IT WAS already Wednesday nang pumasok sina Mac at Bryce sa opisina. Dumating sila ng Pilipinas nang Tuesday morning at dumaan lamang sa office para magpamudmod ng mga pasalubong. Halos gumapang sila pauwi para mag-collapse sa kama at matulog nang twenty-four hours straight para 1) makabawi ng tulog at 2) para makapag-adjust. Kahit kaya ni Mac ang minimal na oras ng tulog, hindi naman siya magpupuyat kung hindi kailangan.
So Wednesday, sabay silang pumasok sa office. May sarili nang mesa si Bryce kasama ng ibang mga specialists at dahil wala pa naman itong assignment, hinayaan muna nila itong mag-organize ng mga personal nitong files as well as review previous case notes para makapag-“aral”. Sa mga batchmates nito, may assignment na raw si Baste na ipinadala sa Cebu para mag-imbestiga ng kaso ng attempted piracy. Ng barko ha, hindi ng mga DVD.
Si Apollo naman ang naatasang maging supplies officer habang wala pa itong assignment. Tulad ni Bryce, nag-a-aral din sina Gage at Mal. At dahil active duty si Derrick, bumalik ito nang pansamantala sa ISAFP at sa weekends lang muna papasok sa opisina nila.
The rest already had their own assignments. May mga tumatatrabaho sa kaso ng mga sibilyan para mapanatili ang cover ng kompanya bilang privately -owned security company habang may mga undercover namang Sentinels na tumutulong sa ilang high-profile military missions.
So far, so good.
Kinusot ni Mac ang mga mata habang nakatingin sa monitor niya. Dalawang araw lang siyang hindi nag-check ng email, mukha na namang post office ang inbox niya sa dami ng unread messages. He could get an assistant. He could! But then they had to have the same level of security he had, and the Navy won’t just give that clearance to anyone.
Hmm... si Bryce na lang kaya? But then again, kung ito ang gawin niyang assistant, para na rin niyang inalisan ang fiancée ng pagkakataong maging tunay na Sentinel. Being his assistant would be a full-time job and she won’t have the time to go on missions. Para saan pang nag-train ito nang gan’un? At sigurado niyang hindi ‘yun magugustuhan ni Bryce.
Inisa-isa niya ang mga email at napatingin sa pinto nang may kumatok. “Come in!” he said.
Bumukas iyon at sumilip si Cameron. His cousin was wearing a black shirt, jeans and sneakers, and his usual stubby ponytail. He looked relaxed and tanned. Nag-beach kasi ito sa Cebu nang dalhin nito roon si Mallory, sa ancestral house ng mga Herrera sa Mactan.
“You busy?” tanong nito.
“I have time,” sagot niya, iniikot ang upuan para harapin ang pinsan.
Isinara ni Cam ang pinto, lumapit sa mesa ni Mac at ipinatong doon ang isang file folder bago naupo. Hinila palapit ni Mac ang folder at binuksan ang file. Bumungad sa kanya ang larawan ng isang teenager na nakatayo sa tabi ng isang kulay pulang Ferrari 458 Spider. Nakapatong ang braso nito sa retractable hard top ng sasakyan at nakaismid sa camera.
“The kid’s name was Larry Carbonel,” sabi ni Cam nang iangat ni Mac ang larawan. “He was killed last week in an attempted carnapping.”
Kumunot ang noo ni Mac. “He couldn’t me more than 17.”
“Eighteen, actually,” buntong-hininga ni Cam. “First year college, anak-mayaman, got himself involved in illegal street racing.”
Kumabog ang dibdib ni Mac nang marinig ang huling tatlong salita.
“His half-brother is a Formula One racer based in Europe. The guy came home to be with their mother and he came to me last Monday, asking for help. Gusto niyang ma-infiltrate ‘yung racing circuit na sinalihan ng kapatid niya.”
Nag-angat ng mga mata si Mac sa pinsan. “You didn’t come to me because you need my help, did you?” he asked quietly.
Mabagal na umiling si Cameron. “I came to you because I’m assigning that case to Bryce. I wanted to see if you were okay with it.”
Muling tiningnan ni Mac ang mga files. Nakita rin niya ang files tungkol sa kapatid ni Larry. Formula One racer at may itsura ang gago. Mac hated him already.
