"You were bleeding"

He said when he noticed the small cut on my neck. Okay! I thought I am pretty enough to catch his attention. 

I placed a hand on my neck and touched the wounded part only to trace the sticky blood on it. Should I pass out now and exaggerate things like I would die if it was left untreated? Until this handsome one would be my prince who'll lift me up through the hospital.

Ugh! Fairytales really sucks. That's why I prefer Joker and Harley Quinn's affair, rather than being the most fragile princess inside the fairytale. They didn't even know how to break bones and indulge fights.

"Yeah and It's not too deep to die" sarkastikong wika ko.

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kanyang labi at hinawakan ang kanyang sentido na wari'y nag-iisip ng matalinong tugon.

"Small things sometimes bring big costs too. Who knows if you'll become a vampire if it was left untreated?" Pabirong wika niya.

"Well it's not too bad than becoming a zombie".  Seryoso kong saad ngunit isang pagak na pagtawa ang sinukli nya. 

Naramdaman ko ang pagka off-guard niya kung kaya'y mariin siyang tumikhim at sinubukang ibahin ang usapan.

"It has to be cure. Please spare us a moment to offer you some remedy" Tumango nalang ako bilang sagot at muling itinuon ang atensyon sa ginagawa ng babae.

"I often heard something about you and I never had the idea of meeting you in person." Saad niya na kumuha sa atensyon ko upang muling tumingin sa direksyon niya.

Heard something about me? I'm just curious if that's a good one. Sa dami ba naman ng violations ko sa law may maganda pa kaya siyang nakalap tungkol sakin?

"I'm curious if that information you gathered about me was heart whelming. I don't think so if I could still absorb embarrassment today for I have had too much lately."

Saglit siyang hindi nakaiimik at hinawakan ang kanyang baba na wari'y nag-iisip ng sasabihin.

"Except from violating the laws and those reckless moves you are up to, I heard nothing." What do I expect? Ngunit bago pa man ako makapagsalita, ay muli niyang ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang pahayag.

"But, you know what's more well-known about yours?" He said which I only responded by shrugging my shoulders. I guess I don't know the answer though. "You are the great secret agent who works fast for a freshman." I gaped my mouth in result. 

He meant it right? I think it's not a complement; it was sarcasm with straight talk of hidden degradation.

"Of course nothing's faster than the shortcut. Who would want to have warfare with a secret agent that was good at threatening people?" Straightforward na pagkakasabi ko. I knew what he's pointing out here. No need to defend myself from it.

Ngunit umuling siya at tila na off-guard dahil na-misinterpret ko ang sinabi niya.

"Honestly speaking, I was actually proud of you officer Clarkson for being true to yourself. You may be not totally aware of the laws and too clumsy for ones tasks sometimes, but the bright side towards your failures was, you really knew what essentials are." He said with serious tone.

"Essentials? Such as?" kunot noo kong taong sa kanya. Namali ba ako ng dinig? Am I really receiving some praises right now from the directorate officer?

Nagkibit-balikat siya bilang tugon. "You really don't have any idea that you were doing such thing without even knowing? I'm afraid that sooner or later I will be a fan of yours" Mas lalo lang akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya.

I mean, I don't have any clue of what I did for him to form some admiration in his mind. I am just the clumsy agent for which I couldn't think of anything else other than that.

Hindi nalang ako nagreact at pinili na lamang na manahimik. Tutal ayoko rin naman marinig ang sunod niyang sasabihin. I am really afraid that confession is where this conversation is heading.

Sa ilang minuto kong pananahimik ay may kung anong bumabagabag sa akin. Pakiramdam ko meron akong nakalimutan.

"Anyway, what happened?" Pag-iiba niya sa naturang paksa nang mapansin niyang wala akong balak na umimik.

Saka ko lang napansin na kanina pa kami nag-uusap ngunit ngayon lang namin na open up ang bagay na ito.

Hindi ba't kanina niya pa dapat ginawa ang mag imbistiga tungkol sa nangyari? I really doubt if he's here to investigate or to talk to me privately.

