When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 25

KATATAPOS lamang ng lunch meeting ni Mikael at kasalukuyan siyang palabas ng restaurant nang may makasalubong siyang pamilyar na lalaki.

The man looked up and smiled at him. “Done eating? Join me.” Anito.

Kaya naman umatras si Mikael. He knew that their meeting wasn’t a coincidence. Talagang sinadya siya nito.

Pumuwesto sila sa isang sulok ng restaurant na hindi masyadong kita at doon tinanggal ng lalaki ang suot nitong sombrero. Bahagyang nagtaka si Mikael nang makita niya ang mata ng lalaki. May kapareho ito ng ama.

“Anong gusto mong pag-usapan?” tanong ni Mikael.

The man chuckled. “Nothing. I just want to eat and, since we met here, then let’s eat together.”

Umiling si Mikael. “Just get straight to the point. People like you tend to disguise themselves and be vigilant. Alam kong ako ang sinadya mo rito. Now, what do you want?” he asked.

Napailing ang lalaki saka nag-order muna ng pagkain. Pagkatapos nitong mag-order, tumingin ito kay Mikael at sumersoyo ang mukha. “Give the Black Book to Charleigh Velasquez. If you meet her one day, give it to her.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Mikael. “Who’s she?”

“My sister.”

“Oh, okay.” Saad ni Mikael. “Wait, may I know who you are?”

“Levi Velasquez.” Pakilala ng lalaki sa pangalan nito saka inilahad ang kamay. “Nice to meet you, Mikael Eathan Salazar. Eldest son of Maverick Salazar and the heir of the Salazar Empire.”

Natigil ang kamay ni Mikael sa ere kaya naman inabot ito ni Levi at nakipagkamay. “Nice to meet you.” Aniya.

“You really know me, huh?” Ani Maverick.

“Oo naman.” Sabi ni Levi habang nakangiti pero nawala ang ngiti nito. “I want to kill you but oh well, she will get mad at me if I do that.” He sighed as if he was sad because he couldn’t kill the man in front of him.

Nagtaka naman si Mikael kung ano ang sinasabi ng kausap niya. “Is that all? I’m leaving.”

“Parang hindi sa ‘yo ang oras mo, ah.” Sabi ni Levi saka tinignan ang oras sa suot na relo. “It’s just twelve in the afternoon.”

Sumandal si Mikael sa kinauupuan saka naghalukipkip.

Napailing naman si Levi. This man in front of him looked dominant and powerful, but he heard that he was a good man. He was good to his family. It’s just that he was rude to other people.

Levi sighed. “Fine. If you want to leave, just leave. I can manage myself –“

Mas mabilis pa sa alas kwarto na tumayo si Mikael at iniwan si Levi.

Napailing naman si Levi saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. He took a deep breath. He missed his wife. Kahit pa nagkita naman sila kaninang umaga.

TAHIMIK at dahan-dahan na umalis si Leigh sa tabi ni Mikael. Tinignan niya ang binata nang makababa siya sa kama. Nakahinga siya ng maluwang nang hindi ito nagising. Inayos niya ang kumot ni Mikael saka lumabas ng kwarto.

Nang makalabas si Leigh ng kwarto, kaagad siyang bumalik sa sarili niyang apartment. Nagpalit siya ng kasuotan. She wore her black jeans, black shirt, black jacket and black boots. Then she set up and wore her earpiece.

“Milady.” Rhett greeted her.

“Chief.” It was Dylan.

“Where is he?” she asked.

“At his condo, Milady.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Leigh saka lumabas ng apartment. “Keep me updated, Dylan.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Chief, are you sure about this?” Dylan asked.

“You don’t have to worry, Dylan. Milady is fearless and badass.” Ani Rhett kay Dylan, then he turned his attention to the Chief. “But I’m sorry, Milady. As your assistant, I sent some of our Crimson Rose to protect you.”

