"ROGUE, are you still not going to go back? Everyone are ready and only waiting for you because you said so," Seven said, sitting beside her.

Seven wasn't a member of the agency but a soldier under Commander X. He was just assigned to assist her and clean her mess because the agency knew how villainous she could be when it comes to dire situation that involved killings.

She was inside their quarter, sitting in a sofa while fixing the weapons she would bring tomorrow.

"Tomorrow, Seven. Tomorrow."

It had been two days before she left the mansion, bringing her the cash Engineer Pandora gave her.

"What if we'll be too late? What if something bad already happened to the bachelor's son?"

"He will be fine. Don't worry," she replied with no ounce of worry about Nero's wellbeing.

One thing she realized that day when the bachelor made a deal with her, he couldn't hurt his own child. The way Engineer Pandora sent someone who knew how to treat his wound said a lot of assumptions to Enigma. It was evident in his eyes that he cared.

If Engineer Pandora wanted to avoid more problems in the future, he would have already killed Nero long ago together with his mother but he didn't.

"I was a little naive to think he didn't care at first," she said, making Seven's eyebrows arched.

Gusto nitong magtanong sa ibig niyang sabihin pero pinili na lang nitong manahimik at sumandal sa sofa. Winaksi nito ang kulay grey na buhok habang naninigarilyo.

"Kukunin mo ba talaga sa akin 'tong isang bilyon?"

"Yeah."

Bumuntonghininga siya at tinignan sa kanan ang limang briefcase. Ang mga briefcase na naglalaman ng isang bilyon.

"Wah!" Mangiyak-ngiyak niyang niyakap ng mga briefcase. "Mawawala na kayo sa akin."

Ni kahit piso man lang, wala siyang maiwawaldas. Pero ayaw niya rin namang magkaroon ng pera na galing sa maduming trabaho.

Of course, she would not exchange her job just for this one time opportunity. Why would she agree in his stupid deal? She could earn more while being an agent. Even more than a billion.

She loved money, but she prefer having those she worked hard for.

It was only a facade when she agreed. That time, when she raised her phone, she was recording their conversation. It didn't matter if Engineer Pandora had the phone, the evidences had already been transported to the agency because it functioned automatically. The moment she took picture and record audios, it was sent right after.

"Aren't you worried?" Seven asked.

"Worried about Nero? I told you, he's fine."

"Hindi 'yan ang tinutukoy ko. He might be angry at you right now. You left him without explaining anything. He must be thinking you exchange him over a billion."

"Oh . . . right." Tumahimik naman siya at sumandal din sa sofa.

Napakamot siya sa kaniyang ulo dahil paniguradong nagtatampo na iyon sa kaniya. 'Di bale na, babalik naman siya kinabukasan.

"I'll just explain everything tomorrow."

"Will he listen?"

"Of course. Gustong-gusto ako no'n, e."

"Well, your boyfriend is quite tough, anyway." Tumayo na si Seven matapos ilagay ang sigarilyo sa tray. Binitbit na nito ang mga briefcase.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Ay, hindi ba?" Kumunot ang noo nito at tinignan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. "Are you just playing with him, then?"

"No."

"Then, what are you two then?" Umiling si Seven. "Tsk. Kids, nowadays, pumapasok na lang sa relasyon na walang label."

"Maka-kids ka r'yan parang gurang ka naman," sagot niya. Magka-edad lang sila ni Seven.

"Well, at least, I don't kiss someone without any clear label."

"How did you know we kissed?"

He gave her a 'really?' look. "It's obvious. You two are so close. You rescued him from the assasination and even went berserk after he got hurt. It's impossible to think that you two haven't kissed yet."

Napatawa naman siya sa sinabi nito. "Should I ask him to be my boyfriend, then?"

"Do you love him?"

Natahimik naman siya sa tanong nito. She had been thinking about that question for a while, too. Hindi siya sigurado kung anong nararamdaman niya para sa lalaki.

"How will I know I love him?"

"Ask yourself. Will you choose him over money? Kapag oo, then mahal mo nga." Tumalikod na si Seven sa kaniya at naglakad na palayo.

Napaisip siya sa sinabi nito at tinanong ang sarili. Ilang saglit pa ay bahagya siyang natawa. The answer was also something she didn't expect.

Fuck. How did I become like this?

---

THE third day came and Enigma was ready. She put her new set of toy guns and real guns in her gun holster encircled in her leg. Hawak-hawak niya sa kamay ang bazooka na m-in-odiefied niya kahapon.

"Where is the Nitrobomb?" tanong niya kay Seven bago pumasok ng kotse.

"Here. Kapag nalaman 'to ni Commander X, sasabihin ko ikaw nag-utos sa akin magnakaw ng Nitrobomb, ah?" sagot nito sa kaniya at inabot ang Nitrobomb dahilan para mapangisi siya.

Ito ang gagamitin niyang bala para sa kaniyang bazooka.

Seven infiltrated the laboratory yesterday. Inutusan niya itong dalhan siya ng kahit isang Nitrobomb man lang. Siguro ngayon, nalaman na ni Engineer Pandora ang nangyari sa laboratory nito.

Tuluyan na siyang pumasok sa kotse at nag-drive.

