Who are you, Aira?

Chapter 5: Mission (Part 2)

"Let the transaction begin." Vargas, the old and creepy man, smirked.

I hate it! I hate the fact that I am fucking nervous the way he smirked. Why?! Why am i nervous?!

I am Aira Celestine Dela Cruz. No one makes me nervous. Not even my dad.

I inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply. I should be calm and careful. Something's not right, I know. But if I let my anxiety works, I'd lose.

Humakbang patungo sa upuan si Alex. He is more careful than me knowing that this conniving man is in front of him.

"Okay. Here's my guns, Mr. Villanueva. Feel free to inspect it."

Someone from his guard open the attaché case in front of Vargas.

Ilang minuto munang tinitigan ni Alex si Vargas bago niya tinanguan ang isa sa mga tauhang kasama namin. Agad namang kinuha ng tauhan na iyon ang case at inilapit kay Alex.

"Are you sure these are high-technology guns?"

Sabi ni Alex habang sinisiyasat ang nakapadaming baril sa loob ng malaking attaché case.

Base sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi basta bastang baril ang negosyo ni Vargas. He owns a lot of guns. Some are innovative. When I say innovative, they developed a kind of gun na kusang nalalagyan ng bala kapag ubos na. May lagayan nang naka-attached sa baril ngunit hindi naapektuhan nito ang bigat ng baril. How amusing. You don't have to bring extra pellets with you kapag ubos na. It's a hassle free gun that is why Alex needs it. Badly needs it.

"Of course, Mr. Villanueva, I can guarantee you. Anyway, how much do you offer?"

"5 million."

"Are you kidding me?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Vargas.

"Why? 5 million is already fair. Isn't that enough?"

Vargas laughed. Halos maluha na siya sa sobrang tawa niya.

I raised my brow. What the hell is funny? Baliw ba 'to? Siya lang kasi ang tumatawa.

"Come on, Alexander. 5 million is just a coin to you. Make it 10."

Halos manlaki ang mata ko. 10 million?! Akala niya ba pinupulot lang ang pera? I know Alex can pay that. He's a billionaire. But that isn't fair! Napatingin ako kay Alex. He's silent. Maybe he's thinking about it.

Wait. Dont tell me he just took the bait?

"Well?" Vargas impatiently asked.

"Fine."

Halos malaglag ang panga ko. At nagpa-uto nga siya sa lalaking ito? Akala ko ba kilala bilang taong hindi nakukuntento ang isang ito? He even warned me kung anong klaseng tao ang lalaking nasa harap namin ngayon. Why took the bait?!

"But I don't have the other 5 million with me. I just brought half of it."

Inilabas ng isang tauhan ang isa pang attaché case at inabot sa harapan ni Vargas. Ang lalaking naglapag ng case sa lamesa ay siya ring inutusan ni Alex na abutin ang mga baril kanina. Pinagigitnaan niya ngayon ang dalawa.

Binuksan ni Vargas ang case at halos magningning ang mata.

"That is not a problem. You can put the other half on my account. How about that?" Tanong niya habang titig na titig sa hawak niyang kumpol-kumpol na tig-iisang libo. Mukhang pera.

"If that's fine with you then I don't have any choice."

"Hindi ka naman siguro sisira sa usapan, hindi ba?" Binalik na ni Vargas ang perang hawak niya sa loob ng case atsaka muling tumingin sa kausap.