Chapter 3: Chapter 2 - Infiltration

It's already 10pm. Kakauwi ko lang mula sa hotel na pinagtratrabahuan ko as I run an extra hour to settle my resignation after our agreement with Lady Treena. At dahil kunti lang ang mga bagay ko sa apartment na tinitirahan ko ngayon, wala pang 30 minutes ay natapos na akong magligpit sa mga damit na dadalhin ko sa AIS. I can't believe it's finally happening. 2 months din na kasi akong namalagi dito. It was enough time para e-familiarize ang sarili ko sa pamumuhay na ito. The life in the bustling city is way far different from the countryside. Minsan namimiss ko si Mom, Dad at Kuya, at sa simpleng pamumuhay namin noon sa probinsya. But I know, it's wishful thinking. Unless, I found out the cause of my family's current state, I can't let my mind rest at ease.

After checking my belongings for the last time, I headed to the bathroom. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I don't know if Lady Treena noticed that I'm wearing a black short hair wig earlier. Hopefully not, because I don't want to expose my real appearance yet. Atsaka nakasanayan ko na rin because whenever we attend social gatherings before, at some point, dad will ask me to wear one and also some contact lens. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I didn't object since I didn't want to associate myself with the socialites anyway. Now, I'm glad it happened, which allow me to move undercover without anyone suspecting me as the daughter of one of the chosen professors in AIS.

Tinanggal ko ang wig and let my real and natural curvy dark brown hair fall. Tinanggal ko rin ang icy-blue-colored contact lenses ko and reveal my honey-colored eyes beneath.

I mostly got my looks from my mom while I got my Dad's dominant skin tone and height. My Mom is half Filipino and Spanish whereas my Dad is British American. Minsan, napagkakamalan akong foreigner especially since I'm taller than average Filipina height, kaya naman I prefer to disguise myself kasi I found it bothering to have people around watching you as if you're a celebrity taking a stroll in the park. I also thank whoever invented a tanning lotion, which makes it more convenient for me to hide my real complexion.

Time flies so fast. Hindi ko namalayan na madaling-araw na pala. Hindi ako nakatulog dahil sa dami ng pinag-iisip ko. I don't know what awaits me in AIS o kung okay lang kaya si Mom sa probinsya or may chance pa kaya na magiging okay lahat at mabalik sa dati ang pamilya namin. If not for the knock on the door, I'd probably think my ass off until sunrise.

"Are you Miss Leilah Henderson?" Bungad na tanong ng butler pagbukas ko ng pinto.

"That's me." simpleng sagot ko. Hindi na ako nasurpresa na alam niya ang pangalan ko. Lady Treena must have run some background-check after our encounter. Buti nalang, I'm one step ahead and alter some of my credentials. That way, hindi nila malalaman ang buong katotohanan about my real identity.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Henderson. Shall we go?"

"Sure."

Wala pang isang oras ay nasa last checkpoint na kami ng AIS security protocol. On our way here, we run through 2 checkpoints. One, being an advanced tech to inspect the ins and outs of the car, and the other is health and baggage related. Nalaman ko rin sa butler na this is the standard procedure everytime and no one is an exception, kahit pa school director ka ng AIS. And for this last one, kailangan naming bumaba ng kotse to personally hand over our registered identity card and for facial match and analysis check.

The butler already informed me about this noong papunta kami rito mula sa apartment ko. At sa tatlong security check, ito ang pinakatricky na maipasa so they prepared all the necessary things needed for my get-up to look like the nerdy girl assistant. I had now shoulder-length black hair with side bangs, black-rimmed eyeglasses, dark brown contact lenses and a pale face with fake freckles. I'm already good at disguising but I still put more effort to look exactly the same as that girl. Although the butler reassured me that Lady Treena got this and it's also the 2nd time they did this, I'm still not reassured at all! Malay mo diba, there might be unexpected events, so it's better to give my 99% or else I don't know what kind of consequences I might face kung mahuhuli ako.

Lady Treena's butler goes first and pass, then it's my turn. I noticed another car park behind ours and someone standing behind me but I have no time to see who is it. Probably another elite AIS student who had the privilege to go in and out. I step forward and stand in front of the face recognition detector. Hindi ko mapigilang kabahan lalo na at may dalawang nakaistasyon na security officer, na inaabangan rin ang resulta plus the someone behind me. At lalong napigilan ko ang hininga ng matagal bago nagdisplay ng resulta ang detector. The two security officers in front of me exchanged glances. Magsasalita na sana ang isa ng biglang nagshutdown ang device. Before I could react, someone already did.

"What happened?" A melodious male voice rang. Someone step in beside me. Tinagilid ko ang ulo and glance who it was. My brows couldn't help but raise.

It's a young man in his 20's I guess. He looked like the epitome of smart, handsome, noble, and gentlemanly. He probably noticed my gaze, so he turned and glance in my way. His intelligent eyes behind the men's classic half-rim eyeglasses glowed beautifully highlighted from the rising sun at the east. He gave me a half-smile before turning back his attention in front.

"Young Master Cojuangco, please be reassured we will attend to it immediately." Saad ng isang security officer and went ahead to turn on the device and run a scan on the device monitor in their office.

After a while, the officer come forward and said "I'm sorry for the delay Young Master. Miss, you can now go ahead and rerun the test again."

"Okay." Simpleng tugon ko. This time, the device run smoothly and a 100% face match to the name 'Jane Angeles' was displayed on the screen. That's the name of Lady Treena's nerdy girl assistant before. I secretly exhaled a relieved breath before heading towards the car.

But before I could enter, I heard the young man ask the officers, ...

"How many times did this device shut down this year?"