CHAPTER 30

BINAGALAN NI BLAZE ang pagmamaneho ng sasakyan at ipinarada sa gilid ng kalsada, sa likuran ng nakaparadang sasakyan ni Track at agad na lumabas.

"What this?" tanong niya kay Track na nakaupo sa hood ng sasakyan nito at naninigarilyo. "Don't you have a phone, Track?"

Instead of answering him, Track pulled out a circle mechanical device from his back pocket. It had a color blue blinking on the center. He handed it to him.

Naguguluhang tinanggap niya iyon at nagtataka pa rin nang kunin uli iyon ni Track sa kanya.

"It's Yrozz," sabi ni Track. "It's just us, Blaze, and you're not bugged so we're good."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Who would bug me?"

"Oh, I don't know," may sarkasmong sabi ni Yrozz. "Maybe that fucking organization? Baka nakakalimutan mo, sila ang nagpakulong sa akin. Gumamit lang sila ng ibang tao pero sila pa rin ang nasa likod. Just because I didn't accept their offer to work for them."

That was true. The Organization took down dangerous criminals who walked the earth but the heads were also jackasses and dicks.

"Kumusta ang cell phone ni Midnight? Nahanap mo na ba?" tanong niya.

Ipinakita ni Yrozz sa kanya ang mapa sa cell phone nito. "It should be two red dots but the cell phone has been destroyed. Only my laptop remains."

"Fuck!" Napahilamos siya, saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga. "That cell phone is very important!"

"My kopya ako ng file sa laptop ko," sabi ni Yrozz. "And it's still breathing so we better go and get it. Where's Blake?"

"Busy with his pregnant wife," sagot niya. "Hindi maayos ang lagay ni Lucky."

"I heard," sabi ni Yrozz, saka binuksan na ang pinto ng sasakyan. "Come on, we'll use my car."

Napalingon siya sa sasakyan niya bago ibinalik ang atensiyon kay Yrozz na nagtatanong ang tingin sa kanya.

"What are you waiting for? A red carpet and an invitation?" Yrozz asked sarcastically.

Blaze sighed. "May kasama ako."

Yrozz stilled, his face darkening. "And you didn't tell me sooner? Give me one reason would I continue helping you."

"Because it's very important to my girlfriend." He motioned his hand at Happy who was seating shotgun on his car. "Marami kaming katanungan na tanging ang file na 'yon lang ang makakasagot."

Napatingin sila pareho ni Yrozz sa kotse niya nang bumukas ang pinto ng passenger seat at lumabas doon si Happy, saka naglakad palapit sa kanya.

"Happy Aravena Quinn," pagpapakilala ni Happy, sabay lahad ng kamay nito.

Yrozz was hesitant before accepting Happy's hand. "Yrozz or Track. You pick."

Naghiwalay na ang kamay ng dalawa na nagustuhan niya. Ayaw niyang may humahawak na iba sa girlfriend niya.

"Don't worry." Happy smiled at Yrozz. "I'm not bugged."

Pareho silang natigilan ni Yrozz pero si Yrozz ang puno ng pagdududang nagtanong.

"What did you say?"

Nakangiti pa rin si Happy na sumagot. "Midnight taught me how to read lips' movement."

Napatanga siya sa kasintahan. "Seriously, baby, how badass are you?"

Happy just winked at him before facing Yrozz seriously. "That file... it's very important to me. I think it contains sensitive and confidential information. Sa tingin ko, it's part of the reason why nawawala si Midnight."

"Midnight..." Yrozz whispered. "Knight's look-alike."

Tumango silang dalawa ni Happy.

"Kaya naman pala doon tumigil ang tracker ko." Napailing si Yrozz, saka tumingin sa kanya. "Alam mo ba kung nasaang lugar ngayon ang laptop ko?"

"Saan?"

"Bachelor's Village." Yrozz tsked. "I assume it'll be on Knight Velasquez' house."

Umiling si Blaze. "No, not Knight. Probably Shun Kim, my brother-in-law."

"What now?"

"It's a long story."

Napailing si Yrozz, saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga. "We better get my laptop before that kotongero destroyed everything in there. Fuck this. It has been years since I stop being Track. I'm getting rusty."

"I believe you can do it," sabi ni Happy kay Yrozz. "Ikaw lang inaasahan namin na makaka-crack ng code at hindi ipagsasabi sa iba ang laman. Please help us?"

Yrozz nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Tinapik nito ang balikat niya. "See you in BV, bud. It's Shun Kim, better prepare for war."