The Crimson Rose is what they call a member of the organization.

Napailing na lamang si Leigh saka hinayaan na lamang si Rhett. Pagdating niya ng parking lot, nilapitan niya ang pinakadulong bahagi ng parking lot. Tinanggal niya ang itim na tela na nakatakip sa big bike na nakaparada doon. Kinuha niya ang helmet at isinuot saka siya sumakay sa big bike.

Leigh took a deep breath as she drove her big bike towards her destination.

“Milady, Chantria, Aries, and Nolan are right behind you. They will accompany you.” Imporma ni Rhett.

Sumulyap naman si Leigh sa likuran at nakita niya ang tatlong tao na nakasakay rin sa kaniya-kaniya nilang big bike. Leigh smiled and said, “thanks.”

Mas binilisan pa ni Leigh ang pagpapatakbo at nilaslasan ang mga sasakyan.

Pagdating niya sa condominium na kung nasaan ang sadya niyang tao ay sinabihan niya si Dylan na kontrolin nito ang security system ng buong gusali. Hindi dapat malaman ng Leader ng Mafia na nandito siya sa lugar na ‘to.

“Which floor and room is he?” Leigh asked.

“Fifth floor. Room 213. And he’s alone, Chief.” Tugon ni Dylan.

Mabilis na pumasok si Leigh sa loob ng condominium kasama ang tatlong Crimson. Then they went to the fifth floor. They immediately approached Room 213.

“Leave the door to me.” Ani Dylan.

They waited for a few seconds before the door opened.

Nolan opened the door. “Milady.” Iminuwestra niya ang kamay sa may pinto.

Pumasok naman si Leigh sa loob ng condo unit. Ramdam niyang may tao sa loob ng unit pero napakatahimik. Alam niyang naramdaman ng taong nasa condo unit ang pagdating nila. After all, people like them have heightened senses.

Madilim ang buong unit pero ramdam ni Leigh na may tao sa malapit. Suddenly, she felt someone attacking them. Mabilis silang umilag lahat. They were dispersed.

But before the man inside the condo unit made a move, the light opened.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Leigh nang makita ang anak ni Benjamin Gordon.

“Nice to see you alive. I’m glad na nakaligtas ka mula sa dagger ko.” Walang emosyong saad ni Leigh.

“It’s you.” Blaire said. “What do you want?” tanong niya sa mga ito. Mukhang naman walang balak ang mga itong saktan siya dahil kung may balak man amg mga ito baka kanina pa siya patay. Tinignan niya ang mga taong nasa loob ng condo unit niya. Inayos niya ang suot na damit saka niya ibinalik sa scabbard ang hawak na espada.

Malamig na ngumiti si Leigh. “Your life is what I want.” Malamig niyang saad.

Natigilan si Blaire. “What do you mean?” kalmado niyang tanong. But he became defensive.

“How dare you to kidnap my man?” Tinignan ni Leigh ng matalim si Blaire. “Alam kong gusto niyong pabagsakin at angkinin ang Salazar Empire ngunit hindi ako papayag.”

Blaire sighed. “Mikael Eathan Salazar is your man?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

“It’s none of your business. Nandito lang ako para maningil ng utang.” Nakangising saad ni Leigh.

Though Blaire was trained to be fearless, he couldn’t help but feel fear while talking to the woman in front of her. The woman in front of her has the gait, authority, and power. The three people with her seemed to respect her.

“But since I’m nice, let me ask you a question first.” Ani Leigh saka umupo sa pang-isahang sofa. She crossed her legs. “Why do you want to kidnap Mikael?”

“It was father’s idea.” Sagot ni Blaire. “But he ordered me to do it.”

“But failed.” Ani Leigh. “I killed all your men.”

