Chapter 14

Kursk

Sirin hesitated to leave me outside the Jekyll and Hyde Psychiatry Clinic. If I didn't scowl at her, I think she might be even late with her appointment. I ruffled my hair in annoyance. I'm so fucking ashamed of myself.

Pagkaparada kasi ng motor ni Sirin sa parking area ng clinic, nagpigil akong masuka hanggang sa pumasok na ito. Pagkapasok niya sa loob, parang baliw akong nasuka sa isang sulok. Tangina.

My head is still spinning from the motorcycle ride. Fuck. Hayop mag-drive ng motor ang babaeng 'yon! Muntik na akong tumilapon kanina nang nabitawan ko ang bewang niya sa gulat. She rode on her bike like she's one with it. Ilang beses niya itong pinatalon kahit patag naman ang daan. I can even recall how I cussed a hundred times when she decided to maneuver the vehicle to climb up several overpasses.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang tao ang muntik na naming masagasaan. Well, I fucking admit that it was fun though I didn't have a single thought about how fun it is while still mounted on the big bike. I've never felt so awed and afraid at the same time.

And that fucking speed! Ang laki ng lagpas niyon sa speed limit! Pagkaalis na pagkaalis namin sa tapat ng bahay niya, her speed didn't drop below 150 kph. I fucking thought it's impossible now that I'm thinking about it. I can fucking drive fast but not as fast as she can. Natakot nga akong sasabog ang makina dahil sa bilis ng takbo ng motor.

Pinigilan ko pang huwag manginig para hindi mapahiya. Oh fuck. Does she do that everytime or is she trying to make me piss in my pants? And there's that fucking big plus that she's laughing almost the entire time.

I could still hear her loud laughter ringing in my ears. Ilang beses ko pa itong nasigawan na maghinay-hinay sa pagmamaneho dahil wala namang humahabol sa amin pero tinawanan lang niya ako na para bang nagbiro ako sa kanya. She's definitely not right in the head.

But I'm impressed by the way she drove. Every swerve of her motorcycle was so steady. In addition, we were never caught by a stop light. Ganun siya kagaling at kabilis magmaneho. Kahit kailan, hindi tumigil ang motor niya sa traffic dahil alam na alam niya ang pasikot-sikot sa mga kalye para makahanap ng magandang daan.

I think she drove her bike a thousand times already to be that good. Naisip ko tuloy na baka drag racer ito kaya pinapaprotektahan ito sa akin.

"So fucking reckless," sabi ko. Tila wala itong kinatatakutan habang nag-d-drive kanina. She even looked so free and happy.

Sumandal ako sa motor at napatingin sa nga dumadaang sasakyan, saka napatingin sa aking relo at napailing. It only took her a few minutes to reach the destination.

What a sexy reckless woman.

I whistled as I remember how my crotch accidentally grinded on her fine ass a hundred times because of the way she drove.

It was a blessing in disguise. I chuckled then shut my mouth. Fuck. There's also something wrong with my head.

I looked over my shoulder when a presence caught my attention. It was a weird-looking curly haired man that looks like he's in his late twenties. Magulo ang mahaba at kulot nitong itim na buhok. Klarong hindi pinlantsa ang gusot-gusot na suot nitong loose white long-sleeved shirt at slacks. Nakangiti ang mga mata nito habang pinapatakbo ang sinasakyang skateboard.

What was eye-catching about this man was the unknown writing tattooed vertically just below his left eye. I tried to make up words but didn't recognize what it actually was.

"It's Zaiphon," sabi nito pagkalapit at  swabeng tinapakan ang dulo ng skateboard bago ito sinalo sa kanyang kamay. "It's a not so popular font," he said with a grin. Inilahad nito ang kaliwang kamay kaya nagkasalubong ang kilay ko. "You must be an acquaintance of Ms. Velasco."

"How did you know?" masungit kong tanong at tinampal ang kamay niya. He looked shocked but ended up chuckling.

Nginuso nito ang motor na sinasandalan ko.

"Seen that big baby a hundred times," sabi nito at ngumiwi. "Guess I'm late again," he murmured and slid his right hand in his pocket. "See you around," he said coolly as he walked towards the clinic. "Agent Kor."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig iyon.

"What did you say?" tanong ko at hinabol siya. I was about to grab his arm when he immediately stopped walking and shook his head. "Hey, how did you know me?"

The man glanced at me and I swear it was if he was a completely different person. His lips thinned to a grim line and his blue eyes coldly eyed me.

"And you are?" His voice was chilly, a completely different tone from his earlier playful vibe.

"Sorry, I mistook you for someone," sabi ko na lang at tinitigan siya nang mabuti. The man curtly nodded and walked towards the clinic. I noticed that the way he walked also changed. He looked at the skateboard he was holding and threw it away like it was some piece of trash. Agad kong nakuha ang sitwasyon. May split personality and lalaki.

How odd. Though hindi naman iyon nakakagulat dahil nasa tapat ako ng isang psychiatry clinic.

