c h a p t e r 10

VANCE.

"HAVE YOU lost your mind, Verity? 'Cause I'll help you find it!" bwelta ni Jake palapit kay Verity.

Sumabay sa alingaw-ngaw ng boses niya ang pag-andap ng pulang ilaw sa loob ng Nauticus ship. Muling umalog ang sinasakyan namin at napakapit ako sa navigation desk, maging si Colt na nakatayo sa kanto ng desk sa kabilang dulo.

Nanatiling tahimik si Ryde sa likuran ni Verity. Nakakunot lang ang noo nito at akmang bubunot na ng baril mula sa likuran ng pantalon niya.

Verity is too stunned to speak. Her lips parted but no words came out. Hindi ako sigurado, pero parang wala siyang alam sa nangyayari ngayon. Wala nga ba?

Lalo siyang hindi nakakilos nang walang habas na hinablot ni Jake mula sa leeg niya ang Lair pendant.

Nagitla siya at mariing napapikit sa biglaang pagkakaputol ng kwintas na suot.

"Jake!" I exclaimed and hurriedly grabbed the lair pendant from his hands.

He almost crushed it to the floor. He can't do that! Iyon lang ang mayro'n kami para makapasok sa Vipers Den.

"Give it back." he glared at me as he extend his left hand to my direction.

"Arden, give it back to him! It has to be destroyed!" Colt second the motion.

Agad akong umiling, at bago pa man ako makasagot, pumagitna na sa 'min si Ryde.

"Disable the locator of the pendant, Nine-two-five," Ryde said and past by me. "Verity. . ." he gestured his head. "Follow me," he added and walk towards the pilot seats.

Agad akong lumayo sa navigation desk para intindihin ang pendant. Ryde and Verity activated the manual navigation and start manoeuvring the ship.

I didn't waste any second. I went near the deck to get the journal netbook from my bag. As soon as I grabbed it, I positioned it on the arsenal.

Sunod-sunod namang naglapitan sa gawi ko si Colt, maging ang magkapatid.

Nang mabuksan ko na ang holographic map, agad kong ni-trace mula sa journal laptop ko ang system ng pendant.

Shit. The data and codes from the pendant registering into my gadget were all greek to me.

Masugid kong ginagamay ang system ng lair pendant nang biglang umimik si Jake. Napaangat ang ulo ko para sulyapan siya.

Masama ang tingin niya sa pwesto nina Ryde at Verity mula sa pilot seats. Narinig ko ang pagtakla niya ng dila.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong pinakain kay Ryde ng babaeng 'yan para magtiwala siya ng ganyan." humugot siya nang malalim na buntong hininga.

Isang malakas na impact na naman ang tumama sa ship. Nag-glitch ang holographic map dahil sa lakas ng pagkakaalog ng kinatatayuan namin.

"Focus, Verity! We don't condone public display of affection here!" Colt vented out as she looked over at their direction.

"I'm not—" Verity refuted back as she grunted. "—flirting with him!" she added as she struggled to control the ship.

"As if he would!" Colt replied back and she followed her statement with a mocking scoffed.

Hindi na ako sumabat pa at agad kong ibinaling pabalik ang aking atensyon sa lair pendant at journal laptop.

Sinusubukan ko pang i-decrypt ang system para mapalitan ko ang codes.
Pero hindi tumutugma ang mga pinapasok kong codes para ma-disable ang locator.

"What's going on between them?" I suddenly heard Jade's voice in the background.

"They're ex-lovers," Jake and Colt replied in synchronized.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapailing. "Pwede bang itigil niyo 'yan, Jake at Colt?" saad ko habang nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon sa journal laptop.

Mabilis akong gumawi sa kinatatayuan ni Jade saka muling nagsalita. "No offence Jade, pero mas mukha pang magkapatid 'yang dalawa na 'yan dahil parehong pasmado ang bibig," dagdag ko pa at bumalik sa ginagawa ko.

"Vance, report the status of the pendant! Our ship was tailed by two ships, I am compromised!" Ryde yelped from his seat.

"I'm trying my best, Ryde!" I yelled back. "Decrypting this crap is not easy as what you think!"

My complaints was followed by a loud bang from the west wing of the Nauticus ship.

"Bwisit!" iritable kong bulong sa sarili at muling napakapit sa arsenal.

Bigla naman akong napagawi sa pwesto nila Ryde. 'Di ko maiwasang mapailing nang makita ko kung paano niya alalayan si Verity, matapos itong muntik masubsob sa navigation desk.

