Forbes series 1: Forever To Be Your Moon

6

Mckenzie Pov

Pagdating namin sa M.C.F. building, bigla akong napa-smile. It's only been four days since I left, pero miss ko na agad itong lugar. I hope everything is settled, naisip ko. Sinabihan ko na si Kuya Cavier to remind everyone to act like they don't know me at all.

Athena expertly drove the car toward the private car park, where there was a gate with a security scanner. This gate had a special code that only a few people knew for security purposes. Except for me, kasi automatic na naka-program dito ang mukha ko—once the scanner detects it, bubukas agad ang gate. Oh shet... Bigla akong napa-panic. Mabubuking ako!

Athena slowed down as we approached the gate. Damn it, McKenzie, think fast! Anong palusot?! In a flash, I turned my head away, facing the opposite direction so the scanner wouldn't recognize me.

Athena picked up her phone and called someone. "Hello, Thea, good morning. Did M.C.F. give you the code for the gate?" tanong niya habang ako ay awkwardly nakatingin sa kabilang side, parang asong pinagalitan.

"Good morning, Ms. Madrigal," sagot ni Thea sa kabilang linya. "No, they didn't, but they sent a small card to scan it. It's with the documents I prepared yesterday."

"Okay, thank you. I'll see you in a bit," Athena ended the call and turned to me.

"McKenzie, kindly grab my bag from the backseat and get the small card."

Ay, patay! Napakagat-labi ako habang pilit na hindi tumitingin sa kanya. Quickly, I reached for her bag sa likod, na parang ninja, and grabbed the card without making eye contact. "Here you go, Ms. Madrigal," sabi ko, abot ng card sa kanya habang nakalingon pa rin ako sa ibang direksyon. Please lang, huwag sanang mahalata!

Athena, clearly suspicious, raised an eyebrow. "Look at me, Ms. McKenzie," utos niya in that cold, authoritative voice. Oh no, bakit ba ang sungit ni Madam?

Huhuhu... hindi pwede! Nandiyan ang scanner!

Slowly, I turned my head toward her, like I was about to face a firing squad, trying my best to block the scanner with my body. Pagkakuha niya ng card, as if on cue, biglang nag-flash ang scanner at bumukas ang gate. OH NOOOO! Sigurado akong kita ng scanner ang mukha ko.

Nagulat si Athena at napatingin sa scanner, then sa akin. "Huh? I didn't even scan the card..." she said, obviously confused.

Palusot! Palusot, McKenzie! I mentally screamed at myself.

"Uh... baka na-recognize kayo ng mga security dito sa gate, Ms. Madrigal. Siguro naisip nila, 'Ay, special guest, papasukin na,'" palusot ko with a nervous laugh. Please buy it... please buy it...

Athena narrowed her eyes, thinking. "Maybe... but it's a bit odd. Knowing M.C.F., hindi sila basta-basta nag-o-override ng codes unless that person is so special," she said slowly, like she was figuring out a puzzle.