She arrived outside of the mansion. Mamaya pa dadating ang mga kasamahan ni Seven kagaya ng napag-usapan nila. Inayos niya muna ang earpiece sa kaniyang tainga bago buksan ang pinto.

"Whoa!" Kaagad siyang napayuko nang makita ang nakabantay na lalaki sa gate na pinapatukan siya ng baril.

Nabasag ang bintana ng kotse. Hinablot niya sa holster ang revolver, tinututok sa direksyon ng lalaki at siniguradong ang noo nito ang matatamaan ng bala.

Lumabas na siya sa sasakyan pagkatapos humandusay sa gitna ng gate ang lalaki. Nilabas niya ang bazooka at tumakbo papasok.

Nang nasa kalagitnaan na siya tinuon niya ang bazooka na may laman na Nitrobomb sa mansiyon.

She hummed as she shifted her aim on the right side of the mansion where the big field was. Siyempre, hindi niya papasabugin ang mansiyon. She just wanted to create a diversion. Sinigurado niyang malayo ang magiging pagsabog sa mansiyon upang tanging pagyanig lang ang maramdaman ng mga tao sa loob. Gusto niya rin malaman kung gaano kalakas ang Nitrobomb.

She pulled the trigger. There was a second interval before the Nitrobomb exploded when it reached the ground. A loud boom stung her ear. The soil that had been hit by the Nitrobomb flew as it was encircled with smoke.

"Wew!"

Kaagad niyang binitawan ang bazooka sa semento at tumakbo na ulit papunta sa mansyon.

Sinipa niya ang pintuan pabukas. As she expected, walang sumalubong sa kaniya dahil napunta na ang atensyon ng mga tauhan ni Engineer Pandora sa sumabog.

Isa-isa niyang pinapatukan ang CCTV hanggang makarating siya sa third floor. Nakita na niya ang kuwarto kung saan sila nag-usap ng bachelor. May dalawang pinto ang kuwarto at nagtungo siya sa kung saan naroroon si Nero.

Walang nakabantay.

Sinipa niya ang pinto pero hindi ito bumukas. Pinaputukan niya ang doorknob bago sinipa itong muli.

Bumungad sa kaniya ang mukha ng gulat na gulat na lalaki. Napangiti siya nang makita ito.

Tumakbo kaagad siya papalapit kay Nero.

"Miss me?" saad niya.

Magsasalita sana ito pero binuhat na niya ang lalaki. Napayakap ito sa kaniyang leeg. Nagulat pa ito sa kaniyang ginawa habang siya naman ay napakunot ang noo.

"Why are you a little lighter? You look tired as well. Tatlong araw pa nga lang tayong hindi nagkikita, pumayat ka na agad." Lumabas na siya ng kuwarto habang karga-karga ang lalaki.

Kailangan niya munang ilabas si Nero bago niya gawin ang balak niyang gawin kay Engineer Pandora.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Talk . . . to me."

Napataas naman ang kaniyang kilay at bahagyang natawa. "Are you sulking? Huwag ka na magtampo r'yan. Hindi pa kita masusuyo, busy pa ako."

Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Nero at mariing pinisil ang kaniyang labi.

"Aray! Ano ba!" She shook her head to remove his fingers against her lips. Napatigil siya sa pagtakbo at salubong ang mga kilay na tinignan ang lalaki. "Tinupak ka na naman."

"Why!"

"Anong why?"

"You!" Tinuro siya nito. "Leave me? Y-you . . . only want money."

"Babalik ba ako rito kung pera lang ang habol ko?"

Napakurap si Nero. Hindi ito sumagot at nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya. Sinalubong niya rin ang mga titig nito. She felt a soft punch in her chest, the usual feeling she always feel towards the man every time he was close. Her emotion was always strong when it comes to Nero. She thought it was plainly annoyance but after their conversation with Seven, it was more than that.

"Be my boyfriend after this."

"H-ha?" Ilang beses itong napakurap. Unti-unti ring namula ang mukha nito dahilan para mapangisi siya nang nakakaloko.

"Uy, kinikilig. Gustong-gusto mo talaga ako, ah." Napahalakhak siya at muli nang tumakbo. Bumababa siya sa hagdan papuntang first floor.

"Do you--"

"Yes." Hindi na niya pa ito pinatapos kasi alam na niya kung ano ang itatanong nito. "I guess, I like you too."

Hindi sumagot si Nero at piniling isiksik ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg. Napailing na lang si Enigma habang natatawa pa rin sa reaksyon ng lalaki. He was shy.

Nakarating na siya sa labas ng mansiyon. Nakita na niya ang iba pang mga kasamahan ni Seven na sinusugod ang mansiyon. Ang iba ay nagtungo sa kung saan nanggaling ang pagsabog at ang iba naman ay pinasok ang loob.

Napatingin din si Nero sa mga sundalong pumasok.

"We're going to capture your father now, Nero."

Isang lalaki na nagmamay-ari ng kulay abong mga buhok ang lumapit sa kanila. Binigay niya si Nero kay Seven.

"I'll see you later." He patted Nero's head before turning.

Hinawakan ni Nero ang kaniyang braso dahilan para mapalingon siya. "What is it?"

"Don't . . . k-kill Dad." Bakas sa mukha nito ang kaba.

Ngumiti naman siya. "I won't."