KUNG minsan, napapaisip ako kung ano ang mangyayari kung hindi ko pinaamin si Quinzel na hindi siya pipe at pawang nagpapanggap lamang. Paano kung hinayaan ko na lang siyang manahimik at mahirapan sa pakikitungo sa 'min? Ngunit mayroon nga bang maiiba, gayong ang pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko sa una naming pagtatagpo ang siyang nagsimula ng lahat?

Hindi ba't katawa-tawa? Kay dalang niyang ibuka ang bibig niya ngunit mas nananaig ang mga salita niya sa 'kin kaysa sa sankaterbang paghihinala ng lahat.

"Halimaw! Pakawalan ninyo ko rito!" hiyaw ng isang lalaking pilit nagdedelusyon na kayang talunin ng lakas niya ang makakapal na kadenang nakapulupot sa kaniya. "Katulad ka nga ng sabi-sabi nila! Isa kang tuta! Tuta ka ni Montenegro at bulag-bulagan ka sa pagbabago niya!"

"Kung tuta ako..." I sighed. "Ano ka?" Iniitsa ko ang libro kung saan napag-alamang naming nakatala ang mga transaksyon ng presong ito na hindi dumaan sa proseso ng Red Circle. Bagama't nahuli na siya sa akto, pilit pa rin niyang tinatanggi ito. "Anuman ang rason, kung napag-alaman kang gumawa ng hakbang na salungat sa batas ng organisasyon, dapat kang patawan ng parusa. Didn't you know that before you swore an oath?"

"Wala kang alam! Matagal nang namamayagpag ang mga tagong transaksyon na 'yan! Alam 'yan ni Montenegro!" giit nito nang nagngingitngit ang mga ngipin.

Alam ko 'yon. And I am perfectly aware that this much is not enough to sentence him to death.

Isinandal ko ang likod ko sa swivel chair at pinag-ekis ang mga binti ko. "Kung ganoon, bakit sa tingin mo pinag-uutos ni Don Julian na tanggalin ang ulo mo sa mga balikat mo?"

Rumolyo pabalik ang dila niya't may napansin sa pinahihiwatig ko. Sa tulong ng mga salita ko'y tila nahagilap na niya sa memorya kung bakit nakagayak ang buhay niya ngayon sa awa ng patalim. Dumoble ang pawis niyang tagaktak at lalong hindi na ako nito matingnan mata sa mata.

"Napagkonekta mo na rin, ano, Karmino?" tamad kong pangungumpirma sa kaniya. "Alam mong pawang mga malalapit sa ama ni Julian, mapa-aktibo pa sa serbisyo o retirado, ang mga pinapadispatya niya, tama? Pero nakakapagtaka, hindi ba?"

Bumwelo ako't tumayo sa kinauupuan ko. "His father's allies are supposedly his allies. Kayo ang tumulong sa kaniya na mapanatili sa mga Montenegro ang mataas na upuan ng Red Circle nang pumanaw ang ama niya. Killing all of you one by one would mean cutting his own arms and limbs," I pondered earnestly with my brows arched as I make my way to Don Alessandro Karmino.

When I passed by him, Cortez knowingly handed me a dagger. Setting my firm grip around its bejeweled hilt, I continued my steps and folded one of my legs to meet my captive's drooped gaze. "And yet, he keeps ordering me to do just that. You and your families. It's as if he's trying to prevent something from spreading and slaughter is the best choice to do so," I added and I saw the latter swallow a hard gulp.

In normal circumstances, treachery against the organization wouldn't warrant an execution, especially one that will condemn the entire family as well. Julian knows that. So why?

"It's not the transactions you're being punished for." I playfully tapped his knees with the blade. "It's the secret all of you are trying to bury to your grave. Perhaps, the Neutral 13?" Sa pagpupunto ko nito ay napaangat na ang ulo ni Alessandro. Sandali itong natatarantang luminga-linga sa paligid hanggang sa tumigil ito nang may determinadong titig.

"Not so fast, Don Karmino." Mabilis na naagapan ni Ethan ang balak nitong pagkagat sa sariling dila sa agarang pagbusal sa bibig nito. "Attempting to take your life instead of spilling the beans only confirms our deductions," he told him bluntly.

Pinaglaruan ko ang patalim na nasa kanang kamay ko, pinaiikot ito sa pagitan ng mga daliri ko. "Pare-pareho kayo," naiiling kong komento. "Sa oras na mapagtanto ninyo ang tunay na rason ba't kayo iniisa-isa, natataranta kayo panandalian, nagdadalawang-isip kung ilalantad 'yon o hindi. Subalit lahat kayo mas pipiliing paglamayan kaysa ang mabuhay at mabawasan kahit kakaunti ang dumi sa pangalan ninyo."

One of the few remaining people on the so-called Red List glared at me sharply. It's almost as if he's a rabid dog snarling as he readies himself to pounce me any second. In the end, I always receive the hatred they can't afford to give to themselves or even to their accomplices.

