Chapter 8: Israel Verona

~SA-EL~

I put down the cigarette butt on the ashtray as I reached for my ringing phone on the bedside but the girl beside me spoke before I can reach for the thing.

"Are you gonna pick that one up?" she asked as she ran down her long slender fingernails from my chest down to my naked bulge which was covered with a blanket. I gave her my sweetest smile and ignore the sensation that was brought by her caress. Nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Mimo sa screen ay agad ko iyong sinagot.

"Hello-"

"My mental abilities tell me that you're on the bed with a skinny chic and-"

"Anong pakay mo?" wika ko sa kanya. I don't believe that it's his mental powers that told him so. It's my routine kaya alam na niya kung nasaan ako sa mga ganitong oras.

I heard his naughty laughter from the line. "Ibig sabihin ay tumpak ako."

"Mimo-"

"You're late. Alam mong may mahalaga tayong pag-uusapan ngayon," paalala niya. When I tried to recall what day today is, I mumbled a curse under my breath.

"I'm on my way," wika ko at agad na pinatay ang tawag. I looked at the girl who was pretty busy doing her job down there.

"How do you like that?" she asked and gave me her seductive smile. Before she goes down again, I pulled her up and gently push her out of the bed. "What the hell?!"

"I'm sorry, Monique-"

"I'm not fucking Monique! It's-"

I handed her her undergarments which I found on the bed. "Babe, it's such a great time but I really need to go but you must go first," wika ko at tumayo, not minding my nakedness.

Halos malaglag ang panga niya sa sinabi ko. "You're tossing me out of your place?" Halos hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. "Heck, I'm Cara Cojuangco and no one would dare to ask me out of their place!"

"Ah, I felt honored to be the first to do so," wika ko sa kanya. I don't mean to be harsh but this girl is just wasting my time. "And you're Cara who? All I knew is that you're just a bitch who enjoyed her thirty minutes with me."

Napanganga ang babae at padabog na nagbihis. "You will pay for this, Israel Verona!" Pinulot niya ang nagkalat na high heels at tinungo ang pinto na bitbit iyon. Before she reached for the door, I told her to stop. Tumigil siya at nanggagalaiting napatingin sa akin.

"What?!"

Lumapit ako sa kanya at may hinigit mula sa mala-drop box niyang cleavage. It was my diamond-embedded watch which I wore a while ago. Unti-unting nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang dahan-dahan ko iyong inilabas at nginitian siya.

"Uh-uh. You still have a lot to learn and I think its value is more than just yours so you cannot get this as payment," wika ko. Pulang-pula ang mata niya at halos hindi makapaniwala sa nangyari.

"W-when did you..."

"Just go," wika ko at binuksan ang pinto para sa kanya. Marahil ay dahil sa hiya ay agad itong tumakbo palabas. She didn't even bother to wear her shoes. I smiled as I recall how she did it. While picking up her scattered clothes on the floor, she reached for my watch which she managed to remove during her foreplay performance. Napangisi na lamang ako habang iniisip kung bakit sa dami ng pwede niyang nakawan, ako pa talaga ang naisipan nito.

I am a professional thief. I stole so many gems and treasure at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa ako nahuhuli. Its either I am good in hiding or the police are just good for nothing.

Agad akong nagbihis at lumabas ng condo. I took my car and drive towards the hideout. Binati pa ako ng guard na nasa parking lot. For them, I am just Israel Verona, unknown to them, I am one of the most wanted thieves na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin napapangalanan ng mga pulis.

That's how our life should be. Remaining hidden and unknown is the top priority of a thief like me. When we go at our missions at night, we live normally during the day. Nang makarating ako sa hideout ay parehong abala sina Mimo at V. They were reading something and beside V was a tall pile of law books. Ah, must be our upcoming project.

We received a tip about a diamond, which was believed to be given as a gift to a merchant by the queen of the Victorian era. Nakatago iyon sa isang safe deposit box at hanggang ngayon ay inaccessible iyon dahil namatay na ang may-ari and he has no relative to show up and claim the box. The dead man has no relative and probably, the bank will seize it and benefit from that precious diamond.

"Hey."

