Nerium oleander: The Deadly Flower

Chapter 37

"Venom, a rule is a rule. We can't let history repeat itself. Nangyari na ito noon. A high-ranking agent decided to ignore the no dating rule and pursued his colleague. In the end, the man was sent to who-knows-where and the woman was removed from her title. Pinagpili sila ng desisyon, separately. The woman chose her love but the man chose to keep his title."

'That's gravely cruel.' Draco.

'Cruel indeed.' Drake.

'I have a feeling that if that happens to Venom and Nerium. Venom would likely choose Nerium but the latter would choose her title.' Nikos.

Silence filled the room until Cypher tapped his index finger on the top of the armrest. Something he does when he's about to make a dreadful remark.

Sa gulat ng lahat ay napaismid ito na tila natawa.

"I get what you're worried about. But do you really think I'm pursuing a romance with the deadly flower?"

Naguluhan ang apat sa binigkas ni Venom.

"This is why you're dimwits. I don't like Nerium the way you think I do. I'm Cypher Markow, leader of the Pythons, a professional agent and a devoted one. Do you really think I'd give up that title for a woman?"

Nagkatinginan ang apat na Pythons.

"P-pero--" Napakamot sa kanyang ulo si Minjae at nahirapang maghanap ng sasabihin. Bumalik sa isip ng lahat ang pagpapakita ng interes ng boss nila kay Nerium.

"What's with those actions then? You were clearly into her--"

"Read between the lines, pythons. If you can't figure out that one simple reason, then you don't deserve to be called Pythons." Pagputol ni Cypher kay Nikos at ngumisi pa ito.

"Do you mean you have a mission with her or something?" Maang na tanong ni Drake na bumaling pa sa tatlo.

Hindi sumagot si Cypher bagkus ay tumayo ito at naghanda nang lumabas. "Morfells, remove the bug on my phone. I just hated the fact that someone is interferring with my communications when they know nothing at all."

Nahulog ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng apat. Isang sampal ang sinabi nito sa kanila. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay wala naman silang kaalam-alam pero gumagawa ng sariling desisyon.

"Kasalanan mo 'to." Tinuro agad ni Drake si Nikos nang makalabas nang tuluyan si Venom.

"Shut up." Inirapan ni Nikos si Drake.

Habang nagbabangayan ang dalawa ay nagkatinginan sina Minjae at Draco na nag-usap gamit ang mga mata.

'He's lying, isn't he?' Minjae.

'Definitely.' Draco.

Muling sinundan ng tingin ni Minjae ang pintuan na linabasan ni Cypher. 'Nagawa mo mang paikutin sina Nikos at Drake pero hindi kami Cy. You can't fool us. Especially not me.'

[LOCATION: PHILIPPINES]

"Bakit parang wala ka na naman sa mood Miss Nerium? May nangyari bang masama?" Tanong ni Gideon kay Yaza na nakahawak ng baril habang nakatutok ito sa isang dummy malayo sa kanila. Nasa pribadong shooting range sila ng mga Rodrigo.

Umiling si Yaza. "Wala." Hindi nakumbinsi si Gideon sa kanyang sagot pero hindi na ito nagtanong pa. Hanggang sa nakarinig sila ng sigaw.

"Mi futura esposa!" Pagbati ng nakangiting Andros kay Yaza habang papalapit ito sa kinaroroonan nila.

Mabilis namnag itinutok ni Nerium ang dulo ng baril sa direksyon ni Andros.

Nagulat ang dalawang kalalakihan. Naestatwa sa kanyang puwesto si Andros habang mabilis na tumayo si Gideon sa harapan ni Yazafra.