A Close Second

Seventy-Eighth

Keith Andrew Medrano

"Ohh. I think Tacos sound nice."

"You just had a burrito, ano Mexican naman trip mo today?"

I watched Thea and Jacob walk out of the conference room after the whole 'Strategy Planning Sesh' as Thea had called it a while ago. Contrary to a planning session, both of them just handed out a whole plan to dismantle a crisis and yet they're now discussing dinner options.

"Hey, can I hang back a few minutes? I just have to talk to them."

Tinignan ako ni Jake, while Thea gave me a smile while the elevator opens. Jake motions for Thea to step in—ladies first—then he stands beside her.

"We'll wait for you downstairs." She says while the elevator closes, leaving me in the Ahensya Likha hall by myself.

I went back to the conference room, kung saan nandoon parin ang mga iba. Nico had bowed out a while ago, and Greg stayed, probably on stand by in case anything happens.

Na parang may iba pang patutunguhan ang lahat when Thea had every possibility clocked and documented in folders with back up plans and moves just in case.

"That girl, scares the shit out of me." Sasha says, still buried on the folders from the box we just opened. "Beatrice makes Thea sound like an innocent little girl when she talks about her, but all of this? Completely insane."

"She has back up plans for all types of reactions." Sabi ni Kenny habang hawak yung isang folder. "Catalogued and color coded, green to red depending on the escalation."

"You're scared of Thea? I'm terrified of Jake." Matt had a hand on Via's iPad, reviewing documents Jacob had emailed the whole team a few hours ago. "These victim accounts? These are public records of a separate case. He even got the ombudsman involved."

"Maraming koneksyon ang pamilya nilang dalawa." Sabi ni Greg, looking out the window where the Taguig skyline displayed the dark night. "But no one will ever think of both of them exploiting their names. I suspect they used their own charms to do all of these."

"Charm? As in ngingitian lang nila?"

"You don't know Jacob and how well he can sweet talk someone into a deal." I tell them, sitting down.

Napatingin silang lahat sa akin. Even Via who was deep in her laptop was surprised. Alam nila sasabay ako kanila Jake.

"I stayed for a few minutes to ask how you guys are." Sabi ko sa mga ito. "Thea was worried that you guys would feel like it's a hostile takeover."

Via leans her head. "Is she planning on putting up an agency of her own?" Tanong nito. "Because I can tell you right now, she'll run circles over all of us."

I smiled. "That's just Thea. She'll burn down the world when it came to any of us." Sabi ko sa kanila.

Matt nods. "Let's be thankful she considers us allies than enemies then."

"This day gave me a whiplash and a headache." Via slumps on her seat, massaging her temple. "I've been so focused on Beatrice, I didn't even think of anything. Just closed ranks. Stupid."

"Not stupid. Careful." I countered at her. "Thea's bold. Jake's careful. They're a menace together."

"That's where the whiplash came from." Via tells me. "I did not see that coming."

"No one did." Matt agrees.

I give them a minute of silence as they took all of the day's information in.