"Mission"

I'M AT my peace waiting inside the nurse room inside the Headquarters. My recent mission was a total disaster. We encountered some of a powerful member of CRYPTIC. They were heading north, the largest forest located inside the Central City. Our unit team ambushed them with a surprise and we easily defeated them within an hour. They were carrying hydrogen bombs, medicine and food supplies.

Since they had no choice, they committed suicide to make sure that we couldn't able to gather information about their secret base, about their history, and about their secrets. They even detonated their hovercraft into ashes. In the end of the day, our mission failed. We earned nothing but injuries to my team unit.

I had no injury but Kelly was so worried about me so she forced me to undergo for some tests and observation. I had some cuts but it were not that just so serious that could lead me to death. I'm Agent Tobias, which one of the greatest agent of HEADQUARTERS.

I was a top perfect agents in the history of Headquarters until the nephew of the General Siyaszo appeared. We both have the same ability. He was a sharp shooter, long-range shooter, and a lethal opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

If he could activate his great potential, he could become a great threat to everybody; a nerve-racking enemy. He was an exceptional teenager. He was only seventeen years old but he possessed that kind of talent.

I cemented my reputation in this organization. They will never find another like me if I die because I'm so good in the field of tracking our enemies because I was a skilled warrior.

Hand-to-hand combat was my specialty. More importantly, I had a good looks. Height was 6'2 or 188 in centimeters. Chest was 101.5 centimeters or 40 inches. Waist was 80 centimeters. And biceps were 14 inches. Well-defined chest and strong abdominal muscles.

"How's your day?" An angelic voice I heard when she slammed the door.

"You are here."

"Of course, this is my area," she said and she scanned my whole body using her eyes. I couldn't blame her if she found me hot  and attractive— I had no shirt and was just wearing a Headquarters camouflage pants and boots, "I think you should start getting your body into shape," she said with a grin.

What was that? I felt like she betrayed me. What did she meant by that? It was the first time I heard those insult from her.

"Well, that's crushing to hear. You are saying that I'm not in shape?" I asked her without looking at her eyes. Putting the jacket on to cover my body.

"No. No. No. I'm trying to say was..." Before she finish her sentence I swiftly toss the jacket to the side table.

"Are you joking, right? And please don't give me that slit-eyed smile."

"I'm in my 24 but I'm still ripped. You hurt my feelings though," I said sheepishly.

She slowly took a couple of steps towards me. When we had a couple of inches apart from each other, when I could feel her hot breath and smell her lovely scent, A guy with a weird beard entered the room, destroying our privacy.

"Agent Tobias, General Diasque is calling you," A random guy reported.

"Tell him, I'm busy."

"...or should I tell him that you are busy doing that?" I heard a familiar voice. It was Captain Salazar. "It's urgent. Put some shirt on. You need it. Stop exposing your fatty body."

I couldn't believe that they thinking that I'm not ripped enough? I had no idea what was wrong with their eyes. It was totally crushing to hear. I ignored what he said and I buttoned up my jacket and I left Kelly alone. I told her that I'll be back and we will continue what we were started. I couldn't believe that she said 'yes' after so many years of my courtship. I couldn't blame other girls if they were disappointed about knowing that Kelly and I were in a relationship. Many girls would kill just to laid my eyes on them just for once . I couldn't blame them. Girls mad because I ain't free now. I was born with a good looks. Not to brag, but that's true.

A stomps of our boots echoed throughout the grand hall, every sound felt like we are a superior with a great influence. It was like a music for me every time I was about to go to the General's Office. Our general was Sebastian Diasque. The brain of our whole operation here in Headquarters. The father of our organization. I met his nephew last week. I couldn't deny to myself that he was also a fine young lad but I'm ten steps ahead of him. The name of his nephew was Kylvin Diasque.

The Headquarters created by the parents of Sebastian Diasque. The main goal of organization was to hunt down every member of CRYPTIC, the most powerful group criminal of Central City. They were the reason why I joined this organization. General Diasque helped my family to kept us safe from the said group. Many years passed, no organization of the government found the secret base of CRYPTIC. That's why Headquarters will bring Justice from all the victims of CRYPTIC in the future.

We were too close to know what exactly the location of their base. Few more steps and the reign of CRYPTIC will soon to perished.

I couldn't wait for that moment. I couldn't wait to see a pure smile of every person living in the safe city after we exterminate all of their life-sucking member of CRYPTIC.

Captain Salazar knocked two times and the secretary of our general politely opened the door. She welcomed us with a calm and sweet smile and then she offered us to sit and drink.

"Nandito na po siya, General," sabi ni Captain Salazar at agaran niya kaming iniwang dalawa.

As usual, General Sebastian was standing in front of his big glass window and I saw only his silhouette. He was like a king by doing that. Felt like he had so much power.

