Our Own Secret Mysteries (Ranger Series #1)

CHAPTER 7: The Houses

QADIRA

Maaga akong nagising. Alas singko pa lang ng madaling araw nang magising ako. Gaya nga ng sabi ko, wala akong constant waking time. Dahil paiba-iba ang oras ng shift ko, iba-iba rin ang oras ng tulog at gising ko. Nakasanayan na ng katawan ko kaya okay lang.

Sakto lang naman pala ang gising ko dahil mamayang alas sais, lakausapin ko na ang mga bagong recruits para makapag-umpisa na sila.

I started my day. Eating breakfast, maligo, magbihis at ihanda ang mga kakailanganin para sa presentation mamaya. It was no biggie for me. Mga recruits lang naman yun and I've done it hundred of times before.

Sumakay na lang ako ng elevator at pinindot ang 39th floor. Doon kasi ginagawa ang orientation or any business meetings dito sa ahensiya. Nang makarating ako dun, buti naman at naka-upo na ang lahat.

"152 agents. Consists of 98 girls, 54 boys. All present?" Tanong ko sakanila habang hawak ang folder kung nasan nandun lahat ng pangalan nila. Code Names, as usual.

"Yes, maam." Sabay-sabay nilang sabi.

"Okay, let's start then."

"Teka lang. Before I start, may I remind you that every word I say should always be retained in your brain. Alalahanin niyo lahat ng sasabihin ko. Let's say that it will be my welcome gift sainyo. Just a tip on how to survive." Sabay kindat ko sakanila.

"First and foremost, siguro naman alam niyo na kung anong klaseng organisasyon meron tayo. I do not know you personally, hindi ko alam kung nakaranas na ba kayong magnakaw, magpanggap, o hindi kaya pumatay. Lahat ng yon, mararanasan niyo dito." Pinaalalahanan ko pa sila bago ko tinuloy ang sasabihin ko.

"This agency has 5 houses, excluding the House of Jaren. House of Jaren, sila ang mga staffs at assistant natin dito. They do the paperworks but they are still agents, 'wag niyo pa rin silang mamaliitin because they are also well-trained. Hinati-hati nila ang organisasyon nato sa limang bahay para mas lalo pa itong tumibay. The names of the houses came from the five pioneers in the agency. They are the ones who built this empire.." I explained

"Going back to the Houses."

"The first house, House of Azarius Dalari. The Dalarians. Code Name: Dalari AZ. They are the archers and snipers. Dito din ako nabibilang. Ang dalawang yun lang ang sandatang meron kami, but we are good at handling those." Nakita ko namang tumango-tango ang ilan.

"The second house, House of Ysabel Mirania. The Miranians. Code Name: Mirania YB. Nandito lahat ng mga computer geniuses. They specialize in anything related to computers. Mapa-hacking man yan o kahit ano."

"The third house, House of Cy Xedrik Firel. The Firels. Code Name: Firel CX. All of the agents are required to undergo extensive physical training but in this house, mas doble pa ang mararanasan ninyo. They are the fighters. They are the best when it comes to hand-to-hand combat." I can see almost one-fourth of the agents who wants to join in this house.

"The fourth house, House of Merida Liren. The Lirenians. Code Name: Liren MD. They are the bombers. Sila den ang nagma-manufacture ng bawat bomba, baril, at nang lahat ng kagamitang meron tayo dito."

"The last house, House of Nike Zypher. The Zyphers. Code Name: Zypher NK. Intels ang mga ito. They are partners with the Miranians pero hindi lang sila computer-based. Sila ang laging nasa labas ng ahensiya para kumalap ng mga impormasyong kakailanganin sa bawat misyon. So be aware of those around you paglabas dahil hindi niyo alam na kasapi na pala sila sa bahay na to. They are very discreet."

"So, you choose kung san kayo nararapat mapabilang. Choose wisely because you cannot move houses once you are done."

Pinaliwanag ko pa ang ibang kailangan nilang malaman. All rules about it na confidential lahat. Minsan lang sila makaka-labas at kapag alam ito ni Prof Z.

"Kung wala na kayong ibang tanong, this meeting is adjourned then. Go to the 16th floor after this. Don muna kayo pumunta para pumili kung sang bahay kayo pupunta. They will guide you after."

"Okay po maam, thank you po!" Isa-isa nilang sabi tsaka umalis na din sa meeting area.

That meeting lasted for only two hours and yet, I feel so tired already. Ganon na ba talaga pag dire-diretsong nagsasalita at nakatayo sa harap. Buti na lang at matatagalan pa bago ko to gawin ulit.

Bumalik na lang ulit ako sa kwarto ko para magpahinga.

Pagpasok ko pa lang, naririnig ko na ang tunog ng phone ko. Hindi ko yun dinala kaninang nasa meeting ako para iwas istorbo. It was my second phone kaya naman alam kong isa lang na naman sa mga Krypthen yon. Krypthen ang tawag sa grupo naming lima dito. At hindi nga ako nagkakamali. It was our group chat.

Solana: @Qads, san ka na ba ha?

Knox: Is that bitch even alive?

Katanang: HOI! @Qads Huminga ka!

Yara: Baka busy lang

Napa-iling-iling na lang ako bago ko sila nireplayan.

I replied. Hey gais! Kalma, buhay pa naman ako kahit papa-ano.

Solana: Hay, salamat at nagreply na ang gaga!

Katana: My gosh, Qadira, kanina ka pa namin inaantay. Ganyan ba talaga katagal ang orientation sa mga bagong recruit?

Knox: Kung ganiyan din pala katagal, pwes, ayoko na.

Yara: Be ready Knox, ikaw susunod.

I just replied. Oo, ganto katagal. Be ready, Knox. Nakakapagod.

Katana: Buti buhay ka pa.

Yara: Grabe ka naman Kat. Are you okay, Qads?

Me: @Katana tumahimik ka nga! Masamang damo to kaya matagal mamatay. @Yara concern ka na sa lagay na yan?

Katana: HAHAHAHAHA. K.

Yara: Concern talaga ako, di ka nabaril eh. That sniper is damn stupid.

Me: Oh siya, tama na. Why are you making noise in this gc, anyway?

Knox: We thought you're already dead. By the way, the military got Teri Villavicente already. Huwag niyo na siyang abalahin pa. Just remove him from our list and ready for the next one.

Katana: Okayyyy.

Solana: Shut up, Kat! Alam naming Plan Libero ang inutos sayo at si Qads pa talaga ang sinama mo.

Katana: Gais, dont worry. The next one in our list is a high-profile syndicate leader kaya naman kailangan nating magsama-sama para dito.

Me: Just send me when and where we are going to plan.

Yara: Yeah, me too.

Solana: Sana ang gagawin natin sakaniya ay patayin, wala nang thrill this past operations.

Katana: Kalma gais, papatay din tayo ulit.

Knox: I'll send it ASAP girls, bye. Have to go!

Sabay-sabay na lang kaming nag-okay sa message ni Knox. Siya naman ang leader namin tuwing may group operations kami. Noon, hindi namin masyadong kilala ang isat-isa personally but later on, we got to know the wild side of each other. Mas lalo na't sa mga operasyon at sa bar lang naman namin nakakasama ang isat-isa.

Akala ko dun na matatapos ang paggamit ko ng phone nang tumunog ang phone ko na ginagamit ko sa trabaho. It was a text message from the director of the hospital.

"Dra. Vasquez, I know that at this time is still your day off, but an urgent thing came up, and you are needed here in the hospital. Please come ASAP. ~Dra. Malesi"

Hmmm, it seems that I'm in demand these days.