My Incognito HeartBreaker

Chapter 27

"I'm sorry, Partz." Sa pag-return call ni Gabbie kay Paolo after about eleven hours. "I had no luck. It is either she changed her SIM card or her phone is off. I couldn't even make a missed call. I sent a short SMS, but I am unsure if she will get that either."

"Anong text mo?"

"I texted: 'hi Helena. Please call me back — Gabbie.'"

"Gaano na katagal ang text mo?"

"Hmmm, maybe about five hours ago."

"And no response?"

"Nope."

"Ok." Napahilot sa sariling sentido si Paolo to relieve himself from frustration. "Thanks for trying, Partz. I'll call you again. Mag-iingat ka please."

"Ikaw rin, bye."

Sandaling natulala si Paolo after the call. 'Ginusto mo 'yan, Paolo.' Sabi niya sa sarili. 'This is exactly why you can't be in a relationship now. You can't get your job done unless you free yourself from distractions. If she doesn't want you in the future or at any time. Then, this is all there is. Sure. She deserves better. No, she deserves the best. Unfortunately, you are not in it. Let her go, Paolo. Let her go."

***

"Bingo." Bulong in Paolo Sa sarili. Habang nakatanaw sa taong sinusundan sa isang madilim na eskinita. Kumatok ang Pastor na iyon sa isang nakakubling pintuan ng isang gusali.

May malaking lalaking balbas sarado ang pinagbuksan ito ng pinto at tinanong ito ng password, "6Rocco6Vico6." Dinukot ni Paolo ang isang field note sa bulsang nasa kaliwang dibdib ng panloob niyang shirt at isinulat ang narinig na password habang sinusulyapan ang pagpapapasok sa Pastor sa loob ng gusali. Muli namang nagsara ang pintuan.

Umupo muna siya sa isang madilim na sulok upang mag-abang ng iba pang maaaring dumating, bago niya in-on ang suot na bone conducting headphone. With his work phone, nag-login rin siya sa Darknet using his own account bilang bagong miyembro ng VIP after wiring one million dollars out of the dummy account set for him by the bureau, beforehand.

'Good day, new VIP member Lax Gomez. The show is about to begin very shortly' 'Yun ang bumungad sa kanya sa pag-login niya.

Maya-maya pa'y isa-isa nang nagsisidatingan ang iba't ibang tila mga importanteng taong nakasakay sa limousine at samu't saring luxury vehicles. Isa-isa silang pinapapasok using different passwords.

"Crap." Bulong ni Paolo sa sarili, "magkakaiba ang password? These people are very clever. But how can I get my password to enter there?"

Agad niyang pinindot ang help icon. A chat bubble immediately appeared. What can I help you with? The greeter doesn't sound like a real person. He typed: How can I get the password to watch live? Three moving dots immediately appeared as if someone was typing on the other side, and then the reply popped up: Thank you for your inquiry, Mr. Gomez, but the live show is exclusive for Elite members only.

"Crap," bulong ni Paolo Sa sarili, "so may mas mataas na tier pa?" He immediately typed: How can I upgrade to an Elite member? Muling nag-appear ang tatlong moving dots, a quick reply popped up: You need to be a VIP member for at least three months or pay three million US dollars affront.

"Fuck me..." out of disgust. "Wow, these people are something." Napaisip rin siya kung paanong naka-afford ng gano'ng kalaking membership fee ang Pastor na sinusundan. His problem is that his maximum budget for the operation is only one million dollars. He had maxed it out. And even if he can personally afford na abonohan, he can't risk his personal bank accounts for the transaction. He needs to physically withdraw the money in the Philippines to cut the trail before he can deposit it to Lax's dummy dollar account. He called his supervisor's phone, pero walang sumagot. So, he texted a member of his task force, who responded right away. He replied with a favor: tell Rene Mercado he must speak with him ASAP.