"DRINK this." Enigma gave Nero another medicine and a cup of milk.

Nero hesitated to get the milk. Nakasandal ang likuran nito sa kama at nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Wala akong nilagay r'yan. Para saan pa't niligtas kita kung lalagyan ko ulit ng Anthrax," saad niya at hinawakan ang kamay ni Nero upang iabot ang gatas.

Isang araw na ang lumipas matapos muntik na niyang mapatay si Nero. Bahagyang bumuti na ang pakiramdam ng lalaki subalit nilalagnat pa rin ito.

Well, in the first place, it wasn't in her mind to kill Nero. She just needed to make things clear for the both of them. That thing she did to him was only a warning that whatever he had discovered about her, he should keep it to himself.

Kung mamamatay ito, mas mahihirapan lang siya lalo sa kaniyang misyon dahil paniguradong magtataka ang mga maids at maaalarma rin si Engineer Pandora. Siya ang personal maid ng lalaki kaya posibleng siya ang maituturo kung sakali mang magpaimbestiga ang bachelor.

Tinitigan pa ni Nero ang gatas bago nito inumin. Mabilis nitong naubos ng lalaki. Ininom na rin nito ang binigay niyang gamot. Binalik nito sa kaniya ang baso.

"Gusto mo pa?"

Tumango naman ang lalaki.

Lumabas siya sa kuwarto at pumunta ng kusina. Nakita niya roon ang head maid.

"Kumusta si Sir Nero, hija?" tanong nito.

"Medyo okay na naman po." Imbes na baso ang paglagyan, isang one liter bottle ang pinagtimplahan niya ng gatas.

Bumalik na siya sa loob ng kuwarto nito, umupo sa kama at binigay ang bottle of milk.

Habang umiinom ang lalaki, nilapat niya ang palad sa noo nito. Bumababa na ang temperatura nito. Naupo lang siya sa harapan nito habang pinagmamasdan ang lalaki na umiinom. Kita niya pa rin ang pangingitim sa paligid ng ilong nito dulot ng kaniyang suntok no'ng nakaraang araw.

"E-en . . ." he uttered. Nilagay nito sa ibabaw ng drawer ang wala ng laman na bottle at kinuha ang tablet.

'Why did you help me?' He wrote.

How can I not when you are pleading?

"I just want to. I can't leave you dead, anyway. It will just give me more trouble."

'Are you sent to kill me?'

Her eyebrow arched after she read those. Bakas ang takot sa mukha ng lalaki. Parang no'ng nakaraan lang, sinasamaan pa siya nito ng tingin, pero ngayon, kinakabahan sa posible niyang isagot.

Inabot ni Enigma ang t-shirt na pinagbihisan ni Nero kanina na nasa kama. "I have already killed the person who was sent to kill you a few days ago." Pinahid niya ang pawis sa noo nito. "But I can't also say I am not a threat to you."

After all, she was sent here to find clues about her father's illegal business. She also hadn't confirmed if Nero was involved in the said business. Their label right now was still questionable.

"So I have a few questions for you. You better not lie to me because this question will determine your fate in my hands," saad niya.

Naghintay naman ang lalaki.

"Who taught you to fight?"

Tinuro nito ang sarili. "Watch . . ." Pagkatapos, tinuro ang tablet.

"Nanonood ka lang ng videos?"

He nodded.

"For how long have you been doing it?"

Tinaas nito ang tatlong daliri sa kamay.

"Three years. I see." In those years, he was able to perfect his form. The only thing that was lacking was his experience. Mukhang hindi pa ito nakakasabak sa isang tunay na labanan at ang pag-aaway nila no'ng nakaraan ang unang beses na nakaranas ang lalaki.

"Why did you learn how to fight?"

Natigilan naman ang lalaki. Napatingin siya sa mga kamay nitong humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa tablet. Gumalaw rin ang panga nito na para bang may naalala. Hindi niya mawari kung ang panginginig ng kamay ay dahil ba sa takot o galit dahil sa sumisiklab na emosyon sa mga mata nito.

