Undercover

Chapter 39. Undercover

ROMANO went to sleep after what happened earlier. Dala na rin ng alak kaya siya nakatulog kaagad. Pero madaling-araw pa lamang ay nagising na siya; hindi mapakali sa nagawa kagabi. He must talk to her now, that's why he got up and went to the maid's quarter. Baka gising na rin naman ito kahit alas quatro y media pa lamang. Mag-isa lang ang babae roon dahil si Manang ay nasa kabilang silid habang ang ibang mga kasambahay ay umuuwi sa kani-kanilang tahanan.

Kumatok siya pero hindi ito sumagot, at nang pihitin niya ang seradura ng pinto ay nakabukas iyon kaya pumasok siya. Nasa bungad pa lang ay natigilan na siya.

"Fuck!" mura niya nang maabutan itong nagbibihis at naka-dim ang ilaw. Mukhang katatapos lang na maligo.

Kaagad itong tumalikod at nagtanong kung anong ginagawa niya roon. She sounded hoarse and weary.

"I want some j-juice," palusot niya.

"Sige. I'll just bring it upstairs."

Napatango siya at bumalik na sa silid.

Kalahating minuto matapos niyon ay mahinang katok ang narinig niya bago bumukas ang pinto at pumasok itong may dalang tray at isang basong orange juice.

"May sakit ka ba?" pansin niya dahil naka-face mask ito. Maga ang ilalim na mga mata at namumula rin.

Saglit itong natigilan at bahagyang naubo. "Ah, eh, oo..."

Tumayo siya para makalapit nang tumungo ito sa mesita para ilapag iyong tray. Pagkalapag nito ay yumakap siya mula sa likuran nito.

"I miss you..." he softly uttered.

Suminghap ito at hinayaang manatili sila sa ganoong posisyon. Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman niya ang bahagyang paggaralgal ng magkabilang balikat nito hanggang sa hindi na nito mapigilan at impit na humikbi.

"Why are you crying?" He didn't want to pretend he's not liking it anymore. He wanted more of her.

"D-do you always do this before?"

"Yes," malat ang tinig na tugon niya. "We always do this before."

Humikbi ito at bahagyang tumango. "M-masakit ang ulo ko, gusto ko nang matulog."

Hinigpitan niya ang yakap dito; ayaw na pakawalan.

"Rome..."

There's only one person who can call me that way... Aniya sa isipan. Of all those people who's calling him in his nickname, only one person could make his heart go hazy.

"R-Rome, matutulog na ako." Pumiyok pa ito pagkasabi niyon. Joy never called him by his name before. It was always "Sir" or "Señorito". Kahit naging malapit sila ng huli ay hanggang doon lang iyon. But this version of Joy was the exact opposite, and he certainly knew why. Mula pa noong umuwi siya galing ibang bansa ay alam na niyang may nagbago sa babae. Hanggang sa mapagtagpi-tagpi niya ang lahat at nasigurong tama ang kaniyang hinala nang una pa lang.

He buried his face on her neck and smelled the familiar scent that could make him lose all of his control. Just like this moment.

"Sir—"

"Let's stop the pretend, sweetheart. I badly miss you." He sighed heavily before he kissed her neck lightly. Then, he said, "Please don't do this to me, Nam, you're hurting me... "

NATIGILAN si Nami sa isiniwalat ni Romano. The way his voice sounded really tired made her forget that she's on undercover. She had to pretend as Joyce Lopez since the latter went missing and the agency had a hint that it's related with the disappearance of some people residing in Ilocos Region.

Malakas ang loob niyang pumayag dahil wala naman si Romano sa bansa mula noong paalisin niya ito't pagtaguan niya noon. And even before she accepted the job three weeks after the surgery, she's already regretting being blinded by her guilt.

Kaya nang bumalik na ito ng bansa, aaminin niyang nagulat man siya ay tuwang-tuwa pa rin dahil sigurado siya na siya ang hahanapin nito para manuyo, pero mukhang siya ang dapat na sumuyo sa huli sapagka't napagtanto niyang napakababaw lang na dahilan kung bakit niya ito iniwasan at pinagtaguan. How painful must that be to him given the fact that he didn't do anything wrong.

Pero saka na, wala siyang nagawa kundi ang magpatuloy sa pagpapanggap ngayon dahil nakapasubo siya sa misyon.

At... hindi niya alam kung tama ba ang desisyon niya o mali dahil nalaman niyang malapit pala ang fiancé niya sa kasambahay na si Joy at umabot pa sa puntong may ginagawang kamunduhan. It made her think that he was cheating behind her back... and it was unforgiveable.

Pero ngayon ay malinaw na ang lahat. Kaya kaagad na bumalik ang atensiyon niya rito nang masuyong tawagin ang ngalan niya.

"Nam..." Nag-angat ito ng tingin at pinihit siya paharap dito. He let him remove her face mask and revealed herself to him. Nang magtama ang paningin nila ay nahahapong ngumiti ito. "I knew it was you. You can never hide yourself to me even with that small hair and your bangs... You look beautiful in that hair, by the way."