I remember the first time I met him. A young teenage boy became my oldest brother to me. He and his brother, Siyaszo, was my new family after the death of my father.

"I have a mission for you, Agent Tobias," sabi nito at umikot siya paharap sa akin. Bago niya pa tinuloy ang kanyang sasabihin ay mayroon siyang pinatong sa kanyang lamesa. Isang itim na pen. Wala akong ideya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang ginawa.

"W-What..." I hesitated to ask him.

"This is the pen where the exact location of RAPSCALLION."

"Should I need to find them?" I asked him.

"Exactly. We don't have any time to lose. I'm desperate to find the group of CRYPTIC. My brother said that RAPSCALLION have some information about CRYPTIC," pagsisimula niya, "You need to find them. Convince them to join our fight."

After he said that I sighed in exasperation.

"Did you just sigh?" I don't like to hear his tone right now.

"N-No..." I smiled awkwardly.

Pinaliwanag niya sa akin ng mabuti ang magiging kahihinatnan ng aking misyon. Kung magawa ko ng maayos ang misyon ay mayroon kaming malaking porsyento na mahahanap namin ang tagong pinagtataguan ng CRYPTIC. Kung iisipin ng mabuti ay madali lang sa akin ang pinapagawa ng general.

Napahinto ako ng sandali dahil sa isang kadahilanan. Para saan ang pen na ipinatong niya? Kung sinabi niya na iyon ang susi para mahanap ang RAPSCALLION ay medyo nasiraan na siya ng bait.

"May I ask, general?" sabi ko at tinignan niya ako senyales na naghihintay siya sa susunod kong sasabihin, "Ano po ang magagawa ng pen na iyan?"

Hindi niya sinagot ang aking sinabi at pinihit niya ang pen at laking gulat ko nang lumabas ang isang mapang hologram. Mayroong isang pulang tuldok ang nasa itaas na bahagi ng mapa. Paniguradong iyon ang lokasyon ng RAPSCALLION.

Nanaig sa buong silid ang ingay na nililikha ng Newton's Cradle. Walang nagtangkang magsalita sa aming dalawa. Inayos niya muna ang mga nagkalat niyang mga libro sa kanyang lamesa bago niya balaking magsalita ukol sa magiging misyon ko.

"Gaya nga ng sinabi ko ay ikumbinsi mo silang sumali sa ating pinaglalaban," pagpapatuloy niya, "Ang tanging hinihingi ko sa iyo ay huwag kang mamatay."

Napatingin ako sa kanya ng masama matapos niyang masabi ang mga bagay na iyon. Nangangahulugan lang na delikado ang misyong ipapataw niya sa akin.

"They're good at killing. Hope you will explain to them what is your motive. I'm pretty sure they will understand."

Mukhang hindi ko yata kayang pakinggan ang tono ng kanyang pananalita. Kahit medyo nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko sa takot ay pinilit kong huwag ipakita sa kanya. Mayroon akong reputasyon na isa sa pinakamagaling na agent sa Headquarters. Kailangan ko iyong ipakita sa kanya.

"Before I forgot..." biglang sabi nito at agad nabaling ang aking atensyon sa kanya, "I will not let you do your mission alone. RAPSCALLION is dangerous that's why you have someone along your way to RAPSCALLION's base."

"And who is that?" I asked.

Bago pa magsalita ang general ay biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kanyang opisina at nakita ko ang pagpasok ni Captain Salazar kasama ang dalawang binatang nasa kabilang unit. Hindi ko sila kasama sa unit ko kaya medyo hindi pamilyar ang mga mukha nila sa akin.

"Agent Tobias, this is Agent Trudeau and Agent Taki," pagpapakilala ng General sa akin.

"Triple T?" sabi ko at napatawa ng kaunti.

Nakipagkamay sa akin ang dalawang agent at napilitang ngumiti bilang pagbibigay galang sa akin. Medyo nag-alangan naman kong makipag-kamay kay Trudeau dahil mayroon lang kaming hindi pagkakaintindihan. Sinabi ng general na sila ang pinamagaling na agent sa kani-kanilang mga unit. Mga bihasa sa paggamit ng mga baril at bihasa rin sa hand-to-hand combat. Sa paningin ng general ay hindi nagkakalayo ang mga abilidad namin kaya mayroon siyang malaking pag-asa na matatagumpayan namin ang misyong ito.

"This is Operation RAPSCALLION. I'm expecting that you all succeed," huling sinabi ng General at pinayagan na niya kaming tatlong lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

Walang nagtangkang magsalita sa pagitan namong tatlo hanggang naghiwalay kami sa kanto ng hallway. Wala sa aking bokabularyo na maunang makipag-usap, lalo na kay Trudeau, mukhang hindi lang sapat ang paghingi ko ng tawad sa kanya hanggang ngayon galit pa rin siya.

