Pabagsak akong humiga sa kama. Alas-tres na nang madaling araw ayon sa alarm clock na nasa side table ko. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata at inihilamos sa mukha ang aking mga kamay. Mukha akong tangang hindi mapigilang ngumiti.

I'm like an addict craving some forbidden drug. Imbes na iwasan ko siya ay mas lalo ko lamang nilululong ang sarili ko. I foolishly thought I flushed her out of my system, but seeing her again made me realize that I was deluding myself. Like a predator that caught scent of his prey, I followed her.

Stupid feelings. I was trained not to show emotions but she keeps on getting under my skin. I opened my palm computer and watched the unmoving green dot on the grid. I couldn't resist the temptation, not when I saw how he kissed her or held her hand.

It felt wrong.

I can't stand the sight of someone else touching her, whispering to her...

Calling her, his.

I could have stepped away so many times tonight but my logical mind is not functioning right now. I'll call it temporary insanity.

When I got into my car all I could think about was putting her on the radar. No he cannot have her, that's for certain. I just need to make sure that I plan this very well. I'm going to protect her even though at the end of this I may not have her either. I want to give her a chance to choose.

I don't want to be on the sidelines when I could have done something to prevent her ruin.

It wasn't easy losing her guards. I had to play hide and seek with them for a couple of rounds in BGC. Hindi na ako lumayo dahil alam kong iyon ang unang iisipin nila. Baka mamaya mas maging komplikado kung akalaing kinidnap ko si Maria. In the end, I had Icen hack into the CCTVs in the area and activate a scrambler so they can't communicate with each other.

I'm smiling like an idiot. Tch.

Inabot kami ng madaling araw sa viewing deck sa Antipolo, just looking at the view of the cityscape. I haven't felt this light-hearted since the last time we saw each other. Ang gaan ng loob ko sa kaniya na para bang matagal ko na siyang kilala ganoong hindi naman talaga kami magkakilala. Not in any real sense. It was just one day but the memory's burned inside of me; that time didn't matter in this instance.

I enjoyed listening to her chatter na para bang natatakot siyang maging awkward kami kapag tumigil siya sa pagsasalita.

She felt right in the circle of my arms. I've never really held any woman who is not from my family before. Hindi ako mahilig sa intimacy because I find it a burden. I'm not like Kuya Alfredo who would chase anything with panties on.

She seemed comfortable too, lying beside me as we watched the twinkling lights of the sleeping city and the distant stars. I wanted to prolong each second, but I saw her almost nodding off to sleep so I knew I had to bring her back to one of her family's numerous condo units.

Kinailangan kong pigilan ang sarili ko na iuwi na lang siya sa bahay. I know I'll be compromising my whole mission if I made our involvement obvious right now. It's still important to expose Tiu and capture Hernandez for questioning. Hindi ko puwedeng basta sundin ang gusto ko. My duty comes first.

"Ali..."

I was startled out of my musings when I heard her whisper clearly on my headset. I listened intently pero mukhang nakatulog na siyang muli. Is she dreaming about me? Buti na lang talaga at na-installan ko ng bugs ang unit niya na hindi niya alam. She thought I left at the lobby but I doubled back and went up using the service elevator para taniman ng bugs ang buong unit niya sans the bathroom dahil nag-sho-shower siya that time. I couldn't resist returning after I saw the azaleas blooming in the garden. The flowers looked like they were made for her.

She's mine. Now all I need to do is make sure she won't marry the wrong man.

***

I was roused from my sleep from the distinct sound of my personal alarm. My senses immediately came on alert when I saw it was Icen calling.

"Any news on the files?" I asked as I donned a plain white shirt and searched for my pants.

"Yelle's got Intel. The Myght is in Singapore."

"Prepare an extraction plan Icen. Tell Stein to be discreet. No reports to the main HQ."

"On it, Jaguar." I heard a few clicks on the other line. "3X said the ghost unit is ready."

"Good, I'll see you at HQ." I closed the line and went out of my room. I noticed a light in the kitchen and knew that Yaya Maring is already awake. Kahit si Diosa na lang ang inaalagaan niya sa aming lahat ay ang aga pa rin niyang magising. I guess old habits die hard.

