Prologue
Sa
isang pribadong residential area sa may California, May isang silver Porsche
ang pumasok sa driveway ng isang bahay. Lumabas ang isang matanda at matipunong
lalake para mag inat. Pinuntahan niya yung passenger’s side, binuksan ang
pintuan para makalabas ang matangkad, mas bata at mala beauty queen na asawa
niya.
“Do
we really have to stay here?” tanong ng babae. “Ivana my dear, you know we have
too. I promise you once my name is cleared we can go back to the dream house I
built for you” lambing nung matanda. “Henry, look the gate to the back yard is
open” bigkas ni Ivana kaya napalingon ang matanda at agad pinapapasok muli sa
kotse ang kanyang asawa.
“No
I wanna go with you” sabi ni Ivana. Nilabas ni Henry ang isang stainless na
baril mula sa kotse sabay kinasa na ito. “Stay close behind me” sabi niya sabay
nagtungo na sila sa likuran ng bahay. May nakita silang lalake na nakaluhod sa
damuhan at trinitrim yung hilera ng golden bushes.
Tinutok
na ni Henry yung baril, “Hey! Put down the cutters and raise your hands or I
will shoot” banta niya. Tinaas nung lalake na may buhok hanggang balikat mga
kamay niya. Sumilip si Ivana at nakita yung mga peklat sa likuran nito.
“Juan
is that you?” tanong niya kaya dahan dahan napalingon yung lalake na balbas
sarado. “Ola mister Henry and madam Ivana” bati niya sa mala Hispanic na
intonasyon. “Juan?” bigkas ng matandang lalake kaya dahan dahan tumayo si Juan
at humarap sa kanila.
“I
am so sorry senyor. I needed work, I needed money and I didn’t know where to
go. You were not here, your garden was not good looking so I came inside and
worked on it. You are my kindest employer so I know if you see I did a good job
I know you will pay me. I am so sorry senyor, I did not mean to trespass but I
want to be honest senyor and I slept here under the shed because I don’t have
any other place to go” sabi ni Juan na dahan dahan na lumuhod at nagmakaawa sa
dalawa.
“Jesus…I
almost shot you Juan” sabi ni Henry na binaba na baril niya. “How did you even
recognize him?” dagdag niya sabay tinignan ang kanyang magandang asawa. Nautal
si Ivana saglit, “the garden…the garden it looks so majestic..” bigkas niya
sabay hinila asawa niyang matanda para maglibot sila.
Namangha
yung mag asawa kaya si Juan nanatili sa pwesto at nakayuko ang kanyang ulo.
“Juan did you do all of these on your own?” tanong ni Henry. “Yes senyor, I
also wanted to paint your house but I have no money to go buy paint. I am so
sorry senyor but I know you are very kind” sabi ni Juan.
“What
happened to you? You were gone all of a sudden?” tanong ng matanda. “Senyor I
am so sorry but the government caught me and deported me. There is really
nothing for me in my country senyor. I just came back here, the money I earn
here even if small is enough to feed my family back in my country” sagot ni
Juan.
“I
see, Juan you got better at speaking English. Last time you were here we could
barely understand each other” sabi ni Henry. “Yes senyor, you see my niece in
grade school is studying your language so I asked her to teach me too. I said
that it can help me if I come back here so that I can talk to people easier”
sagot ni Juan.
“So
how much do I owe you?” tanong ni Henry. Yumakap sa kanya ang magandang asawa
niya, lumapit si Juan at may inaabot na papel. “Senyor I wrote down my work
time. I know I get paid per hour so I wrote down the time I worked here
everyday. I could not work the other day because I felt sick so zero hours on
that day” sabi ni Juan.
Napangiti
yung mag asawa, binasa nila yung papel sabay tinignan si Juan na nakayuko ang
kanyang ulo. “You have been here for almost two weeks? Where do you get your
food?” tanong ni Ivana.
“I
got the coupons from your magazine madam. I am so sorry. When I got here I saw
so many newspaper and magazines on the gate so I took them all here. The
newspaper I used to build fire for the night and borrowed some of your wood
from the shaft. The magazines I saw the coupons so I took them and used them, I
hope you don’t mind” sabi ni Juan.
“But
that is not enough, how did you survive with nothing?” tanong ni Ivana. “I did
a little work here and there, enough to buy little food. I enjoy working on
gardens and painting houses” sabi ni Juan.
“Okay
Juan, since the garden seems to be finished…I must agree this house needs some
repaint. We just came back from the Bahamas so here let me give you some money
and why don’t you go buy the things we need so you can get it started
tomorrow?” tanong ni Henry sabay inabutan si Juan ng madaming pera.
