EPIC

Capitulum 031

Ang buong akala ni Nemesis ay namali lang siya ng dinig.

'Damien had been part of The Society?' 

Pero tuwing naalala niya ang unang approach nito sa kanila, at ang malawak nitong kaalaman sa paranormal creatures at events sa Eastwood, it did gave her an insight that he knew what he was doing. It looks like Damien has been doing this job for longer than anyone can guess.

Pero kung ganoon, bakit naman siya umalis sa samahan? Bakit siya bumukod?

'Maybe he was getting tired of them, so he decided to do things his own way,' she thought. Sa ugali at ss resources ng kanilang tumatayong leader, hindi na ito nakakapagtaka.

Damien was the kind of man who'd choose independence over anything (and anyone) else.

Kaya siguro sila may alitan ni Charlemagne "Magno" Agustin.

She stole a glance at Caelum who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, at base sa ekspresyon nito, alam niyang pareho sila ng iniisip.

"Here's all the public information about Agnes."

Lumingon sila kay Damien na abala na rin pala sa pagre-research. The sound of his typing on the computer filled the library. At dahil mukhang wala na rin siyang balak i-elaborate ang tungkol sa rebelasyong inilahad niya, Nemesis and Caelum temporarily dismissed his behavior and read the highlighted info on the tabs he pulled up.

"Suma-sideline din pala siya ng paga-artista?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Nemesis.

Ayon sa isang blog, Agnes had been a supporting actress and won several awards for her roles. Kalimitan din itong naga-audition para sa mga pelikula. The most tragic part is, she was about to be the star of the 1983 movie remake of the "The Panthom of Eastwood" when, but she died before it had been finished. Sa huli, napilitan ang direktor at mga producer na mamili ng panibagong bida.

"...Ylana Gomez, another young actress who had been around the same time as Agnes, eventually took her role and delivered a marvelous performance. She was awarded best actress in 1984," Nemesis read.

Tinitigan niya ang larawan ni Ylana. Hindi maipagkakailang maganda ito, at kung pagbabatayan ang nakasulat sa blog, mukhang magaling rin itong artista. But then again, it must've been a heartbreaking experience to have your role and chance at stardom robbed from under your feet.

'Poor Agnes.'

At that same time, Nemesis suddenly felt cold. Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid, expecting to see the nearby air-conditioning unit at its max level. Pero nang mapadpad ang kanyang mga mata sa kalapit na bintana, she stilled upon seeing a glimpse of white passing by.

Doon na siya kinabahan.

"Nemesis, ayos ka lang ba?" Caelum worriedly stared at her, noticing her change in demeanor.

"Oo... Akala ko lang kasi may nakita akong dumaan sa bintana. It must be a student."

Damien's expression darkened. "Well, you have every right to be terrified, Silverio. Nasa second floor tayo ng library."

*

"Rio, sigurado ka bang opisina niya 'to? 100% sure? Final answer na?"

"Oo naman! His energy..." Rio sniffed the air and scowled, "and his smell is all over the place! Kailan pa ba ako nagkamali, Tantan?"

Napaisip tuloy si Naythan. Kung sabagay, wala pa naman silang kasong nagkamali ng kutob si Rio. Last time, during the kataw case, namangha silang lahat 'nong nalaman nito ang nangyari kay Julian just by staring at his picture. He has to admit, Rio's abilities are pretty cool. Kung mag-training din kaya siya?

'Type kaya ni Tasha ang mga may psychic skills?'

"TANTAN!"

"Ha, ano?"

"Anong 'ha, ano'? You're zoning out again! Tulungan mo 'kong mangalkal ng mga gamit dito, mamaya mo na isipin 'yong artistang nakasalubong mo kanina."

Agad na namula si Naythan sa sinabi ni Rio. Nonetheless, he started helping her skim through the contents of Mr. Domingo's desk drawers. Damn. Kung nagamitan siya ni Rio ng abilities niya o talagang halata kay Naythan ang iniisip niya, he doesn't want to find out anymore. Baka mamaya makarating pa 'to kay Nem tapos magselos pa siya.

