CHAPTER 4

MALAWAK ang ngiti ni Valerie habang palabas siya ng clinic. She touched her tummy. She was already four months pregnant. Masaya siya kasi healthy ang baby niya. She should thank the sperm donor but no need for that. Ayaw niyang magkaroon ng koneksiyon dito. All men are jerks.  Well, hindi naman niya nilalahat pero parang ganun na nga.

Natigilan bigla si Valerie nang makita niya ang pamilyar na lalaki. Nakatayo ito sa tabi ng kotse nito. Ang maalala niya kaibigan ito ng asawa ni Wynter.

Dalawang beses niya pa lang itong nakita pero sa dalawang beses na nakita niya ang lalaki. May nararamdaman siyang kakaiba rito. Iyon bang pakiramdam na hindi siya komportable na hindi niya maintindihan.

Ngumiti si Mikhail nang makalapit sa kaniya si Valerie. “Hi.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Valerie. “Ako,” itinuro niya ang sarili, “ba ang kinakausap mo?”

Mikhail smiled. “Bakit? May kasama ka ba?”

Valerie glared at Mikhail. “Huwag mo akong pilosopohin, Mr. Romanov.”

Feisty. He thought. “Wynter…” Tumikhim si Mikhail. “Mrs. Velasquez told me to take care of you. You’re pregnant, right? So, get in the car.”

“I don’t know you.”

“You know me. You know my name, right, Valerie?” Ngumisi si Mikhail.

“Yeah.”

“Then it means kilala mo na ako.” Mikhail grinned. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng kotse. “Get in.”

Napahawak si Valerie sa sariling tiyan. Hindi niya dala ang kotse niya dahil coding ngayon.

Mikhail sighed seeing how Valerie was reluctant to his offer. “Valerie, I won’t do anything to you.” He said in sincere and gentle voice.

Valerie looked into Mikhail’s eyes and saw his sincerity so she nodded her head.

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Mikhail nang maglakad si Valerie palapit sa kaniya at dahan-dahan itong sumakay sa passenger seat. He couldn’t help but to stare at Valerie. He didn’t know but he felt he was connected to her. Seeing Valerie finished putting her seatbelt, he gently closes the car’s door and went to the driver seat.

Maingat na nagmaneho si Mikhail. He’s a reckless driver but he doesn’t dare to be reckless when he was with a pregnant woman. Baka barilin siya ng asawa ni Cassiuz kapag may masamang nangyari sa kaibigan nito habang siya ang kasama ni Valerie. Cassiuz’ wife, after all, was a former police officer.

“Anyway, saan kita ihahatid?” Tanong ni Mikhail.

Valerie was straightly looking at the road and told the Russian her address.

Tumango si Mikhail saka kinabig ang manibela.

Then he received a call from William.

“What is it?” He asked while his eyes focused on the road.

“911.”

“Where are you?” Biglang nagseryoso si Mikhail. He glanced at Valerie but she doesn’t seem to care.

“We were ambush. We’re at the pier.” Kalmadong sabi ni William pero naririnig ni Mikhail ang mga putok ng baril.

“I’ll send Alfred to help you. Ihahatid ko lang si Miss Perez.”

Behind the shooting, nakuha pa ni William ang tumawa. “Tinamaan ka na talaga ni kupido, Russian.”

Mikhail rolled his eyes. “Shut up, Agustin.” Pinatay niya ang tawag at tinawagan si Alfred. “Go and help William. Old pier.” Aniya.

“Yes, Boss.”

Mikhail ended the call.

“If you have work to do, just stop the car. Magta-taxi na lang ako.” Sabi ni Valerie.

“No, it’s not important. I have my assistant to do the work for me.” Sabi ni Mikhail. Binilisan niya ang pagmamaneho pero maingat pa rin.

Nang maihatid niya si Valerie sa bahay nito at bumaba ng kotse, mabilis siyang bumaba. “Valerie.”

Lumingon sa kaniya ang dalaga at tinaasan siya ng kilay. “Ano ‘yon?” Tanong nito.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Mikhail. “Pwede ba kitang ayaing mag-dinner next time?” Umaasam niyang tanong.

Sandaling tinitigan ni Valerie si Mikhail. I don’t want to have dinner with strangers. Pero iba ang lumabas mula sa bibig niya. “Okay. But I don’t want to eat outside.” Huli na ng marealize ni Valerie ang sinabi niya. Pasimple niyang natampal ang kaniyang nuo. Gusto niyang bawiin pero nakangiti na si Mikhail.

Agad namang napaisip si Valerie na kapag binawi niya ang sinabi niya baka ma-offend niya si Mikhail. Siguro bayad na rin lang ito ng paghatid nito sa kaniya.

“Then can I come to your house and cook?” Mikhail asked.

“Marunong ka?” Tanong naman ni Valerie.

Napakamot ng batok si Mikhail saka nahihiyang nagsabi. “I’ll learn.”

Napailing na lang si Valerie. “Pumunta ka lang dito sa bahay. I’ll cook for you.” Then she turned her back and opened the gate.

“Thanks, Valerie!” Mikhail yelled.

Valerie just waved her hand and entered the gate. Isinara rin niya ito agad at ini-lock.

Nang masiguro ni Mikhail na nakapasok na si Valerie sa loob ng bahay nito, agad siyang umalis. His speed this time is thrice his speed earlier. He needed to aid his friend.

