C3 Bullet #2: Change

Alas-tres y media ng umaga ay parehas na kaming nakagayak ni Sir Acuv. He's wearing his suit while I'm just wearing white hooded jacket and black jeans. Habang ipinapasok niya sa loob ng kotse ang mga gamit ko.

Why do I have this feeling that this mission will change my life? I still can't decide if I should tell it to him or not.

"Two months weren't long enough, kid. Just do your best and everything will be alright." Tumango ako sa sinabi ni Sir Acuv. Huminga ako ng malalim at sumunod na sa kanya na pumasok sa loob ng kotse ko.

Dahil medyo maaga pa ay halos walang tao sa loob ng subdivision namin pero nang makalabas na ay tumanaw na ako sa labas kung saan may mangila-ngilang mga tao na nag-aayos, naglalakad at nagsisimula na ang mga araw nila.

May mga bata rin akong nakita sa kalsada, marungis at walang mga bahay na matulugan dahil pinabayaan ng mga magulang o naglayas. It was heartbreaking seeing them sleeping and tolerating the coldness of the Ber nights.

I wonder for so long, what if Sir Acuv didn't save me then could I be one of those children? O baka kagaya ako no'ng ibang mga taong palakad-lakad, naghahanap ng trabaho ng ganitong oras?

I should've be really thankful for him because he gave me this kind of life. Sinulyapan ko si Sir Acuv na nagmamaneho.

He have this hooded sky blue eyes and have an angelic features in his face, soft and firm. It looked like his face were carved by God himself. Creating a perfect face and perfect body but has a flawful attitude.

"Why?" he asked. Ngumiti lang ako at muling itinuon ang tingin sa labas.

I think I have one thing in common with those people, it was change. I want to change something in my life but I never liked the idea of changing into someone soft. I just couldn't understand why change is inevitable.

Ngunit ang mga taong nakikita ko ngayon ay maaring gusto ng pagbabago, sa estado nila sa buhay o sa kung ano pa man.

"Why does change is inevitable?" wala sa sariling tanong ko kay Sir Acuv. We we're heading towards Santino. It was a two hours drive from Centro.

"Well, I don't know either. But I think it just happened before you even realized it. Siguro may rason para magbago ka, para sa sarili mo at hindi para sa ibang tao."

Kumunot ang noo ko at pinakatitigan siya.

"You think, you can change into somewhat a loving person?"

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya, tumaas ang gilid ng labi ko. "I don't know, Bullet."

Kinagat ko ang dila ko para hindi na magtanong. I know there's something strange happening to him, but I wouldn't push my luck on knowing the details since it's his life.

Iniba ko na lang ang usapan hanggang sa makarating na kami sa destinasyon namin. A Spanish mansion, built near the highway and has a long driveway. Mula rito ay tanaw na tanaw ko ang itsura ng mansyon kahit malayo pa ito.

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba. I'll be meeting him in person! Shit!

Binuksan ng guard ang malaking gate nang makilala niya si Sir Acuv at dumiretso na kami papasok. Puro mga puno ng mangga ang gilid ng driveway at nang buksan ko ang bintana ay pumasok ang sariwang hangin.

Ipinarada ni Sir Acuv ang kotse sa harapan ng mansion kung saan nakatayo ang kulay puting fountain na may istatwa ng anghel. May hawak itong palaso at pana.

He looks like cupid. A baby cupid to be exact.

Kung maganda na ito sa malayo, what more when you're closer, right? I would say that it was really breathtaking! It was big and grand. This mansion screams how wealthy it's owner was.

So, this is where he lives huh? A true billionaire not by just his status, but also by blood.

Hindi tinipid ang pintura, it was mostly white with a little touch of gold. There's a wooden double-door, a balcony and there were roses everywhere.

Saktong pagkababa namin sa sasakyan ay bumukas ang pinto at lumapit sa amin ang isang lalaking naka-tuxedo, his body built were firm but not intimidating and a clean cut hairstyle.

"Good morning," bati niya sa amin.

"Morning," sabay naming bati sa kanya habang kinukuha ni Sir Acuv ang silver luggage ko. Tututol na sana ako kaso tiningnan niya ako ng matiim kaya't ang kinuha ko na lang ay ang itim na backpack

"Follow me."

Tumango ako at sinundan na siya habang papasok kami ay nagpakilala siya. "My name is Butler Hiyevo."

Pero hindi ko na siya nagawang sagutin pa nang makita ko ang loob ng mansion. It was filled with figurines, vases and paintings of people that looked like they played a very important roles when they're still alive.

There's also small chandeliers in the ceiling. Nakahilera ito at napakaganda ng pagkinang nito habang dumadaaman kami. Everything is clean enough and it was an exaggerated cleanliness.

"Wow!" I exclaimed when I saw the staircase, it was covered with red more like wine-ish color of carpet while the balusters were shiny and so white.

