Embrace

Chapter 40. Embrace

NAPAGPASYAHANG linisin muna ang plano bago sumabak sa panibagong misyon ang mga agents. They would catch the bigger fish—an organization handling the syndicate from their previous missions. Kung inakala nina Nami na tapos na ang lahat ay nagkamali sila dahil simula pa lang ng laban.

They gathered in a club to party but ended up having a conversation about the next mission while drinking. Hindi man sabihin ay alam niyang sabik ang iba dahil nati-thrill ang mga ito. Sigurado siya roon dahil ganoon ang naramdaman niya nang malamang sasabak sila para magkalap ng ebidensiyang magpapabagsak sa organisasyon.

"Why don't we ask that sleeper?" suhestisyon niya bago uminom ng isang shot ng tequila. Marami-rami na rin ang nainom niya pero hindi pa naman siya lasing. Kung magmamaneho nga ay kaya pa niya, pero hindi niya gagawin.

"I doubt Rexton will allow her—" Ang nagsasalitang si Sinned ay napamura nang sumandal si Stone sa balikat nito. Their fucking boss was already wasted since he got there first and when they arrived, he's already tipsy.

Iiling-iling na tumayo siya at iniwan ang iba roon para sunduin si Romano sa dance floor. She immediately spotted him giving his all through dancing. Tulad niya ay nakainom na ito pero mas kaunti ang ininom ng huli dahil mas binigyan ng pansin ang magpasikat sa pagsayaw.

She suddenly had a flashback where she first saw him performed along with his co-members back in the days. Kakikilala pa lamang nila noon nang isama siya ng kakambal niya na panoorin ang intermission performance ng grupo ng lalaki noon. He was so damn cool dancing and all she could see was him.

Gaya ngayon. Ang daming tao, pero nahanap kaagad niya ito.

He smiled brightly upon seeing her when she blocked his view as he kept on dancing wildly. Pinalibutan na nga ito ng iba pang mga puma-party roon.

"You wanna dance?"

Umiling siya at lumapit dito upang magkarinigan sila. "Umuwi na tayo."

"Come on, sweetie," reklamo nito saka tumingin sa suot na relo. "It's just one thirty A.M." Ngumiwi pa ito.

"Hindi pa ba sumasakit ang kalamnan mo? Kanina ka pa sayaw nang sayaw riyan."

Tumawa lang ito at inakbayan siya para igiya na makalayo roon. "Are you drunk already?"

"I'm not. Hindi naman sindami ng nainom ni Stone ang ininom ko."

"Sleepy?"

Tumango siya.

"Too bad, I still want to dance."

"Pambihira!" she exclaimed.

"Why? You can't blame me. I was born to dance, and I miss dancing in the crowd."

"Eh, 'di, maiwan ka. Mauuna na akong uuwi."

"Pwede ba naman 'yon?"

"Oo naman."

"Nah, let's go home together. I'm all sweaty and I want to take a shower already."

"Lies. I know you still want to dance. Kung ako, alak ang ipinunta ko rito; ikaw, iyong dance floor. Kaya sige, maiwan ka na."

Nasa labas na sila ng building at nag-aabang ng taxi. Sinundo lang kasi sila kanina ni Timo kaya wala silang dalang sasakyan. And besides, they wouldn't drive right now. Parehas na nakainom, eh.

Ngumisi lang si Romano at mukhang papayag nga itong mauna na siyang umuwi. She rolled her eyeballs but instead of making a face, she smiled seductively. She tilted her head to show him her collarbone and scratched her neck lightly. Her scar couldn't be seen now, thanks to the power of makeup. She's only wearing a tube black dress and high heels, and her hair was done in a high ponytail so she's certain that her collarbone and her neck were visible. Pasasaan pa't c-in-ontour niya rin iyon kanina kaya lalong na-enhance.

"I'll hail a taxi right now. Enjoy dancing."

He grunted. "Let's go home. Your place or mine?"

Pinigilan niyang matawa. Wala pa nga siyang ginagawa, bakit naaakit na ito? She still didn't kiss him goodbye so she'd purposely press her body against him.

"Hmm?"

Humawak siya sa braso nito at sinadyang idiin ang katawan dito, lalo na ang parte sa kaniyang hinagarap. "Mag-check in na lang tayo."

"Sinasadya mo 'to," akusa nito. "You don't want to leave me here."

"What?" nakangising maang-maangan niya.

"Para hindi na nga ako magpaiwan."

She guiltily laughed and replied, "Lulupungin ka ng mga babae roon. Ang astig mo pa namang sumayaw. It's as if you're owning the dance floor whenever you dance," she praised. "You should've debuted with Eclipse instead."

