Chapter 20

Maaga akong nagising. I set my alarm at 5:00 in the morning. Tulog pa si Friedan. Sinadya ko talagang gumising ng maaga nang hindi kami magpang-abot sa sala o sa kusina o sa kahit saang bahagi ng first floor. Matapos ko siyang sigawan kagabi at tanungin ng kung anu-ano tungkol sa pagkatao ko, I think sharing the same table with him at breakfast is never a good idea. It would just ruin both of our mornings. Nobody wants a stressful start, so I am saving my soul for the day.

Baka masigawan ko uli ito at talikuran lang uli ako ng lalaki kagaya ng nangyari kagabi.

Yes, he was not able to give me answers. It's either he knew nothing about who I really am or he know something about me but he doesn't want to tell it. What would I expect from a pillar who's been so secretive about everything?

I started doubting everything, everyone, even Friedan. 

Thirteen years na magkasama kami sa bahay, thirteen years na napaniwala akong walang dahilan ang lahat ng pagkupkop saakin ni Dr. Roberts. How could I be so naive? Kung itinuring niya akong kapatid sa loob ng napakahabang panahon, bakit hindi niya masabi saakin ng diretso kung ano ang nalalaman niya o kung may nalalaman siya instead of walking away from my anger?

I had to consider moving. I did not like the idea but I have weighed things over the night. It's the only way I can see all angles and perspectives without being biased. I have been blinded to more than a decade and all I saw was just a single angle of possibilities. It's about time I take a 360 tour just to know the truth.

I tiptoed my way out and held my breathing. I was at my usual nerdy look. Bitbit ko ang itim na sneakers na niregalo pa ni Ara noong nakaraang birthday ko. I did not feel any movement downstairs. Tulog pa nga marahil si Friedan. Sinamantala ko ang pagkakataong iyon para makababa.

I was at the foot of the staircase when I noticed a shadow seated on the sofa. Lihim kong namura ang sarili ko lalo na nang magsalubong ang titig namin. Did he escape from my senses and remained untraced for a moment? Bihis na bihis ang lalaki habang abala ito sa pagkalikot sa telepono. Tumigil lang ito para lumingon sa kinaroroonan ko. He looked drop dead gorgeous in his dark suit. Dressed to kill again.

"Good morning." Bati nito na parang maganda ang gising at tuluyan nang kinalimutan ang inasta ko kagabi. His eyes were checking every angle of me.

"G'morning. May susundo saakin kaya maaga akong nagising." I took the initiative to explain myself. This has been an innate reaction, I felt obliged to explain myself everytime Friedan is involved and I hate the fact that I always wanted his approval about everything.

Patay-malisya akong naupo sa pang-isahang sofa malapit sa kinauupuan niya saka ko isinuot ang sapatos ko sa paa. I can see him staring at me intently while I was busy working on my shoes. Ano bang nakain ng lalaking ito at tila bait-baitan at nagbawas ng kasungitan sa katawan?

Tumikhim ito habang inaayos ko ang sapatos ko. I saw his brown leather Armani shoes moved closer. "Ihahatid na kita, I don't trust that Phelan Vargas."

Napabalikwas ako at maagap na sumagot. "No! Phelan is a good friend saka he's on his way down here."

I just realized the story I just made up. There was no communication between Phelan and I. Walang Phelan na darating para sunduin ako at iligtas ako sa bitag na binuo ng aking kasinungalingan. Did I just put a trap and confined myself in it?

I heaved a deep breathing bago ko siya sinagot. "I am already eighteen. We've talked about this. Your job, being a guardian just expired on my birthday."

He laughed to hide his embarassment but he failed to convince me. Humigpit ang hawak nito sa cellphone, almost cracking it into bits. "You turned eighteen but that doesn't mean na hindi ka na pwedeng ihatid sa school."

"I am already eighteen and I don't need a babysitter. Kuya!" I stressed the last word. Knot the chord of my left shoe and leaned on the sofa without meeting his gaze.

"Wow. That 'kuya', is that your way of mocking me? You never called me kuya." Muli itong natawa. Napailing-iling ito sa kinauupuan saka tumitig saakin bago nagdesisyong tunguhin ang kusina.

I grabbed the bull by its horn when he strode his steps towards the kitchen. Mabilis kong tinawagan ang telepono ni Phelan/Perv saka itinapat ang earpiece sa aking tainga. I was glancing at Friedan while he's checking something insidr the ref. Nahuli niya akong nakatingin sa kanya habang hinihintay kong sagutin ni Phelan ang telepono. The jerk, as expected, was a jerk on the first attempt.

Hindi sinagot ng lalaki ang tawag ko. Kaya muli akong nag-dial. The phone rang again with his annoying ringback tone, Gorilla by Bruno Mars. Mas lalo kong pinanggigilan ang hawak kong cellphone. It took almost 30 seconds before someone answered the phone. Babae. Pamilyar ang malandi at maarteng tono nito.

"Hello! Who's this? All I know is that a geek is calling Phelan based on the phone register. So sinong istorbong weirdo ito?" Iritableng sambit ni Senina Wespie sa kabilang linya. "Hello! Speak up Geek!"

