CHAPTER 19

MAHINA SIYA pagdating sa babaeng mahal niya. Alam iyon ni Luther kahit hindi sabihin sa kaniya ng ibang tao. Just one kiss from his beloved, Amethyst, he melted like a chocolate under high heat. Her lips were soft and sweet and it just sent him to frenzy. And it rendered his capability to think rationale.

Slowly, Amethyst stops kissing him and pulled away to asked him a question. "Galit ka pa ba sakin?" May pag-aalinlangan sa boses nito at kaba sa sagot niya.

Pangko-pangko pa rin niya ang dalaga habang naglalakad siya patungo sa silid niya.

Huminga siya ng malalim saka tumitig sa mga mata nito. "You know, Amethyst, I already accepted the fact that i can't stay mad at you for a long time. Kahit yata anong pilit kong magalit sayo... I just can't stay mad."

Bumukas ang kasiyahan sa mukha nito saka hinaplos ang pisngi niya. "So you'll take me back?"

Napatitig siya sa dalaga. Is she playing with me? Or maybe not. Maybe she's being honest this time? But how can he trust an Agent who's job is to put him behind bars?

"Luther?" Pukaw nito sa kaniya.

Napakurap-kurap siya saka pasimpleng huminga ng malalim. "Do you want me to take you back?" Yes, I'm weak.

Nakangiting tumango ito saka ihinilig nito ang ulo sa balikat niya. "So...kumusta ka na?" Tumikhim ito. "Are you doing fine?"

Luther kicked the door to his room open. "I'm still breathing. Still no Police to put me behind bars."

"What are you doing now?" Tanong nito, halata ang kuryusidad sa boses.

Umiling siya saka ihiniga si Amethyst sa kama. "Hindi ko sasabihin sayo." Puno ng pagdududa ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. "Yes, I'm not mad anymore but my trust, you broke it and I'm having a hard time putting it back together."

Amethyst's face saddened and he felt a jolt of ache in his heart. Pero tama naman ang sinabi niya. May karapatan siyang hindi pagkatiwalaan ang dalaga.

"I understand." Sabi nito saka pilit na ngumiti. "I'm really sorry, Luther. I was just doing my job. Yes," Amethyst confessed. "I'm an IIEA Agent. I'd been an agent for three years now. I'm not a full-pledge field agent; my expertise lies in intelligence department only. Mas iba akong misyon ng umuwi ako, pero hindi ikaw 'yon. Laking gulat ko nalang ng binigyan nila ako ng bagong misyon at ikaw nga 'yon. Nahirapan akong magdesisyon kong anong gagawin ko, anong pipiliin ko. Ikaw ba o ang misyon ko."

"Obviously," Luther sighed, "ang misyon mo ang pinili mo."

She wanted to nod her head, to make him believe that she sent the report but she found herself shaking her head. "It wasn't me, Luther. I didn't sent it."

Luther snorted. "I have connections, Amethyst. Alam kong ikaw 'yon."

Tumango siya. "Yes, it was sent from my e-mail but I didn't send it."

"Who then?"

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin, "I can't tell you who. You maybe lenient to me but I don't think you'll show the person responsible for the report mercy."

Luther tsked. "So you're protecting this person?"

"I have to. That person did my job that I couldn't do." She sighed heavily. "Though I'm guilty of typing the first and second part of the report, the rest was not mine. Hindi ko kasi kayang tapusin." Kinagat nito ang pang-ibabang labi, "I left it in the draft of my e-mail. And when you killed that man and I left, I cried the whole night thinking whom of what the right thing to do."

So that was why her eyes were red and swollen. She was crying because she was conflicted.

"I can't make up my mind until the next day." Walang buhay itong natawa, "hanggang sa nagdesisyon akong magsinungaling sa report na gagawin ko. Oo malalaman nila na nagsinungaling ako pero mabibigyan ka pa ng ilang buwan para makapagtago."

Hindi siya makapaniwalang napatitig sa dalaga. "You'll do that for me?"

Tumango ito bago humugot ng malalim na hininga, "I was thinking of lying to protect you but... I failed. That person sent the e-mail in my draft. I spoke to that person that day and told that person my dilemma and my confliction. Pero hindi ko alam na gagawin niya 'yon. Dinagdagan lang niya at tinapos ang hindi ko kayang tapusin." She looked into his eyes, "And I'm so sorry, Luther, for failing you. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya ng makita ang luha na namamalisbis sa pisngi nito habang kagat-kagat nito ang pang-ibabang labi para siguro pigilang mapahikbi.

He is in doubt, but seeing Amethyst crying...his was slowly fading.

Maybe what she told him was true... maybe it wasn't her.

"Were you, ahm," tumikhim siya bago nagpatuloy sa pagtatanong. "were you pretending to be good to me to get the information you needed?"