Gusto niyang sabihin kay Cam na hindi okay sa kanya, na sa iba na lang nito ibigay ang kaso. Nakadama siya ng biglaang possessiveness, na gusto niyang itago si Bryce sa hinayupak na ‘tong mukhang aroganteng playboy na sigurado niyang sanay na hinahabol ng mga babae. His Bryce was beautiful at hindi siya magtataka o magugulat kung pormahan ng lalaking ito ang fiancée niya.
But then, this assignment was perfect for Bryce. Hindi lang perfect, si Bryce lang ang may kayang tumrabaho sa kasong ito. She was the best driver in the team and it was a skill that was going to be handy. At kung gusto nilang i-infiltrate ang isang illegal racing ring, hindi makakasama na may hitsura si Bryce niya.
“I’m not okay with it,” sabi niya na madilim ang mukha. “Pero tama ka na sa kanya ‘to i-assign.” He closed the folder and pushed it back towards Cam. Kinuha iyon ng pinsan.
“You want to handle the case?” tanong nito. “Sa ‘ting lahat, kayo ni Bryce ‘yung pinakamagaling pagdating sa mga kotse. You used to race in Coronado.”
“Para lang ma-test drive ‘yung mga ginawa kong makina,” paalala niya. Pagkatapos ay bumuntong-hininga siya. “You handle the client. I’ll act as back-up when needed.”
“Roger that,” ani Cam. “You want to tell Bryce or should I?”
Saglit siyang nag-isip. “Ikaw na.”
Tumayo si Cam. “All right.” Nasa pintuan na ito nang muling bumaling sa kanya. “Oh, and if it makes you feel better, may assignment na rin si Mallory.”
“Anong assignment?”
“Serial rapist sa Cavite,” kunot-noong sabi ng pinsan.
Napangiwi si Mac. “Okay na yata ako rito sa gwapong F1 racer.”
His cousin snickered, pagkatapos ay nagseryoso. “If I handle this case, you’re going to have to handle Mal’s. Okay ba ‘yun sa ‘yo?”
“Sure. Okay lang sa ‘yong palit muna tayo ng partner?” biro niya.
“If Mal will work on a serial rapist case, I’d prefer that you're the one watching her back.”
Makes sense. “Yeah, okay. Akin na’ng case files.”
“Dalhin ko mamaya," his cousin said then left the room to go talk to Mac’s fiancée.
Bumuntong-hininga ang binata. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang unang misyon ni Bryce, sumasakit na ang sikmura niya. When this thing actually starts, he was pretty sure he was going to be a mess.
---
EXCITED si Bryce na kinakabahan. Binabasa niya ang mission brief na ibinigay sa kanya ni Kuya Cam para sa una niyang assignment. Parang ginawa naman para sa kanya ang misyon na ito. Although sana hindi namatay ‘yung kawawang bata, but was something she had to face. She was technically no longer a civilian. Things like these that everyday people don’t normally come across? Bryce will have to face them more often now than she would have liked.
“Hey,” sumilip si Kuya Cam sa itaas ng divider sa pagitan ng mesa niya at ng mesa ng Ate Mallory niya. “You ready?”
“Yeah,” sabi niya bago tumayo at sumunod sa future brother-in-law.
Hindi niya kilala ang kliyente nila but she knew of him. Hindi siya masyadong mahilig sa F1 but racing was racing so pamilyar siya sa ibang mga drivers.
Nick Ulbrecht was half-Filipino, half-German at isa sa mga pinakabagong sumisikat na drivers sa mundo ng Formula One racing. He almost became the Formula One World champion in his rookie year and was one of the strongest contenders this season too.
At dahil hindi naman bulag si Bryce, she could say that he was kinda cute in a boy-next-door, non-macho SEAL kind of way with black hair and green eyes. Kinda cute lang because she'd always preferred tall, hot and sexy sailors with hard, muscled bodies to the cute boys-next-door.
Lumabas sila ng main office area patungo sa reception. Kumaway siya kay Joie bago sumunod kay Kuya Cam sa isa sa mga conference rooms kung saan naghihintay ang isang matangkad na lalaking naka-slouch sa upuan, nakahalukipkip. Nilingon sila nito bago mabagal na tumayo nang makita siya.
He was probably a little over six feet tall with a lean body. Maiksi ang buhok nito at maganda ang gupit. Matangos ang ilong nito, maganda ang mga labing well-shaped, and his green eyes were pretty too. May stubble din ang binata na para bang hindi nakapag-ahit nang bumangon ito kaninang umaga.
