Kabanata ii: Charity

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Solstice Ivy Thorn

Xerxes Damien Reagan. There is not much information about him other than being a drop dead gorgeous, vastly known artist, famous for his menacing art pieces.

A beauty in darkness huh?

I do like his art pieces and I rarely appreciate art.

"So how can I get close enough with him and gather evidence? Should I just intrude in his home?" I asked myself while sipping coffee as I watched Laura shoot the targets in their own training grounds.

"You should," Laura said as she removed her equipment and went in my direction in the shed.

"Nah. . . That is too easy and risky. I like to keep things complicated. Should I use this as an excuse to move out? I would love to not see Ophelia's face every morning," I shrugged.

I'm currently in Laura's house, studying the file that Ophelia gave me and the things I researched about her and Xerxes for a week now. Well I have to prepare in case I face him. I gotta get to know him in order to gain his trust.

"So what is your plan?" Marco, Laura's husband asked.

He is also an agent in our organization.

I looked at the files and saw the address where Noelle lived. She moved in with Xerxes when they got married. They've been married for five years when she died a year ago. I think I have to find a way to get inside their home and investigate.

"Do you think he's still living in this address?" I asked, and then handed Marco the file. Laura also looked at it.

"Handsome. He is definitely your type, Solstice," Laura said, making me giggle.

"Kinda," I smiled.

"Yes he is, and I don't think I like what is playing in that silly little head if yours because of that fact," Marco hissed.

"I am just planning on getting his trust while investigating him," I shrugged.

"How would you do that?" Marco again asked. He's irritating, I don't know what Laura saw in this nerd.

"Why don't you become their maid or something?" Laura asked.

"I already thought of that, but we live in the same city and I am a professor here. I even investigated on what is the possibility that I could get hired. Nalaman kong masyado siyang mabusisi sa pagkuha ng mga katulong. Pati mga background ay tinignan ng maigi. There is a chance that he would find out about my identity. Why would a successful professor apply for a maid? That is suspicious," sambit ko saka umayos ng pagkakaupo.

"I don't know, say you are bored or something?" she said, making me frown.

"Are you dumb? This is why you're not getting any big missions that requires brain. Who in the hell would believe that? Bitch, I am not taking that chance," I rolled my eyes on her.

"I agree," Marco said while nodding his head. Binatukan tuloy siya ng kanyang asawa.

"Aww!" reklamo niyang ikina irap lamang ni Laura.

"Ewan ko sa iyo, problema mo na yan," iritang sambit niya.

"Anyways I'll go check the subdivision where the mansion is located, probably this weekend, it's a great time to find a new house," I shrugged.

"New house?! Does the agency even have a budget for that?" Marco asked.

"Yes the agency has the budget for that, hindi lang kayo marunong mang uto. Plus I could sell it right after my mission, more profit for me," I grinned.

"Ophelia would confiscate that profit if she finds out," Laura said.

"Not if you both would shut up," I pointed.

"You're not even a politician, but you're corrupt as hell," Marco frowned, I just rolled my eyes on them.

Nailing na lamang ang mag asawa doon.

I then stood up, grabbed Laura's gun and unleashed a flurry of shots at the targets.

The deafening sound of gunfire filling the air as I sought to release the pent-up tension inside me.

A grin of satisfaction spread across my face as I watched each bullet strike the bullseye with deadly precision.

"I have to go to the school now and torture the kids, Adios!" I bid my goodbye and gathered all my things as I left their house.

I only have my afternoon class today. I told them that my friend needs help in the hospital, which is Laura, but I actually just don't want to attend my class after having a bad hangover from drinking so much with Laura last night.

Marco had to drag us out in the club because of how wasted we are.

My children seem happy that I didn't attend class this morning, so I gave them a twenty page activity. I'm pretty sure they cursed me for that, since I feel like dying this morning.

I will never drink that much again.

I had lunch at a famous restaurant, La co mida es rica. And then I went straight to the university after I had my fill.

Nagtungo muna ako sa faculty office para iwan doon ang ilang gamit na dala ko.

Pagpasok ko roon ay may namataan akong isang pamilyar na pigura. Isn't this man that one who asked for direction last time?

"Solstice!!" Eva greeted me.

"How was your friend?" Lisa asked.

Right, I used that b*tch Laura as an excuse.

"She's fine now," I smiled then again looked at the man. Millie was talking to him then rolled her eyes when she saw me.

"Oh right, you're not here this morning!" Eva giggled.

"Solstice, this is Jackson Reagan, our new faculty member," she said, introducing Jackson to me.

He seemed stunned seeing me, probably remembering our encounter last time.

