Code

[Chapter:23] (Hidden Village)

[Chapter:23] (Hidden Village)
Code

"So, that's why you accepted the Headmistress offer. I thought you changed your mind because I persuaded you." She said understandingly.

I nodded. "It's half and half actually."

"What?" Takha nitong tanong.

"Yes I accepted her offer because of this and yes I accepted it because of you. Half and half. Fifty fifty." Kibit balikat kong sagot at humigop sa kapeng inorder ko.

We are at the cafe where the poisoning and the hit-and-run happened. I'm actually surprised that this place is still packed up with customers after what happened.

"So what are we gonna do now? You said you'll search for them but how are you gonna do that?" Tanong niya habang kumakain ng strawberry cake na inorder niya.

I smirked. "I have my ways. But the question is are you up for it?"

Tumigil naman siya sa pag kain at nag angat ng tingin. "Tinatanong paba yan? Of course I am, hinila hila mo ako dito tas di mo ako isasama? Napaka duga mo naman."

I shrugged. "If you wish to come I have no other choice."

She half smiled. "Good."

We we're enjoying our free time when a man caught my attention. He seems lost and scared, like he was being chased down. Lumapit ito sa counter at nag simulang maalerto ang cashier sa nakitang ekspresyon ng lalaki. "I-I have to h-hide. C-can you hide me in there?" He asked the cashier, begging her to hide him in the kitchen. Agad naman umiling ang babaeng cashier at pinapalabas na ito. She even threatened the man that she will call the police if he would not leave the cafe this instant.

Nag bago naman ang mukha ng lalaki sa pagkakasabi na tatawagan ang pulis. "Hindi mo sila puwedeng tawagan!" Giit nito at dumukwang para mahawakan ang babae. Nagulantang naman ang mga taong nasa cafe, lumabas naman sa kusina ang ibang staff ng cafe at sinubukan tulungan ang babaeng hawak hawak ngayon ng lalaki sa kwelyo.

"Code!" Val shouted my name when she saw the man pulling a knife in his back and pulling the woman out of the counter and into his grip.

I looked at her boredly. "What?" I asked.

Hindi naman makapaniwalang pinandilatan ako nito ng tingin. "Anong what? Siraulo kaba? That woman is in danger. So go help her, tutal dun ka naman magaling."

"Nah, I'll pass. Madami ng nakikitulong sa pag sagip sa kanya hindi nako kailangan pa." Pag tanggi ko at inubos ang kape ko.

Pinitik naman nito ang noo ko. "You know how to handle this kind of things. Tignan mo nga sila," Aniya habang tinuro ang mga taong nakikiusap sa lalaki na hanggang ngayon ay mahigpit ang hawak sa babae at nakatutok rito ang kutsilyong hawak. "You think they know what they're doing?" She asked.

I peeked for a moment. "Maybe?" Patanong kong sagot. "They don't. Mas pinapalala lang nila ang sitwasyon sa ginagawa nila." She countered. I looked at her. "Ikaw naman ang nakakaalam so ikaw na ang tumulong. Ikaw naman din nakaisip." Inambaan naman ako nito ng suntok.

"Aayos ka o bubugbogin kita?"

"Maayos naman ako ah?"

She snorted. "Yeah right."

Sinilip ko naman muli ang nang yayaring kaguluhan sa harap ng entrance ng cafe. The man is now in the corner while threatening the others to back off or he'll kill the woman in his grip. When I looked into the people in their tables I saw one of them calling someone in the phone. I sighed, I better stop this now before the police arrive here or the situation will get worse. Halata namang wanted ang lalaki sa pulis, reaksyon pa lamang nito kanina sa sinabi ng babae na tatawag ito ng pulis ay kakaiba na. Sira sira rin ang damit nito at madungis ang katawan, mukhang matagal na itong nag tatago kung saan at ngayon lamang natagpuan ng kapulisan. I wonder what's his offense.

