CHAPTER ONE: CATCH ME...

Eliza Rothstein

I'm having a cup of tea in a not-so famous café, yet it's a perfect spot for business discussions. Only a few people came here and that's a good thing, less interruptions and oh one more thing, bugs-free.

I don't know if their business plan was followed or if it is their marketing strategy, but one thing's for sure, I'm really enjoying their awful market failure.

If they would only venture a business just for the sake of social responsibility, I highly recommend that they should turn this out as a charity.

Aside from the fact that they didn't install CCTV's or such, their whole interior design was off and rotten.

Who would have thought that their lousy management would be beneficial for me? It's a blessing in disguise, indeed.

I thought peace was on my side, until a flirty jerk sat across from me. Where's the manners, perhaps?

Wala naman sana akong paki-alam sa kan'ya at sa existence niya pero hindi ko nagustuhan ang presko at walang modo niyang ugali.

"Hi. I believe you need some company," hambog na pagkakasabi niya habang nakangiting aso. Akala mo ay ikina-gwapo niya pero nagmumukha lang siyang katawa-tawa.

Mayroon siyang desenteng pananamit. Maayos ang pagkaka-wax ng kaniyang buhok na naging dahilan para mabigyang pansin ang kaniyang malapad na noo. Mayroon din siyang hikaw sa kaniyang dalawang tenga.

I smiled flirtatiously making him live in a delusion, but sorry not sorry, you insolent fool. Wala akong balak at hindi ko pinangarap magka-intimate relationship sa mga taong tulad mo.

"I believe you need a... plastic surgery," nakangiting sabi ko na agad na ikinawala ng hambog niyang ngiti.

Salamat naman at umalis na ang walang kwentang lalaking 'yon. Those attention seeker dumb wits, I pity them most.

Tiningnan ko aking wristwatch at mukhang napa-aga ako. I chose to read the latest magazine made by a well-known publishing company.

I started to roam my eyes and stopped when I read the title of a certain manuscript.

Killing Spree: Spanish Businessman, 3rd Victim

A Spanish Businessman was found dead in a private cruise ship last night. The said third victim of the killing spree was identified as Temotheo Dominguez whom a delegate that attended the summit of... blah blah blah.

The city police were still in the process of investigation of knowing the killer's motives and identity.

I involuntarily arched my brow and my lips formed into a loop. It's really funny to read lies, but it's no fun to read honest works rather. Or it's only me? They even wasted the paper just to put some crap. Poor spaces, if only relevant information and news were there. Anyway,  the hell I care?

Well, I wasted my precious time holding this sh*t. Kaya't minabuti kong ilapag muli ang magazine at sumimsim.

Ba't ba ang tagal ng taong 'yon? Kung hindi lang importante ang dala niya ay matagal na akong umalis at siya mismo ang ha-huntingin ko. At hindi ako magdadalawang isip na pasabugin ang lungga niya.

Naagaw ang atensiyon ko ng lalaking paparating. Mukhang nagmamadali siya, base sa itsura niya. Magulo ang kaniyang buhok, hindi pantay ang salamin niyang may malaking frame at lukot ang kaniyang maluwang na polo. Dala-dala niya ang isang cheap brown envelope.

"Ms. Eliza, you're too early," nakangiti siya ngunit may kaunting butil ng pawis sa kaniyang noo. Dapat lang, kabahan ka na.

"You're late," I said using a calm tone, mind the sarcasm dear.

"My apolo---" I gestured him to stop by raising a bit my right hand. Pasalamat siya't maunawain at pasensiyosa akong tao. Lalo na't kaunti na lang kaming taong nagtataglay ng mahabang pasensiya.

Meet James Scott, the computer geek. He's excellent in hacking and source of intel. Nasa twenty-five ang edad, may itsura naman, matangkad at asset niya ang kaniyang hazel eyes.

Siguro kung mag-aayos lang siya ay baka lumabas ang totoo niyang itsura but if I'm going to rate him, it would be one out of ten. What? He must consider himself lucky. Usually, I gave his types 0.5 but since he has skills, he's an exception.