Tumango si Blaze, saka pinagsalikop ang kamay nila ni Happy at iginiya ito pabalik sa kotse niya. Nang makasakay sila, habang nagmamaneho, ikinuwento niya kay Happy ang isa pa niyang lihim na hindi niya puwedeng sabihin pero wala na siyang pakialam.

This mess... this confusion. This had something to do with the Organization. Happy had to know who they were dealing with and what the Organization was capable of doing.

"So, there's really an organization." Happy breathed out. "I was right. And Midnight was a member?"

"Former head of North America," sagot niya habang nagmamaneho. "Naalis siya sa posisyon niya dahil sinabi niya sa amin ni Blake na buhay pa ang mommy namin at kung sino ito dahil nagbago ang mukha ni Mommy. He was lashed two hundred fifty times for telling us a very confidential information that destroyed a long-term undercover."

Bumuntong-hininga si Happy. "And Midnight's brother?"

"Also, a head."

"And this Shun Kim?"

"A loyal friend to Knight Velasquez." Then he continued explaining. "There are seven heads all over the world. And above them are another set of bosses, the real head of the Organization. They decide what to do, who to punish, who to free and the whole Organization is on their palms. This is a very big organization that has lots of connections all over the world. They're scary because each of these bosses, so called, Arkhon, are royalties and members of aristocrat families. The Organization funds came from them, and they are the direct descendant of the Organization founders that started in the Dark Ages. Midnight and Knight's father, he's the fourth Arkhon. He's powerful when it comes to decision making because as of now, he is the highest ranking Arkhon who's active. The first to third Arkhontes are inactive and doesn't want anything to do with the Organósi."

Hindi umimik si Happy. Alam niyang iniintindi nito ang ikinukuwento niya kaya nagpatuloy siya sa pagpapaliwanag.

"Kaya siguro sinabi sa iyo ni Midnight na huwag siyang hanapin kapag nawala siya kasi nakakatakot talaga ang ama niya." He sighed. "Even the Great Count Knight Velasquez doesn't have the guts to go against the fourth Arkhon, his father."

"This Arkhontes..." Sa wakas ay nagsalita na rin si Happy. "Ilan sila?"

"Nine."

"And Midnight's father are the fourth? And as of now, the head of the remaining active Arkhontes?"

He nodded. Happy is getting it. "Yes."

"So how does it work? With the Arkhontes?" Puno ng kuryusidad ang boses ni Happy na bumaling sa kanya. "Yong panlima pababa, wala ba silang say sa decision making? Wala bang puwedeng mag-go against sa daddy nina Midnight o lumaban sa decision niya?"

Umiling siya. "Wala. There are ranking amongst them. Knight's father is the fourth Arkhon, and the first, second and third are inactive. Walang makakapagbago o makakatalo sa desisyon niya maliban sa tatlong 'yon na walang nakakaalam kung sino at nasaan sila."

"So it's like a status," bulong ni Happy. "Like how the duke is more higher in rank than the count or the earl."

"Sort of."

Happy breathed out again. "This is really a big organization... that was why they were able to delete the file on Midnight's flash drive while it was in my possession. These people are powerful. And it feels like we are at war with them because of this file that they don't want me to see. Pero 'yong file na 'yon, it has something to do sa akin. Ibig bang sabihin n'on, I am somehow connected to this Organization?"

"'Yan din ang iniisip ko," pag-amin niya. "Whatever is in that file, we have to see it."

Tumango si Happy, kapagkuwan ay napailing. "Blazey, I don't think the second Arkhon is inactive though."

Nagtatakang napasulyap siya sa kasintahan. "What do you mean?"

Happy let out a loud breath. "Noong nabaril ako at pumunta ka sa hospital together with the Count, I heard him talking to someone over the phone. And he called this person on the other line 'Second Arkhon.' Para siyang kinabahan bago sagutin ang call. Now I know why the Count looked anxious. He was talking to the second inactive Arkhon."

"Fuck..." That was unexpected. "Akala ko talaga wala na silang pakialam sa Organisasyon. 'Yon kasi ang nalaman namin ni Blake noong nagtatago kami sa Italy mula sa mga naiwan naming kalaban dito sa Pilipinas. Sabi ng Conde, siya na raw ang bahala pero hindi pa rin ako kampante kahit nangako na siya kay Blake, sa kasal nila ni Lucky. Knight has the book from Lucky who contains a lot of names and locations about this triad. Why my Mom went undercover and forced herself to be with the man who violated her. And Midnight killed that man without the Organization's go signal that was why he was punished."

"Oh, Midnight..." Kumuyom ang kamay ni Happy. "I hope he's doing fine."

Natahimik si Blaze. Hindi niya kayang sabihin kay Happy ang sinapit ni Midnight hangga't hindi nila naililipat ni Blake sa magandang lugar ang katawan ni Midnight.

