VANCE.

"ONE OF our mission is to bring the Vipers to Commander Atalia, right?" I broke the silence that conquered us after Ryde knocked down the Viper.

Instead of answering to confirm, Ryde gave me a blank stares. He looked for a comfortable spot from the elevated portion in the room. He slowly sat as he was badly hurt. The rest of us plastered a puzzled look as we glanced to each other. I decided to step forward and they followed me. As soon as I reached Ryde, I saw how devastated he was. He put back his hand to his wounded arm to give pressure to it. Heavily breathing, he can't say a word after realizing we made it.

"She led a syndicate, Ryde," I spoke one more time. "The victims deserve the justice."

Ryde looked up at my direction and he met my gaze. "I know," he said, "Anátha must rot in prison."

My brows furrowed of what I heard. I walked back closer to the Viper to check her pulse. She's still alive!

"I—I thought you killed her?" I asked Ryde as I turned my gaze at him.

"I could have done that for a hundred times but I won't." Ryde paused. "I don't wanna be like her."

Hindi ko pa alam ang buong kwento ng nakaraan ni Ryde. Kung paano nga ba siya pinalaki ng nag-ampon sa kanya. Hindi ako sigurado kung paano inabuso ang pagkatao niya para lang maging isa siyang ganap na assassin.

Napabaling ang tingin ni Ryde sa gawing kaliwa niya nang lumapit sa kanya si Verity. Mabilis nitong inalis ang suot na vest sa katawan, saka buong pwersang pinunit ang ibabang bahagi ng puting tank top na suot. Matapos makakuha ng sapat na tela, ibinenda niya iyon sa sugat ni Ryde. Tanging mga titig na hindi ko malaman kung lungkot o kahihiyan, ang maibigay niya sa babaeng kaharap. Gano'n naman ang makabuluhang sulyap ang pinagpalitan namin nina Colt at ng magkapatid.

Nakita ko pang umawang ang pagitan ng labi ni Ryde pero napayuko lang siya at hindi naituloy ang nais na sabihin.

"We need to move now," saad ni Verity matapos maayos ang pagkakatali sa sugat ni Ryde.

Inalalayan niya si Ryde na makatayo nang maayos saka kami hinarap.

"There are still two Vipers left up there," dagdag pa ni niya na naging dahilan ng pagbago ng ekspresiyon namin.

"May pa-moment na kayo riyan ni Harrison, may tsutsugiin pa pala tayo sa taas?" inis na bwelta ni Jake.

"Sinabi ko 'yon sa inyo. You should have paid your attention on the information I've gave you," pabalang na tugon ni Verity.

Teka lang. Kung may dalawa pang Vipers ang natira. . . bakit wala sila rito? Bakit hinayaan nilang tanging isang Cracken ang kasama ng pinaka leader nila?

"You're misinformed, Locke," biglang sumabat si Colt sa kanang gawi ko.

Gano'n na lang ang pagkurba ng kaliwang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

Misinformed?

"Technically, Vipers are set to get completed by three people."

"What do you mean, they are set to get completed?" hindi ko na naiwasan pang magtanong.

Nag-umpisang humakbang paakyat sa maliit na entablado si Colt.

"'Yong Cracken na sumakal sa 'kin kanina, nilayasan yata ng common sense," sarkastikong paliwanag ni Colt at huminto sa tapat ng upuan ng Viper.

Bahagya siyang nagkibitbalikat saka umismid. "Habang yinayapos niya ako, narinig kong may kausap siya sa earpiece."

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa narinig.

"They're planning to eliminate the almost-enthroned-Viper, Ryder Harrision." masugid niya kaming tinapunan ng tingin. "Once they succeed on killing him, their goal is to replace Ryder." ilang segundo siyang huminto. "Pathetic, right?" dagdag niya pa at naiiling na ngumisi.

Marahang humakbang si Ryde. Nakabaling pa rin ang katawan niya sa kaliwa. Sobrang lalim siguro ng sugat na natamo niya.

"Their lives were plague by avarice and thirst for power," saad ni Ryde na salubong ang kilay. "But death comes to those who get blinded and controlled by money."

I never knew Ryde has this side. Whenever he speaks, he'll say the cruelest truth, which some people can't accept.

He gestured his hand. "Those punks up there? I can deliver them to the gates of hell."

"Of course, you can definitely do that. You're a trained assassin after all." Jake intervened as he rolled his eyes,. "But how about Atalia? You defied her, Harrison. How could you handle the woman you once told me, whose capable of everything?" Jake tested him.

"Jake is right," his sibling butt in with a concerned tone in her voice. "You even hurt yourself, Ryder." Jade formed a sad smile.

"Pretty sure, you'll receive a punishment for what you did," Colt joined the conversation and it makes me even terrified.

What if Atalia executes him?

No! We can't let that happen! I don't know what she's up to. But it still lingers in my mind when she didn't hesitate for commanding Ryde to kill Verity. There's a high chance, that Ryde will be executed after this. What are we gonna do? Damn it!

