Special Chapter 2: Crash, Bang! Bang!

I watched as she sped away in her hot pink Subaru WRX. Ilang beses na rin kaming nagkatagpo sa race track at sa mga underground na drag racing events. I know her face and name.

Jem Pascual. A Fil-Am like myself.

Sweet, yet deadly on the tracks.

They call her Deathberry in the underground  world, but in my mind I call her something else.

Shortcake.

I don't know what she'll do if she hears me call her that. Skin me alive? Nah, she's too sweet for that. She'll probably run me over on some dark alley.

"Hey, you're next!" I nodded my head at the blond-streaked guy calling out the matches. I've already had two runs tonight and this is my last. My red Fire Dragon is more than ready to hit the bucket but when I learned who wants to have a go with me, I changed my mind.

Well Shortcake, I'll give you a run for your money.

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What a slow night.

I shifted my weight while sipping on my bottle of water. Walang kwenta yung mga nakakalaban ko at feeling ko puro sila noobs. Di ko maramdaman yung thrill na hinahanap ko.

"Hey sweetcheeks you have a challenge," bati sa akin ni Drew, yung bleach-blond na host ng event. I rolled my eyes. Baka mamaya kung sino na namang noob ang gustong kumalaban sa akin. Nanghihinayang tuloy ako sa outfit ko. Bagong custom-made na leather jacket at boots tapos wala namang kwenta yung mga matches ko. Miss ko na tuloy si Alfredo-baby. Eversince nag-asawa kasi siya ay hindi na siya nakakapunta sa mga underground events. Sa official races na lang siya nakakasali at kasama pa niya si Trixie.

"Is this one even worth the petrol?" Ayoko sa lahat yung mayayabang na puro rev lang ng engine ang alam. O kaya tumingin sa boobs ng mga babaeng halos hindi na magdamit. Badtrip.

"Well Deathberry, I think he can give you a run for your money." Nakangiti nang nakakaloko sa akin si Drew. Pumarada sa harap namin ang isang pamilyar na pulang Mustang. If my memory serves me, I've met this guy before. Muntik na siyang pakainin ng kamao ni Alfredo sa SCTEX. I grinned inwardly. He rolled his window down and flashed me a megawatt smile.

"Hi, we meet again Shortcake." The hell, anong sabi niya? Short? Ako?

Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng inis. Naalala ko ng badtrip nga pala si PC sa kahanginan ng lalaking ito.

"Short?" I drank the rest of my water and got inside my vehicle. "Careful lover boy, someone might fall short tonight." I started my engine at iniwan siya para magtungo sa starting line. Kaloka, di pa kami nagsisimula parang gusto ko na palamunin ng alikabok itong kumag na 'to. 

Naghintay ako. Kaka-five minute warning pa lang. Matagal pa ang hihintayin bago ang gunstart. Nakita kong maraming lumabas sa kanilang sasakyan at malakas ang hiyawan ng mga tumataya. Medyo sikat din sa underground itong si Nathan kaya nakaramdam din ako ng kaunting excitement na ilampaso siya. 

Tumabi siya sa akin at ibinaba ko ang salamin ng WRX ko para ngitian siya. In fairness, guwapo rin itong si Nathan. Puwede sana siya kung di lang siya ubod ng yabang.

"Wanna up the stakes?" Nakangisi siya. Grabe, yung mga girls na nakaupo sa hood ng mga kotse nagtilian. Masama yung tingin ng mga kasama nilang lalaki kay Nathan. Ang loko lalo namang nginitian ang girls.

"What do you propose?"

"Winner takes the loser's car." I lifted an eyebrow at that.

"Seriously? You want a pink car?" Na-blanko siya saglit bago umiling.

"Nope, but I could gift it to whoever my date would be tonight." Kumaway pa siya sa mga girls na nagpapapansin. Ang o-OA.

"Is that so?" I drawled at him. I gave his car a once-over. "You're on. I could use a spare car."

I saw Drew signal for the one-minute mark. I revved my engine. Nginitian ko ng ubod-tamis si Nathan. Kung akala niya kagaya ako ng ibang girls na smile lang laglag-panty na... well, kay Alfredo lang nalaglag ang panty ko. Joke. Pero di yun joke, malakas talaga ang appeal niya sa akin. Unfortunately na-capture na siya ng aking greatest rival na si Trixie. Swerte ng lola mo.

Ilang drum din ng luha ang iniyak ng mga girls na tulad ko ng magpakasal sila. Kaloka naman kasi ang Zabala genes. Dapat mas marami pa silang magkakapatid para walang agawan.

Okay Jem, tama na ang HD at panghihinayang kay Alfredo-baby. There's a great big ocean out there at may mabibingwit ka rin.

