I'm Yours to Keep

Chapter 40 - Finale

Unless in special situations, like a partnership with my 'enemy', KMA usually sends our assignments to us, but Saira instructed us to go to a hotel suite at exactly 9 am. Wearing my usual black jeans, a white tank top, and a leather jacket, I boarded Gerard's car who sported black v-neck shirt and a pair of navy-blue slacks. Kagagaling niya lang sa isang 6 am modeling stint.

"May idea ka ba?" ang tanong ko sa kaniya habang nagkakabit ng seatbelt.

"A bit. Saira called Hugo. I think he'd be with us later."

Nilingon ko siya. "Sino si Hugo?"

"He's a KMA Elite."

Marahan akong tumango at tumanaw na sa labas habang binubuhay niya ang makina. They usually give Elite agents assignments that would take more than 8 months to finish. Sa mga gano'ng klaseng assignment, nakikipag-coordinate na rin sa KMA HQ ng iba pang mga bansa. Ang isang Elite agent ay may sariling satellite office at pwede silang kumuha ng agent na hindi nakabase dito sa Pilipinas.

They told me that there were currently only two elite agents in the Philippines. Ngayon, alam ko nang isa sa kanila ay si Hugo.

"What's his cover?" I asked.

Saglit na lumingon si Gerard sa side-mirror bago sumagot. "He owns a resort and a plantation, pero permanente na yata 'yon."

"A permanent cover? Is that allowed?"

Marahan siyang tumango. "Kapag Elite agent ka, maraming pwede. Kailangan niya rin 'yon. He fell in love with this girl during his assignment, and she doesn't know that he's an agent kaya hindi siya pwedeng basta na lang maging ibang tao."

Ngumuso ako at tumanaw sa labas. "Hindi ba parang ang hirap no'n? Magsisinungaling siya habangbuhay." Napabuntonghininga ako nang maalala si Mom. She doesn't know a thing about this.

"That girl is one of a kind. I'm sure Hugo can tell her about it when the time is right." Nilingon ko siya habang nangingiting nakatanaw sa kalsada.

Gerard swiped the key card and pushed the door for me. Wala pang tao kaya napagmasdan ko ang paligid. It's a simple room with red walls, a sala set, a small counter and kitchen and two white doors on my left. In front of me is a glass round table with no chairs. Sa kanan ko naman ay isang sofa at isang rack ng magazines.

Tumunog ang pintuan kaya nilingon ko agad. Natanaw ko si Saira kasama si Lonzo na parehong mga nakasuot ng formal suit.

Then a man, who I figure is also a 6-footer, walked in. He's wearing a black suit, white inner button-down shirt, and black gloves. He removed his dark brown trilby and smiled at me without saying anything. His facial features, just like Gerard and Lonzo's, were exceptional. Tipong pwedeng ihilera sa linya ng mga international model.

This must be Hugo.

Around the table, I'm standing between Gerard and Lonzo while Saira and Hugo stood in front of us. Pinasadahan kami ni Saira ng tingin bago ngumiti. "Oh. I always knew that the four of you would make a good team. Care, I want you to meet Hugo. One of your superiors and a KMA Elite agent."

Bahagya akong yumuko habang tumango naman siya sa 'kin. "I heard that you're impeccable," aniya.

"I'm overrated."

He smiled. "And she's funny."

Saira smiled too at kinuha ang dalawang folder mula sa case niya. "I gathered the four of you to work on a single assignment..." Saka niya ito inilapag sa lamesa. "You will have to take down Pierce Madrigal... a KMA veteran."

I gasped in surprise. In this room, I have the least experience, pero makakasama nila ako sa ganitong assignment. Lumunok ako at pinilit na ibaon ang nararamdaman kong pressure.