CHAPTER 14

Early in the morning, I wake up Aeina to get ready. Isasama ko siya sa Manila, since I'm not sure if I'll come back here.

Ipapahanap ko 'rin ang tunay n'yang mga magulang. I know they're looking for her. She's too young to be away from her family.

Though, I also want to be with her. It felt so nice being with a baby who cared for you, who shows you the love you wanted.

When we landed, I carried her to my car. Isa sa mga tauhan ni dad ang naghatid nito sa airport. I hate it when someone touch my cars but I have no choice. Kapag nandito ako, I refer using my Rimac Nevera more than anything.

Ang gaan kasi sa kamay, malinis pa ang loob. I drove my car to a mall and entered it.

"What are we doing here? Are we buying some toys?"

I looked down at Aeina and smiled. "Uh-huh? You want some toys?"

She pouted and shook her head. "I want puppy, toys are not living things. I don't like it,"

My mouth parted as I chuckled. "Hmm, witty."

She nodded and hold my arm tightly. We entered a boutique first, I need to buy her some clothes since she's using a borrowed shirt and pajama.

"I want that!"

I lowered my head and looked at where her finger was pointed. I smiled when I saw a group of simple set of shorts and shirts. So she's a simple type of baby, hmm?

"Saan banda?"

She pulled me closer to it and pointed the green ones. "I want those," she pointed the short and a pajama with green color. "And those."

She love color green, I guess?

I nodded and grab all the shirts and pajamas she wanted. Sabay kaming pumunta sa counter at saka ako nagbayad.

"Hey, is that all you wa-"

My words were cut off when I didn't saw Aeina at my back. I roamed my eyes and search for her and saw her standing near a stand, crossing her arms together.

"Mom! I said I want that!" I heard a little boy shouted.

Lumapit ako sa kanila ngunit napatigil ako nang marinig ang boses ni Aeina. "I found it first so it's mine!"

I raised a brow when I heard her irritated voice. The baby boy's face disoriented.

"That cloth is for boys only! Hindi puwede sa mga babae ang ganiyang suot!"

Aeina stomped her feet. "No way! I want that! I grab it first so it's mine!"

Natawa ako ng bahagya at lumapit sa kanila. Ngunit bago pa man ako makalapit ay may babae nang pumagitna at saka inilayo ang batang lalaki kay Aeina.

"Why are shouting? Who are you to do that to my son, huh?"

Aeina stepped back a bit but then she grab the cloth from the hanger and hid it. "It's mine! I'll buy it!"

"You stubborn. . ."

She took a one step but Aeina step back to avoid her. The boy angrily laid his eyes on Aeina and to the cloth.

"I want that, give it to me."

Aeina shook her head. "No way, this shirt doesn't even suit you!"

Napasandal ako sa isang stall at napangisi dahil nasisiyahan ako sa aking nakikita.

"What? Kung hindi bagay sa 'kin 'yan, mas hindi bagay sa'yo! Panlalaki 'yan hindi pambabae!"

Ngumiti ako at saka naglakad papunta sa kanila. Tumayo lang ako sa likuran niya habang nakatingin sa batang lalaki.

"My mommy told me not to lie so I'll be honest," she crossed her arms together. "You're the ugliest person i've ever met, this clothes would never suit you."

I bit my lower lip to stop myself to laugh hardly. My goodness, I never thought this little could be savage.

"W-what. . ." The woman took a step and was ready to grab Aeina when I stop her. "What the!? Go away! I need to teach her a lesson! Hindi niya ba nakikita kung gaano ka-guwapo ang anak ko!?"

I lick my lower lip and stared at her dangerously. "You better step your feet aback if you don't want me to cut your head off."

She shivered, her eyes started to widen as she grab her son's arm nervously. Napangiti ako nang makitang naka-alis na sa loob ng boutique pero nawala 'yon nang lingunin ko si Aeina.

