Wild Deception

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

LIBERTY tightened her grip on her dagger. She wouldn't let this man defeat her, not even a single chance. She'd learned not to walk out from an enemy. With the nature of the job that she have, she knew her skills will be constantly put to a test without any warning.

She planted her knee-high steampunk boots on the floor to gather her strength.

She aimed at him.

Mariin silang nagtitigan. Tagatak na ang kanyang pawis. She can see the hunger from her opponent's face- it was hunger for victory.

"Iyon lang ba ang kaya mo?" sabi ng kalaban niya sa nanunuyang tingin. Dumura pa ito na tila minamaliit siya. Her heartbeat pitched in annoyance.

She leaned forward to position herself for an attack. Batid niyang hinihintay lang siya ng lalaki na umatake para maisahan siya. She knew he would dodge her attack and throw her to the wall. That will never happen-she promised to herself.

She caught his eyes staring at the movement of her hands. Kinuha niya ang pagkakataong iyon. She tricked him an attack then swirled her body to his side.

Ang akala niya ay naisahan niya ito pero nagkamali siya. Their daggers clashed and created noise inside the room. And before she could even pull her stunt, she found her beloved dagger flying outside the window. Basag na ang salamin doon epekto ng laban nila mula pa kanina kaya parang bola lang na tumilapon ang patalim niya palabas.

She gasped.

Then she heard a victorious laugh from behind.

"Do not always trust your instinct. It may cost you your life." He mocked at her.

Gigil siyang humarap sa lalaki. She might be disarmed, but the fight isn't done, yet.

"I suppose you are talking to yourself, Mister." She gave him a lopsided smile.

Being disarmed, she knew her opponent may hit her anytime. She can only see a technique to win against him-that is to disarm him as well.

She didn't blink as she approached him. Ni hindi ito natinag sa kanyang kinatatayuan. That's how she plays; she lets her opponent think she's losing the battle.

She made a defensive posture by covering her chest with both of her arms.

"Too bad, I win this time," he said, pointing his dagger against her.

She made eye contact with him then she quickly grabbed his arm by her left hand before delivering him a brachial stun to the right side of his neck. It made him grunt in pain.

Hindi pa siya nakuntento. Hinawakan niya ito sa batok at tinuhod ang kanyang harap habang nakahawak ang kamay niya sa palapulsuhan ng lalaki. Napadapa ito. She pinned his both arms on the floor and disarmed him. Itinapon niya sa kung saan ang patalim.

"f**k!"

Napamura na lang ito.

"Better luck next time, Salazar," wika niya sa lalaki.

She then heard few consecutive slow claps approaching. Nang tumingala siya ay nakita niya ang kanyang head, kasunod ang ilan sa mga kasamahan niya sa trabaho. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa bagong dating. They bump their fists.

"You're doing well, L."

"I've always been, Captain." Bahagya niyang nilingon si Salazar na namimilipit pa rin sa sakit. Sanay na siyang natatalo ang lalaki sa tuwing nagduduwelo sila.

Palagi silang laman ni Salazar ng training room. The latter has always been wanting to defeat her. Pero hanggang ngayon ay lagi na lamang itong naiiwang tumba sa sahig. Medyo mahina nga lang ang pinakawalan niyang suntok kanina. Baka kasi himatayin, kawawa naman.

"As for you, Salazar," wika ng head niya. "Keep it up, unbeatable loser."

Natawa silang lahat. Mura naman nang mura si Salazar.

"Di bale, puwede ka pa ring gawing stuntman sa pelikula, dude!" kantiyaw ng isa sa kasamahan niya.

"f**k you, Belmonte!" sagot ni Salazar.

Lalo silang nagtawanan. Namulsa si Liberty at muling humarap kay Captain Red, ang kasalukuyang head ng detectives sa buong M&C Detectives agency kung saan siya nagtatrabaho bilang undercover agent.

She was "L" to most of her colleagues. Kahit ang mga kataas-taasang boss niya sa agency ay iyon ang tawag sa kanya. And she loves to be called that way.

"Napadalaw ka, Captain?" aniya sa head niya.

"To personally hand you this one." Inabot nito sa kanya ang isang box. Ngayon niya lang din napansin na may dala-dala pala ito.

"I know you've been doing very well lately. With the number of cases that have been closed because of you. I guess you deserve a reward," dagdag pa ng head niya.

Lately ay marami nga siyang tinapos na misyon. She was sent several times to spy some perps.

"What's this?"

"Open it and see for yourself."

Nagtataka man ay binuksan niya ang box. At laking gulat niya nang tuluyan na niya itong mabuksan.

"Cellphone?"

"Definitely."

Napakamot siya ng batok. Hindi siya makapaniwalang tiningnan si Captain Red.

"Captain, alam kong mayaman ka at afford mong bumili ng sandamakmak na cellphone, pero aanhin ko naman 'to, aber? May sarili naman akong cellphone," aniya. Kung titingnan nga ay parang normal lang iyon na Android phone. Medyo sosyal pa nga ro'n ang ginagamit niya.

"Alam mo namang hindi kita bibigyan ng anumang hindi mo kailangan. It's not just a mere cellular phone, L, it has a built-in thermal camera."

Namilog siya at sinipat ang hawak na cellphone. She has been dreaming to have this phone pero hindi niya kayang bumili dahil masyadong mahal iyon. At hindi naman available sa Pilipinas ang gano'ng unit.

