I saw her shocked eyes the moment I withdrew from the softness of her lips. It was just a mere pressing of skin on warm skin, but I cannot deny the strange feeling that coursed through me. Lahat ng mga cliché na naiisip ko tungkol sa act of kissing flew out of the window. Maybe later I'll argue that it wasn't the act but the knowledge of the first time that made me feel this way.

Or that her lips tasted just that good against mine.

I know at twenty-three it's kinda lame to admit that IT is my first kiss, pero wala naman akong maisip na babaeng pagbibigyan ko ng halik. Hindi naman ako yung tipo na mag-e-eksperimento kung hindi kailangan, pero right now... damn, iniisip ko kung tama ba yung ginawa kong paghalik.

Gago, iniisip mo pa kung nagustuhan niya? Fuckin' stupid question after the fact Alistair.

Lana's fake lips quivered and she threw the girl a sharp look. I glared at her and she backed-off. Damn, this girl sure knows how to make a scene. Enjoy na enjoy siyang magpanggap sa kuwentong finabricate ng HQ na umalis ako at ayaw bumalik. I need to talk to the higher ups to lay the stupid ruse off.

"I'm sorry Lana, you see I'm with her." She rolled her eyes and left in a huff. She and I are going to have that one on one talk. Soon.

"Maria! What is the meaning of this?" I saw terror replace the shock on the face of the girl I just kissed. Oh, crap. My eyes took in the old woman standing on top of the landing of the café. So your name is Maria, eh?

Nakita kong nawala yung dugo sa mukha niya at naramdaman ko yung panlalamig ng kamay niyang hawak ko pa rin. Oh well, I don't think I want to know what happens next.

"I'm sorry if I startled you. Salamat hindi mo ako sinampal." I saw her mouth drop open the moment I said those words. Tatayo na sana ako pero maagap niyang hinila ang aking kamay kaya napaupo ulit ako.

"Sit down. You owe me." I frowned at the desperation in her tone. I looked back at the little gathering on the landing. I assume they are her relatives judging from their faces. More people are looking at us. Shit. Hindi ko inaasahan ito, but we are here now anyway. Judging from her terrified look, nakakakonsensiya naman na basta iwan ko na lang siya. If Kuya Alphonse is here, he'd probably sock me in the gut for letting a lady get into trouble.

"Maria Lee, face me and explain yourself." I took stock of the old lady. Ma-awtoridad ang kaniyang boses kahit na maliit na babae lamang siya. She certainly has the bearing of a revered matriarch. I have to be careful in how I'll play this.

"Ama, this..." Damn, she looks so frightened and I felt something tug at my conscience. It's not likely for me to lose my calculations. Tama siya, I owe her.

Her grandmother walked regally in front of the table. Nagbubulungan naman ang mga babaeng kasama nito na naupo sa kalapit na mesa. I stood up and extended my hand in greeting.

"Hi, I'm Alistair. I'm glad to meet you." If anything, pinagtaasan lamang ako ng kilay ng matanda. She reminds me of someone, actually. Her aura screams sheer contempt. She ignored me.

Ngayon naaalala ko na who she reminded me off. Susanna, my dad's other woman. Pucha.

"Is he the reason why you wouldn't marry Brian Tiu?" I stiffened as I heard the name. Of all the damn luck in the world, I just can't believe it!

Now, the game has just gotten better.

"I meant no disrespect. Im sorry," she said in a small voice. Suddenly, naalala ko si Diosa. She couldn't be that old from my baby sister. Kahit gusto kong magdiwang dahil nakakita ako ng opportunity to crack my case, it's hard to decide how much you can use people. Maria's expression looked so lost kahit na pinipilit niyang hindi maiyak sa harap ng lola niya. So, arranged marriage eh? Tapos ang bata pa niya.

And she's damn beautiful. Usually wala akong pakialam sa hitsura ng tao. People age, change, and die. I'd rather go for what's inside their head than their face. But this girl just caught my eye.

Base sa itsura at kung paano magsalita ang lola niya, she has good pedigree. Sabagay, hindi naman kukuha ng pipitsuging fiancée ang katulad ni Brian Tiu.

Shit, gagawin lang siyang trophy wife ni Tiu.

She looked ready to cry and I can't help my instincts. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She looked surprised and turned to me with wide eyes. Sorry, darling.