“Thank
you senyor for the trust and opportunity” sabi niya. “Henry he looks tired.
Sorry Juan we cannot offer you food. The maids are going to report later and
that is the only time we shall be going to get food supplies” sabi ni Ivana.
“Its alright madam, I can go and buy you food then I can go back and buy the
supplies” alok ni Juan.
“Do
you know how to drive?” tanong ni Henry. “No no senyor, I know but your car is
more expensive than my life. Do not worry I can manage” sabi ni Juan. “Okay, we
shall be taking a nap. Ivana go get the key to the guest house. Juan once you
come back, just store the equipment inside the storage area then you can use
the guest house”
“You
start work tomorrow. And here extra money, go eat good food then buy yourself
some clothes” sabi ni Henry. “Senyor this is too much, I can take my salary
from here” sabi ni Juan. “No, Juan, listen to me. Go eat anything you want then
buy yourself clothes. We shall talk about your salary later. This not your
payment, this is just a bonus” sabi ni Henry.
Naluha
si Juan sabay nagpunas ng mga mata, “Sir can I send some to my family, this is
really too much” sabi niya. Naglabas pa ng pera si Henry sabay inabot sa
binata. “Send them this one, payment for your garden work” sabi ng matanda.
“Diyos mio senyor I wanna hug you right now” bulong ni Juan kaya lumapit si
Ivana at hinaplos braso ng binata.
“You
deserve it. So go Juan, go eat and buy yourself clothes then when you come back
the guest house is yours. Get a really good bath” lambing ni Ivana sabay habang
di nakatingin asawa niya bigla niyang hinaplos dibdib ng binata kaya nagtitigan
sila.
Pagtingin
ni Henry agad tumalikod si Ivana at naglakad palayo. “I will go get the key”
sabi niya. “Juan while you were here, did you notice something suspicious?”
tanong ng matanda. “What do you mean
sir? Like ghosts and aliens?” tanong ni Juan kaya natawa ng husto yung matanda.
“No
no no, what I meant was did you notice people looking at the house. Any cars
parked nearby that does not belong to the neighbors?” tanong ni Henry. “Oh, I
don’t think so senyor but your neighbor has a new wife then they have a new car
but its ugly. Then the other night your other neighbor was really noisy doing
the boink boink up to three in the morning” sabi ni Juan kaya napahawak sa puso
ang matanda at tumindi ang tawa niya.
“Diyos
miyo, she was like moaning and moaning and calling out God. Oh yeah oh yeah,
she kept repeating so I said maybe they used the little blue medicine to
make…orale you get it senyor ahump ahump huh huh” landi ni Juan kaya super
halakhak yung matanda.
“But
senyor I don’t understand, the wifey looks like a man. If you and madam Stella
get noisy like that I will understand but your neighbor..Diyos miyo five blue
pills and junior no no go hard” sabi ni Juan kaya naluha na yung matanda sa
tindi ng tawa.
Ilang
minuto lumipas naglakad na si Juan palayo ng bahay. Sampung minuto pa lumiko
siya papunta sa isang liblib na lugar kung saan may nag aabang na itim na SUV
sa dulo. Lumingon siya sa paligid, agad siya pumasok sa kotse sabay napabuntong
hininga.
“Amazing,
just like you said they would take you in” sabi ng isang babaeng agent na may
blonde na buhok. “Just a quick question, how the hell did she recognize you
with your back turned? You do have long hair now you know” sabi nung lalakeng
agent sa harapan.
“She
is the reason why I backed out last time. She was getting too close” sagot ni
Juan. “What do you mean too close?” tanong ng babaeng agent. “Shiela stop
asking, you know what I mean” landi ni Juan kaya nagtawanan yung dalawang
lalake agent sa harapan.
“How
close?” tanong nung driver kaya napangiti si Juan. “Close enough for her to
learn I have scars on my back” sagot niya. “So you went to bed with her?”
tanong ni Sheila. “Of course not, well it was going there so I backed out” sabi
ni Juan.
“As
an agent you know that is part of your cover. As an agent you know that you are
trained for that” sabi ni Sheila. “Really? Did you all purposely make me skip
that part of my training? I didn’t know there a training for that. I have to go
back to Quanteco and undergo that then” landi ni Juan kaya laugh trip yung
dalawang lalake agent.
“You
missed my point” sabi ni Sheila. “I know what you meant, I was just kidding.
Last time it was not worth it but this time with a better offer then its worth
it. I still have not seen the written agreement, I want to see it” sabi ni
Juan.
