Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

"I JUST FUCKED someone. And guess what? She called me Emeraudo." Naniningkit ang mga matang ani ni Emeraudo sa kapatid habang nasa silid sila.

"Uh, brother, you are Emeraudo." Halatang naguguluhan nitong sagot.

"Exactly. And you know what's funny? I never met her yet she knows my name." Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "Are you going around the city sticking your dick in every woman you meet?"

"Of course not. I ain't like you."

He snapped, kinagulat ang tugon ng kapatid. "Oh wow. So I'm the dickhead here? Is that what you're saying?"

Natatawang umiling si Tejano. "All I'm saying is I never fucked anyone."

Napakurap si Emeraudo. "Y—You never did it with Veronica or anyone else?"

"Nah. I'm saving myself for someone but I wanna sleep with Veronica once we're married."

Nasapo ni Emeraudo ang kanyang noo. "Oh you're hopeless." Naigting niya ang kanyang panga. "Dude I just told that woman that I am Tejano."

Nalukot ang noo ni Tejano. "Why did you do that?! What if Veronica finds out—oh wait," napakamot ito ng ulo nang biglang may naalala. Mayamaya'y natatawa nitong ginulo ang buhok. "I almost forgot that Veronica knows me as Emeraudo so looks like you just saved me in case she knows that woman."

Umismid si Emeraudo. "What is she? Miss popular? Is she friends everyone in the city?"

"No but, she kinda know a lot of people." Bumuntong hininga ito saka tiniklop ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "What does the woman look like anyway? Did you even ask her name or you just fucked someone again without knowing her?"

Tumalim ang tingin ni Emeraudo sa kapatid. "Okay, I don't know why, but that sounded like an insult to me as a man."

"It is an insult." Wala man lang balak mag-deny na sagot ni Tejano.

"Why are we having this conversation again?" 

Tejano laughed. "We only have this kind of conversation when your mood is good."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"When you just got laid." Tumawa ito nang malakas kaya mangani-ngani niyang hambalusin.

Kinalma nito ang sarili nang mapansing nabibwisit na naman siya. Humugot ito ng malalim na hininga at nang tuluyan nang tumigil sa paghalakhak, matipid siyang nginitian.

"Tell me how she looks like. I ain't gonna ask anymore about her name because I know you didn't bother to ask her anyway."

Napaiwas ng tingin si Emeraudo. Bakit ba kasi niya tatanungin? He fucks strangers for pleasure not to get to know them. Sa sistema ng kanyang buhay, lahat ay estranghero. Wala siyang balak na magtabi ng espasyo para kanino sa kanyang isip.

Ngunit nang tanungin ni Tejano ang tungkol sa babaeng nakasama niya sa kama kagabi, hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit parang may kumurot sa kanyang puso. Tila ba nakakaramdam siya ng kaunting pagsisisi na hindi niya natanong ang pangalan nito.

He sighed and remembered her beautiful face. No. Actually she's beyond that word. If only he won't sound exaggerated, he'd say that woman is an angel. A fucking hot angel in her sexy dress.

"Deep-set blue eyes. Prominent nose. Red haired. She's got a tiny scar above her left brow. I ain't gonna tell you how her body looks like."

"Possessive." Tejano piffed. "Okay, let's see." Hinaplos nito ang baba na tila nag-iisip. "Hmm, the only red haired and blue-eyed girl I've met before is..."

Napakurap ito at tila biglang may naalala. Nagtaka tuloy si Emeraudo sa nakitang pagbabago ng ekspresyon ng kanyang kakambal.

Bakit parang namutla ito bigla?

"Tejano. Who is it?"

Napalunok ito at ang mga kilay ay bahagyang nagsalubong. "I uh, I kinda did something before, several years ago. D—Do you remember when I was planning to sneak out as you but when I went out of the room, Papa called me Emeraudo because I was wearing your clothes?"

Tumango siya. "What about it?"

"I told you before right that he took me hunting."

Hunting, ang term na ginagamit ng kanilang ama kapag may papataying tao, pinatrabaho man o sa kanilang ama mismo nagkaroon ng atraso.

"Why?"

Sinangkal ni Tejano ang kanyang magkabilang siko sa hita nito bago hinagod ang mga palad sa mukha. "Bro, I let the targets' daughter live. I told Papa that she escaped. He uh, he called me Emeraudo while we're still in the girl's room. Maybe she heard it that's why she thought you were me. I swear she's the only blue eyed red haired girl I know so far."

"What the hell, Tejano?"

"I told you, I don't want to be like Papa."

"And what do you want to be? A spy?"

Natigilan ito at bumagsak ang tingin sa magkasalikop na palad. "I actually made up my mind already, brother."

Gumapang ang kaba sa sistema ni Emeraudo. Hindi niya gusto ang tono ng pananalita ng kapatid dahil alam niya na kapag ganito na ito, hindi na niya mababago pa ang isip ni Tejano.

Tejano breathed in and looked at him with his soft eyes. "If you will not join me, I will understand. You said it yourself that mother wanted us to end Papa's wrongdoings. If staying by his side is your way of fulfilling that promise, I won't judge you, but I hope you will respect my chosen way of doing it."

Napailing si Emeraudo. Hindi niya nagugustuhan ang nagiging takbo ng kanilang usapan pati na ang ekspresyong nakapinta sa mga mata ni Tejano.