Ang tanong e kung papasa ba sa standards ang fish in the sea? Baka puro mukhang bisugo at amoy-ilado sila. Eww...

Drew went for the last call. Pumuwesto na ang isang babaeng naka-bikini na checkered sa harap namin ni Nathan. I can feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins. Malakas ang hiyawan ng mga tao at maliwanag sa ilaw ng mga sasakyan ang parking lot.

Three... Two... One...

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I have to give it to Nathan. He stayed with me all through out the first eight hundred meters at di ako binitiwan.

I'm down to the last hundred. Victory is oh-so-sweet. I could almost taste the champagne and strawberries sa finishline.

"Code Red. Agent Jem, we need you for immediate back-up." Shet. Not now. Gusto kong magmura kaso baka akalain ni Icen siya minumura ko.

"Just a sec," I replied. Sayang, few meters na lang pero immediate compliance from HQ kapag Code Red. Kahit mahal ko ang racing mas mahal ko ang trabaho ko at ang agency. Lalo na si Boss Ali. Gosh, Makita ko pa lang kilay ni boss, na-inlove na ako. 

Pero ayoko nakikitang nagsasalubong ang kilay ni Boss. Nakakatakot. As in.

Rinig ko ang disappointed na hiyawan ng crowd na iniwan ko. Ako rin nanghihinayang kasi ang laki ng pot money.

"Agent Jem, proceed to the coordinates I will send to you." Lumabas sa console ng kotse ko yung grid pati yung coordinates. Mga ilang kilometro din ang layo but I can easily get there.

"Copy that." I replied. I spotted a familiar figure on a ruby-red Ducati. Binuksan ko ang window at kumaway kay Jace. She signalled me with her headlight. Nagpauna na siya towards our location and I convoyed.

"Agent Jem, you are being followed. Red car at six o-clock." I looked up to my rear-view mirror and grimaced.

Shet. Of all the times to have a persistent opponent.

Nathan Arroyo, I didn't know may lahing-ipis ka.

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Shit.

Chance ko na to beat her pero naiwan ako sa last two hundred meters. I wanted to beat myself upside the head. Di ko yata kaya makipag-part ways sa Red Dragon ko pero the moment she turned and fled...

Shit mas lalong nabuwisit ako.

The eff? Why run away when you're already winning?

Well technically i could win and she'd be DQ'ed for leaving in the middle of the race pero ayokong maging asshole na kukuha ng pot matapos niyang maisip na lumayas.

Di yata kaya ng ego ko na maging opurtunista.

What the hell is this girl thinking? Is she rubbing it in on my face that I can't beat her?

So I decided to follow her. Hindi niya basta-basta dapat tinatalikuran si Nathan Arroyo.

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"What the fudge?" This guy is seriously getting on my nerves! I already backtracked twice just to shake him off but he's really persistent. Ano bang trip ng Nathan na 'to?

"Do you want me to run him over?" Napangiti ako sa eagerness sa boses ni Jace.

"No need, love. I'll handle this." I took one more turn and slowed to let him get closer. Badtrip na lalaki 'to, di makaintindi.  

In another heartbeat I accelerated for the next two hundred meters and took a 180-degree turn. Kita ko ang gulat sa mukha ni Nathan nang mapagtanto niya ang balak kong gawin.

Get out of my way Arroyo, if you don't want to die.

My Pink Gem roared to life and I smiled as I watched the red Mustang scramble to get out of my way.

There's a reason why they call me Deathberry. 

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It took a split-second for me to hit reverse and floor the accelerator when I realized she's not kidding.

What the fuck?!

The pink WRX kept on charging at itinodo ko ang pag-reverse. Shit, I need to get out of the way. Fast.

Inch by inch I managed to keep the distance between us. I saw my chance when we reached an intersection. I quickly turned to the right pero kinuha niya ang chance at ti-nailwhip ang kotse ko. I felt the world spin as I hit the gutter.

You didn't just hit my car.

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"Fudge!" Nakakaasar. Nagasgasan tuloy ang Pink Gem ko.  Ang kulit kasi ng lahi nitong si Nathan Arroyo. I glanced at my rear view mirror and saw his shrinking form in the distance.

"I could have done it for you." I heard Jace over the communication lines.

"It's fine. Now that ass wont be able to follow us." Subukan niya lang, tutuluyan ko na talaga siya.

Another message came in from HQ, "Jace, Jem please prepare to engage the enemy. They are heading your way. ETA in two."

"Copy that." I replied. Pinatay ko ang headlights at tumabi kami ni Jace sa gilid ng kalsada para mag-abang. Isang malaking shipment ng armas at explosive devices ang kailangan naming i-intercept.

"Team two and three is on their way. Try to stall them."

