The Secrets We Keep (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen

"Kailangan mo ba talagang ituloy ang plano mo? Masyadong delikado. It will be you against the Mellonis, and we're not even sure if the evidence we got are genuine or planted on purpose for us to find.”

JC hated having this conversation so early on a Tuesday, but she had to know Stefan's plans for sure. Kahit pareho silang umaasa ni Holt na hindi planted ang mga dokumentong nakuha ay nais pa rin nilang makasigurong alam nila ang bawat hakbang at balak ni Paul para masiguro kahit papaano ang kaligtasan nito. UIN was not willing to sacrifice him in lieu of exposing the Mellonis. They need Stefan alive and able to testify.

Tahimik lang ang lalaki na tutok ang atensyon sa pagmamaneho. Gaya kahapon sy ihahatid siya nito sa opisina bago ito tumuloy sa sariling trabaho.

"I have been waiting for this opportunity, JC. Hindi puwedeng basta ko na lang isuko." Sa wakas ay sabi nito ilang ksnto bago ang Pan Pharma building. "

"Puwede kang humingi ng tulong, ng back-up. Hindi mo puedeng solohin ang misyong ito." giit pa niya.

Stefan shook his head. "This is ny battle, JC." then he sighed as he pulled over next to her building's entrance.

"I'll go with you then," she met his eyes determinedly.

Napaharap ito sa ksnya, "Shit, JC. No! Are you fucking crazy?"

"No, but you are." balik niya. "Crazy and cruel. Naniniwala ks ba talagang gugustuhin ng papa at Ate Stana mo itong ginagawa mo? They'd want answers, sure, but not at your expense. They deserve justice, but I doubt they'd want you to tucking get yourself killed by the same man as well." humihingal na siya sa frustration. Ayaw niyang gamitin ang kung anong mayroon sila para maimpluwensyahan ang desisyon ni Paul pero kailangan.

He now stared at her as if he cannot believe what he just heard. "You're telling me to quit?"

"I'm telling you to think about it." her voice was even.

His jaw clenched as he kept his eyes on her. Pagtingin niya sa kamay nito ay halos mamuti iyon sa higpit ng hawak sa manibela.

Napailing siya. "I need to go. May meeting pa kami." hinila niya psbukas ang pinto ng sasakyan.

"JC..." he called, his voice hoarse.

Nilingon niya ito. "Yes?" her voice faltered when she saw defeat and sadness in his eyes. Oh, God. No.

Napalunok ito. "You're right. I'll think about it."

Narinig niya ang sinabi ni Stefan, pero alam niya eksakto kung ano ang ibig sabihin niyon. He's choosing her. He's letting go of a quest that consumed almost half of his life.

Hindi na niya inisip kung nasaan sila, o kung may makakakita. She pulled him by the neck and cupped a side of his face, and kissed him. Hard.

He was startled, but he soon kissed her back, raked his fingers through her hair as their tongues duelled and their breaths mingled. They were both gasping for air when they parted, both dazed, but he still managed to comb her hair into place.

"I'll see you later. Late lunch?" lunayo na siya, at muling humawak sa pinto.

"Lunch." sang-ayon nito.

Kumakabog ang dibdib niya nang makababa ng sasakyan. Hindi na niya inihatid ng tingin ang SUV ni Stefan. Dire-direcho siya sa lobby habang mabilisang binubuo sa isip ang susunod na hakbang.

But first, she needed to call Holt, then Arianna.

~~❤~~

Sa pagitan ng paperwork na tila itinambak sa kanya ay hindi niya ma-contact si Holt. Laging out of service area ang cellphone nito. Hindi rin nagre-reply sa text. Dahil doon ay hindi rin niya matawagan si Arianna dahil wala pang plano.

What happened to Holt? Mag-a-alas dos na ay wala pa rin itong sagot. At exactly two in the,afternoon, Stefan texted. Let's just have lunch at your cafeteria? Let's split a pizza and that nacho basket? And ice cream?

Nangingiting nag-reply siya ng 'Okay.' Stefan can be such a kid sometimes. It was both sad and endearing at the same time. Dumirecho na siya sa cafeteria at nag-order. Nagdagdag siya ng soup at cookies para papakin habang hinihintay ang kasama. Gutom na kasi siya dahil halos walang break simula kaninang alas nueve. Ilang minuto lang ay naubos niya ang soup at tstlong piraso ng choco chip cookies.

She checked her watch as she finished a glass of water. Nang bumukas ang pinto ng cafeteria na halos solo niya ay itinaas niya ang kamay para sana kumaway, pero sa halip ay dalawang tauhan ng mga Melloni ang pumasok, at dire-direcho sa puwesto niya.

Fuck, what's going on?

Hinintay niyang may maglabas ng baril, pero sinenyasan lang siya ng dalawa na tumayo.

"You're meeting Paul at the old mansion." tila nang-iinis pang sabi ng isa habang iginigiya siya sa pinto ng kainan, papunta sa lobby, palabas ng building.

Sa labas ay tatlong sasakyan ang naghihintay. Walang salitang binuksan ng isa sa sunundo sa kanya ang kotse sa gitna at halos itulak papasok sa loob. The other two cars were obviously their escorts.

"I'm sorry, Jends. I miscalculated. I really wanted for you and Stefan to disappear together instead."

Sinalubong niya ang tingin ng nagsalita. It was Holt, looking both, sad and angry.

"I was sent all over the fucking city the entire morning and was just told about this fifteen minutes ago. I'm sorry "

Naniniwala siya sa lalaki. Alam niyang hindi sila nito pababayaan. "It's okay," huminga siya ng malalim. "The original plan, then?"

Holt nodded grimly, "Yes."

Nanghihinang napasandal siya st napapikit. I'm sorry, Stefan.