12 Chapter Eleven: Vulture

Chapter Eleven: Vulture

"Bakit tayo ang kailangan pumunta at hindi nalang sya?"

"Because tayo na nga lang ang naghihingi ng favor."

"Tsk. Whatever, anyway kumain ka na ba Minki? Do you want to go to the Canteen before we go?"

Minki did not even bother to lay any eyes of him to Samantha who was just beside him all the time since we met earlier in the Green house, she is beeing ignored since then so I answered her instead. "Pinabaunan kami ng Team mate namin ng food bago kami umalis."

Sabi ko rito sabay tap ng dala kong bag, nagbitaw lang sya ng tingin sa akin at inirapan ako. "So una nating kukunin ay ang Vulture feather?" Tanong naman ni Lisa habang may hawak-hawak na libro at binabasa ito.

Tumango ako sa kanya. "What about the rest?" She added. "I already went to the library earlier at nakuha ko to." Pinakita ko sa kanila ang pinicturan kong information na nakuha ko sa isa sa mga libro roon.

"What is that?" Takang tanong sa 'kin ni Samantha kaya binalik ko sa akin ang cellphone ko. "It says na yung Croxial flower is malapit lang sa west lagoon which is nakakuha ako ng map papunta doon and katabi naman nun ay ang Flachus Gas na isa sa mga kailangan natin kaya nagdala na rin ako ng plastic para doon." Paliwanag ko sa kanila.

"So that is your reason for asking Dexter earlier if we do have a plastic bag?" tumango naman ako sa tanong ni Minki. Natawa nalang sya sakin at umiling iling kaya ganun din ang ginawa ko.

"Dala ko rin yung pinapadala mo sakin Pres." Napatingin naman kami sa taong nasa likod at doon lang namin napansin na kasama pala namin si Jake. What's with the Pres? Medyo tahimik kasi sya kanina kumpara sa naging ugali niya nung una kaming magkakilala. "Limang bottles ang dinala ko incase lang and for emergency." Sagot naman niya sakin kaya tumango ako rito at nag thumbs up.

Sabay sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa Gate ng Academy para salubungin roon si Rance. It is already 3:50 pero inagahan talaga namin at baka magalit iyon at mag back out kapag nalate kami at pinag antay namin sya, mahirap na.

"Si Rance." I shouted when I saw a silhouette of a man standing, facing his back to us while his right hand was inside of his pocket. Lumapit muna ako sa mga Guard ghoul na nagbabantay rito at inabot ang pass namin na nanggaling pa sa Dean's Office para mapayagan kaming makalabas ng school ground.

"Rance, ang aga mo ata." I blurted as soon as soon as I approached him.

"He should be, sya ang nagpapunta sa atin rito eh."

"Shut up Samantha." Tigil ni Lisa sa kanya at inirapan lang sya nito.

Suddenly, I startled when his gazed, cold-blooded eyes met mine as soon as he turned his back to us, medyo napaatras ako dahil sa ginawa niyang yun at napaawang ang ngiti ko nang makita sya.

"Just follow me, I don't want you to waste my time." He seriously said, he leaded and we all just behind him.

"Are you sure that we needed his help?" naramdaman ko nalang na may umakbay sa akin, si Minki. Sinundan niya ng tingin si Rance na naglalakad na harap namin. "Of course, tsaka andito na tayo, I know he will help us kahit mukang masungit yan, besides he is our team mate." Sagot ko rito pero inirapan lang ako nito at sumunod na rin sa paglalakad kaya tahimik nalang kaming sumunod sa kanila.

"Hindi mo naman sinabi na gwapo rin pala ang isang yan." Naramdaman ko nalang bigla ang prisensya ni Samantha sa tabi ko ng bigla niya akong bulungan. Hindi ko nalang sya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang kami sa paglalakad.

Nagdala rin kami ng kanya-kanyang flashlight namin dahil hapon na at sa masukal na gubat ang aming daraan para mahanap ang kinakailangan namin. "Sure ka ba talagang alam niya?" tanong sa akin ni Lisa.

Tumango naman ako sa kanya. "Yes, sa Vulture niya daw nakuha ang chess piece niya." Sagot ko rito at tumango tango naman sya ng makumpirma ang sagot ko.

