The Fighter

Chapter Twenty-Two

⍟HARLEY⍟

"What in the world was that?" Jack asked nang makita ang ziplock na hawak ko.

"Oh, this?" I said at saka inilapag iyon sa lamesa. "The baker gave this to me." I added.

"That looks like a piece of something." He commented at saka kinuha ito at tinignan nang malapitan.

"Yun nga din ang hinala ko." I answered then lean back on the chair where I was sitting. "Mukhang kailangan talaga natin puntahan ang mga lugar na nasa mapa before we go to the port." I said.

"You think na nasa port ang memory card?" He asked.

"I guess...I mean, I trust Felix more than I trust my calculations." I answered at bahagyang natawa naman siya doon.

"By the way, you want to eat? I cooked something habang nasa opisina ka." He offered.

"You cooked? wow..." I commented.

"Of course, I mean, it is a basic survival needs." He said at saka tumayo mula sa kinauupuan niya. "Stay right there, I'll serve." He added at saka pumasok sa loob ng kusina.

I chuckled lightly before I stretched at sumandal ulit mula sa kinuupuan ko. Sakto namang nag-ring ang bagong bili ko na cellphone na nasa lamesa.

Kinuha ko naman iyon and I saw an unknown number on the screen, I let out a sigh at saka sinagot iyon.

"I'm actually surprised that you tracked me." Bungad ko naman sa kausap ko.

"Harley, get back here at the headquarters." Utos naman ni Gemma.

"I am not going back without answers Gemma." I answered.

"It was dangerous Harley."

"May alam ka ba about dito Gemma? Because you are talking like you really know what is happening...actually, scratch that..." I trailed off at saka tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko at lumakad papunta sa sliding door. "Are you related to The Empire?" Dagdag ko naman.

"Harley you--"

"Yes or No?"

Katahimikan naman ang sumagot sa sakin mula sa kabilang linya, but I know that she didn't hang up on me.

"I am somewhat related to The Empire." She admitted. "But I am not going to elaborate it further since your life will be in danger if you learned that information, please, go back now Harley." She said, pleading at the last line.

I let out a shaky sigh.

"I guess I have to find the answers to my questions by myself." I said bago tuluyang ibinaba ang tawag at itinapon sa sofa ang cellphone. "Fuck this." I muttered and brushed my hair using my hand.

"Hey, what happened?" Jack asked at saka inilapag ang bowl at ang baso ng orange juice na dala nito.

"It was Gemma and her secrets." I said and glanced at him then I realized something. "Your family is a part of that stupid organization, right?" I asked.

"Stupid organization?" He asked in confusion then, later on, realization hits him. "Oh, The Empire, right.." He said.

"Gemma just told me a while ago that she is somewhat related to the organization, is that true?" I asked.

At gaya kanina ay katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming dalawa, he can't even look at me in the eyes.

"Jack..."