"They're more than ex-lovers, I suppose," Jade commented beside Jake.

I slowly rerouted my sight at her. "We'll never know," I said, "Ryde told me that they worked together, eight years ago," I added as I turned back my head to the screen in front of me.

"Enough reason for him to trust her that much." I heard her let out a deep sigh.

"Sadyang chick-boy lang talaga 'yang si Harrison, Jade. Pinapairal niya kasi 'yang ego niya, at kina-career ang paghabol sa kanya ng ex niyang traydor."

"Wala namang magpapa-iral ng ego, kung walang naghahabol. Saka malay natin ginayuma?" komento naman ni Colt mula sa kaliwang gawi ng arsenal.

Sabay silang natawa ni Jake sa huling sinabi niya.

Hindi na muling umimik si Jade. At hindi ko na lang pinansin ang mga pinagsasabi ng dalawang kasama namin. Wala naman sa lahi namin ang nagkakaro'n-high blood, pero pakiramdam ko anytime soon, aatakihin ako ng altapresiyon dahil sa konsomisiyon.

Bigla namang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang biglang nagkulay berde ang screen ng gamit kong gadget.

Finally, tama na rin ang code na pinang-decipher ko!

Tila napansin yata nila Jade ang pagbago ng kulay ng na sa harap ko kaya napatuon ang kanilang atensyon sa ginagawa ko.

Ngunit nang sinubukan kong i-input ang encrypted code, hindi nito tinatanggap. Access denied ang nag-re-register sa screen ng gamit ko.

"Come on, come on. . ." I mumbled to myself as I tried to input the code once again.

"Damn it!" I furiously exclaimed.

Lakas naman mang-gago ng pendant na 'to! Naubos kaagad ang attempts para ma-access?

"Vance, bakit?" Jade worriedly asked me.

I looked up and met her eyes.
"This. . ." I hardly pressed my lips as my thin patience. ". . . is stressing the living shit out of me," I continued.

I turned my head over my right shoulder to call the attention of Verity.

"Verity, we need a pass code!" I scratched my nape.

Parang gusto kong wasakin na lang din 'tong k'wintas. Malapit nang maubos ang pasensya ko sa totoo lang.

Hindi naman nagtagal at dumating sa pwesto namin si Verity. Si Jade na muna ang pumalit sa kanya para tulungan si Ryde sa pagkontrol ng ship.

"What do you mean, pass code?" flabbergasted, she queried as her brows furrowed.

"Hindi mo alam? Anything? Wala na tayong oras, Verity!" giit ko at bahagya siyang nagitla sa pagtaas ng boses ko.

"H-hindi ko talaga alam," sagot niya at tinuon ang atensyon sa screen.

"Anong paandar na naman 'to ha, Verity? You gonna sell us again to that syndicate?!" Jake blurted out as he slapped the arsenal.

The high-pitched sound of the surface steel reverberated. It conquered the tension between us.

Verity slowly diverted her gaze at Jake and pierced him with a death glares.
"Jake Riley Ronin, when will you ever trust me?" she then, placed both of her arms close to her chest.

Natigilan ako sa narinig. May second name si Jake?

"I will never trust someone like you, not even when this ship fly above—" Jake was taken aback, he blinked twice then squinted his eyes. "How did you know my full name?" Jake was puzzled, so was I.

Imbis na sagutin ang tanong ni Jake, tinuon niya ang atensyon sa journal laptop saka nag-umpisang tumipa sa nagsisilbing keyboard nito.

Nag-redirect ang indication mula sa laptop ko sa reset factory settings.

"Pagkatapos ng lahat nang pag-decrypt ko sa system ng kwintas na 'yan, i-fo-format din pala?" dismayado kong saad at bahagyang napailing.

"Paano ang mapa?" komento ni Colt, na ikinatigil ko.

Ilang segundo akong napa-isip bago siya sinagot. "We have Verity," I said as I took a quick glimpse at Verity and looked back at Colt.

She hardly closed her eyes then she uttered with a confused look, "Do you trust her now too, Arden?"

I trailed off, "No! Of course not!" I answered defensively, "She's not a part of Illicit Task Force." I cleared my throat then paused when hesitation crept in me. "We're just gonna use her."

"What a great plan, huh? Thanks for letting me know," Verity said in a sarcastic tone as she rolled her eyes.

"Hanggang dito lang ang usapan," saad ni Colt at gumuhit ng imaginary line paloob sa pwesto namin.

A smirk formed from my lips. Talent niya na talaga siguro 'yan. Ang mambanas ng ibang tao.

