No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 22: The Distance To The Target

THE DISTANCE TO THE TARGET

“Mas maigi na munang ipakilala muna kita sa mga kasamahan ko, and to others you havenʼt met yet except Cyruz and Lloyd,” sabi ni Vahn nang sumama na sa kaniya si Rhian sa headquarters.

Rhian was also ready for a big preparation and rehearsal, so she already knew all the possibilities, but as much as she liked it this way, she was still hesitant, as if something was still bothering her.

“Sigurado ka ba talagang handa ka na, o napilitan ka lang sumama sa akin dito?” tanong ni Vahn nang mapansin niya ang dalaga na hindi pa rin makatingin sa kaniya ng maayos at tila bang hindi komportable sa lugar na ito.

“Wala,” sagot ni Rhian. “Ano ka ba, bakit hanggang ngayon nagtatanong ka pa rin sa akin ng mga unsure things? As much as I resent things now, thereʼs still a part of me that wants to do this thing.”

Vahn nodded, and when he saw some of his colleagues, they stopped when they saw Ms. Luther with Vahn. Except for Felix and Christopher, who arrived late because they had just come from the directorʼs office.

The arms of the two were crossed while some members of the task force agents congratulated Ms. Luther. “Anong ginagawa niya rito?” pagtatakang tanong ni Christopher.

“Malalaman natin iyan, pero tamang-tama na narito siya dahil kailangan na naming magharap,” sabi naman ni Felix kaya naman, napatingin sa kaniya ang kaibigan.

“Hindi ka ba nag-aalala na baka kapag muli kayong nagkaharap, maaari ka niyang maalala?”

“Ano ka ba, for sure naman na maaaring maging pamilyar siya sa akin, pero tingnan mo siya, sheʼs so innocent. Hindi tulad noong nakakaalala pa siya, iniiwasan niya ang ibang mga tao maging alagad ng batas.”

Felix walked closer to them to mingle. Christopher shook his head and followed Felix there. “Sir Vahn, whatʼs up?” He greeted her with a smile and seemed to pretend as if he had just seen her in person.

Napadako naman ng tingin si Rhian sa lalaking lumapit kay Vahn, at sa pagkakataong iyon, natigilan siya sandali at pinagmasdan ang mukha ng lalaki. “Oh, hi, Ms. Rhian Luther. Ikinagagalak kitang makilala in person.”

He offered his hand to shake hands, and Rhian slowly raised her hand to accept it. “By the way, Iʼm Felix Alvarez, and this is Christopher Carillo; we are all on the same team led by Sir Vahn.” Rhian didnʼt say a word and just kept staring at the manʼs face.

Nag-aalala naman si Christopher na baka nga bumalik ang alaala nito at makilala silang lahat, lalong-lalo na sa pagkatao ni Felix. “Did we really just meet, Sir Alvarez?” pagtatakang tanong niya sa lalaking iyon, at naalala niya noong nakaraang linggo lang ay nabanggit sila ng kaniyang mga kaibigan.

“If Iʼm not mistaken, youʼre the ones helping my friends too, arenʼt you?” They let go of their hands, but Rhianʼs lips showed a slight smile.

“Uh, oo, tama ka nga riyan, Ms. Luther. Kami nga iyon,” sabi ni Christopher na nasa likuran lamang ni Felix.

“Pero, Sir Vahn, bakit nga pala kasama mo siya rito?” tanong ni Cyrus.

“If you remember two weeks ago, we had a voluntary class session at Hyder University? Well, Ms. Luther has an interest there, and I want to help her in rehearsing and preparing herself,” pagpapaliwanag ni Vahn.

“Thatʼs fine, and if you need us too, just say it,” sabi ni Lloyd.

Vahn remembered that he still had to tell Director Alvarez about this. He was about to walk when his colleagues stopped him. “Kung magpapaalam ka kay Director Alvarez, kami nang bahala,” sabi ni Felix dahilan kung bakit napangiti si Vahn at tinapik ang balikat nito.