♥♡ CHAPTER 49.0 ♡♥

♡ Author's POV  ♡

She couldn't breath properly habang patuloy ito sa pagtakbo sa hallway. She wanted to cry but she knew that crying wouldn't help her anymore. She could feel her chest heavily. She didn't want to hear anything from Julez anymore. She wants to know the truth by herself. What happened to him? Nasaan na siya? Where the hell are you, Dean Carson? As she was running across the hallway, wala siyang ibang inisip kundi ang kalagayan ng kaisa-isang taong mahal niya. It really hurts, when she doesn't even know where he is...if the love of her life is doing good. They knew exactly kung anong ibig sabihin ni Julez. Something bad happened to him. If nothing really happened, then Julez wouldn't have to act like that. Why does it feel like everything is collapsing? She couldn't bear the pain but she had to be strong. For him, she will fight. 

I know you're coming back. You promised, right? That's why wherever you are, I'm going to find you. Just like how you protected me before, I will protect you even if it costs my happiness and my life. Just wait for me, I'll definitely find you...muffin. Just promise me na lalaban ka...para sa ating dalawa. She told to herself habang patuloy pa rin sa pagtakbo. A tear escaped her eye na agad naman niyang pinunasan as Julez' words were directly stabbing her, painfully. He might be gone but he's not yet dead and that's for sure.

........FLASHBACK........

"Where is he?" she asked once again. The group who had been so strong for so long, is starting to feel afraid. If nothing bad happened, hindi magkakaganito si Julez. He couldn't even speak properly. He was so afraid, like he was escaping the hell out of him. He was with him, pero bakit hindi sila magkasama? How did Julez suddenly appear there? Where is Dean Carson? How come he didn't know what exactly happened?

Many questions that were still left hanging out of nowhere.

Umiling lang ito ng maraming beses habang nanginginig pa rin, "H-he's gone. I lost him." 'yon lang ang mga katagang paulit-ulit niyang binabanggit. That's why they decided to let him stay calm first.

"Could you tell us what happened? Paano ka napunta dito? And why are you wearing this mask?" tanong ni Clyde sa kanya when they noticed na kumakalma na ito at nawawala na ang panginginig niya ngunit umiling lang ulit siya.

"I don't know. I-i woke up wearing this thing..." sagot nito na tinignan ang suot niyang damit, "Then...I saw group of men wearing the same thing. H-hindi ko alam kung sino sila. I woke up having a blurry vision..." he couldn't even manage to speak straightly dahil halatang naguguluhan din siya sa nangyari at hindi niya sila matignan ng diretso kaya bahagya itong nakayuko.

"There were seven of them but one of them seemed so scared...I just realized that I was leaning against the wall when I woke up wearing the same thing just like them. Pilit nilang ipinahawak sa isang lalaki ang kutsilyo saying and shouting 'you must kill them' but he didn't want to do it that's why they killed him. I saw him slowly fell down on the floor na puno ng dugo. I was about to run, but all of a sudden nasa harapan ko na sila. I was afraid that the same thing might happen to me kaya noong sapilitan nila akong ipinatayo, sumunod ako sa kanila while thinking how to escape. They entered a particular room and that was the time I took the only opportunity I had. Maraming armas sa kwarto na 'yon.  Pagkapasok nila, I locked the door faster at tumakas na. While running, I noticed that the setting was different kaya nalaman kong nasa ibang building na ako. Nakita ko na lang na may mga grupo pa na katulad nila sa kalayuan na papalapit sa akin, pati na rin sa likuran ko. That's why I forced to open all of the doors without even knowing that the Vipers were there. Nang sabay-sabay ninyong buksan ang pintuan, I was in a panick. Because of fear, I couldn't face you and speak. I-i didn't know what to do. They might come to me and kill me." nagkatinginan silang lahat ng sabihin niya 'yon.

"Fine, it's okay. We're here and no one will try to attack you now. But you need to tell us kung nasaan si Dean?" Julez looked at Clyde's direction na nasa harapan niya lang.

"Did you meet him there?" tumango si Julez sa tanong nito, "Where is he? Nandito rin ba siya?" sandaling natigilan si Julez nang itanong 'yon sa kanya, "What do you mean by he's gone?" dagdag pa nito.

"W-we were attacked by several groups in Curse building. They knew that he was there. They thought that it was the right time to kill him lalo na't hindi niya kasama ang grupo. We were just running and hiding from them. P-pagkatapos noon hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari. I-i just woke up here meeting those men dressed in black. I-i don't know kung nasaan siya ngayon." naguguluhang pahayag nito.

"I think he's still there." pahayag ni Roxanne kaya napatingin sila sa kanya.

"Because Julez woke up alone, right? It only means kung sino man ang nagdala sa'yo dito, they brought you here secretly at iniwan si Dean doon intentionally. It was intended na paghiwalayin kayo. Otherwise, hindi ka naman magigising ng mag-isa kung magkasama kayong dinala dito." well, she has a point at 'yon rin ang naisip ng iba.

