The Agent 17

Chapter 2

"Here's the plan"

I was staring at the projector the whole time kahit na kumikirot ang ulo ko dahil kulang pa ang pahinga ko sa nagdaang dalawang araw. They asked my presence here together with my co agents which already turned 18 either last few months ago.

Lahat sila ay tutok din sa projector. Mukha man akong walang amor ngayong araw, nakikinig naman akong mabuti.

Inisa-isa nila ang bawat planong kailangang gawin. Magmula sa paglabas sa campo hanggang sa pag gawa ng misyon ay kalkuladong mabuti.

The meeting ended early as what I have expected. Lahat ng mga agents na pinatawag ay idinismissed ng mga nakatataas. They stood up like a robot with fine movements. Parang lahat ng galaw nila ay kalkulado, iniiwasang magkamali. Habang ako? kumikilos lang sa naaayon sa gusto ko.

I was about to march with these agent when Commander Tadeo called me.

"What? Hindi pa ba tapos?" mahihimigan ang irita sa boses ko.

"You're not yet dismissed. Hindi pa namin inilatag sa'yo ang plano. Take your seat and stop being stubborn"

I looked at him in disbelief.

"You shouldn't have called me early para lang makinig sa planong hindi naman pala para sa'kin. Look, I'm tired as fuck and I badly want to rest. Bugbog ang katawan ko. Please be considerate next time. Don't push me to my limits--"

"Ti avverto!" he cut me off using his domineering voice.

Kung maririnig mo siyang magsalita ng ganyang lenguwahe, tumahimik kana at wag ka ng mag reklamo. There's no point in making arguments with this old hag.

"Remember what you are, Agent 17. You are trained to do some sort of task. We trained all of you to be strong enough to handle situations like enduring all physical and emotional pain. Wala kang karapatang makaramdam ng sakit at paghihirap. 'Yan ang itatak mo sa utak mo"

I was astounded the whole time he said those words. It's like I was slapped hard with the reality that I, as an agent, has no rights to complain.

Walang imik na umupo ako pabalik sa designated seat. Lahat ng Commanders ay nandito. Lahat walang imik at parang walang buhay ang mga matang nakatingin sa'kin. They don't show any emotions. Ano pa bang bago? Everyone in this Camp are acting like robots. Sunod-sunoran at parang aso.

Muling binuhay ni Commander Tadeo ang projector pero hindi na gaya ng mga nakita ko kanina. Mas komplikado at nakakalito ito kesa sa mga planong inilatag kanina.

The other Commander stood up as she was called by Commander Tadeo to replace him infront.

"Good day, I'm Commander Lia from Women Intelligence Department. I bet you are familiar with me since we are handling the division you are currently in..." she paused and face in front of the projector while pressing the remote she's holding. "Yoggana's house was located in a farm 50 kilometers away from the City"

Ipinaliwanag lahat ang dapat at hindi dapat gawin pagkatapak ko sa San Fernando. Walang paligoy ligoy na ipinakilala sa'kin ang mga sangkot sa aksidenteng nangyari labin walong taon ang nakararaan. Yoggana killed both of my parents when I was only a month old.

"Jiann Yoggana, a daughter of former Founder of this organization" I looked at the screen and saw an unfamiliar face of the devil.

Kung kanina ay puyat ang naramdaman ko pagtapak dito, ngayon naman ay hindi magkamayaw ang puso ko sa lakas ng tibok nito.

"Giovanni Yoggana, husband of Jiann and a son of a former director of Heitron Camp" she paused and looked at me with no emotions.

"These are your targets. Walang ibang dapat madamay kundi silang dalawa lamang. They have a kid, you must not include her on our plan. Stop the illegal transactions that this couple has or better yet kill them" hindi ako sumagot at nakinig lang ng mabuti

"If it means killing them will serves as your revenge for the death of your parents, well then we will be glad to let you do what you pleased. Afterall, you already proved yourself in this organization. However, we will be hoping that you'd still do well outside this camp. We will be rooting for your success. And we all hope that you wouldn't be one of those traitors who turned their backs at us in the name of love"

For the first time, I felt a pang of pain. For 18 years of staying here, I can finally say that I can see outside world that I've been longin to see for a long time. Hindi ko man aminin sa sarili ko, natutuwa akong makalabas sa unang pagkakataon. Though in a verge of flying, there will be chains attached in my feet, magiging masaya pa rin ako.

In my entire 18 years of existence, hindi man lang ako nakatpak sa ibang lugar. It's like I've been trapped here for a long time.

"Dismissed"

Hearing those words are like music to my ears. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

Sa kalagitnaan ng paglalakad sa pasilyo, pasimple akong lumiko papunta sa likod ng building na tinutuluyan ng mga babae. Habang nakatanaw sa isang lalaking nakatalikod, I felt calmed. Presensya pa lamang niya sa malayuan, nagagawa na niyang pakalmahin ang sistemang hindi ko ma control.

He's my peace. I don't know how to survive without him by my side.

"How's my baby?" his question brought me into tears.

Pagod na pagod ang katawan ko sa nagdaang araw at halos isipin ko na na binubugbog ako ng mundo. I immediately wrapped my arms in his body at saka ako humagulhol ng tuluyan.

Lahat ng takot, pag-aalinlangan at pangamba na ikikimkim ko sa buong buhay ko, parang nag halo-halo lahat. Aaminin kong sa lahat ng Agents na nandito, ako ang pinaka bugbog sarado pagdating sa training. Wala akong halos pahinga at halos mawalan ako ng bait pagdating sa mental and emotional training na ginagawa nila sa'kin.

"I'm scared" dalawang salita lang ang nakaya kong banggitin saka niya hinigpitan ang pagkaka yakap sa'kin.

If my actual mission starts, I would surely miss my home, my Commander Mori.

Yes, we're buddies. 'Yung palaging nakakalaban ko sa training ay siya ring nagpapakalma sa sistema ko.

He's 22 years old. He was one of the agents na nakagawa na ng hindi mabilang na misyon outside the camp. Siya rin ang nagku-kwento sa'kin kung anong buhay sa labas. He's like bringing me outside the camp with his stories.

I can't imagine how my life could be without this man.

"You'll be officially in a mission next week, are you ready?"

I sighed. I honestly don't even know how to feel. Ayokong ma excite kasi hindi naman ako magbabakasyon. I don't wanna feel sad kasi bakit naman? at lalong ayokong matakot kasi sino naman ang dapat kong katakutan? Yoggana? I can wreck their illegal business and kill them both whenever I want.

"Hindi"

"Hindi?"

"Ano ba dapat?" He chuckled.

"Grabe. May sakit ka na" I gave him a punch kaya mas lalo siyang tumawa.

"Ilang buwan ka ding walang Agent 17" natahimik kami pareho.

I was leaning on his shoulder at kulang na lang makatulog ako dahil sa kaantukan.

"Go back to your dorm. Kailangan mong magpahinga"

I nodded my head while eyes closed.

Muli akong huminga ng malalim at saka nagsimulang malakad papalayo.

I don't wanna bid a goodbye to him kaya walang paalam akong umalis. Ayoko lang, nakakalungkot.

Ilang metrong layo na ang pagitan namin nang marinig ko ang huli niyang sinabi.

"Stay alive no matter what. Kahit anong mangyari, basta buhay ka wala ng mas mahalaga doon. I will be waiting for your return"