When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 21

"I HACKED into their system." Panimula ni Dylan nang tanungin siya ni Leigh tungkol sa Mafia. "The Leader of the Mafia, Sebastian Gordon, has only one heir. This is him." Iniharap niya kay Leigh ang hawak niyang tablet.

"Mukhang mas matanda ako sa kaniya." Sabi naman ni Leigh.

Tumango si Dylan saka nagsalita. "That's right. You are two years older than him. Sebastian started to train him when he was fourteen years of age."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Leigh. "That's young," she commented.

Pero kunsabagay sila nga ng kapatid niya ay maaga rin ang naging training nila. Mahina siyang napabuntong hininga nang bigla niyang maalala ang kapatid niya.

"Do you want me to investigate the Mafia's heir, Milady?" Dylan asked.

Umiling si Leigh. "No need. Just continue to monitor our spies inside our enemy's camp and if they're in trouble, inform me immediately."

Tumango si Dylan. "Okay. And about the thing you asked me to investigate. “It was confirmed that Lord Levi had met Mr. Mikael Salazar three years ago when the Mafia was chasing him. Lord Levi’s track stopped in this country. So, he’s still probably here and alive.”

Ngumiti si Leigh. "He didn't become the Chief of the organization for nothing. He can easily cover his tracks, and probably he already knows that you are tracing him. I want to see him, but he doesn't show himself. Forget it. Alam kong magkikita pa kaming dalawa."

‘Levi Velasquez, wait and see. I'll kill you once I see you. I know you're still alive.’

"Oo nga pala. Nagpapadala pa rin ba ng death threats ang Mafia kay Mikael?" tanong ni Leigh na ikinataas ng kilay ni Dylan.

"Isn't he your man? You should probably know, milady."

Umiling si Leigh. "Hindi nagsasabi si Mikael tungkol sa bagay na 'yon."

Nagtaka si Dylan pero pinili na lamang niyang manahimik. It's their private life, so he doesn't like to meddle. At sinagot na lamang niya ang katanungan ni Leigh. "The Mafia was still sending death threats to Mikael." Guilt was immediately shown in his face. "Damn. Hacking into Mikael's laptop makes me feel guilty." Nakangiwi niyang saad.

Natawa naman ng mahina si Leigh. “Well, isipin mo na lang na ginagawa mo ‘to para rin sa kaligtasan niya.”

Dylan sighed and just nodded his head.

Leigh felt someone staring at her, but she didn’t look around. Hindi panganib ang nararamdaman niya sa titig na ‘yon kaya alam niyang hindi siya mapapahamak.

But someone stared at Leigh, fixed his cap and his facemask to cover his face and then left the restaurant. He glanced at Leigh. See you soon, my dear sister. And disappeared into the crowd.

Alam niya kung bakit nandito sa Pilipinas ang kapatid niya kahit pa ayaw na nitong bumalik ito ngayon. He sent a coded message to his sister three years ago. At batid niyang hindi lang ‘yon ang dahilan kung bakit nandito sa Pilipinas ang kapatid niya. Hinahanap siya nito. Pero wala pa siyang balak magpakita sa kapatid niya. Hindi pa ito ang tamang oras upang bumalik siya sa organisasyon nila. Sapat ng alam ng pamilya niya na buhay pa siya.

“Milady?”

Napakurap si Leigh at napatingin kay Dylan. “Ano ‘yon?”

“Wayne saw us.” Ani Dylan. “Pero wala na siya. Umalis na siya.”

“Wayne Agustin?”

Dylan nodded. “Yeah. At alam kong sasabihin niya kay Mikael ang nakita niya.”

“As long as hindi niya babawasan o dadagdagan ang kwento.” Sabi naman ni Leigh.

Umiling si Dylan. “Hindi naman ganun si Wayne pero baka gamitin niya ang nakita niya upang asarin si Mikael. Sa aming magkakaibigan close si Wayne at Mikael. Though Mikael hates Wayne for some reason, maybe because Wayne was annoying and Wayne loves to annoy Mikael.”

Leigh chuckled. “It’s okay. Ako na lamang ang magpapaliwanag kay Mikael kung sakaling magtanong siya.”

“Milady, Mikael won’t ask you. He will ask me.” Wika ni Dylan.

At nagkatotoo nga ang sinabi ni Dylan dahil pagkatapos ng araw na ‘yon tinawagan siya ni Mikael at gusto siya nitong makausap.

“I’ll come to your condo.” Seryosong saad ni Mikael na nasa kabilang linya. Iyon lang at pinatay na nito ang tawag.

Napabuga ng hangin si Dylan saka napangiwi. Gusto niyang sakalin si Wayne pero hindi naman niya ito masisisi. Ganun na silang magkakaibigan. Masyado silang honest sa isa’t-isa. Oh well, I might as well tell the truth to Mikael. He thought.

Nang may nag-doorbell akala niya ay si Mikael na kaya dali-dali niyang binuksan ang pinto ng condo niya pero laking gulat niya nang mapagbuksan niya ng pinto ang kapatid niya. “Destiny?”

