"Six attempts in the last month alone, he's really hot on your heels Jaguar." I cracked an eyelid as Rika placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of me. I shrugged. Puro threats lang naman ang alam gawin ni Hernandez. He has no balls to fight me face to face. Akala niya hindi ko napapansin na ginagawa lang niya ang mga ito to distract me from his real agenda.

"Smoke-screen Rika. He never had much imagination." She took her seat across me and nursed her own cup.

"Ali," she stopped and took a deep breath, "there have been talks of sending you home for a while."

"Are you fuckin' serious? We're about to transfer to the Singapore Division. Wasn't that the plan?" I can't believe even the higher ups are being pussies about this.

There's an old African proverb that says, 'When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you'. I think they got it right. There is nothing like fear inside a person to stop him in his tracks.

"Then we'll smoke him too, Jaguar," Rika assured me before taking a sip of her coffee. Between the two of us, it is her that has taken such a devotion to getting Hernandez behind bars. This thing is personal to her, whereas my rivalry with him is more on a professional level. Way back when I wasn't part of the picture, silang dalawa ni Hernandez ang rivals from the classrooms to the field, all the way to the board rooms, and he'd backstabbed his way to the top; only Sanada didn't have enough evidence to bring him down.

And along came me; the rookie, who from upstart hacker, took all the glory from him in less than a few weeks.

I know from the way she looks at me that she adores me. At first, for a prized pupil - a protégé. Later on, I catch glimpses of something else in her eyes. Unfortunately, I can't return such feelings. I respect Sanada too much to lie to her, and to myself. Good thing too that she has enough sensibility to have her head above her heart.

I took a sip of coffee. The clash of warm caramel, a strong deep roast, and a hint of cream clashed on my tastebuds. Unlike other people who drink coffee to stay awake, I find that I'm unaffected by the caffeine. The drink is so much like Rika. Strong, vibrant, with an inner sweetness. Stuff that men who meet her could only pine for. I wish she'd meet her match soon so this awkward adoration can go away.

Because caffeine doesn't have an effect on me.

"Don't stay too close to him." I warned her. I don't want to come after him with vengeance in my heart.

***

This is not funny.

I blame this on the old man. Really.

It was disturbing seeing it in Rika's eyes. It was alarming to see it in majority of my agents' eyes. Even on stoic Red.

What the fuck?

Not. Funny. At. All.

***

"Flight 2631 Roanoke to Singapore is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate 2-F. All passengers bound for flight 2631 from Roanoke to Singapore, your plane is now boarding."

The other agents have taken different connecting flights to Manila for the past few weeks to prevent anyone snooping from finding out that were building a secret HQ in the Philippines. No member of the Philippine HQ was to take the same flights or dates. The first one to depart was Icen, to set-up the mainframe and get the communications system up. Next was Edge, followed by Jem, and Red to make sure that the physical environment is running smooth. They also need to set-up the dummy network so from the outside world it would look like we're running a BPO instead of a surveillance agency. Next, was Trixie, who for all intents and purposes, I had to fight tooth and nail for with Jaguar. He is just way too stubborn for his own good. Lana and Yelle both went directly to the Singapore Division to take care of some business. Funny how the Stein sisters are nicknamed Red and Yellow. Like, seriously...Red and Yellow Stein. Get it?

I might start to believe that Alistair Damien Zabala has a sense of humour. A vicious one.

I stood up and adjusted the aviators covering my eyes. I sense him stand behind me. We start walking in silence, me in front.

"Are you sure you got the right trail this time?" he asks once we are seated.

"Yes," I reply. I'm gonna be alone in this mission. The agency thought it is better to send one assassin than a whole group. XH32 seem to pick us out easier when in groups.

"I'll see you in Manila then," he checks his phone before turning it off. I see him smile as he read one last text message. There's only one person who can make him smile like this.

"Aya?"

He nods before he types a reply. "She wants to know my flight details." How I envy his little sister. But darn, I don't want to be a little sister to one such as him. I can only imagine his face when she brings home a suitor. Poor baby girl.

The whole flight was mostly in silence. He sat and read something on his Ipad while I tried to watch some action movie on the on-board TV. It bored the hell out of me though, how totally predictable and unrealistic the plot is. The rest of the trans-Atlantic crossing was spent in sleep.

After the long, grueling flight we finally land on Singapore's Changi airport. I breathe in the heady scent of fresh air. He goes directly to where the carts are and takes two. One for me, and another for him. We wait for our bags on the conveyor belt, and after that was done he turns to me and says, "Well, brush up on your Tagalog, Sanada."

And that was his way of saying goodbye and see you soon. I watch as he makes his way to the immigration desk because he still needs to collect his cat from quarantine.

"Yes, boss."