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi at nag-uunahan pa rin sa pagtulo ang kaniyang mga luha. "Nakakainis ka!" tanging nasambit niya.

"I know... I'm sorry 'bout last night. Sinadya ko ang lahat para pagselosin ka..."

Napahagulgol siya nang maalala na naman ang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya makatulog at magdamag na umiyak.

When he kissed her while he's drunk and it felt the same way when they're kissing before—it clenched her heart excruciatingly. Bakit nito hahalikan ang kasambahay nang katulad sa kaniya? Ibig sabibin ba, pare-pareho lang ang turing ni Romano sa mga babae? That was what's on her mind. And when he wanted to have sex with her, knowing that she's a different person, everything shattered into pieces. She'd not believe that her one and only love could cheat on her. That's not how she knew him. And even though they're not in good terms, that'd be considered as cheating for they never broke up.

Romano caught her chin and wiped her tears as he kept on apologizing. "I crossed the line, I'm really sorry for being a jerk."

Tumango siya't sininok sa gitna ng paghikbi. He was teary-eyed as well but he smiled right away while staring on her face.

"You're eyes are swollen. Have you been crying all night?" nakonensiyang tanong nito. Bakas din ang pag-alala.

Lumabi siya.

"Kaya pala parang namamalat ang boses mo," komento nito. Kinuha naman nito ang juice at inilapit sa kaniya. "Drink this." Ito mismo ang humawak sa baso saka siya pinainom nang kaunti. He drank the remaining juice right after.

Inalalayan siya nitong maupo sa couch at hindi muna kumibo. Mukhang hinahayaan siyang kumalma muna mula sa pag-iyak. Nang pakiramdam niya ay umayos na siya ay bumaling siya rito.

"When did you know that I'm not Joy? Did Stone tell you?" Though, the latter clearly said to her he wouldn't tell Romano about the mission, she's still not sure about that.

"I have my ways. I knew he was keeping something away from me because he's not allowing me to see him, so I investigated it myself."

"At nalaman mong nagpapanggap ako?"

Umiling ito. "I already had a hunch since I went home last week."

Tumahimik siya.

"Nahalata kong masyado kang mailap pagkabalik ko rito. One time, you forgot to hide your neck, too."

Nangunot ang noo niya. Kailan? Lagi niyang tinatakpan ng panyo o hindi kaya'y ng makeup ang peklat niya.

Nabasa naman ni Romano ang tanong niya. "Noong masakit ang puson mo, 'kamo."

"Huh?"

"You unconsciously removed your handkerchief, revealing your neck."

Napalunok siya nang malapad itong ngumisi. So... he purposely said the word horny because he knew she was?!

Tumikhim naman ito; sumeryoso, saka nagpatuloy, "I wanted to confront you but I know you'll just deny. That's why I thought of that plan... I purposely went to Glaze's bar every night so you'd think I'm in love with her, but it didn't work."

Hindi pa rin siya sumagot.

"I also provoked you in your maid's uniform whenever I had the chance so you'd give in to me. And you would think I'm cheating, and eventually, you'd blow up your cover and have a fight with me."

"Gago," mahinang mura niya. "Pwede naman kasing sabihin mong alam mong ako ito. Hindi naman sikreto ang trabaho ko sa iyo. Ikaw kaya ang dahilan kung bakit namulat ako rito."

He smiled sheepishly. "I didn't think of that. Pinahirapan ko pa ang sarili ko, 'no?"

She just rolled her eyes. "And Yuri thought you're still single, huh?"

Ngumuso ito. "You can't blame my sister for being clueless. Besides, we never stayed with her so I don't think she knows we're a couple."

"At hindi siya nagulat na si Glaze ang mahal mo?" Lumiit ang tinig niya. Hindi 'ata mawawala kaagad ang pagseselos niya sa kakambal at ang guilt nang malamang totoong minahal nito si Romano noon.

"I'm sorry about that, too. That's all part of my plan since Yuri knew I had a crush with her back in the days."

"You thought of that stupid plan for me to expose myself to you, huh?" sarkastikong bulalas niya. Samut-sari ang emosyong nadarama niya ngayon dahil sa mga nalaman.

"But you didn't."

Umalis siya kagabi at umiyak nang umiyak sa inookupahang silid dahil sobrang sakit na nadama. She felt something died inside her because of the thought that he was cheating on her. But now that she knew that everything was just a facade, she felt alive than ever. Medyo naiinis pa nga lang din, subalit mas nangibabaw ang tuwa dahil unang-una ay hindi totoong nagtaksil ito sa kaniya; ikalawa ay nag-uusap na sila.

Ginagap niya ang palad nito, tuluyan nang natunaw ang inis na nadama dahil mas nangibabaw ang pangungulila niya sa lalaki.