Hindi naman na siya pinatulan ni Verity at himalang nanahimik sa kabilang kanto ng asernal si Jake.

Agad ko namang na-format ang program system ng lair pendant. Kaso nga lang, wala na talaga kaming holographic map na magagamit papuntang Vipers Den.

Ah! Bahala na si Verity! Hangga't kasama namin siya, sigurado akong makakarating kami sa kuta ng mga Vipers.

Matapos kong ma-shut down at format ang lair pendant, nawala na ang bumubuntot sa 'min na ang hinala namin, mga tauhan ng Vipers.

Pina-check ko kay Ryde kanina ang status ng Nauticus ship. Ilang beses rin kasing natamaan ng kung ano mang impact ang ship. Hindi naman bomba 'yon. Sa palagay ko binubunggo kanina ng mga humahabol sa 'min ang Nauticus ship.

Pinaliwanag naman sa 'kin ni Ryde na wala namang matinding damage ang mayro'n sa west wing ng ship.

Naka-auto navigate na ulit ang ship at lahat kami, nakatipon na sa asernal. Pasado alas-singko na rin ng umaga, sabi sa 'min ni Ryde kanina.

Nagluto naman sina Colt at Jade ng pwede naming almusalin mula sa fridge ng ship.

Nakakapagtaka lang na ang maingay na si Jake ay ilang oras nang nananahimik. What's bothering him? I'm not comfortable to see him quiet for a quite while. Pakiramdam ko hindi na siya si Jake.

Tanging tunog lang ng mga kubyertos na tumatama sa bawat pinggan namin ang nag-iingay.

Kanina pa walang umiimik sa 'min mula nang magsimula kaming kumain. Nakaka-ilang.

Akma ko na sanang babasagin ang katahimikan, nang biglang umalis si Jake mula sa pwesto niya. Tapos na ba siyang kumain?

Lahat kami napagawi sa direksiyon niya.

"Jake!" tawag sa kanya ng kapatid pero hindi man lang ito huminto sa paglalakad papuntang deck para lumingon.

"Did something happened?" his twin asked us.

Ryde is just quietly enjoying his food on the right corner of the arsenal. Gaya niya, nakaupo rin ako rito at hawak ang lagayan ng pagkain sa kaliwang kamay.

Hindi ko nagawang sagutin ang tanong ni Jade. Maging si Verity ay nanatiling tikom ang bibig at tila walang narinig.

"Jake has a second name?" Colt gazed upon Jade. "You never told me that before." she chewed her food loudly.

Gusto ko sanang sitahin si Colt sa ginawa niya pero hindi ko nagawa dahil sabay na sumagot ang dalawang babae na malapit sa gawi ko.

"That's a classified."

"Yes, that's Riley."

Jade slowly turned her head to look at Verity. "How did you know that?" she asked her, then placed her plate on top of the arsenal.

Oh, shit. Are they gonna start a fight?

Verity on the other side, confidently turned her chin upwards, then she uttered, "Why not ask him?" she shrugged and continued eating her food.

"And this time, my brother?" Jade mumbled something but I didn't clearly hear it.

Susubo na sana ako ng pagkain, pero napahinto ako maging ang iba kong kasama nang umalis si Jade sa pwesto niya.

Mabilis siyang pumunta sa deck at dinala si Jake pabalik sa asernal gamit ang paghila ng manggas ng damit nito.

"Jade! Ano ba?!" reklamo niya at pumiglas sa pagkakahawak ng kapatid.

Hindi ko na naituloy ang pagkain dahil sa mga sumunod na narinig ko mula kay Jade.

"My brother was diagnosed with long-term memory loss," Jade said.

Narinig ko pa ang pagkalansing ng kubyertos sa plato ni Colt. "That's cool," Colt commented with an amazement in her tone.

"No, it's not," Jade disapproved and walked towards Verity.

She pinned her left hand on the asernal's surface as she inched the gap between them. "Hindi ka maalala ni Jake, kaya dapat mong sabihin kung paano mo nalaman 'yon."

"Jade. . ." her brother trailed off. Trying to stop her to interrogate Verity.

"Stop bullshitting me, and tell me the truth!" she vehemently exclaimed close to Verity's face.

"Hindi na 'yon mahalaga!" pakikisali ni Jake at nilapitan ang kapatid para awatin.

Pumiglas naman si Jade sa pagkakahawak sa kanya ng kapatid saka ito hinarap.