Marami kaming pasikot sikot na dinaanan. Nahaharangan ng malalaking puno ang nakapaligid samin kaya maingat kaming naglakad rito, parang gubat at bundok ang daan namin at ramdam narin namin ang pagdilim ng paligid dahil nahaharangan narin ng malalaking puno ang natitirang sinag ng araw papunta sa amin.

Mga kalahating oras na din ng magsimula kaming maglakad ng bigla nalang huminto si Rance kaya napahinto na rin kami. "We are almost there." Minki announced kaya nagkatinginan kaming lahat at inihanda ang mga sarili namin.

Bago kami umalis kanina ay pinaalala sa akin ni Zed na kailangan nga namin magdala ng armas at proteksyon para daw makasigurado kami sa maaaring mangyari sa amin sa gitna ng kagubatan at hindi rin pamilyar sa amin ang lugar na'to. And because of the trauma that caused me way back then, I brought my arrow and bow even though I am not that sure if I can shoot again. Just in case only.

"Ang sakit na ng paa ko, wala namang nagsabing hiking pala 'to." I heard Samantha complained, I turn my back at dun ko lang napansin na naka heels pala sya.

"Sino ba kasing nagsabing mag heels ka?"

"No one and none of your business."

"Okay? Bahala ka sa buhay mo." Nagsimula nanamang magtalo sina Samantha at Lisa kaya nauna nang naglakad si Lisa sa kanya at inawan syang nahuhuli.

"I could carry you." Alok naman sa kanya ni Jake pero inirapan lang sya nito pabalik. I shifted my eyes in front of me which Rance lead the way, followed by Minki.

"I think we are already here." Lumingon sa amin si Minki kaya naglakad ako papalapit sa kanya at doon ko lang nakita ang tinutukoy niya.

Rance suddenly stopped and look at the scene that was in fron of him, he laid back on one of the trees near him. May malaking Cave ang nasa harapan namin at sa gilid ng cave na to ay maaaninag mo na may mga kumikinang kinang sa loob nito. It's like a mining cave full of crystals.

"Here it is." Rance stated on us kaya napalapit na rin kami rito.

"Sinasabi mo ba na nasa loob niyan ang vulture?" Tanong ni Jake sabay turo sa kinaroroonan ng Cave. Lumingon sa kanya si Rance at madiin itong tumingin rito, nag iwas naman ng tingin si Jake dahil rito. "Sabi ko nga nandyan."

Lumapit pa ito sakin para may ibulong. "Ang sungit naman ng ka team mo na yan." I gave a half-smiled at him as a response.

"If you want to get one of their feathers, then you must defeat them." Nagulat ako ng bigla niyang sabihin iyon kaya agad ko syang tinignan. "What do you mean by that? Kailangan pa naming makalaban yung Vulture dyan? Hindi ba normal na ibon lang yun." Tanong ko rito.

"Do you think that everything in this world is normal?" I bit my lip when he says those words. He was right, nothing is normal in this world.

"Yun lang pala eh, madali lang yan!" mayabang na sigaw ni Jake at bigla nalang sya pumagitna sa amin dahilan para mapaurong kami. "Where are you going?" tanong ni Lisa sa kanya dahil sa irrational behavior nito.

"Edi kukuha ng feather ng Vulture ng matapos na 'to."

"Do you think it's just that easy?"

"Psh, Oo naman. Sa tingin mo para saan pa at galing ako sa Black King team." Mayabang na pakilala niya sa team niya at tinaas pa nito ang kaliwang braso niya na may pulseras na kulay pula at may simbolo ng Black King chess piece.

"What is he saying? Doesn't he know that getting a chess piece is just random?" Rinig kong bulong sakin ni Minki habang naka halukipkip. I upwardly shrug my shoulder as my answer.

"Tss." Rance scoffed at him as he clicked his tongue out of frustration.

"Watch me." Mayabang pa na saad nito bago nangunang naglakad sa amin. Mula sa kamay niya, nakita kong naglabas sya ng maliliit na patalim roon.

Kasunod naman niya sa likod si Rance na nakatayo lang at tinitignan ang katangahang ginagawa ni Jake habang magkatabi naman kaming dalawa ni Minki, sa gilid namin ay si Lisa at sa likod nito ay si Samantha na napaupo na sa isa sa mga puno habang hinihimas nito ang binti niya.