"Please tell me you ain't gonna—"

"I am joining the MI6 Europe. I was supposed to go last night but I can't afford to leave without a proper goodbye."

Napasara ng mata ni Emeraudo. Kumuyom ang kanyang mga kamao at ang kanyang panga at mahigpit na umigting. He can't believe his brother is risking his life for this nonsense! Hindi nga nila sigurado kung magiging ligtas ito sa kampo ng MI6? Their mother was a former CIA asset. Hindi naging maganda ang kapalaran nito kaya paano siya makasisiguro na ligtas si Tejano sa kamay ng mga alagad ng batas?

"That's insanity." He said in gritted teeth.

"Emeraudo, just try to understand. We are still going to be pursuing the same plan, just different approach this time. Besides...I want a life with Veronica. I've never felt this way before and I wanna be with her."

Inis na natawa si Emeraudo kasabay ng pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata. "Are you saying you will throw away my sacrifices to be here just to protect you, for some woman you barely know?"

Tuluyan itong tumayo. "It's not like that, brother. I am doing this for the both of us. You don't have to suffer, too. We can both go—"

"No. I don't trust those people—"

"It's because you can't even trust yourself..." Malamig ang tinig nitong sabi.

Umigting ang panga ni Emeraudo at ang kanyang ekspresyon ay dumilim. Now what? They're going to fight about his attitude just because he finds Tejano's reasons lame?Tinalikuran niya ito ngumit muling nagsalita. 

"If I will be part of them, it would be easier for us to know who really ruined mother's career. It's your choice if you will stay here and find out Papa's connection to everything."

Lalong humigpit ang pagkakakuyom ng kanyang mga kamao. Gusto niyang magalit dahil delikado ang papasuking mundo ni Tejano, ngunit ano nga bang pinagkaiba ng mundong iyon sa ginagalawan nila ngayon? Their father can kill them easily once they get him angry. Mali. Siya lamang dahil si Tejano ay paborito. He will never want his favorite son dead.

Magkakaproblema oras na malaman ng kanilang ama na magiging bahagi ito ng MI6. They must avoid that at all cost or else...

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Emeraudo. Mayamaya'y wala na rin siyang nagawa kung hindi ang humarao muli sa kapatid. May katigasan ang ulo nito at alam niyang hindi na rin magpapapigil pa. Tutal hindi niya rin natuloy ang plano kagabi, wala na siyang panahon para baguhin ang isip nito. The least he could do is protect the both of them.

Hinawakan niya ito sa balikat at seryosong tinitigan sa mga mata. "From now on, you are Emeraudo Romani while I will be Tejano Romani. Do you understand?"

"But—"

"If Papa will find out it's me who stayed, he could easily kill me. We both know he has his favorite. Carrying your name will spare my life. On the other hand, I'm sure mother's bosses kept an eye on her before. Maybe that's why they approached you because they thought you are Emeraudo, the one mother had raised. It will be best for us to switch identity. This is for the both of us, Tejano."

Tumango ito. "I understand, but if ever you will need my help—"

"If you will need my help, you know where to find me."

TAHIMIK na binabatuhan ni Emeraudo ng pagkain ang mga kalapati sa parke. Nakaupo siya sa isang bakanteng bench habang nagbabakasakali kung darating ba ang kanyang kapatid ngayon.

It's already been a three years since he became Tejano, while his twin lived as Emeraudo, an MI6 Europe special agent.

Walang araw na hindi siya nagbaka-sakaling makikita muli ang kapatid kaya madalas siyang pumwesto sa paborito nilang bahagi ng parke. Whichever place they move to, they will always look for the northwest part of the park and sit on the nearest bench. Naging kaugalian na nila iyon kapag nagkakaroon ng pagkakataong makalabas nang sabay.

Nagbato pa siya ng ilang bread crumbs sa mga kalapati. Maraming turista ngayon sa lugar dahil weekend ngunit ang atensyon niya, nakatutok lamang sa mga malayang ibon.

He wonders when he'll ever earn his wings so he can fly above the clouds and be free? Alam niyang mali na maghangad ng kalayaan ngunit sa tuwing nakikita niya ang mga ibon, hindi pa rin niya maiwasang mainggit.

Lumunok siya at binato ang ilang pang crumbs. Mayamaya'y may isang matandang lalakeng naupo sa kanyang tabi. Nakasuot ito gaya niya ng makapal na trench coat. May salamin sa mga mata at namumuti ang buhok.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't?" The old man suddenly said.

Nilingon niya ito bago tumango. "Every day is beautiful to those who appreciate life." He straightened on his seat and wiped the crumbs off his hands.

Ngumiti ang matanda. "You really are him."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Pardon?"

"Tejano Romani." Tumingin ang matandang lalake sa kanya, makahulugan at tila alam kung sino siya. "Or should I call you by your real name, Emeraudo?"

Bigla siyang kinabahan, ngunit siniguro niyang hindi makikita sa kanyang mga mata ang nararamdaman niya.

His eyes turned called to hide the tension building up inside his chest. "Who are you?"

"I am your twin's boss. I regret to inform you that Agent Romani died in his last assignment...and we need the real Emeraudo to take his place in the Cinco Mortales mission."