And yeah, he was cuter in person than in his pictures.
“Mr. Ulbrecht,” ani Cam.
Saglit na inalis ng lalaki ang mga mata kay Bryce para tingnan si Cam bago ito nakipagkamay sa kuya niya.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Herrera. And please, call me Nick.”
Tumango si Kuya Cam. “Nick.” Hinawakan nito ang balikat ni Bryce. “This is the agent assigned to your case, Bryce O’Connor.”
His eyebrow lifted as he took her hand. “O’Connor?” tanong nito habang hawak ang kamay niya.
“I’m an American expat,” paliwanag niya bago tumingin muli sa kamay na hawak pa rin ng binata. Hindi naman nito iyon shini-shake, hawak lang talaga. “I’m going to need my hand back, Mr. Ulbrecht.”
“Nick,” sabi nito na naka-angat ang isang sulok ng mga labi.
Ngumiti si Bryce, hinila ang kamay mula sa lalaki at nagtungo sa upuan sa tabi ng kay Kuya Cam.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Nick,” sabi nito bago magsimula ang meeting.
“Thank you,” simpleng sagot lang ni Mr. Ulbrecht, ni Nick. “But that’s not the only thing you can tell me, right? You can help me with this?”
“Normally we don’t allow clients to work with us on cases,” sabi ni Kuya Cam.
“But you’re going to let me,” aroganteng giit ni Nick na naka-slouch nang muli sa upuan at nakahalukipkip.
Sumandal si Kuya Cam sa upuan nito at dahil kilala ni Bryce ang lalaki, alam niyang hindi nito nagugustuhan ang aura ng kliyente nila.
The thing was Cam had never refused a case just because the client was an asshole. Pinipilit nitong intindihin ang kalagayan ng mga kliyente. Namatayan sila, nasa panganib ang kanilang mga buhay o ang mga buhay ng mga kamag-anak nila, etc., etc. Iniisip na lang nila na kung ang isa’t isa sa Sentinels ang nasa panganib, baka suplado at mainitin din ang ulo nilang lahat hanggang sa malutas ang kaso.
“We’re going to let you because you can get us in quicker,” malamig na sabi ni Kuya Cam na may tonong nagsasabing ‘huwag mo akong subukan dahil kayang-kaya kitang itumba kahit kailan ko gusto ko’. “But once inside, you will let Bryce do the work. Walang heroics, Nick.” Pinagdiinan nito ang pangalan ng lalaki para ipakitang sarkastiko ito sa pagiging pamilyar nito sa kanila.
“No going off half-cocked just because uminit ang ulo mo at nainip ka sa kung paano tumatakbo ang kaso. Bryce can take care of herself, and of you. But once you deliberately put her or yourself in danger because you were being an idiot, this case is closed and you’re on your own. Is that clear?”
Nick smirked. “Well, that’s one way to keep clients.”
Ngumiti rin si Cam, isang mapanganib na ngiti ng isang predator. “Ikaw ang may kailangan sa ‘min, Mr. Ulbrecht. If you’re not satisfied with how we run our company, you’re free to take your business elsewhere.”
Gustong tumayo at pumalakpak ni Bryce. ‘Yun lang ang sinabi ni Cam. Ni hindi nito ipinagmayabang na sila ang best of the best sa security business o na good luck na makahanap ng ibang security agency na kayang gawin ang mga nagagawa ng mga Sentinels. She knew that Cam didn’t need to say those things anyway. Mas may impact ang sinabi nito dahil ipinagdiinan nito kung gaano ka-importante ang kompanya nila.
Okay, fine. Simpleng mayabang si Kuya Cam, and she loved it.
Inilipat ni Nick ang mga mata kay Bryce. “And you, Miss O’Connor? How come you were assigned to this case?”
“I can drive,” simple rin niyang saad. Gan’un talaga. Simpleng mayabang din siya. Mana sa kuya.
“A lot of people can drive, Miss O’Connor,” bored na saad ni Nick. “What makes you so special?”
A slow smile formed on her lips. “I can drive.”
