-4 YEARS AGO-
****
"HI, CANDY"
Mabilis na nilapitan ni Candy si Leif na nasa tapat ng pinto ng cafeteria "May dinner meeting ka diba?"
"Yeah, I just dropped by to see you" sabi nito at inabot ang paper bag na dala nito "I bought that for you. I hope you will enjoy it. Bye"
Sinundan nya ng tingin si Leif hanggang sa mawala ito sa paningin nya. Pumasok sya ng cafeteria at umupo sa table nila
"Looks like your suitor is very serious. Tatlong linggo na syang pasulpot-sulpot" sabi ni Lorelei na sumisimsim ng iced coffee
"And I heard his company is busy at the moment and he's well-known for being young but conniving and ruthless businessman" sabi ni Devon at tinignan sya "Who would've thought that you can make that man fold hmm, Candy?"
"Mabait lang sya, Ate" sabi nya at nilabas ang laman ng paper bag
Napakurap sya ng makita ang isang tangkay ng puting rosas pati narin nakatuping sulat
'I know you're gonna be tired cause you're on duty until tomorrow evening, I hope this rose will give you light to wake up' - Leif
"Yep! He's serious" sabi ni Felix na nasa likod nya pala
Mabilis na tinago ni Candy ang sulat at bulaklak sa paper bag. Tinignan nya ng masama si Felix na ngumiti lang
"Yeah, I really hope he is or else" sabi ni Phoenix at kinindatan sya
Napakurap sya ng mapansin na si Ace iyon. Lumapit sya kay Ace "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"
"Oo nga, akala ko off-duty ka?" tanong ni Felix
"Yeah, I dropped by to hand something to Candy. It's kind of important. Can we step out for a while?"
"Yeah, sure. Dalhin mo na 'tong pagkain mo, Candy" sabi ni Felix at binalik ang nilabas nyang laman ng paper bag saka inabot sa kanya
Kinuha nya iyon saka sumunod kay Ace. Nang makarating sila sa bakanteng espasyo ay naupo sila sa sahig. Nagumpisang kumain si Candy habang si Ace ay may nilabas na envelope mula sa dala nitong bag
"I asked your intel to investigate that motherfucker for me three days ago and your intel delivered this to me"
Kinuha nya ang envelope at nilabas ang laman nun. Nakita nyang flashdrive iyon
"Have you seen what's inside?"
"No, that's your mission. I'm not nosy" sabi nito at kumuha ng isang piraso ng beef steak na ulam nya "This is good. Maybe I should ask brother to make me one"
Napailing nalang sya at nilagay sa bulsa ang flashdrive saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain
"About Leif Martinez, he's involve in a case"
Napatingin sya kay Ace "Seryoso ba?"
"Car accident. He bumped into the Governor's son, Norman Policarpio"
Napangisi sya "I owe him a visit"
"Oh yeah. That Policarpio was asking Mr. Martinez a large amount of money for little scratch" sabi ni Ace "Spencer was out of the country that's why I'm Mr. Martinez's lawyer at the moment. We're gonna meet on Friday, 3PM sharp at Guirro's Restaurant. They served good desserts, Candy"
Tumango-tango sya at ngumisi "I'll talk to Leif later if he could take me with him"
"How about you? I noticed that you're being a good girl these past few weeks"
"I'll be a good girl, of course. You kidnapped my baby Ryder"
Ngumiti si Ace "Serves you right for being stubborn"
"I hate you--no I take it back, I don't hate you. You're annoying"
"Seems like Martinez is working hard to get your sweet 'yes'." sabi ni Ace at nilabas ang tangkay ng rosas mula sa paper bag "So, when are you going to say 'yes'?"
"I'm thinking about it. The faster, the better right?"
"Be careful, Candy. Playing with fire was never good. It might burn you" sabi nito
"Noted, Ace. I just need to make this quick. I'm getting tired of this mission" sabi nya at tinignan ang rosas na hawak ni Ace
"You're not thinking of saying 'yes' to him, right?"
Inangat nya ang paningin kay Ace at nagpatuloy sa pagkain "What saying 'yes'?"
"You're gonna break his heart, Candy"
"He's a mission. If being his girl is the only way I could get close to him and his family, I will do it" sabi nya at bumuntong hininga "walang personalan, Ace. Trabaho lang"
"YOU KNOW WHAT, you don't have to come with me, Candy. This is my mess" sabi ni Leif
Tipid na nginitian ni Candy si Leif "Nag-aalala ako, Leif. Anak ni Gov 'yon eh. Baka ipahamak ka nya. Paano kung maipit ka?"
"I'll be fine. I have a good lawyer" sabi ni Leif
Tumango sya at tinignan si Norman na palabas ng silid
"Pumasok ka na, Leif. I'll just go to the bathroom" sabi nya
"Okay" sabi nito at hinalikan sya sa noo saka pumasok sa silid
Sinundan nya si Norman at nakitang pumasok ito sa banyo. Sumandal sya sa pader malapit sa banyo at hinintay itong lumabas. Nang makalabas ito ay agad syang ngumisi at tinignan si Norman
"Cel..."
"Glad that you remember me, Policarpio. I forgot to pay you a visit last night so I'm doing it today" sabi nya at matamis na ngumiti
Nakita nya ang takot sa mga mata ng kaharap "I want you to leave Leif Martinez alone"
"A-anong--"
"I know him and I want you to leave him alone or else...you know what will happen to you and your family" sabi nya at inalis ang lahat ng emosyon sa mukha nya "Got it?"
Sunod-sunod na tumango si Norman na kinangiti nyang muli saka umalis. Nagtungo sya sa parking lot at pumasok sa kotse nya. Kinuha nya ang cellphone at tinext si Leif na may emergency sa ospital kaya kailangan na nyang umalis. Naninawala naman ito kaya pinaharurot na nya ang kotse patungo sa ospital
Nagtungo sya sa headquarters at pumunta sa silid nya roon. Nagpalit sya ng damit at sinuot ang puti nyang t-shirt at maong na pants. Napadaan sya sa meeting room at nakitang hindi iyon nakasara ng maayos
"....whatever. Just do what I said, this is the Queen's order!"
Natigilan sya sa narinig
"I don't fucking care on what the King of Spain wants. He can't interfere with our business...just do it, Captain or I'll let my men take care of it. I promise, it will be war...Good! Execute plan 2, I'll keep in touch"
Napakurap si Candy nang makitang bumukas ang pinto at napatitig sa taong nasa harapan nya
YOU ARE READING
Sweet Badass (AGENT SERIES #17)
Ficción GeneralCandy Celine Antonio, codename Scorpio. Energetic and happy go lucky type of woman. She always wears a smile on her face that make her look kind and sweet in front of others eyes. But behind that happy mask, there's a Badass behind. A Sweet Badass L...