"Oh it was you!" he smiled.

"Yes, it was me," I responded.

"It's Jackson Reagan, I'll be teaching Literature. May I now have the pleasure to know your name?" he asked, then offered his hand.

Oh he's definitely a player.

"Professor Solstice Ivy Thorn, I teach calculus and research," I said then accepted his hand for a hand shake.

"You two know each other?" Kunot noong tanong ni Millie.

"I encountered him once," walang ganang sagot ko.

"Anyways I still have afternoon classes, gotta go. And nice to meet you Mr. Reagan," I smiled then left.

Hmm. . . Reagan huh? He did resemble Xerxes from the pictures. Are they related?

Maybe I should look into it.

"Good afternoon class," I greeted my students.

I will just be discussing today but they will be having a quiz and a homework afterwards as usual.

***

On the weekend I called the real estate agent and went to the said subdivision. I already notified her last night and went the next morning.

"Ms Thorn!" she said as she wiped her sweat. I smiled at her.

"I'm sorry for the late notice, this is the only free time I had." I said.

"No problem, Ms. Thorn. Let's go, I'll tour you around," she uttered, I nodded my head on her.

She showed me to a lot of houses and I acted like nothing piqued my interest.

"The neighborhood is also peaceful. The homes are built to withstand earthquakes, fires, and storms. Our subdivision boasts a variety of amenities at its center, including a resident pool, playground, gym, basketball court, and clinic. In addition to 24/7 CCTV monitoring, our vigilant security personnel patrol the area day and night, ensuring a secure environment."

Marami pa siyang sinabi sa akin. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa dulo ng subdivision.

"Whose mansion is that?" I asked even perfectly knowing who the owner is.

"Oh the owner of the subdivision owns that, Mr. Reagan," she stated.

So he is also the owner of this subdivision? So he is still indeed living in that address.

Lumabas ako sa sasakyan kasama ng real estate agent.

May mga malapit na bahay siyang pinakita sa akin at ang huling bakanteng bahay na pinuntahan namin ay katapat lamang ng nasabing mansyon.

"I like the ambiance of this house. It's modern but has the classic touch. I like the exterior and interior design of the house so far," I said. I do like the house and the other houses she showed me but I acted like this house is what I wanted because it is near his mansion.

The real estate agent explained to me about the materials used in building this house in an enthusiastic manner.

"The walls are a mix of black and white, the floor is marble, everything looks so pleasing in the eyes," I said while we were on the balcony.

"I'm glad that you like this house Ms. Thorn," she smiled, probably relieved that I finally found a house that I would like after being so picky with everything the whole day.

I acted like a complete perfectionist to be more convincing, she's probably already cursing me behind her mind. Praying that I would finally pick this house.

Will she stab me if I joked that I would not buy a house anymore? I would like to see her reaction but I should refrain myself from doing so.

"'I'll take it, I will prepare the payment in cash tonight, hopefully I can move in next week," I smiled.

The real estate blinked on what she heard.

"Cash? And next week?" she said, stunned.

"Yes, kindly prepare this house for me, thank you very much for your time and effort," I laughed softly as I turned my back on her.

I again looked at the mansion as we both went inside the vehicle.

I still have a charity to go to. Because apparently, my co professor Jackson Reagan is actually a half brother of our prime suspect Xerxes Damien Reagan. I saw the pictures of Xerxes and Noelle's wedding and he was there along with other pictures so I dug deeper and found that out.

I worked on getting his trust first so he could somehow introduce me to his brother once I found an opportunity.

Oh god, I look like a f*cking stalker, so embarrassing. Oh well that is one of the natures of this job. You get to be a stalker in order to find leads you could use.

I also found out that Jackson helps a lot of charities. I also heard Millie and Jackson talking to each other the other day and found out that he will go to this certain charity this weekend.

Charities never really piqued my interest, it is only full of hypocrites, wanting to look good in the eyes of the public.

Most don't even personally help those people that are really in need. They only go to charities for business and to look good.

Not that I am any better, I never even helped one beggar in my life.

I know that I am a bad person, it's not that it is unusual, you can see a lot of people with the same character as I actually am, and they are all just pretending to be good people as if their thoughts aren't already full of malice.

After I went home, I just rested for a few hours before the said event. When the clock struck eight, I started preparing myself.

"Wow I look stunning," I said while looking at myself in the mirror.

I didn't really dolled myself up that much since I don't have that much time. Just enough to look sophisticated and elegant.

Giving of a don't talk to me vibe. 

"Where are you going?" Ophelia asked while watching the television.

"Charity," I shrugged.

Lumalim ang gitla ng noo niya sa narinig. "I thought you hate charities?" she asked.

