Connecting

Chapter 3

Both of the agents, Melissa and Chris, took the day off for today and went to their homes.

Carefully, Melissa sat down her couch, looking at her house and thought, "This is too dangerous, how am I suppose to survive if the agent before me wasn't able to?" While thinking about her life choices, she suddenly remembered why she asked to take the day off for the rest of the day. She picked up her phone, went to her contacts.

She inhaled before dialing the number. "Mom," said Melissa, with worry and sadness in her voice. "Hey mom."

"Melissa," her mom replied with joy. "It's been long since you last called me, my Melissa Marie. I missed you."

"Me too," said Melissa, who is now smiling a little. "Me too, mom. I just want to check in. How are you? How is grandma? I also have some news for you guys."

Melissa's mom chuckled. "We're good. Your grandmother is still sick but she's strong. I know she is, she can handle this. And what's your news? Is it good or bad, whatever it is, I want to know it. You're my daughter, I wanna know what's up with your life."

"Honestly, I don't really know if I consider it as good or bad." Melissa said. Her mom sighed on the other line.

Melissa continued, "I got an assignment. I am going to solve a case, but this time it's big, mom. I can't tell much about it, it's something I need to solve in secret. Don't worry though, I have a partner in this one, I won't be working alone. I just wanted to hear your voice, mom."

"Of course," her mom said. She's sad and worried because she knows her daughter's job is dangerous. She knows her daughter is always in danger because of what she's doing but she also knows that her daughter is protecting them and the whole country. "Just... just promise me you'll take care. Visit us and your grandmother whenever you have time and after you solve that assignment, alright?"

Melissa inhaled, then exhaled. "Mom... I will fly to Washington tomorrow night. But, yes, of course I will visit you. It's just, this assignment might take longer, it might take months, or even years to solve. It's a big one, mom."

"Oh, darling," her mom replied, worry is now obvious in her voice. "Please take care. If it's a big one, you're more in danger. I want you to be safe, Mel."

A tear dropped from Melissa's eyes. Her mom does know the dangers of her job, but she doesn't know this assignment is the most dangerous just yet. "Mom, I will be fine. I've done a lot of these things, this one will just take longer than the others, okay? Promise me you'll take care of yourself and grandma. Please don't let those men near the two of you."

Melissa's mom shook her head even though she know her daughter can't see her. "I can't promise. There are days I can't handle being alone here, Melissa. I can't resist the help of your dad when he offers help. Although I promise that I won't ever interact with your ex."

Suddenly, anger came over Melissa, but she tried her best not to show it to her mom. "Mom, please. Just get a care taker, someone you can trust to be with you and grandma. Just hire someone or better yet just call my sisters. Jessica and Kristina can come over from time to time too when they're free."

Melissa haven't met her father yet because she hates what he did to her mother.

Melissa's mom sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll do that. I'll try to. Just... just be safe, Melissa Marie. Be safe. I love you."

"Love you, too." Melissa replied, tears now streaming down her face. She's frustrated that she can't visit or help her mom and her grandmother, she's sad and scared of how this assignment will turn out. She doesn't know what to do or atleast, expect.

-----

Chris, on the other hand, sat down on his bed. He looked up the ceiling and thought, "Maybe I should back out. I don't think I am qualified enough for this." But then he shook his head off.

He then looked at the clock, it's just 4pm, he can still do what he wants before reviewing the new case he's assigned to. He decided to stand up and dress up. He quickly went out of the door and went to his car. "Maybe this will clear my mind."

He quietly drove, without any music or radio, which is unlikely of him. He stopped at a bungalow house, stared at it for a while before deciding to go out the car. He knocked, softly for the first time. No answer. He knocked again, this time a little louder. He heard footsteps coming from the other side.

The door opened, revealing a tall man. "Who's-- Chris. What brought you here?"

"Sir," he replied, nodding. "Uhm, I just wanna check in. I haven't heard anything from.."

The man nodded, silently motioning Chris to go inside, which he did. "Mhm. I really am sorry, Chris. I didn't know and I don't have any control on my daughter's decisions. And I know that you, young man, will find a better woman for you, someone who believes in you. My daughter found hers. I hope you do too."

Chris nodded and looked down. "It's just that... sir, we were together for 3 years and it all suddenly changed. I didn't know why and what happened to us. I just wanna talk to her, I just want answers."

"I know," the man smiled. "I know what you want. I just don't know how you'll get it. But I know for a fact that one day, when that time comes, you'll be thankful that your relationship with my daughter didn't work out well. When the time comes, you'll be happy, too."

Chris smiled at him. He smiled at the man that's there for him even though he and his daughter broke up a year ago. "Thank you, sir. Thank you for still welcoming me even though we're not related."

After a few words, Chris left. He drove and stopped when he reached a house which has a garden in front. A house he once called home. He knocked and waited for a person to open it for him.

A lady opened the door, her face shocked and happy at the same time. "Chris! Christopher, my son. It's been long!"

"Mom," he smiled, engulfing his mom in a tight hug. "Sorry for not visiting, mom."

His mom motioned him to come inside. They sat in the living room before they start talking, "It's fine. How have you been? Your job? I know it's a dangerous job, Chris. Are you doing good?"

Chris chuckled. "Yes mom, I am doing just fine. The reason why I am here is because of my job too."

"Sure thing, what is it?"

"I have a new assignment," Chris finally replied after a few moments of silence. "A new case. It's an enormous case that I don't know how I'm suppose to solve it. But I'll be working with someone, mom. I will do my best and keep us both safe."

His mom held his hands. She looked at him straight in the eye. "I know you can do it, Chris. I know both of you, whoever that other person you'll be working with, will be able to solve this case. Don't worry about me and your father, alright? We're good here. Just stay safe, Christopher."

"Thanks, mom. I really needed that. I'll be working with someone who's really good at her job, I don't know if I can say her name but I'd rather not. I love you, mom," said Chris. "Take care always. Tell dad I love him."

His mom nodded. "I love you too, my Christopher Charles. And yes, of course, I'll tell your dad when he comes home."

----

Both agents went late to bed that night. They both picked up the piles of documents and files that their director gave to them, they studied all of it just to be ready enough.