Saphyr and Rubi

CHAPTER 3: SUSPENSUS

Makati National High School where Rubi works as a Grade 7 teacher is just five and a half kilometers from where she and her husband live. She usually commutes and takes a taxi to go to work, but this morning, out of a million improbabilities, Saphyr offered to take her there.

 While they were inside his car, she tried to initiate a conversation.

 "You know what? This is rather surprising." She started.

 "Hmm" Her husband muttered with his eyes glued to the slight traffic in front and not bothering to look at her.

 She continued anyway. "I mean, you don't usually do this."

 "Do what?" This time, he responded and looked her in the eye.

 "You are not always like this. You don't normally offer to get me to work. It's weird."

 Her husband put the car to a halt when the traffic light ahead of them signalled red. He then looked at her. She is wearing her thick glasses and her Monday and Wednesday uniform of gray and pink combination.

 "There's nothing weird about a husband sending his wife safely to work." He said with a deadpan look, and with this, the conversation ended.

 Saphyr didn't really want to inform her that he will be doing this once in a while so as to appear like a very busy but ocassionally accommodating husband to a faithful wife. Suspensus is very strict about its rules and regulations that even a tiny aberration in any of them might just cause him to lose his job and even his life. Once he blows his cover, it will be the end for him. Right now, he must appear as conventional as possible.

Several pairs of eyes are then stuck at a shiny blue sports car as it entered through Makati National High School's gate and inside the institution's grounds.

 Editha Villaflor, the petite school principal, just got out of her car when she spotted a gorgeous man opening the door for Rubi as she stepped out.

 "Ma'am Ramirez!" The married couple heard her call and turned to face her as she approached them.

 "Good morning, ma'am," she greeted her superior.

 The 52 year-old principal's scrutinizing stare landed on Saphyr then to Rubi before she asked, "Who is this sightly man? Is he your husband?"

 "Yes, ma'am, I am." Saphyr answered for her. "The name's Saphyr Ramirez, and you must be?"

 "Oh, I'm Editha Villaflor, the principal." She shook his hand then looked at Rubi. "I didn't know your husband was this handsome. Rubi, you are one lucky woman!"

 I wouldn't be so sure about that. Both Saphyr and Rubi thought.

 "No, ma'am. I'm the lucky one here," he said as he wrapped his right arm around his wife and brought her close to his chest.

 The action startled her because he has never done anything sweet and bold like this to her before. Within a month of living with him, Rubi observed that her husband always approaches her coldly every time they're alone but becomes sweet like a different person when they're in front of other people. She must have made a mistake of marrying an enigma like him in haste.

 The couple are then greatly taken aback by the principal's huge inquiry. "So, when will you be expecting a child?"

 They are both caught dumbfounded. Rubi knew not a good answer to her awkward question.

 "We are planning that through and through, and we don't really like to discuss things like that with other people." She heard her husband's firm voice after he freed her from his arm.

 The principal realized her unnecessary straightforwardness and apologized, "I'm sorry about my nosiness. Well then, I'll see you both around."

 By the moment her superior left them, she turned to Saphyr to excuse herself. "I'll be going on ahead then."

 He just nodded at her as they parted ways.

The colossal shiny edifice looks just like several in Manila. It has the typical glass curtain wall system and it has a stereotyped presence of hundreds of work-driven employees and the scent of business and profit. This, however, is just a facade of an enormous company operating beneath the very building. Suspensus doesn't have only a tremendous influence internationally but also has a multitude of employees which a considerably ample percentage comprises of professional hitmen.

 After parking his car in the underground garage, Saphyr found himself inside an elevator carrying him deep down. As the metal door opened, he trailed the prevalently lonely narrow pathway where he felt someone following him close behind. He wasn't mistaken since a knife suddenly appeared on the side of his throat. Before the person behind him could kill him, in a swift move, he grabbed the man's hand with the knife and almost broke his bone.

 "Oww, man. Why should you be serious all the time?" The wincing voice belonged to Onix Catalon, his co-worker who set up Rubi to be his date almost three months ago. 

 Contrary to his name, Onix is a vibrant individual who loves colorful things. He is an inch shorter than him, but he has way longer patience. If he wasn't a hitman, he could pass as a clown scaring the heck out of children.

 The 29-year-old killer isn't as soft as he may appear. His boyish good looks totally don't compliment his sadistic and playful nature. His wide set eyes are deceitful and his small mouth is always mocking. He is adventurous and carefree, and he loves to discover new things particularly novel ways to make use of his knives to kill people.

 "Am I the only one who doesn't fall victim to your jokes?" Saphyr jested.

 "Yes, you are, but it isn't something you should brag about. Why? It's because you're senses are abnormally active," he taunted.

 The two of them aren't what you usually consider as friends, but they are the ones who can only be a friend to the other. They may not go to night clubs together or eat or drink together, but the both of them unconsciously trust each other. This covert peculiar bond started when they were asked to assassinate a target twelve years ago. The company sent them on a mission where they had to kill a gang leader. Both of them knew that Suspensus was putting them to a test where if they failed, they would have been thrown out and excommunicated.

 It was definitely "Hate at first sight" when they met. Saphyr was quick to conclude that his assigned partner is a laid back and cheeky i***t while Onix's impression of him was that of an incorrigible snob, and that hasn't changed since then. Somehow, he feels bad for his wife who has to put up with his indifference.