DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

VII | The City of Sin

Adriene Constance

Sinclaire

The trip to Sinclaire took almost a day. The Crown provided her fare for her transport and her pocket money for a month. Sabi ni Ariela ay bibigyan daw siya ng pera kada buwan bilang gagamitin niya habang nasa Sinclaire siya. Kasali na doon ang pambayad niya ng upa sa apartment na titirhan niya at ang iba pa niyang mga kailangan. The Crown also chose the apartment for her and it was just near enough to the base of the Ivory Skulls. 

Hindi niya kilala ang grupo. Sa katunayan ay nakilala lang niya ito dahil sa binigay ni Ariela ni file na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa grupo. She never knew people lilke them still exists and she doesn't understand how the Crown couldn't seem to get rid of these people. Ngunit hindi rin niya maiwasang isipin na siya ang magiging susi ng Crown para patumbahin ang grupo. Sa nabasa niyang impormasyon, delikado ang grupo. Hindi niya lang alam kung bakit sa lahat ng ibang tao na mas magaling sa kanya ay bakit siya pa na walang karanasan.  

From the train station, she took the bus on her way to the heart of Sinclaire. Ibang-iba ang syudad mula sa kanyang lugar. Marami ring tao doon--hindi na siya nagtaka. Most of them are too busy to mind other people's business ngunit may iba naman na panay ang tingin sa kanya na para bang alam ng mga ito kung sino siya. Ngunit naalala niya ang kanyang suot na halos kita na ang kaluluwa. She cursed Ariela inside her mind at isinara ang kanyang coat. Wala siyang ibang nakikitang babae na may suot nang kagaya sa kanya. Now that she realized it, she looked aprostitute. 

"Damn you, Ariela," she muttered under her breath at binigyan ng masamang tingin ang isang lalaking kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya. Agad naman itong nag-iwas ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Napatingin naman siya sa paligid. Masyadong maraming tao. Perhaps it was because she arrived early in the mornign and people are usually busy in the morning. Nagpapasalamat nalang siya at nakarating siya nang matiwasay. 

Agad naman siyang nagtungo sa kung saan ang bus station. Sa pagkakaalam niya, tatlong oras ang tagal ng biyahe papunta sa pinakasentro ng Sinclaire. 

Sinclaire. She has imagined it to be a place full of misbehaving people, and people who would rob her bags the moment she steps into the platform. But so far, the only interaction she had with any person was the one who was giving her creepy stares.  

"Where are you going, madame?" tanong ng isang lalaki sa kanya. Nkasuot ito ng uniporme na may pangalan nito sa bandang dibdib. his approachable smile tells her that this man works in the bus station. Or probably a bus driver...

"Sinclaire," she answered. 

Naguguluhang nakatingin ang lalaki sa kanya. "This...is Sinclaire," saad ng lalaki at agad naman siyang nahiya sa sinagot niya. 

"I mean, the heart of Sinclaire. I am going there. I forgot the name of the place."

Recognition lit the man's face. "You mean Siena?" 

Adriene nodded. "That's the place." 

The man smiled at her and gestured towards the bus. Agad naman siyang sumakay doon at saka siya nakahinga nang maluwag. Kinuha niya ang cellphone na binigay ni Ariela sa kanya bago siya umalis. Iyon ang gagamitin niya para magbigay ng kung ano mang impormasyon ang makuha niya. Pinagbawalan din siyang kontakin ang kanyang pamilya. She is allowed to contact them but only once a month. Maghihintay lang din siya na tatawagan ni Ariela at bawal siyang maunang tumawag dito. Maliban nalang kung important to at konektado sa kanyang misyon. 

Ariela strictly instructed her to dress appropriately. Ngunit sa hula niya'y hindi niya makakaya iyon. Sa tingin niya'y ayaw lang talaga ni Ariela sa kanyang mga damit kaya binigyan nalang isya nito ng mga bago--na hindi naman niyia tipo. Mabuti nalang at naglagay si Ariela ng mga pantalon at iba pang mga damit na hindi masyadong kita ang kaluluwa. Ariela also made her memorize the file and the faces of the men involved with the Ivory Skulls. And with those faces, it was easy to memorize. They would stand out even in a crowd and she would instantly recognize them. Adriene thinks these men are way too good looking and the reason why their group is thriving because of their charms. 

"They're dangerous," saad ni Ariela sa kanya. "If they continue to strive, they will take over the cities, and the Crown is threatened." 

Hindi siya makapaniwalang kayang gawin iyon ng isang grupo. And all of their activities involves illegalities. With the Crown's cutthroat nature, kayang kaya nitong patumbahin amg kahit anong anomalyang makikita nito sa lugar. It is indeed something to ponder upon that they needed someone like her to infiltrate. Perhaps it was because she looks unsuspicious? Hindi niya mapigilang mapatanong sa sarili. 