A deafening silence past by.

We witnessed Ryde pulled out something from his vest.

My eyes widened.

"You son of a—" I restrained myself to curse him. Napayuko ako dahil hindi makapaniwala sa nalaman. Mariin akong napakagat sa ibabang labi para ikubli ang ngiti na akmang kukurba.

Isang maliit na relo na kahugis ng kaniyang nawasak ang pinakita sa 'min. Pinindot iyon ni Ryde at umilaw ito ng kulay berde. Marahan niyang ipinatong sa kaliwang bahagi ng braso sa likoran ng pulsohan niya. At sa isang iglap, nagkaroon ng strap ang isang maliit na screen kanina. Binigyan niya kami ng isang ngiti. Unang beses kong makitang ngumiti ang mata ni Ryde. 

Kaya pala handang mamatay sa kanya si Verity.

Napailing ako at sinuklian ang ngiting binigay niya sa 'min. Alam ko, at kita ko sa kurba ng mga labi nina Colt, Jade at Jake na masaya sila sa ginawa ni Ryde.

At the end of the day, he valued us. He's just a certified dork. Sana man lang sinabihan kami na may plano siyang gano'n. Eh 'di sana hindi na siya nagkasugat pa.

I heard him cleared his throat then he spoke through the digital watch. "This is Prisoner Double-o-two, I'm requesting a back up at Dezvouz Island." he then, glanced at us. "Vipers down. . . Illicit Task Force's mission accomplished."

"Harrison 'lika nga, suntukin ko lang 'yang sugat mong tarantado ka!" pabirong saad ni Jake at halos maningkit ang mga mata niya sa pagsabay nito sa tawa niya.

Panandaliang yumuko si Ryde at nang inangat niya ang tingin sa 'min, tinukso niya kami.

"You guys. . . especially both of you, Olivia and Vance, you're such a cry babies," he chortled.

Ryde sentiment was followed by our laughs, but it faded when Ryde and Verity inevitably paused and they exchanged a meaningful gaze. They eventually held each other's hands.

I can't help but took a relieving sigh.
Seeing both of them reconcile after they hurt themselves with white lies and through physical. Their eyes couldn't lie. It is undoubtedly indeed, a dangerous love.

Willing to risk for one another. . . would definitely not hesitate to catch a bullet to sacrifice a life. I don't think I could find a love like that. I was about to shrugged off my thoughts as my past relationship has burdened my mind, when someone rudely barged between Ryde and Verity.

It's Colt, of course.

"Team hug!" sabi niya.

Pilit kaming pinakurba ng hugis bilog para magyakap. "We deserve this!" masigla niya pang saad.

Ngunit ilang sandali lang ang lumipas na-interrupt ang moment namin nang malakas na kumulo ang sikmura ni Jake. Kanya-kanya kaming kumalas sa yakap.

"Nagrereklamo na 'yong sikmura ko. Tama nga naman, hindi nakakabusog ang yakap," nakangising saad nito na may paghimas pa sa parte ng tiyan niya.

"Hindi pa huli ang lahat para magpapurga, Jake!" natatawang sabi ni Colt.

"Sinasabi mo bang bulatihin ako, Iya?"

Umiling si Colt. "Kung iyon ang pagkaka-intindi mo, sino ako para umapila?" lalong lumakas ang tawa nito at iniwas ang katawan kay Jake nang binalak ng kausap na hablutin ang manggas ng damit niya.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapailing sa dalawang 'to. Parang sila talaga ang magkapatid eh.

⚜⚜⚜

RYDE TOLD us to prepare for leaving the den. 

Atubili naman kaming kumilos para makaalis na. Nang makabalik kami sa ship, hindi ko maiwasang hindi sumulyap sa gawi ni Colt na nakatayo sa kabilang gilid ng deck. At isang maling ideya ang ginawa ko dahil agad na nagtama ang mga tingin namin.

I don't understand! Why my chest is throbbing hard again?

This ain't a good sign. Quickly, I lose an eye contact with her, and as I looked away, I saw a glimpse of her flashing a threatening smile.

That damn good smile.

It horribly kills me every single time I had a glimpse of it.

How could she pulled that off effortlessly?

How can someone like her—a not so good looking fine woman, well, she has curves. Wait! What on earth, Vance? Stop thinking about her, you prick! That's beyond limit of your ego. Don't ever praise a woman who tends to insult and makes fun of you. As I shrugged off the bothering thoughts bombarding me, a memory from our first encounter came across in my mind.

I mindlessly promised and said to myself that I won't let anyone of them to get closed with me. Isa iyon sa kinatatakutan ko sa buhay. Ang makipagkaibigan kanino man.

I can't name someone whom I can claim a friend, I only know people. I used to had a friend—a partner. An almost other half for life. But no matter what and how I labeled her as a person in my life. It will never change the fact that some people should never be trusted.

