MONTEROSSA Series 1: HER ARROGANT BODYGUARD (Published under TBI!!!)

HER ARROGANT BODYGUARD -Chapter 1-

“Mag-ingat ka, Verna,” Brian whispered to his beloved fiancée and gently squeezed her left hand while they were inside his Toyota Vios. Ang sasakyan niyang iyon ang ginagamit niya kapag may operation sila.

He and his fiancee, Verna, were both law enforcers, and they were sent together for a particular mission tonight. It was a buy-bust operation to capture the members of a drug syndicate in the country.

“Ikaw rin, Brian. Mag-ingat ka,” sagot ng dalaga habang diretso ang tingin sa harap.

Ilang saglit lang ay dumating na ang kotseng nahihinuha nilang sinasakyan ng mga taong kanina pa nila hinihintay. Hindi nga sila nagkamali dahil natanaw nilang bumaba ang apat na lalaking pawang maaangas ang pagmumukha mula sa sasakyan. Isa sa mga ito ay may bitbit na attaché case.

Nagtanguan sila sa isa’t-isa ni Verna bilang indikasyon na handa na nilang harapin ang mga miyembro ng sindikato. With their eyes focused on the four men, they got off the car together. He was clutching an attaché case that contained ten million pesos. Both of them hastily walked towards the four men who were standing beside their own vehicle.

Kaagad na binuksan ng isa sa mga ito ang isang attaché case nang sila’y ganap na makalapit. Bumulaga sa kanilang harapan ang mga shabu na nakabalot sa mga plastik.

One of the men picked a pack and handed it to Verna. She immediately accepted it. “Paano namin malalamang tunay nga ang mga ito?” she queried casually.

“Pwede mong tikman kung gusto mo,” maangas na sagot ng lalaking may hawak ng atache case na naglalaman ng droga.

She created a tiny hole in the plastic bag using her left hand, and pinched a bit of the white powdery substance. Then, she took it to her mouth, tasting the powder. “Tunay nga,” she uttered in confirmation, and stared meaningfully at him.

It was their turn to show what they’ve got. He unlocked the atache case and opened it. Kitang-kita ng binata ang rumehistrong pagkamangha sa mukha ng apat na lalaki nang mapatingin ang mga ito sa bungkos-bungkos na perang laman ng kanyang hawak na attaché case.

“Sampung milyon. Walang labis, walang kulang,” maigting na wika ni Brian habang nakipagtitigan sa apat na lalaki.

The four men nodded their heads at each other. Then, one of them took the attaché case that was full of money from him, while Verna secured the one that contained drugs.

“Salamat,” Verna whispered as she held the attaché case firmly in her hands.

The transaction was over and they turned their backs from each other. They approached their respective vehicles. Ngunit hindi pa man sila nakasakay sa kanilang sasakyan ay isang kotse kaagad ang mabilis na nakalapit kung saan sila naroroon.

“Gary, mga parak ang dalawang ‘yan!” malakas na sigaw ng isa sa mga sakay niyon nang bumukas ang pinto ng itim na kotse.

The four men including the two betroths were alarmed when they heard that thunderous voice from a man who was inside the vehicle. Bago pa man tumama kina Brian ang bala mula sa baril na ipinutok ng isa sa mga kasamahan nito ay mabilis na silang nakailag ng nobya. They ducked on the ground and looked for cover. Sa kanyang pagkakahiga ay hinugot niya ang baril na patagong nakasukbit sa kanyang baywang at pinaputukan ang isa sa mga kalaban nila. Bumulagta sa lupa ang tinamaan ng bala ng baril niya.

Dalawa sa apat ang natamaan nang magpaputok din si Verna ng sariling baril nito. They were heavily armed when they went to this buy bust operation. He saw one of the members of the drug syndicate who was about to turn on the engine of his car so he could escape, and Brian jolted his calibre .45 directly towards him, pulled the trigger and the bullet hit the man on the head.

Ngunit hindi napansin ng binata ang papalapit na kotse sa kanyang kinatatayuan. Isa sa sakay niyon ay may hawak na baril at pinaputukan siya. Huli na para umiwas. Nasapol siya sa balikat.

“Magdasal ka na dahil patay ka na ngayon!” malakas na pumailanlang sa paligid ang sigaw na iyon.

