Chapter 22: Shades of Blue

I found myself walking on the park near the shore with Gray. Hindi man lamang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na magbihis. After I left my books in the dorm, I immediately ran back to where I left him. I don't know why pero natatakot ako na baka kapag matagal akong bumaba, he might get bored and leave. Pagbaba ko ay naroon pa rin siya, only that he was delighted to see me. Hindi na siya nagtaka kung bakit hindi pa rin ako nagbibihis. I was never curious of how I look or smell too. Sigurado din naman ako na hindi ako amoy pawis mula sa buong araw na paggala.

"It's been a while since we had long conversations like this", panimula niya. We came here by his car and I think curfew time is almost on but I don't care.

"Yeah." Yep, mula ng araw na iyon. I don't really need much sympathy for me but it hurts to know that he doesn't understand me that time. But as they said, let bygones be bygones but they have to deal with its after effect.

"Where did Jeremy bring you?" his voice was a little cracked. Maybe because of the coldness of the night. Dagdag pa na may baybayin sa gilid.

"Sa mall", I replied. I don't want to tell him about the cast that we encountered. I'm sure as hell that I don't want to spend the night talking about the case that Jeremy and I worked together with Detective Adler and his minion. "B-by the way, belated happy birthday. How was your day?" I want to say 'how was your day with Math' ngunit hindi ko nagawang sabihin. I will sound like a terribly jealous girlfriend if I do.

"Just fine", sagot niya. "Mom and Dad wanted to throw a big party but I am not the one who enjoy stuff like those so we go out instead."

"With Math?" Uh! Did I really say it?! Meh! It just slipped out of my mouth. I was not planning to ask it and - uh. Whatever.

Tumawa siya ng malakas. "You really think I was with her? That was a bluff. She only called me on the phone", sagot niya and when he looked at me, I saw his face frowning. "You didn't greet me yesterday. Not even a single text."

Bakit parang nahihimigan ko ang pagtatampo sa boses niya? Or maybe I was just imagining things. I didn't greet him on his birthday, I'm sure it will let him live. Yeah, it's not like it's the end of the world. Hindi niya ikakamatay kung hindi ko siya nabati kahapon.

"You will survive", I said jokingly.

"Seryoso ako Amber. I stayed awake until the last minute of my birthday but I never receive a greeting from you." Seryoso nga ang tono nito kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad at napatingin sa kanya.

"I lost my phone and just received one this morning."

"Your phone is not the only way to greet me, you know. You went to see Alonzo on his birthday, why didn't you-" he stopped and from the light, I can see how his ears turned red as well as his face. It's not always that you see a guy blushing all the way. As of Gray, he looks so cute. Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. "Argh! Just forget it."

I tried my very best to hide my smile. "Don't worry. I prepared a gift for you."

Sumigla ang mukha at agad napangiti. "Nasaan?"

"I didn't bring it, nakalimutan ko. Maybe tomorrow."

"What did you give Alonzo on his birthday? Mukhang tuwang-tuwa ang loko kahit puro siya pasa."

Naramdaman ko ang panginginit ng pisngi ko. Shit! Khael didn't tell anyone that I kissed him, right?! "Don't mind him! Ang regalo ko na lang sayo ang isipin mo!"

Napalabi siya at tumingin sa malayo. "Kahit wala na, okay lang naman. I just want you to be fine always. You know what Amber? The best gift that you can ever give me is your safety. I need you to be safe all the time. I cannot ask for more than that thing."

Napatigil ako at napatitig sa kanya. He's asking for my safety as my gift for him? Bakit mukhang regalo iyon para sa akin than for him? And for all things in the world, why ask for it? Pwede naman siyang humingi ng kung anu-anong mga materyal na bagay but he just make sure that I will not live on streets after. He can ask for movie or concert tickets, books, or anything that I can easily get. But my safety? Napakahirap igarantiya na maibibigay ko iyon sa kanya.

He pulled his hair and groaned a little. "Stupid me, I know I'm asking for much." He exhaled at humakbang sa akin. He tightly held both my shoulders and made me face him. "I know that's not an easy gift but I just want you to promise me your safety. Do not do anything out of your impulse. Who knows you might be in grave danger and worse if I cannot do anything to help you. Ayaw kong mangyari iyon kaya kailangan mong maging maingat. As much as possible, stay away from danger and any forms of trouble. You can do that, right?"