"What are you doing? Why did you left me behind? You're too young to fight with that boy!"

She shrugged and rolled her eyes. "He's not that old, mukha ngang dalawang taon lang ang agwat namin. And besides, he almost stole my chosen shirt!"

My lips parted, ang maldita niya. I thought she's sly and introvert. Matalino siya pero hindi ko alam na may ikakatalino pa pala siya. Not to mention that she's just a five year old girl.

Napabuntong hininga ako at saka napailing na lang. Mukhang mahihirapan ako sa pagbabantay sa kaniya, she's stubborn.

"Okay, let's pay."

I grab her hand while she grip it tightly, I carried all the clothes I brought and drove my car straight to my house.

I entered the two storey house with Aeina. Nang buksan ko ito ay nakaramdam ako ng kaginhawaan. It felt nice to be back, in all places, my house is my favorite place to relax. The backyard is spacious as well as the front yard, the pool is inside the house. It's just two storey house but it's wide.

"Wow, your house is so big!"

I smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah, I can say it's big too. How 'bout you? Do you still remember your house?"

She pouted and nodded. "I still remember every inch of it, I just don't know where. I miss my mom,"

She sat on the sofa and I also did it. "I'll help you search your family, I'll take you with me for the meantime. It's dangerous to leave you behind,"

She smiled and looked at me. "I'm happy, I like you. You're so cool, I don't like talking to anyone but I felt comfortable with you. That's a relief, right? I don't usually talk with a stranger but you already gain my trust when you help me."

My mouth parted in amazement. Kahit kailan, kayang kaya n'ya talaga akong gulatin. Every move and every words coming from her mouth really amaze the hell out of me.

She's too young to be like this, though, it's good that she's open minded in terms like this. But I really think she need to enjoy her adolescent.

"What's so cool about me?"

She shrugged her shoulders and played with her feet. "You know how to play with guns, it's so cool. You know, I want to play with bombs since I was young. Bombs is so cool right? The explosion seems to be a music to my ears, unlike guns, it's just simple. You? What do you think about bombs?"

My mouth parted again. Goodness, she already know this!? And the fact that she's having a conversation with me is so. . . unrealistic!

"May I know how did you learn about this. . . stuff?"

"Bombs? Oh, my dad is a pro bomber. He teaches me all about it, but it's disappointing that I didn't even hold any of it."

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses at hindi makapaniwalang napahilamos ng mukha.

"What's your dad's work?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, basta she's part of an agency."

My face became serious when I heard the latter word. This is not happening, did I just let an agent's daughter enter my life!?

"Ohh, what's your dad's name?"

She pouted. "I can't tell, dad said I can't tell it to anyone. It's confidential, no one know about his identity."

I suddenly got curious. Who's her father? Bakit hinayaan niyang mawala ang anak niya? How careless he is to let his daughter go.

I licked my lower lip and keep my cool up. "Oh really? That's okay, I would like to know your dad more but maybe I'll just talk with him if we'll find them, right?"

She nodded and smiled. "Dad is thoughtful, especially on us. Don't worry, he's kind! He won't hurt you."

I smiled and didn't say anything. I'm not scared, it's just that it's dangerous for me to be known by an agent.

"I'm hungry," she said and caressed her tummy.

Ngumiti ako ng bahagya at saka tumayo. "I'll cook, wait here."

She nod her head and just layed her back on the sofa and shut her eyes. Pumunta na lang ako sa kusina at nagluto ng makakain namin.

I was waiting for the bangus to boil when I heard a scream coming from the sala. I hastily open the cabinet above the sink and get the gun in there. I run and pointed it to a woman who's wearing a casual floral dress.

"Ahh! Mumu! Mumu!"

I wanted to burst out laughing when Aeina starting to run around the sofa while Nana was trying to catch her.

"I'm not a mumu! Who are you!? What are you doing here, little kid!"

"I'm not a little kid!"