"Atalia tried to ruin our surname with the fake ID's she have given us." Jade paused, "We tried to avoid that worse case scenario, and this issue isn't an exception!" her voice raised. "This is serious, Jake," Jade muttered as she looked at her brother's eyes intently.

"Jade, calm down," Colt butt in. "Your brother is right, it doesn't matter anymore. In fact, no one knows about that other than us." she rerouted her sight to Verity. "Unless, someone will reveal it." Colt arched the left corner of her upper lip.

"We kept it for a long time, Jake! And when this woman showed up—" Jade threw her hands off air drastically. "Your identity was now at stake. . ." she massaged her temple with her right hand.

"Maybe, this is the right time for us to forget it," Jake said with a low voice.

"I never knew, Jake Riley has a twin sister." Verity scoffed.

"Hey, hey! Everybody!" Ryde called us out. "Your conversation is getting you nowhere, you better stop it now." he then, turned his head to met Verity's eyes. "And you, stop creating pointless commotion to bother my Task Force, could you?"

Verity didn't respond, but a mischievous smirk curved from her lips.

Someone snapped out at me, it's Ryde.

"Take in charge with the dishes for now, Vance." he instructed me then he added, "Let Olivia help you with the chores." Ryde eventually left me as he went back to the deck.

Wait, what?! Wala akong problema sa paghugas ng mga pinagkainan, pero bakit kailangang kasama ko pa si Colt?

Nakita kong nag-umpisa nang maligpit si Colt ng mga pinagkainan namin. Agad ko naman siyang pinigilan. "I can handle this, C-colt."

Why am I stammering?

"No, I should help you." she smiled at me, but her eyes weren't doing the same thing.

"No, no— I, I'm fine." I stopped her from lifting the plates, and our skin unintentionally touched.

I don't know where that came from but I felt a sudden jolt from my skin. What was that? And why my heartbeat is throbbing? I can even hear the palpitating cardiac muscle inside my chest.

"Hoy? Arden, are you okay? Bakit ka namumutla?" biglang imik ni Colt at kinaway pa sa harap ko ang kanang kamay niya.

Bigla akong nabalik sa wisyo. Teka, ako? Namumutla?

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang butil ng pawis na namuo sa noo ko.
"I-I'm fine," paliwanag ko at nagsimula nang kumilos.

"But I refuse your help, Colt. Again, thank you, but I can do this," I firmly said but I can't look at her straight in the eye.

I cleared my throat but this woman is persistent.

"To refuse an offer is a great insult," Colt refuted back and starts helping me with the utensils.

I grabbed the spoon from her right hand. "But is it clearly not an insult, if it was respectfully refused." I gave her a forced smile.

For about seconds, she stared at me.

I didn't know why I'm staring back.

"Y-yes, of course." she then looked away. She wiped her hands off her jeans.

My lips parted as I observed her.

Colt turned her back at me without saying anything. As she walked away, I saw a glimpse of her, slapping her forehead with her palm.

"You had a petty argument again?" Ryde approached me.

"Hindi ah!" agad kong depensa. "Sinabi ko lang sa kanya na kaya ko na 'to, ayon. . ." muli akong napagawi kay Colt, "Ewan ko ro'n, umalis na lang bigla." kibitbalikat kong paliwanag sa kausap ko.

Nakatanggap naman ako nang tapik sa balikat mula kay Ryde. "Pagkatapos mo riyan, uulitin natin ang plano. Kakausapin ko lang muna si Jake."

Tumango na lang ako kay Ryde bilang tugon. Binuhat ko na rin ang tray na may laman na mga utensils na ginamit namin kanina.

Nang marating ko ang sink ng ship. Nilapag ko ang tray at hindi ko inaasahan na sumagi ang kanang braso ko sa matulis na kanto ng stainless sink.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin, pero habang tumatagal bigla akong nakaramdam nang mainit na likido mula sa braso ko.

Agad akong natigilan nang makita ko ang mahabang galos na natamo mula sa sink.

Ang talas naman yata no'n? Akmang pupunasan ko pa lang ang dugong namuo mula sa galos, pero nandilim ang paningin ko.

⚜⚜⚜

HINDI KO maalala kung gaano ako katagal nawalan ng malay. Pero naalimpungatan ako kasi may nag-aasikaso sa braso ko.

Dahan-dahan akong dumilat at bumungad sa 'kin si Colt. Bakit ang lapit naman niya sa'kin?! Agad akong napabalikwas.

This is humiliating, damn it! I tried to hide my face from her sight as I bended my knees close to my chest. I buried my face on top of my knees.