“As
per agreed, you will get ten percent of whatever amount we confiscate from
them” sabi ni Sheila. “Now I really envy you, imagine we agents just go in and
risk our lives for the country. You a special case do the same but get a reward
too in return” sabi nung driver.
“Oh
don’t you worry Dan, once I get my cut the three of you will be on my gifts
list. I know you cannot accept gifts but hey were are friends. I know you want
a new car for your family and that is the first thing I am going to get you.
For you Rob, I know what you want too. Sheila, you can have me” landi ni Juan
kaya laugh trip ulit yung mga dalawa sa harapan.
“Will
you just drive and lets go get what he needs” sabi ni Sheila. “I need you right
now” hirit ni Juan kaya tuloy ang tawa nung dalawa sa harapan. “You that I am
gay right and I have a girlfriend” sabi ni Sheila. “She will be a bonus” hirit
ni Juan kaya napailing nalang si Sheila.
Ilang
araw ang lumipas sa loob ng itim na SUV pinapanood ng tatlong agents yung
hidden camera video kung saan nakikita nila si Juan sa labas ng bahay sa second
floor at nililiha yung panels ng bintana.
“Hey
turn the volume up” sabi ni Dan nang makita nila si Ivana na naka bathrobe na
lumapit sa bintana at tinitigan si Juan. “Good morning senyora” bati ni Juan.
“Hello Juan” sagot ni Ivana.
“I
am so sorry, let me get down so you can change” sabi ng binata. Nagulat yung
tatlong agent nang binagsak ni Ivana yung robe niya kaya hubot hubad nalang
siya. “Senyora” bigkas ni Juan. Napailing si Sheila pagkat sina Dan at Rob
nakangisi at titig na titig sa katawan ng magandang babae. “Damn lucky Juan”
bulong ni Rob. “He deserves it, he was the one who found out who they were. If
not for him we would be piled up under so much shit trying to look for them”
sagot ni Dan.
“Oh
don’t pretend you have not seen me naked” sabi ni Ivana kaya nagtitigan sina
Dan at Rob sa gulat. “You two are like kids” sabi ni Sheila. Pinindot niya yung
comms, “Listen Juan, you have an opening so go for it” sabi niya.
Lumapit
lalo si Ivana at hinaplos dibdib ni Juan pababa sa hita niya. Bumaba ng ladder
si Juan, nakipagtitigan sa magandang babae sabay huminga ng malalim. “Don’t do
that senyora, dont make me create a situation where mister Henry will lose his
trust on me” bulong ng binata.
“He
isn’t here, he wont know” sagot ni Ivana. “I know that, you don’t have to tell
me because senyora the moment he stepped out of the house my imagination
started running wild” bulong ni Juan sa tenga ni Ivana kaya napakagat ang
magandang babae sa labi niya.
“Such
as?” tanong ni Ivana. “Oh it’s a continuation where we left off last time…it’s
just sad I got caught senyora but do you want to know the reason why I came
back?” bulong ni Juan sabay kiniskis labi niya konti sa leeg ng magandang
babae. Tumingala si Ivana, mga labi ng binata dumaan sa buong leeg niya patungo
sa kabilang tenga.
Mga
kamay ng binata sa baywang ng dalaga, “I have never seen such a beautiful girl
in my life…your soft lips that I once tasted..smooth skin” bulong niya palandi
sabay mga kamay niya pagapang na sa dibdib ni Ivana. Napalunok sina Dan at Rob,
si Shiela napailing sabay napahaplos na sa kanyang leeg.
“What
stopped me last time senyora was respect for your husband but once I got
deported…I could not stop thinking about you. So much things I wanted to do to
you” bulong ni Juan kaya pumikit si Ivana at bigla siyang pinatalikod ng
binata. Niykap siya ni Juan mula likuran, tinungo ni Ivana ulo niya at hinaplos
mga kamay ng binata na nakahawak sa kanyang mga dede. “Juaaaaaan” ungol niya
pagkat labis siyang nakiliti sa paghahalik ng binata sa kanyang leeg.
Biglang
tumigil si Juan sabay umatras, tumalikod si Ivana at nagtitigan yung dalawa.
“Come inside” bulong ni Ivana. “No senyora, not with me looking like this” sabi
ni Juan. Lumapit si Ivana, hinaplos dibdib ng binata. Mga kamay niya humawak sa
mukha ni Juan sabay nilapit niya mukha niya at sinipsip labi ng binata.