Ngumiti si Destiny at tumalon ito payakap sa kanya. “I miss you, kambal!” Hyper nitong saad.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Nagtataka niyang tanong.

Lumawak ang ngiti ni Destiny. “Surprise, of course, duh.” She rolled her eyes. Wala pang pag-aanyaya ang kakambal niya pumasok na siya sa loob ng condo nito. “Hmm…nothing changed.” Aniya nang mapagmasdan ang condo ng kakambal saka umupo sa sofa.

Sinundan naman ni Dylan ang kakambal. “Akala ko ba dederetso ka sa bahay? Hinihintay ka nila Papa at Daddy, pati na si Kuya Odysseus.”

“Gusto nga kitang makita muna. I want to know if you have a girlfriend. O wala pa ba?” nakangising tanong ni Destiny.

“Des, tigilan mo ako.” Aniya sa walang ganang tono. “Umuwi ka na. Susunod na lang ako sa ‘yo. Mag-uusap pa kami ni Mikael.”

Natigilan si Destiny nang marinig ang pangalan na binanggit ng kapatid niya. “Si Kuya Mikael? Bakit?”

Umiling si Dylan. “Huwag ka ng makialam sa usapan namin. It’s a boy’s talk. Hindi mo rin lang maintindihan.” Pinagmasdan niya ang mukha ng kakambal. “Des, ilang taon na ang lumipas. Gusto mo pa rin ba siya?”

Destiny looked at her twin brother. Umiling siya. “Aaminin ko na dati may crush ako sa kaniya pero ngayon wala na.” Pag-amin niya.

“That’s good. Ayaw kong masaktan ka.”

Kumunot naman ang nuo ni Destiny. “Bakit? May girlfriend na ba si Kuya Mikael? Last time I heard from Everly that Kuya Mikael doesn’t have any girlfriends. Nag-aalala nga daw si Tito Maverick na baka hindi na siya magkaroon ng apo kay Kuya Mikael.” Sabi niya at binuntutan ‘yon ng tawa.

Umiling si Dylan.

“Huh?” Destiny realized something. “Wait, Dy. Bakit ka kakausapin ni Kuya Mikael?” nagtatakang tanong niya.

Dylan smiled. “Boys talk.”

Destiny pouted.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na si Mikael. He offered him refreshment but Mikael declined. “Nandito ako para kausapin ka, Dylan.” Seryosong saad ni Mikael.

Pasimpleng lumunok si Dylan ng sariling laway. “Parang alam ko na kung bakit ka nandito.”

“Wayne told me what he saw. Dy, I know that you are not that kind of person. Leigh is not my girlfriend and I don’t have any rights to claim her. But I love her and I am willing to wait for her. Dy, ayaw kong magkaroon tayo ng samaan ng loob kaya sana alam mo ang limitasyon mo.” Malamig na saad ni Mikael. “Kami ni Wayne ang pinakamatanda sa ating magkakaibigan. Dy, you are like a little brother to me. Pero kilala mo ako. Ang akin ay akin. Walang pwedeng umangkin. I’m not owning Leigh as my property pero sana irespeto mo pa rin kung anong meron kaming dalawa.” Pakiusap ni Mikael kay Dylan.

Tumango si Dylan. “Mikael, I don’t want to lie to you because you are my friend, but there are things that need to be confidential. Pero huwag kang mag-aalala, hindi ko aagawin si Leigh sa ‘yo. I don’t like her romantically if that’s what you are worried about.” Tumingin siya ng deretso sa mata ni Mikael.

Mikael saw Dylan’s eyes, and he was not lying, so he smiled. Tinignan ang oras sa suot na relo. “I heard that Destiny had come back from her business trip. Your twin sister has already contributed a lot to the Empire as one of the directors. I’m proud of her. How about you? Any plan to take over your family’s business? Pinaghirapan rin ‘yon ni Uncle Bryson at Uncle Oliver.”

Ngumiti si Dylan. “Soon.”

Tumango si Mikael saka may inilapag na card sa ibabaw ng center table. “It’s my gift.” Aniya. “Uncle Bryson called me and was asking a favor. Kung ayaw niyong pumunta it’s okay. But still, they are your parents, and they need attention.” Aniya saka tumayo.

Dylan nodded. “Thank you for your reminder.”

Nagpaalam na si Mikael na umalis at nang makaalis ito saka lang lumabas si Destiny sa may kusina. “Si Kuya Mikael ba ‘yon? Parang iba kung magsalita, eh. Hindi siya ganun dati.”

Dylan chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “He’s in love. That’s why.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s go home. Our parents are waiting for us.”

Meanwhile, arriving at his apartment, Mikael saw a post-it note from Leigh saying that she had gone out to buy something. Ngumiti na lamang si Mikael saka itinabi ang note.

Mikael was unaware that, instead of buying something, Leigh was on a dangerous mission at that time.