AS 01: Agent Uno | Cathleen Valecerina

17

"Code black! Code black! All Agents with their whole team to the Agent Hall! Code black! Code black! All Agents with their whole team to the Agent Hall!" Paulit-ulit iyong dumadagundong sa loob ng headquarters habang ang lahat ay aligaga at abala sa kanilang mga nakaatas na gawain.

"This is bad," I whispered as I stared at Zea, who stood just a few inches from me. It's been a few days since he was introduced, and I know he already knows what code black means.

"Agent Uno, let's proceed to the Agent Hall." Kalmado niyang ani sa akin ngunit agad ko ring naramdaman ang kaba niya nang hawakan niya ako sa kamay at marahang hinila patungo sa Hall.

I can feel how nervous he is, and I know he can also feel how scared I am. Knowing this is my first time on a code black mission with him inside the organization makes me more nervous. Alam na alam na niya kung ano ang maaring mangyari sa isang code black mission. As much as I don't want to drag him into that worst-case scenario, he's already a part of it.

"Zea." I softly whispered and pulled my hand away to stop him from walking. Tumigil naman siya sa paglalakad at agad na lumingon sa akin. His curious eyes turned to a more worried one when he saw my face, and I knew he could read the emotion on it.

Agad niya akong hinila papasok sa isang bakanteng kwarto sa loob ng headquarters bago niya ako tinitigan ng mabuti. "Speak it up." Agad niyang ani habang nakapatong ang dalawang braso niya sa mga balikat ko.

"I... You... I-I know you know the possible scenarios in a code black mission, right?" I managed to say it, but my mind struggled to formulate those words I said to him.

"Yes. I'm fully aware that maybe along the mission I might lose you. I am so aware of that even if it's not a code black." Sagot niya sa akin at napaiwas na ako ng tingin nang makita ko ang kakaibang paghahalo ng mga emosyon sa mata niya.

"Hey, Cath, look at me." He whispered before holding my chin and making me look straight at him.

"Please keep your promise. Keep your promise not to put your life on the line to save mine. You will be with me on every code black mission I take. You might see and hear me struggle or die, but please don't do anything reckless to save me in a crucial life-and-death situation." I continuously told him while looking straight into his eyes.

Nakita ko na agad ang di pagsang-ayon sa mga mata niya pero wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi ang bumuntong hininga at tumango. I hugged him tightly the moment he nodded his head and felt him hug me tighter as he rested his head on my neck.

"Keep your promise, Zea, because I'm counting on that," I whispered near his ear as we hugged each other tightly.

"I will, but please be extra careful because it won't be easy for me to watch and hear you in pain and struggle." He whispered back, and I just nodded before moving away from him.

"To Agent Hall?" I asked before giving him an encouraging but nervous smile.

"To Agent Hall," he answered and smiled back. He held my hand again before opening the door and pulling me towards Agent Hall.

Normal nang may bantay sa labas ng Agent Hall pero nagulat ako nang bigla kaming harangin nang papasok na kami ni Zea. Agad ko silang tinaasan ng kilay sa ginawa nila. Alam kong kita nila yon dahil kalahati lang naman ng mukha ko ang natatakpan ng maskara.

"He's my doctor. Is there a problem with that?" I said as coldly as possible, and I could see how I inflicted fear on them.

"Just a protocol Agent Uno." Sagot sa akin nung isang bantay kaya lalong uminit ang ulo ko sa kanila.