Nilingon ako ni Butler Hiyevo at ngumiti at tumango sa akin. Napatigil ako sa paghanga sa buong mansion nang siniko ako ni Sir Acuv.

Sinulyapan ko siya at nakita kong kunot ang noong tinitingnan niya ako. Magpapaliwanag sana ako ng aroganteng inunahan niya ako sa pag-akyat sa hagdan.

What the heck, Sir? Naiinis ba siya kasi namamangha ako sa bahay ng mga Gustav? But it's just really magnificent and flawless. Hindi puro asul ang nakikita ko.

Sorry not sorry, Sir.

Maaliwalas din kasi kaya namamangha ako. Nangingiting napa-iling ako at sumunod na sa kanila, kumanan si Butler Hiyevo at muli akong namangha dahil mas engrande pa pala ang mga gamit dito sa second floor.

There are more paintings, but it looked like it was from the finest artist all over the world, may mga vases na may kalakihan and looks like it was antiques. Ngunit hindi kumukupas ang ganda ng mga bagay na ito.

Huminto kami sa isang pinto at binuksan ni Butler Hiyevo iyon pero hindi siya pumasok. Inilapag ni Sir Acuv ang luggage ko sa gilid ng kama at saka lumapit sa akin.

He patted my head and caress my left cheek. Matiim ang tingin niya sa akin na tila kinakabisado ang aking itsura bago siya umalis. He's always like this whenever he sends us to our missions, simula pa pagkabata.

"Take good care of yourself, kid. Just call me if you need anything. I need to go now."

Tumango ako sa kanyang bilin. Pinanood ko siyang lumabas ng kwarto. It feels like I was left by the most important person to me, alone in this big mansion.

Change is really inevitable, huh? I shouldn't be surprised but I was a little hurt for what happened. I am still very dependent and so attached to the only person who was there when I needed someone the most.

Mabilis akong tumanaw sa bintana at nakita ko kung paano niya imaniobra ang kotse ko bago siya mabilis na umalis. Nagtaas-baba ang dibdib ko sa pinaghalong takot at kaba.

Kanina ayos pa ako kasi narito pa siya, kaso ngayon halos mawala ako sa katinuan. It was not the first time I'll be doing a solo mission, I was thirteen years old and at that time a neophyte killer.

He was there to guide me. But now he's not here. It makes more different.

Lumunok ako at pinakalma ang sarili ko. You should prove to him that you are now big enough to take care of yourself, stop depending on him so much.

I was in the middle of self-motivation when someone knocked on the door. Kumunot ang noo ko at lumapit sa pinto.

"Bakit po?"

Binuksan ko ang pinto at pumasok si Butler Hiyevo. Ngumiti siya sa akin.

"Sir Markeio wants to meet you, Miss. I hope you don't mind having a breakfast with him?" he asked.

Tumango ako at imbes na dumiretso sa may first floor ay dumiretso kami sa nag-iisang double-door sa second floor. Pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ni Butler Hiyevo bago ko nakita sa loob ang isang lalaking nasa mid-50's na ang edad.

If Marco has more soft features, it was the opposite of his father. He have more rough features and dark brown eyes. He smiled when he saw me entering his study.

It was like the usual office-like room but it's more comfortable and have two book shelves in front of him, but unlike the whole mansion, Mr. Gustav's office were painted dirty white or almost chocolate color.

"Welcome, hija!" he exclaimed, joyfully.

Nakipagkamay ako sa kanya, before I sat in front of him and he offered me some coffee.

"Hindi pa naman naiaayos ang lamesa sa baba, hija. Kaya't dito muna kita pinadiretso para mapag-usapan natin ang ilang mga confidential na bagay," he explained. Tumango ako at humigop nang kape.

"Ayos lang po, Sir. Ano ho ba ang naging problema at nalagay sa panganib ang buhay ni Sir Marco?" tanong ko bago inilapag sa lamesa ang baso.

Inilapag niya sa lamesa ang kape at saka malungkot na ngumiti. "I have no idea, hija. But maybe it was because of active sex life."

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ngumiwi. Bukod sa pagiging gwapo at matalino, he's also one of those hot bachelor na talamak sa mga babae.

Magtatanong pa sana ako ng mapansin ko ang isang malaking picture sa likod niya. It was a picture of a woman, dressed in a golden cocktail dress.

She's smiling genuinely to the camera. She looks like an angel because of her soft features. Her beauty was intensified by the sun rays. Her brown locks were shining because of it.

She reminded me of Marco.

"Sino po siya?" namamanghang tanong ko, kahit na may hinuha ako kung sino siya ay gusto ko pa ring ma-confirm iyon.

Sandali niyang nilingon ang litrato at ibinalik ang tingin sa akin, pero ngayon mas pansin ko ang pagiging malungkot ng mga mata niya.

"She's Samara Counthe, my wife."