"Jake wag ka ngang tanga! Hindi natin alam kung anong klaseng vulture yan at isa pa we still don't have a plan on the process don't be so irrational!" sigaw ni Lisa sa kanya pero mukang walang itong balak makinig.

Patuloy lang sya sa paglalakad papunta sa Cave at mukang talagang susugod sya mag isa. Talaga bang ipapahamak niya ang sarili niya? Tuluyan na syang nakarating sa bukana ng cave at gamit ang flashlight namin ay inilawan niya iyon at tuluyan ng pumasok sa loob.

"He will be dead in no time." Rinig kong bulong ni Samantha na nakaupo parin sa puno. Hindi ko naman mapigilan na nakatayo lang ako at parang tanga na hinayaan ko syang pumunta roon ng sya lang mag isa. After all, kargo ko parin sya.

Naglakad na ako papunta rito dahil mukang walang balak mag back out si Jake. "Selene where are you going?" Minki called me.

"Susundan ko si Jake, baka mapano yun." Sagot ko sa kanya ng hindi sya nililingon habang naglalakad ako sa matarik na daan na ito na punong-puno ng bato.

"Are you insane?! You heard Rance right? It's too dangerous."

"But I can't leave him do things that he might regret later." Lumingon ako saglit sa kanya at tsaka na naglakad paunahan.

"Jake! Lumabas ka muna!" I shouted as I got nearer the opening of the cave. "Wala naman akong nakikita eh." I heard him shout back.

Napasapo naman ako sa noo ko ng nasa harap na ako ng Cave. I put my hands over my mouth as I shout back at him. "Get back here! Hindi pa nga tayo sigurado eh!"

"Selene! I told you not to follow him." Naramdaman ko nalang ang kamay ni Minki sa likod ng balikat ko kaya nilingon ko s'ya, I looked frustrated right now. Bakit ba gan'to ang mga kagrupo ko?

"Wag kayo mag alala wala namang...Ahhh!" I felt a pang in my chess when I heard him scream out lungs that echoed the whole cave.

"Jake!" Sigaw naming lahat na naririto maliban kay Rance at Minki. Mabilis na lumapit si Lisa sa amin at napatayo naman si Samantha dahil sa pagkakabigla.

"Look! I told him!" Minki cursed as his both brown eyebrows met at the middle and wrinkled his forehead.

"Ano nang gagawin natin?" kinakabahang tanong sa akin ni Lisa, maski ako hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Bakit ba kasi ang tigas ng ulo ng lalaking yan eh!

Humakbang ako papalapit ng maramdaman ko ang hawak ni Minki sa balikat ko kaya napatingin ako agad sa kanya. "Are you stupid? Are you really going inside there?" he furiously said.

"But Jake is..."

I stopped when a loud growl came outside of the cave and suddenly a whirlwind came out from the opening that blew us away. Minki pull me out from my previous spot because of the blew of the wind that strike us.

Napapikit ako dahil roon at dahan dahan kong idinilat ang mga mata ko, wait si... "Jake?!" Sigaw ni Samantha mula sa likod namin at napansin ko nalang na may taong tumatakbo palabas rito at humahangos. It was Jake.

He was screaming at the top of his lungs as he ran so fast. "Guys we should run!" Sigaw niya samin na tumakbo pa papunta sa puno kung nasaan nakatayo sina Lisa at Samantha. We shifted our gaze on him pero hindi parin matago ang kabang naramdaman ko dahil sa malakas na sigaw at hangin na humampas sa amin galing sa loob ng kweba.

"Wait why? What is happening?" Nagpa-panic na tanong ni Samantha sa kanya.

"H-hindi basta-basta yung nasa loob." Jake is still panting looking for an air as he answered. Lahat kami ay nakakunot noong tumingin sa kanya.

"Ano ba kasing ginawa mo?" Lisa went to him and punch him on his arms.

"Brace yourselves." As soon as Rance said that, felt something iffy is going on.

"What?!" Samantha asked at bigla nalang kami nakarinig ng mas malakas na sigaw mula sa kweba at malalakas na yabag dahilan para magsihulog ang ibang bato na nakapalibot sa cave.

Minki touched my shoulder as he pulled me out of the scene, I was still fixed to the scene that was happen a few seconds ago.

"What is happening?" I ask myself at bago pa may makasagot sa mga tanong ko ay bigla nalang lumabas mula sa malaking cave ang isang ibon.