Stay away from danger? Stay away from any forms of trouble? Am I that bad to him? But I am Amber Sison, danger always follow me and Trouble is my last name. No matter how I do, I cannot warrant my safety to him. Hindi ko nga matiyak ang kaligtasan ko para sa sarili ko, para sa kanya pa kaya?

Kahit gaano kahirap ang hinihingi niya, I found myself slowly nodding to him. "I- I will try."

Trying is the best thing that I can do. I will try not to engage in danger or get into trouble. But with rage in me, I think I will be dealing more of it since I already devised a plan on how to get even with those people who owe me big time. They owe me lives. And their lives are the only thing that they can pay from such enormous debt.

"Ah, there's also a thing that I need to ask", wika niya at nayuko.

"What?"

"It's about-" He took a deep breath and he was clicking his bones in his hands. He looks so tensed. His foot was stumping on the ground at tila nagdadalawang-isip pa siya kung magsasalita ba siya o hindi.

"About?" I asked again.

"I know, I've been rejected and -"

He stopped at napayuko ulit. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin na naggagaling sa dagat and the night was just so perfect because the dark night sky was blanketed with millions of stars. There were other people in that area, mostly are lovers at may kanya-kanyang mundo.

"Gray?"

"You know it took me much courage to think about it. Maybe you rejected me because I was such a fool. I wasn't doing anything. So maybe, I can try again and do it the right way." Unti-unting nawawala ang kaba nito ngunit agad din namang bumalik. He pulled the hem of his shirt and twirled it in his fingers. Just then I saw a girl walking with a backpack. Not just a girl but a tall girl. Her hair was stuck inside a cap but there were loose curly strands along her face. Nakangiting sumakay ito sa isang motorsiklo na nakapark sa gilid. Base sa mga malalaking butil ng pawis sa mukha nito, I bet she just run a considerable distance.

"Amber, gusto ko sanang malaman mo na aakyat ako ng (*&&%^$$^^&9."

Hindi ko na narinig ang iba pa niyang sinabi. My eyes were still fixed on the girl at dumagdag pa ang ingay na nagmumula sa sirena ng tatlong sasakyan ng mga pulis na dumaan sa tabi namin. It looks like they were chasing someone and when they passed over the girl in the motorcycle, napangiti ulit ang babae bago nito pinaandar ang makina ng motorsiklo. Then I remembered that Gray was about to ask for something.

"Ano nga ulit yung sinabi mo?", I asked him, still eyeing the girl. It is no doubt that she's Victoria. "Looks like the police is chasing some criminals." I whispered to myself.

He exhaled so deep and I saw that the colors escaped his face. Mas lalong namula ang kanyang mga tenga at agad siyang napailing. "Please don't make me repeat it Amber." He put his hands on his face out of frustration.

Napansin kong umalis na si Victoria habang sakay ng motorsiklo sa kabilang direksyon na pinuntahan ng mga sasakyan ng pulis. "Gray, maybe that can wait. Bilisan mo, sundan natin ang babaeng iyon." Tinuro ko si Victoria at hinila siya papunta sa kanyang kotse. Even though he's a little bit confused, he still followed what I said at agad na sinundan ang motorsiklo. Yeah. I just said that I'd try to stay out it trouble but then again, trying is difficult.

We maintained a good distance upang hindi mahalata ni Victoria na sinusundan namin siya. And it looks like she has no clue at all.

"Amber, bakit natin sinusundan ang babaeng iyan? I thought you would suggest to follow the police's trail", wika ni Gray habang nagda-drive. Hindi ko rin naikukwento sa kanya si Victoria. Well, thieves don't make a good topic though.

"Yeah but only that the police has the wrong trail", sagot ko sa kanya at hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Victoria. Mabuti na rin na tinted ang sasakyan ni Gray. He brought his BMW than the very expensive car that Cronus gave him. Mas madalas niya itong gamitin kaysa sa iyon. Well, he's not a show-off guy so I understand if he doesn't use it that much.

"Wrong trail? Teka, you mean that the one that the police are chasing the now isn't the criminal? Wow, that chic doesn't look like some sort of criminal but oh, don't get me wrong. I'm pretty sure appearances doesn't have to do anything with what people are capable of doing", paliwanag niya. He slowed down when Victoria stopped in front a small apartment. Only that the apartment doesn't looke nice at all. Very creepy at walang tao. It was a three-door abandoned apartment. I thought she will take the door but she went on the other side. Tumingin siya sa paligid bago binuksan ang tila manhole na nasa gilid ng apartment at bumaba doon. A secret way? This Victoria has so much secret after all.

