Naalala ni Lukas ang pagbisita nila ni Risha sa Good Samaritans' Home for the Aged.

Her eyes, so watery... her tears made tracks on her cheeks. I can't believe that the arrogant bitch can be a softie. Remember when she punched you in the balls, Lukas? Ganoon ba ang softie?

Napailing siya, pinipigilan ang sarili na matawa. He could remember how fuming mad he was when Risha did that when they met in her bar for the second time.

But at least, Bio-Hazard knows how to cry. That's good. Tao pa rin naman pala siya, hindi halimaw.

His serious thought-drowned face displayed another grin.

I already assessed that she's an insecure woman and seeks a lot of attention from her father. She's just too proud to admit it, because she hates him for what he did to her mother. Yup. That must be it.

Bumalik ang pagiging seryoso ng mukha niya. Bakit nga ba puro paga-analyze sa behavior ni Risha ang inaatupag niya? A small voice in his brain was trying to interrupt his thoughts with that question, but it did not break the flow of his train of thought.

Well, I guess, that's Risha's personality. At least, may idea na ako how to deal with that arrogant bitch-- awtomatikong napangisi siya. Kumawala ang isang mahinang tawa mula sa mga labi niya at napayuko si Lukas. Damn, I still can't believe she sang Delilah.

At naalala na naman niya ang mismong eksena na iyon sa home for the aged, ang pagkanta ni Risha ng Delilah. How she tried to make her voice sound round, big and low, how she tried to sing that song like Tom Jones.

Pag-angat ni Lukas ng tingin, bumungad sa kanya ang maraming pares ng mga mata.

Officer 8? Officer 12? Officer... Inikot niya ang mga mata sa paligid. Sampu sa mga subordinates niya ang kasama niya sa malaking table na iyon sa isang steak house at lahat ng mga ito ay nakatitig sa kanya na para bang mga namaligno.

Siya rin, parang namaligno. Ano ba ang ginagawa niya rito? Bakit kasama niya ang mga ito at bakit may nangangamoy na bagong ihaw na steak?

Damn! tumikhim na si Lukas at mula sa pagkakapalumbaba sa table, umupo na siya ng tuwid.

"Sir, are you okay?" kunot-noong tanong ni Officer 2 sa kanya, isang German na semi-kalbo at mala-Gil Ofarim ang facial features.

"Okay? Don't I look okay, Officer 2?" he narrowed his eyes at him.

"Well, Sir--" singit ni Officer 8, ito lang naman kasi lagi ang may lakas ng loob na sumagot-sagot kay Lukas ng harapan, "--you keep on grinning and smiling and you just laughed."

Napakunot ng statement na iyon ang noo niya. "I did?" 

His subordinates nodded in unison.

"So?" naningkit na naman ang mga mata ni Lukas. "Aren't you glad? That means I am okay. Is it wrong to grin?"

"Well, Sir," seryoso man ito, halatang naguguluhan ang hitsura ni Officer 8, "there is nothing wrong with that but we are talking about the RSF."

"Yes, Sir," segunda ni Officer 5 na katabi lang ni Officer 8. "You said that talking about the RSF is not a laughing matter."

"And when did I say that?" maangas niyang tanong dito. Mainit lang talaga ang dugo ni Lukas kay Officer 5 dahil puro nonsense ang pinagsasasabi nito sa kanya.

"On our first assembly in the HQ, before we started our mission."

"Yeah," tango ni Officer 6.

"He's right," sang-ayon pa ni Officer 8.

Gayundin ang naging pagsang-ayon ng iba pa niyang subordinates kaya marahas na napabuntong-hininga na lang si Lukas.

"Just forget it, okay? So, where are we?"

"Here at the steakhouse?" sagot ni Officer 5 kaya naging masama na ang tingin ni Lukas dito bago niya seryosong binalingan ang iba pa.

"Where are we with our discussion?" he asked again with obvious emphasis on every word as he spoke.

"Officer 2 just shared us a new information. This is about the woman who stole the necklace."

Lukas leaned back on his seat. Inabot ng kamay niya ang tall glass ng tubig pero hindi man lang iyon inangat.

"So? What with that thief? Do we still need her? We already have Risha. She has the locket."

"Yes," tango ni Officer 2 para ipaliwanag ang sariling leads. "But Sir, don't you think it is better if we check her out? The thief can give us an assurance that Risha has the right locket."