The smell of brewed coffee wafted out of the kitchen. I approached the counter just as Yaya Maring set a steaming cup in front of me. I could sneak into enemy camps with the highest security levels, but not with Yaya Maring.

"Nagpapakabait ka ba?" Pambungad niya sa akin pagkalapag ng mainit na pandesal at cheese. Alam na alam din niyang hindi ako mahilig sa rice sa umaga.

"Hindi po Yaya," I replied with a grin. Tumawa siya at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Mag-iingat ka lagi. Aba hindi ka na napipirmi dito sa bahay." 'naknang nagtatampo pa yata si Yaya. "Kailan ka ba magpapakilala ng kasintahan mo? Aba nakakasampu na si Alfredo, ikaw ni isa, wala."

Napaubo ako sa tanong ni Yaya. Ang lakas talaga makaramdam nito.

"Alistair, mga anak ko yung mga bulaklak sa garden. Alam ko kung ilan ang talulot ng mga iyon." She laughed at my expression.

"Si Yaya talaga. Malapit na po."

"Basta wag mong papaiyakin ha. Masama ang nananakit ng babae."

***

I woke up with the sun's rays touching my face. I gingerly opened my eyes and saw the light seeping from the light curtains despite being drawn for the night. I turned my face away and snuggled further into my comforter. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang maalala ko ang nangyari kagabi. It felt so surreal. Parang kailangan ko pang kurutin ang sarili ko para maniwalang hindi ako naghahallucinate at talagang nakasama ko si Ali the whole evening.

The weight of the chain biting against my wrist cemented the fact that it wasn't a dream. I peeked at the metal shining brightly in the sun. No doubt, panglalaki ang design but I don't care. It's the first gift from someone not from my family that I truly treasure.

I was startled when I heard voices from outside the door of my bedroom. Agad kong hinanap ang robe ko at sinuot ito bago lumapit sa may pintuan. The distinct voice of Andi and Cassie drifted to my ears at binuksan ko ang pinto.

"Couz, you are so dead," Andi informed me with a smirk paglabas ko pa lang ng kuwarto. I rolled my eyes at her bago ko sila iniwan para bumalik sa kuwarto at mag-shower. Whatever they say can't take away my sunshine.

I wonder what he's doing right now? Gising na kaya siya?

Pagkalabas ng shower ay nagbihis ako agad at and checked my phone. As usual there were several calls from my aunts, text messages from my cousins, but no message from Ali. Medyo nalungkot ako dahil inaasahan kong mag-te-text man lang siya ng good morning.

Well, he didn't really seem the type to do such things. But a girl can wish... right?

Argh, Maria stop daydreaming!

"Brian said you walked out last night, what were you thinking?" Cassie's concerned voice broke through my thoughts. "Are you getting cold feet Ria?"

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Between Cassie and Andi, Cassie's the more level-headed and trustworthy one.

"You know I'm just gonna do it for the family... doesn't mean I like it."

"You don't have to like it, 'no?" Andi snorted. "Just enjoy it! Brian is rich, you can buy whatever you want and go wherever you please. Magiging princess na you, ayaw pa you? Gosh, tanga."

"Ilang 'you' nga 'yon?" Cassie laughed at her sister. "I swear your language is getting more atrocious by the day." She put her fake English-accent on at natawa ako sa pagkapula ni Andi. Inirapan niya ang kapatid bago tumingin muli sa akin.

"Nakakahalata na me sa'yo Ria." She narrowed her eyes at my phone. "Kanina pa you tingin ng tingin sa phone. Are you waiting for someone to text you?"

I fidgeted and put my phone inside my pocket. "Wala." I racked my brain for something to change the topic. My eyes caught a vase that wasn't there last night. I approached my coffee table and touched the soft petals of a nosegay of azaleas. A tiny chain circled the bunch of flowers, keeping it in place.

Did he place them here? How did he get in? I dare not hope.

"Did these come in while I was in the shower?" I asked my cousins.

