Chapter Fourteen: Foe or Ally

Third Person's View

In one of the high buildings in Manila...

Slow, vintage music plays. Small lamps are only lit in one of the rooms in the condominium as the owner sips in their wine glass, looking at the window, watching the vehicles back and forth at their own pace.

They hummed as the music changed into a sorrowful tone. As the wine twirled on the glass, they walked down the dark living room and picked up the noisy call from the white telephone.

"Speak," they said.

"The plan on transferring you to the Ferris University has been finished, boss. Ang aalalahanin niyo na lang ay ang pag-impake ninyo sa dorm."

A smile emerged from their lips. They sit on the couch and cross their legs, nodding. "Good. Give me the details later and the meeting will hold for a while."

"Understood."

"Please do, Taurus."

The call ended with a click on the screen.

Mavis' POV

I frowned when Flare tried to grab my bag from me pero hindi ko sa kanya ibinibigay. And what's worst is that he's desperate on inviting me on a date again with him dahil raw hindi gumana ang una naming date.

Like seriously, I have a really bad personality and a total woman who you would not get in trouble on courting badly pero etong lalaking 'to? Yes. He's trying hard at hindi pa rin niya alam na ang nararamdaman niya sa akin ay pagmamahal na.

"Come on. Give me your bag," pagpupumilit niya.

I ignored him and continued to walk while he is still trying to grab my backpack. Naririnig ko ang pagtawa ni Lucas sa gilid ni Friar at ang nanunuksong mga mata ni Friar.

I gasped when I was pulled back with my bag. Nilukob ako ng inis at hinatak ang bag ko, at hinigpitan pa ang pagkakahawak dito.

"Come on, song thrush. Bigay mo na."

"No," I refuse instantly at hinatak ko pa 'yon. Nabitawan naman niya pero tumakbo siya kaagad sa tabi ko. "Sabi kong ayoko nga, 'di ba? Ilang beses mo ako kukulitin?"

He pouted. What an unusual sight to behold. Napairap ako sa kanyang inakto.

"Alam mo, Mav, bigay mo na lang kaya. Gusto ka raw niya i-treat as a princess~ 'Di ba, sir Zeus~" nanunuksong sambit ni Lucas.

I heard Flare click his tongue in annoyance. "Shut up, smug."

"Huh?! Hindi ako isang smug, Sherlock wannabe! Lucas ang pangalan ko! LU-CAS!" naiinis niyang sigaw.

Napailing-iling ako at malalim na napabuntong-hininga. "Besides of your nonsense fight, bakit halos lahat ng High Reapers ay nandito?"

Yes. Besides Friar, Flare and Lucas who are already with me since day one ng pasukan, mas lalo silang dumami. Kasama silang lahat maliban lang sa dalawa—Throne and Void.

Yna laughed through her nose. "Well, wala kang magagawa dahil nasa panganib buhay mo. Uncle told us to keep an eye on you."

"Ayaw mo ba, Ate Mav, na kasama kami?" nagugulumihanang sambit ni Light.

Tipid na ngiti ang ginawad ko sa kanya. "Of course, gusto ko pero akala ko si Flare lang ang magbabantay sa akin as what Tito Ris told me."

"Well, you have no choice, princess. We're your bodyguards kaya tiis-tiis na lang," sabi naman ni Kuya Xel na nakalagay ang parehas na kamay sa likod ng kanyang ulo.

Bigla na lamang akong hinatak ni Flare palapit sa kanya. And for some odd reason, I heard something growl like a wolf.

"Woah, woah. Bro, chill."

"Don't 'chill' my ass, Kuya."

Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Flare sa braso ko. I looked up to him and saw his eyes piercing like daggers onto Kuya Xel. Nakangisi lang naman si Kuya Xel na parang wala siyang ginagawang masama.

"Don't call her 'princess'."

"Oh. And why not?" Lumawak pa ang pagkakangiti niya. "I could call her whenever I want. Or did someone says to you that I could not call her that?"