Binitawan na ni Lukas ang hawak na baso. He rubbed his chin, a sign that he was doing an assessment of his subordinate's statement.

"So, are you trying to tell me that there is a possibility that Risha doesn't have the locket we are looking for? Are you belittling my judgment?"

Hindi lang maiwasan ni Lukas na magtanong ng ganoon sa mga kasamahan. Siya naman kasi ang nakakita ng locket na suot-suot ni Risha. Alam niya na ganoong-ganoon ang hitsura ng locket na hinahanap nila.

"Please, Sir, don't take it like that," sagot ni Officer 2. "All of us just thought that maybe, that thief can help us... you know, just a little assurance from her that Risha has the locket we are looking for."

Sumingit na si Officer 4. "Officer 2 has a point, Sir. We had some research and we found out that there are a lot of these gold lockets with a letter engraved on them being sold online and in some stores in Germany. We just want to make sure that we are keeping an eye on the right locket and not just one of its replicas."

Inisa-isa ni Lukas ang mga information. So... may posibilidad na wala kay Risha ang RFS dahil maraming lockets na binebenta na may naka-engrave na letrang R at baka ang locket na meron ang babae ay kamukha lang nung hinahanap nila. How could that slip out of his mind and his own assessment?

He got too excited. Na-frustrate naman talaga kasi siya dahil malapit na ang ultimatum nila pero hindi pa nila nahahanap ang locket, hindi man lang niya naisip na baka kamukha nga lang ng locket na hinahanap nila ang meron si Risha.

"But Risha said she has the RFS," naguguluhan na siya.

"Can we really trust her about what she said?" ekis ni Officer 8 ng mga braso. "We are all aware that she's after you."

Narinig na naman niya ang pag-agree ng iba pa niyang mga tauhan sa sinabi ni Officer 8.

His lips formed a straight line, halatang pinipilit ni Lukas na magtimpi. Sa oras na malaman niya na winawalanghiya lang siya ng babaeng iyon para maangkin siya, baka makalimutan na niya na dapat respetuhin ang mga babae at... no, no, he could not do violent things to women, even if it would be that arrogant bitch. But Lukas was sure of one thing-- that would make him mad, really, really mad. So mad that he could bring hell from underground in front of Risha's eyes.

He slammed a hand on the table.

"Officer 2, send me the files on my e-mail tonight about your research regarding this thief-- her profile, her address, every information you have and you can still get." 

"Yes, Sir."

Binalingan naman niya si Officer 4. "You, give me a complete list of all the stores that sell the same locket, include the branches where these lockets are available and also the links to their online shops."

"Yes, Sir," tango ni Officer 4.

"Officer 8, stay in charge with the rest of our people. Inform the rest of our platoon about this meeting."

"Yes, Sir," serysong sagot nito.

"Good," tumayo na si Lukas. "Meeting adjourned."

"Hey, Sir, where are you going? You haven't even touched your steak," ani Officer 3.

"Picking up Risha," maikli niyang sagot bago nagmamadaling umalis.

Nagkatinginan na lang ang mga subordinates ni Lukas na naiwan sa lamesa.

"I hate seeing the Major happy," panimula ni Officer 8. "That is so unusual it sends me the creeps."

Napakibit-balikat na lang si Officer 6. "Well, at least, he's not screaming at us."

"But it is scary in so many levels," sang-ayon ni Officer 5 kay Officer 8 habang kumakain na ito ng steak.

***

Risha just got out of her office at eight in the evening. Nag-ikot pa kasi siya sa club before at during operation nito bago siya bumalik sa maliit na office room para kunin ang shoulder bag niya. Pagkalabas niya ng office, marami nang tao sa bar at nakakabingi na ang upbeat na club music. Then, her eyes finally found Lukas sitting on the bar.

Naalala niya ang una nilang pagkikita sa mismong bar na iyon ng Gold Club. He looked so stressed out she wanted to give him a good time so much.

Some comfort.

Napangiti na lang si Risha. In fairness naman kasi sa German guy, mukhang bumait na ito simula nung pumunta sila sa home for the aged.

Naawa lang siguro siya sa akin. Bakit ba kasi ako nag-drama ng ganoon?