Her grandmother gave her an ultimatum before she left together with what I assume to be her cousins.

"Okay ka na?" I asked her.

"Baliw ka ba?" I didn't expect that kind of reaction. I can't help myself. Nakakatawa yung pagkalito ng expression niya. A dozen emotions crossed her face. I need to plan my next course of action. Masalimuot itong kaso ni Brian Tiu, and looking at Maria, I don't know if she could handle the hell I'm going to unleash.

I hate involving innocents. Mas okay sa akin kung faceless sila, I could tell my conscience to go fuck itself, pero putting a name and a face on the people caught in the web... I need to steel myself.

"Miss, okay ka na ba?" I asked her again. "Mauuna na ako kung okay lang sa'yo?"

"Baliw ka nga," she murmured. Fuck, kailangan ulit-ulit?

"Well, I've been called worse..."

"Hinalikan mo 'ko tapos tatanungin mo ko kung okay lang ako?" Her voice rose another octave. Well, if anything I really need to go. Baka nagising na ang mga kapatid ko. I honestly just intended to pass some time while I waited for them. Anong malay ko na literal na mahuhulog sa mga kamay ko ang fiancée ng target ko? And at such a convenient time too.

I need time to think of strategies.

But as I looked at her outraged face, I suddenly thought of a brilliant idea. It's just like hitting two birds with one stone. I'll get all the information I need for my case, pay my debt, and at the same time enjoy this vacation.

"Oo." She must have thought that I'd say sorry or something. Seriously, I don't think I was that bad. I haven't really been bad at anything I've done.

I got up and put some money on the table. Mukhang hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa nangyari. Well, I still owe her for the kiss and I need the information. "Gusto mong sumama?"

I didn't wait for her to answer.

Little did I know that I just met the person destiny chose to change my life.

***

I hate to admit it, but I'm actually enjoying her company. She's like a breath of fresh air. Nasanay akong lahat halos ng babae natatakot sa akin, pero si Maria rises to the occasion and even sends her own jabs.

Nakuha pa niyang tawagin akong unggoy. Tangina, this girl has some balls.

And I like it.

Parang gusto ko pang makita yung mga reactions niya. Yung mukha niyang namamangha habang nire-recite ko yung tula ni Browning, the slight blush on her cheeks when I asked her why she has to let her Ama make the choices for her, the surprise in her face when I kissed her on top of that tree. The slow burn of hope in her eyes when I asked her to meet me in a month's time.

She looked so free.

I've probably gone insane. Some sickness has taken over my system and made me do all these things. I just... I crave to see all of her expressions.

No, I'm actually craving to be the reason for those expressions.

What have you done to me?

I feel like I'm on a free fall with no parachute and the ground is coming close to swallowing me up.

***

I couldn't stop the churning emotions inside of me. While it was true that I just spent probably one of the most interesting days of my life with a total stranger, the fact that I have to use her just to get to Tiu does not sit well with me.

I signaled Rika to wait for me while I tell Kuya Alphonse that I need to leave. Hindi naman nagtanong si kuya or nagtaka. He just gave me a searching look, patted my shoulder, before he told me to take care of myself.

Lana is still pouting. "Go back to HQ, Komova," I told her, "and next time you pull a stunt like that, I'll request for a permanent transfer." She looked stricken pero wala akong panahong makipaglaro. Badtrip, kung hindi dahil sa kaniya, I wouldn't make an irrational decision.

"We need to go," basag ni Rika sa titigan namin ni Komova.

"Jaguar..."

I didn't wait for her explanations. Sanada and I took to the trees.

"That one is trouble on two legs," she stated the obvious. I didn't bother to answer her. Ilang minuto na at hindi pa rin namin nararating kung saan niya ipinark ang sasakyan.

"Left," Sanada said and we took to the left on the next bend. Napasipol ako.

"Seriously, Sanada?" Her black Ducati sat in a clearing surrounded by the pine trees. Inuwi pala niya ang baby niya from the US. She approached the vehicle and handed me a helmet to match her own.

"Baguio, then? Baka bogus na naman ang info na ito." Doubtful ako sa mga impormasyon na pumapasok mula sa HQ lately. Nakakailang stake-outs na kami na walang results. It's like someone is deliberately sending us on wild goose chases.

