Been Hunting Home | Suarez III

Chapter 13

"We will need to act like a couple later."

Act.

Why did I expect it was something more than just a part of the case?

What is really happening to me?

No, Adelina. No te puede gustar este hombre. Hindi mo maaaring magustuhan ang Señor. Ang pagmamabuting-loob niya ay parte ng pagkatao niya at hindi dahil espesyal ka. Marahan kong hinampas ang sentido sa naisip.

"Are you okay with that?" He glanced at me.

Ngunit ako rin naman ang naglalagay sa akin sa bingid ng balon. Pinili ko pang sumama sa kaniya kahit may iba na akong nararamdaman.

"Solen," he called me when I didn't answer.

"Yes." Pinilit kong tumango. "Sumama ako para makatulong. If that's what we need to do to help the poor wife, I'm all on it."

He grinned. "You have the spirit."

Nagmamadali kaming lumisan ng bahay dahil tinawagan na siya ng kliyente. Binalitaan siya nito na lumisan na ang kaniyang asawa sa kanilang bahay. Ni hindi na kami nakapagpaalam sa abuela na abala magwalis sa hardin.

"All you have to do to help me is to follow my instructions. Don't overreact, don't be obvious, don't observe too much. The last thing that we want to happen is for the subject to notice us. Got it?"

Tumango ako. The traffic lights is on red so he had a time to discuss what we shall do later.

"I'm curious about this." No. I am concerned if this is illegal. Hindi ako maaaring mapunta sa kamay ng mga pulis. Lalo pa na walang nakaalam na naglayas ako. "Are private investigators exempted from complaints about stalking?"

He smirked before shaking his head. "We're not and that's why we can't be weird, creepy stalkers. We have to set boundaries. We have to respect their personal space and privacy while working. We still have to comply to local and federal laws. We can't arrest someone. All we have to do is gather information and evidences to prove or reject the assumptions of our client without harming anyone."

He's so cool when he talks about his job and stuff. Habang tumatagal ay mas hinahangaan ko siya.

"We don't want the subject to suspect us, so we have to blend in the crowd. Watch your actions, Solen. Fit in a clove. If you must pretend, be an actress. If you must lie, lie without guilt. Once the subject became aware of the surveillance, it will be over. Chances are . . . we'll fail this case."

Nakangiti akong tumango. "I'll do my job right, señor." Everything about it excites me.

"Once we get inside the bar, be careful. Never be out of my sight. Understand?" He looked at me.

"Because . . ."

"I'll be worried."

"Because if something bad happened to me, I wouldn't be able to pay you." I almost chuckled.

"Because if something bad happened to you, I won't be able to forgive myself," pagtatama niya nang hindi ako tinitignan.

Hinintay ko ang idagdag o ihahabol niyang salita, ngunit wala ng sumunod. I found myself biting myself as if it would cool down my burning cheeks.

"Take this earpiece." May inabot siya sa akin. "It would be better if you will let your hair down so it won't be obvious. It will keep us connected. I will hear you, you will hear me—even from long distance. Never take it off."

"Wear my jacket too." Ipinatong niya sa aking hita ang itim na leather jacket.

"What's the purpose of this jacket." I was genuine.