Euclid Shellingford (Volume 2)

CHAPTER 36: Returnees

"Hi Dhie, did you miss me?"

Napakurap-kurap pa ako ng ilang beses sa magandang babaeng nasa harap ko. I'm not dreaming, right?

"Y-You're asking that now?"

"Psh, yeah right. I'm sure you have encrypted my image in your mind that's why it's impossible for you to miss me," Nickan pouted which made me smile. This is really my girl. I took her hand and gently pulled her closer to me.

"Are you nuts? Of course, I miss you!"

"Aww, akala ko di mo ko namiss ihh!" I felt her arms hugging me tight which made me smile even more. God knows how much I missed this girl.

I distanced myself to see her face. "What took you so long?"

"Ihh... hindi pa nga ko dapat babalik!"

"Ha?"

"It's just that there was this case and..."

"Ahh, so kaya ka agad na umuwi dito sa Pinas ay dahil hindi mo malutas yung kasong inassign sa'yo?" kunwari ay disappointed akong umiling-iling.

"Hindi naman sa ganun! Kaya lang—" I noticed her worried tone.

"Fine, let me hear about that case. But first, let me hug you once again," with that, I grabbed her for another hug.

***

"What do you mean he escaped?"

"It happened before our team came from solving a case. Code Blue has already activated and Moriarty has disappeared from his cell. Agad na ipinatawag lahat ng agents at doon na namin nalaman na may nakahack ng security system."

"But it's The Cube! Paanong—"

"It looks like they used a reverse engineering malware to disassemble the layers of the Cube's security system," napalingon ako kay Razor na kakapasok lang. Kasunod nito ang kakambal na tahimik lang na nakapamulsa.

"Reverse engineering? Hindi ba ginagamit lang yun para i-trace kung paano nakapasok ang isang virus sa isang system?"

"Yes. But it can also be used to trace and penetrate each layers of security."

"Moriarty..."

"I'm sure it was Kir's group," sabat ni Nessaj at saka umupo sa may sofa.

"All agents were asked to stay alert, especially you Euclid. Ikaw ang nakahuli kay Moriarty, kaya mataas ang probability na balikan ka niya," may pag-aalalang sabi pa sa'kin ni Nickan. Ginagap ko naman ang palad niya at saka ito pinisil.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine okay?" pilit naman itong ngumiti. I'm sure she's still worried. Hindi lang kami ang nasa peligro ngayon, gayundin ang mga taong malapit sa'min. That Moriarty will spare no one just to get his revenge.

"Siya nga pala Dhie..." umayos ito ng upo at saka humarap sa'kin.

"Hmm?"

"Natapos mo ba yung enrollment?" napakurap-kurap ako sa tanong niya. Did I just mishear something?

"You're asking about our enrollment?" pagkaklaro ko sa tanong niya.

"Why, yes! Don't tell me hindi mo siya natapos? Malalagot tayo nito sa parents natin kapag pinabayaan natin ang studies natin!" nakanguso pa nitong sabi.

"But Moriarty's—"

"We have to go to school now!" agad na sabi nito sabay tayo.

"Look, Nhie—we can just—"

"Euclid!" napatingin naman ako kina Razor na halatang nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Don't worry, boss! We'll notify you once we got a hold of him or any related news about his escape," nakangiti pa nitong sabi. Halatang nag-eenjoy sa sitwasyon ko, tsk. Napailing-iling na lang ako at saka dahan-dahan na ding tumayo.