-------------

"Kuya!" I grunted as she leapt into my arms. Mabuti na lang at maliit 'tong kapatid ko kasi napakahilig niya talagang tumalon at magpakarga. Eighteen, legal, pero parang baby pa rin so all of us are like hawks watching over a little chick. Mahirap na, baka may biglang sumalisi.

"Hello, Diosa." I kissed her nose. She pouted at me.

"Sabi mo 2PM touchdown mo." Sarap kurutin sa nguso talaga 'tong batang 'to.

"Napaaga 'yung plane," I reasoned. I can't tell her I intentionally gave her the wrong info. Mahirap na rin ang ma-trace. Masasayang ang finabricate naming kuwento na na-homesick ako at na-bore kaya umuwi ako.

I dunno who made up that lame-ass excuse. Kahit siguro noob na agent mahahalatang kalokohang excuse lang 'yon, pero magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong di ako masayang bumalik sa pamilya ko. I realize that I miss my baby girl.

"Kuya di ka na aalis?" She asked as I put her down.

"Hindi na." I ruffled her hair. Sinubukan niyang umilag at binelatan ako.

"Kuya!" Protesta niya.

"Ano, tara na?" I asked her and she bobbed her head. Gusto niya pa na siya ang magtulak ng cart ko. Her eyes widened when she saw Panther sleeping soundly inside his cage.

"Waah, ang cute." She shyly touched my cat's nose and the ridge of his brow. Walang reaksyon mula sa pusa dahil siguro sa tinurok na tranquilizer dito ng vet bago kami umalis kahapon.

"Diosa may number ka ba ni Tito Aldrich? Gusto kong ipa-check si Panther bago tayo umuwi." Si Tito Aldrich ang bunsong kapatid nila daddy na isang beterinaryo. Halos kaedad lang namin siya kaya nakakalaro namin siya noong mga bata pa kami. He is only thirty-one years old whereas I'm twenty-three. Minsan napagkakamalan na kapatid namin siya.

"Meron po. Send ko sa'yo?" Inilabas niya agadyung phone niya at ilang segundo lang ay nai-text na niya sa akin yung contact details ni Tito Aldrich. I immediately contacted him and got an appointment. Nagulat pa siya na nakabalik na agad ako. I drove Diosa's car from the airport to Eastwood kung saan naroon ang vet clinic ni Tito Aldrich.

The clinic is full when we got there. I want to use Panther as an excuse para mapagmasdan ang bagong 'HQ'. Just across the street is the new office that I would manage for the agency. It looked like any of the normal buildings around the area though my eyes caught the cleverly-disguised security cameras. I noted the positions of the guards, the possible areas where security can be enhanced, the places where we could conceal weapons. It was a no-brainer na gumamit ng call center as a dummy: foreign employers, open 24 hours a day at di kakaibang nagbabago ng "shifts" ang mga tauhan, and best of all... heavy security sa building para sa "technology".

We do operate a legitimate business on the first 3 floors, the 4th and 5th are living quarters, the 6th is a training area for new recruits while the 7th and 8th floor is where we actually do the training. Floors nine to fifteen are legit business offices where two thousand call center agents do inbound and outbound calls.The 16th floor is where the recreation areas are, habang nasa 17th floor ang main frame na pinangangalagaan ni Icen. The basement is Trixie's domain. The 18th floor is where ballistics and a state-of-the art laboratory are housed. Sa 19th floor ang office ko.

We waited sa lounge ng vet clinic habang may kliyente pa si Tito Aldrich. His secretary kept batting her lashes at me at parating tinatanong kung gusto ko ba daw ng coffee, or tea, or hot choco. Si Diosa tuloy ang nanghingi ng hot choco sa kaniya and I had to hide the smile on my face ng napangiwi siya.

"Waah, cute!" I watched my baby sister pet a shih tzu held by a teenage girl beside us. May tatlo pang aso, at isang pusa sa waiting area. Inilabas ko ang Ipad ko at naglaro ng games. Panther is starting to stir inside his cage by my feet. Puwede namang hindi ko siya ipa-sedate kaso hindi sanay si Panther sa ingay at pressure ng eroplano kaya baka magwala siya. He is also of feral stock kaya mahirap na kahit pa kumpleto ang shots niya.

"Ali?" Kuya Aldrich poked his head out of the sliding door to his clinic. Tumayo ako at agad na napasunod si Diosa. Mahaba ang pila and ngumuso ako sa mga naghihintay pero pinapasok lang niya kami sa loob.

"Hello baby girl." He kissed Diosa's cheek. Naupo naman sa stool ang kapatid ko at nanood sa amin.

Aldrich clearly got the famous Zabala genes. Even with thick, horn-rimmed glasses, slightly longish hair, and a timid air, our tito is definitely handsome. Kaso mas komportable siya na makasama ang mga hayop kaysa mga tao, much to the heartbreak of the girls who dogged his steps. He is too much of a gentleman to turn down anyone, and his sisters feared na baka maabuso siya dahil sa kabaitan niya kaya siya pinapasama lagi sa mga barako kong kapatid.

