Why Can't We

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Kursk

I sat on the empty seat beside Rhaego and gave them a glare. Tumigil lang naman silang lahat sa ginagawa nila pagkapasok ko sa condo unit ni Ivory.

"Stop staring, you morons," singhal ko at kumuha ng burger mula sa mesa. Nagtitimpi akong kumagat at ngumuya-nguya. "Anyways, why are we all here in Ivo's pad? Pinakamalaki naman ang pad ni Lynch. No offense, bro," baling ko kay Ivo na balewala lang na kumaway habang tutok na tutok sa PSP niya.

Tumawa si Lynch at napakamot ng ulo. Nasa gitna ito nina Ivo na parang walang pakialam sa mundo at Shamus na ngayo'y nakangangang nakatitig sa kisame.

"They trashed my place the other night," sabi nito habang nakangiwi. "I need to renovate the place as soon as possible. You know, women don't like disorder."

Humalakhak naman si Theos na kakagaling lang sa kusina at may nilapag itong napakalaking tupperware na may lamang hotdog. Isa-isa naman kaming kumuha at nagsikainan.

Naupo ito sa pang-isahang couch at nagpandekwatro.

"What do you know about women, Lynch?" ani Theos at humalakhak. "Last time I heard, your woman left you because you're too boring."

"I-Isang kasinungalingan!" sigaw ni Lynch na namumula sa hiya o galit? Probably the former. "Pinalayas ko siya! That slut is so boring!"

They all laughed except me. I just remembered a very crazy slut I met and I don't want to see her ever again.

Fuck. Naalala ko na naman noong araw na nakita kong hinalikan niya ang kapatid kong ikakasal na. That slut is seriously twisted. Ang desperada. Buti na lang at nahimasmasan ako nang maaga.

"Oy Kursk," baling ni Shamus na ngayon ay nakatitig na sa akin. "Kahit nakatitig ako sa kisame, alam kong hindi ka sumali sa pagtawa, gago. MIA ka lang ng limang taon woy. Wag kang others." Humalukipkip ito at ngumisi. "Meh problema ka, baby boy?"

I didn't react with his use of language and just nodded.

"Oh?" biglaang sabi ni Rhaego sa tabi ko at nag-pause sa panonood ng youtube videos.

"What the heck?! We're already in the good part!" reklamo ni Verdandi na kanina pa tahimik na nakikinood kay Rhaego. Nawala ang pagkabusangot ng mukha nito nang makitang seryoso na kaming lahat. "Wait, did I miss something?"

"Ssh! May problema raw si baby boy," nakangising ani Lynch na parang siyang-siya pa sa sinabi ko. "Mapapasabak ba tayo sa lavern?" pagbabakla-baklaan nito. He flipped his hair and accidentally hit Ivo in the face. The latter scrunched up his nose and sat on the floor, away from Lynch's overactiveness.

I sighed and recalled the call Dnipropetrovsk gave me early this morning.

"Romanov, I have a mission for you."

"Seriously, Boss. You promised me I'll have a year off. I have the fucking documents and everything!"

"I know, I know," he said and sighed. "But the others are busy right now. Medyo hectic na rito sa HQ at nandiyan sa Pilipinas ang mission kaya mas mabuting ikaw na lang."

I groaned in frustration.

"And so? Is this mission that important that it can't be delayed?!"

"Yes."

"What?! What kind of mission is this?!"

"Protection."

"Fuck! Just protection?! Sino naman 'to?! Presidente ng Pilipinas?! Anak ng Hari?!"

"That is classified information. What you have to do now is to protect her."

Natigilan ako at napahilamos sa mukha.