Rekindled Hearts (TAGLISH)

One

Alas otso y medya na ng gabi nang tingnan niya ang kanyang relo. Biglang umihip ang malamig na hangin sa abandonadong gusali kung saan sila naroroon. Sinenyasan ni PLt. Chavez ang kanyang mga kasamahan, at maingat silang nagmatyag sa paligid. Isang linggo rin nilang pinagplanuhan ito. Nakakalap sila ng intel na may magaganap na malaking palitan ng droga sa abandonadong gusali na ito. Ito na ang pagkakataon niyang mahuli ang mga druglord ng siyudad.

"Castro, anything suspicious?" tanong niya gamit ang nakakabit na earpiece sa kanyang tenga.

"Negative, sir," sagot ni PCpl Castro sa kabilang linya. Napabuntong-hininga si PLt. Chavez at pinisil ang tulay ng kanyang ilong. Alas nuebe na ng gabi. Mahigit isang oras na silang naghihintay, pero ni anino ng mga kalaban ay wala pa silang makita. Ayon sa intel, alas nuebe gagawin ang palitan ng droga, pero parang may mali.

"Something is off. Something is fvcking off in this operation," ‘di mapakaling sabi niya at nagsitinginan naman ang mga kasamahan niya sa kanya.

"Move out! Search the area," utos niya. Nagsi-alisan naman sa kani-kanilang puwesto ang mga kasamahan niya at sinunod ang utos niya. They started to search the area, and a loud booming sound interrupted them all. He heard screams and the shouting of names, and saw some of his mates drenched in their own blood.

"Trap!" he shouted. "Castro, call for backup. We've been fooled," he angrily said through the radio. It was a close call, kung hindi niya pinaalis ang mga kasamahan, malamang pinaglalamayan na silang lahat ngayon. Dinaluhan niya ang isang kasamahan na malapit sa kanya. Shrapnel hit him in his belly, kaya kinuha niya agad ang panyo na nasa bulsa niya at inilapat iyon sa sugat ng kasamahan. Naglulumikot ang kanyang mata, tila may hinahanap sa paligid. At hindi nga siya nagkamali, may nakita siyang isang lalaking tumatakbo paalis sa abandonadong building.

"Ramirez! 3 o'clock!" sigaw ni PLt. Chavez. Kaagad na tumango si Ramirez at hinabol ang estranghero. "Torres, ikaw muna ang bahala dito," sabi niya, at kaagad na sinundan ang kasamahan. Ramirez caught the scrawny boy and grabbed him by the hand. Biglang naglabas ng patalim ang lalaki at akmang sasaksakin si Ramirez, pero agad itong nakuha ni Chavez mula sa kanya. Tiningnan niya ang binatilyo. Kaagad namang kinapkapan ni Ramirez ang binata.

"Sinong nag-utos sa'yo?" tanong ni PLt. Chavez. Yumuko ang binata at umiling-iling. Napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha. He grabbed the boy's shirt, lifting him off the ground. With his height, standing 6ft tall, he could easily do it. Nanginginig naman sa takot ang binatilyo.

"Wala po akong alam! Hindi ko po sila kilala!" sigaw ng binata. Binitiwan niya ito nang marinig ang sirena ng pulisya at ambulansya. Kinuha ng kasamahan niya ang binatilyo at isinakay ito sa mobile para kwestyunin sa presinto. Malutong na napamura ang Inspector. His operation failed, and worse, his mates got injured. It was supposed to be his big case, but someone alerted those criminals.

"Fvck!" Hindi niya mapigilang mura at sinipa ang pader. How did that bomb get past them? Lumapit sa kanya ang kapwa Police Lietenant na si Katrina Del Mundo at inabutan siya ng tubig. Kinuha naman ito ni Alexander at kaagad na binuksan para inumin.

"Chief called. You need to see him," Katrina said. He knew the Chief was angry about what happened. He sighed. Aalis na sana siya nang pinigilan siya ni Katrina.

"May sugat ka, Lex," sabi nito at itinuro ang nagdurugong balikat niya. Kaagad niya naman itong hinawakan at napangiwi sa sakit. Naaawang tiningnan ni Katrina ang sitwasyon ni Alexander. She had known Alexander since their Academy days and admired him for the passion he showed. Alam ni Katrina na pinaghandaang mabuti ni Alexander ang operasyon na 'to kaya ganoon na lamang ang gulat niya nang mabalitaan ang nangyari. Katrina was about to pull her handkerchief out but was interrupted by a call.

"It's Chief Romualdo," she said.

"Tell him I'm coming," sabi ni Alexander at nagsimula nang maglakad papunta sa sasakyan niyang nakaparada na may kalayuan sa building. Nang makarating, agad niyang binuksan ang pinto ng kotse at pumasok. Kinuha niya ang first aid kit na palagi niyang dala-dala at sinimulang gamutin ang natamo niyang sugat. After treating his wounds, he started driving back to the office. Pagkababa na pagkababa niya sa sasakyan, agad na nagsisaludo sa kanya ang mga kasamahan. He saluted back and went to his office. There, he saw the Chief with his back turned, looking outside the window.

"I'm pulling you out of the case, Alexander," Chief Romualdo said and faced him.

"But Chief! I was so close to catching Santiago and his pals. Give me another chance!" Alexander begged. He couldn't lose this case.

"I can't give you another chance, Alexander. Ten injured police in this failed operation. Ten! And you didn't even manage to find solid evidence to pin Santiago down!" sigaw ni Chief Romualdo. "I am assigning you to a new case," he said with finality in his voice. Nilapag ni Chief Romualdo ang isang envelope na may nakalagay na 'Confidential' at naglakad palabas ng opisina ni Alexander.

"Fvcking hell!" inis na sigaw niya. Mabilis na kinuha niya ang jacket na nakasabit sa isang upuan at lumabas ng opisina.

"Oh, Chavez! Balita ko palpak ang operasyon mo ah?" tanong ni PLt. Kyle Estacion na nakangiti. Alexander glared at him. He really hated this guy. Matagal na siyang duda kay Kyle pero hindi siya kumikibo. But this guy really got on his nerves. Hindi niya ito sinagot at diretsong lumabas sa presinto. He wanted to go to the bar and get drunk. He found spare clothes in his car, kaya naman mabilis niyang pinalitan ang maruming damit at nagtungo sa pinakamalapit na bar.

When he arrived at the bar, he quickly scanned the crowded area and found a place to drink. He ordered a glass of whiskey. Paano natunugan ni Santiago ang operation? He knew damn well that he had perfectly planned this fvcking operation.

"s**t!" He cursed and drank another shot of whiskey.

"Hi, handsome, alone?" the girl beside him said. He's not in the mood for s*x, but upon seeing the woman, he changed his mind.

"I'm not because I have you beside me," he answered and flashed his sexy smile that instantly made the girl fall for him. Who wouldn't fall for Alexander? Chiseled jaw, hazel blue eyes, broad shoulders, tall and oozing with s*x appeal and handsomeness. Alexander Chavez, son of Alfonso Chavez, a business tycoon here in the Philippines. Aside from being an heir and a cop, he is also known for being a chic magnet.

"I'm Chassy, you are?" tanong ni Chassy ng nakangiti. Lumapit sa kanya si Alexander.

"I'm Alexander Chavez. Remember it because you're going to scream it later, baby," he sweetly whispered in her ear.