Chapter 16 : Calm before the Storm

[Third Person's POV]

"Ohh, yeah, you're favorite disciple"

Dark heard it, but the tone is like an insult.

He looked at Percy, "Why? You know why I worried Shinya the most right?" Dark walks towards Percy but pinagitnaan sya nina Kai and Kev, Amber were holding him from he side. Kai and Amber still glare at each other.

"C'mon, since pinapalabas na nila mga kalooban nila, Why won't I? Alam nyo naman na I didn't agree that Shinya will be part of NIGHTMARE, you all just agree because "Shinya is Dark's so called first and favorite disciple", but to be honest Dark, You just like a kid who pick up a dirty stray kitte--" tuloy tuloy na sabi sana ni Percy but Dark punch him.

Mas nagalit si Percy dahil mukha pa nya ang sinuntok, ayaw nya sa lahat ang pinapakilaman ang mukha nya. Amber and Kev tries to stop Dark but he's too strong for them. It's their master after all, the one who taught them and trained them.

Dark mind were all anger, hindi sya nagagalit kapag ininsulto sya pero, when it comes to Shinya, he can't bare it. Besides Minerva, Shinya's the one who's always there for him.

Percy struggling from Dark's punches still manage to punch back. Di man nya aminin, alam nyang wala syang ka laban laban kay Dark. He punch Dark with his hand na may spiky ring, that made Dark's face got wound. Nasa sahig na sya, while Amber, Kev and Kai were trying to stop Dark. Kai even take punches to protect Percy.

It's laughable to think that, this gang were one of the strongest gang, and ngayon nag-aaway at nagtutulungan para mapigilan si Dark. Dark's punches were heavy, Kai's face starts bleeding dahil sa pagsalo nang nga suntok ni Dark, Kev's nose and cheek also got hit dahil sa siko ni Dark. And Amber's trying to release Percy from Dark's clinches, kahit na nasusuntok na din sya ni Dark. Pero kahit ganon, hindi parin natinag si Dark. Kahit na sumisigaw na sina Kai and Amber to stop, he's mind is blank. He can still see Shinya's state when he's rescuing him. Dark's facial expression shows emotionless. In Percy's mind, Dark might kill him. And regret of what he said.

The time when Dark spar with them, akala nila yun na ang tunay na lakas ni Dark. What they're facing right now, isn't just a man named Kuro, that's gang master of NIGHTMARE. But, Kuro who's a DEITY.

Kai tried punching Dark, para ma tauhan sya, but it's useless. Now, they realize, all this time Dark hold back. In their spars and combat training. Kev tried pulling Dark in neck but siya ang nadadala ni Dark.

The bedroom door opens, and it's Shinya. Kev thought that he might help them, but Shinya's expression in his eyes, were lifeless. Shinya pull Dark's collar.

Shinya is indeed Dark's favorite disciple, also his weakness and strength. Dark stopped punching Percy, he realize what he just did. He stands and starts to walk at the door, " Don't talk with me for a while ", Sabi ni Dark then goes out.

The clank sound of the door made them all relief. They faces were all mess, their uniforms has blood. Percy sat in the floor and hold his head, he can still feel Dark's punches, and dumagdag pa ang heartbeat nya na nararamdaman nang ulo nya. Pinitik ni Kai si Percy sa noo, "Don't even say that again", sabi pa nya.

"Why did Dark did that?", Shinya asked.

"Nothing", Percy answered then umiwas nang tingin kay Shinya. Shinya handed them a first aid kit, and they start treating each other. Amber who's treating Percy's wounds while the twin treated each other.

"Dark's punches were heavy right?But natigilan parin sya so he still hold back", Shinya said then chuckled. The three of them looked at Shinya. Dahil siguro sa fact that Dark punch Shinya, after what just happened or the fact that Dark still hold back.

"By the way, how are you?", Kai asked. Para mabalik sa tamang landas ang nangyayari.

"Thanks for the worry, I'm all fine. But, I feel sleepy most of the time", Shinya answered.

"You're sleepy most of the time though", Percy mumbled

"I heard na may na alala kang babae, ano? First love mo?", pang-aasar ni Kev.

"To be honest, di ko pa din alam. All I remember is that we promise to protect the world. It's so cringe", Shinya said with his cringe expression.

Percy, Kev and Shinya laughed. "Sorry, Shinya" Percy said then goes out of the room.

The clueless Shinya just "ehh?", then run after Percy, Kev then again laugh and goes after them. Leaving Amber and Kai who's awkwardly silent. Kai attempted to give Amber a band-aid para sa sugat nya mula kay Kai, but Amber already put one. "You lost your cool there", Amber said then stands and goes off. Kai who's leaning on the sofa, sighed. After hearing Amber, he now starts to doubt Minerva, and he hate himself for doubting either Minerva or Amber.

