My Love My Hero, Montañez (UNEDITED) (COMPLETED)

2

Two and a half years later

"Damn," Luke swore softly. Ngayon niya pinagsisisihan ang desisyon niyang magtungo sa Santa Clarita.

"Dammit to hell!" he muttered again, as the pain in his back intensified. Siyam na oras siyang tuloy-tuloy sa pagmamaneho mula Maynila at nararamdaman na niya ang kapaguran.He wanted to hate his boss and his cousin Kiel. Kung hindi dahil sa dalawang iyon, wala siya sa lugar na ito.

"You need a vacation, Montañez," wika ni Sebastian Miller, a stocky man in his early fifties. He was half Filipino-half American, produkto ng West Point at head ng Central Intelligence Service. "Kailangang pagalingin mo muna iyang injury mo sa likod."

"Hindi ko kailangan ng bakasyon, Miller," sagot niya sa determinadong tinig. "I'd take that assignment in Cebu."

"No way!" Miller was equally determined. "You're one of my best men, Luke, if not the best. I don't want anything to happen to you. You're not physically fit for your next assignment. Napag-usapan namin ni Kiel—"

Bigla at padarag ang ginawang pagtayo ni Luke na ang silya ay tumumba sa likuran niya. "Kiel!" he barked, at lihim na napangiwi nang pagbayaran ng likod niya ang marahas na pagkilos na iyon. The pain literally stopped his breathing for a few seconds. But he'd be damned if he'd show it to this old bastard. "What has my cousin got to do with this conversation, Miller?"

Unperturbed, isinandal ni Miller ang sarili sa high-backed chair nito. Pagkatapos ay nagbuntong-hininga. "Muntik ka nang mamatay sa huling assignment mo, Luke, alam mo iyan. You were supposed to stay at the hospital for four weeks. Pero dalawang linggo pa lang ay nagpilit ka nang lumabas. And your back hasn't even healed yet."

"Hindi mo sinasagot ang tanong ko, ano ang kinalaman ni Kiel sa usapang ito?"Isang iling ang ginawa ni Miller. "Nag-aalala siya sa iyo. And I agree with him. You are challenging death, Luke. You are working like a madman. Bawat trabaho ay isang vendetta para sa iyo."

"I haven't failed the agency yet, Miller," he said grimly. "And what I do to myself is purely my own business. Ayusin mo ang pagpunta ko sa Cebu."

Humugot ng malalim na paghinga si Miller, yumuko at binuksan ang top drawer sa mesa nito. Isang sobre ang inilabas at itinulak sa harap niya.

"You have two choices, Montañez, tanggapin mo ang bakasyong iniaalok ko sa iyo at pagalingin mo iyang likod mo—"

"Otherwise?" he cut him off.

Bumaba ang mga mata nito sa sobreng nasa harap ni Luke. "Forced retirement ang laman ng papel na iyan. Physical disability." Ang tinig ni Sebastian Miller ay walang pasubali. And Luke knew him too much to know that his boss really meant business. "You can't contest, we have your doctors' testimonies."

"F—k you!"

"I'll pretend you didn't say that," Miller said calmly. Sa anyo nito ay natitiyak ni Luke na tinatapos na ng matandang lalaki ang usapan. And he knew he was defeated.

At tulad ni Miller ay hindi pinatulan ni Kiel ang galit niya nang harapin niya ang pinsan sa opisina nito sa Montañez building sa Pasong Tamo kinabukasan ng umaga. Ang nakita niya sa mukha nito ay simpatya at pang-unawa.

"I don't want anything to happen to you, Luke." His voice filled with concern. "Pareho nating alam kung bakit tila nakikipaglaro ka kay Kamatayan. Dalawang mapanganib na assignments in the span of five months. The last one almost killed you. Sa ginagawa mo, you are making me feel guilty for finding love with Aleya after the tragedy that happened to our family."

"I am honestly happy that you've found second chance at love, Luke. And you know I adore Aleya..." aniya. "Pero magkaiba tayo ng buhay kaya wala kang karapatang pakialaman ang gusto kong gawin sa sarili ko."