Chapter 9- Ezekiel Benitez

*Ezekiel Benitez*

We've set up a bonfire at the pentagon house for our victory dinner, held by Miranda and her team. Well my team deserves this kind of treat. They did everything just to win their first training.

Everybody is busy grilling the barbecue except for Ady who's now sitting six feet away from me. She's spacing out for almost 10 minutes straight.

"How's your ankle?" I asked her, I heard that she was sprained.

"It's fine." She coldly answered. She turned her head to see her teammates having a good time. Sebastian saw her staring at them and waved his right hand to her but she just turned her head away. Snobbish Adelaide is back. She's always like that. Even Rob complained that matter the first time they met. He said that no one in his Personal Lady Guards can resist his charms. No single person can refuse him, not until Adelaide came and turned the tables upside down. Rob loves her to the extent that he can let her take his own life. But when he died, Ady shredded into pieces. I don't know if the feelings between her and him were mutual, but I never heard Ady dated anyone before and after that incident. Well I guess dating is not in her vocabulary.

"Why don't you go there and have fun with them?" I again asked, hoping for a conversation.

"Do they look like they're having fun?" She fired back, without even taking a glance at me.

I again look at the team, Demeter and Allen are still grilling the food, Sebastian is sitting two meters away from them and enjoying his food alone. Troy on the other hand cannot locate at the moment. I didn't notice him leaving the site. I took a deep breath for a thought of no relief. How will I be able to bind these different kinds of people? Each of them is far from one another.

"Well, I guess I should go. It's getting late. We have a schedule at the Blue House tomorrow. Tell your teammates to rest early."

bilin ko sa kanya. Tumayo ako at inayos ang damit ko sa pagkakalukot mula sa pagkakaupo ko. Pagkuwa'y naglakad na ko palayo sa kanila.

It was a long tiring day for everybody and I wanted to have a restful weekend. I hope the president would like them. I know they're aloof and unapproachable to one another. They just met two days ago so I bet that's normal. Syempre nagpapakiramdaman muna sila, siguro nga kailangan lang ng sapat na oras para mabuo ang grupo nila, physically and emotionally.

As of today, I'm glad that they did their best individually and as a team. Allen's strength is expedient to the group. He's very powerful in physical aspects. His skills are no joke and he's understanding is extensive. Troy probably is the brain of the group. I can see his gray matter. It's wide and very systematic. His plans are effective and top dog. I sometimes wonder if his leadership traits are inborn. Sebastian is the eye, he's good at shooting. He's the guy who doesn't miss. He's always capable of hitting his target. He can be the team's back up and sniper. Adelaide is a very competitive woman. I've known her for years. I knew that her addition to the group is valuable. She's the tantamount of the three guys. She's smart, strong and capable. She can be the team's asset. And lastly Demeter, she's very essential to the group, she'll be needed since the mission is bloody. I know she's a big help to them. And also her skills in computers are excellent. She can always hack data and programs like for example the stop light and identities which can later on be used for conning. Well I guess the BCI made the right choice by choosing those Elite people. I just hope they'll adjust to the team immediately cause the official call for the mission is forthcoming.

I drove the car for almost half an hour. Upon reaching the parking lot of the Blue Tower I saw a familiar vehicle parked on a space which serves as parking space for my car. I press the automobile horn to know if there's someone inside that car but there's no sign of anyone, I guess she's not in her car. I looked for a space to park my car and get off immediately.

I went to the elevator to reach the 31st floor where my unit was located. While having an elevator's ride a thought came in, what is she doing here anyway? I don't think she's here to see me at this late hour except for an important matter.

As the elevator finally gave its signal I stepped out on the 31st floor and walked straight to the unit, there I saw her waiting in front of my unit's door. She's having a long stare on the glass window of the building where you can see the whole city and its lights. The view was so fascinating and the fact that she didn't notice me coming is because she's really into it.

