Hacker

Chapter 15. Hacker

NAPAMURA si Timo at tinanggal niya ang pagkakaakbay ni Rexton sa kanya. Sa sobrang pikon niya ay sinuntok niya ulit ito, ngayo'y hindi na ito umiwas at tinanggap ang kamao niya. Tatlong sunod-sunod na malalakas na suntok ang ibinigay niya rito bago ito gumanti at lumaban. Nagbunuan sila sa loob ng silid na iyon at walang umawat sa kanila. Doon niya napagtantong sila lamang tatlo ang talagang nandoon at tila wala namang pakialam ang lalaking patuloy pa rin sa pagtipa ng kung ano sa laptop.

Sinuntok niya ulit si Rexton at nabuwal ito. He took advantage of that and knelt his left knee on the tiled floor as his right one supported his weight as well. He threw another punch on his face until he spit blood.

"Dude, what the fuck! I didn't do anything!" Rexton irritatingly exclaimed and with one strong push, he lost his balance and their position had changed. Siya naman ngayon ang napuruhan at nalasahan niya ang lasang kalawang niyang dugo dahil nagsugat ang labi niyang tumama sa kanyang ngipin nang masuntok ang kanyang bibig.

"Fuck!!!" They both halted when the other guy cussed aloud frustratingly. Bumaling sila sa projector screen at nakita niyang unti-unting nawawala ang mga letrang naroon. It's like a fading out effect in a PowerPoint presentation and he had a hint what was that about.

Nanatili siyang nakahiga sa sahig at nakatitig sa screen habang habol-habol ang hininga. Pinunasan niya ang dugo sa kanyang bibig gamit ang likod ng kaliwang palad at napangisi nang mapagtanto kung ano ang nangyayari.

Napamura naman si Rexton at mabilis na bumangon, lumapit ito sa tabi ng hacker.

"What's happening, Dice?"

"They countered our virus!"

"What? How is that possible?"

"I think the latter's profile I clicked is like a time bomb. Napansin kong nangawala ang ibang mga profiles at files nang i-click ko iyon kanina—"

"Bakit hindi mo kaagad sinabi?!" pasigaw na tanong ni Rexton.

"I tried to halt it. Potek ka! Bakit parang ako ang sinisisi mo? Bakit hindi ka na lang makipagsuntukan diyan sa tropa mo?"

He laughed out loud because of the situation. Kanina lang ay sila ang ang namomoblema patungkol sa computer virus na dumale sa sytem ng AIA, ngayo'y ang mga ito naman.

What a sudden turn of events!

"Sige lang, tumawa ka pa riyan. I'll make sure the last laugh will still be ours," sita ni Rexton sa kaniya.

Iiling-iling na bumaling siya sa kisame at tumitig lang doon. Hinayaan niyang magbangayan ang dalawa.

"Whose profile did you click?"

"I don't quite remember. I think it's Neil?"

"Why can't you fucking remember, Usui? You're a fucking genius!" Pumwesto si Rexton sa likuran ng hacker.

"I was so focused on preventing the virus to spread out in my laptop's system. I didn't have the time to look at the profile. But I remember she's a sniper and her codename sounds like Neil or Lane. Ewan ko! Hindi ko naman makakabisado sa isang tingin lang!" naiiritang bulalas ng hacker. "I should've brought my other laptop, too!"

He smirked triumphantly. He had a hint that the agent Dice Usui was pertaining to was none other than Leigh. Wala sa sariling lumingon siya sa hacker ng Phoenix, he was really frustrated about what was happening. Then, he suddenly pictured of a familiar situation before staring into that guy's face blankly.

You already grew up, Komento niya sa kaniyang isipan.

Matapos ng ilang sandali ay bumangon na siya at bahagya pang pinagpag ang suot na damit.

"Got to go!" nang-iinis na hayag niya.

Rexton's deep sigh and the hacker's continuous typing could be heard around. "But I'm serious, man. AIA doesn't need you, Phoenix do."

"That's for me to decide on who needs me the most. Don't worry, my friend," diniinan niya ang pagsabi sa dalawang huling kataga. "I won't reveal your secrets to the media. Same goes with your talents' and artists'." He was talking mainly about the current condition of Sunshine's keyboardist. He wasn't that heartless to do that.

Rexton sighed again. "So I guess I won't be seeing you around my company anymore?"

He raised an eyebrow because of the tone of Rexton's voice. There's a hint of playfulness.

"Hmm... Won't you miss my Jinny?"

Kumunot bigla ang kanyang noo. Why was this fucker bringing up Jinny's name? And what did he just say? 'My Jinny'?! Gusto ba nitong masuntok ulit hanggang sa mabugbog sarado ito?

"Fuck you!"

"'Kita mo na? Patay na patay ka sa kaniya, aminin mo na. Kaya alam kong babalik at babalik ka para makasipat sa sinta mong single mother."

'Tangina. "They're on hiatus," he reminded this shithead.

"Oh, yeah?" Tumawa ito ng nakakaloko. "So if they're not going to be on hiatus, you'll still come," he said as a matter of fact.

"Fuck! Ang ingay!" mura ni Dice. It looked like he already gave up typing something on his laptop and threw it away. Tumama iyon sa pader at sa lakas ng impact ay duda siya kung gagana pa iyon.

"Bakit mo hinagis? Nasira na ba?"

"Hindi! Ang ingay ninyo! Hindi ko tuloy na-retieve lahat!" paninisi ng hacker sa kanila.

Napamaang siya sa narinig. What did that guy mean by that? He thought the bug that Hugh set was already activated?

"I lost the agents' profiles! Iyong mga kasong hahawakan lang ang na-retrieve ko."

"Bakit mo hinagis ang laptop mo, kung ganoon?"

"Because we fucking have all of those informations already! Sobra-sobra pa kaysa sa mayroon sila. Hindi natin iyon kailangan."

What the fuck? This guy scanned those new files already? If yes, then, he must admit, he's definitely a genius.

"Timo," mahinahong tawag naman sa kanya ni Rexton. In times when he called his name in that tone of his voice, he's certain that the latter was being serious.

Subalit tinalikuran lamang niya ito.

"Sooner or later, you will know why are we doing this. And I'm telling you, you will be needing our aid as well."

He only raised his middle finger and he started stepping out the room. He heard a cellphone rang and that's definitely not his. Naka-set sa default ringtone ang kaniya at ang umalingawngaw na ringtone ay isa sa mga maiingay na kanta ng Sunshine.

"Ikaw mismo ang lalapit sa amin!" pahabol pa nito at literal ngang hinabol siya. Pero nagkamali siya dahil cellphone pala nito ang nilapitan nito at kinuha para sagutin ang tawag. Gaya niya'y iniwan nito ang cellphone bago pumasok sa silid. "O, Mendoza!" Narinig niyang bati nito sa kausap nang masagot ang tawag. Cellphone pala nito ang may ringtone na kanta ng Sunshine. A supportive boss, huh?

Hindi na niya pinagtuunan ng pansin iyon at nang makalabas ay napansin niyang gabi na pala.