Only Mimo was aware of my presence while V just keep on staring at the book. Hindi ko alam kung binabasa ba niya iyon o kaya naman ay tinititigan lang niya. I pointed my lips towards her and silently asked Mimo about V but he just shrugged his shoulder.

I cleared my throat to get her attention. "This is your first time posing as a lawyer, is that what's bothering you?"

She forced as smile at umiling. "Hindi ko iniisip iyan."

"Kung gayon ay ano ang iniisip mo?" tanong ni Mimo. "Gusto mo bang gamitin ko ang kakayahan kong basahin ang nasa utak mo?"

I glared at old Mimo. We made him swear not to use his abilities on us. In case he will, I will make sure to give him a good beating for it.

V hesitated to answer first but in the end she did. "Anong gagawin niyo kapag may taong biglang dumating at makikitira sa bahay mo? Hindi mo siya kaanu-ano, kahit kaibigan man lang."

"If it's a girl, I'll be very happy," I replied and I received glares from them. "Okay, I'm just joking. Pero bakit, V? May nakikitira ba sa bahay mo? If that's the case, he or she will know what you do."

"Alam niya."

"Just toss her out," suhestiyon ng matandang si Mimo. Did he say 'her'? This old man! He read V's mind? Napansin ko ang masamang tingin na itinapon sa kanya ni V ngunit iniwasan niya iyon.

Sa huli ay mas pinili na lamang ni Victoria na pag-usapan ang 'project' namin.

"Paano natin masisigurado na naroon pa nga sa safe deposit box ang dyamante? Paano kung wala talaga roon?" V asked.

I moved on the seat next to her at inilapit ang mukha sa kanya. "I can feel that it's there", I said while staring at her eyes. I gave her the smile that can make the girls melt on their knees but just like every time I tried to, I always fail. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin na tibo si Victoria. Hindi naman sa pagyayabang pero gwapo rin naman ako, mayaman, matalino-name it, I have it. It's just that Victoria isn't into me. She ignored my presence and gently pushed me away upang abutin ang isang libro.

"Are you sure that it's okay for Victoria to play the role of the lawyer?" tanong ko. "Bakit hindi na lamang ako ang gumanap? You know I have some knowledge about it since I attended law school."

"Exactly", sagot ni Mimo. "May background ka and that makes you overqualified." He made a face and looked at V. "Mas bagay sa kanya ang role at isa pa, ikaw ang may naka-rent na safe deposit box sa bangkong iyon kaya alam mo na ang kailangan mong gawin."

Bigla na lamang isinara ni V ang aklat at tumayo. "Tapos na ba tayo? May lalakarin pa ako," she said and looked at her watch.

I was about to say that I just got here ngunit naunang magsalita si tandang Mimo. "Go."

Victoria smiled, picked her backpack and exited. Tiningnan ko ng masama si Mimo. "What now? You called me here just for that? You know I was having fun and-"

Itinaas ni Mimo ang kanyang kamay upang patigilin ako. "Alam ko," wika niya at pilyong ngumiti. This old man! Palibhasa wala kasi siyang "fun time" na gaya ng meron ako kaya minsan ay dinadamay niya ako! I slightly punched the table at umiiling na lumabas na lamang. Hindi ko na rin pinansin ang nakakainis na pagngisi nito.

Agad akong lumulan sa kotse upang bumalik sa condo ngunit napahinto ako nang namataan ko si V na nag-aabang ng taxi. I got curious about where she's heading kaya hinintay kong makasakay siya at sinundan ang taxi na sinasakyan niya. Tumigil siya sa likurang bahagi ng isang sikat na paaralan. What was the name of this school? Bradle? Bridle?

Nang makaalis ang taxi ay nakatutok lamang ako kay Victoria mula sa di kalayuan. Nang masiguro niyang walang tao ay maingat na sumampa siya sa mataas na pader. She moved swiftly and with poise. She sat on top of the wall and checked inside. I watched her every move and was amazed each time. Tricksters like us must have certain traits to succeed and on her case, she has those naturally.

