10 Chapter 10: The Core of Deaths

NAGISING na lang ako dahil sa liwanag na tumatama sa aking mukha. Kakaiba ang aking nararamdaman ngayon. Mabibigat ang aking ulo at naluluha na ang aking mga mata sa sobrang init.

I looked at the clock hanging in the wall and I saw that it's already twelve in the afternoon. I still have my classes right now pero napagpasyahan ko munang hindi pumasok sa kadahilanang ako ay nagkasakit.

Yuri told me not to attend my classes but I really want to go. Not to learned something from my professors but to investigate the one who have a higher authority, the student council. I want to know all of their background information, their weaknesses and the most important part is their deepest secrets.

In the end, kahit anong pagpipilit ko ay hindi ako makatakas sa kanila at wala rin akong choice dahil nahihilo talaga ako ngayong araw. Minabuti ko munang ipagpaliban ang balak kong gawin para mas makapag-isip ako ng aking mga plano nang maayos.

Kung gagawin ko ang balak ko ngayon, siguradong papalpak ako.

Kahit na kating-kati na ang mga kamay ko na maghiganti sa kanila, I must have much more patience.

Before I pulled the trigger of my gun, I should know how my enemy is going to control it.

Isang katok ang nagpatigil sa akin sa pag-iisip nang malalim. Nanggaling ang katok hindi sa labas ng aming dorm kundi sa loob-dito mismo sa pintuan ng aking kuwarto!

"Sino 'yan?!" I shouted at nanatiling nakahiga sa aking kama. I assumed that it will be Yuri or Taeyeon.

Hindi ko inaasahang isang malamig na boses ang sasagot sa akin.

"It's Xiumin.." aniya na siyang nagdulot ng kilabot sa aking katawan. His chilling voice never fails to sends shivers down to my spine. I am not afraid but I can feel on his aura the coldness of himself.

But why is Xiumin here, anyway? It's rare that he will pay a visit to me since we are not that close to each other unlike his other co-members.

"Xiumin?! Why are you here?"

"I received an order from my leader that he will be not around due to some of his business things but he asked me to take care of you though you are not a child anymore to babysit."

Napatango na lang ako. "Why you-" he cutted me off.

"I don't know better ask our leader. As if naman gusto kong alagaan ang spoiled na tulad mo.." He murmured to himself that made me gritted my teeth.

"Like hell na gusto kong magpa-alaga sayo! You can go now if you don't want me to babysit by you." Sa mahinahon at paos na boses ko iyon sinabi. I don't want to argue with him, anyway.

"Tss. As if I have a choice. Can I come in?" He asked.

"Yes. If you want." Bumahing pa ako matapos kong sabihin iyon.

Nagbukas ang pintuan at unang bumungad sa akin ang mga malalamig na mata ni Xiumin. May dala-dala siyang tray na may pagkain at tubig na naroroon.

Nilapag niya iyon sa bedside table ko at tsaka bumaling sa akin ang malalamig niyang mga mata.

"Our leader cooked this food for you and I am so lucky that I am the one who is being ordered by him to bring it to you. Tch." Bakas sa kanyang boses ang pagkadisgusto sa kanyang ginagawa.

"If you don't like it bakit ka pumayag? Puwede ka namang tumanggi.." Naging tanong ko at inayos ang kapirasong basang tela na nakalagay sa noo ko.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla itong namula at napaiwas ng tingin sa akin. Napatingin ako sa kanyang mga kamay na hindi mapakali ngunit kalaunan ay inilagay niya iyon sa kanyang dibdib.

"Tch. It's none of your business.." he said in a flat voice.

"Kamusta na ang imbestigasyon niyo?" I asked.

"Nothing's changed. They are still playing blood games with us."

After hearing about Jack the Ripper's death, they volunteered to help me together with the White Wolves Group. I don't know kung ano ang rason nila para tulungan ako pero malakas ang kutob kong nais nilang pabagsakin ang maling pamamalakad ng mga nakakataas sa university na ito.

Kung ano man ang rason nila sa pagtulong sa akin ay wala ba akong pakialam doon. Ang mahalaga ay makamit ko ang hustisya para sa pagkamatay ng mga taong napamahal na sa akin.