"At first." Then a soft smile grazed Amethyst's lips, "then we keep on seeing each other and being with you just felt natural— like before, when we're still together and then we became intimate and I fell harder. Nakakalimutan kong misyon kita kapag kasama kita. Nakakalimutan ko ang trabaho ko kapag magkasama tayo."

His heart thundered. "You love me too?"

Tumingin sa kaniya si Amethyst na nagtatanong ang mga mata. "Hindi ba halata? Kung hindi kita mahal, hindi ako mag-aalangan na ipakulong ka. Trust me, I've put a lot of criminals behind bars already. Kung hindi ka importante sa kin, ipinakulong na kita."

"Criminal." He whispered. "That's who I am."

Hindi umimik si Amethyst at nakatitig lang sa kaniya.

Luther sighed then raised his hand to caress Amethyst's cheek, "what will happen to you now? Anong gagawin sayo ng Agency mo? Would they punish you for loving someone like me?"

She shrugged, "All they know is I sent the report and did my job." She sighed, "I actually don't know. Malalaman ko pagbalik ko ng London."

"Iiwan mo ako?" Tanong niya sa mahinang boses.

"Babalik din naman ako kaagad." Mabilis nitong paliwanag na para bang natatakot na mag-isip siya ng hindi maganda sa pag-alis nito. "I'll just hand over my resignation and then I'll go back here, to you, if you'll have me again."

Luther took a deep breath before leaning in and kissing Amethyst's lips softly.

Then he whispered over her lips, "I love you... of course I'll take you back."

Malapad ang ngiti na kumawala sa mga labi ni Amethyst saka mahigpit siyang niyakap sa leeg. "Thank you... Thank you... promise, I'll be a good girlfriend. You can do whatever you want—including the illegal stuff you do... hindi ako mangingialam... just, just keep me."

Maingat niyang niyakap ang dalaga saka isinubsob niya ang mukha sa leeg nito. "Don't worry, I'm just finishing up a job. After that, I promise, no more illegal stuff."

Kumawala si Amethyts sa yakap nira sapuin ang mukha niya at pinakatitigan. "Totoo? You'll leave all this illegal stuff? Why? I thought you like it."

He smiled, "I want to have a normal family with you—of course if you'll have me."

Naiiyak na tumatawa ito habang tumatango. "Yes. Yes."

Mahinang natawa si Luther saka inilapit ang mga labi niya sa labi ni Amethyst para halikan ito—isang uri ng halik na nauwi sa isa-isang pagkatanggal ng saplot nila sa katawan at pinagsaluhan nila ang init ng kanilang mga katawan.

Ilang beses na inangkin ni Luther ang dalaga habang bumubulong siya sa tainga nito.

"I love you." He whispered.

Iniyakap ni Amethyst and mga hita sa beywang niya habang sinasalubong ang paguurong-sulong ng kahabaan niya sa maiinit nitong loob.

"I love you too." Amethyst whispered back as her body rocked in rhythm with him.

INIWAN NI Luther na mahimbing na natutulog si Amethyst sa kuwarto niya pagkatapos niya itong angkinin ng paulit-ulit. Hinalikan muna niya sa mga labi ng dalaga bago lumabas ng kuwarto.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Luther habang bumababa siya ng hagdan at nnakita si Blake na ini-inspeksiyon ang kabaong na iniwan niya sa sala.

"Is this a freaking coffin?" Naguguluhang tanong sa kaniya ni Blake na nakatingin sa kaniya. "Is this for Mr. Henrick's?"

Umiling siya saka ngumiti. "It's for Mr. Tsui."

Kumunot ang nuo ni Blake. "He's dead."

"Yeah. I know. But I'm not in the mood to explain" Bumuntong-hininga na umupo si Luther sa takip ng kabaong saka sinapo ang ulo. "I'm confused right now."

"Let me guess..." Blake chuckled. "Woman problem."

"I don't know what to do with her." Bumuga siya ng marahas na hangin saka tumingin kay Blake. "Sa gagawin natin, siguradong masasaktan siya."

Bumuntong-hininga si Blake saka tinapik ang balikat niya. "What are you planning then? You wanna pull back?"

Umiling siya. "No. This is our only chance. We have to do this."

"Good." Blake took a deep breath again. "So, anong balak mo kay Amethyst?"

He blows a deep breath. "I don't know. I have to make sure that she will be okay after the stunt we will pull."

Blake nodded. "By the way, Mr. Henrick, wants to see you tonight. Personally in his Hotel room. For the drug transaction. His assistant will call later for the Hotel's address."

"Good. I want to get this over with." Hinilot niya ang sentido. "Gusto ko nang matapos 'to."

"Is it because of Amethyst?"

