This update is too long so I decided to cut it into two parts.
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C h a p t e r T h r e e
I relaxed myself as I stretched on the most comfortable seat I've ever sat on for the past 16 hours. Ilang minuto na lang at lalanding na ang private plane sa Manila and I couldn't wait. Hindi na ako makapaghintay sa mga aabangan ko pagbalik. I just had my mission successfully accomplished and I so badly wanted a more thrilling one.
I looked at my Ipad and I saw the babies being delivered unscathed on the water vessel. I can't help but smile sa nakalipas na oras na naroon ako sa Singapore. Those hours were the most exciting hours sa aking buong trip. Hindi ko alam na magiging ganoon lang pala kadali ang missiong iyon.
I glanced at my Gucci high heeled boots, na hanggang ngayon, surprisingly ay suot-suot ko pa din. I never thought I'd be loving these pair of kickass black leather ones with golden studs on the heels. I never liked fashion that much and I'm pretty sure I hated these shoes on my first impression. Now, just like Jericho in my jacket pocket, I might want to name this really handy new baby who has somehow saved me from Devan's perversions.
Upon entering room 1601, I thought things will just go smoothly as planned. The deal with Devan Kang went really fast, and hassle-free. His men did what Shan warned me – masinsinan nila akong ininspekyon pati na rin si M82 na kasama ko. Apart from a pen, wala na silang armas o kahit anong lethal weapons na nakuha sa aming katawan.
Ang ikinabahala kong hikaw ay halos hindi lang nila pinansin nang sila'y mag-inspeksyon. They may be hidden behind my golden curls o possible ring hindi lang talaga sila marunong ng tinatawag na inspection ay hindi ako sigurado. But the good thing is, I kept my earrings. I don't know how M82 did it, pero hindi nahalata kung saan man niya nilagay ang transceiver niya.
But then, after the transaction, something rather unexpected happened. Well, for me it was.
Hindi ko alam kung anong pinag gagagawa ni Lana noon, at kung bakit ako inimbita ni Devan sa kwarto niya ay hindi ko alam. But it is clear to me that whatever it is that's urging him to be that close to me, has something to do with the closeness Lana and him have.
"I missed you, Izzy." Sabi ni Devan sa akin habang siya'y nakatalikod paharap sa isang malapad na bintana ng kanyang suite. I loved this room and everything in it screams money. Ngunit hindi ang mamahaling kagamitang iyon ang ikinawindang ko. He missed me? Why the heck would he freaking miss me?
"I missed you too, Devan." Sagot ko habang nakangiti. I have to act as casual as I could. Whatever it is that's behind the I missed you, Izzy ay kailangan kong sakyan. Mahirap na.
"Are you alright?" Tanong niya sa akin. Nakaramdam ako ng konting kaba ng harapin niya ako at tiningnan. Shit. Am I being too obvious? "You're more fun the last time we've met."
"Oh, come on Devan. I have my boss' assistant with me so I have to be extra careful." Wika ko saka umupo sa isang malaking upuan sa isang sulok. I caressed the fully furnished armrest and I can't help but appreciate the little intricate carvings embedded on it. "I can't be too casual when he's around, you know."
Tumingin ako sa bahagyang bukas na pinto ng kwarto at nakita kong nandoon si M82 kasama ng mga tauhan ni Devan at tila naglalaro ng poker sa malapad na living room. Kung tutuusin, tapos na sana ang deal na 'to dahil nabigay na ang pera, counted to the last bill and safely secured, gano'n din ang mga armas na sa ngayo'y dinideliver na papuntang Pilipinas. Tanda ko pang halos magningning ang mga mata ko pagkakita ko sa monitor ng sandamakmak na ammos at assault rifles na nasa loob ng isang safe at kinakarga sa isang yate upang i-transport ng agency sa isang private cargo pa-HQ. Katingkati na talaga ang mga kamay ko sa moment na yun at buti na lang hindi ako masyadong nahalata. God, I so badly want to try those new fishes!
"Your boss' assistant? Wow, I thought he's your boyfriend or something. You seemed kind of clingy when you entered the hotel." Tumaas naman ang kilay ko sa sinabi niyang iyon. Boyfrie...Say what?! Hindi nga naman ako nagkamali na binantayan niya kami papasok. Pero sa lahat ba naman ng pwede niyang ikaduda, ito pa ang pinakaconcern niya? Para na akong matatawa. Like, what the actual fuck? Seryoso ba siya?! Notorious firearm and drug dealer ba talaga 'tong kausap ko?