But these people. . . None of them gained my trust, but they made me believed that I should give them a chance. After Zane bargained me for his brother's parole, I have never met people like them. I grew up from a broken home. I can't trust anyone, even if I became one whom people couldn't never be trusted. . . And I hate the way I became a criminal.

I'll be hypocrite if I won't admit to myself that Zane hurts me, up 'til now. But when all of this is over, if I will have a chance, I want to meet her personally. It occurred to me that I should be thankful for her. I wouldn't be here with the Illicit Task Force because of her. I wouldn't be able to meet vicious individuals, but willing to risk a life for one another. . . because of her. 

Most of all, her action brought an end to the criminal in me.

"Hey." Colt approached me at the lower deck.

I looked up at her. "Hmm?" I turned my gaze back at my stuff.

"T-thanks," she said, almost whispering.

I stopped from what I'm doing and faced her. "You're thanking me for?"

Colt looked away. With her hands behind her back, she fidgeted with her left foot.

"For?" I repeat and our eyes met.

"For. . ." she paused and cussed something inaudible. "For lending me your jacket and the bottle of water last time—"

"Don't mention it, Colt," I trailed her off as I smiled.

"O-okay."

She's about to turn around but she faced me again. "Arden."

"Yep? Anything else?"

I tried to hide my nervous, but my heartbeat has been racing since she came here.

Colt took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for saying rude things to you, Arden."

Bewildered, I stayed in silent.

Seemingly hesitant, she crossed her arms against her chest. "You need to accept my apology, because I rarely say such things like these."

We both chuckled. She's Colt and she couldn't last to be courteous for a minute. Such a weirdo.

"As if I have a choice?" I smirked. "So, are we friends now?"

Why did I even said that?

If this heart of mine could jump out of my ribcage right now? It definitely would.

"Not so fast, Arden," Colt smirked. "But, we'll see," she smiled with her eyes.

In a couple of seconds, she left me dazed and confused.

We'll see.

Her voice echoed in my mind. Her smiling face flashed too.

What the heck, Colt? When will you stop messing with someone's head?

⚜⚜⚜

I DIDN'T notice that eight hours already passed when we arrived at the country's main city from Dezvouz Island.

Commander Atalia sent her team to raid the hide out of the Viper. It all went well and many lives of presumed dead people were saved.  Well in fact, they're only missing because of the abductions done by Viper's syndicate operation.

I thought Atalia will bring us back to Classified Investigatory Unit. But now, we are walked inside her office. 

Humilira kaming lima sa tapat ng desk niya. Nang maramdaman niyang nakapasok na kami, humarap siya sa 'min matapos ilagay ang isang libro sa malaking wooden shelf na nakakabit sa pader ng opisina niya.

"Oh, you've arrived," bati niya sa 'min at hinawi niya ang lagpas balikat niyang kulay blonde na buhok.

Mariin niya ring inayos ang suot na pulang coat, saka nagsimulang naglakad papalapit sa pwesto namin. Namayani ang tunog ng takong ng sapatos niya na tumatama sa puting tiles. Tahimik lang namin siyang pinagmasdan. Nang tumatapat siya sa harap namin, ipinatong niya ang braso palapit sa kanyang dibdib.

Kumurap ito saka nagsalita, "You did well, Illicit Task Force. I commend you all for that." binigyan niya kami ng isang ngiti na unang beses ko lang nakita.

Mabilis siyang bumalik sa pwesto ng desk niya. Binuksan ang drawer at tila may kinuha mula rito.

"I know how to keep my words," panimula niya saka tumingala pabalik sa 'min.

Wala pa ring nagtatangkang magsalita ni isa sa 'min. Hindi ko alam pero para akong kinutuban sa sinabi ni Atalia.

Naglakad siya pabalik sa pwesto namin saka muling nagsalita, "Accomplishing the risky task went very well. With that, I'm glad to grant your freedom as the citizen of this country from this moment." huminto siya at tinaasan kami ng kilay. "Do you have any complaints about that?" tanong niya at nagkalingunan kami sa isa't isa.

Sabay-sabay rin kaming umiling bilang tugon kay Commander Atalia.

Tumango naman ito pabalik. "Well that's good, because there's more. . ."

She handed each one of us a rectangular piece of metal inside the translucent case holder. As I looked upon it, my forehead creased.

"I used to say this to you. Privilege comes with great responsibility. . ."

"So you must not fail me," I continued the sentence she's about to say.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang tango dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Fulfilling the task I've given you is my great responsibility to reciprocate it with a privilege." she met our eyes. "A privilege for you to be part of Classified Investigatory Unit."

After I heard her statement, I decided to pull out the rectangular metal from the case holder.

As soon as I saw what's inside, my printed name stumbled upon me, and beneath it, it says. . .

AGENT 925

I peek around to see the reaction of my confidants. All I see were assertive look.

Seconds later, Atalia's voice caught my attention. "It's an honor to work with you all. . ." She confidently turned her chin upwards as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Classified Investigatory Task Force."

THE END.