As my steps are getting closer to her I've recalled an incident that once happened. It was similar to this scenario. She was here before when I was still new and not used to this kind of place. She was standing there watching the city lights with a box held by her hands. Compared to that scene before, she looks calm and clear tonight. Unlike before her eyes are different but happy.

"Hey." I caught her attention. She turned her head to mine, her face remained emotionless as she saw me. She won't offer me her beautiful smile anymore. I know she hated me that much.

"You're not picking my calls." Did she really call? I didn't hear any. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko na nakatago sa bulsa ng pants ko, I saw her miscalls. Maybe naka silent mode ito mula kanina pa.

"Sorry, di ko napansin na tumatawag ka." I defended. She shrugged her shoulders and role her eyes.

"You enjoyed the victory dinner too much." She held me an envelope.

"What's this?" I asked her in confusion.

"Take a look and find out." she answered as she ready herself to leave. She started walking but I grabbed her hand as soon as I could. She looked back and gave me a confused face.

"What?" She asked with boredom.

"Ah, kumain ka na ba?" I asked. Hindi ko rin naman alam kung bakit ko siya pinigilan.

"Are you flirting with me?" she straightly asked which shocked the hell out of me. I let go of her hand before she could even think worse.

"N-no... I'm not. I'm just being hospitable. Baka sabihin mong hindi ako generous. You've waited for me just to give this even if it's late night." I defended myself. An arced drawn in her left eyebrow and smiled teasingly.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm already full, save that generosity of yours for someone in need." she said as she totally walked away. I was left there staring at her. When she reached the elevator she took another glance and waved at me and then she's gone. What a cold hearted woman. I never thought I'll turn you into someone as cold as snow Miranda.

*Narrator*

[Blue House]

The team was brought to the Blue House where VIPs and High ranking officials can meet agents for a state mission. And now the team is under evaluation by the highest rank together with its allies.

The place was located in an isolated area and only designated people were allowed to enter.

"So is the president coming?" A brownish haired girl wearing a ponytail asked, she's relaxing herself on a swivel chair in front of a big wooden forum table in the middle of the room.

"I think so. I've heard we'll be evaluated by the highest rank himself." A man with an elite looks answered, sitting one meter apart from the latter.

The five members are in the room together but only Demeter and Allen dared to make a conversation. Sebastian was watching the view outside through the wide glass window, Troy was reading a book he found at the bookshelves and Adelaide was sitting on the couch located on the corner near the shelves with a headset on her ears to avoid her teammates' noise.

Team Leader/ Captain Benitez is having a discussion with the officials to present the special team or what they call the Pentagon!

The house of the Pentagon was assigned for critical and special missions like Hunting Aristocrats. And its members will later on be called Pentagon based on the house's name itself.

"I'm bored. We've been here for an hour and we're just stuck here together doing nothing and no one's talking to me but you!" a bored lady stated as she scanned the room to give glances on her antisocial teammates.

"Stop making a noise!" the man standing in front of a window abruptly uttered words to her that made her eyes roll.

"At last, I've heard another voice aside from you." she despicably said to Allen and wore a smirk. It was her way to piss Sebastian off, the person she hated the most.

The latter didn't reply but focused himself on the beauty of nature that he's been staring at the whole time.

A minute later and the door opened. They all stood up to greet the white haired man in a black suit that entered the room together with the team's captain. Greed and hypocrisy can be seen on his face. The man is ambitious and yet powerful.

"So these people will be this year's Pentagon?" the man asked Benitez who is now standing in front of his team.

"Yes sir." He answered as he nodded.

"Everyone, I want you to meet the State's Secretary Mr. Alfonso Morales." Benitez introduced him.

"It's nice to meet young people nowadays, I'm really excited to meet all of you." Alfonso Morales stated as he wore a synthesized smile on his face. He gave signal to the group that they can already take a seat. And now the meeting for the team's mission has finally begun.

"All of you are new faces except for the lady at the corner. I'm glad that you're back, the great Adelaide Sheridan." he said as he took a glance on the latter. Ady didn't mind giving him attention.

