Gambit of Hearts: Chasing Black UNO

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

ILANG SEGUNDO na muna ang pinalipas ni Zean bago nito tuluyang binuksan ang pinto ng bahay nila at bumungad naman sa kanya si Timothy.

"Zean.."

She went home rushing last night because of what Aina texted. That an unknown person has been trying to tail Timothy. And that exact same night, she received a message from him as well. Saying he has some important thing to say.

"Come in." sambit nito bago tuluyang ibinukas ang pinto, "No one's following you, right?" dagdag tanong ni Zean na kaagad ikinailing ng huli.

Nang makapasok ay kaagad itong umupo sa sofa na nandoon sa sala nila Zean habang ang dalaga naman ay umupo sa kaharap na upuan.

"Where's Coreen?"

Without taking her eyes of Tim, she pointed the door where he came from, "Out to buy cigarettes." sagot nito na ikinatango ng huli.

Sandali na muna nyang tinitigan ang binata na ikinailang naman ni Tim bago ito nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong-hininga, "Lets wait for her first."

Ano ang gusto mong sabihin Vasquez? I'm pretty sure it has something to do with us.

Hindi umabot ng sampung minuto ang paghihintay ng dalawa nang bumukas ang pinto kaya sabay silang napabaling doon.

"You're here." sambit ni Rin, "Ano ang sasabihin mo?"

"Tsk. Good morning d-din sa'yo C-Coreen!" inis na sabi ni Timothy.

Napangiwi na lamang si Rin bago nito ibinato kay Zean ang isang pakete ng yosi na nabili nya. "You're always stammering. Fuck is wrong with you?" kunot-noong tanong ni Rin bago kumuha ng yosi tsaka ito sinindihan. "Tsaka ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa'yo na 'wag mo akong tatawaging Coreen?" sukmat nito kay Tim na inis lang na nakatingin sa kanya.

Zean let out a sigh, "Lets just get this over with. Tell me why you're here, Timothy Vasquez. We don't accept visitors in our home, but you're an exception since you said you have some important thing to say. I don't have all day, so spill it." dire-diretsong sabi nito.

Sandali na munang hindi nagsalita si Tim para iponin ang lakas nya bago ito tuluyang nag-angat ng tingin kay Zean. "I was out last night. And I noticed a car tailing me. At first, akala ko guni-guni ko lang, so I decided to let it go. But later on, I became alert when after one hour of driving from destinations over destinations, the same car is still following me."

"O tapos?" kaagad na tanong ni Rin.

"So I decided to stop at a restaurant to see if its me they're tailing. And I was right. The moment I parked my car, they also stopped few meters away from me."

"O, e, ano'ng nangyari pagkatapos non?"

Zean squeezed her eyes shut bago ito bumaling kay Rin tsaka ito binato ng unan. "Tumahimik ka nga Miller."

"P-Pwede bang t-tumahimik k-ka muna C-Coreen?!" pasigaw naman na sabi ng binata na ikinangiwi lang ng huli.

Ilang segundo na munang tiningnan ni Timothy ng masama si Rin bago ito muling bumaling kay Zean.

"Kinabahan ako, Zean. Kaya sinubukan kong magtago sa restroom. Pero hindi din nagtagal, may isang lalaki na lumapit sa'kin." anang Tim habang pilit na inaalala ang mga nangyari, "I think he was in his 30's."

"Did he say something to you?"

Tumango si Tim, "Yes, he did."

"What is it?"

"He asked me if I know the Matrix."

Zean frozed in her seat while Rin stared intently at Tim. Lumipat ang tingin ni Rin kay Zean na nakatitig na din sa kanya na para bang tila nag-uusap sila sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga mata.