Kristine Series 24 - Ivan Henrick (UNEDITED)(COMPLETED)

Prologue

"WALA akong file tungkol kay Ivan, Tito Alvaro," ani Kurt. "You just have to ask me anything about him."

Sumandal sa high-backed swivel chair si Alvaro at bahagyang inuga-uga iyon. "Like if he's married or not. And what has he been doing now that he has retired. Saan siya nakabase ngayon?"

Nang ipatawag siya ni Alvaro sa mansiyon nito ay wala siyang hinagap kung ano ang sadya nito sa kanya. Ang huling pagkakataong nagkita sila ay dalawang taong mahigit na ang nakalipas. Then Alvaro told him that he had a little misunderstanding with his daughter Nayumi. Na umalis ito ng mansiyon may dalawang araw na ang nakalipas.

Humigit-kumulang, nahuhulaan na ni Kurt ang dahilan. Kamakailan ay tumawag si Adora sa opisina niya upang pasubaybayan at alamin ang pagkatao ni Ranjo Martinez—Nayumi's latest suitor. Kaya naman dala niya ang lahat ng record na nalikom ng tao niya tungkol sa lalaki.Subalit ikinabigla niya ang sunod nitong sinabi. Iyon ay kung ano ang nalalaman niya tungkol kay Ivan Henrick—international secret agent of high caliber. Yet Kurt's face remained passive.

"As far as I know, Ivan's unmarried. Since his retirement from the agency two years ago, he settled in his mother's farm in Davao. He owns a restaurant/bar in the outskirts of the city which caters mostly of men."

Alvaro surprised him by chuckling. "A restaurateur. Isn't it amusing for a man of Ivan's caliber?"He had to agree to that.

"Talk to him, Kurt. Kailangan ko siya para kay Nayumi."

Huminga nang malalim si Kurt. "He's retired, Tito Al. He wouldn't take a job, any job that has something to do in one way or another with his former job. Kung natatandaan ninyo, ipinahanap ninyo siya sa akin para sa kaibigan ninyong si Don Manuel Lagdameo nang makatanggap ito ng kidnapping threat pero mahigpit na tinanggihan ni Ivan ang trabaho."

"This time, I am the client, Kurt," seryosong sabi ni Alvaro. "Tiyakin mong hindi siya tatanggi.""Bakit kailangang siya kung bodyguard lang para kay Nayumi ang gusto ninyo? May mahuhusay akong taong maibibigay. Hindi siguro kamukha ng kalidad ni Ivan, pero mahusay."

"Six years ago, after he saved Nayumi from being kidnapped, my daughter started idolizing him. She asked me his name which, of course, I said I didn't know. Yet there wasn't a time then that Nayumi didn't speak of him. Minsan sa akin at mas malimit kay Adora..."

"Pero hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Nayumi na makita si Ivan, Tito Al..." Now he couldn't contain his surprise. "Kahit sina Brad at Trace ay hindi niya nakita."

May ilang sandaling hindi kumibo si Alvaro. Inikot ang swivel chair at sa credenza sa likuran ay may kinuha. Iniabot iyon kay Kurt.

Kunot ang noong tinitigan ni Kurt ang nasa harap niya. Isa iyong caricature ng isang knight sa ibabaw ng kabayo at sa harapan nito ay isang caricature ng isang babae. Lamang, ang mukha ng babae ay ginupit mula sa larawan ni Nayumi at ang knight ay sinulatan nito ng: My knight without a name and face.

"Nayumi must have sketched this when she was fifteen," ani Kurt. "She hero-worshipped Ivan for saving her, kahit na hindi niya ito nakita o nalaman man lang ang pangalan. So, what has this got to do with... with your request to contact Ivan?"