"Nah, I'm good. Hindi na nga ako nagtatrabaho sa Montreal." Which was true. Because he had a lot of things on his hands—the Caballero's businesses and his job as a secret agent—he decided to quit being a professional choreographer. In the first place, it was supposed to be his undercover only.

Nakakuha na sila ng atensyon kaya pinara na ni Romano ang padaang taxi saka nagpahatid sa condo niya. When she asked why not in his place, he simply replied that her condominium unit was closer to their location.

Just as her, he clearly couldn't wait to dance with her in their own rhythm anymore.

A DAY after, the agents went to Phoenix Agency to have a meeting. Naunang dumating sina Nami at Romano kaysa sa iba pang hinihintay kaya pahapyaw na nilang napag-usapan ang itatanong sa double agent.

"What now? May bagong misyon ba? I can't join now. We will be having a comeback tour for the next two months," tanong ni Bree pagkarating nito. She knew her very well. They're both under the same entertainment agency but unlike her, the latter was a vocalist of a band.

"No, don't worry, I won't activate you," si Stone ang sumagot niyon.

Bree narrowed her eyes towards Stone. "Then, why am I here?"

"I dare say because we want to hear from your personal experience," hindi napigilang sabad ni Romano.

"Shh!" saway niya rito. Hindi makapaghintay!

"Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, by the way," nakangising bulalas ni Stone. Napangisi rin siya kasi bukambibig iyon ng fiancé ng babae.

"But don't worry, we won't question you about your private life," agap naman ni Romano.

They called Bree because they knew that she had a mission before, which was the same from what they're going to do soon—to infiltrate a crime organization. Tatanungin nila ang babae tungkol sa mga naging karanasan nito nang magpanggap bilang tauhan ng L'Association de L'Orage, o mas kilala sa tawag na Storm Organization—ang organisasyong may hawak sa sindikatong natugis nila noon.

"We want to know what happened in El Salvador, when you almost got drowned in the river."

Maang na napatingin ito kay Stone. "How did you know that?"

"Your boss mentioned about it. But didn't give us the details." Stone spoke very casually.

"Minerva. That's what they called you there, right?" sabad ulit ni Romano.

"Won't you shut up, Romano? Just wait for her to speak up!" naiiritang bulalas niya.

"Fine."

Bree sighed. "...I was told that all the agents who were in that mission were pulled out in the agency."

"That's because your previous head was actually a part of them. Arellano conspired with the Devilas despite of knowing that they're under de L'Orage, too."

AIA, Bree's previous agency, crumbled down along with the syndicate since AIA's head was actually conniving with the syndicate.

"Can we hear about your experience now? You can share about your partner's, too," si Stone iyon. Ang lahat ay tahimik lang na nakikinig.

"My partner? Why?"

"We want to know if he can be trusted in this mission."

"Huh? Did you recruit my best friend?"

"No. We will be conniving with him."

Sumabad siya. "We'll also be with the agents who went on that mission before."

Sinned continued, "Since you all had the experience with them, we're guessing that it'd be easier if we're going to have you in this mission."

Nagpatuloy sa pagpapaliwanag si Stone. Siya nama'y may naalala.

"I honestly thought that AIA closed down already," she commented.

"They did. They just got back on operations just a few months after that chaos," said Kieffer. Nang malaman nitong may organisasyon na humawak sa sindikato noon ay hindi ito nag-atubiling sumali sa misyon.

"Ah," Nami nodded. "I just don't understand why didn't the new head change the initials, because I honestly think of Arellano instead of Altaraza whenever I hear AIA."

"So do I," Bree commented. It's a long story, but to make it short: AIA's back.

Sa huli ay kinwento ni Bree ang nangyari sa El Salvador noon. Pero pinauna na nitong wala naman talagang nagawa dahil p-in-ull out lahat sa misyong iyon sa kadahilanang kulang pa sila ng sources. Which was, of course, just a lie so they'd follow the instructions without asking too much. Na kaya pinahinto ni Arellano ang operasyon ilang taon na ang nakalipas ay dahil kasapi ang matandang iyon sa sindikatong hawak ng de L'Orage.

JUST a week after, they flew in El Salvador to infiltrate de L'Orage. Nami, together with Romano and Rexton were working as negotiators. It's those liquors and wines that they offered to the organisation so they could sell those at a higher price, because they're going to spike those beverages.

"Kaya pala ito ang naisip ninyong undercover, 'no?" bulalas niya kay Romano nang makarating sila sa hotel suite na tutuluyan sa San Salvador. Anim na araw na mula nang makarating sila roon. On their arrival, they made sure that there weren't any cameras or sound recorders installed there, that's why they could talk freely. Rexton went to that house he purchased solely for that mission.