"Even if the late Don Montenegro is the mastermind behind the secret you are keeping, our laws dictate that a son is not accountable for the sins of his father. So, tell me," malamig kong paanyaya rito at ipinuslit ang isang makulay na panali mula sa bulsa ng pantalon ko. "Tell me why the son is erasing its traces as if he's the one who committed the crime."

Ipinatong ko sa patalim ang panali at pinasirko-sirko ito hanggang sa mapansin niya kung kanino ito. Upang walang maging pagdududa ay tumango ako kay Jaz, hudyat para pindutin niya ang play button ng recorder na hawak niya. At mula rito ay umalingawngaw ang pag-iyak at pagmamakaawa ng isang dalaga.

"Dad? Dad, help me! Please help me! I can't see anything, dad!" the girl begged hysterically.

Alessandro's eyes widened in shock and thus the start again of his hopeless struggle against his chains and the gag in his mouth. Even if muffled, I could make the curses he wanted to throw at me but all I did is smirk while cutting the hair tie with the blade in one swift.

"As you've said, I'm a monster," I said calmly as I pull myself up from the carpeted floor. "I can simply get rid of you and your only daughter if I wanted to, proceed to the next person on the list, and see if his brain's more capable of negotiating with me than yours."

I then tilted my head and flipped the dagger so that I may scratch my head with its hilt. "But... would it be the same for you? I mean, before I end you, I'd ensure you'll be watching your daughter's first and you'll be bringing the horrific image to your homecoming in hell," I asked smugly as my balance rested on the edge of his office table.

After hopelessly wriggling and screaming against the gag for a whole minute, I gestured at Ethan to let the poor captive speak again. And this time, I hoped he'll sing a different song to me.

"Y-You... You came here knowing I have the easiest weakness to poke," he gasps, his head flushed red. "Wala kang pinagkaiba sa tunay na salarin ng lahat ng 'to."

I can't help but narrow my eyes at him. Is he indirectly telling me that there's someone else other than the Montenegros who's behind this?

Though coughing, Karmino stubbornly lifted his chin with pride. "The master of the Red Circle has long been deprived of his arms and limbs. No one would usher a cripple like him to where he is now! Someone else did! So, how could he be the person responsible for erasing all the traces of Neutral 13—"

Natutulala kaming nabato sa kaniya-kaniya naming kinatatayuan. Bago pa man niya matapos ang pagsisiwalat ay nabalot na kami ng dugo nito't laman. Sa isang iglap, ang tanging binuburo ng kadena sa upuan ay isa nang katawang walang ulo at buhay.

"F*ck..." I mumbled under my breath, feeling the warm and sticky liquid trickle down on my cheeks. "Clean this mess and tighten the security kung nasaan ang mga natitirang kamag-anak ng mga pinapatapos ni Julian. Make sure they're safe."

"As you wish, Mr. Montelier," Jaz quickly obliged and soon, clatter ensued as our men execute the same process we've been doing forever.

Maingat na lumapit sa 'kin ang consigliere ko't inabutan ako ng panyo. "Mukhang kahit na ba iligtas natin sila o pigilan sa pagtitiwakal, may ibang paraan ang salarin para patahimikin sila," nababahalang banggit nito at saka hinubad ang salaming suot.

"Itong kaso na 'to, it's similar to Quinzel's," nabulalas ko na lang nang 'di namamalayan.

When I realized the slip, Reinald interestingly allowed the conversation to flow. "Because the more we know, the more questions we get?"

I silently nodded, which is the same as admitting that all this time, despite the weight of our recent operations, the new Mrs. Montelier comes to haunt my mind every now and then. It's not like I have to hide or deny it. I don't intend to act like a cold, mysterious transferee in a school of misfits in the first place.

"Recently, she told me about herself."

Kuryos na napabaling sa 'kin si Reinald, tila naintriga rin sa kung ano ang ibinahagi ng dalagang wala kaming kaalam-alam sa nakaraang mayroon siya.

"She said she was born and raised in Sicily, Italy. She describes the town quite vividly the same way she recited how in love she is with Paris. She was there," pagkikwento ko at malumanay na pinunasan ang sarili ko. "I feel it."

"And now you're finally convinced that the missus is more or less an agent working for someone else before?" pagpupunan ni Reinald habang istriktong nililinis ang salamin nito.

"I mean, can you even imagine her as a lowly associate?" I shook my head in disbelief as I try to piece Quinzel's short list of words again in my head. "According to your report, her intelligence can be compared to someone who has finished multiple degrees. She understands etiquette, high society, and politics pretty well. She knows how to stand her ground against armed assassins. How could someone as capable as that be detained in a rundown apartment by Calvin Aguirre? And if she's capable enough, how did he get a hold of her?"

