Chapter 4: The Hacker

March 2016

~RYU~

I tossed my laptop on the side of my bed at nag-inat. Tinanggal ko ang suot na eyeglasses at ilang beses na kinusot ang mata. My neck hurts a little bit but the thought that I'm bored only doubled my pain. Tumayo ako mula sa kama at tiningnan ang ibang nakakalat na monitor sa silid ko. On one screen is the on-going transactions na pumapasok at lumalabas sa website. Sa isang screen naman ay ang nangyayari sa conference room kung saan nagpupulong ang ilang malalaking tao mula sa Vander Mafia. Usually, this things interest me but this just annoyed me today.

What do I usually do to lessen my boredom? Hmm, playing computer games but lately ay naiinis lamang ako. And it's no challenge at all lalo na at si Cooler lang naman ang madalas kong kalaro. I also drink but it's too early to do that. I was about to give up with the thought of going out nang may maalala ako.

This girl at Bridle always spice up my life every time I see her annoyed face. Call me a devil but I really love to see the murderous looks on her face every time she sees me. Maybe that's where I am really good at— irking the hell out of her. A smirk emerged from my lips and I walked toward my closet to get dressed.

It's Saturday kaya malamang ay wala masyadong pagkakaabalahan sa mansion. Nasa Vander's mansion ako at pababa ng hagdan nang makarinig ako ng ilang mga bagay na nababasag at boses ng pinsan kong si Ryza na tila tuwang tuwa.

What's with today?

I walked straight toward the direction where I can hear the loud crashing of objects and to my surprise, I saw Hermes and Eros brawling. Hindi ito ang unang beses na ginawa nila ito, in fact they almost do it every day— maliban na lamang kung malubha ang pinsala nila mula sa naunang paglalaban but every time I see them, I'm surprised. On the side was Artemis, who looks like a kid watching the two fight. Kapag nakakatama si Eros ay tatalon siya at ichi-cheer up si Hermes and vice versa.

I saw Eros reached for an antique figurine and slammed it on Hermes's head but he dodged it and it landed on his shoulder instead. I heard a cracking sound of bones at napangiwi naman ako. I cleared my throat to get their attention but I failed. Tanging si Artemis lamang ang nakapansin sa akin.

"Hello, couz! Wanna bet? I'm with Eros and I'll be taking your car," malawak ang ngiting wika niya. I smirked at her ngunit wala iyong epekto sa kanya. "Fine, fifty thousand?"

Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin at siya naman ang sumuko. "Kuripot!"

"Make sure you two break more bones than just things here," wika ko at tumalikod na. lang saglit lamang ay nakababa na ako at nagda-drive patungong Bridle. Sa katunayan ay walang kasiguraduhan kung maaabutan ko ba ang pakay ko ngayon.

But that witch is so unfortunate that time always sides me. Ilang beses ko na ba siyang naaabutan sa labas ng gate at naghihintay ng masasakyan? How many times do I always come on time whenever she feels like losing hope in finding a cab? Countless times.

Pagdating ko sa harap ng Bridle ay siya rin naman paglabas ni Amber kasama ang isang lalaki— ano nga ba ang pangalan niya? Hmm, as far as I can remember he's the braced guy during Amber's debut. It's just that he doesn't have his braces now. Huminto ako sa tapat nila at ibinaba ang salamin ng sasakyan.

"Hey, witch! Care for a ride?"

Gaya ng madalas niyang reaksyon ay ipinaikot niya ang kanyang mga eyeballs. Dati ay natutukso akong dukutin ang mga iyon sa kanyang mga mata. Seriously, she's very annoying if she does it. But now I'm getting used to it.

"Ano na naman ba ang masamang hangin na nagtulak sa iyo rito, Devil?" Her tone is the usual annoyed one.

The guy with her stepped forward and lowered down himself to level his eyes on me. "Hininga mo?"

"What?"

"Amber asked kung anong masamang hangin ang nagtulak sa ‘yo rito, baka hininga mo." Then he flashed a smile that is seriously annoying. Napaatras siya nang bigla kong binuksan ang pinto ng kotse at lumabas doon. He ran toward Amber and hid on her back.