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Kaagad kong naibaba ang telepono habang patay malisyang nakatingin kay Friedan na pabalik na sa sofa at may hawak na mug. His eyes were scorching, looking for answers on questions he cannot verbally asked. He sighed and then took a sip on the mug. He's probably drinking dark coffee with no sugar. "Okay," he started and then took back his throne on the sofa, "you have the right to refuse any babysitting from me. Yes, we have agreed upon this. You're eighteen and you have your freedom. Just-" he held his next words as his raven eyebrows almost clashed and hesitatingly he shook his head, "Just don't take your freedom for granted."

Tumango ako nang marinig ang sinabi nito. I felt the discomfort from him as he said those words --someone like a hyper overprotective kin would normally do.

"Okay." I said shortly trying to dismiss the serious conversation we're having.

Tumayo ito, he grabbed the handle of his leather suitcase and quickly glanced at his silver wrist watch. Without any further last words, he took his way to the door. Kasunod no'n ay ang nakakabinging katahimikan sa bahay bago ko narinig ang pagharurot ng sasakyan nito palayo.

There is this part of me that rebels from the decision I just made. It was like that part wanted Friedan's comfort so bad and letting him go was like a heartbreak I can't easily move on. But my head kept telling me I should take my distance. Distance from every distraction I have had for the past thirteen years so that I can see all the angles on a clearer perspective. This was the reason why, in the first place, I did not reject Dr. Robert's offer to adopt me --to become a powerful crowned urion, gain access on everything that could help me investigate and seek those who were responsible for my parents' death. Eversince I was a kid, I already knew that someone around me was responsible for their brutal death.

*****

Sa library ako tumambay nang umagang 'yon. Hindi ko na inabala si Ara dahil alam kong mahalaga sa kanya ang tulog. Alas siyete ang rehearsal para sa musical. Isa akong understudy, my presence would not even matter, but I needed to be there kundi ay sasabunin ako ng musical director na si Mrs. Pilorin kapag nagkataong may mangyari kay Senina.

Magsisimula na akong buklatin ang libro ni Arthur Conan Doyle nang biglang tumabi saakin si Ara na himalang maaga ring nagising. Nasa likuran nito sina Rumina at Kelvin na pawang may hawak ding mga libro. Kunot noo kong tinignan isa-isa ang mga ito hanggang sa nagboluntaryong magpaliwanag si Rumina.

"So we're here because we are not concern about you but it is because it is our responsibility to be here." She sarcastically uttered saka naupo sa katapat kong silya.

"Rumina, don't be so hard on Kiera." Awat ni Kelvin na halatang hindi sang-ayon sa sinabi ng babae. "Ofcourse we care about your safety Kiera and we are a team. Lalo na't bali-balita sa circle ng LOU na may mga nakaenroll na outcross sa university."

"I already told you guys. I don't need any of your protection. Gumagaya an rin ba kayo kay Vega at sa iba pang tagong crowned na nagkalat dito dahil sa mga outcross?" I muttered with a tone of irritation.  Nakakaduda na lahat ng ito sumulpot pagkatapos ng birthday ko. Something, yet unexplained, also happened to Phelan on his birthday.

Ano ba ang hindi pa sinasabi saakin ng LOU na kailangan kong malaman? Bakit ako nagkaroon ng hightened abilities after ng lunar eclipse? Ang dami kong tanong na hindi pa nasasagot at hindi kailanman sasagutin ng nga pillars o ng kung sino mang urion. They should have told every single detail about me. Everything about me was on the sly and no one dared to take the lid off.

"Friedan texted me Kiera, sorry he told me you were up early and you might need company." Ara explained herself. Nagkunwaring bumalik ang atensyon nito sa binabasang libro dahil alam kong alam nito na hindi maganda ang dating saakin ng pag-aaligid ng mga crowned urions. She knew me very well. She's my bestfriend since I was ten.

Bumalik ang isip ko sa mga kaganapan. Based on my assessment, I know someone who knows something about what's going on --Phelan Vargas. He never told anything about what happened to him on the night of his birthday. He also mentioned about the protection I need. 

Protection from who? Kaya biglang nagsulputan sina Vega, Polar ang Gorgos sa university? I am pretty much sure na may iba pang crowned urion sa paligid na hindi ko kilala at tahimik na nagmamanman. Posible.

I lifted my back from the chair I was seated on. Gagayak na akong paalis nang pagtinginan ako nina Ara, Rumina at Kelvin. 

"Saan ka pupunta?" They asked in chorus. Their presence was making me weak. They seemed to have been properly oriented by someone. They cannot deny the obvious, but I won't condemn them for following orders from someone who cannot be disobeyed.

"I will find Phelan. This is about the musical, okay? So don't. You. Dare. Follow. Me." That served as a warning to the three. I even put my index finger in the air for them to feel that it was an order that's meant to be strictly followed.

Paalis na ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang bigla kong narinig ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng school library. Next was the entrance of a tall, handsome, red haired guy with his headphones on. His dark raven eyes met my gaze. I felt the tension in his tendons. I heard him gulped for an air as we exchange gazes. The guy looked like a fallen angel, as equally handsome as Phelan or even Friedan but there was one thing that made me dislike him,made me want to kill him --his dark aura that triggered the sleeping hollows of my body. 

The guy is an outcross!

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