Tahimik lang kami sa loob ng sasakyan habang binabaybay ang daan pabalik ng Maynila. The transition from the cool, misty air of Tagaytay to the heavy, humid heat of the city felt like a system shock. For days, the safehouse was our only world, a controlled environment of polished pixels and forced synchronization. Ngayon, kailangan naming harapin ang gulo ng totoong mundo.
"You're overthinking again, Elena," basag ni Dante sa katahimikan. Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin, ang mga mata niya ay nakapokus sa trapik ng SLEX. "I can practically hear your brain running diagnostics."
"We're going into his territory, Dante," sagot ko habang mahigpit na hawak ang tablet ko. "Nathaniel Vance is a junior dev. He knows how to hide his digital footprint. Kung hindi natin siya mahahanap sa address na nakuha natin, we lose the only lead we have."
"Digital footprints are easy to erase, but human habits aren't," Dante smirked, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel in a rhythm that wasn't 4/4 like mine. "He’s young, he’s scared, and he’s probably panicking. People like that always go back to what’s familiar. Trust the soul, not just the server logs."
The sting of his confidence always got to me. My systems told me to be cautious, but Dante’s unfiltered intuition was the only reason we even had a name.
Pagdating namin sa address, isang luma at siksik na apartment complex sa QC. Ang bumungad sa amin ay ang amoy ng usok at ingay ng siyudad. This was a far cry from the high-end offices where I usually did my "fixing." Dito, walang firewalls. Just concrete and secrets.
"Floor 4, Unit 402," bulong ko. "Dante, wait. We need a plan. Hindi tayo pwedeng basta na lang kumatok."
Pero huli na. Dante was already out of the car, walking with a messy kind of grace that made him look like he belonged in this labyrinth. Wala akong nagawa kundi sumunod.
Habang umaakyat kami sa madilim at makipot na hagdan, ramdam ko ang bigat ng bawat hakbang. My professional walls were starting to feel very thin. Every time my arm brushed against his jacket, a spark of electricity reminded me of the night the power went out. The rhythm of our shared breathing was the only sound in the narrow hallway.
Nang makarating kami sa tapat ng pinto, huminto si Dante. Lumingon siya sa akin, his face just inches away. Sa ganitong kalapit, nakikita ko ang pagod sa mga mata niya, pero nandoon pa rin yung determinasyon na hindi kayang i-automate.
"Ready to get your hands dirty, Elena?" bulong niya.
Hinawakan niya ang handle ng pinto, but before he could turn it, narinig namin ang mabilis na yabag ng mga paa mula sa loob. Nathaniel was running.
"The back exit!" sigaw ni Dante.
Bigla niya akong hinila palayo sa pinto, his hand firm on my waist. The touch was unfiltered and raw. For a split second, hindi ang kaso ang iniisip ko, kundi ang architecture ng hawak niya sa akin.
"Stay behind me," utos niya, his voice low and dangerously protective.
Day eight. And the system wasn't just failing; it was completely breaking down.
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