I stand up from my seat and made my way to the scene. Agad na napalingon sa akin ang lahat lalo na ang lalaking staff na pinapakalma ang lalaki at pinipilit itong ibigay sa kanya ang katrabaho. "What are you doing here, again?" He asked while maintaining eye contact to the criminal.  "You're taking too much time to handle this situation so I'll be butting in for now on." I said shoving him off at the back. "Pag lang nasaktan siya kakasuhan kita." Gitil nitong sabi sa likod ko. I looked behind me and smirked. "As if you can win against me." I turned my head in front and looked at the man hand where he was holding he's knife. Sloppy holding, if I could just make my way to him without causing any harm to the hostage I could probably kick off the knife in his hand.

A imaginary light bulb pop right beside me. I took a step forward earning a glare from the man. He tightened his grip on the girl while shoving the knife into her neck. "Lumayo ka samin bata! Hindi ako mag dadalawang isip na itarak ito sa leeg niya." Pananakot nito. I smirked and coolly placed my both hands into my pants. "Then do it. Come on, stab her." I said while looking at the woman. Nanlalaking matang tinignan ako nito, horror was written in her face. Agad ko naman ang narinig ang pag tutol ng lalaki sa likod ko. "Huwag! Wag ka makinig sa kanya!" Ngunit di siya pinansin ng lalaki at sakin lamang nakatuon ang paningin.

"Gagawin ko talaga, kaya lumayo kana!" I took another step forward while secretly glancing at the side. "You said that many times already. Bakit hindi mo pa ginagawa? Akala ko ba hindi ka mag dadalawang isip?" Napailing ito, natameme naman sa akin ang babae at nag simula na lumuha ng lalong bumaon sa kanyang leeg ang talim ng kutsilyo. "Ginago mo lang ako! Tumigil ka jan! Subukan mong humakbang pa ng isa itatarak ko talaga sa kanya to at ikaw ang isusunod ko." He said while pointing  the knife at my face and it was my cue to end his short drama.

I stepped into the side at kinuha ang isang bakal na stick na pang baba ng roll-up ng cafe. I used my free hand to grip the man's wrist where he was holding his knife and twist it. I used the metal stick to hit him in his knee making him wobble and lost his balance. He lost his grip into his hostage and loose his weapon. Pabagsak ko namang binitawan ang bakal at tumama naman ito sa likod niya. Napamura ito sa impact ng bakal sa likod niya, kinuha ko naman ang tali ng cake na nasa malapit na mesa at mahigpit na tinalian ang kamay nito. Minumura ako nito at ilang beses nag pumilit kumawala. Kakatapos ko lang sa pag tapal sa bibig nito dahil sa ingay nito ng dumating ang pulis at kinuha ito. Pinasalamatan naman ako ng mga ito at sinabing makakarating ang ginawa ko kay Inspektor. Ngali ngali kong humindi ngunit nakaalis na ang mga ito, ngayon ay malalaman niya ng nakalabas nako ng ospital. Mabubulisyo ang plano kong pag hahanap pag nakita ako nito muli lalo na si Officer Mandarag.

Bago pako makabalik sa table namin ni Val ay hinarang nako ng babae na naging hostage kanina. May benda ito sa leeg. "Marami nga palang salamat sa pag ligtas sa akin." Nakangiti nitong sabi. Tumango lamang ako at nilampasan na ito, hinila ko naman si Val sa kinauupuan nito at dinampot ang bag na dala ko.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" Tanong nito habang hila hila ko parin siya sa sakayan.

"Sa bahay ko." I said when a taxi stop in front of us. Binuksan ko naman ang pinto nito at pinasok si Val.

Pagkapasok ko ay agad kaming tinanong ng driver kung saan ang punta namin. "Sa Hidden Village, manong." Sagot ko at agad naman umarangkada ang taxi.

***

I'm excited for the next chapters. It's gonna be fun! *grins*