"Well you see. Adelaide and I once became companions for a mission. And she's a very reliable personnel. I consider this our reunion Adelaide." he said trying to get Ady's attention but he again failed. The lady seemed pissed by the old man, stating that they've been together on a mission before in front of her newly formed teammates makes her suffocated.

"So let's start the discussion." Benitez started.

A photograph appeared on a transparent board. It was a picture of a man with a wrinkled forehead. The hair was gray showing his seniority. All of the members stared at the photo on the screen.

"Alexander Dobrow, do any of you have an idea about him?" Benitez asked the group. The lady sitting on the corner speaks.

"He's the late King's regent. He's also considered as his closest friend." Adelaide answered. Benitez constantly nodded, showing satisfaction on Adelaide's response.

"The day of the late Prince Rob's assassination he was spotted at the Imperial House. Well we don't know what motives he have that day, but during the operation of the prince's execution prince Khaled that tends to be the special guest of Prince Rob suddenly disappeared without any traces. No one met him personally, no one saw his face. No one knows what he looks like. I bet Alexander received an order to the late Prince, securing his brother's safety." Benitez explained.

"So you're saying na siya ang nag takas kay Prince Khaled?" Demeter asked.

"Yes, that's what I think but sadly after following Alexander's traces I found nothing. A year later he was found dead in his ancestral house in Sunderland, England. And also there are no traces of the Prince." Benitez stated.

"Alexander, Alexander, Alexander..." Alfonso Morales mumbled that caught the team's attention.

"So the great Alexander died as a loyal dog to the family. Imagine how sad his life was." the latter again disclosed other words which made one of the members annoyed.

"Sir, can I ask a question?" the young man sitting on the third chair on the right side asked. The state secretary leaned his head on the right to peek on the young man's face.

"Go ahead." Morales assented.

"Why do you hate the royals so much?" The young man asked without hesitations. The old man stares at him for a while and laughs later on. The whole room was filled with the devil's laughter.

"I'm sorry. I hope you guys don't mind. As the state's secretary I barely have that kind of laugh. I see, in every group there's always someone who tends to be the joker." Morales stated. He stood up and walked towards the young man who asked the question.

"What makes you think that I hate the Royal Family so much?" he asked back.

"I just thought it's obvious on your face Sir," he answered. The old man copes his chin through his thumb and index finger pretending to think of something. He walked towards Adelaide whose sitting paralleled to the one asking.

"Is hate the right word to describe what someone feels towards them?" he again asked the young man who's now looking straight at him.

"What do you think, Adelaide?" he uttered another word. The lady didn't even bother to answer him.

"If it's not hatred then should I say envious instead?" the guy uttered another word that reached the old man's boiling point.

"What if, one of you shed a blood today?" Morales said as he pointed a gun on Ady's temple that shocked the whole team. Troy who's sitting next to Ady pulled out his licensed gun and pointed out to Morales' head right away. The atmosphere was filled with tension, everybody in the room seemed nervous.

"Both of you put your guns down!" Benitez said trying to prevent the men from doing a crime.

"Let your man put his gun down first. They should know how to respect their superior." Morales said with his gritted teeth.

"You're just a state's secretary. Just like Alexander Dobrow you're just a loyal dog to the President." Allen Marque uttered a word. You can see the raging flame in his eyes. With the words he spilled Morales started laughing out loud. He's like a devil making an evil laugh.

"Benitez, I've never thought that your men will make my day. As I can see, they're much more ready for the mission than I've expected. The president would be glad to know about this." he stated as he keeps on laughing which makes the members irritated. He turned his head to the guy who queried.

"What's your name, young man?" he let a fake smile draw in his face.

"Sebastian, Sebastian Crisostomo." he answered.

"Sebastian, I'll remember you. Hope to see you again at the next meeting." Morales said as he walked away from Ady. He fixed his things and uttered another word.

"I recall that I have important matters to do. Benitez, just send the files to my office." he stated as he left the room with the members hanging.