Nang hindi na namin matanaw si Victoria ay agad kong binuksan ang pinto ng kotse ngunit agad akong pinigilan ni Gray. "What? You said that woman could be the one that the police must be following instead pero bababa ka at susundan mo? Didn't you just say you will try not to involve in trouble?"

I roll my eyes. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't forget about it. Pero bakit nga ba gusto kong sundan si Victoria? Not because I want to retrieve my phone, of course that is not it. But for some reason, I don't find Victoria a notorious criminal. Okay maybe a professional thief but not harmful. Maybe. Just maybe.

"We're acquainted", sagot ko sa kanya.

His lips formed a scowl pero binitawan niya rin naman ako at lumabas din. "I will go with you."

I didn't protest at hinayaan na lamang siya na sumunod. I went to where we have seen Victoria passed but it was locked from below. Mukhang patungo iyon sa underground ng abadonandng apartment.

"Maybe there are other ways to enter", wika ko kay Gray ngunit nang lingunin ko siya sa kinatatayuan niya dati ay wala siya doon. "Gray?" I looked around searching for him and found him on one of the apartment's window.

"Yeah. Maybe there is", he said at pumasok sa loob ng bintana. After a while ay binuksan na niya ang pinto ng apartment. I ran towards there bago pa kami makita ng kung sino mang maaring dumaan doon ano mang oras ngayon. When I get inside ay agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko mula sa bulsa at ginamit iyon bilang flashlight.

"I thought wala kang cellphone?" he sounded irritated.

"I just got one this morning", sagot ko sa kanya. I saw him frown a little bit. What now? Is he still upset dahil hindi ko siya binati kahit via text message? "Galit ka ba?"

"Nope. Forget it. I think I found the way towards the basement", he said at inilawan ang maliit na lagusan mula sa sahig. The apartment was old and dusty so we carefully open the door at dahan-dahang bumaba sa hagdan. When we were able to see a light ay agad naming pinatay ang ilaw ng mga cellphone namin. I slowly lead the way at nakarinig ako ng lagaslas ng tubig. Victoria must be taking a bath right now.

I roamed my gaze around the area. It looks like a room with the big queen-size bed on the side. Makalat ang paligid and there were so many tables in there, both filled with diffetent stuffs. Antique jars, exquisite figurines, sculptures, paintings and mostly jewelries. On the wall were different paintings and newspaper clippings. Kadalasan ay mga cut-out news gaya ng malalaking bank heist, museum bulglary at iba pang malalaking balita na may kinalaman sa pagnanakaw.

"Wow, it's my first time to be inside a thief's quarter", komento ni Gray na gaya ko ay hindi maialis ang paningin sa paligid. I'm pretty sure that most of the things here are stolen. He touched a huge lens with different stones under. "She's an appraiser too." Bahagya pa siyang tumawa.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagtingin sa paligid and was even amazed to find all other exquisite stolen items inside. Suddenly, I heard a loud thud sound followed by Gray's voice groaning in pain. Agad akong napalingon sa kanya and found him on the floor with a bleeding lip. Just then Victoria, wearing her robe picked him up at hinawakan siya sa leeg, pointing a gun at his head. Naririnig pa rin namin ang lagaslas ng tubig. Maybe Victoria didn't turn it off to fool us.

"Hey! You're as stealth as a mouse! Paano ka nakalabas ng banyo without us noticing your footsteps?", Gray ranted at napangiwi pa rin dahil sa sakit na dulot ng suntok sa kanya ni Victoria sa mukha.

"Technique ng mga magnanakaw", she replied. "Anong ginagawa ninyong dalawa dito?"

"Wow, she really admitted being a thief", Gray mumbled and winced when Victoria held his neck tightly.

"Hello Amber", wika niya sa akin. "Dinala mo pa si Gray dito. Paano mo ako natunton?"

I wasn't surprise if she knew about Gray too. She's friends with Jeremy before and that nerd is really talkative. Yeah, we used to be nerds, only that he's talkative. Not me.

"Amber? Is she a thief or psychic? How does she know my name?", tanong ni Gray. He's tall at magkasingtangkad silang dalawa ni Victoria. But he doesn't even try anything to escape from her. Ah, I think I know why. Hindi siya gagawa ng kung ano man na maaring makasakit kay Victoria. Like he said before, girls are meant to be hugged, not hit.