"Amber, oh!" Geez! Nagtago pa talaga siya sa likuran ni Amber!

"Ano na naman ba ang ipinunta mo rito sa Bridle, Ryu? Umalis ka na," the witch asked. She frowned at me and I know I am the last person that she wanted to see. Well, that fact just lessens my boredom. This is what I came for— seeing her irked with my presence.

I let out a smirk. Every time I do, she gives me a frown. "Sa pagkakaalala ko, you don't own Bridle High School." My gaze passed her at inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa loob ng gate. The youngest Vander might come any moment from now but gladly, he isn't around.

"The same goes to you. Hindi mo pag-aari ang Bridle kaya walang rason na magpunta ka pa rito," she said without remorse.

"Right but that doesn't give you the permission to prevent people from coming here."

She let out a fake smile. "I know you came here to annoy the hell out of me."

I replied with my mocking smile. "Bingo! Wow, ang galing mo talagang mag-isip!"

She bit her lower lip out of annoyance. "Can't you just get out of my sight?

"Nope, unless you're blind and if that's the case, you'll be annoyed with my voice instead," wika ko sa kanya. I saw her gritted her teeth at mas lalo lamang sumama ang tingin niya sa akin. Nagsukatan kami ng tingin and it looks like no one is giving up until we heard a throat being cleared on our side.

"Hello people? Nandito pa ako."

Hinila siya ni Amber palayo. "Tayo na Jeremy bago pa masira ang araw ko."

"Amber, walang tayo. Lagot ako kay—" He wasn't able to finish his sentence when Amber glared at her.

Nakapamulsang sinundan ko pa rin sila. "Where are you heading?"

"Wala kang pakialam!"

The guy stopped Amber from pulling him. "Sandali, bakit mo natanong?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I can take you there."

"No, thanks!" Simbilis ng kidlat ang pagtanggi ni Amber.

Muli ay bumaling sa akin ang lalaki. "Sandali, sigurado ka ba r’yan sa offer mo?"

"Yup."

"Amber, sa kanya na tayo sumakay— I mean sa kotse niya. Ayaw ko nang mag-commute kasi na-trauma na ako sa nangyari noong nakaraan."

His face became worried and so as Amber but she still refused. "Mag-taxi na lamang tayo o kaya ay jeep."

"Pero Amber..."

"What?"

"Sayang din ‘yong pamasahe!"

Amber rolled her eyes again at tila ano mang oras ay balak na niyang sakalin ang kasama. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa.

"Fine!"

I smirked victoriously at iginiya sila sa sasakyan ko. Agad naman silang pumasok kasabay ng paglulan ko sa kotse but to my surprise, they both rode in the backseat.

I looked at them through the mirror and she eyed me a glare. "What?!" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.

"I'm not your driver kaya ‘wag kayong sumakay riyan sa likod."

"Dude, alangan namang diyan kaming dalawa sa harap, paano ‘yon? Si Amber sa shotgun ride tapos ako nakakandong sa ‘yo? Yuck, dude! So gross," wika ni— ah, Jeremy.

"Who said you two must sit here?" Nagsimula na akong mainis sa lalaking ito.

"Ah, gano’n lang? Isa lang pala. Okay!" Just then he leaped from the backseat to the shotgun ride. Napamasahe ako sa noo ko at bahagyang sinulyapan si Amber mula sa salamin.

"What?" She mouthed again.

Hinampas ko na lamang ang manibela at binuhay ang makina. I refused to glance at this annoying guy on my side na ngayon ay nakangisi habang inaayos ang seatbelt.

Tahimik lamang akong nagmamaneho nang binasag ni Amber ang katahimikan. "Ano nga pala ang nangyari sa ‘yo Jeremy noong nag-commute ka?"

