Wild Flower

III: Assassin's Flowers

BELLADONNA

Haaay, it's so boring if there are no customers to tend to. Bakit ba naman kasi ngayon naisip ni Wolf na gawin ang assassination?

We have decided to open the café by 1 or 3 PM today. Sayang, marami na sana akong naasikaso.

Wolf pulled the curtains and Castor turned on the projector. Para kaming nasa auditorium. Madilim at malamig. Sa ilang degrees ba naka-set ang aircon?

"Psst, Bella, ano nanaman ang dahilan at nagpatawag ng meting ang dalawang 'to?"

Ivy whispered at me.

"I think it's the first assassination this summer."

I answered her questoon without looking at her.

"Don't we usually begin assassinations by April? March palang, ah?"

"Ahem!"

Wolf cleared his throat. Kami lang ni Ivy ang nakaupo. Casgor was seated near the laptop so he could change the slides.

"Pasensya kung napaaga ang ating assassination, Ivy. Ngayon kasi biglang lumitaw ang ating target."

"Sino ba ang client natin?"

Tanong ni Ivy.

"As usual."

"Si sir Landro? Sino naman ang pinupunterya niya?"

Parang gatling gun si Ivy sa sunod-sunod na mga tanong.

"Wiat lang, Ivy. Makakarating tayo diyan mamaya."

Ivy behaved herself which is aginst her. She hates it when Wolf commands her to sit down and shut up.

"As you all know, si Sir Landro parati ang nagbibigay sa atin ng targets."

"Wait, let me ask." Ako naman ang nagtanong. "Bakit ba parating siya ang client natin? Minsan lang tayo makatanggap mula sa iba, ah?"

"It's because, sir Landro has a lot of criminal accimplices. And all that I know is that he has a grudge against them. Well, wala tayo sa puwesto para magtanong kung bakit kaya manihimik nalang muna tayo."

I rolled my eyes.

"Let us formally begin. Later at midnight, magkakaron ng isang masquerade ball ang anak ng isang kakilala ni sir Landro. He told me this morning that it's the debut of our target's daughter. We have a total of 3 targets."

He raised three fingers and made us look at them.

"First is Martin Fernandez. He is known as a member of the 'Brotherhood'. A very important member, indeed."

Nag-flash sa screen ang isang litrato ng mga taong naka-suit. Naka-bilog si Martin.

"Brotherhood is an underground organization specializing in robbing banks. Ilang bangko na rin ang kanilang nanakawan at hindi pa sila nahuhuli."

Ivy raised her hand.

"Yes, Ivy?"

"Gaano ka-importante si Martin?"

"Siya ang anak ng head ng Brotherhood."

"Oh."

"Next, is the head himself. Mr, Jason Fernandez. Ivy and Castor, you are assigned."

Tumango lang si Castor. Ivy looked excited.

"Bella, I forgot, you are assigned to Martin."

"Got it."

I said.

"And the last is Irene Fernandez. The birthday girl."

Muntikan nang mahulog ang panga ko.