Comrades in Action Book 5: Cece Klein

Chapter Eighteen

Cece looked out of the airplane's window. Madilim na sa labas pero wala doon ang isip niya kundi sa naging pag-uusap nila ng commander kanina bago siya umalis ng base. She waited for Mason and Magnus to come out of his office bago siya muling pumasok doon upang kausapin ito ng masinsinan.

"Aren't you going to prepare for your flight tonight?" Anito habang ang ulo ay nanatiling nakayuko sa papel na binabasa.

Tahimik na umupo siya sa upuang binakante niya kanina.

"I'm here to talk about something else."

Tumingin ito sa kanya. Silently asking her what it is all about.

She sighed and looked at him thoughtfully.

"I'm thinking about quitting." She finally said.

Natigilan ito. Ilang sandaling hindi nakaimik. Matiim siya nitong tinitigan.

"May I ask why?"

Again, she sighed.

"I can't tell you the reason right now."

Umangat ang isang kilay nito sa naging sagot niya.

"I'm still sorting it out. It's... kinda complicated."

He clicked his tongue. Sumandal ito sa swivel chair.

"Very well. Finish this mission first and then we'll talk about your plan on quitting."

She frowned. "Just like that?" Ang napapantastikuhang tanong niya sa commander.

The commander just chuckled.

"You know I treat you like my own daughter, Cece. Umpisa pa lang, ayaw ko ng pasukin mo ang trabahong ito. Matagal ko na ding gustong umalis ka sa trabaho. Not because you're not capable of doing the job but because of the danger it entails." He smiled at her tenderly. "There is always life after every war, Cece. Besides, you're an accomplished toxicologist. You can always have a high paying job anywhere. I'm just glad you're finally thinking about it."

She smirked. "I'll finish the job quickly."

The commander smirked back.

"Don't be too conceited. I heard the client didn't took the idea of having bodyguards around him quite well."

"Tsk.. he should know I also didn't take the idea of baby sitting his royal ass quite well. I'm glad the feeling is mutual." She shot back.

The commander chuckled. "Good luck then."

"Maam?"

Iyon ang pumutol sa pagmumuni muni niya.

Napalingon si Cece sa stewardess.

"The plane is preparing for take of. Please wear your seatbelt, maam."

Tumango lang siya at saka tahimik na ginawa ang sinabi nito.

"I think my seatbelt is stuck, miss.."

Agad bumakas ang iritasyon sa mukha niya pagkarinig sa malanding boses na iyon sa tabi niya.

"Let me check it, sir."

Mabilis na umikot ang mga mata niya ng magpatihulog naman sa makamandag na pang-aakit ni Mason ang babae. Damn this girl! Can't she see na ginogoyo lang ito ng malanding katabi niya?!

Inirapan niya si Mason. Ngumisi lang ito sa kanya at saka siya kinindatan. Feel na feel nito ang pagyuko ng babae at paglapit ng katawan nito dito. She even saw him checking out the girl's boobs! Kagat labi ito habang pinagnanasaan ang babaeng nakayuko dito! Damn this guy!

"There. You're ready to go, sir." The stewardess said, smiling brightly at the seatbelt and at Mason.

Tinitigan niya ang 'disfunctional' seatbelt nito na ngayon ay maayos ng nakakabit sa lock nito. Tsk. Seriously?!

"Thank you. You're a life-saver!" Mason gushes as he held the girl's hand.

Hah! Life saver my ass!

Just one look at their clasped hand and then the girl's face is instantly beet red!

"Y-you're welcome.." Kanda-utal na sagot nito.

She expelled an irritated breath. Next thing Mason will do, he'll flash his famous 'date winning smile' before asking...

"I should at least repay you. I'm sure we can agree on something..?"

God, I knew it..

"We'll be spending a couple of days in London before our flight back to Colorado."

And.. he's won. Just. Like. That.

"That's great! Here's my number." Mason slipped a small card in her hand. "Just in case you wanna take that payment I mentioned earlier." He winked.

The girl smiled at him demurely bago ito umalis dala dala ang card na ibinigay ni Mason.

"If she looked back, then it's game over. She'll be mine by tomorrow." Mason smirked habang pasimpleng tumitingin sa gawi ng babae. Maging siya ay nakitingin din kung totoo nga ba ang sinasabi nito. Nagsimula itong magbilang. "One.. two.. three." And then he grinned in triumph. "I knew it!"

Because true enough, the girl can't even take her eyes off of Mason! Ang malandi!

Sumandal siya sa kanyang upuan. "You're such a whore."

Isang ngisi lang ang ibinigay nito sa kanya. "What can I do? I'm damn... good looking. Might as well put it to use, di ba?"

Umikot ang mga mata niya dito. "So damn conceited.."

"And so damn good in bed too." He finished.

She gave him one last glare before going to sleep.

Nagising siya ng tumunog ang signal na malapit ng mag-land ang eroplano. She felt Mason stir beside her. Nag-iinat ito habang nakatingin sa binatana sa tabi niya.

"The sun is rising." Anito habang ibinabalot ang kumot sa katawan.

Cece looked out of the window too. She watched in amazement as different colors fills the sky. The soft color of yellow, orange and red are scattered everywhere.

"It's beautiful." She whispered. She has always been fascinated with the sun and to watch this beautiful thing unfold in front of her eyes... "It's breathless."

Lumundo ang eroplano tanda na naka baba na sila ng ligtas.

"We're here."

Tumayo ito at saka kinuha ang bag nila mula sa compartment. Konti lang ang dala nila. Mga personal na gamit lang dahil lahat naman ng kailangan nila ay provided na sa apartment na lilipatan nila.

Pagtayo niya, sakto namang tumunog ang cellphone nilang dalawa. Kinapa niya ang phone na bigay ng opisina para sa misyong ito.

It was a text. And it's content made Mason and her stiffen.

"Really? This early in the fucking morning?" Mason groaned as he tossed her her bag.

Grabeng coincidence naman kasi na hindi pa sila nakakalabas ng eroplano ay umpisa na ng kanilang misyon.

"We have to move." Ani ni Magnus na nakalapit na pala sa kanila.

Buntong hiningang nagpatiuna siya sa paglakad palabas ng eroplano at airport habang si Mason naman ay tamad na tamad na nakasunod lang sa kanila ni Magnus.