Not that it helped him in any way. Sa tingin ko mas lalo pang naging mahiyain si tito habang nakikita ang mga kalokohang ginagawa nila Kuya Albert at Alfredo. We tried getting him into the war games na paborito ni Kuya Alphonse pero parati siyang nawawala sa maze, or sa firing range, or sa trail. Mas nag-e-enjoy pa siyang makipag-nature tripping kay Kuya Alejandro. I don't think my tito has any vicious bone in his body.

"Hello, little guy," Tito Aldrich lifted Panther out of his cage. Chineck niya ang timbang nito, eyelids, gilagid, pati loob ng tenga. He got his stethoscope and listened for his heartbeat, lungs, stomach. Hilong-hilo pa ang aking alaga kaya wala pa sa focus ang mga mata nito. "You could have opted not to have him sedated for that long." Medyo nakanguso siya. I could detect a hint of disapproval in his tone. "Anyway, he looks healthy enough. Patingin ng record niya." I handed him my cat's papers.

"Don't feed him too much commercial cat food.Rice, fish... not too much salt." Gumawa siya ng reseta. "Vitamins."

"Tito kelan ka ulit dadaan sa bahay?" I saw him wince when Diosa said the word 'tito'. Hindi kasi talaga siya mukhang tito.

"Mamaya, may welcome home party daw sabi ni Alfredo," he replied tapos biglang tumili si Diosa.

"TITO! Wala na..." Nakita kong pumadyak si Diosa at nag-pout. "Ay ang daya..." I hugged her with one arm and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Okay lang baby girl. I was expecting it."

"Kahit na. Dapat surprise eh."

Itinaas ni Tito Aldrich ang mga kamay niya in surrender, "sorry baby girl." He looked really guilty and embarrased. "Akala ko kasi..." Agad namang nakonsensiya ang kapatid ko at niyakap si Tito Aldrich.

"Anyway," I broke in, "see you later?" He nodded. I gathered my cat and returned him to the cage. We said our good byes at umuwi na kami ni Diosa. We passed by Banapple in Katipunan and she bought my favourite Blueberry Cheesecake bago dumiretso sa bahay.

"Ay Ali di ka naman lumaki!" Bati sa akin ni Yaya Maring.

"Yaya, twenty-three na po ako, di na ako lalaki," I reminded her with a laugh.

"Si Yaya joke time." Diosa kissed her cheek at nagmano kami pareho sa aming yaya. Dinala ni Diosa yung cake at inilagay sa ref. I smelled something good wafting from the kitchen. No doubt Kuya Alfredo is cooking a feast. I decided against popping in there and annoying the hell out of him. Diosa helped me bring my bags in my room kahit na sinasaway ko siya sa pagbubuhat ng bagahe. Ang kulit lang.

"Di ka na lalaki, baby girl," I chided her as I took a bag away from her hands. She gave a laugh.

"Di bale Kuya, para lagi mo ako puwede kargahin," she replied with a cheeky grin.

"Kamusta dito? Okay ba kayo ni Mama?" She's the only one living in the house when Kuya Alphonse moved out after getting married to Ate Lena. Sila Kuya Alejandro at Albert naman ay parehong nag-migrate, while I heard that nag-move-out na rin si Kuya Alfredo at kumuha ng sariling condo malapit sa restaurant niya.

"Okay naman, wala lagi si Mama kasi sa LB siya." She plopped on my bed.

"Lonely ba ang baby girl namin?" I said in a soft voice and she looked up.

"Di naman. Binibisita kami ni Kuya Alfredo lagi pag wala siyang date and nag-cross reg ako ngayong summer para makasama si Sab and Kiko."

I put Panther's cage on the floor. My cat raised his head and curiously nudged the door. Inaamoy ang lahat ng madaanan niya. I'll probably let him stay inside the room until maging familiar siya sa surroundings.

"Siguradong okay ka lang?" Sa lahat ng kapatid ko, kay Diosa lang ako close. We're all equally protective of her though kaya pakiramdam ko nasasakal din siya sa sobrang higpit namin, lalo na si Kuya Alfredo. As much as possible, I'd like to let her taste a bit of freedom too.

"Okay lang po ako. Welcome home, Kuya." She put her arms around me and I hugged her back. "Sige po tutulungan ko si Kuya Alfred sa kusina. Pahinga ka muna Kuya." I watched her leave. I contemplated kung matutulog muna ako o aayusin ang gamit ko. In the end I did neither.

I sat down in front of my PC and jacked my Ipad on it. I connected to the wi-fi and went online.

In a few seconds I established contact.

"Hello, Icen." I greeted my wide-eyed assistant.

"Erm, hello Boss J-Jaguar," she stuttered.

Yes, I'm officially home.