I scanned the place and frowned. The building really looks dilapidated but maybe it's just some sort of cover. Sigurado naman akong hindi basta-basta magtitiwala sina Rhaego sa kahit sinong psychiatrist.

Ano kayang problema kay Sirin? Should I ask her straight or should I ask someone who knows about it? Should I ask Rhaego, then?

I frowned.

Nah. He would definitely beat me up before he would tell me something. Tsk. But I'm fucking curious! Maybe it's a serious mental disorder since they don't openly talk about it.

Tumingala ako at tumingin sa langit. Maaliwalas ang panahon at hindi masyadong mainit ang sinag ng araw.

Hindi naman siguro ako papatayin ni Sirin dahil sa mental disorder eh 'no? I laughed at the thought and slid my hands inside the jogging pants' pockets. Nilabas ko ang phone ko at napangisi nang makitang tumawag na naman si Mama.

It's rare for her to call me and it's even rare for her to call me several times a day, especially when I didn't pick up the first time she rang.

"Geez." I tapped her number and decided to call her. "I can't believe I'm doing this," sabi ko na lang at hinintay na tanggapin niya ang tawag.

There were a few rings before she picked it up. I raised a brow. Usually, it takes her longer to pick up a call from me. May nangyari kaya?

"Thank Heavens, you called back," sabi pa nito na tila nabunutan ng tinik. Hmm, so weird. "I even thought of sending agents there to secure your safety. Akala ko patay ka na," she babbled in Russian.

"Why would I die? Wala naman sigurong gustong pumatay sa 'kin, 'di ba?" I said sarcastically. "But why did you call?"

She went silent for a while before she asked me in a grim tone.

"How's protecting Ms. Velasco?"

I grunted.

"Why do you have to know?" I hissed. "Hindi ka naman nakikialam sa mga misyon ko dati."

"I'm not meddling. Nagtatanong lang ako." She sounded pissed but I could care less. "Answer me. Kumusta ang pagpoprotekta mo sa kanya?"

"It's going smoothly," I deadpanned while rolling my eyes. "Why do I even need to protect her, anyway? Binasa ko ang records niya. She's clean. Wala siyang nakaalitan o di kaya'y history as a witness in some tragic incident."

"I know," she said as if whispering. "But you don't have to know about it now. Just focus on keeping her alive or you'll loose your head."

I laughed.

"Akala ko ba i-f-fire lang nila ako," I joked. I imagined myself beheaded and laughed louder. "Is she that important that the agency's going to kill me for her death? Well, she's hot and all but she's just like everyone else."

"Quit joking around, young man," she said with a grave tone in her voice. "I'm hanging up. Be sure to keep her safe and don't die while doing so." Then she cut the line.

How sweet.

I scanned my messages and was shocked to see that Ivo texted me. Well, he messages everyone everyday with his group messages but it's rare for him to give anyone a private message.

Tiningnan ko ito at halos maduwal.

"Baby boy, where are you?"

Tanginang gago 'to. Kapag siya talaga ang tumatawag sa akin ng baby boy, parang masusuka ako. He's also fucking 26 years old! Magkaedad kami! Though, he insists na he's older by a few months.

Nag-reply na lang ako.

"Out. Why?"

It only took some good five seconds when he replied. I'm not even shocked. His APM in games is more or less 250.

"Where exactly? I'm in front of Rini's house."

I raised a brow and replied.

"Psychiatry Clinic."

I didn't even blink when his replies went on.

"Oh, really?"

"Say hi to Jekyll for me."

"I'll just wait here. I'm sure that'll be quick."

I remained stony-faced.

So he knows?

I smirked. Of course, he knows.

I remembered how I checked every room in Sirin's house and found out that the closest room to hers used to be Ivo's. Sino pa ba sa tropa ang adik sa gaming? That room is hardly a bedroom. Parang game room na ito sa dami ng nakatambak doon na PlayStation, PS4, at 'yong sikat na gaming laptop na alam kong limited edition. There are at least ten there. May nakakalat ding lab gown.

I was really surprised when he became a doctor.

Tinitigan ko ang huli niyang message bago nag-reply ng K.

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng clinic nang maramdamang may nakatitig sa akin. Sirin stood there while watching me. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Tapos na?" pasigaw kong tanong dahil medyo malayo siya. Biglaan itong tumawa kaya sumimangot ako. "What's funny?"

She walked towards me while still laughing. I won't be shocked if she'll gasp for air any second now.

"Hahahaha!" tawa pa nito pagkalapit at tinapik-tapik ang braso ko. "I really thought I was imagining things." Dahan-dahan itong humawak sa katawan ko na para bang may sinisigurado. I curiously watched her, unable to break away from her watery eyes. "I'm crazy but it's good that I'm not hallucinating."

"Hallucinate what?" I asked.

"Hallucinate seeing you here—" she muttered, her cheeks flushing. I blinked. "—with me."

Hindi ako nakaimik. Baka epekto 'to ng counseling niya kasama ang doktor?

Oh, you must be kidding, Kursk, a voice said in my head. It's clear while seeing her eyes up close.

She wants you. Much more than you want her.