The Merchant's Heavenly Contract

5

"Hey!" 

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa 'kin. Nakaangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko maaninagan nang maayos ang mukha niya dahil maliban sa pagitan nang tangkad namin, may suot-suot pa siyang malaking sumbrero.

Pero . . . nakikita ko siyang nakangiti.

Bumaba ang itaas na katawan niya para magpantay ang mukha naming dalawa. Nakaalalay ang mga kamay niya sa tuhod niya.

"Are you that kid who stole Hestia's ring?"

"Hoy! Zalli, nakikinig ka ba?!" Narinig ko na ang garagal na boses ni Jairo. "Bilisan mo!"

Nasa batok ang dalawa kong kamay habang naglalakad sa talahiban. Doon ko napansin na nahuhuli na pala ako sa kanila. We're on our way to the crime scene. I chuckled, rushing towards him. Patalon ko siyang inakbayan.

"My, my! Look at you, Jairo! Being punctual! Don't worry, we have all the time we need!" I smiled, even my eyes were. 

Lumabas ang matutulis niyang ngipin dahil sa pagkairita. Mariing tinanggal ang pagkakaakbay ko sa kaniya. "Shut up. 'Wag mo kaming pabagalin," mariin niyang sagot.

I have a smug look on my face. "Now, now. Maiba ako. Aren't you from the MHAF Dep., Jairo? Why are you here in DEMII?" pag-iiba ko nang may maalala.

The Mythos Agency has two departments. The Mythical Heritage Alliance Force (M.H.A.F.) and the Department of Mythologies Investigation and Interrogations (D.E.M.I.I.). The case we're doing right now is under DEMII, wherein we investigate cases that involve mythical creatures, monsters, and humans—and solve them. Since normal people couldn't do jobs like this.

However, MHAF is the opposite. They are the offensive troops. They hunt monsters as their job. They don't investigate and wait for cases, they work on the field. 

I used to work in the MHAF department, that's how I met Jairo who's on the offense as well. He was my junior in the Mexico branch back then. But I don't work with the agency now. Matagal na 'kong umalis sa field, dahil mas kumikita ako sa iba kong trabaho. I only do cases like this from DEMII when the agency calls for me. Or if the award is alluring to me.

I always thought that a man like Jairo who was still known as the undead on the battlefield stayed at that MHAF dep. He was even called to be par to Chen Li Sha from the China Branch who's a known monster on the battlefield. Who would think he'll settle as a detective, and work lowkey away from the lively and exciting field?

Napaiwas siya ng tingin na nakakuha ng atensyon ko. Narinig kong napabuntog-hininga ang nauuna sa 'min, ang kakambal niya.

Pouting, Celi glanced at me. "He almost killed a member of his team, 'mistaking it as a monster', he said."

Jairo gasped, couldn't believe that his sister would spill the beans. Napalobo ang bibig ko, pagpipigil ng tawa. Mapang-asar akong tumingin sa katabi ko.

Celi crossed her arms as we continued walking. "He was banned at the department at the moment, so he's here."

Nilakasan ko ang tawa ko, lalo na nang lumabas ang pagkapula sa pisngi ni Jairo. Mas lalo siyang nagalit.

"What are you doing, chico? You should be glad that you didn't have to face grave consequences," I scoffed. 

He glared at me. "Working with you is a grave consequence," he answered me with pure rage.

I answered him with a laugh. Hanggang sa may sarkastikong pagtawa ang sumabay sa 'kin. Bilang ang bawat pag-haha dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya. Panis siyang nakangiti sa 'kin.