I clenched my fist nang maalala ko ang pagkamatay ni Sunny. Rage was filling up in my mind. Kung sinuman ang pumatay sa kanila, hindi akong mag-aatubiling patayin siya. If they want me to play their game, I will play and outsmart them.

Sunny... Tiffany...

Naputol ang aking pag-iisip nang maramdaman kong may mga mainit na kamay ang dumampi sa aking noo. Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang nagmamay-ari ng mga kamay na iyon.

"Don't exhaust yourself from thinking on how to killed those people. You should get a rest first before doing that..." in a cold monotone voice he said.

Pinalitan niya pala ng bago ang telang nakalagay sa noo ko. Hindi ko napansing tuyo na ang telang iyon. Hindi ako nagsalita at pinagmasdan ko siya ng mabuti, naninibago sa mga inaasal niya ngayon.

"W-what?!" Napansin niyang kanina pa akong nakatingin sa kanya habang nilalagay sa aking noo ang panibagong tela.

"Are you sure that you are the Kim Min Seok that I know?"

"Tss. Ofcourse! Who do you think I am right now?" Bumalik na naman siya sa pagsusungit.

Napairap na lang ako sa pagsusungit niya at hindi na lang nakipagtalo.

"It's so rare to see you in that way- lending me some advice and taking care of me.. I thought you never like me as a friend.." Wala sa sariling turan ko.

"I don't like you.." He said nonchalantly.

"Oh.. I was not wrong.." I chuckled. I suddenly feel awkward of our topic. I don't know why. Maybe, hindi lang ako sanay na may taong ayaw sa akin pero bakit ba ako nangingialam? I shouldn't be bothered about this kind of stupid thing.

"But it doesn't mean that I never cared for you.." he added making me to glance at him.

He was looking at me with his cold eyes. May ibang emosyon akong nakikita sa kanyang mga mata. It feels like he was lonely. For what?

"I cared for you since the first time we've met, Jessica even though you can't clearly remember those times.."

"Huh? Does it mean na dati na tayong nagkakilala?" I exclaimed.

"Yes. Along with my co-members. You know that your organization and Wu Organization are good friends, right?"

Tumango ako.

"That's explains why.." he sighed.

Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng lungkot sa isang bahagi ng puso ko. Kinokonsensiya ako dahil hindi ko man lang maalala ang aking nakaraan kasama sila. Hindi ko maalala ang ibang detalye ng aking buhay maliban sa mga alaalang kasama ko sina Tiffany at Sunny.

Napatungo ako. "I'm sorry if I can't remember those things that we both shared.. I am still useless, you see? I can't do anything for my friends but to kill.. I can't make all of you to be happy.." Because someone who is dear to me will vanished.

"You're wrong."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya nang sabihin niya iyon. He was looking at me with those pair of cold eyes.

"It's a shame for me to say this but you are worth it to be loved. The first time I laid my eyes to you, you made my cold heart to feel the warmth."

Hindi ako nagsalita kaya nagpatuloy siya. "I know you are still grieving for what happened to Sunny but you should let go and accept the reality. You are not useless as what you think on you are. If you want us to be happy then be strong and fight your fears with all of your heart."

In contrary to his words, it made my heart lighted. The heavy things that stuck into myself are lifted.

"Min Seok..." Wala akong masabi kundi ang tawagin ang tunay niyang pangalan.

"And lastly don't call me on my real name. It make me feel sick."

"Then what should I call you?" I asked.

"I rather prefer if you simply call me Xiumin." He looked away and I saw him blushed. I could say that he looks cute while he was blushing.

I smiled at him. "It's settled then, Xiumin.."

Natigilan siya nang makita niya ang aking pagngiti. At sa isang iglap ay bumalik na naman siya sa dati.

"What are you waiting for?! Eat now before your food become cold. I'm sick of your drama. Tss."

"I am not dramatic! Wala nga akong luha e!" Hindi ko na napigilang sagutin siya. Mas mabuti pa iyong kaninang hindi siya nagsusungit sa akin.

"Whatever! It is also called drama because you keep on blurting out things like that!"

"Tss. Then you should cover your ears if you don't want to hear it! Stupid." Iritadong sambit ko at nilantakan ang pagkaing dala niya.

"Shut up! I should get out of this shabby room, it makes me feel sick."