"They are planning to kill him and I won't let it happen." wala sa sariling saad ni Syden. Her eyes started to burn in anger and her face turned serious but at the same time dangerous. She turned her back against them para pumunta sa kaisa-isang lugar na pwede niyang mapuntahan. She remained quiet all this time, but she won't be this time. 

The story of how Julez went there might not be clear...but someday, someone will make it clearer. 

....END OF FLASHBACK....

Walang siyang ibang inisip kundi ang alamin ang totoo. She have to take him back. He's gone but he's not yet dead and she knew it. It's impossible to happen.

All of a sudden, she stopped catching her breath nang marating niya ang lugar. Napahawak ang dalawang kamay nito sa magkabila niyang tuhod at dahan-dahang tumingala upang tumingin sa pintuan. The metallic door of the secret room. Maayos itong tumayo at huminga ng malalim. Lumapit siya doon at maayos itong tinignan. Without knowing what to do, napansin niya ang isang maliit na camera na nakalagay sa itaas nito kaya maayos niya 'yong tinignan.

Napalunok ito at nagsalita habang pinagpapawisan, "I know you're in there. Let me in, Fortune Beatrice." masamang saad nito habang nakatingin din ng masama doon. She waited but nothing happened kaya nag-umpisa na siyang paluin at sipain ang pintuan gamit ang kamay at paa nito dahilan para makagawa ito ng ingay, "Open this d*mn door!" she shouted. Tears wanted to escape from her eyes as she remembered the love of her life missing. She badly misses him. They badly need one another pero bakit pilit silang pinaglalayo ng tadhana? The pain was surpassed by her anger and hatred towards the people who made her and Dean like that. 

Kahit anong mangyari, hindi niya palalagpasin ang ginagawa sa kanilang dalawa. I will definitely kill them. She said to herself. Her eyes were burning in anger. Her body was shaking menacingly like no one could control her except him. She needs him. Patuloy pa rin ito sa paggawa ng ingay dahil sa ginagawa nito sa pintuan. She won't stop unless the door gives her the way inside.

"Bring him back to me!" sigaw nito. Her voice echoing across the peaceful hallway. But as she said those words habang patuloy sa pagsipa sa pintuan, natigilan ito ng biglang bumukas ng dahan-dahan ang pintuan. She saw nothing but red lights from each and every corner of the room. She didn't hesitate to enter kaya't pagkapasok nito, muling nagsara ang pintuan. She found nothing but the table and two chairs infront of her and a swivel chair where the president sat on.

Nakatalikod ito sa kanya kaya bahagya itong lumapit sa lamesa, "What's the protest all about, Bliss Syden? Don't you know that you are disrespecting me? Coming here all of a sudden?" bigla itong humarap sa kanya habang nakapatong ang dalawang kamay sa arm chair ng inuupuan nito.

"Respect? Do you even deserve it?" natatawang tanong ni Syden sa kanya. Just like before, she couldn't manage to see the president's face because of her mask. Of course, the mask will never disappear from her face.

"Did I do something wrong para hindi makuha 'yon?" nagtatakang tanong naman nito.

"Did you take him?" hindi na nito pinansin ang mga sinabi ni Fortune because she needed to get an answer directly from the president.

Natigilan si Fortune at hindi makapaniwala sa tinanong ni Syden kaya napangiti ito ng masama, "So what kung nasa akin siya?" tumayo ito at nilapitan si Syden. There was an enough space for her na ikutan ito habang nakatayo lang si Syden na hindi gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan niya, "What will you do? Kukunin mo siya pabalik?" mapang-inis na tanong nito na inilapit ang bibig sa tainga ni Syden habang nasa likuran siya nito.

"And what do you think I should do?" sagot naman niya habang nasa kinatatayuan niya at nakatingin lamang sa harapan niya. Her fists started to form in anger. She was having difficulty trying to stop herself from doing something. 

"Then what? So he would get himself be in danger again because of you? Oh I see, you still don't have an idea what happened, right?" she asked sarcastically habang nakangiti ng masama kaya tumingin si Syden sa likuran niya para tignan ito, "This is all your fault. You planned this from the start kaya hindi siya nakabalik. What did you do to him?" Syden asked in anger at magkaharapan na silang dalawa.

"I didn't plan anything. He asked me that's why I gave him the permission to leave. Kung ako ang sisisihin mo sa lahat ng paghihirap mo ngayon, well you should blame yourself. Sa'yo nag-umpisa ang lahat ng 'to." sagot nito na mas nakapag-pakuyom pa lalo ng kamay ni Syden.

