Sa mga nag - aabang ng UD sa pananghalian. 

Mason's POV

"Director Gonzalez, Agent James David Carbonel reporting for duty, Sir!"

Tiningnan ko si JD na pumasok sa opisina ko at snappy na nakatayo sa harap ng mesa ko at nakasaludo pa sa akin.

"Fuck off, JD." Natatawang sabi ko sa kanya at ibinalik ko ang atensiyon ko sa report na binabasa ko.

Ang lakas din ng tawa ni JD sa kalokohan niyang ginawa at naupo sa couch ko doon.

"Congratulations, man.  Kung hindi pa umugong ang chismis, hindi ko malalaman na ikaw pala ang papalit kay Director Dimalanta."

"It was not a big deal.  Ganoon pa rin naman ang trabaho ko.  To supervise you hard headed agents na hindi marunong sumunod sa mga superiors 'nyo," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Anong hindi big deal?  You are the head of this bad ass agency.  Local and international office ikaw ang magde - desisyon.  Kung gusto mo nga akong i - fire out magagawa mo na agad ngayon," tatawa - tawa pa si JD.

"Do you want?  Susunod ka na kay Dale?"

Bumuga ng hangin si JD.  "I love my job.  My wife understands my job.  Si Dale, sabog ang utak 'nun.  So many things running inside his mind plus the fact that something huge happened to him and his girl.  I think getting out from this agency is his only option," this time ay seryoso na si JD.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at tiningnan ang kopya ng resignation letter ni Dale.  It's been sitting in my desk for several months.  He's been out from the agency for almost six months.  Sobrang depressing ang nangyari kay Dale.  His last mission really took a toll in his life.  Apektado talaga siya na hanggang ngayon nako - konsensiya siya sa nangyari.

"Well, may good side naman ang pag - alis ni Dale sa agency.  Naayos ang family feud nila ng daddy niya and he is the mayor of their hometown.  Hindi ko ma - imagine si Dale to be a politician.  I know how he hates politics," naiiling pa si JD.

"It is his destiny.  Tinakbuhan lang niya but hindi niya puwedeng talikuran." Sabi ko.

"But, Anya really doesn't remember anything?  I mean I met her and I talked to her.  I know she's not faking it pero do you think?"

"I was with her during her therapy sessions with Dr. Miranda.  I know she's not faking it.  She doesn't remember anything happened in Puerto Galera.  At mabuti iyon.  Nagkakamabutihan naman sila ni Mayor Dale and her father, mukhang boto naman kay Mayor." Paliwanag ko.

Tumatango - tango si JD at dumukwang sa mesa ko.  May hinugot siyang kung ano na nakaipit sa mga folders na nakapatong - patong doon.  Shit.  Hindi ko na makuha sa kanya.

"Is this Sebi?  Your brother got married?" Ipinakita niya sa akin ang picture na nakuha niya sa mesa ko. 

"Yeah," tanging sagot ko.  Hindi na rin naman ako makakapagkaila.

"Bakit nandito si Dimalanta?" Taka pa niya.

"Go figure it out," hindi ko alam bakit naiinis ako.  Naiinis ako kasi naaalala ko na naman kung paano nagpalitan ng I do's si Andie at ang kapatid ko.

"Oh shit.  He got married with Dimalanta's daughter.  What the fuck?" Naiiling pa si JD.  "Hindi ka umattend dito?"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si JD.

"Sorry," natatawang sabi niya.  "Patay ka na nga pala."

Napahinga lang ako ng malalim at pinilit ko na lang na hindi pansinin si JD.

"Seriously, Maze.  Don't you miss your family?  I mean do you really need to pretend that you're dead?" Seryosong tanong niya.

"I am okay with this.  Ayoko na lang na mag - alala sila sa akin.  Okay na akong nalalaman ko na my dad is okay.  My mom is getting better.  My brother is living a normal life despite of his heart condition.  I am fine with this," pero ang bigat ng dibdib ko habang sinasabi ko iyon.  Kasi noon oo.  Okay lang sa akin.  Pero ngayon na alam kong asawa na ng kapatid ko si Andie, hindi ako okay.  Nasasaktan pa rin ako pero alam kong hanggang dito lang ako.