"M-mom . . . died." Nanginig ang mga labi nito habang nagsasalita. "I d-don't . . . w-want . . . die."

Kumunot ang noo ni Enigma habang nagsasalita ang lalaki. Hirap na hirap itong magsalita at hindi nito maituwid ang mga salita. Ano kayang nangyari kung bakit ganito ito magsalita?

"Your mom died, so you don't want to die as well? Why? What happened?" She sat closer to Nero and paid all her attention in his every word.

Nagsulat ito sa tablet at pinakita sa kaniya.

'Three years ago, Mom and Dad has a good relationship. We were fine that time, but after we went for a vacation here in Butuan, Mom found out that Dad has an illegal business. Mom can't just stay silent and confronted Dad when we came back home. Mom wanted him to stop, but he didn't listen. So when Mom attempted to tell the authority, he didn't hesitate to kill Mom.'

Enigma crossed her arms after reading what he wrote. So she was right. His mother was killed by the bachelor.

"I . . . saw . . . Mom." Nero's face was hugged by terror; the ends of his eyes were starting to water. "Dad . . . s-shoot . . ."

Bigla itong napahawak sa ulo at napapikit, pilit na inaalis ang nga alaalang pilit nitong kinakalinutan. Nakayuko ang lalaki sa kaniya kaya hindi niya makita ang nahihirapan nitong mukha. Mabibigat din ang mga hininga na nito na para bang sinusubukang pakalmahin ang sarili.

Enigma had the urge to hug him, but she stopped herself. She had almost killed him, and now she wanted to comfort him? Nah. Nero would not like it.

She just watched him struggle as she thought of his words.

Mukhang naunawaan na ni Enigma ang nais nitong sabihin. Base on the years Nero said, she could conclude that the event where she saw Nero running outside three years ago, was the time the bachelor murdered his mother.

"Your dad shot your mom in front of you. You tried to escape, but the bachelor found you. He brought you here, including your mother's cremated remain para mas malapit kayo sa kaniya sa main corporation at mas madali ka rin niyang mabibisita, ganoon ba?" saad niya. And the man's inability to speak straight must be because he was traumatized. So the bachelor kept on visiting him to ensure that Nero still couldn't talk.

"Y-yes. But I . . . b-brought . . . Mom's . . ."

"You were the one who brought your mom's cremated remains?"

He nodded.

"Hmm. So you weren't aware that your father had been doing illegal businesses not until your mother found out?"

Nero nodded again. He clenched his fist and spoke, "H-hate . . . him. I w-want . . . jail."

Dahan-dahan namang napangiti si Enigma nang marinig ang mga katagang iyon kay Nero. She couldn't say she was relieved hearing that Nero wasn't involved in the underhanded doings of his father, rather, she was happy. The man wanted his father to be behind bars. He wanted to give justice to his murdered mother.

They had the same goal.

"Same here. I want your father to go to jail."

Nagulat naman si Nero sa kaniyang sinagot kaya muli siyang nagsalita.

"I was sent here to uncover Engineer Pandora's illegal business. I applied as your maid to stay close to the Pandora's. I am an undercover agent, Nero."

'You know that I am his son?' He wrote in his tablet.

"Yes."

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang mukha nito at bakas pa rin ang gulat sa mga mata. Nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniya si Nero. Hinayaan niya lang naman iyon. Ilang minuto na ang lumipas at nakatitig pa rin ito sa kaniya.

"Ang ganda ko, right?" sabi niya dahilan para mapangiwi si Nero at inirapan siya.

Tsk. Ayaw pa 'tong umamin.

"Anyway, since we have the same goal, I guess there is no reason for us to be cautious with each other anymore."

'You made me sick. How could I trust you?'

"I was just taking precautions. You are the son of the bachelor, after all. Of course, I will assume that you are on the side of your father."

Ilang saglit pa bago nagsulat si Nero.

'You are an undercover agent, right? So you are working for the government?'

