The Great Pretender

00: Mission Failed?

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Sir Vaughn Miguel G. Del Russo. S.A, E.O.O II.

"Hi, I am John Lloyd–" I hissed. Again. "Hi, pre, ako 'to si John Lloyd? Naalala mo pa ba ako?" Ulit ko habang inaayos ko ang aking bow tie sa harap ng salamin. I am currently wearing a red vest over my white dress shirt that is tucked in my black slacks. I borrowed it from the stock room of the casino earlier. I said borrow not 'steal'' because I'll return it after I become a waiter for just a few minutes.

Dapat ay nasa bookstore ako ngayon, I am supposed to be doing inventories for the guns we store underground. Yes, surprise, it's a bookstore with intellegence and guns center in the basement. Now, I didn't get to do my task because I didn't go to work today, as one can  already tell. I just know that Brimley's going to get so mad when I get back.

And that's okay. I can lighten up his mood later with pastillas and also because my trip here to Bulacan is going to be fairly short and sweet. Nagtungo lamang ako dito dahil kailangang magbayad ni Benjamin Yvarrez at ni Francisco Paz sa ginawa nila sa mga mahal ko sa buhay.

Kailangang kong magpanggap na waiter dahil kailangan ko ng access sa secret basement na kasalukuyan nilang kinaroroonan. Base on the intel I gathered, may mga kasama silang ibang druggies doon na tumitira ng high class drugs...so, I guess, it's their lucky day, because once I am done, himas rehas ang aabutin nila.

I cleared my throat and said my line again.

"...Ako 'yung nakasama mo noong high school...sa Caloocan."

I shook my head when I paused. I repeated the whole phrase again. This time, no pause. No hesitation. No single doubt. Because rule number one about pretending is you do not pretend. You become the fictional person you created or was assigned to you. The lies that are coming out from your mouth are now the truth.

And now, ako si John Lloyd, simpleng waiter, na nakasama ni Ericson noong highschool.

"Ako si John Lloyd..." Cruz. I wish.

Matapos kong ulitin iyon sa harap ng salamin ay agad akong lumabas ng banyo at hinanap si Ericson, ang waiter na kanina ko pa minamanmanan. I walked past the gambling machines and smiled at some customers as what a friendly waiter would do. And as I was walking, I am making sure that the CCTV cameras are not getting a sight of my handsome face.

Yes, alam ko na gwapo ako kasi laging sinasabi iyon ni Mama ko, okay?

I continued to walk until I saw an open hallway on the side. I discreetly walked in it until I reached a white door at the end of the hallway. Alam kong eto na iyon dahil sa ilang mga pintuang nadaanan ko ay eto lang ang kailangan ng I.D badge ng waiter or any personnel.

Now, this is why I need Ericson. I need his badge so I can enter. I know that he will come out of this door any minute now because he goes in and out in an interval. I knew that because I observed him for a couple of hours before I moved to the next step of my plan.

And I was right, dear Ericson walked out of the door after a few seconds. He was wearing the same clothes as mine, he was short, bald, and medium built. I can freely walk with him since there are no cameras in this hallway.....the owner didn't put any because he doesn't want evidence that they all walk out of that door high as a kite with drugs.

"Pre!" Tawag ko sa kanya at sinabayan siyang maglakad.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo.

"Bawal dito ang mga bagong waiters. Restricted area to–"