Naikumpol ko ang panyo sa mga kamay ko at saka ito inis na itinapon sa sahig. "Not to mention, Quinzel didn't suspect him until Eldridge revealed that she's being locked up in there whenever the police is off to work. Anong rason niya para pagkatiwalaan ang taong 'yon?" dagdag ko pa kasabay ng pagpilitik ko ng dila.

Seryoso akong inobserbahan ni Cortez na 'di pa rin tapos sa pagpulido ng kaniyang salamin. Saglit man ito, hindi siya agad umimik. Animo'y pinagninilayan nang mabuti kung ano ang sasabihin.

"Kaninong opinyon ba ang gusto mong marinig? Kay Atty. Reinald Anthony Cortez na kanang kamay mo o sa kababata mong si Rein na sandaling nakasalamuha rin 'yung babae na tumulong sa 'yo noon?" ani nito nang may blankong ekspresyon na pinanonood ang mga tauhan namin na buhatin ang katawan ni Alessandro palabas ng opisina.

I sincerely contemplated his question and answered, "Rein, do you think I'm insane if I want to ask Aguirre personally?"

"The whole Underground believes you already are, Kit," he sarcastically shot back, casually uttering the nickname I've never heard of for quite some time. "Since everyone already thinks you are, you might as well enjoy the privilege."

Umangat ang magkabilang gilid ng mga labi ko. Iba talaga kapag ang kababata ko ang nagpayo at hindi ang mahigpit na mafioso. "Can I take that as you siding with Quinzel?" pang-uusisa ko habang mahina siyang sinisiko. "Bukambibig ni Rupert na kung sila inii-spoil siya sa pagkain, ikaw naman sa mga damit at aksesorya. I've seen the stacks of boxes containing latest designs scattered in her room."

Dali-daling napatikhim naman ang katabi ko at nakiupo rin sa gilid ng lamesa. "Hard work is something to be rewarded for, Mr. Montelier," lihis ang tingin nitong pagsamo muli kay Atty. Cortez.

"Sino kaya ang nagpalinis ng library sa Wisteria Manor at nag-order ng sankaterbang mga bagong libro roon?"

"Tch," he cursed under his breath.

I chuckled at his failed denial. "Because you met another prodigy like you or is it the possibility that she's the girl who saved us both?"

"Nah," Rein scoffed. "Surprisingly, I can't seem to see Mrs. Montelier like that."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well..." iniayos niya ang pagkakasandal niya at tumingala sa mumunting chandelier sa kisame. "We can't call her that savior just because of their resemblance. We can't call her 'just' a prodigy because we didn't witness her struggle to become one. We can't call her an actress or seductress when in the first place, she insisted on declining your offer before eventually giving up on your manipulative ass."

My childhood friend and sworn ally then turned to me, bored yet sympathetically smiling at how bothered I am. "You don't have to see her as someone else, Kit. Hindi siya si Charlotte at lalong hindi siya si Violet. For all we know, baka hindi rin siya ang nagligtas sa 'tin. It might be just a silly coincidence or what not dahil kahit kailan hindi tayo naging matagumpay hanapin ang babaeng 'yon. We can only truly discover one's intentions if we get to know them in a blank slate," pagbubuod ng punto nito bago magdesisyong tumayo.

"If she's an asset, keep her. If not, proceed to the original plan and have Rupert slit her throat," he shrugged, indifferent to the words that could've made civilians pee on their pants. "Iyon naman ang rason kung ba't ang gunggong na 'yon ang tinalaga mong guwardiya niya, tama? Because he's the quickest among us and the best in putting up a mask."

Pinanood ko siyang ayusin ang pagkakalukot na nakuha ng vest niya mula sa pagkakaupo. Samantala, heto ako't nakasalampak pa rin ang mga balikat. Naliwanagan nga 'ko sa isang bagay pero hindi pa tapos ang linya ng duda. Napapahilot sa sentidong lumingong muli sa 'kin si Cortez, halatang pinagtatakahan kung bakit ko pilit na pinakokomplika ang lahat.

"Mr. Montelier," tawag nito sa 'kin at ipinatong ang mga kamay niya sa magkabilang balikat ko. "Hindi ninyo kailangan mag-alala sa isang babaeng hindi niyo naman talaga nirehistro bilang asawa."

Para akong literal na nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. He's right. 

Sa una't sapul, hindi ko tunay na asawa si Quinzel at bagama't lingid ito sa kaalaman niya, batid niya naman higit kaninuman na ginagamit ko lang siya. And if we were to remove the variable of her possibly being our savior out of the equation, she's only a woman in distress who I happen to help because she has the potential of being useful. Nothing more. Why do I keep stumbling upon something that's supposed to be minuscule?

Soon, when the executives visit to confirm the marriage rumors, I have to remember. Quinzel is a business deal. Nothing more. 

******

A/N: Na-busy nang slight sa work~ Sorry for the late update! I'm hoping for us to feel fulfilled even after a difficult day of work or studies! But most importantly, rest well, Reapers. xoxo