"Playing bait, eh?" Jace smiled happily. Wala ang kanyang partner na si Ashter ngayon.  "Who was that guy?"

"An annoying pest," I snorted exasperatedly. Ayokong maalala ang malaking gasgas sa kotse ko dahil sa kakulitan ni Nathan Arroyo. Pero I made sure mas malaki ang tama ng kotse niya. 

We heard the quiet roar of the approaching container van as well as the armoured vehicles surrounding it.

"Ready?" Jace gave me a thumbs-up sign before she kick-started her bike. I made sure my long-range firearms are ready and loaded at my passenger's side.

It's gonna be one hell of a night.

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Okay, naniniwala na akong may lahing ipis si Arroyo.

Kasi peste siya. Buti sana kung peste na leche gaya ni A6 kasi at least sweet yun, pero iba ang ka-pestehan nitong lalaking 'to.

"I told you I should have run him over," Jace muttered. I actually agree with her.

"Enemy at 3 o'clock." Icen's voice cut through our conversation. Jace slowed and turned to try and slow down our pursuants. I heard loud gunfire.

"Agent Jem, follow Team 2. Red I need you to lock the target on location." Sinundan ko Si Red at Lily na nakasakay sa silver na AMG. Kasalukuyang sinusubukan ni Nathan na makatakas sa sumusunod na kalaban sa kanya.

"Ugh. So Stupid." Kung di ba naman kasi siya super tanga, naisipan pa ring sumunod kahit sinagasaan ko na. Ang nangyari napagkamalan pa siyang kasali sa operation naming at ngayon pinapaulanan ng bala ng mga kalaban.

 "Agent Jem you are not supposed to involve civilians in a covert operation." Nanlamig ang mga kamay ko sa steering wheel ng marinig ang boses ni Jaguar.

"It will not happen again." I gritted my teeth. Lagot talaga sa akin itong si Arroyo.

"Try to keep him alive."

"Copy that." Shet, I don't like babysitting jerks.

I took the lead and signalled to Nathan. Sana mapansin niya ako at sumunod siya for once. I got my long range sniper rifle in position and stopped four hundred meters away. Tipaklong. I stepped on the brake but didn't put the car into park. I looked into the sight. The target jumped in front of my eyes and it was no real challenge to aim. Sana lang wag maisipan nitong si Arroyo na magpalit ng pace kung hindi baka siya ang mabaril ko.

Not a pretty bad idea.

Bad Jem.

Bang!

I hit the driver and the vehicle lost momentum. I took another shot and it took down the front tires. May sumusunod na sasakyan at ako naman ang sinubukan nilang targetin. Good thing Lily and Red were ready and they took out the other unit in no time.

Team Three also reported that they've taken the escaping units into custody. All in all we had very little casualties. A good night.

"Threat has been neutralized. Good job agents." Napangiti ako sa pag-congratulate sa amin ni Jaguar. Rare yun ha.

"Agent Jem, report to the HQ at 0400 hours." Shet, that's in two hours. Bakit di na lang agad-agad, pinagpahinga pa ako? Sana isang bagsakan na lang.

I saw Nathan's car approach.

Sagasaan kaya kita? Pahamak ka eh.

He stepped out of his car and approached mine. He looked shaken.

Mabuti.

"What the hell was that?!" He shouted at me. Aba't ako ba sinisisi niya?

I calmly opened the door of my car and gave him  a scathing look from head to toe.

"Seriously Nathan? Can't you get a hint?" I asked sarcastically. "Who told you to follow me anyway?"

"We were in the middle of a race!" he shouted. Naasar na talaga ako sa lalaking 'to.

"And I left already. You can go claim the prize if you want. Jeez." I lifted an eyebrow at him. "Stop acting like a wuss."

"The fuck was that? Who's a wuss?" Salubong ang kilay, kulang na lang umusok ang ilong niya.

"You! Ang arte mo! Next time I wont save your sorry ass." Gusto ko siyang batuhin ng heels. Seriously, nakakawala siya ng poise. I saw my fellow agents looking at us curiously.

"You call that saving? My car's been wrecked!" Ghad, this guy is fuckin' annoying.

"So? Get the prize money from Drew and have it fixed. I'm sure it's more than enough for whatever you needed to be changed." He looked indignant.

"It's not the money!"

I twirled a strand of hair on my finger, "Oh, and what is your point exactly?"

"Race me again." I lifted a brow.

"Seriously?" I drawled. "I already beat you Arroyo. I don't need a rematch."

"We haven't finished the race yet." He looked smug. "Scared, shortcake?"

I smiled up at him. "In your dreams."

"Deal?"

"Deal."

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W/N: I'm back. XD There's a next chapter friends.