He didn't want Happy to see Midnight in that place, disrespected and unnamed!

"Nandito na tayo," anunsiyo niya nang makarating sila sa labas ng BV.

Nang makapasok si Yrozz, sumunod din siya. Nasa likuran lang siya ng sasakyan ni Yrozz. Hanggang sa tumigil iyon sa harap ng bahay ng brother-in-law niya.

Humugot si Blaze ng malalim na hininga. "Baby..." kuha niya sa atensiyon ni Happy na agad namang bumaling sa kanya. "Shun Kim is my brother-in-law. Kapatid ko sa ama ang asawa niya. I wish you could've met them in a better circumstance but... this is it. I'm sorry. Hindi man lang kita naipakilala nang maayos sa isa ko pang kapatid."

Nginitian siya ni Happy at pakiramdam niya ay gumaan ang dibdib niya. "Naiintindihan ko naman. It's okay. I'll be nice."

"Thank you." He leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

Agad na tumugon si Happy at sinapo ang mukha niya bago may diin siyang hinalikan at binigyang distansiya ang mga labi nilang dalawa. "Thank you."

He frowned. "For what?"

"For everything," she whispered and kissed him again before stepping out from the car.

Agad naman siyang lumabas ng sasakyan at pinagsalikop ang kamay nila ni Happy habang naglalakad patungo kay Yrozz na siyang nagdo-doorbell sa bahay nina Shun at Themarie.

Themarie opened the door for them.

"Yrozz. Kuya." Agad itong ngumiti nang makita siya at niyakap siya bago hinalikan sa pisngi. "Napadalaw kayo."

Ngumiti siya, saka sinulyapan muna si Happy bago ito ipinakilala. "This is Happy Quinn, my girlfriend."

"Hi," magiliw na bati ni Happy kay Themarie.

"Hello." Nakipagbeso si Themarie kay Happy. "Nice to finally meet you. Bukambibig ka lang naman nitong kuya ko nang mag-dinner kami."

Happy's smile became more radiant. "Really?"

Themarie whispered at Happy's ear. "I think he's in love with you."

Happy let out a small and cute laugh. "That's what he said to me."

"Aww..." Themarie was grinning from ear to ear. "Come on, pasok kayo."

Magkahawak-kamay pa rin silang pumasok ni Happy sa loob ng bahay. Nakita nilang nasa sala si Shun at abala sa harap ng dalawang magkatabing laptop.

Tumikhim si Yrozz at walang emosyong nagsalita. "I believe that's my laptop, Shun Kim."

Kalmadong nag-angat ng tingin si Shun kay Yrozz at sa kanilang dalawa ni Happy bago ibinalik ang atensiyon kay Yrozz. "Yes. It's yours. Paano mo nalamang nasa akin?"

"I'm not named Track for nothing," sabi ni Yrozz, saka ito na ang kumuha sa laptop na nasa ibabaw ng center table. Sinuri nito iyon.

Blaze saw how Yrozz eyes sharpen. His face darkened as he closed his laptop and looked at Shun.

"You deleted all my files?"

"Yes. Including the ten backdoors you have that is connected to other hard drives. You can't salvage anything from that laptop. I'm sorry, bud. I'm just helping a friend."

"And I'm not a friend?" Yrozz asked while his jaw tightening. "You disrespected me when you opened my laptop without my consent. And here I thought that respect is one of the rules of our friendship. I guess I was wrong. Ikaw rin ba ang pumasok sa condo ko at bumaril sa akin?"

"Shun..." It was Themarie. "What is Yrozz talking about? Anong pamamaril? Tama ba itong naririnig ko? You did something without telling me?"

"Them—"

"You lied to me?" Hindi makapaniwalang napailing si Themarie. "Kagabi ba 'to? Nang umalis ka? You told me you're going to Valerian's home to play chess and drink some beer. Please tell me you didn't lie to me."

Shun looked down, was silent for a moment before looking up at Yrozz. "Hindi ako ang bumaril sa iyo"

"But you know who because you were outside the building. Waiting for my laptop and Midnight's phone." Napailing si Yrozz. "Kim, you're not the only one who knows how to hack a fucking CCTV."

Hindi nakaimik si Shun.

And then he heard Happy speak.

"Midnight, the owner of that phone is the man who treated me like a sister and is probably missing partly because of that file." Kumawala ang kamay nito sa pagkakahawak sa kamay niya. "And you deleted it like it's nothing? Like what he had been through to get that file was nothing?"

"I'm sorry," Shun said but Blaze could see it, he didn't mean it. He wasn't sorry.