"I don't have time for your nonsensical chit-chats. Let's discuss the business already," I eyed him to sit down, wala pa ata siyang balak na umupo? Tss. Knock knock wood.

Pagkatapos niyang umupo ay agad niyang binuksan at kinuha ang mga laman ng envelope.

"You're next mission is Code X," confident pero seryoso ang kaniyang mukha.  Napangiti ako. Isang ngiting pagsisisihang nakita mo.

Tiningnan ko ang mga litratong nasa mesa. Kinuha ko ang isa sa mga ito. Lalaking nasa 40's, kalbo, malaki ang mata, at may suot na mga alahas katabi ang isang babaeng nasa edad din niya, maamo ang mukha, at simple. If my guess is right, she's his wife.

Kinuha ko pa ang ilang larawan ngunit agad ko ring binitawan dahil nakakaumay. Lalo na ang isang litrato kung saan tinutulungan niya ang isang pulubi na namamalimos.

Isn't it amazing to capture those little benevolent and down-to-earth acts and post to social media platforms only for publicity, just to gain popularity and showcase their exceptional golden heart?

Why don't I try it sometime? I think being a social butterfly isn't that bad after all. On the second thought, never mind. That very idea clashed with my personality. Besides, I'm too busy being lazy.

"That's Congressman Richard Merrill of 2nd District," pagpapakilala niya sa bago kong magiging kaibigan.

"Mind telling me his good deeds," it's more of a statement rather than a question.

"He's involve in human trafficking and prostitution," he explained. More over, inilabas na rin niya ang mga natitira pang mga larawan. Mga kuha ng mga kahayupan ng tinitingala at hinahangaang congressman.

"What? That's it? I'm not an amateur to begin with," I said humbly with innocence. With honest basis, I don't do easy and typical things.

"You can talk things with Primo," alanganin niyang sagot.

Napatigil ako at tiningnan ko siya sa kaniyang mata para alamin kung nagbibiro ba siya o nabobobo na siya dahil sobrang talino ng suhestiyon niya pero agad din siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Pinunasan pa niya ang kaniyang mukha.

"I know that it isn't your thing, but Primo thought that maybe you can think of this job as a luxury... to unwind," James said. Then should I be grateful?

"Anyway, magkakaroon ng event sa isang beach resort bukas. Gift giving, community services, and other sick goody-goody activities.The rest is up to you." Tatayo na sana siya ngunit inunuhan ko na.

"Until next time," I winked at him making him flustered.

Walang lingon-lingon na naglakad ako paalis sa coffee shop.

See you soon, Mr. Merrill.

---

Pagkalabas ko sa café ay agad na may sumalubong sa'kin na mga bata. Wearing rugged clothes and with dirt all over their innocent faces.

I texted James to do a favor for me.

Bago ko ini-start ang engine ng kotse ay natanaw ko si James na lumabas ng coffee shop bitbit ang mga supot ng tinapay at ibinigay sa mga bata.

I rather chose to gave them breads than money. Who knows? Baka ginagamit lang sila ng mga sindikato para manlimos. Hindi ko alam pero pagnakakakita ako ng mga palaboy ay nagagalit ako sa mga magulang nila.

Sinisisi ko sila dahil sa kapabayaan nila. Kung hindi lang sana puro sarap ang pina-iral nila. Alam kong hindi ko alam ang buong istorya pero nakakapang-init lang ng ulo.

Tinanggap nila ang mga supot at nakita ko ang mga ngiti sa kanilang mukha at hindi ko namalayang ang nakakunot kong noo ay nawala at nakangiti na rin pala ako.

Pinaandar ko na ang kotse at nilisan ang lugar na 'yon. Bitbit ang magandang pakiramdam.

Habang nagmamaneho, napansin ko ang isang kotse hindi kalayuan sa likod ko.

Kailangang alamin ko kung sinusundan niya ba ako.

Nice. I never thought that this day is going to be exciting.

Lumiko ako ng pakanan sa isang kanto. Tiningnan ko ang side mirror at nakita kong naroon pa rin siya, nakasunod.

Iniliko ko ulit pakanan at sumusunod pa rin siya.

