Figli della Notte #1: Codename Havoc

Chapter 10

Kasalukuyan nasa kotse niya si Cody kasama si Luna at nagmamaneho papunta sa isang liblib na lugar sa Laguna. Natanggap na niya ang instructions ni L at ngayong araw na nga niya dapat gawin ang pag-turn over sa custody ni Luna.

He gave a quick glance at the woman sitting beside him. Naalala niya uli ang huli nilang pag-uusap ng dalaga. Natatandaan pa niya ang pagkataranta nito ng sabihin niyang ibibigay niya ito kay Primo. Agad-agad din itong nagsulat ng mga katagang nakikiusap sa kanya na huwag niyang gawin iyon. Her eyes were practically begging him.

Napansin niya na hanggang ngayon ay namumula pa rin ang mga mata ng dalaga. She may have been silently crying last night kaya ganoon na lamang kamugto ang mga mata nito.

He wanted to step on the brakes immediately and scoop the woman into his embrace. Pinipigilan lamang niya ang sariling gawin iyon dahil malaki ang nakataya kapag nagpadala siya sa kanyang emosyon. He looked straight ahead and continued driving.

As soon as they arrived at the indicated abandoned building, Cody noticed a black Chevrolet Silverado parked behind a pillar. He parked his own car malapit sa kotseng iyon. Matapos patayin ang makina, hindi siya agad bumaba at nanatiling nakatingin lang sa harap. Truthfully, he doesn't know what to say to Luna at this point.

Ilang sandali ring namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng kotse. Si Cody na rin mismo ang hindi nakatagal kaya naman lumabas na siya. Umikot siya sa passenger's side at pinagbuksan ng pinto si Luna. As soon as he opened the door, his eyes were met by the woman's obsidian gaze.

Parang nagiguilty siya sa gagawin niya kay Luna kaya naman una siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Walang sabi sabi ay binuhat niya ito palabas ng kotse at tinungo ang kabilang kotse. Dahil hindi naman ganoon kabigat si Luna, nagawa pa ni Cody na buksan ang pinto gamit ang isang kamay. Maingat na iniupo ni Cody ang babae sa likod.

"Someone's coming for you.", sabi niya rito habang inaayos ito sa pagkakaupo. He made sure that she was feeling comfortable.

Nang tumingin na si Cody sa mukha ni Luna, parang piniga ang puso niya sa nakita. Tumutulo ang masaganang luha sa pisngi ng dalaga. Puno ng hinanakit, pait, at takot ang ekspresyon nito. Damn if that didn't break his heart into pieces!

"You're in good hands, Luna.", pagpapatahan niya rito. He cupped her face with his two hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. "You don't have anything to worry about."

Walang lakas at humihikbi na napailing ito sa kanyang tinuran. Mahigpit itong kumapit sa manggas ng suot niyang button-down polo. Alam na kasi nito na kailangan na niyang umalis at para bang sa pagkapit nito sa manggas niya ay mapipigilan siya nitong umalis.

He badly wants to hug her and whisk her away. Pero iniisip rin niya na mas malalagay sa panganib ang dalaga kung kakalabanin niya si Primo. If he runs away with her, not only will he need to protect Luna against other people without the support of the family, he will also need to protect himself dahil paniguradong hindi siya patatakasin ng buhay. The risk is too big para sumugal!

Iniangat ni Cody ang mukha ni Luna na ngayon ay nakayuko na. He kissed her forehead. He kissed her nose. At huli niyang idinantay ang labi sa mga labi nito. His lips lingered there as he savored the electricity that sparked from their intimate contact. At that point, gusto niyang mapaluha pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. Kaonting panahon lang silang nagkasama ngunit alam niyang may espesyal na puwang sa puso niya ang babae. Right from when he first looked straight to her jet black eyes, he knew that Luna would be unforgettable.

Pikit-mata niyang inalis ang mahigpit na pagkakakapit ng dalaga sa kanyang manggas. Dali-dali niyang isinara ang pinto at bumalik sa kanyang sariling kotse at pinaandar ang makina. He willed himself not to look at the side mirror to check Luna for the last time pero hindi niya napigilan ang sarili. Just how many times will his heart break today? He saw her tear-stained face, looking out the window at him. Nakatakip ang palad nito sa bibig habang ang isang kamay ay nakadaiti sa glass window. It took everything from Cody to drive away and leave that woman without looking back.

-*********-

Parting with Luna wasn't supposed to be as painful as this. Pakiramdam ni Cody ay hindi siya makahinga. His eyes also sting and his nose itchy.

Napapasinghap na ipinarada ni Cody ang kotse sa gilid ng kalsada. Hindi pa siya nakakalayo kung saan niya iniwan si Luna. He was determined to not let his emotions affect his decisions. He was determined to really walk away. But, damn it! The farther he goes, the weaker he feels inside.

Marahas na inihilamos ni Cody ang palad sa mukha. This is the first time he felt so bad about leaving another person behind. Ito rin ang unang pagkakataon na pakiramdam niya ay mamamatay siya sa pag-iisip pa lamang na hindi na niya makikita ang isang tao. Even when he started out his journey to become a bachelor and left the orphanage, he didn't feel this much pain and heartache when he left the woman who raised him.

'Is it really this difficult to let go of the woman you love?', Cody asked himself in a frustrated and pained manner.

Yes, he will admit it! He is in love with Luna. In fact, he may have been in love with her ever since the first time he saw her.

With that realization, pinaandar ni Cody ang makina ng kotse. He made a U-turn and drove back to where he left his heart.

Alam niyang maraming problema siyang kakaharapin sa kanyang desisyon na balikan si Luna. However, nothing matters to him at this point. Come hell or high waters, he will never let go of the woman who holds his heart.

Getting his woman back from his formidable family - this will be Agent Havoc's last mission!