Naging mabigat bigla ang tension sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Hindi ko ba alam kung ano pinag-aawayan nila, basta ako 'yong nasa gitna ng gulo nila at ang nasasaktan sa way na paghawak sa 'kin ni Flare.

"Hoy! Flare!" sigaw ko at hinatak ang braso ko sa kanya.

Binitawan niya ako at napatingin ang lahat sa akin. May bakat ng kamay ang braso ko at namumula 'yon.

Unang nakapansin no'n ay si Friar at kaagad na tiningnan ang braso ko. "Okay ka lang, Mav?" Tumango ako. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kapatid at hinaplos ang braso ko. "Ayos lang 'yan. Mawawala rin 'yan. Pasensya na. Masyadong apaka-boba ng aking kapatid."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Flare at humarap sa amin ni Friar, at sabay sabing, "Huh?!" na may naiinis na tono.

"Ah! Class time ko na!" biglang sigaw ni Light at tumakbo paalis nang hindi nagpapaalam. Si Tyrone na ang nagpaalam sa amin at sumunod siya kay Light makalaon.

Nagpaalam na rin si Ate Ren at Kuya Xel. Si Yna naman, may gagawin daw sa SSC Office. Ang iba pa naming kasamang High Reapers ay umalis na rin dahil ang iba mayroong club activities or extra-curricular activities na pinapagawa sa kanila.

Apat na lang kaming nakatayo sa mahabang hallway na 'yon. Magkakaharap kami at nakasimangot pa rin ang mukha ni Flare.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at piningot ang kanyang tainga. Dumaing siya bigla sa sakit at napunta sa 'kin ang kanyang masamang tingin.

"Hey! Why did you do that?"

"Because the detective is looking pretty damn angry over his sister?" Humalukipkip ako. "It's just a simple mean comment and about kay Kuya Xel, nickname lang 'yon. 'Di ko 'yon pinapasok literal sa utak ko kaya 'wag ka magselos diyan."

I flicked his forehead and he shouted a loud "ouch!", and covered his hurt forehead part.

"Ayan ang napapala mo sa kung ano-anong iniisip mo, Sherlock wannabe," sabi ko at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Nakarinig ako ng mabibilis na yapak at mga tawa mula sa likod. Sikreto akong ngumiti. What a nuisance, the three of them, ani ko na may halong panunukso sa aking isipan.

~***~

"So, anong plano?" tanong ni Friar kay Flare na busy na naman maglaro sa kanyang selpon.

Panigurado ng Criminal Case na naman ang nilalaro niyan sa sobrang busy niya magpindot-pindot.

"Oo nga, Sherlock wannabe. Ano na?" tanong ni Lucas.

His legs are crossed while it is laid down on the table and his hands are behind his neck.

"Hindi tayo pwedeng tumambay lang dito ng walang pinaplano ng kahit ano para mabantayan si Mavis."

"It's fine. She's going to be okay. Don't underestimate someone. She could protect herself," casual na sagot niya sa mga ito at ibinaba ang selpon.

I see a glimpse of the game he's playing and it's a spot-the-difference game. Mali pala hula ko kanina.

Tumayo siya sa kanyang swivel chair at umupo sa tabi ko. "Song thrush seems fragile yet her records from the past aren't that much worth being called fragile. She's not weak nor quiver in fear when someone tried to kill her so get those unnecessary emotions of worries from your heads and let's just see if there's a case going on."

"As I checked, wala pa ring kaso na nangyayari sa eskwelahan na 'to," reply ko sa kanya. "Pinakyaw mo na lahat."

"Well, I should ask the inspector what type of case he has on their files right now." Nagpalumbaba siya at tumingin sa gilid. "Being a detective is what should I fulfill to do 'til the final stage of the act falls. Tch."

I would never blame him for itching for a new case. There has been a lot of moving cases from the Castell Organization. Death threats have also been sent forth to their mansion. At karamihan pa ng letters ay para sa akin.