"So pretty!" Cassie gushed.

"Nope, andiyan na 'yan when we came in," Andi replied.

Pinipigil ko ang kilig ko na iniangat ang maliit na bouquet. I sniffed the flowers. Does he know what they mean? He might or might not, pero knowing Ali he just might.

And that makes it sweeter.

"And sweet naman ng fiancé you."

I almost rolled my eyes. It's not Brian's style to send flowers. At kung magpapadala man siya, malamang na baka pinagmukha niyang flowershop ang kuwarto ko. He likes to go on the excess.

"Oo nga pala couz, we're here to help you pack."

Natigilan ako at napakunot ang noo kay Andi at Cassie.

"We came to inform you that Brian bought you a unit in Two Serendra." Andi waggled her brows knowingly at me. "Ang lucky naman you!"

I felt the flowers fall to my feet.

***

"Got it." I adjusted the oversized shades over my eyes as I scanned the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands. Mason, my partner from the Singapore Division drove away in his jet black BMW sedan. This is the part that I love the most about my job; the costumes, the glamour, pretending to be someone other than myself.

Growing up jumping from one foster family to the next did not give me and my sister any opportunity to pursue what we liked. From a quiet suburban life with our parents, we were thrown into foster care by their murder. Our brother Blue decided to take matter into his own hands. He tracked down the clues to our parents' deaths until he found them.

It wasn't easy losing our parents. Rejean was so very young and vulnerable. She became too attached to our last foster parent whose husband turned out to be a child molester. I can still hear his voice whenever I'm about to kill someone as he begged for mercy when I slashed his neck with a butcher knife. There was blood... lots of it... I knew we had to run or risk a life in juvenile prison.

I do not regret being a murderer for Red. She is the most precious thing to me. She is the only one left that I am living for.

The lady in the concierge smiled as she verified the room for my check-in. One thing about this mission, Jaguar requested for absolute secrecy. It means he's paying for this whole thing.

Might be personal. I can sympathize with that.

I7's brief was very simple. Locate the target inputted on my tracker, silence anyone who tries to stop me, and bring the target to HQ.

I smiled at an Italian couple who was next in line to me. I took my keycard and proceeded to the elevators. Pagkasarado ng pinto ay in-on ko ang scrambler na nasa aking tablet. I tip-toed and attached a device to the security camera para hindi mapansin ang pagkawala ng signal nito. I stepped out on the 25th floor where the intel told me the target is located. I opened my LV tote and started to assemble my gun. Shanvie is very proud of her newest creation. The whole thing was crafted out of ceramic and carbon fibre... and is virtually undetectable by metal scanners. Even the bullets are of a special material. It's modelled after my favourite gun, the Jericho 941 Baby Eagle.

I took off my pencil skirt and shimmied into my leather pants and jacket. Sunod kong ikinabit ang holster for my service firearm with the tranc bullets and attached the silencer. May kasamang harness sa supplies at sunod kong isinuot 'yon. Trust HQ to be thorough even with the escape plans. I tied back my long dirty-blonde hair in a ponytail just as the elevator doors opened.

It's show time, baby. 

***

The third man dropped down with a grunt. Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang ulo niya sa lapag na hindi gumagawa ng ingay. I took the man's radio and ammo with me. My gun has only six rounds left and if worse comes to worse; I might need to use other measures to put down the guards.

I slipped inside the room quietly. Isang mainframe ang nakita ko sa gitna ng master's bedroom instead na isang king-sized bed. There are four white coats working on something inside a glass encasement. My tracker tells me na ito ang aking target.

"Gentlemen put your hands up and where I can see them." Agad na nagtayuan ang apat na lalaking hinala ko ay mga scientist at computer experts. Nakita kong lumikot ang mata ng isa at may inabot sa ilalim ng lamesa kaya agad kong inasinta ang kamay niya ng silencer. Before he could cry out, I immediately aimed my next shot at his windpipe. He fell down with a wet gurgle. "Anybody else have similar ideas?" The remaining three men scrambled to do what I asked.