Sumama ang mukha ni Blaire at kumuyom ang kaniyang kamao. “Sino ka ba talaga? You’re different from the other Crimson Rose that I met before?”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Leigh. “I am the current Chief of the Crimson Rose Organization. Ang organisasyon na malaking kaaway ng grupo niyo. At sa isang senyas ko lang ay pwede kang mamatay diyan sa kinatatayuan mo.” Itinuro niya ang pulang dot sa may tapat ng dibdib ni Blaire saka niya ito nginisihan.

Agad naman na napatingin si Blaire sa kaniyang dibdib at nakita niya doon ang pulang dot. As I expected, she came prepared.

“So, why don’t you sit down and let’s have a nice talk?” Leigh offered.

Napabuntong hininga si Blaire saka umupo. “Bakit pakiramdam ko hindi ako safe sa sarili kong pamamahay?” tanong niya sa sarili pero narinig ito ni Leigh.

“Huwag kang mag-alala safe ka kapag magustuhan ko ang mga isasagot mo sa mga tanong ko.” Walang emosyong saad ni Leigh.

“So, why do you want to kidnap Mikael Salazar?”

“I already answered it. It was my father –“

“I’m not talking about your father. I am talking about you.” Seryosong saad ni Leigh. “I investigated you. When you were a kid, you were close to your mother. Pero pilit kang nilalayo ng iyong ama sa kaniya. Gumagawa ng paraan ang ama mo upang lumayo ka sa iyong ina. At young age, your father forced you to train, kill and be the son he wants.” Napansin ni Leigh ang pagkuyom ng kamao ni Blaire ngunit nagpatuloy pa rin siya sa pagsasalita. “Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa relasyon niyo ng ama mo pero ginagamit niya ang nanay mo para sumunod ka sa mga gusto niya. As you know, the Mafia is the nemesis of the Crimson Rose. And I want the Mafia to go down.”

“I need him so that I can see my mother.” Blaire said, stopping Leigh from saying her next word. Tumingin si Blaire ng deretso sa Chief ng Crimson Rose. “Mali ang ipalit ko siya sa nanay ko pero ‘yon na lang ang tanging paraan upang magkasama kami ni Mommy. Si Mikael Salazar kapalit ng aking ina.”

Tumango si Leigh. “Okay, I got it.” Aniya. Tumayo na siya.

Tumayo si Blaire. “Taking down the Mafia won’t be easy.”

“Alam ko kaya nga ikaw ang nilapitan ko.” Makahulugang sabi ni Leigh saka umalis na kasama ang tatlong Crimson Rose.

Shaking his head, Blaire closed the door of his condo. He had just met the Chief of Crimson Rose, and he could say that she wasn’t an ordinary woman. Sa uri pa lang ng tingin at kilos nito, hindi ito basta-basta. Nakita na niya kung paano ito makipaglaban at masasabi niyang naiiba ito sa mga Crimson Rose na nakalaban na niya. Now, he wondered what the Chief of Crimson Rose was planning and why she talked to him.

Habang paakyat si Leigh sa may hagdan patungo sa kaniyang flat, tinawagan niya ang taong parte rin ng Crimson Rose.

“Milady,” The man from the other line greeted her. “Ezekiel Velasco is at your service.”

Leigh sighed before speaking, “find someone for me. Her name is Amelia Gordon. Find her, whatever it takes. Coordinate with Ian Blanco.”

“Yes, Milady.” Tugon agad ni Ezekiel ng walang pag-aalinlangan.

Leigh ended the call and entered her apartment.

“Where did you go?”

Leigh gasped. Mabilis niyang binuksan ang ilaw ng flat niya at nakita niya si Mikael na nakaupo sa sofa at seryoso itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

“Mikael…” Nasambit na lamang niya ang pangalan ng binata.

“Saan ka pumunta, Leigh?”

Nakagat ni Leigh ang pang-ibabang labi. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot niya kay Mikael.

“And why do you dress like you are going into a war?” Dagdag na tanong pa ni Mikael.

Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Leigh. I’m dead.