Battlefront

16- A Friend

Frustrated na naihilamos ni Xandros ang kanyang mga kamay nang marinig ang balita. Naibato naman ni Bryce ang hawak na bote ng beer sa salamin ng tokador.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Black," nakayukong sabi ni Keira.

Umiling si Xandros. "It's not your fault, Keira. This is just a setback. Sa ngayon, we have to tell her family."

"Sina Auberon na raw ang bahalang magbalita sa kanila," sagot naman ni Keira.

"Ano na ang gagawin natin ngayon?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Bryce. Tiana was the only one he had closest to family. Hindi ito pwedeng mawala sa buhay ng binata.

"We can't do anything," sagot ni Xandros kasabay ng malalim na paghinga. He was suddenly exhausted. Tila bigla siyang nawalan ng direksyon sa kaso ni Tiana. "What did they say about Antoine's body?"

"The autopsy was done. They concluded that he most likely died during the finals of Battlefront."

"Alright. Thank you, Keira. Let me think. Baka may maisip akong solusyon sa problemang 'to."

"Yes, Sir," anang babae saka lumabas na ng kanyang hotel room. Sampung kwarto ang binayaran niya para sa kanilang lahat. Ang ibang bodyguards ay magkakasama-sama dahil sa dami nila.

"I will go back to my room now. I will call the housekeeping to clean this," ani Bryce sabay turo sa basag na bote sa sahig. Bagsak ang mga balikat nito and Xandros understood him.

"Bryce, saglit lang."

Tumigil ang lalaki sa pagpihit ng doorknob.

"How loyal are you to ISOP?"

"Loyal?" he scoffed. "Alam mo bang ang bayan nina Tiana ay separated sa government ng ISOP dati? They had the power to disobey the Senate kaya hinayaan sila. Pero simula n'ong nalaman ng lahat na may mga vampire-witch na nakatira doon, ISOP took over. Buti nga at hindi nila pinatay sina Savannah at T Bloodworth for having four children. Bawal kasi ang pagpaparami ng mga katulad nila. How stupid is that? I mean, you love who you love, right? If you want to have a lot of children with the person you love then do it."

Alam ni Xandros na may pinaghuhugutan si Bryce. Alam niya ang past relationship nito sa isang vampire-witch na katulad ni Tiana.

"Ara was scared to have a child with me dahil d'on. And now that she's gone, minsan naiisip ko, paano kaya kung nagkaanak kami? Would I be less lonely? Would I not miss her every second of the day? Siguro. So, the answer to your question, Mr. Black, no, I am not loyal to ISOP. Napipilitan lang naman akong sumunod sa mga patakaran nila to avoid trouble because I know what they are capable of."

Tumangu-tango si Xandros. He knew many vampires here in Vergaemonth were just scared of ISOP because of its Sentries. The Senate even got rid of many of them though they trained so hard for their duties, sometimes over small things, paano pa kaya ang mga katulad lang nina Mr. Black.

"Are you willing to go against ISOP?"

Natigilan ito sa tanong niya at tila pa napaisip. "What's your plan?"

Tumayo si Xandros mula sa couch at lumapit sa bintanang may puting kurtina. Sa labas ay makikita ang magandang bayan ng Graviville at mga paroo't paritong pedestrians at mga sasakyan.

"My plan could be dangerous. I'm gonna need some help. Sana pumayag sila kahit patago. Besides, Tatiana is their family."

Kumunot ang noo ni Bryce. "What do you mean?"

"I will explain it to everyone. I will call Mr. Titus Bloodworth right now. I would like to have a word with him as soon as possible."

Tumango si Bryce. "Sabihin mo lang kung ano ang maitutulong ko."