"He promised that he would come back. He never broke his promise before but because of you, hindi siya nakabalik! Because you planned this from the start, it's your fault and believe me..." this time, siya naman ang lumapit kay Fortune at tinapatan ito upang tignan ng masama, "Once something bad happens to him..." bigla nitong tinapatan ng kutsilyo si Fortune kaya hindi ito nakagalaw at nabigla sa ginawa ni Syden. Humakbang papalapit si Syden sa kanya na dahilan naman ng pag-atras nito hanggang sa umabot sila sa pader, "I won't let even a single drop of blood run through your veins." the president was completely frozen. She had never seen Bliss Syden like this before.

"Now, where..." mas inilapit pa nito ang hawak niyang kutsilyo sa leeg ni Fortune at nagkatitigan silang dalawa. Both eyes were dangerous, "Is he?" tanong nito. 

"You should have think about it first bago ka pa man pumunta dito. You should have hide the young boy first before you threatened me." pahayag nito kaya't nagsalubong ang kilay ni Syden pero dahil doon, mas hinigpitan pa nito ang pagkakahawak sa kutsilyo, "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm sure Julez already told you what happened. Several groups were hunting them in Curse building. We didn't have choice but to save both of them. Since hindi nila nagawang makabalik. Kami ang nagbalik sa kanilang dalawang dito- "

"Hindi sila nakabalik dahil sa kagagawan ninyo. Tingin mo ba hindi rin namin alam na gusto niyo ring mamatay si Julez that's why you sent him in disguised para mapatay namin siya ng hindi namin nalalaman? You were also the one behind those guys wearing masks. Pinlano niyo lahat ng 'to para tapusin ang grupo. Well you won't succeed. Huwag mo akong gawing tanga." natigilan si Fortune ng magsalita si Syden. She could see her madness. A perfect combination of Dean Carson and Bliss Syden. She said to herself kaya napangiti ito ng masama. Maliwanag kay Syden na kagagawan lahat 'to ng council. 

"Look who's talking. Don't act like you know everything. Hindi mo man nga alam kung ano ng sitwasyon ng boyfriend mo ngayon, right?" muling nagtaka si Syden sa sinabi nito pero hindi napalitan ng emosyon ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa presidente, "Then let me tell you the story. Dean Carson managed to save Julez pero bakit hindi sila nakabalik? Because your boyfriend have been suffering. They wouldn't be able to make it out alive kapag nagpumilit silang umalis because of his current situation. Julez was supposed to be the target of everyone, pero ng malaman ng lahat na nandoon rin ang boyfriend mo and he was suffering...they knew that he already had his weakness. Nakita nila ang paghihirap niya. Instead of killing Julez, they planned to kill both of them. Killing Dean Carson first, then Julez in the end. Sobrang nanghihina siya and there wasn't a time na hindi siya sumigaw sa sakit. He couldn't do anything dahil alam niyang mahina na siya. Wala akong karapatan na iligtas o patayin ang sinuman kaya hindi ko siya tinulungan umpisa pa lang. But yesterday, several groups were hunting them and he was stabbed." unti-unting naibaba ni Syden ang kutsilyo dahil sa narinig niya.

"W-what?" tila nanigas ito sa kinatatayuan niya at natigilan. 

"They were running away from the enemy but he suddenly stopped when the group mentioned your name. They told him na kapag hinayaan pa silang mabuhay ni Dean, they will probably come back and kill you. Instead of saving his life first, kahit alam niyang hindi niya kaya, he tried to kill them dahil sa pag-aalala niya na balikan ka nila. In the end, the enemy won. They almost killed him due to his situation. My conscience was telling me to save them. That's why I did save them and brought them here secretly." napayuko si Syden habang iniisip lahat ng sinabi ni Fortune sa kanya. 

"And the same thing will happen to him kapag nagpumilit kang ilabas ko siya." tinignan siya ni Syden kaya muling nagsalita ito, "I brought them here secretly and because of what you were doing, everyone will find out na nandito siya. They will know his situation and just like the other groups, they will plan to kill him. They want to end their Dean Carson's life para sila naman ang makakuha sa posisyon niya. That's why we're protecting him and keeping him from everyone while he's still regaining his strength." 

"W-why? Why are you protecting him?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Syden. 

"Isn't it better if someone like him rules this place? Otherwise it would be a total hell." 

"Is it not your goal? To rule this place?" tanong niya dito na ikinailing ni Fortune. 

"We have the position but we don't rule. We are not students like you. Iba kami sa inyo and you, you have someone to rule this place. You might not believe me but I did not come here to kill." her eyes were full of sincerity sa bawat salitang binibitawan niya but it didn't affect Bliss Syden dahil baka nagpapanggap lang ito. 

"If you really want to protect him kaya mo siya ibinalik dito. Show it to me. I need evidence." nagkatitigan ang dalawa at pareho silang seryoso. Napayuko si Fortune at napabuntong-hininga bago tinignan ulit si Syden, "If you keep on acting like this, you would put him in danger again and again but fine. I will show him to you but this is just between the two of us. The group must not be informed." pahayag nito.

End of part 1....