"Isa pang sagot, maraming alam ang magnanakaw. Pangalan, address, numbers at kung ano pa na maaring magamit namin."

"Amber, why does she know us?"

Okay, I'm occupied with Gray's questions at wala pa akong nasasagot sa mga iyon. "She knew us dahil kaibigan siya ni Jeremy. Dati."

I saw a glint of sadness in her eyes bago tinulak si Gray sa direksyon ko. "Umalis na kayo dahil ayaw kong patayin kayo dito sa bahay ko. "

"Whoah, I thought my brain will scatter in the floor", Gray commented and stood straight facing her.

"Ayaw kong mapunta ang dugo mo sa carpeted na sahig. Antique ito at ang kinatatayuan mo kanina ay isang Russian rug. Sayang kung mabahiran ng dugo, siguradong mahirap iyong tanggalin", wika niya.

"Si Jeremy? Kaibigan mo si Jeremy?"

"Gray stop asking questions", wika ko at siniko siya ng mahina.

"Paano niyo ako nasundan? Ah,Gray pwede bang tumalikod ka muna? Ang pangit kasing tingnan na nakaroba lamang ako at walang kahit ano mang suot sa ilalim habang kausap kayo", she said and smirked at us.

I saw Gray blushed at nanlaki ang mata. Geez! Pervert! Guys and their pervert minds! Agad naman siyang tumalikod habang ako ay nakatunghay lamang kay Victoria. I will not look away dahil baka takas an lamang niya kami. Who knows what she is thinking about? Nagsimula na siyang magbihis at hindi man lamang pinansin ang mga mata kong nakatingin sa kanya. She removed her robe at tumalikod upang magsimulang magbihis, flaunting her body. Fine, she's not only beautiful but also sexy. Hindi siya maputi pero makinis ang balat niya. Her body was voluptous and even if I only had a view from the back. Hindi ko na ibinaba ang paningin ko dahil siguradong tutubuan lamang ako ng inggit sa katawan if I will see her perfectly-shaped behind.

"Tapos na", she said at kinuha ang suklay. "Ano ang maipaglilingkod ko sa inyong dalawa?"

"You were chased by the police right? What did you steal this time?", tanong ko sa kanya. She's combing her long curly hair now.

"Hindi ako ang nagnakaw. Kasamahan ko at ipinasa niya lang sa akin ang nanakaw niya", wika niya sa akin. kinuha niya ang backpack na nasa kama at inihagis iyon sa akin. Good thing Gray was able to catch it before it hits my face. Yeah, she tossed it higher not considering my height. If it wasn't because of Gray, malamang tumama na iyon sa mukha ko.

"Tingnan niyo basta wag niyo lang kunin mula sa akin. Kung balak niyong kunin yan upang ibalik sa may-ari, kunin niyo yan mula sa kasamahan ko at huwag sa akin", wika niya. "At kung ang cellphone mo ang ipinunta mo dito", she paused and reached for my phone in her bed too. "Sorry, ito ang ginagamit o ngayon."

"What the hell!", wika ni Gray nang makita niya ang cellphone ko mula kay Victoria. "Ikaw ang kumuha sa cellphone niya kaya hindi siya-" he stopped and then looked away.

"Kaya?"

"Never mind", he answered. Uh, please Gray. Move on.

"Nasaan ang kasamahan mo ngayon?"

"Hinahabol ng pulis, nakita niyo diba?", she said and I almost roll my eyes on my own stupidity. "I mean saan ang bahay niya?"

Tumawa siya ng malakas. "Iniisip mong tuturuan ko kayo kung saan? Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon?"

Oo nga naman why would she? I saw Gray opened the backpack at tiningnan ang laman niyon. He stopped and looked at me and the backpack and then to Victoria with a very wide eye.

"Where did your comrade steal this?", tanong ni Gray. Napansin kong nabago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. He looked serious now. So damn serious.

"Sabi niya, ninakaw niya mula sa isang businessman na may dalang briefcase. Upang hind mahalata ng mga pulis ang ninakaw niya, inilipat niya sa backpack ang laman at tinapon ang briefcase. Sa tingin ko ay dyamante at pera ang laman yan dahil iyon ang napansin ko kanina", wika ni Victoria.

Inilabas ni Gray ang laman ng bag at inihagis iyon sa kama. There were really money and tiny blue diamonds.

"No, these are not diamonds", Gray said. "These are drugs."

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-ShinichiLaaaabs