It was not an ordinary bird or just a vulture that I used to see; it was a huge red monster bird. It has sharp claws, red and black feathers, red eyes and pointed beak. This is different from the vulture I know from the Snow White; this one is a monster vulture.

It screeches loudly as soon as it steps outside of the cave. Minki and I step backwards for we are the one who are too close at this giant monster vulture.

"Slowly." Minki whispered as we took our step back away from this monster who could kill us in no time.

"Ahh!" Bigla nalang sumigaw si Samantha dahilan para mapapikit ako sa frustration. Why did she have to yell at this moment? Why now?

Mas lalong sumigaw ang vulture sa harap namin at malakas nitong iginalaw ang pakpak niya na nagdulot ng malakas na ihip ng hangin.

"Run."

We immediately ran as soon as we heard that. Bahala na kung saan kami dalhin ng paa namin pero tumakbo lang kami sa gitna ng gubat at kakahuyan na 'to. It is hard to escape too especially when the light is failing you, dumidilim na ang paligid at ang tanging ilaw lang namin ay ang flashlight na hawak-hawak namin.

"Why do you have to scream?!"

"I'm scared, ok?!"

Nag aaway na sina Lisa at Samantha habang tumatakbo kami hanggang sa marating namin ang patag na daan rito sa kagubatan. Mabilis parin kaming tumakbo at wala ni isa ang gusto magbagal.

Nasa unahan ko sina Jake, Rance at Lisa at katabi ko naman si Minki samantalang nahuhuli naman si Samantha dahil sa suot nitong sapatos.

"Omg my feet aches!" she complains, napasapo nalang ako ng noo sa isip ko dahil sa ginagawa niya. Sino ba kasi nagsabing magtakong s'ya gitna ng gubat? S'ya lang ata.

We keep running and running until I heard a breaking noise behind me that made me stop. Lumingon ako at nakita ko nalang si Samantha sa sahig na hawak-hawak ang paa niya habang nangingiwi siya sa sakit. She trips because of her broken heels.

"Arg!" She whined in pain, mabilis naman akong lumapit sa kanya at hinawakan s'ya, she slowly looked at me. "I can't walk, namamaga ang paa ko." She pointed me her bruises that causes by her heels and uncertain accident and she was right. Her ankle turned violet.

"Selene! Samantha!" I heard them shouted at nilingon ko sila, napansin siguro nila na hindi na kami nakasunod sa kanila.

"What are you two doing?!" Jake shouted at us in aggravation.

"She's hurt!" I shouted back at them, I saw the burden in their action as they all walk towards us but they immediately stopped; I felt that something is wrong because of that.

"Behind you!" Lisa shouted and clasp her hands on her mouth.

Nakaramdam naman ako ng malakas na dagundong mula sa likod namin kaya sabay kaming napalingon ni Samantha at bumungad sa harap namin ang napaka laking Vulture na kani-kanina lang ay humahabol sa amin. It growls loudly that cause a big wind that strikes us so I held Samantha tightly to keep her still.

Samantha shouted in fear and my instinct take over me. Bigla ko nalang kinuha ang pana na nakasabit sa akin at kumuha ng isang arrow mula sa likod ko.

"Selene what are you doing?" her voice cracked.

"Saving our lives."

I heave a sigh and position myself as I set the sharp point of my arrow at the Vulture in front of me, I don't know what came to me but I felt a saturated of happiness while doing this.

My eyes were sharp as I let go of the arrow and let it slip through my hand at wala pang segundo ng tumama ito sa bandang hita ng vulture dahilan para mas lalo itong mag-ingay at sumigaw kaya malakas na hangin ang pinakawalan nito gamit ang pakpak niya kaya mabilis ko namang niyakap si Samantha dahil dito.

I saw the madness of the Vulture as it shows it sharp teeth inside its beak. I must be wrong about them; they do have sharp tooth that could kill anyone. Is that even legal for having a beak and a sharp teeth underneath at the same time?

"Omg!"

Nakita ko nalang na susunggaban kami ng Vulture at hindi ko magawang mahila kaagad si Samantha kaya madiin akong yumakap sa kanya, trying to cover her at napapikit nalang ako sa takot, wishing it could spare our life.

I keep myself still for a second pero wala man lang akong naramdaman ni kahit ano maliban sa malakas na ungol at sigaw ng vulture.

"Move!"