Napapikit si Risha nang naalala niya iyon. Siya rin naman kasi ang may kasalanan eh. Masyado siyang nagpadala sa emosyon niya at umiyak-iyak pa siya sa kotse. Pero ano ang magagawa niya? Ganoon naman talaga pag bumibisita siya sa Good Samaritans'. Naging awkward lang iyon dahil sa unang pagkakataon, may kasama na siyang pumunta sa home for the aged na iyon at si Lukas pa.

Risha stood straight and composed herself. Masyado siyang napagod sa usual na pag-inspect sa mga gamit sa club at sa mga stocks ng beverages at iba pa tuwing Wednesday, kaya naman gustong-gusto na niyang umuwi. Hinayaan na lang niya na hiramin ni Lukas ang kotse niya. Confident naman si Risha na hindi iyon nanakawin ng lalaki.

Nilapitan na niya ang lalaki at hindi niya napigilan ang mapangiti. He really looked stiff but so handsome with his sexy bod, sexy jet black hair, moist lips and hawk-like eyes-- so perfect like a mannequin. 

Yes, the man looked like a mannequin, he sat on the bar with no obvious emotions, he looked stiff and Risha knew his body was hard. Kasing tigas ng kanyang...

Napasinghap siya nang nalingunan siya nito. It was too late to look away now! Nahuli na nito ang mga mata niya kaya naman tuluyan na siyang humakbang palapit sa lalaking nakasuot ng tattered jeans at itim na t-shirt.

"How's your day?" she smiled at him. Damn, Lukas, bakit hindi ka na lang nag-model? You will be more easier to reach out that way... 

"Okay," tipid nitong sagot bago tumayo. "Shall we?"

Tumango si Risha. Hindi naman nag-alok ng kamay ang lalaki kaya nagpatiuna na lang siya ng lakad. Lukas followed her, his eyes heavily stared at her.

Pagkasakay ng sasakyan, si Lukas na ang nagmaneho sa kanila papunta sa unit. Naging tahimik lang sila sa kotse. Lukas was still deep in his thoughts,  while Risha was too tired to talk. She rested her head against the seat's headrest and closed her eyes.

Buti na lang at hindi madaldal itong si German guy. I finally have the time to rest here in the car.

Ilang minuto na siyang nakapikit pero tila kinukulit siya ng kanyang konsensya.

Why is he so quiet?

Tumikhim na si Risha. "Lukas, are you okay?"

Paano kung wala talaga sa kanya ang RFS? he thought, feeling engulfed by irritation. Damn, I won't forgive this bitch for wasting my time. 

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng malalim na pag-iisip nang tanungin siya ng dalaga kung okay lang ba siya.

Lukas groaned. Mukha ba siyang hindi okay? Una siyang tinanong ng mga subordinates niya, ngayon naman si Risha. Anong trip ng mga ito at tanong ng tanong kung okay lang siya? May mali ba sa kanya? Kailan ba nagkaroon ng mali sa kanya? He's Major Verlin Lukas Mikhail, for Pete's sake!

"Lukas--"

"I am okay," mariin niyang sagot. "I thought you are sleeping."

"I want to, but your silence is bothering me."

Inabot ni Lukas ang radyo at ini-on iyon. "There. Now, it's not so silent here, isn't it?"

Nangibabaw ang ballad ng New Kids on the Block sa radyo bago sumagot si Risha.

"I said, your silence is bothering me, not the silence of the radio," then she rolled her eyes before she lowered down the volume on the radio.

"Matutulog ka ba o hindi?" he hissed as he stepped on the gas. Umandar na kasi ang mga sasakyan na nasa unahan nila.

Ano na naman ba ang problema nito? Napa-angat ng likod si Risha mula sa pagkakasandal sa upuan at naiinis na inulit ang sagot sa lalaki.

"I already said that I can't sleep because you are too quiet and it's--"

"Should I fuck you hard again so that you'll fall asleep?" he interrupted in a low voice.

Napalunok si Risha sa narinig. Ni hindi ito makaimik sa sinabi niyang iyon.

"Akala ko gusto mo, eh," he muttered in a lower voice, his eyes were still on the road.

So he took her silence as a no.

When the truth was... Risha wanted him to relax her muscles, fuck her all night long, relieve her from her stress from work, but no. He already took back his offer. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Risha at pinikit ang mga mata pagkatapos nitong lakasan ulit ang tugtog sa radyo.

Silence was never good. For Risha, all silence did is confuse two people.