DRAGON 6

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 6: ＤＩＳＧＵＩＳＥ 2

I sat on the bed with a sigh. I just finished putting my stuff in place. My things were already here before I boarded the plane, thanks to Keeper by the way. It was also him who managed my papers for the school admission, he was a big help but since I enrolled as a scholar, I’m ought to work for the school. Despite of that, which I could just manage, everything is ready and all I need to do is finally enter Montalano University.

My back gave up and leaned on the chair’s backrest. My eyes are quite sore and burning that I need to drop the papers on the table and close the lid of the laptop after turning it off. The clock said three when my blinking eyes glanced on it. Guess I haven’t fell asleep for almost a day now. My tired fingers made its way to my temple, gently massaging it, expecting for the tingling pain to vanish. I spent the rest of the evening finalizing my plans for Montalano University, now, I kept my stare outside the window to calm my raging thoughts.

Sandro Pangilinan. Siya na ang pinakahuling papatayin ko sa ngayon.

Lumipas ang oras at pasado alas syete na ng umaga. Maya-maya ay darating na ang van ng Montalano University. Ang van na iyon ay ang taga-sundo ng mga estudyanteng pinapalad na makapasok sa unibersidad. Ibinaba ko ang suklay at pinasadaan ng tingin ang sarili sa salamin. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o mawiwirduhan sa nakikita ko ngayon.

Wow. Bakekang.

This is not Anastasia, totally not. I resemble the evil queen-turned-witch that offered the short haired princess poisonous apples. Okay, I was exaggerating. The glass-skin, that I used to have, disappeared and is now wrinkled. Eyebrows drawn thick and black, teeth yellowish and uneven, and I look as if I was punched in the nose, without the blood of course. Finally, on the bottom left of my pale lips is an improvised dark brown flat mole serving as the main highlight of my disguise. Well, thanks again to Keeper for assuring the quality of these customized prosthetics.

Staring at myself made me remember the reason why I chose this look: no one bothers a face like this. I have a lot on my plate and that’s the least thing I need for this mission, distraction.

Napangisi ako. "You look like shit, Anastasia," mahina ko pang sabi.

My head tilted towards my room’s doorway when the doorbell rang. The person I’ve been waiting for finally arrived. I quickly gathered the papers, where information about MU was printed, and placed them in a black attaché case, neat and clean, and laid it on the single bed. 

Agad kong tinungo ang mismong pinto ng buong apartment at sumilip sa peephole. Nang masiguradong siya na nga ang dumating ay saka ko pa siya pinagbuksan. Bumungad sa akin ang isang lalaking nakasuot ng kulay abong pang-itaas at tila ba pinaglaanan pa ng oras ang naka-brush up niyang buhok.

"Damn, what kind of place is this?! It’s so tiny and stinky and this place is full of slut. Queen--- Tiān nǎ, nǐ shì shéi?! [Oh my god, who are you!]” he shrieked and almost jumped on his feet when our eyes met. As expected to this Chinese guy, Spencer Wong.

"Papasok ka o papasok ka?" bagsak ang parehong balikat kong tanong.

Pero imbes na pumasok ay nangungunot ang noo niya akong tiningnan, mula ulo hanggang paa pabalik sa mukha.

"What the hell?! Ice Quee---ouch!"

Mabilis ko siyang hinablot papasok sa loob at sinipa ang pinto upang masara. Binitawan ko siya at iniwan sa may sala bago nagtungo sa munting kusina ng luma kong apartment. Hindi ko masisisi si Wong, lumaki siya sa mayamang pamilya at kahit kalian hindi nakaranas ng kahirapan sa buhay. Sa rami ng pabrika at kompanya ng sasakyang pag-aari ng pamilya niya, hindi na ako magtataka. Ngunit hindi ata alam ng mga magulang niya ang kademonyohang mayroon siya.

" Nǐ de liǎn zěnmeliǎo?! [What happened to your face?!]" pasigaw na aniya.

Tinungga ko muna ang bote ng fresh milk na nahanap ko sa mga cabinet ngunit agad rin naman akong napatakbo sa lababo.

This is stupid. ‘Fresh Milk’ was written on the bottle but it seriously tastes like shit! I quickly gargled with water four times before wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Disguise," I said.

"You look like shit," pangungutya niya na may halong tawa.

"Where's the papers?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan at isinandal ang likod sa lababo.

Umangat ang pareho niyang kilay. "Oh, I almost forgot.” May hinablot siya sa likod ng damit niya at naglakad palapit upang iabot sa akin ang isang brown envelope na bahagyang lumukot. “Here, my lady.”

Agad ko naman itong binuksan at mabilisang binasa ang sa tingin koy mga importanteng bahagi. Nang tingnan ko siya’y may kung anong sinisilip siya sa bote ng gatas.

" Gāisǐ! Nǚwáng! Nǐ xīdú ma? Nǐ fēngle? [Damn! Queen! Are you on drugs? Are you crazy?]  This milk is already expired,” aniya saka sumeryoso. “Queen can you be honest? Something happened to you before this mission, right?”

“I just arrived. But yes, a jerk gave me a warm welcome. I don’t have to talk about it,” I said, throwing a glance on the bottle. What Keeper injected to me earlier isn’t just anesthesia. It also works like caffeine that gave me extra energy to stay awake the whole night and at the same time make me starve.

“Who’s that jerk? I’m gonna kill him to avenge you.” He stood straight and was about to get the gun he hid in his hip holster.

I just looked at him and shook my head. I would love to rip off that jerk’s head but not now, time is gold and I don’t waste gold.

Bumuntong-hininga siya at nawala na ang kunot-noo. “Alright, are you hungry? Want to grab some food? I saw a convenient store nearby. What do you want to eat?”

"Anything will do,” I said and made my way towards the sofa, still scanning the papers about this Darwin Willian James. I didn’t know this jerk is bigtime.

"Okay. I’ll go ahead to buy," he said and I just nodded.

He was about to exit the door when I spoke, “Have you sent the list to the King? The one from Sandro’s.”

He gave me an assuring glance. “Shì de. [Yes.]

“Alright. Now, be careful with the spies. They’re everywhere.” I warned. Montalano University is really something, my further research had proved me right last night. Before new students set foot on the campus, they were being monitored by spies for days. I know they were just making sure that we don’t have ill intention to ruin not just the university’s reputation but also the executives themselves.

“Bié dānxīn, tāmen bùshì wǒ de duìshǒu.”

[ Don’t worry, they are not my match.]

Pasinghal na lamang akong natawa sa ugali ng Tsinong ‘to. Hindi kami matalik na magkaibigan at tanging trabaho lang ang tulay na nag-uugnay sa amin, gayundin sa iba pang mga tauhan ko. Ngunit kung makaasta siya ay para bang magto-tropa lang kami. Ilang beses ko naman na siyang pinagsabihan na iayon ang ugali sa trabaho pero walang nangyari. Tiyak na magtatagal ang buhay mo, Wong, sa tigas ng bungo mong iyan.

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