“Brian! Mag-ingat ka!” it was Verna. And she sounded worried.

From his standpoint, he was glared by the beaming lights coming from the car that was rapidly rolling towards him. Mabilis iyong tumatakbo palapit sa kanya na animo’y sasagasaan siya. Mabilis na gumana ang kanyang reflexes kaya bago pa man siya nahagip niyon ay nakalundag na siya sa ere.

Nabasag ang windshield ng kotse nang bumulusok ang kanyang dalawang paa at tumama ang mga iyon sa mukha ng lalaking may hawak ng baril. Gumulong siya sa itaas ng bubong ng sasakyan. Pagbagsak niya sa damuhan ay pinaulanan nilang dalawa ni Verna ng bala ang sasakyan. Nabangga ang kotse sa pader na naroroon. Pagkatapos nang nakakangilong banggaan ng bakal at sementadong pader, sumunod ang katahimikan. He was sure that the gun man and the driver of the car were dead.

Mabilis na dinaluhan siya ng nobya. “Brian, akala ko kung ano na ang nangyari sa’yo,” Verna whispered, her tears were gently flowing down her cheeks.

She helped him get up. Nang makatayo na siya ay mahigpit siyang niyakap ng nobya. He could see how worried she was.

“Wala ito, Verna. Huwag kang mag-alala dahil ayos lang ako. Ikaw, okay ka lang ba?” he asked as he returned her embrace.

“Oo, Brian. Okay lang din ako.”

He sighed in relief. He was shot alright, but he was really thankful that his fiancée was unharmed. He could sustain even the most fatal shot, but he couldn’t bear see his fiancée wounded. Ayaw niya sanang malagay ito sa panganib pero wala siyang magawa dahil silang dalawa ang inatasan ng kanilang superior na isakatuparan ang buy bust operation na iyon.

They phoned the headquarters before they left the crime scene, and Brian was then rushed to the hospital. Kailangan kasing malunasan ang sugat niya sa braso. Duguan man pero masaya siya dahil tagumpay ang misyon nila ni Verna.

“Congratulations for a job well done, Tenyente Monterossa at pati na rin sa’yo, Verna. Hangang-hanga sa inyong dalawa ang Presidente natin. Dahil sa ginawa ninyo’y malapit nang mabuwag ang samahan ng sindikatong sanhi nang paglaganap ng droga sa ating komunidad. Hinahanap na lamang ang lider ng drug syndicate na ito at alam kong darating din ang araw na matutunton natin ang mga iyon. I believe that we can break this syndicate, and put the leaders behind bars. Ipinagmamalaki ko kayong dalawa.” Chief Commodore Amado Garcia was all praises as he flashed his spatial smile to Brian and Verna.

They were reporting in his office after his wound was treated. Natanggal na ang bala sa kanyang braso at maayos nang nalagyan ng benda ang kanyang sugat.

“Salamat po, sir. Ginagawa lang namin ang aming tungkulin,” Brian casually replied. Pero malapad ang ngiti niya at proud siya sa accomplishment na nagawa nila ng nobya.

 “Thank you, sir,” tugon din ni Verna pagkatapos makipagkamay kay Commodore Garcia.

“Hindi nagkamali ang Presidente sa pagtatag ng Task Force Black Scorpion. I hope that both of you will keep up the good work.”

“Of course, Sir!” Magkasabay na sagot nila ni Verna.

Chief Commodore Amado Garcia looked pleased as he patted Brian’s right shoulder. Mabuti na lamang at medyo nakailag siya kaya hindi natamaan ng kamay nito ang parte ng braso niyang may sugat.

“O, kayo naman, congratulations!” Commodore Garcia stated when he faced the other seven men who were also under his leadership. “Kahit wala kayo sa area, you’re still worthy to be acknowledged.”

“Thank you, sir.” Halos magkasabay na sagot ng mga ito na hindi rin mapigilan ang matawa gaya nila ni Verna.

“Eh sir. Pasensiya na. Biglaan kasi ang operation na iyon eh,” katwiran ng isa sa mga kasamahan nila habang kumakamot ito sa ulo.

Napailing na lamang si Commodore Garcia.

Pangiti-ngiti lamang sila ni Verna.

It was supposed to be a group effort pero silang dalawa lamang ni Verna ang natuloy. But all’s well that ends well. Mission accomplished. That was all that mattered.