"They tried to make fun of my car, sir. I think they are being ignorant if wheels could breathe too to stab it on purpose. I pity my car for not knowing how to inhale to at least beat the record." The officer laugh at my sarcasm as I tried so much to convinced my guts not to kill those sleeping morons.

"I guess they were too young to understand such things until they have tried it" He formally said.

We were facing each other emphasizing our heights which I could tell that he's quite taller than me. I'm just 5'4 and too small compared to this gigantic creature.

"Street justice sir, they tried to attack me so I have to take these rats under control." I added to inform him what really happened. He just nodded after he understood such thing and places his hand in his jaw.

"Is there anything more suspicious about these kids?"

Muli kong itinuon ang atensyon sa mga binatilyo bago napagpasyahang sagutin ang kanyang tanong. They were still unconscious. I wonder if I tortured them too much to turn this way.

"Nothing else sir, but they have to be investigated to check if they are using drugs on board. They are capable of killing. It's better to make sure if there were syndicate out there whose ruling them behind." I said it calmly. However, despite of my anger I still pity them and I can't help but be softened about it.

"We will still contact you for some additional information concerning this case. Is that okay with you?" He asked.

"Yeah sure" I shortly replied as I searched for my wallet and hand him my transaction card. Tinanggap niya naman iyon nang walang binabanggit na salita. Mukhang inasahan niya rin ang pagiging handa ko sa bagay na iyon.

Lumapit samin ang military nurse matapos niyang gamutin ang injured na lalaki. Saka niya ginamot ang sugat na natamo ko kanina. Hindi rin naman ganon kalalim ang sugat kung kaya't hindi siya nahirapan.

Samantala, naiwan kaming dalawa matapos na magpaalam ng military nurse at bumallik sa loob ng mobile.

Here we go again, getting exposed to the most awkward situation. Pinili kong manahimik at nag-isip ng paraan kung paano makakaalis sa sitwasyong ito.

I need some excuse so I could escape in this black hole I was into.

Isang text message ang natanggap ko na akala ko ay sasagip sa akin. Ngunit nang buksan ko iyon ay----

"Dead or alive?" may pagbabantang mensahe mula sa presidente ang bumungad sakin na yumanig sa kinatatayuan ko. Saka ko lang naalala ang bagay na nakalimutan ko.

"I'm sorry I have to go now sir. I'll look forward to talk to you some other time." Saad ko sa kanya at saka kumaripas ng takbo.

I know that was too unprofessional, but I have more deadly transaction this time for which not even his handsome face will never save me from dying. Besides, that's the only thing I knew how to escape that awkward conversation.

Hindi siya nakapag-react agad sa biglaan kong pag-alis. Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang ikaway ang kanyang kamay bago ako tuluyang makalayo.

I wasn't saved by the bell; it was actually a death threat.

On the other hand, I have to commute this time because of those bullshits. Maging ang kotse ko ay naiwan dala ng pagmamadali. Tutal hindi ko rin naman madadala sa lagay na iyon.

Sari't-saring mga mata kaagad ang dumako sa direksyon ko nang makapasok ako sa loob ng bus. Kung kaya't mas ibinaba ko pa ng maigi ang suot kong itim na sombrero upang itago ang mukha ko, habang hindi nawaglit ang mga matang iyon na puno ng pagdududa sa katauhan ko, maybe because of my very suspicious outfit?

Hanggang sa nakarating ako sa pupuntahan ko.

I ran through the main building. This day was a f*ckng bad-luck to suffered different unfriendly experiences.

Nang makarating ako sa loob ng building ay dumiretso kaagad ako sa departamento kung saan naroon ang office naming tatlo. I found her sitting on her swivel chair, while I found the other table emptied.

Ngumiti siya ng malawak nang mapansin niya ang presensiya ko at nagmamadaling lumapit sakin. But, I ended up asking her some point at umiwas sa nagbabadya niyang pagyakap.

"Where is the general?" I asked her with full of authority. I have to make sure if he's still in his office.

It was already lunch time at paniguradong wala na akong aabutan na board members sa ngayon. They are the most impatient one and wasting their time waiting for my presence to show up was not under their fore-ordinance.