Lumapit si Devan sa akin at tinukod ang dalawa niyang kamay sa armrest ng inuupuan ko at automatiko akong napasandal dahil sa paglapit bigla ng mukha niya sa akin. "I almost thought you lied to me back then. And I almost thought what happened in Seoul didn't affect you that much."
Wait...what?
Hindi ko na talaga naiintindihan ang mga nangyayari. Akala ko mag-uusap lang kami regarding sa nirequest kong Vintage Gold Gothic Pistol na pinangako niyang i-auction at ako ang highest bidder. Dahil gustong gusto ko talaga ang vintage collection na iyon na nakadisplay sa isang French Museum. Iyon na yata ang pinakamasayang moment ko sa panibagong deal namin kanina.
But....What the heck?
Ano na namang kalokohan ang pinaggagagawa nila ni Lana sa Seoul?!
I gulped. Holly shit! Does this mean, na nung sinabi sakin ni Lana na close sila ni Devan Kang... She meant really close? Like really really close?
"Why would I lie to you, Devan..." Hindi ko alam kung paanong naging ganoon pa ka kalmado ang boses ko nang sabihin ko iyon. "Of course I always keep my word. It's just that, well... you really got me preoccupied when you introduced me the vintage pistol that's all."
I really don't like what's happening! I don't fucking like what's happening! Seryoso ba 'to? Lana, pumatol ka sa lalaking 'to?! Ay letse ka! Letse talaga!
Naramdaman kong hinaplos ni Devan ang pisngi ko, tracing my cheekbones down to my jaw line. I shuddered from massive awkwardness. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko hindi dahil kinakabahan ako sa sobrang kilig. Kundi dahil kumukulo na talaga ang dugo sa sobrang pagtitimpi!
I don't want to get in contact with the opposite sex and as much as possible ayokong mahawakan dahil naiirita talaga ako. But holly hell! Because of this goddamn mission I have to cling to M82 upon entering The Fullerton Bay Hotel because that's what Lana would usually do. And now, I have to contain every urge I have to punch this man on the face for being this close to me. Because this really close distance is fucking killing me!
At higit sa lahat, he's a goddamn Korean, and I can smell his really disturbing and possibly choking scent sa sobrang lapit niya sa akin. Goodness knows kung anong expresyon na ang nakapinta sa mukha ko sa sobrang pagkontrol ng paghinga.
Bago pa man siya mas lalong makalapit ay tinulak ko siya palayo at tumayo ako. Ikinagulat niya iyon at panandaliang nagtagpo ang kanyang mga kilay bago niya ako nginitian. "What's the matter, Izzy?" God, I hate his Chinese-Korean accent. "You once jumped on me so we could finally do it. Now all of a sudden you're shrugging me off, you're acting really weird."
"Weird? What weird?" I asked nervously but I still managed to hide my panic behind a convincing smile. Shit, pag magpapatuloy pa 'to baka mabisto na ako. I have to act casual. I have to act casual! "I'm just teasing you, Devan. I just don't feel well today so..."
Bago pa man ako matapos ay hinila ako ni Devan sa bewang papalapit sa kanya – smooth and graceful that I didn't actually fall from my heels. He pulled me close – so close and so swift that my hands automatically found their place on his broad muscled chest. He looked at me straight in the eyes and I can feel my heart pumping really rapidly at sa tingin ko'y sa sobrang bilis ng tibok nito ay nag-aaccumulate ang dugo sa pisngi ko.
"Somebody once told me the most effective and at the same time pleasurable way for you to feel better." He said menacingly and I saw his gaze shifted from my eyes down to my lips. I felt his hands slide down my spine and I flinched when he slid his hands inside my shirt.
"Aww... I like how concerned you are with my health, Devan but I can handle myself." Wika ko habang hawak ang kanyang isang kamay na abalang abala sa pag-eexplore sa likod ko. Shit, you may be charismatic and a total hottie for this kind of job but that's not going to bug me.
"But Izzy..." he said as he tilted his head to the side and looked at me questioningly. He studied my face as if it is some kind of intricate puzzle na napakahirap solbahin. "I insist."
Then in a blink of an eye, before I could even protest...
Devan Kang kissed me.