The bus started to move and she heaved a deep sigh. The scenery of Sinclaire is nothing compared to her town. Maganda ang lugar. Gaya ng sabi niya, hindi niya aakalaing isa itong lugar na pinamumugaran ng isang grupo ng mga kriminal. The beautiful scenery outside was enough to make her forget why she was there in the first place. For a second, she wanted to forget what she was doing there. She wanted to forget that she might die while doing this very dangerous mission if she isn't careful enough. If the Ivory Skulls is really who people say they are, then she is literally knocking on death's door. But for now, as she's on the bus, she wanted to forget and just enjoy herself with the scenery outside. 

"A sight to behold, ain't it?" narinig niyang biglang may nagsalita sa gilid niya. Agad naman siyang napalingon sa matandang babae na nakaupo sa tabi niya. Nakapikit ito at nakasandal ang ulo sa upuan ng bus. She wasn't looking at hte sight and marveling about it kaya naman agad niyang napagtanto na taga-doon ang babae. A native. 

"Oo nga po, eh," magalang niyang sagot. Nakita naman niyang napangiti ang matanda at binuksan nito ang mga mata saka lumingon sa kanya. 

"Bago ka lang ba dumating dito, hija?" tanong nito sa kanya. 

Tumango naman siya. "Opo." 

"Papunta ka sa Siena?" 

She nodded again and she could have sworn she saw something cross on the old woman's face but it was gone as soon as it came. 

Then she said, "Mag-iingat ka doon." At agad na ipinikit ang mga mata. 

Napatingin naman siya sa matandang babae na nagpapanggap na tulog. The way she said it makes her think that the woman knows what is going on in Siena kung nasaan ang Ivory Skulls. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasang kabahan. And looking at the old woman reminds her of her grandma. Bago siya umalis, tinawagan niya ang kanyang ina and her mother had said that her grandma has gained consciousness. Labis nalang ang saya niya sa nalaman. Nakausap na rin niya ang kanyang lola sa telepono bago siya umalis. Nagpapasalamat naman siya at naintindihan ng lola niya kung bakit kailangan niyang umalis. Ngunit alam niyang nalulungkot ito sa. She sighed and focused her eyes on the scenery outside. 

She tried to think of something positive in her situation but she could barely get any. But still, she tried to think that she could survive it. That she will survive the six months being a spy if she's just careful enough. Kailangan niyang magplano para hindi siya mahuli ng mga ito. Ariela actually suggested she seduce the leader of the group na si Rhysand Marfori. Ngunit hindi niya alam kung makakaya ba niyang gawin iyon o kung kakayanin man niya ay papansinin ba siya ng taong iyon. She saw what he looked like and with a face like that, Adriene could tell he has enough women to warm his bed. 

Bigla naman siyang namula sa naisip niya. Did she actuallyt think she could pass off as someone who could warm his bed? At hindi rin siya makapaniwalang iniisip niya talagang gawin iyon kung sakali. 

Adriene shook her head, trying to brush the thought away. She has to think of something else. She has to think of another way to get close to the group. She racked her brain with everything she read from the file and she remembered their latest activity: the Sinclaire Grande. Sa pagkakaalala niya ay isa itong bar na bagong itinayo ng grupo. Kailangan niyang hanapin iyon. She has to get in there. 

Habang nasa biyahe ay tahimik niyang inaalala ang mga bagay na nabasa niya sa information file na binigay sa kanya ni Ariela noon. Tatlong magkakapatid ang kasalukuyang namumuno sa Ivory Skulls: sina Rhysand, Marcus, at Sid Marfori. Ngunit ang pinakalider nila ay ang lalaking nangngangalang Rhysand. There was a lady too. Her name was Eliza Marfori who's known as the Lady and the Brain of the Skulls. She couldn't help but wonder if Eliza is their mother. At mas lalong hindi niya mapiglang mapatanong kung ano ang kayang gawin ng babae. 

She must be someone extraordinary to be part of the notorious gangster group. She thought. And even though the Skulls are clearly her enemies, hindi niya pa rin mapigilang mamangha sa babae. 

Ang alam niya ay lumalaki ang grupo na ito. Ngunit tanging ang apat na taong iyon lang ang nakalagay sa papel na ibinigay ni Ariela sa kanya. Agad naman siyang kinabahan. Somehow, she couldn't help but feel that there is something more. There must be other people involve--like a higher authority or something. 

Napahinga nalang siya nang malalim dahil sumasakit lang ang ulo niya kakaisip sa grupong iimbestigahan niya nang anim na buwan. Hindi niya namalayang huminto ang bus na sinasakyan at nag anunsyo ang konduktor na nasa Siena na sila. Agad naman siyang tumayo at ngumiti sa matandang katabi. Hindi ito ngumiti pabalik sa kanya.

The moment Adriene stepped on the soils of Siena, she could already feel the ambiance. It was just as crowded as the one where the train station was. May nakikita rin siyang mga gusali. She could see some street vendors and stalls selling newspapers and other things like coffee, street foods that could pass off as breakfast, and many more. Maingay ang lugar dahil maraming tao. She could also see a lot of cars driving around. 