"Go! Hindi kita pipigilan."

Naglakad na siya papunta sa pintuan at pagkuwan ay nilingon niya ako bago siya lumabas.

"About what I said earlier, I don't like you as a friend but I like you as a woman." Iyon lang ang sinabi niya bago siya mawala sa aking paningin.

Medyo nagloading pa ang utak ko sa sinabi niya. He likes me- what?!

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

***

HAPON na nang dumating sina Yuri at Taeyeon at agad nila akong binisita sa aking kuwarto kahit na hindi pa sila nakakapagbihis. Naabutan nila akong may kinakalikot sa laptop ko habang nakaupo sa isang silya.

"Good afternoon, Jessie. Are you okay, now?" Yuri asked while smiling.

"What do you think?" Pabalik na tanong ko. Ni hindi ko man lang sila tinapunan ng tingin.

"I think she's fine now. She is back on her usual self." May pagtataray na sabi ni Taeyeon.

"You know me well, bitch." I commented.

"Ofcourse. A bitch always know what her co-bitches do." She said and then give me a smirk.

"Hey stop it, both of you." Naging pagsuway sa amin ni Yuri.

Itinigil ko ang pagtipa ko sa keyboard at binalingan siya ng tingin. Napansin kong ninenerbiyos siya nang masalo niya ang aking titig.

"We are not fighting, Yuri. This is the way on how we greet each other." Muli kong inirapan si Taeyeon at ganoon din siya sa akin.

This past few days, naging maayos na ang tungo namin ni Taeyeon sa isa't isa. Yet, may mga times na nagpapalitan kami ng mga maaanghang na mga salita but we already accepted the fact na hindi talaga kami compatible sa isa't isa. Still, I treating her like one of my comrades.

"That bitch is right. We were just greeting each other a good afternoon and this bitch doesn't know how to clean up her mess." Inilipat ni Taeyeon ang kanyang mga mata sa tray na nasa bedside table ko.

"Napansin ko rin. May mga pumunta ba dito, Jessie?" Yuri eyed me like a specimen that she was examining.

"It's Xiumin. He brought me some food." I said cooly and then turned back on my laptop. I still remember his last words to me and I don't know how to react on that.

Narinig ko ang impit na pagtili ni Yuri sa aking sagot. Napapantastikuhan ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin.

"What?" I asked.

"He really likes you, Jessie. Biruin mo, he brought you some food at talagang nagpunta pa sa kuwarto mo! Teka, nakaka-apat ka na ha? You already have Suho, Sehun, and Kris plus dumagdag pa si Xiumin! Ikaw na gurl!" Tumatalon-talon pa ito nang sabihin niya iyon.

"What the hell are you saying, Yuri?!" Umikot ang bilog ng aking mga mata.

"I was saying na masyadong madami na ang nagkakagusto sayo. Omg! Nakakainggit ka, gurl! How to be you po?"

"Tss. It's not like that. They are just helping me."

What kind of joke did Yuri took? I know that those three have a special crush on me but Kris Wu? Him liking me doesn't crossed on my mind. Plus, I don't care about what their feel for me. They are just my comrades, anyway.

"Helping? Oh really?" Nakataas pa ang kanyang kilay nang sabihin niya iyon.

"Yeah."

"Balita ko rin, pinopormahan ka ng walo pang natitira. Ikaw ha, hindi ko alam na may itinatago kang sikreto sa amin. Sino ba pipiliin mo sa kanila?" Yuri said at binunggo ang mga balikat namin.

"That thing doesn't crossed my mind. I don't care about what is their feelings towards me. All I want first is the key to achieved justice."

"Hmm.. I see. What if kung nakuha mo na ang gusto mo? What will you do next?"

Napatigil ako sa pagtitipa nang ibato niya sa akin ang katanungan na siya iyon. Napaisip ako. Kapag tapos na ang lahat, ano na ang susunod kong gagawin?

"I don't know. Maybe I leave this place? I'm not sure. I don't have any plans yet."

"Ganon ba? Okay. Maiiwan muna kita diyan. Magbibihis lang ako saglit." She smiled at me ngunit alam kong hindi iyon umabot sa kanyang mga mata.

Nagtataka ko siyang sinundan ng tingin. Why does it feel na nalulungkot siya sa sinabi ko?