"Aww cold as ice" Nagdadrama niyang wika ngunit hindi ko pinansin. Araw-araw niya akong nakikita, hindi masyadong halata na nangbi-bwisit lang siya.

"Cleoffe" Seryosong sambit ko sa pangalan niya dahil wala akong panahon para makipagbiruan sa kanya.

She's Cleoffe Davidson, my friend aside from Duke McCartney which I found his absence in this office, leaving his table empty. Commonly, silang dalawa ang palagi kong kasama sa mga misyon na napupunta sakin.

"Fine, he's been waiting for your presence all this time in his office." Pagsuko niya sabay rolled eyes. "I'm just trying to tease you. I was envious of you for having your day off. I thought you were going to spend this whole day to somewhere else without me." She said while pouting her lips. Do It looks like I was enjoying my f*cking day off?

Nakilala namin ang isa't isa sa akademya na pareho naming pinasukan nang kunin namin ang propesyong ito. Nakasama namin si Duke when Cleoffe and I were still a freshman that time, while he's the sophomore on that academy, kaya huwag na kayong magtaka kung bakit ganito na lamang siya kung umasta.

We were same heights at kulot ang kanyang buhok na abot hanggang sa balikat. Kabaliktaran naman sa tuwid at mahaba kong buhok na abot hanggang sa pang-upo. Duke was 5'7.

We're different from each other. Aside from my clumsiness and working without appropriate plans, I am the headache among the three of us. I am getting used to it that day by day, I caused trouble, beating my longest record in headquarters. Well! That's my life.

Duke McCartney was the matured one since he's 2 years ahead of us. A handsome and one of those hot guys you'll dream off. Just that, we were seeing each other as brother and sisters.

"Let's have some lunch after---" Saad niya ngunit hindi ko na siya pinatapos nang tinalikuran ko siya at muling kumaripas ng takbo paakyat kung saan naroon ang opisina niya. I don't really need an elevator since it was just on the floor next to this. Maybe running was faster. I just have to trust my pace this time.

Hinihingal kong narating ang palapag na iyon at halos maubos ang hangin sa katawan ko dala ng pagod. Ilang minuto kong hinabol ang paghinga bago ko napagpasyahang buksan ang pinto.

I thought he would welcome me in, but probably not when I found a hunter knife striking towards my direction. Oh Sh*t!

Good thing my reflexes work fast to avoid the knife. Or else he will spend his lifetime in prison, guilty for killing his own daughter on the spot.

"The heck?" hindi makapaniwalang saad ko sa kanya.

Bakas ang galit sa kaniyang mukha habang mahigpit ang hawak sa makapal ng envelope sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Finally, after one hundred f*cking years" He said between his gritted teeth. He's Mathew Clarkson. The director-general or in other term the police general here in headquarters.

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko upang pigilan ang pagsagot sa kanya ng pabalang. He's still the general, and my father, no matter what happened.

"Sir" Saad ko kasunod ng pagsaludo sa kanya.

"Carry on" isang hudyat upang ibaba ko ang kamay ko.

"The board members walk out for waiting too long for your presence. And now, you mean pardon?" tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan niya habang hinihimas ang kanyang baba, saka humarap sa glass window upang talikuran ako.

"You are an officer and I don't authorize rationalization in this building. You are immature, irresponsible and unaware of your actions agent SA303. And pardon me too for those harsh words if that's what settlement goes for after making some mistakes."

Para akong sinaksak sa mga binitawan niyang salita. Well, I understand it for he sees me as his asset as of now. Law is law and being his daughter was not an exception.

I know that I also did my part just to be here, kung kaya'y tino-tortured ako ng sarili ko to explain my side. I don't deserve to be humiliated.

"I Know I have no right to say this sir, but I also did my part. Unfortunately, something came up that I have to take the risk." I saw him paused.

His temper was too short same as mine, that's why I decided to continue explaining my side without waiting for his authority.

"Those street bastards ruined my car makes it difficult for me to get here on time and I have to settle it first that consumed. Now, I'm sorry for the inconvenience sir. I hope that was enough to at least enlighten the atmosphere"

Ilang minuto siyang natahimik matapos niyang marinig ang sinabi ko. Hanggang sa hindi niya natiis kaya humarap siya sa kinaroroonan ko. Sinuri niya ang bawat anggulo ng katawan ko sa pamamagitan ng tingin.

