C7 6

"So, who's the boyfriend?" Nakiki-chismis na tanong sa akin ni JJ.

Kasama niya si Prentiss, kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa parapet ng rooftop ng hotel na tinutuluyan namin. Nakalusot ang dalawang paa ko sa railings.

"There's no boyfriend." Bagot na sagot ko sa kanila.

Sumandal silang pareho sa railings, nasa magkabilang side ko, they chuckled, "Hmnn." Pang-aasar pa sa akin ni JJ.

I tsked at her at tumingin na lang sa langit. Gabi na, at wala man lang masyadong bituin.

"Is it bad that I can't enjoy this view." Kalaunan ay sabi ni Prentiss. Napa-tingin kami sa kan'ya, her eyes are filled with amazement as she looks at the city lights. Maganda talaga ang view rito.

The city of Naples sprawls below, golden and peaceful. From up here, it looks like a painting—too quiet, too serene for the truth that lingers underneath.

"Why not? This is a good view." Sagot sa kan'ya ni JJ.

"Knowing that in this beautiful city, there is someone out there hunting people."

I, sadly, scoffed at what she said, "Isn't that most city?" Nakatungong sagot ko.

"Most? Tsk. You mean– all city." Sarkasmo namang sagot ni JJ. She gave a bitter smile while looking at the sky. "We spend enough time chasing monsters, we forget how to see anything else."

Silence again. The kind you share with people who've seen the same kind of hell you have.

Sometimes, it makes sense to leave this job– but, I can't. This is who I am, this is what I do. I can't imagine myself doing anything else. But, it's also a fact that this job takes a big toll out of you. You carry fragments of the case home with you, and each time, it steals a little more of who you are.

"You ever think we can catch them all?" Prentiss asked underneath her breath. Her voice is soft, not quite a whisper– but tired. The kind of tired from carrying too much for too long.

5 years from this job and it's effect on me is unbelievable, sa kanila pa kayang mas nauna kesa sa akin.

"No." I firmly answered. Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin. "But, we'll stop the one we can." I gave them a soft smile, "And, for every life we save, maybe... maybe we can still be able to earn a piece of ourselves back."

Binalik ko na ang mga paa ko sa kabilang parte ng rooftop, kung saan floor na ang nasa ibaba. Bumaba ako sa parapet at pinagpag ang pwetan ko bago humarap sa kanila.

"I think, we all need some rest." Nakangiting sabi ko at nauna na magkalad papunta sa hagdan.

NANG makalapit na ako sa pinto ng hotel room ko ay nangunot bahagya ang noo ko nang makita ang unif chief namin– si Hotch– na kumakatok sa pinto.

"Hotch." Tawag ko sa kan'ya pagkalapit ko.

"Oh, I thought you were inside." Mala-emoji siyang nakatayo sa harap ng pinto ko. Straight lang with his straight face and monotone voice.

"Uh– no. I was on the rooftop with JJ and Prentiss, what's up?"

He took a deep breath bago iabot sa akin ang isang folder. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kan'ya, "I'm guessing, that's not connected to our current case?"

Bumuntong hininga lang siya at tinignan ang pinto ng kwarto ko, "Shall we?"

Tinanguan ko lang siya at naglakad palapit sa pinto. I opened the door. Nagpagilid ako ng kaunti para bigyan siya ng space papasok. "After you", nang makapasok siya ay agad akong sumunod at sinara ang pinto. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Sure, water's fine." Sagot niya at nauna nang umupo sa sofa. Tumango ako an nagderetso sa mini fridge ng kwarto ko, I took out two bottled water at napunta sa kaharap na upuan ni Hotch.

Nilapag ko ang bote ng tubig sa coffee table. "So, what's that?" nginuso ko ang hawak niyang folder. Nilapag niya ito sa coffee table, katabi ng bottled water.

May pulang markang confidential sa taas ng folder.

I sighed. I already know what it is. I pressed my lips firmly against each other and gave Hotch a hopeful look.

"My hands are tied." Tanging sagot niya lang. "I wish I could've done more, and I'm sorry I couldn't."

I took a deep breath at bahagyang natawa. "Will they let me finish this case?"

"No. They want you to start tomorrow."

I scoffed underneath my breath, damn the brass! "Well– will they let me bid my goodbye, at least?"

He just gave me an empty look. A look that says 'No can do' "I will handle the situation. I'll tell the team that the executive branch requested you to transfer to Pentagon."

Naihilamos ko na lang ang dalawang palad sa aking mukha. I am visibly upset, very upset, "I thought I can keep my job?" naiinis nang tanong ko.

"They want your whole focus on this one." He tapped the folder na nakapatong sa coffee table. "Think of it as a change for better good. A profiler for the department of defense– it's a major promotion."

"Wait– wait..." Nagtataka ko siyang tinignan. "This transfer was validated? Isn't this supposed to be superficial?"

He firmly shook his head. "We thought so too, but me and Strauss– it was above our pay grade. Even if you deny, they're still the one calling the shot."

"What happened to the 'Stay low, but not off the grid' thing? That's the reason why I accepted this–" turo ko sa folder, "in the first place, because they assured me that I can keep this job."

"I'm sorry. It's been done."

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nakatitig sa kan'ya. I know this is not his fault, pero Gosh! Gusto ko magalit sa kanilang lahat. I need someone to blame. Tsk. I blame the Brass.

"Our loss, is somebody else's gain. You're too good, it's not surprising they want you on higher level. You're on everyone's wish list."

I scoffed at him, "Even that doesn't make me feel good right now."

"I know." He sighed one more time at tumayo na. Napatayo na rin ako, lalabas na siya e'. "You're always welcome to come back, we'll miss you." Paalam niya at inabot ang kamay sa akin.

I sighed before reaching for his hand. Nakipag-kamay na lang din ako sa kan'ya. "I'll be able to contact you all, right?"

"The case is classified. You are not to contact any of our team members, even me, it's to keep the investigation unbiased. After you leave the team, you'll be wiped out of our radar."

"This, really, sucks." Inis na bulong ko sa sarili.

"I know." Sagot ni Hotch at bumitaw na pagkakahawak ng kamay ko. "You can use the jet tomorrow, early. I'll have Anderson pick you up." Sabi niya bago tuluyang umalis sa harap ko.

"Hey, Hotch." Tawag ko sa kan'ya bago niya tuluyang mabuksan ang pinto. Humarap ako sa kan'ya at malungkot na ngumiti. "I belong here."

"Right now, that's not for us to decide." Sagot niya at tuluyan nang lumabas.

"Right." I mumbled softly.

I took a glance at the folder na iniwan ni Hotch. I shouldn't have accepted you. Pinapagalitan ko na ang sarili ko sa isip dahil sa nangyayari.

Napapatingin na lang ako sa taas para pigilan ang mumunting luhang alam kong kakawala sa mata ko.

I don't want to leave my team.

I sighed at pabagsak na umupo sa single-seater na sofa. Marahas kong ipinikit ang mata at kinuyom ang kamao.

May oras pa ba para magsisi sa lagay na 'to? I shook the tears away at tumayo na. There's no use of sulking, I better get my luggage ready.