"Pero you are fucking alive, man.  Don't you think they deserve to know that you are alive." Sabi pa ni JD.

"Carbonel, wala ka bang trabaho?  Bakit dito ka bumababad sa opisina ko?" Ayoko ng ituloy ang pinag - uusapan namin.

"Kapag na-corner ka na, idi - dismiss mo na ako 'no?  You cannot live alone forever, Maze.  You are on top of this agency already but I am telling you being on top is lonely.  You don't have anyone to share your success.  You don't have anyone to share your happiness." Huminga ng malalim si JD at tumayo na.  "You are my friend and during the past months, I know you are hiding something.  I know you are hurt.  I don't know why."

Hindi ako kumibo kasi totoo ang sinasabi ni JD.  I am on top but still, mayroong kulang sa buhay ko.

"Don't follow the footsteps of Dimalanta.  He chose this life.  He abandoned his family because of this job?  But was it worth it?  Anong nangyari?  He came back to his family."

"Kaya ako na ang nandito because I've got nothing to lose," iyon na lang ang sagot ko sa kanya.

"Because you chose to be like that.  You chose to be alone.  Mahirap, Maze.  We are getting old, man.  And time will come that we cannot even hold a gun."  Huminga ng malalim si JD.  "We keep on saving people.  We keep on taking care of them.  But who is taking care of us?"

"Masyado kang maraming alam, Carbonel.  Let me have the report about Senator Benavidez and his men." Ayoko ng pag - usapan ang topic na inumpisahan niya.

"As always." Tumayo na siya at tinungo ang pinto.  "Anya Benavidez is in Dr. Miranda's clinic right now.  I think there is something wrong.  I suggest you check it." Inilapag ni JD ang picture sa mesa ko at tuloy - tuloy ng lumabas.

Nakatingin lang ako sa picture.  Kuha iyon 'nung kasal ni Sebi at Andie.  Kinuha ko mula sa facebook page ng photographer na kumuha 'nung kasal nila.  My brother looks very happy.  Si Andie, seryoso lang.  Tipid ang mga ngiti.  Marahan kong hinaplos iyon.

You are on top of this agency already but I am telling you being on top is lonely.  You don't have anyone to share your success.  You don't have anyone to share your happiness.

Parang naririnig ko pa ang nakakainis na boses ni JD na sinasabi iyon sa akin.  Yes I am lonely.  Yes, it's really sad to be on top.  But knowing that the people that I love are happy, okay na ako dito.  Someone needs to sacrifice for their happiness at okay na, na ako iyon.

—————>>>>

Andie's POV

"Parang ang dami naman nito Marco.  Hindi pa rin naman ito maisusuot agad ng baby," sabi ko habang nakatingin sa mga damit na inilatag niya sa kama.  Mga damit ito na padala ng parents niya.

"Hon, wala akong magagawa diyan.  They are just excited grand parents." Nakangiting sabi ni Marco.

"Pero ang dami - dami na nito.  And two months pa bago ako manganak.  Saan ko naman itatago itong mga 'to?" Marahan akong gumalaw kasi gumalaw din ang tiyan ko.

"Pasensiya ka na.  Sinabihan ko na nga sila mommy tungkol dito na masyado ng marami. Masyado lang kasing emotional si mommy lalo na ng malaman niyang lalaki ang magiging anak natin."  Pilit na ngumiti si Marco.  "Sorry.  Anak mo pala."  Parang naasiwa pa rin siyang sabihin na anak namin ang pinagbubuntis ko.

Parang nahiya naman ako.  Alam ko naman na ramdam ni Marco ang distansiya naming dalawa kahit na nga ilang buwan na kaming kasal.  Hindi nga kami tabi matulog kasi ayaw niya na parang napipilitan lang akong tumabi sa kanya.  Sobrang bait ni Marco.  Feeling ko hindi ko deserve na mahalin niya.  I know unfair pa rin para sa kanya na may ibang lalaking nasa isip ko at hindi siya.

"Have you thought of the name for the baby?" Inisa - isang imisin ni Marco ang mga damit na nasa ibabaw ng kama at ibinalik sa paper bag.

Umiling ako.  "I don't know yet."  Dahil wala talaga akong maisip. 