Aeina stopped and face Nana, nasa likuran ng sofa si Nana habang siya naman ay sa harapan nito.

"What are you doing here? How did you enter this house!?"

Aeina crossed her arms together and rolled her eyes. "Bobo ka po ba? S'yempre pumasok sa pintuan and duh? Ano bang ginagawa ng tao sa loob ng bahay? Edi nagpapahinga! Natutulog! Yet you disturb my sleep!"

Nana gasped and I just chuckled because of her savageness. Pailing-iling akong lumapit sa kanilang dalawa.

"You two, stop it. Ang ingay niyo," Sabi ko sabay lapag ng baril sa mesa.

"Oh my god, bitch! Who's this maldita girl? Don't tell me anak mo s'ya? My god! Tinaguan mo ba ako ng anak!?"

I shook my head lightly, kung anong ikinatalino niya sa computer gayon din ang pagkabobo niya sa mundo.

"Stupid."

Napatingin si Nana kay Aeina ng masama ng marinig niya itong nagsalita. I can't help but to laugh because she looked really, really pissed.

"Shut up, maldita girl!"

Aeina rolled her eyes and walk towards my direction. She stood up right in front of me and spoke. "I'm hearing a boiling sound, aren't you gonna check your bangus?"

Napatakbo ako sa kusina dahil sa sinabi niya. Mabuti na lang at tama lang ang apoy ko, nilagay ko ang pechay at hinintay na maluto ito.

Nang matapos ako sa paghain ng pagkain, sabay na pumasok sa kusina ang dalawa. They're looking at each other furiously, I shook my head. Si Nana talaga kahit bata papatulan.

"Stop staring at each other like an evil villain, just eat and fill your tummy."

Wala silang nagawa kundi ang sundin ang gusto ko, or else they'd like to eat outside.

"What are you doing here, Nana? Do you need anything?" I asked when I remember that she's not going anywhere if it's not important, she always locked herself up in her room.

"Ohh, that. I just think of visiting you since you've been out and I've never seen for months, I also want to go to NY with you."

I sighed. "You know I'm busy, hindi ko pa nga natatapos ang misyon ko."

She nod her head and swallowed the rice. "I know, I just want to have a little chit-chat with you. Lalo na sa nangyari sa nagdaang linggo,"

Napatigil ako sa pagnguya at napatingin sa kan'ya. "Oo nga pala, how's Morocov?"

She chuckled and titled her head. "Still an ass, nasa Belgium s'ya ngayon. Transaksyon na naman,"

"Surmise all about him, after this, I'll surely put his ass in jail."

"Yeah, yeah. I know,"

Napatingin ako kay Aeina nang makitang nakatitig s'ya sa 'kin. I raised a brow and spoke. "Why?"

She shook her head. "Paano ka nakaka talk with that stupid? You're too cool kaya,"

I chuckled when Nana throw the tissue at Aeina. "Hoy! Manahimik ka d'yan! Bata ka pa kaya dapat hindi ka nakikinig sa usapan ng mga matatanda! And I'm not stupid!"

Adina gasped and stood up. "How dare you throw that to me! It's masakit!"

Nana rolled her eyes and mocked her. "Nye nye, it's masakit." she said, mockingly. "Conyo!"

Aruba pouted and throw back to Nana the tissue. "Tsk, deserve!"

Tumakbo s'ya papalayo ng matamaan niya si Nana. Tumawa na lang ako ng bahagya dahil sa away nila.

"Bakit mo ba inampon ang batang 'yan!? Such a brat!"

"Hindi ko 'yan inampon, inalagaan ko lang kasi nawawala. Huwag ka nang pumatol sa bata."

Tinapos niya ang pagkain niya at saka tumayo at nilagay ang plato niya sa lababo.

"She's getting into my nerves, that's not gonna happen."

I chuckled and finish my food. After that, I enter my room and took a quick bath before reaching my phone and called Agent Bedelia.