"Another phobia?" I heard Colt asked, "But this time, with your own blood?" she added and at some point. . . I don't know if I'm hallucinating due to passing out, but her voice is soft to my ears right now.

I shook my head as I hid it from her. What am I thinking? Why am I saying unusual things like that?

To defend myself, I slowly lifted my head and our eyes met. "Yeah, my childhood was one of the best. . ." I cleared my throat. "But it's partly traumatic too." I let out a deep sigh.

I stretched my right leg and pulled up my pants, to show her something terrible.

"Ooh. . ." she even flinched. "That's a pretty long and deep, I suppose," Colt said when she saw my scar on my right leg.

I immediately covered it. "Unfortunately, yes." I looked away.

"How unfortunate it was?" she queried. She leaned her body closer to my direction.

"I. . . I can't tell you that. That's embarrassing and humiliating. My ego just can't," I ashamedly replied.

"Okay, then, I can judge you for suddenly passing out?" she teasingly asked me.

I rolled my eyes. "You won't laugh at me?"

She shook her head as a response. I hope she'd keep a promise.

Bago ko pa man ik'wento sa kanya, hindi ko naiwasang humugot ng malalim na buntonghininga.

Mariin akong pumikit at saka nagsalita. "Nakuha ko ang peklat at phobia ko sa sariling dugo, no'ng nasabong ako ng tandang noon."

Hindi pa ako tapos magk'wento pero naulinigan kong nagpipigil na ng tawa si Colt. Nakita ko ang mariin niyang pagkagat ng ibabang labi, pero nagpatuloy pa rin ako sa pagkwento.

"Pauwi na ako no'n at nautusan lang bumili ng suka. Eh, dahil bata hindi ko napansin 'yong dalawang tandang na nakatali sa pasilyong daraanan ko." bahagya akong yumuko bago nagpatuloy, "Nabuhol sa binti ko 'yong tali no'ng isa, kaya sinabong niya ako. I acquired my phobia with my own blood because I bled a lot than time."

Halos lamunin ako nang kahihiyan sa pagtapos ng k'wento pero isang mahabang katahimikan ang natanggap ko mula kay Colt.

Agad akong napa-angat ng ulo para tingnan siya. At nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay mangiyak-ngiyak siyang tumawa.

Paulit-ulit niyang hinampas-hampas ang kutson sa deck. Sabi na nga ba.
Halos hingalin siya sa pagtawang ginawa.

She tried to catch her breath between her offensive laughs. "You're so lucky that you're attractive. . ." she tapped her chin with the back of her palm. "Because there's no up here!" Colt then, pointed her left index finger at her temple. "You should've had taken another way to avoid those roosters," she added, and softly chortled.

"Did you just said that I'm dumb?! That's so mean of you, Colt!" I exclaimed as I distanced myself from her as though she's a fatal and contagious disease.

"Yep, I'm mean, but I never said anything like that, Vance," she replied as her eyes matched her smile.

I can clearly see her face right now as she tied up her curly hair into a bun. Walang bangs ang humaharang sa pisngi niya ngayon.

"I can understand context clues!" I replied furiously but something hit me. "Wait. . ." I stopped for about seconds, "Did you just call me, Vance?" my forehead creased out of disbelief.

"Did I?" Colt stopped laughing as she composed her posture. "You're hallucinating, Arden." she then, lose an eye contact with me. As though she's guilty for something.

"We're not there yet, and we'll never be." her tone shifted into cold a gravestone.

I want to speak but my lips just parted, and I can't say a word!

Colt stood up from the edge of the deck. "Take care of your wound." she blankly looked at me and threw a small box straight to my face.

Ang sakit naman, walang hiya! Hindi ko naiwasang mapapikit dahil sa impact na tumama sa ilong ko. 'Yong kanto pa talaga ng karton ang tumama! Demontres talaga 'yong babaeng 'yon!

Matapos kong kusutin ang mata kong halos naluha, nakita ko kung ano 'yong ibinato niya. Gauze lang pala. Pwede naman iabot nang maayos. Gusto talaga nasasaktan ako eh 'no?

Napa-angat ang ulo ko saka sinundan ng tingin ang likod niya na papalayo mula sa p'westo ko. I smirked as I stared at her back. But my smirk immediately fades when I start to feel the unusual throbs inside my chest.

We're not there yet, and we'll never be.

Her voice echoed, and didn't stop ringing inside my head.

We'll never be.

What the heck, Colt?

You're cool and too cruel, but most of time, you're. . . confusing.