The shock wore off and I forced myself to calm down. Pumunta ako sa vending machine at kumuha ng tubig doon. After that, namili ako ng ulam at sinamahan ng kanin at nagbayad sa counter.
I can feel her eyes burning right through me. I know she knows who I am. A vague idea anyway. Nung tumingin ako sa direksiyon niya, bigla siyang napatingin sa pagkain niya.
Ngayon ko lang siya nakita ever since the hotel incident. Now I'm wondering how she got here.
Guess there's only one way to find out.
Pumunta ako sa table kung nasaan siya at inilapag ang pagkain ko at umupo. Nakakatawa ang hitsura niya ngayon, parang isda na wala sa tubig. Ang putla pa niya.
"What's your name?" I asked. Lalo siyang namutla at natigilan pero nakabawi din at ginawang blangko ang mukha niya.
Huh, this girl's got some balls huh?
Malayong malayo dun sa babaeng nasa hotel.
"At bakit ko naman sasabihin sayo?" pagtataray niya.
"Would you prefer if I just call you 'lift attendant' then?" I smirked.
That's right, it's the lift attendant. Baka siya yung sinasabi ni Club. But why her? What's she got to do with the Triad?
I examined her at doon ko lang napansin na may galos siya sa bandang temple niya. She also has a sprained ankle if I'm not mistaken. Kaya pala may benda ang paa at may katabi siyang crutches. She's also a victim of the hotel bombing?
"Mel. That's my name. Pwede ka na bang umalis para makakain ako ng maayos?" naiiritang sagot niya sakin.
"Not quite miss Mel."
"Anong kailangan mo sakin?" sabi niya habang tinatapunan ako ng tingin.
Cute.
"Have you, by any chance... seen something before the bombing in the hotel took place?" natigilan siya at namutla pa lalo pwro pilit niyang pinapakalma ang katawan niyang nakikita kong nanginginig.
"Why should I answer you Mr...." tanong niya.
Bond. James Bond.
Balak ko sanang lokohin siya kaso seryoso ang usapan namin eh. So I opted for the truth.
"Volantes. Spade Volantes."
Nanlaki ang mata niya bago maka-recover at sumagot.
"Mr. Volantes. Nasabi ko na po sa mga police kagabi ang lahat ng nakita ko before and after the bombing. I got this sprained ankle when I went to get help para dun sa lalaking may buhat na babae--"
"Wait, sina Club at mama?"
Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin kasi hindi ko siya pinatapos.
"Hindi ko sila kilala. Ang alam ko lang, nung nakita ko sila kailangan kong tumulong. Pinilit kong tulungan sila at alalayan yung babae kaso sabi naman nung lalaking may hawak sa kaniya baka lumaki pa lalo yung sugat niya sa tiyan."
There... a bit more Mel. Magkwento ka pa.
She didn't realize that I was manipulating her. She's smart, but not that smart to notice. Madaldal din pala kaya mas madaling makakalap ng impormasyon galing sa kaniya.
"My nakita ka pa bago nun? Saan ka naman nanggaling after mo kami ibatid sa ground floor? Naaalala mo pa naman siguro kami diba?"
"How could I forget? Kayo yung naligo sa pintura."
She still thinks it's paint?
"But we both know it's not, isn't it?" she said habang naka cross ang dalawang kamay niya sa harapan niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Deccard Brothers: SPADE | ✔ #Wattys2021
ActionSpade Volantes is the third son among the quadruplets of King and Queen. They're simply that. No last names. The brothers each chose different last names for formalities as well as to fit in to their high-profile society. Not to mention he and his b...