Lumiko muli ako pakanan ng pangatlo at pang-apat na beses at nakabuntot pa rin ang kotse.

I just took a whole rotation. Sinong tanga ang iisiping coincidence lang 'yon na may kotseng naki-join sa'yo sa pag-ikot?

Ngayong napatunayan kong sinusundan niya ako, binilisan ko ang pagmamaneho ko.

Hindi pwede dito dahil maraming madadamay na ibang tao. Especially, may sinusunod akong protocol.

Catch me... if you can, you insolent fool.

Binilisan ko pa ang pagmamaneho at ipinarada ko ang aking kotse malapit sa isang luma at abandunadong gusali.

I think it's good enough.

I put my red mask on and walked as if I'm a model in a runway, carrying my precious gun. Honestly, I don't play games on my job except if I'm dealing with brainless low-class creatures like him.

Pumunta ako sa ikatlong palapag at hinanap ang pinakamagandang pwesto. Inayos ko ang baril at tiningnan ang aking stalker... err stalkers. Apat sila at puro armado.

Hindi ko alam kung nagtatangatangahan ba sila o sadyang tanga lang ba talaga sila.

Anong akala nila sa'kin? Nakakainsulto! Mga walking zombies lang ang makakatapat ko.

Kinilabit ko ang gatsilyo at agad na natumba ang isa dahil sa puso niya mismo ko siya pinuntirya. Sumunod ang isa na tinamaan naman sa kaniyang mata. Let's see kung makakakita ka pa or worse, kung mabuhay ka pa.

Two down, two more to go. That's why I always carry a knife. There's no particular time whether I'm goin' to cut a piece of cake.  Corny ba? The hell I care.

Napansin na rin sa wakas ng dalawa pang lalaki kung nasaan ako at walang habas nila akong pinagbabaril. May mga nabasag na bintana pero karamihan ay sa pader lang tumatama.

Pero agad akong gumulong-gulong. Partida naka-heels pa ako. Mabuti na lang at kaunti lang ang mga gamit dito kaya't hindi ako nahihirapan.

Those insolent fools, nagsasayang lang sila ng bala. But what would I expect from them? They're not worthy as an opponent... no scratch that,  they will never be.

Hindi na ako ginaganahan sa katangahan nila kaya't kinasa ko muli ang baril. Given my perfect spot I easily took their colorful lives.

Naglakad ako papunta sa kotse ko na parang walang nangyari. Inalis ko na rin ang aking mask at ibinalik ang aking inosenteng mukha.

I fished my phone from my pocket. I started to dial and just a few rings, the other line finally answered it.

"H-hello... faster...  s-sino... uhm.. k-ka ba? Yes!That's it baby," sagot ng isang babaeng umuungol pa.

"Give that phone to that sanitary engineer," kalmado kong utos.

Mabuti naman sinunod niya dahil kung hindi ay isusunod ko siya sa apat na walang kwenta kong mga kalaro.

"Ikaw ba ang tinutukoy niyang sanitary engineer?" dinig ko pa mula sa kabilang linya.

"Scarlet, baby. Did you miss me?" he asked huskily. "You wanna com---"

Pinutol ko na ang sasabihin niya. Pero rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang malalakas na ungol ng babaeng 'yon.

"Linisin mo ang mga basurang nagkalat dito," utos ko at ibinaba na ang tawag. That jerk never changed after all.

If only he doesn't have any use to me, he won't have balls any longer. I would left their place with a bang!

Pinaandar ko na muli ang kotse at iniwan ang mga basurang hindi na pwedeng i-recycle.

Tss. I'm disappointed but not surprised. Kung sana ay may thrill man lang ang performance nila ay baka nakipaglaro pa ako nang matagal at pinahaba ko pa ang buhay nila. Kaya lang, hindi man lang ako pinagpawisan at hindi man lang ako na-challenge.

I hope na magiging maganda ang araw ko bukas. Now that I mentioned it, my disappointment turned three hundred sixty degrees.

Be ready Mr. Merrill. I'll make sure that tomorrow will be a bloody one.

R.E.D