KNIGHTS I-5: Master of Deception (Xord Knights)

Chapter 2

"We'll start later at 6PM, make sure na lahat kayo ay makakarating sa meeting. And Astreille?"

Astreille quickly lifted her face to answer the commander of the agency. "Y-Yes, boss?"

"Tell Jezreel to come early, I need to discuss something to her. At ikaw, you don't have to come to the meeting later, hindi ka rin naman kailangan sa combat dahil hanggang sa computer ka lang," malamig na saad nito bago siya palihim na irapan.

Astreille bit her lower lip when she saw how her co-agents laughed with what the commander said. Tumango-tango na lang siya bilang sagot.

"I heard my name, anong m'eron?" Inangat ng dalaga ang paningin nang marinig ang boses ng kaibigan na kapapasok lang.

"Hey, Jez," bati ng mga katrabaho niya rito. "Meeting daw tayo ulit mamaya. Huwag ka raw ma-le-late."

Natatawang umiling ang bagong dating na babae bago sila irapan. "Stop talking to me in an informal way like you didn't insult my bestfriend before I came in. Gusto ninyong mamatay?"

Natahimik ang mga 'to sa sinabi ni Jezreel, Astreille on the other hand grabbed her bestfriend's hand para pakalmahin ito.

"Jez naman, hindi mo naman k-kailangang sabihin 'yon. Baka pati ikaw mapaaway," nakayuko niyang sabi sa kaibigan.

Her bestfriend smiled sweetly at her. "Okay lang mapaaway, hindi ko naman sila kakaibigain, ikaw lang naman kaibigan ko kaya kahit magpatayan pa kaming lahat, it doesn't bother me."

"Thank you," nahihiyang bulong ng dalaga sa kaibigan.

Astreille is really thankful that Jezreel never left her side since day one. Ito na ang tumayong kaibigan at kapatid niya sa buong taon na nagtatrabaho siya sa agency.

Jezreel pinched her cheeks. "You're not supposed to say that. By the way, upo muna tayo." Inalalayan siya nito paupo sa swivel chair niya bago tumabi sa kaniya.

"My girlfriend went to my apartment yesterday, and fuck it, she saw me holding a gun," natatawang pagsusumbong nito.

Yes, Jezreel loathes men and she prefers marrying a same sex. Tomboy kung tatawagin pero tanggap ni Astreille nang buong-buo ang kaibigan. They were together for 5 straight years kaya hindi na nila kayang mawalay pa sa isa't isa.

Astreille smiled awkwardly at Jezreel. "Anong sabi niya? Did the two of you broke up? It can't be," kinakabahang usal niya.

Jezreel shook her head harshly. "Of course no, sabi ko sa kaniya props lang 'yon kasi may gagawin akong shoot. And I told her that those are all fake."

Nakangusong pinagmasdan ng dalaga ang kaibigan. "You're really good at lying, ain't you?"

Sumang-ayon ang babaeng kaharap sa sinabi niya. Lying is one of the major skills that you need to practice as an agent. At aminado naman si Jezreel doon.

"I'm a liar, I'm a bitch, I'm an ass hole, all around na ako, Lheyden," Jezreel responded before combing Astreille's soft hair.

She loves calling Astreille's second name whenever she's teasing her. Lheyden is actually a good name but her bestfriend seems to hate it. And she knows why.

"Astreille," pagtatama ng dalaga sa kaniya.

Jez just nodded her head, ayaw niya nang pahabain pa ang usapan dahil paniguradong magagalit na naman ang kaibigan niya. She's a bad ass, but Astreille is way more terrifying than anyone when she's mad. Ang galitin si Astreille ang pinakahuli niyang gagawin.

"Lheyden is a good name, my dear bestfriend. But if you really hate it, gusto mo bang tulungan kita na ipatanggal 'yan sa pangalan mo?"

Astreille giggled mischievously when she heard that from Jezreel's lips. "I can do it in one click, Jez. But I still have debts to pay, kaya 'saka na 'yan."

"Utang ng nanay mo, hindi utang mo," sabat naman ng kaibigan.

"Utang ko na rin since iniwan niya sa akin ang ganoong kalaking bigat na responsibilidad at bayarin, it's mine now, since she's dead," she said.

Jezreel held her chin before cupping her cheeks. "Kawawa naman ang bestfriend kong iyakin."

Namula ang buong mukha ni Astreille sa pang-aasar ng kaibigan. She felt insulted, but it's her bestfriend so it's okay. "I hate you!"

"Na-uh, Astreille doesn't hate anyone," Jez uttered.

Astreille nodded her head. "I know, I love you na pala. I'm sorry, I won't hate you, never," she said bago salubungin ng yakap ang katawan ni Jezreel.

Jezreel was about to say something when their commander's voice filled the whole room. "Everyone, meeting room."

Umupo ng tuwid si Astreille bago ngitian ang kaibigan. "Sige na, hinahanap na kayo ng commander. Sabihan ko na lang ako kung anu-anong napag-usapan ninyo. Baka mamaya pinagpaplanuhan na akong tanggalin," she joked around.

Dumilim ang mukha ni Jezreel dahil doon. "Subukan nilang tanggalin ka, gagantihan ko sila at tatanggalin ko lahat ng lamang loob nila sa katawan. Atsaka have faith in yourself, okay? Astreille, nakalimutan mo na ang title mo? You ranked 2nd place as the most dangerous hacker in the whole world, 2nd place, Astreille. This agency will never fire you, kung 'di, lubog sila."

Ginulo ng kaibigan niya ang buhok niya bago siya halikan sa pisngi. "Bye, dear. Mag mi-meeting lang kami. Stay where you are, baka gumala ka na naman."

Natatawang sumaludo si Astreille rito habang pinapanood ang lahat na umalis. When no one's around, she sat on her swivel chair para ipahinga ang likuran niya.

Matagal-tagal pa ang meeting na 'yon, siguradong pinagpaplanuhan na ng mga kasamahan niya kung paano susugod sa event na misyon nila. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasan ang magtaka kung anong pakiramdam ng malagay sa panganib ang buhay mo.

Iniisip pa lang niya, para siyang pinanlalamigan.

She bit her lower lip in excitement nang mag-notif sa cellphone niya ang bagong update ng paborito niyang manunulat.

His story "Downfall" is one of her all-time favorite masterpiece. It's a story about two demons, it revolves around the two characters' perception, greed and power.

Mas nakapagdagdag ganda pa sa story na 'yon ay ang mga tula na nilalagay ng manunulat bago magsimula ang isang chapter. And those poems are all connected, like they're the continuation of each other.

Pinilig ni Astreille ang ulo bago basahin ang bagong kabanata. Malilibang na naman siya.