We trick people and steal from them. But what differentiate us from other thieves is that we only steal from those who possessed those things from illegal means, too. Hindi kami nagnanakaw mula sa tunay na may-ari. We believe that those stolen items are better in our possession than to those where we got them. Unlike others, we are not blinded by the greed for money.

Victoria is naturally blessed with traits that others are rooting to have. She's a deceiver and trick-player. She's a pure imitator of gods. In our team, she's the smartest while I am the bricoleur. Mimo is also very useful especially his hypnotic ability while the hacker is technically helpful. Sa madaling salita ay maganda ang team na binuo namin.

Nang tuluyan nang tumalon si V ay agad akong bumaba ng kotse at sinundan siya. Sumampa ako sa pader gaya ng ginawa niya at tumalon doon.

"Whoah," I mumbled as I looked around. High school girls in their short skirts were scattered on the area. I can't help but whistle mentally. I tossed away my pervy thoughts at hinanap na lamang si Victoria. These girls are too young to play with.

Napansin kong ikinubli niya ang sarili at palihim na pinanuod ang lalaking nasa isang mesa at tila baliw na tumatawa. He was with a girl and another guy who was looking at him unbelievably while he laughs like crazy.

Bahagya pa akong lumapit upang marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila at pinanatili ang distansya mula kay V.

"Dapat kasi iniisip niyo rin ang damdamin ng mga maliliit na bagay na nasa paligid. Alam niyo ba kung ano ang reklamo ng brief?" Nakangising wika ng lalaki sa kanyang mga kasamahan na tila hindi man lamang nagpapakita ng interes. He poke the guy and asked the question kaya napilitan itong sumagot.

"Ano?"

"Bwisit na buhay 'to! Araw-araw na lang itlog! Itlog! Itlog! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Just like what he did a while ago, he laughed like crazy while his company remained their poker faces. Ibinaling ko ang paningin kay V. She was covering her mouth and turn on her back. Her shoulders were shrugging so I figure out that she was laughing.

I don't know why but I found myself walking towards her and pulled her away from that place. Bahagya siyang nagulat nang makita ako.

"Sa-el? Anong ginagawa mo rito?" she asked. Sa huling pagkakataon ay sinulyapan niya ang lalaki bago ako hinila palayo roon.

We stopped when we reached the wall at muli niyang akong tinanong. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"I want to ask the same thing," sagot ko sa kanya. Her smile a while ago vanished at napalitan iyon ng seryosong mukha.

"May tinitingnan lang ako."

"Sino?" I know I am not in the position to ask but I just can't prevent myself from doing so. We're a team but V never shared something about her life.

"Dating kaibigan," sagot niya at mabilis na sumampa sa pader. She move with grace at kung hindi ko lang talaga alam na kauri ko siya, I would have think that she's a princess who had a lesson about etiquette and proper movement of a girl. Sumampa rin ako sa pader at sumunod sa kanya na tumalon upang lubusang makalabas doon.

"Dati? Then what are you doing here kung dati lang naman pala?"

Her brows wrinkled at bahagyang tinitigan niya ako. Nais kong bawiin ang sinabi ko. Shit! Why do I sound like a fucking jealous boyfriend, demanding for an explanation from her?

"Dahil gusto ko-"

"Okay, you don't need to answer that," wika ko. Sa isip ko ay ilang beses kong pinagsusuntok ang sarili. Why did I ask her that?

Walang ekspresyon ang mukha nito habang tinitingnan niya ako at pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay nagpaalam. "Mauuna na ako."

"Wait!"

She looked back at me kaya itinuro ko ang kotse mula sa di kalayuan. "I have my car, ihahatid na kita and I won't take no for an answer."

Hindi na siya promotesta at tumango na lamang. Nang lulan na kami ng kotse ay bahagya akong nagulat nang magsalita siya.

"Calvin ang pangalan niya," kwento niya. "Dati ko siyang kaibigan." For seconds, I thought that she will tell me more something about it ngunit hindi na niya dinagdagan iyon. I keep myself from asking more questions hanggang sa makarating kami sa harap ng tinutuluyan niya.

Nang magpaalam siya ay agad kong iwinaksi sa isip ang tungkol sa kaibigan niya at naghanda na lamang sa aming 'project.'

#