Agent Night (Tagalog)

Our organization spoke for its name. It was literally underground.Napapalibutan ng mataas na pader ang headquarters just like the other headquarters in different parts of the country. We gave our passwords before we reached the main and only building which was five kilometres away from the gate. Before they could enter, agents from other headquarters were provided a password through a cryptic message which only the members of the organization could decipher.Apollo parked in front of a huge white mansion. For an outsider’s eyes, it would look like a vacation house of a rich family, but we knew better. I parked my motorcycle next to the sports car. There were other cars too, pero walang ibang motor. Ako lang talaga siguro ang mahilig gumamit ng motor sa trabaho.Sinalubong kami ng dalawang security guards. They were both wearing black t-shirts and black fitted pants na bumabakat sa malalaki nilang katawan. Each had a pistol tucked in their belts.

The next morning, we went underground after eating breakfast. Kasabay ko si Apollo samantalang nauna na daw si Justin sa amin.Dumiretso kami sa conference room tulad ng bilin ng guwardyang sumalubong sa amin sa labas ng elevator. Wala pa masyadong tao sa building sapagkat maaga pa naman, pero may mga mangilan-ngilan na abala na sa kanya-kanyang opisina at halata mong wala pang mga tulog.Resident agents of every district could go in and out of the establishment depending on them. Minsan may mga field agents na pumapasok lang para magreport ng mga nakukuha nilang impormasyon tungkol sa kasong hinahawakan nila. May iba naman na magre-report lang sa opisina kapag tapos na nila ang kaso. Ang mahalaga matapos nila ang kaso base sa timeframe na inilaan dito.Agents were classified based on their experience. It was not based on age or sa kung gaano ka na katagal sa organisasyon. New recruits were called Novice Agents. Sa kanila ibinibigay ang White coded cases o

Bago pa man mapatay ni Justin ang makina, nakalabas na ako ng sasakyan. I was fuming!Why on earth didn’t they tell me that the evil brother of mine was also working on that goddamn case?! Why?!Justin came out of his car and faced me. His handsome face was blank and I couldn’t read any expression on it. Or was I just so upset?“Huminahon ka nga!” Utos nya sa akin.“Sino bang hihinahon sa napaka-awkward kong sitwasyon? Oh, please!”“We don’t know yet kung ano ang role rito ng Dominic na ‘yon kaya ‘wag ka ngang aburido diyan. Ilalaglag mo tayo, eh!”Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga. Of course, it was possible that they would seek the help of Dominic in that case. It was a homicide and he was an excellent police detective!“What would I do now? Should I hide every time I see him? At tsaka you just said that you already met him. Then he probably knew you already

“Nickie?”Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko dala ng pinipigilang inis.Lumapit sa amin si Apollo. I swear, kung hindi kami undercover agents sa mga oras na ‘yon malamang nabugbog ka na ang lalaking ‘yon. Siya ang maglalaglag sa amin, eh!“Halika nga,” I grabbed his right arm and tugged him to the stairs. Hindi naman pumalag ang loko. Natigilan kami pagdating namin sa second floor.Puno ng mga naghihintay na mga estudyante ang corridor pag-sapit namin doon. Inilipat ko ang pagkakahawak ko kay Apollo sa kamay niya. I acted as if I was in love although I was really fuming out of rage inside. Magkahawak kamay naming binagtas ang corridor.Pinagtitinginan kami ng ilang mga estudyante kaya hindi ko masesermonan si Apollo. Hinigpitan ko na lang ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya.“You’re hurting me, sweetheart,” matamis na bulong sa akin ni Apollo. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon siguro, natunaw na ak

Justin did not show up in the mansion the next morning. Wala ring balita tungkol sa kanya matapos maputol ang tawag niya ng gabi. Thus, Apollo and I went underground to see Xander before we went to the university.We were already outside our office when I noticed the paper pasted below Justin and Xander’s names on the wall beside the door. I took the paper revealing my name and Apollo’s.The paper reads: Mrs & Mr Torralba which looked like it was hand-written by a kindergarten.I heard Apollo chuckled before going inside the office. Malamang siya na naman ang gumawa nito. I made a face and was about to crumple it when I noticed something odd about the way it was written.Oo, mukha iyong sinulat ng bata, pero parang sinadya iyong gawing ganoon. Kaya sa halip na lakumusin at itapon, itinupi ko iyon ng maayos at ibinulsa bago ako pumasok ng opisina.Naroon na si Xander na nakasandal sa mesa niya habang pinag-aaralan ang mga idini