I slowly opened my eyes thinking I might be dead but this is different from what I expected. I saw a pair of dark cold-blooded eyes staring at me.

It was Rance.

"I said move!" He shouted again as he gritted his teeth in anger, seeing his cold pair of eyes made me stiff for a second. Lumingon ako sa likod ko at doon ko lang nakita ang Vulture na nakaangat sa ere at para bang may pwersang pumipigil rito para kumilos at magpumiglas.

Nahagip ng mata ko sina Minki at Lisa na tumakbo papalapit sa amin at dahan-dahan kong hinila si Samantha paalis sa pwesto naming 'yon. Binigay ko naman si Samantha kay Minki ng makarating s'ya sa'min at inalalayan naman niya ito papunta sa isang sulok para ilayo sa kapahamakan.

"What have you done! Pwede kang mapahamak!" Lisa nagged at me the moment she reaches me. "Then anong gusto mo? Iwan ko si Samantha?" I wrinkle my forehead as I answer her.

"You need to leave!" Sigaw naman ni Rance samin kaya muli ko s'yang nilingon. He is using his hands like he is controlling the vulture movements without a direct contact to it. What is he?

"Hayaan mo akong tulungan ka." Sigaw naman ni Jake sa likod niya, he fished something under his pocket and it reveals a small sharp metals that I saw earlier from his hand.

He tried to throw it to the Vulture sides while Rance is still controlling it. "I said leave!" Rance shouted at him trying to look back.

"Jake wag ka ngang pabigat!" Lisa looked so mad at Jake but this idiot keeps doing his thing. Mas lalo akong naiinis sa katangahan na ipinapakita ni Jake, why did he have to be bothersome!

I step forward to take Jake out of this but I felt Minki's hand that trying to stop me.

"Tutulungan kita pre at isa pa hindi pa kami nakakakuha ng feather niyan." He keeps throwing his sharp metal nang tamaan nalang bigla si Rance dahilan para matigil ang ginagawa niya at mapaupo sa sahig habang sapo-sapo nito ang balikat na natamaan.

"Sorry!" lumapit si Jake rito at akmang hahawakan niya ang balikat ni Rance ng malakas nitong hinawi ang mga kamay niya at madilim na tumingin sa kanya. "What do you think you are doing?!" his eyes become darker, he turned red in fury as he looked at Jake; Jake steps back because of this.

"What are they doing? The Vulture." Minki stated as he also trying to calm Samantha from crying from the pain that she is enduring right now.

Bigla nalang sumigaw ng napakalakas ang vulture at gamit ang malalaking pakpak nito, kinumpas niya ito ng paulit-ulit. It blew a big force of air that create a whirlwind that surrounds us. Mabilis kaming naghanap ng makakapitan dahil sa lakas ng hangin na ibinubuga nito.

That's not the end of our suffering cause we also heard a loud wail from the vulture that made us cover our ears. I saw the rage in Vulture's eye as it was eyeing Rance who was still enduring the wound that he got from the clumsiness of Jake. I immediately ran towards him when I felt that something is wrong with the Vulture.

Dahil nawala ang pag kontrol ni Rance dito, malaya nang nakakagalaw muli ang vulture at bigla nalang kumilos ito ng pagka-bilis papunta sa pwesto niya, kaya mabilis kong kinuha ang isang pana sa likuran ko ng matakbo ako sa pwesto niya at mabilis kong hinawakan ang balikat niya para paupuin s'ya at pinatamaan ang vulture na paparating sa amin.

It wounded the vulture kaya bigla nalang itong napalihis ng lipad dahilan para hindi direktang tumama sa amin ang pabagsak na niyang katawan ngunit nagawa niya kaming masangga gamit ang kanyang pakpak dahilan para maitilapon kami sa gilid ng damuhan.

I felt the pain since I never experience being thrown away. I felt a scratch under my palm as I keep my state in focus.

The vulture screech as it flew in a circular motion because of the pain that I've caused him.

I tried to stand and look at the person in front of me. "Arg." I whine trying to compose myself again because of the impact.

Dahan-dahan kong iniangat ang tingin ko and I can't see his face but I heard him flicked his tongue. "Didn't I told you to leave?" He suddenly stood up facing his back at me kaya napaurong kaagad ako dahilan para mapatumba ako sa sahig.