"I do, but it's for the mission," I responded, making her nod her head on me and went back to watching.

I am in my 30's and still living with her because I often change my address wherever I am assigned to. So I don't stay here for a long time.

I also have my own condo unit if ever I don't feel like seeing her.

I bid my goodbye and then drove my car to the said charity.

Pag pasok ko pa lang ay nababanas na ako sa mga tao, ngunit nagawa kong itago iyon. I acted the way I wanted people to see me. A sophisticated and respectable woman.

"Ms Thorn! I didn't know you attend charities!" An acquaintance said when I encountered her in this charity.

She is a beautiful woman in her sixties and also one of the most successful business woman in the country. Erina Adelaide Kings.

I first met her at the mission I had last year in La Muerte.

For a woman in her sixties, she's really beautiful, she aged like a fine wine, I could say the same to her husband who still looks smitten to her, glaring at the men looking at his wife's direction as if someone will take her away.

"Ezekiel stop that!" pagsaway niya sa kanyang asawa.

"Oh my, you two still look so cute, I will die to have a relationship like that," I laughed softly.

I actually don't want to get tied up in a marriage at all.

Men sucks, I don't want to get trapped with one. It's like a sticky mouse trap presented to you and you just dived into it without even thinking twice just because you love him. And the moment you are trapped, you won't be able to get out, until it suffocates and kills you.

I know, my definition of marriage is kind of extreme.

"What? I don't like the way they look at you," he frowned as he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.

Halos mapangiwi ako doon.

But I chose to remain composed.

"Ezekiel, Ivy is here," pinanlakihan niya pa ito ng mga mata na nagpanguso sa asawa.

"You lovebirds, stop making me jealous!" I joked, making Adelaide laugh.

Her beautiful silver eyes shine so bright whenever she is with her husband.

Eww. . .

"Anyways where do I give my donations?" I asked.

Adelaide then guided me inside, while her husband talked to his business partners. After that I just wandered around to look for Jackson but didn't manage to find him.

I was looking at the paintings that are up for biddings with an unknown woman who seemed to be a fan of art.

"Wow what a great style. The painting itself looks like it is talking to you, the way the brush freely touches the canvas, the blending of colors and the image it formed tells us how passionate the artist is," she said amazed.

It looks like a gorilla to me. It's an abstract art. I don't really know what these critics see.

She left and I just kept looking at the painting since I don't have anything better to do, when I felt someone behind me.

"Ms Thorn?"

It was Jackson, he looked surprised seeing me here. So I acted shocked as well.

"Mr Reagan? You're also here?" I even gasped upon seeing him.

"Yes, I was also shocked seeing you, and also I told you to just call me by my name," he laughed.

"Okay Jackson," I rolled my eyes on him.

"It is actually my first time attending a charity, a friend invited me," I smiled.

"Yes, I did see you chatting with someone earlier, I have no idea, you know Mrs Kings, I always see her at charities, she's a kind hearted woman," he said.

"You should've said hi earlier then!" I shook my head on him as I again looked back at the painting.

"This painting has a great art style. The painting itself looks like it is talking to you, the way the brush freely touches the canvas, the blending of colors and the image it formed tells us how passionate the artist is," I said with a smile then looked at Jackson.

"I don't know it looks like a gorilla to me," he shrugged, halos nabulunan ako roon pero nagawa kong pakalmahin ang aking sarili.

I knew it looked like a gorilla!

"Really? On second look it does seem like it," I laughed softly as we moved forward to see the other paintings.

"You seem to like art a lot," he asked while I was staring at another painting.

It is indeed beautiful but it does not really interest me. But I acted so impressed upon looking at it.

"I do, but unfortunately I don't have a talent for it," I said, making him chuckle.

"This is also a great painting, about a mother's sacrifice. Did you know that an Italian duchess donated this painting?" I smiled.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes, Jonarlene Frescobaldi donated this, I am such a fan of her works! You should also check it out if you like paintings," I said with my eyes sparkling with delight.

Everything is a lie, I am not a fan of her at all, I only knew about her last night. I had to study this charity and the paintings that will be auctioned as well.

"Oh I did know her, my brother and I met her once along with the duke, I didn't know that she painted this too," he smiled.

"No way? Really?" I acted surprised and jealous.

"Yes! In fact my brother is a painter. Actually his works will be a part of an auction at a charity ball next week, do you want to go with me?" he asked.

I smiled seeing him bite the bait.

"Sure Jackson I would love to!" I said with a bright smile.

"Really? Can you be my date that night then?" he asked.

"My pleasure," I responded with a subtle smile.