---
NATAPOS ang meeting na nag-set up si Nick ng “date” nila ni Bryce. She was going to have to pretend to be a houseguest sa bahay ng mga Carbonel habang tinatrabaho ang kaso. Nick had suggested that she pretend to be his girlfriend and she said she’d think about it. Kung wala siyang ibang maisip na cover, then yeah, mukhang ‘yun ang pinaka-logical na dahilan kung bakit bubuntot-buntot siya kay Nick.
He was going to contact his brother’s friends, ‘yung mga nakasama nito sa racing. Sasabihin nitong gusto nitong sumali sa isa sa mga karera kahit isang beses lang as a tribute to Larry. They weren’t going to let the opportunity to race against a genuine Formula One race car driver pass.
“Well?” curious na tanong ni Ate Mal nang bumalik sila ni Kuya Cam sa loob.
Natawa si Bryce nang tumirik ang mga mata ni Cam.
“Medyo mayabang ‘yung client,” sabi niya. “Hindi siya feel ni Kuya Cam.”
“If you feel uncomfortable with this assignment or with him, sabihin mo kaagad sa ‘kin,” sabi ng kuya niya sa kanya. “I’ll pull you out and I’m assigning Mac to this instead.”
Ngumisi ang dalaga. “I doubt papayag siyang magpanggap na girlfriend ni Mr. Ulbrecht.”
“What?!” gulat na tanong ni Mallory. “Teka, what? Magpapanggap kang girlfriend?”
“Unless I can come up with a better cover,” ani Bryce. “Long story. Si Kuya Cam na lang ang tanungin mo. I need my Mac.”
Narinig niyang kinukulit ni Ate Mal si Kuya Cam habang naglalakad siya palayo sa mga ito, papunta sa opisina ni Mac. Kumatok siya sa pinto at hinintay na papasukin siya nito bago niya pinihit ang doorknob. Pumasok siya sa opisina at bumuga ng hangin nang makita si Mac na para bang buong araw niyang pinipigilan ang paghinga.
“Hey,” he called, smiling at her. “How did it go?”
Isinara ni Bryce ang pinto, ini-lock iyon bago nagtungo sa mesa ng fiancé. Inikot nito ang upuan paharap sa kanya and she sat down on his lap, straddling his thighs. Her arms went around his neck and her mouth opened over his. She sighed when his taste flooded her mouth.
“Hi,” she whispered when the kiss ended and she was already pressing her forehead to his.
“Hi,” sagot nito, nakangiti. “Kumusta ang meeting?”
“Di masyadong gusto ni Kuya Cam ‘yung kliyente,” ulit niya.
“Asshole?”
“Kinda,” she said. “But nothing I can’t handle.”
Pagkatapos ay ikinuwento niya ang mga naganap sa conference room. Isang beses lang nag-tense ang katawan ni Mac sa ilalim niya, nang banggitin niya ang “girlfriend” cover na suggestion ni Nick.
Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ng fiancé. “You’re not jealous, are you?”
She watched him press his lips together. “Hindi ko pa alam kung nagseselos ako pero hindi ko na gusto ang gagong ‘yun.”
Tumawa si Bryce at muling hinalikan ang mga labi ng nobyo. “I love you, Mac,” sabi niya. “You have nothing to worry about.”
“Sa ‘yo wala, pero sigurado kong sa kanya meron.”
Pinagmasdan ni Bryce ang mukha ni Mac. His eyes were a bright green instead of the usual hazel, indikasyon ng matinding emosyon.
Nagdesisyon siyang daanin sa biro. She brushed his hair back from his forehead. “Eh, well. May magagawa ka ba kung diyosa ang girlfriend mo?”
She smiled when he finally laughed and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist. “Wala nga.” He lifted his head to kiss her. “I love you. And I know you’re going to be awesome in this case.”
“Of course,” mayabang niyang saad. “I have the best teachers.”
Tumayo siya mula sa kandungan ni Mac pero kinuha ang kamay nito. “Dinner na muna tayo, Commander. Gutom na ‘ko eh.”
“All right.”
Tumayo rin ito at magkahawak-kamay silang lumabas ng opisina ni Mac.
Nope, this wasn’t going to be problem. Nick Ulbrecht was going to be a non-issue. Mac had nothing to worry about.
Gayunpaman, she made a mental note to watch her fiancé. Minsan na nitong sinabi sa kanya na baka makapatay ito kung may lalaking magtatangkang humawak sa kanya. And she’d really hate to have to lie to protect him kapag makasuhan ito ng manslaughter.