"Are you really?" Happy asked. "Because you don't look like you're sorry." Gumagalaw ang panga nito at sobrang talim ang galit na mga mata. "Midnight risk his life for it... and you just deleted it. How could you?"

Hindi niya inaasahan ang naging sunod na kilos ni Happy. She attacked Shun in rage.

She was angry. He could see it in her eyes. She wanted blood.

"Happy!" Baka mapuruhan ito ni Shun nang hindi sinasadya. "You might get hurt!"

Akmang pipigilan niya si Happy pero hinarang siya ni Yrozz.

"Look at her," sabi ni Yrozz. "She fights like a pro."

Natigilan siya at napatitig kay Happy na madaling nasasalag ang bawat pinapakawalang suntok ni Shun. Madali nitong nakikita ang bawat butas sa mga atake ni Shun kaya nagagawa nitong atakihin si Shun nang malapitan kahit magaling pa ang lalaki sa hand-to-hand combat.

Happy was not just attacking recklessly, she was fighting smartly. She was using her brain to defend herself and fight back.

Blaze couldn't contain the proud smile on his face. "That's my baby."

Happy attacked and blocked and when she saw an opening, a weak spot on Shun's defense, she jumped, twirled mid-air and attacked Shun with a powerful kick.

Nang matumba si Shun at paupong bumagsak sa sofa, parang natauhan si Happy sa ginawa nito at napaatras.

"I'm sorry." A tear fell down on her left cheek. "I'm sorry... you just made me so angry."

Agad niyang nilapitan si Happy at masuyo itong niyakap. "Sshh... calm down, baby. Calm down."

"That file, Midnight's phone, that's the only thing I have from the man who treated me with respect and love. And you destroyed it like it's nothing... It was very important to Midnight. Nawawala ngayon ang Kuya Midnight ko at sigurado akong may kinalaman 'yon sa file na nasa cell phone niya. Or better yet, baka may clue doon sa cell phone niya kung nasaan siya... 'tapos... 'tapos sinira mo lang at binura. I'm sorry... I'm just so angry..."

"Hands up!" sigaw ng pamilyar na boses ni Knight mula sa pinto ng bahay.

Lahat sila ay napalingon dito. Agad niyang ihinarang ang katawan sa harap ni Happy kung saan nakatutok ang baril ni Knight.

"Huwag kang humarang, Blaze," sabi ni ni Knight na nagtatagis ang bagang. "This woman will pay for disrespecting my friend in his own house."

"Knight—"

Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang umalis si Happy sa likuran niya at ang katawan na nito ang nakaharang sa harap niya.

Mas humigpit ang hawak ni Knight sa baril nito at akmang kakalabitin ang gatilyo. Handa na siyang iharang uli ang katawan para maprotektahan si Happy pero natigilan silang lahat nang magsalita si Themarie.

"Stop it, Count Knight."

Knight glanced at Themarie. "She disrespected your home—"

"My husband lied to me because of you, because of this favor that you asked him to do," nagtatagis ang mga bagang na sabi ni Themarie. "You shot a friend, Yrozz, to get what you want. And I'm not shocked at all. I know how ruthless you are, Knight, but I know you're smart too. Look at Happy's wrist before you pull that trigger. Read that tattoo and be enlightened."

Knight took a step forward to Happy while eyeing Happy's tattoo on her wrist. And his face was filled with disbelief and confusion as he looked at her. "You... where did you get that tattoo?"

"My dad," Happy whispered. "Why?"

"Do you know what that means?"

"Dad said it's some kind of a protection."

Ibinaba ni Knight ang baril, saka tumingin kay Themarie. "I'm sorry I made Shun lie to you. It was my fault." Then he looked at Happy. "I know you're mad but it was my orders that made Shun do what he did. He deleted the file and destroyed the phone because I ordered him. Be mad at me." Pagkasabi n'on ay malalaki ang hakbang na lumabas si Knight ng bahay.

Confused, Happy faced Themarie and showed her the tattoo on her wrist. "Can you read it? Do you know what it says?"

Tumango si Themarie bago lumapit kay Happy, saka hinaplos ang tattoo sa pupulsuhan ng kasintahan niya. "It's an old Greek language with a small shield insignia for protection after the words, only known to few individuals."

"What does it say?" Happy asked, impatient.

"It says... no harm shall befall to the Arkhon's daughter."

Lips parted open, Happy turned to face him. Disbelief and confusion was written all over her face. "My dad... my daddy... h-he's an Arkhon?"

Blaze lips parted open in shock as well.

Dominick Quinn... Happy's dad is an Arkhon.

He whispered, still in shock. "Fuck."

CECELIB | C.C.