“I
kinda find you looking so sexy that way” bulong niya. Hinila niya si Juan kaya
ang binata pumasok na sa bintana. Tinaanggal niya shirt niya sabay tinapon
papunta kung saan nakainstall yung hidden camera. “Damn it” sigaw ni Dan. “That
was the only camera inside the room” sagot ni Rob.
Natawa
si Shiela, hanggang audio nalang sila pero ilang minuto lumipas malalakas na
ungol ni Ivana narinig nila. “Oh this guy is good” sabi ni Dan. Walang tigil
ungol ni Ivana kaya lumabas ng kotse si Sheila pagkat naapektuhan siya.
Trenta
minutos binuksan niya yung pintuan, “Are you kidding me?” sigaw niya pagkat
narinig niya parin ungol ni Ivana na nagtutuloy. “They have been at it since
you left” sabi ni Dan. “Geez” bigkas ni Shiela. “Well you told him to give in
so there you go. I must say he is really good” sabi ni Rob.
Isa
pang oras lumipas, tahimik na yung audio. “Ivana wake up, look at me” narinig
nila. “Focus on me” sabi ni Juan. “Focus on my finger, follow it with your
eyes. Follow it, don’t lose focus…follow it as it gets moving slower…slower…”
bigkas ni Juan.
“Ivana,
imagine your dream house, will you tell me what it looks like” bulong ni Juan
at biglang nagsalita na yung babae. “Oh my God, that was quick, he got her
quick” sabi ni Dan. “Shhhh listen” sabi ni Sheila.
“Can
you imagine me and you at your dream house?” tanong ni Juan. “Yes” sagot ni Ivana.
“The problem is, how could I be with you if I don’t know where it is? Henry
wont bring me there, so will you tell me how to get there so I can see you
again?” bulong ni Juan.
Nagsabi
ng address si Ivana kaya tuwang tuwa yung mag agents sa kotse. “Oh my God he
really did it” sabi ni Sheila. “Thank you my love, now sleep, once I snap my
fingers you will never remember about this talk of ours. Sleep Ivana..sleep”
bulong ni Juan.
Inalis
ni Juan yung takip sa hidden camera, “Give us a few minutes to verify the
address” sabi ni Sheila kaya tinungo ni Juan ulo niya. Isang minuto lumipas,
“Juan take down all the cameras and speakers. The address is legit, the warrant
is being worked on so for now just stay put. Just clean house” sabi ni Sheila.
Nakita
nila si Juan lumabas ng bintana, naupo sa ledge sabay nagsindi ng yosi. “Juan,
did you hear what I told you?” tanong ni Sheila. Nakita nila si Juan inalis
earpiece niya sabay tinapon palayo. Sumandal siya sabay tuloy ang yosi kaya
napailing si Sheila.
“What
the hell is his problem now?” tanong ng babaeng agent. “Jesus Christ Sheila, he
is a Filipino. What he just did could be against their beliefs” sabi ni Dan.
“Nah, he is still a guy, I think he has someone. That is why he feels guilty
right now” sagot ni Rob.
“How
is he going to be an agent if he acts and thinks that way?” tanong ni Sheila.
“That is why he never finished the whole course perhaps” sabi ni Dan. “Oh I
thought he was just greedy” biro ni Dan.
“He
could have been a really good agent” sabi ni Sheila. “Yeah, everyone likes him.
Who doesn’t right?” tanong ni Dan. “Hey look he is going back inside” sabi ni
Rob. Napanood nila si Juan inalis na yung mga nakatagong camera at microphones,
pagpatay ng video lahat sila napabuntong hininga.
“So
what country gets him next?” tanong ni Dan. “I don’t know, he said something to
me like after this he is going to have another vacation” sagot ni Rob. “Its fun
working with him” sabi ni Sheila kaya napatingin yung dalawa sa kanya.
“Irritating
guy but yeah he is okay. I take back everything I said about him” sabi ni
Sheila. “Oh come on Sheila, you are too uptight, Juan is a really okay guy”
sabi ni Dan. “I know but somehow I feel that he is hiding something” sabi ng
babaeng agent.
“Like
what? His life is like an open book to us. We know everything about him” sabi
ni Rob. “I just don’t know, I feel that there is something more about him that
we all don’t know, that no one knows except him of course” sabi ng dalaga.
“Can
you imagine how good an agent he could be if he finished the whole course with
the skills he already has?” tanong ni Dan. “We would all lose our jobs you
know” biro ni Rob kaya nagtawanan sila.
MGA ANAK NG APOY E-book
(APOY BOOK 2)
48 chapters
500 pages
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