"Well, we have no choice," komento ni Lucas. "Si Tito na ang nagsabi na sila na raw ang bahala sa mga kasong napupuna natin about sa Castell Organization. At isa pa, hindi ka pwede kumuha man lang ng isang kaso sa mga pulis. That's only their job, Sherlock wannabe. Huwag mo ng dagdagan ang stress nila."

"Tch."

Tumayo ako at akmang lalabas ng club nang hinawakan ni Flare ang kamay ko at mahinang hinatak.

"Where are you going?" seryoso niyang tanong sa akin.

"Going out," sagot ko at diretsong nakatingin sa malalamig niyang mata. "Para magpahangin." Hinatak ko ang kamay ko sa kanya at hinawakan iyon. "Kung gusto mo sumunod, feel free ka sumunod. Just don't bother me."

He nodded his head and just followed me until we reached the cafeteria. Binati kami ng mga nagtitinda doon. Maraming nahuhumaling kay Flare habang sa akin ay maraming masasama ang mga tingin.

Nang makalabas, may mga babaeng estudyante kaming nakakasalubong na todo sa pagbulong sa isa't isa na akala mo naman, mayroon silang mapapalang chismis habang magkasama kaming dalawa ni Flare.

Hinayaan ko na ang kanilang mga maling opinyon at umakyat papuntang rooftop. Sumunod lang si Flare hanggang sa makarating kami sa tuktok.

Malakas ang paghampas ng hangin ngayong araw. Ang mga ulap ay mabagal gumalaw pero wala namang nagbabadyang ulan o kahit ano mang kadiliman dito. Sumandal ako sa barandilya at nakatukod ang dalawang braso ko doon habang ininom ang binili kong juice mula sa canteen.

Napatitig ako sa langit at nagmuni-muni. Ano na nga ba ang magagawa ko sa panahong ito? To think of it, I joined their mafia because of one reason: to finish the case I've wanted to close a long time ago. Wala ng ibang goal ang nasa isip ko kung hindi iyon. Pumasok sa isipan ko ang nangyari sa last case namin. About kay Veronica. She's dead and her killer is still on the stall. Hindi namin ma-track ang killer niya kaya ang plano na lang ay maghintay. But the good thing is, alam namin kung sino ang kanyang pakay. The killer killed Veronica and they also tried to kill me but I am safe right now at may posibilidad na mangyari uli ang pag-atake.

The main target of the Castell Organization is me. Kaya wala akong takas sa kanila kahit ano man ang gawin ko. Kahit ano mang gawin nina Flare na pagbantay sa akin.

"You're not loud but your thoughts are loud, song thrush."

Napatingin ako kay Flare na hindi ko na palang napansin na katabi ko na. Nakasandal rin siya sa barandilya pero nakaharap siya dito at nakatitig sa langit.

"Trust is what you needed to put on our mafia yet that one thing isn't what you have on us." Malalamig ang mga mata niyang lumingon sa akin. "Say, Mavis. Are you an ally or a foe?"

Nagulat ako sa kanyang sinabi. "Ha?"

Tumalikod siya sa barandilya at tinukod ang isang braso dito. Nagbaba siya ng tingin. "You shall know that among the students in this school, you're the one who've caught my attention the most. The reason is, you're the only one who has the mysterious record--no, I think it is more accurate to say that it is quite fascinating to see your profile and school records."

Kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko. Anong pinagsasabi ng lalaking 'to?

"Your records have been kept as a secret within the school and must not be revealed to the dean except for our family and the relations of our close relatives and friends. I took quite a liking on you, song thrush, yet I have this hole in my chest that's saying I shall not let your past records slide."

Nagtaas uli siya ng tingin sa akin at nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa aking nakita. Seryoso ang pagkatingin niya sa akin. Ramdam ko ang tensyon na ibinibigay niyon. Hindi lang basta titig ginagawa niya. He's trying to intimidate me.

"There's an organization name in your personal records that has been sent to us by Father."