"Yes. Since I know a lot about wines, it came handy. Unlike that dela Costa who just pretends to be a connoisseur." He meant liquor connoisseur.

Inayos nito ang pagkakaunan sa hita niya. Nasa malaking sofa kasi sila, nanonood ng action movie, nang humiga ito sa kandungan niya. Pagkuwa'y sumagot siya, "He's doing a good job though. Nakapag-close ng deal, at heto nga tayo, madali nang nagkaroon ng dahilan para makapunta rito."

"Pero kailangan siyang pukpukin. He's losing his focus."

She sighed. "Intindihin mo na lang. Kung sa 'kin mangyari iyon, baka hindi na ako maasahan sa trabaho. Kung sa iyo ba?"

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ito at bumangon; umupo sa tabi niya saka seryosong bumaling sa kaniya. Hininaan pa muna nito ang volume ng TV kung saan barilan na ang eksenang nasa screen.

"What? I'm tired. Let's just do it tomorrow," natatawang saway niya. Usually, he was like that when he wanted to make love with her. He's going to cut off the conversation by claiming her lips, and they'd end up romancing each other.

"We can do it quickly, but that's not what I want to say, Monami."

That got her full attention. His low baritone and the way he uttered her name, she got a bit tensed up. Nakuha na niyang seryoso ang sasabihin nito.

Hindi nga siya nagkamali dahil nang pinatay nito ang TV at tumitig sa kaniya nang napakaseryoso. Nanatili sila sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa siya na ang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Why?" Kinabahan siya. "Rome, why are you being like this?" She chuckled nervously.

It took him awhile before he said "nothing".

That, she didn't believe.

"I'll just take a shower." Alam niyang umiiwas lamang ito. Kaya pagkatayo nito ay pinigilan niya ito sa paghawak sa braso. But he didn't glanced at her.

"Bakit ba kasi?" pamimilit niya. Tumayo na siya at hinarap ito. "May problema ba tayo?"

Romano, without his playful smiles amd gazes, was clearly making her feel so freaking nervous.

"Let's help Rexton save her and we'll wrap this job up next."

Ah, that's it. "Pero, paano? Hindi nga natin alam kung saan siya dinala ng gagong Cristobal na iyon." They're talking about Bree. Nabulyaso ang unang plano nila dahil wala ito sa post nito kasama ang ibang agents na galing sa AIA. At masama ang kutob niya tungkol doon, lalong-lalo na si Rexton dela Costa.

Nilatag ni Romano ang plano. Pero hindi pa rin siya mapakali kaya nang mag-shower ito ay pumasok siya sa loob ng banyo makalipas lang ng labing-limang minuto. He immediately washed up and covered his lower body using that clean black towel. Pinilit niyang huwag bigyan ng pansin iyon kahit medyo naapektuhan na siya.

"You done?" she asked while brushing her teeth. Iyon kasi ang dahilan niya kuno kung bakit siya pumasok doon.

Tumango lang ito saka na lumabas. Matapos magsepilyo ay hinintay niya munang masuot nito ang damit pang-ibaba bago siya nagsalita.

"Ano iyong sasabihin mo?" tanong niya nang nagsusuot na ito ng pantalon. "Aalis ka ba?"

Sinuot muna nito ang t-shirt bago umupo sa gilid ng kama habang siya'y nanatiling nakatayo sa harapan nito. Medyo lumayo siya dahil baka kung saan sila mapunta nang hindi nag-uusap.

"I know what you're doing. You can't distract me now. Yes, I want us to do more tonight but I also want to talk about what you were thinking awhile ago."

He kept still and avoided her gazes.

"Hindi iyon ang gusto mong sabihin," she stated. Alam niyang tama siya dahil kilala niya ang lalaking mahal niya.

He sighed and stood up; went straight to her and embraced her tightly.

Napalunok siya nang maramdaman ang mabilis na tibok ng puso nito, at hindi niya inasahan ang sumunod nitong sinabi.

"Let's quit the agency, Nam..."

KITANG-KITA ni Romano kung paanong natigilan si Nami nang isiwalat niya ang bagay na matagal na ring gumugulo sa kaniya. Sinabi niya noon na hahayaan niya itong gawin ang bagay na gusto nito, pero matapos nang ilang beses na nalagay sa panganib ang kani-kanilang buhay ay hindi iilang beses na pumasok sa isip niya na umalis na sa Phoenix. And now, he's fearing that they might not able to escape danger, or worse, death the next time.

Bahagya siyang lumayo at igiya ito paupo sa sofa. Natigilan siya nang makitang nangilid ang luha sa mga mata nito.