Saka niya lang nakita ang bandage sa leeg ko na mukhang hindi niya napansin kanina dala ng init ng ulo.

May pag-aalala akong nasilayan sa mukha niya ngunit nawala lang iyon agad nang magbago ang ekspresyon niya.

"That's not an excuse you know that."

"Yes sir, I'm totally aware of it." Maikling saad ko.

Isang buntong hininga ang binitawan niya at halatang hindi mapakali sa kinatatayuan niya. "Let them check your wound after this meeting".

I knew it. No matter how strict he was as the general, his conscience as my father will never leave him at peace.

"Roger that sir." Saad ko na sinuklian niya lang ng pagtango. "What was the news?" I shortly added to start the discussion.

"Sit first"

He handed me a single envelope the moment I got seated. Isang makapal na papel and tumambad sa paningin ko nang buksan ko iyon, habang puno ng pagtataka ang utak ko bago ko napagdesisyonang kunin ito mula sa loob.

My hands were shaking as I tried to flip a single page. I don't know. I felt strange about it. I was holding if firmly like I can sense the whole content by simply weighing it. Everything in my mind right now was chaotic while reading the article. 

"What's the meaning of this sir?!" paniniguradong tanong ko sa kanya kahit pa malinaw sakin kung ano ang misyon ko.

"You were going to hunt a wild animal and bring it back to the cage where it belongs. Everything was under your option. Whether to tame a wolf and lure it until it bites, or ending up as a prey while your endpoint awaits."

He said which was too obvious that it bothers him a lot by simply thinking of it. It was more solemn no matter how much he tried to make fun of it. Besides, he's not that cruel to offer her daughter to a predator.

"What's with this predator?" The only thing I uttered. I need more clarifications about this mission. I'm afraid that I misunderstood it.

"The police can't go across the limit and our investigation was already getting far."

I was caught off-guard while looking for the right word to spill out.

"I'm sorry?" I can't get the point. Or maybe I just don't know how to sink it inside my head.

When he figured out that I was confused and having a hard time to absorb things right, he was able to get something from the folder. It took seconds before I decided to accept it, only to find an image of a handsome man that makes my burden enlightened.

I took a glimpse of it as if I was calculating every angle of his face. He's handsome; he was quite handsome, and severely handsome. That is the only adjective that fills my head.

I averted my stare from this hypnotizing ambiance and glance back at the general before I raped the man on the picture.

"What's with this handsome guy? Is this my fiancé?" Biro ko sa kanya.

Nagbabakasakali na sana mali ang hinala ko. Why it has to be this guy? He's handsome and not suited for such crime.

He just shrugged his shoulder for feedback, ignoring my nonsense thoughts.

"You were going to watch him and play the undercover stuff to find some evidences. He's the suspect under the crime few weeks ago for killing that woman at her condo unit. The investigation was already on its ending point since we have no evidences to show off. There is no way a simple officer can cultivate that and you are the only key for this. Just that, this is quite difficult. This guy is not an ordinary person you think he was."

"You have so many officials there expert than me. I can't do that yet". I just don't trust myself about this matter. And I can visualize myself bringing that stupidity out of this big issue.

"SA303, this is part of your fore-ordinance. We had already discussed about this matter while you are not around. You are being suggested to do this" He demanded.

I just rolled my eyes at him. He's not serious about this right? Paano nila nagawang planuhin ito habang wala ako? It was more unprofessional to drag my name in this case while I was not around. Tutal hindi lang naman ako ang nag-iisang undercover ng awtoridad para isagawa ang nais nila.

And now, why he's giving me pressure? As far as I remember there are so many expert agent here who can do the task. But why the hell they f*cking choose me?

"Can't you see the point? I am now taking the risk. Things will be more complicated if I tolerate you with your rants. And as a general, I forbid it" That's the reason why I am really disappointed. It seems like I have no stupid choice.

"Why you're putting too much trust in me?" Hindi ko na napigilang magtanong. Ano nga ba ang magagawa ko? I'm just an officer here bound to take orders that depends on his errands.