"Yeah, I remember na sinabi ni Tito Ris na binigay niya sa inyo ang background checks ko."

"N-0000." My heart skipped a beat as I heard that nickname. "That's your codename. You're the most successful among the other kids in that experiment. If you recall that occasion, that is. I apologize for the sudden brought of the sensitive topic but I wanted to confirm if you're somehow a spy from that organization or if your goal really is the purpose why you joined our mafia."

I laughed despite of having the hard time of processing all his talk. "That's true. Ako ang pinaka-successful nilang killer. Sa totoo lang, assassination ang itinuro nila sa akin. There's no chip in my head or anything of a sort going on during the experiment. Gusto lang nila ikaw imanipula para maging auto-assassin sa isang kumpas ng kanilang daliri." Tumingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "I have been dealing this sh*t for all my life and even now, hindi ko pa rin siya natatakasan." I smiled more sinister. "I could kill you right now if you want. Psychotic behavior is one of the traits na itinuro sa amin at ang mental health ko ay nasa ganoon pa rin stage."

"But you do not like a psycho right now."

I tilted my head as I turned my eyes into slits. My smile became like a chesire cat's. "Shall I demonstrate, sir?"

He smirked. His eyes widened and dilated in unbelievable interest and excitement. "I'll gladly put my life into risk, song thrush, on seeing you going psycho."

And at that moment, I have a surge of wanting to choke him to death. Voices keep screaming on my head to kill... Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill...

"Aurgh! Ha! Hahahaha!"

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up to see a hand choking someone's neck and it is Flare. He is breathing through his nose with a smirk on his lips. The vibrations of his laugh could be felt up 'til the palm of my hand.

Wait a minute... 'Wag mong sabihin...

Kaagad kong binitawan ang leeg niya at humakbang palayo habang hawak-hawak ang pulsohan ng kanang kamay ko. Tumitibok ng mabilis ang puso ko.

Did I just... tried to kill... him...?

A voice is still echoing on my head. "Kill the target... Kill, kill, kill..." Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at pinipigilan ang boses na 'yon na kontrolin ako.

F*ck that experiment! It's making me crazy!

"No chip but I will conclude that there is something else going on inside your head."

Napuwersa akong magtaas ng tingin at na-meet ng mga mata ko ang mata ni Flare. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin. The same eyes that darted me that cold look.

"An automatic brain function that allows you to force a killing mode. You experienced it after you want to demonstrate on how you kill." He sighed. "That's typically dangerous, but I guess you could manage on controlling it very well since you're N-0000."

Hinatak niya ako kasabay ng pagtayo niya. Niyakap niya ako gamit ang isang braso na ikinagulat ko.

"I trust you on controlling the whatever-it-is but I think you shall consider to practice your control daily for your own sake. That experiment is a trial-and-error thing. I know you're like a puppet for them but trust me, I've known you better than that and you could not tell me to change my opinion otherwise."

My heart skipped a beat and the voices in my head is gone. Naramdaman ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko. What's with this man at parang apakadali lang sa kanyang sabihin lahat ng 'yon? But I'm not complaining. I appreciate his concerns and beliefs. Pero hindi ko iyon sasabihin sa kanya, siyempre.

Yumuko at napangiti. "What a fool child you are, sir."

"I've been noticing this but stop calling me 'sir'. I'm not yet that old."

Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kanya at binigyan siya ng halik sa pisngi. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at namula ang kanyang tainga sa 'king ginawa.

Hinawakan niya ang hinalikan kong pisngi at sabay sabing, "Are you insane?! Why did you land a peck on my cheek?! You're dangerous, song thrush!"

I laughed and leaned in towards him, putting my forehead into his. I could feel his breath on my lips as I spoke, "This dangerous woman you spoke of has to be guarded, hm?"

I pushed him away, automatically unwrapping his arms on my waist and I walked three steps back while still looking at him with menace in my eyes.

"Catch me if you can, Mr. Sherlock Holmes."

He smirked. "With pleasure, song thrush."

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