Is there a rat in our midst?

***

It took us a mere three hours to get to Baguio. I can't even feel my nose after the first hour as I held on tight to Sanada. She's a devil on wheels. Mabilis dahil walang ibang siraulo ang susubok na tahakin ang daang ito sa kalaliman ng gabi. The fog cloaked our passing in a freezing mist.

This living on the edge business is exhilarating. It serves to tame that wild yearning inside of me to explore. Noong bata ako, tama na ang mga puzzle books, science magazines, at experiments to keep me occupied pero habang lumalaki ako, mas lumalawak yung kailangang punan na espasyo para hindi ako mabagot. Being an agent calmed the devils inside of me.

But now my mind is curiously filled with thoughts of her. Hindi yung usual thoughts like paano ko mae-exploit yung connection niya with Brian, or how I can make her trust me enough to let me completely in, or how best I could coax her to be my unwitting spy.

No. My thoughts are in a completely different direction.

Is her foot okay?

Did her grandma make her cry?

Does she want to see me after a month?

Is she thinking about me at all?

Damn it. When did I ever have such thoughts?

It sounds so stupid. Bakit ako nagkakaganito? I'm acting like some wuss. Why do I even fuckin' care?

Maybe it's the novelty of the situation. Siguro dahil first time ito na nagkaroon ako ng interaksyon sa mga target ko other than when I'm about to catch them or kill them. Maybe that's it.

Because the idea of this being something else is simply unacceptable.

***

"Another fuckin' fluke," Sanada hissed in exasperation as she wiped her sweat with the back of her hand. It looked like the occupants of the resthouse had made their retreat a few hours before we got there. I took a quick survey of the room.

Several cabinets have been emptied - what used to be their contents we wouldn't know. There's a trace of powder on the table but the sample's too small to make any tests. Everything looks to be wiped clean of any evidence. The CCTV feeds have been taken as well. They probably used laptops since there's no trace of any computer but there's a printer in the office. I noticed a piece of crumpled paper in the waste bin.

Well, there's a bit of luck after all. A misprint, eh?

"Well Sanada, we're going to Hong Kong." I smirked at her.

***

"No..." The glass shattered into a thousand glittering points on the floor. The splash of white on the cold, black marble created a sharp contrast to the pristine floor. "No..."

The terror in her face wrenched something inside of me. There was a time when all she needed was my presence to make her smile.

"Baby..." she flinched when I tried to touch her. There was blood at the end of her finger.

"I'm not your baby!" She snatched her fingers away from my hand. "Don't. Don't you dare touch me."

"Are you not happy to see me?"

"Get away from me!" She scrambled back in the dimly-lit room.

As if she could get away from me.

I caught her before she could close the door of her room on my face. Just like so many times before she cannot stop me. Her denial of our mutual feelings is like a potent drug. Mas lalo siyang pumipiglas, mas lalo ko siyang gustong maangkin.

I pushed the door open and she staggered back. Nadulas siya sa carpet at pilit na gumapang palayo.

"Stop it." I caught her hands. She's still bleeding. I licked the salty liquid off. Her eyes are huge as she watched transfixed at me. Like a rabbit on the jaws of a jackal.

"Kuya, please?"

"I missed you baby." I pulled her into my lap. She tried to push me off but I'm stronger than her. Didn't she know that? "What happened?"

She shook her head. She really is stubborn. After years of shutting me off, she finally acknowledged my emails. I immediately knew there was something wrong.

"Who hurt you, baby?" I swear magbabayad ang umapi sa'yo.

"Bakit nila ako iniiwan?" She sniffed. What? "Siya lang naman ang gusto ko... siya lang ang minahal ko ng ganito."

I couldn't stop myself. She cried out as my hand connected solidly on her cheek.

"Lex, please?" Her haunted eyes pleaded to me. "Tulungan mo 'ko, please?"

"Who is he?"

"Prince Constantino." I nodded. It would be so simple to eliminate the asshole. I've taken so much care to make sure na walang makakatuluyan ang babaeng akin. Akin lang siya.

"There's someone else," she whispered. "Aya Zabala."

Zabala. Could it be that they are related? That name ignited a different sort of fire inside of me.

It's time to make you fall, Zabala.

A/N:

Salamat sa mga nagbabasa. If you like the story, please leave a comment or vote. XD