"There's no choice. We tried to sight the angle of investigations but no one matched. I doubted to offer this case to someone I can't trust with. And I can't absorb to give this case to nobody. Not even with those unworthy. At some point, you are the perfect secret agent for this task who can find out the pits of this insurrection. I saw nothing who are capable, only you" malungkot na pagkakasabi nya.

If this is just an ordinary situation, I would think that it is just certain. But, it is quite different and somehow beyond of what is common to him. It gives me a puzzle of what is going on.

This is not only about he's trusting me to solve this case. The point is, he had no other choice. And I am thinking how possibly it is?

Something was formed through my conclusions. Maybe there's something huge to deal with not just in this case, but also an alternative.

Something bad and bigger that we both need to deal with, at sapat na para maguluhan ako kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari?

This man is driving me crazy. At this point parang gusto ko nalang magising sa katotohanan na kasalukuyan akong nagapahinga sa condo unit ko habang umiinom ng soda.

No stressful cases, no burdens, no responsibilities, and no stupid pressure. But the hell! I am inside of the reality which was too hard to digest. I'm doomed.

I took a deep breath and stare at him directly in his eyes. Tila ba sabik ng mga mata nya sa nais nya.

"Do you really want me to do this crap?!" I seriously said to him. I saw his expression changed after he figure out that I'm about to deal with this.

I knew him well. I know he has something to tell but he decided to keep, and I think it's my turn now to find out.

"So, are you in?" He said wearing a smile. Habang pilit na tinatakpan ng maskara ang emosyon na nasaksihan ko kanina. Am I really going to do this or not? Tss! This was not actually a question since the answer was already been given. Insane!

Lutang akong lumabas mula sa opisina niya. I can't believe this day happened.

Nagulat ako nang may biglang umakbay sakin mula sa likod. Aksidenteng natamaan ang sugat ko sa leeg ng igapos niya ang braso niya sa leeg ko, kung kaya't siniko ko siya sa tagiliran dala nang pagkabigla.

"Fuck, Seriously? Are you really not used to it for you to act as if it was the first time I did this to you?" Reklamo niya hawak ang tagiliran.

Humarap ako sa kanya at tinignan siya ng seryoso. Saka niya lang din nappansin ang sugat benda sa leeg ko at naunawan ang inakto ko.

"I'm sorry, did I pin it too much?" may pag-aaalang saad niya habang sinusuri kung dumugo ba ang sugat.

"It will help if you just shut up, Duke." Mataray na wika ko at ipinagpatuloy ang paglakad patungo sa departpent kung saan naroon ang opisina naming tatlo. Habang nakasunod naman siya sa likod ko.

Naabutan namin si Cleoffe na may kausap sa cellphone at ngumiti sa direksyon namin saka tinapos ang tawag.

"I ordered our lunch. It's my treat for today's complete attendance haha." Masayang wika niya.

Marahil ay bibihira kami makompleto sa loob ng opisina. Duke was the most workaholic one kung kaya't siya ang laging wala. And now, I was also celebrating, only if this day didn't gone wrong.

Dumako ako sa table ko at ipinatong ang ulo sa mesa dala ng pagod. Hinayaan ko lang silang dalawa na mag-usap.

Bukod sa lutang ako kakaisip kung bakit ako ang napili nila, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan ang misyon. At isa pa, ang ipinagtatakahan ko lang ay kung bakit hindi sila ang naatasan.

I admit that Cleoffe was good than me, same as Duke. Kaya big deal sakin kung bakit sakin napunta to.

I wanted to ask them if they have any idea about this, but we both know this was confidential to talk with. Ipinikit ko nalang ang mata ko at hayaan ang antok na lamunin ang diwa ko.

I'll just have some rest, because I knew that the moment I woke up, it was another deadly fight to bear with. I hope so that, as I sleep it would offer me some tips on how to tame a predator without letting my body from getting devoured by it. Tss. Insane.

@Ms. Naughty

A/N:

Let's now start the fight orayt haha.

I'm afraid that this talkative attitude of mine was really being the center of this story haha. I tried to minimize my words, but it was hard to predict ahahha.