"Oh, look! May planned release pala para sa Bar Wars: The Last Air blender! Hehe... Ang release date ay sa... What?! Sa 2025 pa?!"

Nainis lang si Naythan na nabasa niya. He tossed the folder away and started opening the next drawer.

But it didn't budge.

'Huh?'

Sinubukan niya ulit itong buksan dahil baka na-stuck lang, pero wala talaga! Nang mapansin ni Rio ang paghihirap niya, she concluded, "Ooh~! Kung anuman ang nakalagay sa loob niyan, siguradong importante! A man like the producer is the kind of person who'd keep his assets under lock and key... in this case, locked in a drawer!"

Naythan agreed.

"Nasaan kaya ang susi nito?"

"Umm... 'Yan ang 'di ko rin alam," Rio replied.

Because of this, the two members of EPIC spent the next fifteen minutes trying to open the drawer. Pero kahit anong gawin nilang pag-lock pick at pag-hokus pokus, hindi pa rin ito mabuksan. Rio suggested that maybe it was under some kind of spell. Natawa naman si Naythan, "Spell? Nah! Baka nangalawang lang talaga 'yong loob ng lock dahil sa tagal na 'di nabubuksan!"

Agad din silang natigil sa kanilang usapan nang makarinig sila ng mga yabag ng sapatos sa labas ng opisina.

Alarmed, Rio and Naythan exchanged looks, gulped, and quickly hid under the desk. Just in time, two staffs waltzed inside.

"Di ba ito 'yong opisina ni Producer Domingo?"

"Oo. Teka, 'wag kang pumasok diyan!"

"Ha? Bakit naman? Titingnan ko lang sana kung kailan ang release date ng Bar Wars: The Last Airblender. Hehe!"

'Wag dahil madi-disappoint ka lang!' Naythan thought.

"Tol, baka multuhin ka pa 'non! Di mo ba alam na namatay siya kagabi?"

"H-Ha? Teka... 'Yong binalita sa Mahogany Street?"

Naythan imagined the other staff nodded, confirming the tragedy. Napangisi siya nang may ideyang pumasok sa henyo niyang utak...

"Awoooo~!"

Ilang sandali pa, narinig na nila ang mabilis na pagtakbo papalabas ng opisina ng dalawang staff, mukhang parehong takot sa sound effects ni Naythan. He struggled to keep his laughter in. Meanwhile, Rio wasn't too convinced and crawled out of hiding. "Kailangan nating bilisan bago sila bumalik!"

"Babalik pa sila?"

"Yes."

Naythan didn't argue. Pero dahil nakalimutan niyang nakayuko pa siya sa ilalim ng mesa, aksidente pa siyang nauntog sa desk.

"ARAY!"

"Tantan! Ang ingay mo. Baka mamaya..." Hindi na nakumpleto ni Rio ang sinasabi niya nang mapansin ang natanggal na ilalim ng drawer. Sa kabila ng sakit ng ulo niya, Naythan was amazed when he realized this as well. 'May secret opening 'yong drawer! Ang astig naman, parang 'yong isang scene sa Bar Wars!'

Mabilis nilang kinuha ang laman ng drawer: isang movie poster.

"Teka... Ito lang 'yon? Sheesh. Mas nakaka-disappoint pa yata 'to kaysa sa Bar Wars, eh."

"Isa itong poster para sa pelikulang 'The Phantom of Eastwood'. Sa pagkakaalam ko next week na yata ang premiere nito. I didn't know he's the producer of that, too!" Rio pouted. "Tingnan mo, o! Iyong si Tasha pala ang bida. This could only mean that she's been working with him for longer than we thought..."

Pero hindi na nakikinig si Naythan. Nakatitig na lang siya sa picture ni Tasha sa poster, like a lovesick puppy.

Rio sighed remembering their time limit. "Kunin mo na 'yang poster. Let's go before the guards outside realized what we did. Mawawala na rin mamaya ang bisa ng gayuma nila."

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