroom. He immediately glared at her as if he's throwing darts towards her direction.

"Easy. I'll just hand it to you." Itinaas niya ang hawak na bote ng tubig habang ang isang kamay ay eksaheradang inipit ng hintuturo at hinlalaki niya ang ilong, nagpapanggap na nababahuan nang talaga.

"Talaga naman, oo!"

"So, naaasar ka na niyan?"

"Umurong—"

"Uminom ka ng tubig. Maraming tubig. Life hacks ko iyan kapag nahihirapan akong mangitlog." She meant pooping.

"Thanks," he sarcastically replied and shooed her.

"Make sure to use the bidet and lots of soap! Huwag tissue tissue—"

"Goddammit, just get out already!"

"Oo na! Ang baho talaga!" tumatawang sagot niya at akmang palabas na nang pumihit ulit. "Pero bakit may nakalagay na 'Jinny ko' sa cellphone mo?"

Dahil umiinom na ito mula sa bote ay nasamid ito, nabasa rin ang suot nitong sando. He glared at her once again.

"Alright! We will talk later."

Iniwan niya rin ito para sawakas ay mailabas na ang namuong sama ng loob sa tiyan nito.