Magsisimula raw ang aming misyon bukas ng umaga. Ang oras ngayon ay nasa 6:00 ng gabi. Mayroon pa akong oras na maghanda sa aking dadalhin. Pero bago ko pa simulan ang paghahanda ay dumaan muna ako sa laboratoryo ni Kelly.

Mayroong mga agent ang binati ako nang pumasok ako sa laboratoryo ni Kelly. Bumawi naman ako ng pagbati gamit ang pagtaas ng dalawang kilay.

Sa loob ng laboratoryo ay mayroong ginagawa si Kelly sa kanyang lamesa. Mayroon siyang tinitignan sa kanyang computer at ilang sandali lang ay lumabas ang isang babaeng kaseng edad ni Kylvin. Nagmula siya sa isang glass tube at sigurado akong bagong recruit siya ng Headquarters.

"She is Hanna. Pinatay ang mga magulang niya ng CRYPTIC. As always, ginawa lang ng Headquarters ang tamang gawin."

"Rescuing her?"Tumango lang siya para tumugon sa aking tanong.

Matapos mag-usap ang dalawang babae patungkol sa naging result ni Hannah ay agad namang lumabas ng laboratoryo si Hannah. Nakangiti itong nagpaalam kay Kelly at hindi ito tumingin sa aking mga mata.

Dahil medyo nawalan ako sa aking sarili at nakatulala sa isang tabi ay nagulat ako bigla nang hinalikan ako Kelly sa aking labi. Kasabay ng kanyang paghalik sa aking labi ay ang paghimas naman ng kanyang kaliwang kamay sa aking buhok.

"I have a mission," mahinang sabi ko sa kanya at binigyan niya ako ng tingin na nagtataka.

"Of course, we all do. Diba yan naman ang trabaho mo? Parating may misyon?"

"B-But this is different. I'll be gone in weeks. This is a heavy mission."

"Heavier mission than courting me for years?"

Doon ako napatawa sa kanyang sinabi. Agad naman niyang hinawakan ang kanang kamay ko at umupo sa aking tabi. Napatawa rin siya ng kaunti sa kanyang sinabi. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga computers na palagi niyang ginagamit habang siya naman ay walang tigil sa kakatingin sa aking mukha.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" tanong ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya ng kaunti.

"I just-" pasimula niya, "I just want to watch you over and over again. You're the best thing happened to my life. I like your eyes. Can I kiss it?"

Medyo nakiliti ako sa kanyang sinabi. Ramdam ko ang kuryenteng dumadaloy mula sa aking ulo pababa ng aking likod.

"W-What?"

"I know it sounds weird but-"

"Mahahalikan mo iyon kapag tapos na ang aking misyon."

Nagkunwari itong umiiyak dahil sa aking sinabi. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang mapangiti sa kanyang ginagawa. Parang bata kung kaharap ako pero kung kausap ang ibang tao ay napakasuplada. Hinawi ko muna ang mga hibla ng kanyang buhok na humaharang sa kanyang paningin bago ako nagsalita.

"Bakit ka nga pala nagtago sa kuwarto ni Kylvin?"

"Because of you. Is it obvious?" sabi nito at inirapan ako, "Kylvin thought that my age is same as his," napatawa naman siya sa kanyang sinabi.

"You can't blame him. You look like baby. How old are you again? 30?" I jokingly said that it made her face to burn.

"I'm 20. You're older than me. Now who's six steps away from 30?" napatawa siya sa kanyang sinabi at hinawakan niya pa ang kanyang tiyan dahil sa sobrang pagtawa. Tinuro niya pa ako para asarin ng mabuti at dahil medyo napikon na ako sa kanyang ginawa ay bigla ko siyang hinalikan sa labi na lubos niyang ikinagulat.

Isang malakas na sampal ang kanyang pinakawalan at napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa.

"What was that for?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO THAT! You, Maniac!"

Imbes na magalit ako sa kanyang reaksyon at ginawa ay mas lalo ko siyang inasar. Nagtawanan lang kami buong magdamag hanggang sa siya na mismo ang nagsabi na kailangan na niyang matulog. Lagpas na kase sa 10:00 ng gabi kaya kailangan na raw niyang magpahinga. Ako naman ay sumang-ayon sa kanya sinabi.

Lumabas kami ng sabay sa kanyang laboratoryo at nagpaalam sa isa't isa. Siya ay mayroon pang gagawin bukas at ako naman ay kailangang maghanda para sa misyon ko.

Naglakad ito palayo sa akin at mayroong binigkas na mga salita pero walang tunog na lumabas sa kanyang bibig. Matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay ngumiti ito sa akin at kumaway.

"I love you too," tugon ko sa kanyang mga binigkas na mga salita.

Thank you for reading :)