"You shouldn't say those words to your friend, bitch." Taeyeon uttered that made me to glance at her.

"What? I've just being honest.."

"Too honest that hurt the people surrounding you." Aniya at sinundan ang papalabas na si Yuri.

Natigilan ako sa sinabi nito at napagtanto ang lahat. I've hurt Yuri but what should I say? To stay in this university though this is not my real place? I've just being honest to her. Still, I don't know what to do after I've reach my goal.

I'm sorry, Yuri.

Muli kong ibinalik ang aking mga mata sa laptop ko. Binasa ko ang nakalagay sa laptop ko na kanina ko pa pinagkakaabalahan.

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBER LIST

Name: Cedric Delacroix

Age: 19

Position: President

Name: Ayumi Miyamoto

Age: 17

Position: Vice President

Name: Tristan Montgomery

Age: 19

Position: Secretary

Name: Ethan Mortimer

Age: 18

Position: Treasurer

Name: Jake Li

Age: 17

Position: Public Information Officer

Name: Shayne Montgomery

Age: 18

Position: Auditor

Cedric Delacroix is the founder's grandson and the headmistress's son. He is the center of the web, the core of killings and that stupid rules. He is also the one who proposed the gangster thinggy and made this university into a hell's core.

Cedric Delacroix has given the power to rule this university. He is more powerful than the headmistress and the Great Twelve. He has the power to change everything according to his game. And I've suspecting him to be the master mind in killing Sunny.

He is my dangerous opponent and should think a way on how to outsmart him while playing his game. At alam kong hindi lang siya ang makakalaban ko. Madami sila.

My phone beeped kaya kinuha ko iyon sa aking kama. I opened my phone and I saw a text message coming from Chanyeol.

Chanyeol:

Jessica, we already found out the stuffs that you want. I will be there in a few minutes.

Napangisi ako sa aking nabasa. Kaagad akong nagtipa ng aking isasagot ko kay Chanyeol. Siya kasi ang naka-assigned na mag-iinvestigate sa bagay na ipinapahanap ko since siya ang 'investigator' sa Great Twelve.

Me:

Good job. You don't have to go in my dorm. I'll be there in 15 minutes. Let's meet in our secret basement.

I hit send after I type it. Pinatay ko ang aking laptop at inayos ang mga nagkalat na mga gamit sa table ko. Dinala ko ang phone ko pagkuwan ay lumabas na mula sa aking kuwarto.

Bumungad sa akin sina Yuri at Taeyeon na tila may seryosong pinag-uusapan. Natigil lamang sila nang makita nila ako.

"Oh! Jessica, saan ka pupunta?" Yuri asked when she roamed her eyes in my clothes.

"I just have an important meeting with Chanyeol." Hindi na ako nag-abalang tapunan sila ng tingin at tuluyan ng isinara sa pintuan ng aming dorm.

Chanyeol:

Not with our meeting place. Let's meet in cafeteria. Hindi nila puwedeng malaman ang info na nakita ko lalo na si Kris.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanyang reply. Huminto ako sa paglalakad at nagtipa ng isasagot sa kanya.

Me:

Why? Ano ba iyong nakita mo?

After a few minutes ay agad kong natanggap ang sagot niya.

Chanyeol:

I'll explain it to you later. I'm telling you, Jessica. Nobody should know about this. This is really confidential and I don't trust my co-members about what I found.

Nakita ko siyang nakatalikod sa akin nang makarating ako sa cafeteria. Nagmamadali akong lumapit sa kanya at nang makalapit na ako ay napahinto ako nang mapansin kong hindi siya ang lalaking nagtext sa akin.

Natuod ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang makilala ko kung sino ang lalaking ito. Nanginginig ang aking mga kamay at lumakas bigla ang pintig ng puso ko. Kumulo bigla ang ulo ko pagkakita ko palang sa kanyang nakakairitang ngisi.

"Cedric Delacroix..." I whispered and gritted my teeth as I throw a dagger looks at him.

Yes. The one who I met is the mastermind. The master of this game, the one whose calling demons out of his soul. No other than him.

Cedric Delacroix.

Nasaan si Chanyeol? Anong ginagawa niya dito? What is the meaning of this?

"Fancy meeting you here, Jessica."