"Now boys I need you to pack it up." I7 said the target is very sensitive and needs to be transported in a special case. The three men looked nervously at each other.

"Move!" They jumped up and proceeded to pack up the glass-encasement in a bulletproof attaché case. Isang computer rin ang inilagay nila sa isa pang case. I kept my gun trained at them as they did their job. "Now lie down on the floor. Keep your hands on your back." I took out my pistol and loaded the tranc rounds. Isa-isa kong pinatulog ang mga tech personnel bago ko dinampot ang mga cases na naglalaman ng target.

"I7 I got the target. Requesting aerial pick-up." There was the usual static before she answered.

"Negative Yellow. Please use other means. The Bird will alert HQ."

"Fuck," I cursed softly. I turned to the windows. I opened the nearest one and staggered at the strong wind blowing from the bay area.

"Well Jaguar should add flying to my list of skills."

***

I squinted against the glare of the sunrise as I took another shot of the bay. The strong wind rocked the tiny platform I am currently perched on and I felt my heart skip a beat as my camera almost slipped from my hands.

"Hold on tight," the man beside me cautioned in heavily accented Mandarin. I nodded and forced a smile. For sure my agent is currently tearing her hair out trying to look for me; if anything can be said by the constant vibration of my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. It was their fault anyway. Laine, my agent, knew that I don't shoot people. It's part of our contract so I was surprised when I found four models waiting for me at the lobby of the venue.

'The client insisted' was her only explanation. Well that's fine with me too. They could find someone else to take photos of their hotel. I'm not the only photographer in this damn island anyway. And they can sure afford it.

I breathed easier when the breeze passed and I took another shot at a couple of birds flying with the glittering Singapore Bay at the backdrop. The man tapped me on the shoulder and I stopped as he pulled at the complicated set of ropes and pulleys that raised us another floor. I surely admire how utterly fearless manong is as he cleaned the glass from debris, mostly bird droppings. They said the top floor had a magnificent eternity pool that made it feel like you can walk off to oblivion. I'd like to try that after I finish taking photos.

A click somewhere above our heads alerted us. We simultaneously looked up. I saw a blur coming down to us with unbelievable speed. My finger instinctively pressed the shutter and a series of clicks could be heard in the space of a few heartbeats. My heart slammed on my throat when a hand closed over the collar of my shirt and I was off the platform and dropping down with terrifying speed. The strap of my Delilah pulled me up as gravity and the hand over my collar pulled me down.

I never expected my life to be over in this fashion.

Abruptly, just as it started, we came to an abrupt stop. My heart felt like it would jump out of my chest as I turned my head to stare at intense green eyes.

"Tch." She spit out some of her dirty blonde hair. She pulled something from her waist and we both thudded to the ground. Her in a much more dignified pose than mine. My hands instinctively held my precious camera against my chest. I heard a shot from somewhere and flinched as a bullet grazed the side of my arm.

"Fuck!" She cursed loudly as she dragged me up and I found myself running to escape the barrage of bullets raining down on us. "Shit! Beddamnt." She continued to curse colourfully.

"This way." She turned to me as I pulled her to where I parked my bike earlier. Her eyes gleamed as she saw my baby.

"I'm driving." I told her as I straddled my bike.

"No argument from me." I felt her arm come around my middle as she turned and returned fire to whoever was shooting at us.

***

I stared at the screen in front of me.

The readings baffled me. The tracker I put in Panther is out of range. I tried to ride on the agency's GPS system but it comes up with nothing. It's like he vanished into thin air.

It's one thing to target me, it's quite another to make a blatant threat to my family.

I studied the readings. It's starting to point at XH32 or Hernandez. I checked Diosa and Prince's phone earlier and they both held a trace. The hacker who accessed their phones were good but I'm better because I was able to trap him in a loop.

"Boss," Icen's voice came in.

"Yes?"

"Yellow successfully extracted the target."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "good job. Let me know when she gets back."

I turned back to the readings in front of me. I need to be absolutely sure of things.

***

A/N: Happy birthday Yellow! XD

Sorry for the delay. Please leave me a line or two if you liked the update.