"Pasensiya ka na kung nagmatigas ako. Hindi dapat kita tinaboy. Hindi mo naman alam na ganoon ang nangyari."

"Shh..." He pulled her closer and hugged her. "Let's not talk about it anymore."

Pero pinag-usapan pa rin nila. She expressed how she regretted what happened and explained that she was just too guilty because she blamed herself that Glaze didn't get to love him the way she was supposed to. Pero nag-usap na sila ng kakambal niya. Nagsisisi rin ito sa mga nasabi at inaming nadala lang sa sitwasyon kaya nasabi ang mga bagay na iyon.

The latter was actually happy and in love now. Finally, with the right person.

"Nag-usap na ba kayo?" pagkuwa'y tanong niya.

Nahihiyang tumango ito. "After apologizing, she scolded me big time for leaving you behind without exerting so much effort to see you. And I bet she would scold me again if she knew I used her to make you jealous... Akala lang niya, kaya ako naglalasing ay nami-miss kita."

Bahagya siyang natawa. "That sounds like Glaze."

She felt Romano's calloused hands travelled inside her shirt, but she stopped him right away. Then, he groaned to protest.

"Mayroon ako."

Dumaing ulit ito. "Akala ko ba, tapos na?"

"That's a lie."

"I knew it." He snaked his arms around her waist. Pumirmi na lang ang isang palad nito sa kaniyang puson. Now she's not sure if was she just having menstrual cramps or she's already turned on. She's thinking it was the latter.

Binuhat siya nito at hiniga sa kama saka tumabi sa kaniya. Kaagad na yumakap siya rito at sinakop ang bibig nitong hindi na rin makapaghintay na angkinin niya.

How frustrated she was because they couldn't make love right at that moment. She moaned when his hands were caressing her back.

"I want more, Rome," she murmured.

"I want more of you, too, but we can't... yet," malat ang tinig na bulalas nito.

She bit her lower lip, then, she buried her face on his chest. They cuddled more until she fell asleep back in the arms of her only love.

KINABUKASAN ay nagpaalam si Romano sa kaniyang mama na luluwas siya ng Maynila at isasama niya si 'Joy'. Madilim na nang makarating sila ng siyudad at sa Phoenix Agency dumiretso. Pagod man siya sa pagmamameho ay hindi na niya ipinagpabukas pa. He's joining the mission.

Wala si Stone, at si Rexton ang naabutan nila; katatapos lang ng briefing sa bagong kaso na hahawakan ng mga ito.

"You're back together?" nanunuksong bati nito.

Nginisihan lang ito ni Nami. "Where's Stone?"

"Babysitting," si Vince ang sumagot niyon. Kahit hindi na sumasabak sa misyon ang huli ay mananatili itong co-founder ng ahensiya.

"What brings you here anyway? Shouldn't you two catching up?"

Umupo sila ni Nami sa bakanteng silya katapat ng inuupuan ni Rexton. Nasa opisina na sila ni Vincent ngayon.

"As Nami said, I'm joining the mission."

"Anong misyon? Tapos na," exclaimed Vince.

Sumabad si Rexton. "Actually, hindi pa tapos. Pero okey na, may mga tatrabaho na roon. Ayaw n'yo bang magbakasyon muna? Mag-loving loving?"

Minura ni Nami ang lalaki, pagkuwa'y nagsalita, "Paanong tapos na? Wala pa namang umaksiyon—"

"Ah, hindi pala nasabi ng gunggong kong pinsan sa iyo?" sabad ulit ni Vince. Naglalakad sila patungong opisina ng hili. Nagtataka namang lumingon si Nami rito kaya nagpaliwanag ito. "Pinadala ka niya sa mga Caballero para hindi ka na niya isip-isipin pa habang nasa trabaho. Alam mo naman ang kaibigan mong iyon, sigurista sa kaligtasan ng mga taong malalapit sa kaniya."

Nakuha niya ang ibig sabihin nito. Since Nami almost became a casualty in the previous mission, Gaston Herrera made sure she would be safe the whole time. Bagay na dapat ay siya ang gumawa. Hindi na niya hahayaang mangyari pang muli iyon. "Tell him I said thanks."

Tumango lang si Vince. Rexton, on the other hand, went on explaining that they raided Dionysus Club where her sister got traumatised before.

"How about Joy?" sabad ni Nami.

"Joy?"

"Joyce Lopez! The one who went missing."

Napatango si Rexton. "She's not in that club. We're still looking for her."

Hindi niya alam ang mararamdaman doon, kaya nagpasya siyang ipahanap ang babae gaya ng gusto ni Nami.

Pero wala naman pala silang dapat na ikabahala dahil nalaman nilang ligtas si Joy ilang araw ang nakalipas.

Sumabak pa sila sa ilang mga misyon pagkatapos niyon. Hindi nila namalayan ang mabilis na paglipas ng mga buwan, at ngayo'y kailangan nilang makakalap ng ebidensiya na magdidiin sa mga krimen ng organisasyong tinutugis nila.