"Seryoso ka, Captain?"

"You deserve it. I personally have it designed for you."

"Woah! Kainggit naman! Bakit lagi na lang si L?" She heard someone exclaimed. Nilingon niya iyon. It was Leigh, the IT expert.

Liberty can't help but to squeal in happiness. Tumalon siya sa sobrang tuwa.

"Yes! Thanks, Captain!"

Naglakad na sila palabas ng training room. Their barracks was designed underground for safety. Pero kahit nasa ilalim ay advanced ang mga kagamitan. It was her home for five years now.

"Seryoso ba talaga kayong wala 'tong kapalit, Captain? Baka naman..." she trailed off.

Captain Red led her to the office. 'Pag wala ang kanilang head ay hindi napapasok ang opisinang iyon. Only his fingerprint could decode the lock of the door.

"Sit down, L."

Naupo rin siya at hinintay ang sasabihin sa kanya ng head niya.

"Kamusta na nga pala ang pagbabantay mo sa asawa mo, Captain?" pagbubukas niya ng usapan. She knew these past few years naging abala ito sa asawa niya kaya palaging naipasa sa kanya ang mabibigat na kaso.

"None of your business, L," plain lang nitong sagot sa kanya.

Natawa siya sa kanyang isip. Mabilis talagang mapikon si Captain 'pag tinanong tungkol sa asawa niyang iniwan siya. Palibhasa kasi mag-a-apat na taon na itong tigang.

"Fine. Fine. Fine. Ano ba talaga ang sadya mo sa'kin, Captain? Imposible namang walang kapalit itong regalo mo."

Nasagot ang tanong niya nang may ipinatong itong brown folder sa kanyang harapan.

"Your new mission."

Itinirik niya ang kanyang mga mata. Sinasabi na nga ba at may bagong assignment na naman siya.

"Akala ko pa naman regalo 'to. 'Yon pala suhol. Captain, alam mong mas gusto ko ay cash."

"I know. Kahit na hindi ko naiintindihan kung ano'ng ginagawa mo sa pera mo. Don't worry, gano'n pa rin ang bayad sa'yo. The phone is yours dahil magagamit mo 'yan sa misyon mo."

She opened the folder while listening to her head. Sa unang pahina pa lang ay parang na-magnet na roon ang kanyang mga mata.

Theo Montreal

Owner & CEO

Montreal Estates

31 years old

Single

Binasa niya ang bawat detalye na naroon. First time niya yatang mabigyan ng misyon sa isang napakagandang nilalang na ito.

He has well-defined, clean cut jaw. Matangos ang ilong. His lips were naturally red, or maybe he applied lip tint on his lips-- na imposible naman mangyari. Pero ang mas nakakahindik ay ang mga mata nitong tinititigan siya.

She blinked twice when she heard Captain Red cleared his throat.

"Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa lalaking ito, captain? May ipinapahanap ba siya? Kinidnap ba 'to at kailangang hanapin? O...."

"You will gather information about him," putol ni Red sa kanya.

Kumunot na naman ang kanyang noo.

"Information? Eh andito naman na lahat ng bio niya, ah. Fake news lang ba 'tong laman ng folder?" she asked almost sarcastically.

"He's allegedly dealing drugs all over the Philippines. Pagmamay-ari niya ang lupang may plantasyon sa Negros. Still, those evidences are not enough to sue him. Recently ay may mga grupo ng doktor na umimbento ng isang uri ng virus mula sa pinaghalu-halung droga. Once a person gets injected by the virus, kakalat iyon sa katawan niya. Magiging paralisado siya in an instant."

"Those doctors were clever. Later on, they invented an antidote to the virus. At binibenta nila iyon sa mataas na halaga. Of course, gusto no'ng tao na gumaling. He will be forced to buy the antidote. And that's how those doctors pinch the victim's pocket."

Napanganga si Liberty sa kanyang narinig.

"So, how's this Theo related to the doctors? Isa ba siya sa mga doktor na 'yon?" she asked. She's now interested with her new mission.

"No. Like I said earlier, he allegedly supplied drugs to different areas of the Philippines. Nahuli na ang mga doktor na 'yon, but they didn't speak a word. Ayaw nilang magsalita tungkol sa nag-supply sa kanila ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. The authorities had proven that they won't let the cat out of the bag even if you beat them to death."

Muli niyang tiningnan ang mukha ng lalaki sa litrato. Sayang naman ng kaguwapuhan nito kung masama pala ang budhi.

"So, what am I gonna do?"

"You need to gather enough evidences that will send him to jail. Mayaman siya, he can dodge the cases against him. Pero kung mabigat ang kaso, hinding-hindi na siya makakalaya. Remember, evidence, L. His building, his properties, were all secured with laser beams. The reason why I designed that phone for you. It might help."

Napatangu-tango siya't napaisip.

"But, how? Paano ko naman malalapitan ito? Sobrang yaman pala niya. Baka mamaya ipapatay ako. Sayang ng lahi ko."

Captain Red gave her a challenging look.

"Get him under your skirt."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

"What?!"

***

A/N: This is just an experimental genre. Sana mabigyan ko ng hustisya. Hehe. Thank you sa suporta!

©GREATFAIRY