Tumango. "Yup. They pay me millions. Once I accomplished my mission, I will get another money," tuwang-tuwa niyang sabi habang napapaisip ang laki ng pera na mahahanap niya.

"Do you want to work with me?" she offered. Nero would be a great help to her mission if he'd cooperate. "You will tell me what you know, and I will help you give justice to your mother. I will make sure to put your father in jail."

'And what will happen to me?'

Pinagmasdan niya naman ang lalaki. "I will keep you safe." The man also needed a therapy. After the mission, she'd make sure that his speech would be fixed.

Nababahala naman siya nitong tinignan. Puno ng pagdududa ang mukha nito. Halatang walang tiwala sa mga lumalabas sa bibig niya. He must be doubting after what she did to him.

"I won't do it again, okay? I'm sorry."

It wasn't in her nature to apologize, but it looked like she needed to do it for Nero to trust her.

"Huwag ka nang magtampo r'yan. Promise, hindi na ulit kita sasaktan." She smiled at her and raised her right hand.

Pinaningkitan naman siya nito. Biglang napunta ang tingin nito sa kaniyang mga labi kaya mabilis na napaangat ang kaniyang mga kilay. Kanina niya pa ito napapansing sumusulyap sa kaniyang mga labi.

"Do you want to kiss me?" tanong niya.

Nero's face flushed and immediately looked down. Nagsulat ito sa tablet.

'Fine. I will work with you.'

Napangiti naman siya. "Good. Then, it is settled. We will be a team from now on." Nilahad niya ang kamay upang makipag-shake hands.

Tinanggap naman 'yon ni Nero.

"Ah, by the way. My name is not Enisha. It's Enigma."

Sa araw na 'yon, sinabi ni Nero sa kaniya ang mga nalalaman nito tungkol sa illegal na pagawaan ng mga explosives ng ama, kung saan ito makikita at kung ano ang mga binabalak nitong gawin.

'The illegal production of explosive is located in a resort owned by my father. Nandito pa rin sa Butuan.'

Tumayo si Nero sa pagkakaupo at nagtungo sa pader na may nakatakip na kurtina. Lumapit din siya roon. Winaksi ito ng lalaki at isang passcode ang bumungad sa kaniya.

"Documents . . ." Turo ni Nero sa pader. Pinapahiwatig nito na ang laman sa kabilang pader ay mga documents at records ng transaksyon ng ama sa illegal nitong mga gawain.

Hindi mapigilan ni Enigma na maaliw sa dami ng nalaman niya. Mukhang mapapadali ang kaniyang misyon dahil kay Nero. Kapag nakita niya mismo ang production at mahawakan niya rin ang mga documents, isang pindot niya lang ito sa kaniyang cellphone papunta sa ACA, mabilis agad itong aaksyunan ng agency.

Kapag nahuli si Engineer Pandora, tapos din ang misyon niya at makakabalik na ulit siya sa dati niyang buhay na may maraming pera.

Napabalik ang kaniyang atensyon nang pinindot ni Nero ang mga numero sa passcode. After he encoded the digits, the square plate, containing the buttons, slid to the right, revealing a face recognition censor. When it analyzed Nero's face, the system denied it.

"Is there a specific person registered on this face recognition?"

Nagsulat si Nero sa tablet at pinakita sa kaniya.

'I am not sure, but I think, except from dad, the one who made this might also be registered in the censor.'

"Do you know who?"

May ipinakita si Nero sa tablet nito na picture na isang lalaking nasa 30s at nakasuot ng glasses.

"S-sytem . . . engineer," Nero said.

"He's your dad's system engineer?"

Tumango si Nero.

Inabot niya naman ang tablet at kinabisa ang mukha ng lalaki. Alex Alcado ang pangalang nakalagay sa ibaba ng imahe.

"And where is this man right now?"

"R-resort."

"Hmm." Binalik niya kay Nero ang tablet at ngumisi. "I guess we need to take this man inside your room."