Tumango siya saka tumayo at naglakad patungo sa kusina, "I'll fix Amethyst's a meal."

Pumalatak si Blake. "Aww... so sweet."

Napailing siya na natatawang tinungo ang kusina para ipaghanda ng pagkain si Amethyst. Nang matapos ay kaagad siyang bumalik sa kuwarto niya.

Nang makapasok siya sa kuwarto niya, napatitig siya sa dalaga ng makitang tulog pa rin ito. Nakatagilid ito at naka-fetus position.

Nilapitan niya ang dalaga, inilipag ang tray na may pagkainsa bedside table saka umupo sa gilid ng kama at hinaplos ang pisngi nito.

"This will be over soon, baby." Hinalikan niya a pisngi ang dalaga, "Then I'll romance you into loving me more."

Umalis si Luther sa pagkakaupo sa kama saka nilapitan ang laptop niya at binuksan. He opened the software that Hellion designed to locate a person. Ilang milyon ba ang binayad niya para sa tracking software na 'to? This should be worth it... every last fucking centavo.

Through this software, he will know where Mr. Henrick is located.

Napatitig siya sa red dot na kumikislap-kislap. Inilagay niya ang cursor doon at pinindon iyon para i-zoom, then he zoom it again for two times.

La Riaca Hotel.

Isinara niya ang laptop saka tinawagan si Hellion. "Hey, fucker." Aniya. "I need the blueprint of La Riaca Hotel."

"Give me three minutes. Maximum." Ani ni Hellion sa kabilang linya.

"Fuck you."

"You're welcome."

Ibinaba niya ang cell phone at pagkalipas ng tatlong minutong paghihintay, nakatanggap siya ng e-mail sa cell phone niya, galing 'yon kay Hellion. And it contains the blueprint of La Riaca Hotel.

Good.

Tinapos niya ang tawag at sunod niyang tinawagan ay si Minrod. "Hey, Minrod." Aniya.

"What is it, fucker?"

Luther sighed. "Be ready to make a very believable story. Malapit na kaming matapos."

Bumuntong-hininga si Minrod na para bang isang napakabigat na bagay ang pinapagawa niya. Yes, it's very hard to think a believable story but they'd been planning this for six years now. Madali lang ang pinapagawa niya.

Minrod exaggeratedly sighed. "After six fucking years! Thank God. Give me a date."

"No date. Basta ihanda mo na ang kakailanganin naming mga papeles. At huwag mong kalilimutan ang usapan natin. Take care of Amethyst for me, Minrod. I love her. Do everything you can to protect her." Seryosong wika niya saka huminga ng malalim. "I'll call you when its time." Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ni Minrod.

Pinatayan niya ito ng tawag.

Ang huli niyang ginawa niya ay mag-record ng audio sa cellphone niya. Then he sent it to Mindor with a very special note that Minrod has to follow before sending to Amethyst after the stunt they will pull.

She looked at Amethyst. Wait for me, baby. I'll come back for you.

NAGISING si Amethyst na walang ingay na naririnig. Mabilis siyang bumangon at hinanap ng mga mata si Luther. Napuno ng pag-aalala ang dibdib niya ng makita itong sinusuri ang baril na hawak.

"Luther." She called out to him.

Luther looked at her and smiled. "Mabuti naman at gising ka na." Inilapag nito ang baril sa pinakamalapit na mesa rito saka lumapit sa kaniya. "I was just waiting for you to wake up. Lalabas lang ako sandali. Dito ka lang, ha?"

Mabilis siyang umalis ng kama at niyakp ang binata. "Saan ka pupunta?" Nag-aalala siya kasi nararamdaman niyang may gagawin ito. "Please, Luther ... don't go. Or better yet, take me with you."

Hinalikan siya nito sa mga labi saka ngumiti. "I'll be back, okay? Wait for me."

Mas humigpit pa ang yakap niya sa binata. "Take me with you... please..."

Hinagod ni Luther ang likod niya na parang inaalo at pinapakalma siya. "I love you, Amethyst. Just wait for me, okay? Wait for me...promise me please?"

Pinakawalan niya ang binata at masuyong sinapo ang mukha nito. "I'll wait for you, just please come back. Please... I love you."

Ibinaba nito ang labi sa mga labi niya para halikan siya sa mga labi. "I love you, Amethyst." Then he whispered. "I'll be right back, okay? I just have to do my job. Hintayin mo ako."

Kumawala ito ng yakap sa kaniya saka mabilis nitong dinampot ang baril at malalaki ang hakbang na naglakad palabas ng silid nito.

He's doing his job. And she trust Luther that he'll be back in one piece. He loves her. He won't do something that would hurt her ... right?

Her heart tightened inside her chest. Please, be safe. I love you, Luther.