"You really don't listen, huh." He scoffed at me as he turn his back from me and that's when I saw the back of his shoulder bleeding from Jake's weapon. Jake talaga!

"I can handle him like I did before." He said in a toneless manner.

The vulture made its way back and flew towards us as it squeals in madness.

I saw Rance hand form in front of him like he is waiting for a signal to do his thing. Nagulat nalang ako ng biglang umangat ang mga bato na nakapaligid sa amin, para bang lumulutang ito sa ere at pumwesto ito sa harapan ni Rance; Its like he's commanding the stones with just his motion and mind.

The vulture came like a flash in front of us at bigla nalang iginalaw ni Rance ang mga kamay niya papunta sa kinaroroonan ng Vulture at ang lahat ng mga batong nasa paligid niya ay nagsisunuran at tumama papunta sa Vulture na nasa harap namin.

I cover myself with my elbow as the stones keep hitting and striking the vulture and a debris of small stones started to fall all over the place.

Bumagsak nalang bigla sa gilid namin ang Vulture na naging dahilan ng malakas na impact nito, nakita ko kung pano lumingon si Rance ng hindi niya inaalis ang tingin at postura ng kamay niya sa kanyang unahan, kinorte niya ang mga palad niya na para bang gumagawa sya ng hugis bilog rito.

Napatingin ako sa Vulture na bumagsak sa sahig at para bang naiipit ito at namimilipit sa sakit base sa matinis na boses na nilalabas niya.

Nasa ganung posisyon parin si Rance ng biglang humarap sa gawi niya ang ulo ng Vulture at kusa nalang naglabas sa bibig nito ang maliliit na apoy na iniluluwa niya at pinapatama sa pwesto namin kaya mabilis akong tumayo at umusog samantalang tumatalon lang at umatras si Rance sa mga apoy na tumatama sa kanya pero hindi sya umalis sa ganung posisyon.

"Aray aray!" sigaw ni Jake na natatamaan na rin pala ng mga bolang apoy na iniluluwa ng vulture.

"Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo dyan?!" sigaw ni Lisa sa kanya mula sa kabilang bahagi dahilan para mapatakbo roon si Jake.

"He is too strong!" mariing sabi ni Rance na pilit parin niyang kinokontrol ito gamit ang kamay niya. Inangat niya ang kaliwang kamay niya sa ere at nagsilutang naman ang mga bato at malalaking sanga ng puno na nasa tabi niya, bigla nalang niyang kinumpas ang kamay niya papunta sa kanyang unahan at lahat ng mga bato at malalaking sanga ng puno ay nagsitama papunta sa Vulture dahilan para mas lalo itong mag wala at magalit.

Vulture growl loudly kaya mas lalo itong naglabas at nagpatama ng malalaking bolang apoy mula sa bibig nito at pilit pinapatamaan si Rance dahilan para masunog ang mga sangang naibabato niya.

I tried to stand and prepared myself. Kumuha pa ako ng palaso sa likod ko at nilagay iyon sa pana ko. I should not be watching. The darkness is starting to invade us and we don't have any idea right now about the time that we already consumed since then.

"Don't even try." I heard him said in an ill-manner way pero wala akong pake sa pinapakita niyang ugali ngayon, I am doing this not because I have to, but because I'm too tired of this game.

I don't know why I felt an eagerness inside me that I need to fight. It's like something is burning inside of me and wanted to unleash itself. Hindi naman ako gan'to dati but since I tried to use my Bow and Arrow again, I think I felt the will to kill.

"Alam ba ni Sir. Kwon na ganto ang way na pagkuha natin ng vulture feather?! This quest is suicidal!" I heard Lisa shouted in annoyance.

"All of the Mystify Committees and Faculties know this, this is one of their teaching methods." I heard Rance said. Teaching method? How come naging teaching method ang ibuwis ang buhay namin?

"This is taking too long." We all looked at our side, it was Minki. He is walking towards us in the middle.

"Hoy san ka pupunta?! Bakit ba kanina pa kayo nag papaka hero?!" tawag sa kanya ni Lisa pero hindi niya ito pinansin. Bigla nalang sya lumapit sa tabi ni Rance kaya mariin itong napatingin sa kanya. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Doing our quest." Minki implied, he suddenly unbuttons his shirt and take it off, revealing the naked top of his body.

The shock robbed us in speech but what I saw made me stare at him with amazement.