At nang ilibot niya ang kanyang paningin ay doon niya nakita ang mga babaeng kagaya niya ng damit. She was hesitating to come close to them to ask questions because they were giving her curious and slightly malicious stares at hindi niya alam kung kukuyugin ba siya ng mga ito o ano. Kaya naman iniwas niya nalang ang kanyang paningin at mas hinigpitan ang pagkakatali ng kanyang jacket para matakpan ang kanyang suot. She has nothing against women wearing these clothings. Hindi lang siya komportable kapag siya na ang nagsusuot dahil hindi siya sanay. She's not confident enough and besides, these clothes costs a fortune andshe couldn't afford to be spending money on clothes when she has more responsilities to take care of. 

Nagsimula nalang siyang maglakad hanggang sa nakatawid siya sa kalsada. She could hear people shouting and when she looked around, she found two people--a man and a woman--arguing on the second floor a building. At base sa naririnig niya ay alam na niya na mag-asawa ang mga ito. 

Tumitingin ang mga tao sa nag-aaway sa itaas, na para bang tuwang-tuwa silang panooring iyon. Nakikita naman niya ang iba na umiiling. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad habang mahigpit na nakahawah sa kanyang jacket at sa kanyang bag. Mahirap na kung maholdap siya rito. 

Nagpapasalamat nalang siya na hindi niya isinuot ang mga sapatos na may takong nang pilitin siya ni Ariela. DAhil hindi pa lang nagsisimula ang misyon ay baka namatay na siya sa kakalakad habang suot iyon. Nakumbinsi naman niya ang babae na hindi magsuot ng sapatos na may takong ngunit matigas na nagpaalala si Ariela sa kanya na kailangan niyang masanay doon. She assured her that she's going to practice. 

Matapos ang ilang minutong paglalakad at pagtatanong sa mga taong nakita niya, nahanap nya ang Sinclaire Grande. She never once saw what it looked like ngunit nang nasa harapan na niya ito ay halos malula siya sa laki at kung gaano ito kaelegante tingnan. Halatang pangmayaman iyon at tanging mayayaman ang may kayang magbayad para makapasok doon. Hindi niya alam kung tatanggapin siya sa loob bilang isang server o kahit janitor pero kailangan niyang subukan. 

Maglalakad na sana siya sa nang mapagtanto niyang kailangan niiyang magbihis. She has to look formal at least. Ngunit maghahanap na sana siya ng pwedeng pagbibihisan nang may makita siyang lalaking lumabas mula sa gusali. Nakita niyang may tinatawagan ito sa telepono at dahan-dahan naman siyang lumapit. She heard him click his tongue and dialled a number again. 

She lifted her hand to tap his back but changed her mind and cleared her throat instead. 

"Excuse me," tawag niya sa lalaki. 

Nakakunot ang noo ng lalaki nang lumingon ito sa kanya. He looks scary enough to frighten anyone but she was more scared of the fact that she recognized the man's face. Her mouth dropped open while she stared at the man. For a moment, she couldn't say anything. She couldn't find her tongue. She could clearly see how annoyed he looks and the pictures did not even do him justice because Rhysand Marfori is probably the finest man she has ever seen. It was as if the universe has done a very good job on making him. 

But she reminded herself that she is the enemy. At kasalukuyan siya nitong pinapasadahan ng tingin na para bang inaalam na nito kung saan siya nanggaling. It might have surprised her to see him so early on her mission but she forced herself to get back together and asked, "Is this Sinclaire Grande?" 

Ngunit labis nalang ang pagkadismaya niya nang nagbawi ng tingin ang lalaki at tinapakan ang sigarilyong tinapon bago ito naglakad papalayo at iniwang siyang nakanganga. 

"Ariela expects me to seduce him?" saad niya sa sarilli habang tinitingnan ang likuran ng lalaking naglalakad papalayo. She clicked her tongue and looked at the building named Sinclaire Grande. She heaved a deep breath before she opened the door and entered. 

The loud music and the waves of laughter of the people inside were the first things that greeted her. The bar was crowded, even in midmorning. A lot of them are already drunk and she could smell the mixture of cigarettes, alcohol, and sweat. Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapangiwi at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa counter kung saan walang nakaupo. The moment she sat on one of the chairs, the man behind the counter looked at her. 

She then realized that the man was waiting for her order. Tumikhim siya bago sinabing, "Orange juice--" 

"Oh no you don't, darling." 

Napatingin naman siya sa babaeng biglang tumabi sa kanya. At halos mahulog siya sa silya nang makita niya kung sino ito. 

"You can't be drinking orange juice inside a bar!" the woman exclaimed. She could say that the woman doesn't look her age. Dahil mas bata ito tingnan kumpara sa file na ibinigay ni Ariela sa kanya. 

Napatingin naman siya sa shelf kung saan kitag-kita niya ang orange juice. Itinuro niya iyon. "But they have it, though." 

The woman stared at her for a few seconds before she smirked and nodded to the man behind the counter. Saka naman kinuha ng lalaki ang orange juice at inilagay iyon sa baso. 

Adriene eyed the woman next to her who was chugging a whole bottle. NApansin naman nito ang tingin niya at tumingin ito sa kanya bago ngumiti.

"You look new," Eliza Marfori said and then eyed her bag on the floor. "Where have you come from?" 

Tila umurong ang dila niya nang marinig ang tanong na iyon. 

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