Why? Doesn't she want to quit?

"I'm sorry," parang may tinik na nakabara sa lalamunan na bulong niya.

Umiling-iling ito at bumaling s kaniya; hinuli ang kaniyang paningin. "No, Rome, I'm sorry..."

Why are you saying sorry, sweetheart?

She cupped his face using her soft hands as she bit her lower lip trying to halt her tears from falling.

"We should better sleep—" His words were drowned when she planted one of her most sweetest and emotional kisses on his lips.

"I'm sorry for being selfish. For not noticing what you want for us," she murmured when she ended the kiss and slightly pressed her forehead against him.

Napalunok siya at nangilid ang luha. Everything piled up now and he couldn't bottle it anymore. "It's really frustrating, Nam..." Umayos ito ng upo at hindi inalis ang pagkakatitig sa kaniya. Nagpatuloy siya, "I couldn't keep you beside me. I'm disappointed..."

May dumaang sakit sakit sa mga mata nito kaya kaagad niyang nilinaw ang sasabihin.

"...of myself. I kept on thinking I'm not enough for you."

Napasinghap ito, totoong nagulat sa isinaad niya. "Why would you think of that?" Napalakas ang boses nito.

"It's because I can't keep you by my side," ulit niya.

Natulala ito sa kaniya at ilang sandali pa ay naglumikot ang paningin. "I... I..." Her eyes glittered in tears and when she uttered the following words, her tears fell down. "I'm sorry."

He immediately wiped her tears using his thumbs when he cupped her face. "No, don't be sorry. I can wait longer." Nataranta siya bigla dahil baka ma-pressure niya ito. "I'll wait," he added softly.

She was crying inevitably that she came closer and hugged him tightly. Ang mga hikbi nito ay naging hagulgol hanggang sa maging siya ay hindi na napigilang maiyak.

Without any words, they understood one another. With that simple gesture, their heart screamed what they wanted to tell for each other.

Ilang minuto rin silang nanatiling magkayakap hanggang sa naramdaman niyang kumalma na si Nami subalit bahagya pa ring gumagaralgal dahil sa paghikbi.

After a few, she stood up and he critically watched her movements—she got a litter of bottled cold water and two glasses before coming back to him. Sinisinok pa ito nang magsalin ng tubi sa baso at inabot sa kaniya, ininom niya iyon habang pinanood ang pag-inom din nito.

"T-tissue..." alok nito. He got two, three pieces and instead of wiping his cheeks, he wiped hers. While doing that, she caught his arms and she removed the tissue; then, her soft lips landed on the back of his palm. She did that softly twice, thrice, until her tears fell once more. "I love you, Rome... Please forgive me for not focusing on our relationship at all. I took you for g-granted. I was so confident that you love me, that you will never leave me no matter what I do."

Napalunok siya't pinagsiklop niya ang mga palad nila. "Yes..."

"Aaminin ko, masyado akong nag-enjoy sa trabaho natin. That I'm really loving the thrill. But deep within, I could feel that there's something that's lacking. For so long, I thought it's just a feeling that'd be gone anyway. Pero ngayon... napagtagni ko na ang lahat. It's because of you."

Bahagya nitong pinisil ang palad niya.

"It's you whom I want the most in my life. Not those dangerous missions, not acting, not vlogging and all."

"You can still do ev—"

"Shh... Let me finish first. I just realized everything now and I really feel sorry for neglecting our relationship."

"Baby, you don't have to. Kaya ko pang maghintay."

"Pero matagal na tayong engaged."

Natahimik siya.

"It must have been hard for you. Hindi kita masisi kung naisip mo na hindi ka sapat, pero kabaliktaran iyon, Rome. Because you are enough—more than enough to make me want more of you."

A ghost of smile formed on his lips.

"I don't want us to live like this anymore. I want more of us." She chuckled to lighten the mood. "God! Why did I just realize it now? I'm so sorry, Romano."

He couldn't help but lovingly gazed at her. Lahat ng agam-agam ay nawalang parang bula. Now, his confidence went back, and he wanted to shower her with his love again. Without ado, he claimed her soft lips and he felt her smiled in the middle of their kiss.

"After this mission, let's get married already..." tila nakalutang na bulalas nito matapos nilang maghalikan.

Sa namumungay na mga mata ay hinuli niya ang mga titig nito at ngumiti. "Jesus! I'm glad we're on the same page already."

She smiled brightly and embraced him again as if she's embracing her whole world.

"I would never get enough of you, Nam," he murmured as his lips slightly touched her earlobe, making her tickle as she tightened her embrace and press her body more against him. Then, in his husky voice, he added, "I'll forever want more of you."