Nang makarating siya sa building ni Ranger o mas kilala bilang Maverick Coleman, pumasok siya sa parking lot. He changed car and wore the mask that was inside the car.

Pinaharurot niya ang kotse palabas ng parking lot. Mabilis siyang nagpatakbo sa highway.

“Damn!” He cussed when he saw it was red light. Then an old woman crossed the lane. Napahampas na lang siya sa manibela saka wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang hintayin ang matanda na makatawid at mag-green light.

Mas mabilis pa sa alas kwarto na inapakan niya ang accelerator nang mag-green light ang traffic light. He needed to help his friend. May tiwala siya kay Alfred na matutulungan nito si William pero iba pa rin kapag siya ang nandoon. Hindi siya magiging mapakali hangga’t hindi nakikita mismo ng mata niya na maayos ang kalagayan ng kaibigan niya.

Arriving at the old pier, Mikhail saw dead bodies. Hindi niya alam kung tauhan ito ni William o ng kalaban. Kaya naman pagkababa niya ng kotse agad niyang hinugot ang baril niya na nasa kaniyang beywang at dumeretso sa loob. Wala na siyang naririnig na putok ng baril kaya naisip niyang baka tapos na ang labanan pero kailangan niyang makasiguro.

Mahirap na dahil baka may mga kalaban pa ring nandiyan at nagtatago.

Tinignan ni Mikhail ang paligid.

Naramdaman niyang may paparating kaya naman nagtago siya sa gilid ng isang container. Naririnig niya ang yapak nito na papalapit at nang masiguro niyang malapit na talaga ito sa kaniya. Biglang siyang lumabas sa kaniyang pinagtataguan at tinutukan ito ng baril.

But Mikhail was being pointed with many guns.

“Halt.” Crimson said.

Katulad ni Mikhail, nakasuot rin ng maskara si William.

Ibinaba ng mga tauhan ni William ang hawak nilang baril.

“Are you okay?” Concerned na tanong ni Mikhail sa kaibigan.

“I’m fine.” Tugon ni William saka niya biniro ang kaibigan. “Akala ko ba wala ka ng pakialam sa akin.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Mikhail. “What do you mean?”

“Because,” inakbayan ni William ang kaibigan, “you already found your woman.”

“But she’s not my woman.”

“But you’re hoping that she is.” Tinapik ni William ang balikat ni Mikhail.

Mikhail sighed. “Where’s Alfred?”

“I buried him alive.” Biro ni William.

Mikhail glared at William.

Tumawa si William. “Relax. He’s with my assistant. They’re taking care of the situation. And as for us, tara na. Uwi na tayo dahil gusto ko ng magpahinga.”

“What happened? Bakit kayo na-ambush?” Tanong ni Mikhail.

“It was Scorpion and Lifer. Those two… ayaw talaga nila ang malamangan.” Naiiling na sabi ni William. “So, I didn’t let their men live. Ipapadala ko na lang ang patay nilang katawan sa mga amo nila. Sounds good?”

Napailing na lang si Mikhail.

Napatigil siya bigla nang tumunog ang cellphone niya. It wasn’t call but a text message from the PDEA.

Mikhail excused himself. Bahagya siyang lumayo sa grupo ni William saka binasa ang mensahe ng agency sa kaniya.

‘Mr. Romanov, I need to talk to you now.’

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Mikhail saka lumapit kay William. “I need to go.”

“Was it the Agency?” William asked.

Mikhail just nodded his head.

“Okay. Ako na lang ang bahala rito.”

“Thanks.”

Mikhail left and went back to Coleman’s building. Nagpalit ulit siya ng kotse saka pumunta sa PDEA. Pagdating niya doon, ginamit niya ang pribadong elevator at tinungo niya ang opisina ng Director ng PDEA.

He was greeted by his secretary before he entered the Director’s office. Entering the Director’s office, Mikhail saw Director Harrison Peria. The Director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Ang Agency na kung saan ay dating pinagtrabahuan ng kakambal niya.

“Mr. Romanov, you’re here. Have a seat.”

Seryoso ang mukha ni Mikhail na umupo sa visitor’s chair. “Bakit mo ako pinatawag dito, Director?”

Sumeryoso ang mukha ng Director. “Next week, a shipment will arrive at the Velasquez’ port. It contains of illegal drugs. I heard that you and Mr. Velasquez of Velasquez Empire are quite close. And I know that you value friendship so I only wanted those illegal drugs to be destroyed before it reached the market.”

“You’re not going the illegal drugs by legal process, Director?” Mikhail asked.

Ngumiti si Director Peria. “Waste of time and I need to make reports. So, just do it secretly.”

Nakakaintinding tumango si Mikhail. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Romanov.”

Mikhail sighed. “I’m just doing this for my brother.”

“Yeah, if he was here, he will do everything to destroy that shipment.” Ani Director Peria.

Hindi na nagsalita si Mikhail. Nagpaalam na lang siya saka umalis.

While driving his car, his mind was thinking of his late twin brother. Iniisip niya na sana hindi na lang ito namatay pero wala na siyang magagawa. It’s been many years. Maraming taon na ang lumipas pero kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas, hindi pa rin niya makalimutan ang nangyari rito.

He was complaining about his brother’s job before but now he’s the one doing it now. At worst, he was also doing illegal things now.