Guns and Kisses

Chapter 3

"New client."maikling sabi ni Venus at ipinatpng sa lamesa ni Benjie ang isang folder.

"Okay ka lang ba?"Benjie tried to hide every hint of concern in his voice.

"Puyat lang."walang ganang sagot ng dalaga. Umupo siya sa couch doon sa opisina ni Benjie. "Bakit? Maaga naman tayong umuwi kagabi ah."

"Wala ka na don."masungit na sabi ni Venus habang nagbubukas ng bote ng red wine.

"Tanghaling tapat, wine?"puna ni Benjie.

"Can't you just work there quietly while I work here while I drink my wine?"

"May lakad tayo mamaya."sabi ni Benjie habang nagtitipa ng mga letra sa kaniyang laptop. "Saan?"

"Bar hopping."

"I don't do bar hopping."

"A sexy girl like you doesn't do bar hopping?"hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Benjie.

"You think I'm sexy?"

"Yeah."wala sa sariling sagot ng binata.j

"So that's why you ask me to change my clothes everytime I were sexy ones. You're attracted to me." nakangiting saad ni Venus.

"I am most certainly am not!"pagtanggi ni Benjie.

"Oh come on, you tried to flirt with me the first time you saw me!"

"Okay you know, let's not just talk about that. I don't care if you don't do bar hopping, you're coming with me."may pinalidad na sabi ni Benjie.

Saglit silang binalot ng katahimikan, only the sound of the clicking of their mice and keyboards could be heard.

"Tatlonghari?"Venus lifted her head to look at Benjie. "Yes?"

"Does your family know about your job?"

"Wala akong pamilya."she casually said the finished a whole glass of wine.

"My Dad left me with my Mom who later on died because of cancer. Yung kapatid ko, hindi ko na alam kung saan napadpad. Naampon kasi sya ng isa sa mga tyahin namin. Dinala naman nila ako sa orphanage, kung saan ako nahanap ni Modesto Tatlonghari.

Like you, I was taught how to hold a gun at a young age. Ipinasok nila ako sa agency nila right after I graduated. And here I am now."pagk-kwento ng dalaga.

"Hindi mo na hinanap yung kapatid mo?"

"Nope. She hated me anyway, hindi kami magkasundo at masaya pa nga sya noong napahiwalay sya sakin. Wala na akong pake kung nasaan yung bruhang yon."sabi ni Venus habang nagsasalin ng wine sa kaniyang baso.

"Vee?"

"Ano nanaman?"

"Are you proud of your job? Proud ka bang ganito ang naging trabaho mo?"

"Honestly, noong una hindi. But right now, yes. I'm very skilled at what I'm doing and I'm proud of everything I've achieved. Before I even turned 21, nakapagpatayo na ako ng sarili kong mansyon without the help of Papa M. How 'bout you?"

"I guess? Kasi ito yung paraan para mapasaya ko yung tatay ko eh. Yung gawin ko 'to. So I guess I'm proud kahit na alam kong mali 'tong ginagawa ko sa mata ng ibang tao."

Muli na naman silang binalot ng katahimikan.

"Venus,"

"Hindi ka ba talaga nauubusan ng topic, 'no?"pairap na sabi ni Venus, na halatang naiirita na sa dami ng tanong ni Benjie.

"Ano meron sa inyo ni—"naputol ang sasabihin ni Benjie nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

"Dantes. May kailangan ka?"