A Fatal Desire [Completed]

30

Chapter Thirty

VIGÉNERE

"Welcome back, Blaine!" Phoenix welcomed me as I entered our HQ. I just came back from the trip and I drove all the way from Zambales up to here to our HQ. "Wala ka manlang bang pasalubong sa 'kin?"

I gave her three plastic bags that I carried all the way from Subic. She check all the plastic bags and she jumped out of excitement.

"Wow! Bagnet at may kasamang pastillas!"

"Share it with them" I ordered.

"Thank you so much!" She yelled. Dinamba ako nito ng yakap pero mabilis akong nakailag kaya dumiretso siya doon sa couch.

"Umalis ka na" Tamad kong utos.

"Damot. Yakap lang e" She complained. "Pero thank you pa rin dito. Alis na ako!"

I just nodded. Patakbo itong lumabas ng HQ sakto rin na pumasok si Morphius. Sinundan pa nito ng tingin si Phoenix na paalis.

"Ang saya ng babaeng 'yon. Anong binigay mo do'n?" He asked.

Umupo ako sa couch at napabuntong-hininga. Inilabas ko ang phone ko at binuksan 'yong files na ipinadala niya sa akin kahapon. Hindi ko manlang na-check 'ton dahil sa kalasingan.

"I gave her bagnet and pastillas. You have your share too"

Napabaling ang tingin ko sa kaniya ng marinig ko itong tumawa. Tawa na mukhang nakarinig ng nakakat'wang bagay. Kinunutan ko ito ng noo.

"What's funny?"

"Ikaw ba talaga 'yan?"

"What do you mean?" Umayos ako ng upo. "Do I look like an Alien?"

"You never did this before, Baline"

"Never did what?" I was puzzled with what he said.

"That" He pointed at the door. "Bakit naisipan mong magbigay sa amin ng pasalubong? Hindi mo naman 'yan ginagawa"

"Didn't I?" Nagtatakang tanong ko at tinuro pa aang sarili ko.

"Nakalimutan mo? Ano bang ginawa mo doon sa Zambales at nag-iba yata ang hibla ng utak mo mo?"

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa phone ko. "I never change. Monseigneur gave me extra money to spend for my remaining days there, so I shared it with the whole team too"

"Wow. Zambales really gave you a hit on the brain" He said. "Kung ano man ang sumapi sa 'yo doon sa Zambales sana hindi na lumayo pa"

Naniningkit ang mga mata kong binalingan siya.

"I'm warning you. Stop saying that! You're selling me to soul-eaters"

"Ito naman, binibiro lang kita saka huwag kang OA mag-isip"

"Tss. Let's get back to business" Seryosong saad ko saka umupo ng maayos sa couch. Umupo ito sa couch na kaharap ko.

He push the red button on the table. The door and window immediately closes. Then, bumaba ang whiteboard sa may dingding na nasa harap ko. He put the flashdrive on the laptop. He was about to open a file when I stop him.