Natawa si Marco at napailing.  Parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero pinigil na lang niyang huwag magsalita.

"What?  You want to say something," sabi ko.

"Nothing.  Forget about it.  It was just my mom's idea and I told her it's impossible." Nakangiting sabi niya.

"What is it?  Tell me."

Umupo sa couch na malapit sa akin si Marco at iniangat sa mga hita niya ang paa ako at marahang hinilot - hilot iyon.  Madalas niyang gawin ito kasi madalas akong nagkakaroon ng muscle cramps sa binti.

"Do you know that I had an older brother?" Sabi niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko.  "Older brother?  I thought you're an only child."

Tumawa siya ng mapakla.  "Si Mason.  He was three years older than me."

May kapatid si Marco?  Pero never niyang nabanggit ito sa akin.  Even his parents.  I've been in their house and I've never seen a single photo of the brother that he is telling about.

"Are you sure?  Walang nababanggit ang mommy mo tungkol diyan." Mahigit kalahating taon na kaming kasal ni Marco pero wala talaga akong nalaman na may kapatid siya.

"He died.  He was in the army and he died in the line of duty." Pumikit - pikit si Marco at huminga ng malalim.  "He was my protector when we were kids.  Sobrang sakitin ko kasi.  Then I really wanted to be a soldier.  'Yung may hawak na mga baril.  They look so tough.  So strong.  But sadly, I can't because of my heart condition."

Shit.  This is too painful.  Kahit kinukuwento lang ito ni Marco, ramdam ko ang sakit na nararamdaman niya.

"So, he joined the army for me.  He fulfilled my dream of becoming a soldier.  He was stationed in Afghanistan and he died there in the line of duty."

"I am so sorry to hear this, Marco.  I didn't know."

"My family and I talked about that we will forget Mason.  We were robbed once and everything about him was taken.  Photos, important documents, Everything about about him was taken.  I know something was up about him.  Maybe he got involved in a covert operations and everything about my brother needs to be erased.  All was left to us are his ashes." Napapikit - pikit si Marco habang ikinukuwento iyon.

"I am really sorry about your loss." Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pagagaanin ang nararamdaman ni Marco.  Ramdam na ramdam ko ang lungkot niya.

"Kaya nga ng malaman nila mommy na buntis ka and it is a boy, grabe ang excitement nila.  My mom was really crying for almost every night.  He keeps on thanking God about the child.  The baby is a blessing for our family kasi nawala si Mason pero may pumalit naman.  So she keeps on telling me - " hindi maituloy ni Marco ang sasabihin niya kasi parang nahihiya siya.

"Tell you what?"

"My mom keeps on telling me to name your baby after my dead brother." Sabi niya.

Hindi agad ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya. 

Ngumiti siya sa akin.  "You never told me about the father of your baby and I won't force you to tell me about him.  He abandoned you and I am here.  Hindi kita iiwan, Andie.  Kayo ng anak mo.  I'll be with you 'til the end." Seryosong sabi ni Marco.

"Why are you doing this, Marco?  Why me?"

Hinawakan ni Marco ang kamay ko.

"Because I love you.  And you deserve someone who will love you back and willing to stay.  I am that man.  I am going to stay with you until the last beat of my heart."

Tuluyan na akong napaiyak at napabuga ng hangin.  Bakit ang bait - bait ni Marco?  Bakit ganito na siya pero si Tim pa rin ang naiisip ko?

"Don't cry.  Baka makasama sa baby," nakangiting sabi niya at pinahid ang luha ko.

"Alright.  We will name the baby after your brother." Sabi ko.  That's the least I can do para mapasaya ko si Marco.

"Oh no.  No.  You don't have to do that, Andie.  You can give any name you want for the baby.  Hindi mo kailangang sundin si mommy."

"I am doing this for you not for your mom.  You are the father of my baby.  Lalaki siya na ikaw ang kamumulatan niyang ama at may karapatan ka sa kanya."

Napailing lang si Marco at bahagyang pinisil ang kamay ko.

"So what is the name of your brother?" Tanong ko.

"Mason Timothy Gonzalez."

Pakiramdam ko ay nanlamig ako sa pangalan na sinabi ni Marco.