Amber called him "Kaister", matagal na rin nang di nya yun narinig. Kapag seryoso si Amber, tinatawag siya nitong Kaister. They've been friends for many years, since 3rd grade. At dahil lang kay Minerva, nag-away sila. Thinking why does Minerva's information is hidden, meant that Minerva isn't just an ordinary person. Pero base sa mga nakikita niya, the way students treat her, and the expression in her eyes, parang nagpapahiwatig na kaya nya yun lahat. But nagdadalawang isip pa rin sya, would he choose his group or Minerva. Though, it's obvious na di sya pinapansin ni Minerva, but di rin sya basta-basta susuko. He even thought that Minerva's a ghost at first, natatawa siya nang maalala yun.

He stands and goes out of the room. While walking at the hallway, he saw Minerva sitting in a bench, ruffling a black cat's ear. He took this as his chance, at lumapit kay Minerva.

"Hey", panimula pa nya, at umupo sa tabi ni Minerva.

Minerva looked at him at kumunot ang noo. "Anong nangyari sa mukha mo?", tanong ni Minerva and continue stroking the cat's fur.

"Nothing, it's just some punches" Dark answered, iniisip din nya na concern si Minerva sa kanya, I mean, sinong hindi? Dba?

"It look like Dark's punches", sagot ni Minerva still looking at the cat's eyes.

Hearing it, Kai thought that Minerva known Dark for a long time, na na re-recognize na nito ang mga suntok ni Dark. "Haha, it's nothing, how bout you?, What you're doing here?", Kai asked.

"Just wasting time, natapos ko na yung librong dinadala ko so, I'm bored at the moment" Minerva answered.

"Yeah, I've notice that you always read books, and by the way, nung nahulog yung libro mo kanina--", Kai starts

"It's almost time", singit ni Minerva while looking at her wrist watch.

The two stands and walk towards the room. "Why did you transfer here?", Minerva asked while walking.

Dahil sa tanong ni Minerva, Kai finally remember kung bakit sila pumunta sa school na toh. "May hinahanap lang kami", Kai answered. "It is Aphrodite?", Minerva. Kai pauses and look at her, "Huh? Why'd you say that?", tanong nya. And still follow Minerva.

"I heard Kevin saying that, in your first day", Minerva answered and stop and look at Kai.

"Oh, I see", Kai who also stops. And he notice, it's not a room that leads to their class,

"You should change your uniform, it has blood stains"Minerva said. Then binuksan ang isa sa mga cabinet and throw a new uniform at Kai. "Thanks", Kai said at starts unbuttoning his.

While Minerva goes to a smaller locker and tinanggal yung eyeglasses nya. And put some eye drops, she didn't notice that Kai is half naked. After putting her eyeglasses on,

"Do you have wipes?", Kai asked. Minerva grab her wet wipes and handed it to Kai. And aksidentaling na bitawan dahil nga kita ang katawan ni Kai and tumalikod. Our clueless Kai, pick up the wipes, and nagtataka bakit nakatalikod si Minerva. And he chuckled when he thought it's because of his abs.

But that's what he thought, in Minerva's mind. It's a perfect body na maibibigay nya kay Perseus at Medusa for their torture anniversary. And Minerva thought, she can give those two a perfect gift for their birthdays.

After those awkward moment, the two finally arrived at their class. Sa back side door sila dumaan, which is convenient for them. When they entered, Amber glared at them, not just Amber also Kev and Percy. After what happened between Kai and Amber, Kai still choose Minerva, that's a they thought. Meanwhile, Minerva's wondering kung bakit wala pa si Dark.

The class started, Dark still didn't attend. Every professor na pumapasok, asked what happened at the five boys at the back, they all got band-aid sa mukha. And Kai just stare at his hand, spinning his pen. Kev is spacing out looking at the board while Percy's playing with the pages of a book. Shinya's sleeping and Amber's spinning pen as well. An awkward silent between them, only the breeze from the window, and also the sound of the trees near the window, can be heard in the class. Even some other students decided to stay silent because of the aura at the back. Even the professor is shocked because of the silent, this class is known for being noisy, but then it's suddenly got silent. Halos makakatulog ka dahil sa tahimik.

Lunch break arrived, some students decided to eat in their table, only silent murmurs can be heard inside the room. May isang student who decided to open a canned drink, the sound of it make the other students looked at him. The students in the back still do what they're doing, Minerva starts eating a sandwich while looking at the window.

After some time, the class started. Maririnig na ang mga salita nang mga students, a murmur na hindi na kaka istorbo sa mga professor. And when the last class almost ended, the school dean entered.

"Good day students", the dean started.

All of them even the NIGHTMARE and Minerva paid attention at the dean.

"Someone named Amber King and Minerva Sena here?", she added.

Some students looked at Amber. Minerva and Amber were wondering why they've been called.

"Kindly stand please", the dean requested.

So, Amber and Minerva stand, their classmates looked at them, Shinya woke up and look at Amber. Also, the door opens and they all look at Dark who just entered. He planned to get his bag after the class but it seems like it seems like they still haven't ended, so he just stood there.

"Mr. Amber King and Ms. Minerva Sena, code order, M-002", the dean said.

Only Amber and Minerva were shocked sa narinig. Their classmates, Kai, Kev, Shinya and Percy were clueless what does that code mean. Dark has a hint of what that code mean. Maybe it's written in the rule book, since di nila yun binasa but,

"HUH?!?? NO THAT'S NOT TRUE!!!", Amber shouted in rage.