Niyakap ni Jeremy ang kanyang sarili. "Ganito kasi ‘yon… Pauwi na ako sa ‘min at sumakay ako ng jeep. Laking gulat ko nang pinagtinginan ako ng mga nakasakay sa jeep na sinakyan ko. Sobrang kinabahan ako pero hindi ko na lang pinansin ‘yon, so nagbayad na lang ako ng pamasahe at pinaabot sa katabi ko."

"Oh, tapos?"

"As I expected, kukunin nila ‘yong bayad ko at iaabot sa driver, pero mas lalo pa akong kinabahan no’ng hindi nila inabot ang bayad ko at nakatingin lang sila sa ‘kin ng masama."

"That's mean," I commented. Minsan na akong nakapag-commute and it's annoying if no one will receive your money. On the other hand, nakakainis din naman kapag ikaw ang pinag-abot sa driver.

"Kaya nga no’ng time na ‘yon, pinagpawisan ako nang malamig at hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Feeling ko may mangyayaring masama sa ‘kin!"

Amber's eyes widened. "And?"

"Bigla na lamang nagsalita ‘yong matandang babae! Sabi niya bumaba na raw ako habang hindi pa ako nakakalayo at habang maaga pa!"

What the hell?! Did he happen to ride with weird and scary people? One thing I hate with riding public vehicles? You don't know who you're riding with.

"Syempre takot na takot ako! Kaya tinanong ko siya kung bakit!" His eyes widened like he has the scariest experience ever!

"Bakit?" magkasabay na tanong namin ni Amber.

His worried face shifted into a poker face. "Sabi niya FAMILY USE daw ‘yon! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Bigla na lamang akong napapreno nang tumawa siya ng malakas. What the hell?! Akala ko pa naman ay kung ano na! I prevented myself from opening my glove compartment to pull my gun at itutok iyon sa kanya.

"Get off."

Pareho silang nagulat ni Amber. "Ano?!"

"I said get off." Sinadya kong kalmahin ang boses. Yup, you get it right. Ang pasensya ko ay kasing nipis ng sapot ng gagamba. Or even thinner than that.

"Devil! Ikaw ang nagpasakay sa amin tapos ngayon papababain mo kami?"

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay tumunog na ang cellphone ko at rumehistro doon ang pangalang Tartarus. It's my Dad and he seldom calls me unless it is something important.

"I know but I think you really need to get off this car before I slaughter this guy," sinamaan ko ng tingin si Jeremy na agad din namang napasiksik sa upuan niya.

"Unbelievable!" Bulalas ni Amber at lumabas ng kotse. "Fine, bumaba ka na rin Jeremy." She leaned down and looked at me through the window. "Don't ever show yourself to me, Devil, or else manghihiram ka ng mukha sa aso."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm scared," tinatamad na wika ko sa kanya bago nag-U turn at muling tinahak ang daan pabalik sa mansion.

***

Kakauwi ko lamang sa mansion mula sa isang transaksyon. Unfortunately, Tartarus appointed me to guide some stuff kanina. Mag-aalas dos na ng madaling araw nang makabalik ako sa silid ko. I removed my clothes and left my boxer shorts and was about to dive into the bed ngunit bago pa man iyon ay tumunog ang alarm system na mula sa speakers. The red lights that I placed on top of my monitors are now blinking, tanda na may notification.

I checked to see what it was. Napakunot ang noo ko nang makitang isa iyong anonymous mail.

From: AGENT1000.1.1000.0

Greetings, Apollo the hacker! How about another mission other than the Vander Mafia? Meet me 12 midnight of tomorrow at Higher Museum.

Normally ay iniignora ko ang mga ganoong mensahe but this one is different. First is that whoever sent this knows that I am Apollo, the hacker of Vander Mafia. Second is the email. My e-mail address is private yet he was able to send this e-mail. And lastly I have the urge to get interested into this.

Sinubukan kong i-trace kung saan nagmumula ang email but then the IP address is changing- probably sinadya iyon ng kung sino mang sender.

I moved from my swivel chair to the bed as I thought of whoever the sender is. For now, I need to rest to have enough energy to meet that man tomorrow.

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