Chapter 19

A masked man with a crimson portion of his hair blown by the ocean breeze showed just behind me. 

Zilla. 

He was standing there with one hand empty and the other holding the same dagger that killed the old Chinese man. I felt all my bones shattered into pieces. I felt robbed. Some I trusted, one of the few urions I trust so much broke the bridge that could possibly lead me to the answers I was looking for. 

Anong ginagawa ni Zilla dito? Bakit niya nagawang patayin ang Chinese na posibleng may alam sa tunay na pagkatao ko? 

I saw Zilla's eyes. They were shocked as well. Not the controlled and impregnable eyes that do not show any visible emotions. I heard him sniffled behind his mask like death almost got him and the only way it could saved him was throwing the dagger on the man's throat. 

"Zilla! W-why did you kill him?" sa wakas ay nagawa kong tanungin ang 11th. Nanginginig pa rin ang bawat kalamnan ko dahil sa sobrang gulat at bilis ng mga pangyayari. 

"The 11th is here? Why?" nagtataka ring tanong ni Rumina. 

Kelvin remained quiet. Hindi ito nakakilos habang pinagmamasdan ang patay na bangkay ng matandang Chinese at ang hawak ni Zilla na natitirang punyal. I can sense the confusion in him as well. 

"Take the cork Lucy and leave immediately. A band of outcross is on their way here. I will deal with them alone." Matipid na tugon ni Zilla na walang balak sagutin ang tanong ko.  

Hindi ako kaagad nakakilos. Tinimbang ko ang mga pangyayari. I know I should be obeying Zilla dahil bukod sa siya ang 11th urion, niligtas niya rin ang buhay ko ng maraming beses. Pero ang biglaan niyang pagpatay sa may hawak ng ikalawang Zero artifact ang naging dahilan kung bakit ako nagdalawaang isip. 

"Agent Lucy, let's follow the 11th!" utas ni Kelvin na nagawa nang kunin ang red cork. Alam kong isang mahalagang protocol ang pagsunod sa mas nakakataas na crowned urion lalo na kung kabilang sila sa una at ikalawang layer of rank. Kelvin was always by the book. He follows accordingly. 

Tumalikod na si Zilla palabas ng VIP room. Pero bago ito iluwa ng pintuan ay muli ako nitong binalingan. Nakita niya ang reaksyon ko. Nalilito. Naguguluhan. I heard him sigh deeply before he spoke. "One suspicious kill wouldn't compromise all the trust I have earned Lucy. Just do what I said. Trust me." 

Pagkatapos niyang bitawan ang mga salitang iyon ay nawala na siya sa pintuan. Like a shadow fading as the lights turn dead. Pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko. Mas nakakapag-isip ako kapag kalmado ako. 

"Lucy, you heard Zilla. We have to go!" Rumina expressed walking towards the door with a rush. 

Nahimasmasan ako. Naisip kong hindi ko dapat pagdudahan si Zilla dahil lang sa isang pangyayaring hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangang mangyari. Maybe Zilla will explain to me soon. His intent. I didn't have to compromise the trust I owe for him just because I was not able to understand what's behind it. 

Lumabas kami ng kwarto. We rushed towards the deck. A jet boat was waiting for us thirty feet below. Balewalang tumalon mula sa deck si Kelvin kasunod si Rumina. Nilingon ko pa ang malinaw na bintana ng ballroom kung saan napansin ko ang mga nagtatakbuhang crew ng barko bago ako tumalon pababa ng boat.  

As the jet boat traveled fast going to the Golden Plains'shore where Kelvin's car was waiting, I was silently praying for Zilla's safety. Afterall he's been my savior and my secret guardian. Marahil nang gabing iyon ay may nagawa siyang hindi ko nagustuhan pero hindi nangangahulugan iyong tuluyan ko na siyang hindi pagkakatiwalaan. 

He owes me an explanation though. 

I have to wait for that. 

***

Pasado alas onse na nang gabi nang makauwi ako sa bahay. 

Mas lalong lumakas ang pandama ko sa paligid bukod sa paglakas ng natutulog na pwersa sa loob ng katawan ko. Bago ko pa mabuksan ang tarangkahan ay alam ko nang nasa sala si Friedan at walang humpay na sinasampa ang mga paa sa sahig. 

Napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang lalaki sa kabila ng napakaraming katanungan sa utak ko. Sa dami ng mga nalaman ko nitong nakaraang araw, hindi ko na alam kung alin ang paniniwalaan. Kung sino ang pagkakatiwalaan ko. Bumuntong hininga ako bago pumasok sa main door ng bahay. 

Friedan was sitting like a god on the center of the sofa with his arms spread sidewards. His polo shirt was unbuttoned revealing a portion of his broad chest. He gazed at me like he's memorizing my every movement. Then I saw his sexy lips parted as he began to speak. "You're late, aren't you supposed to be here past ten?" 

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad. I met his arresting gaze. Kalkulado pa rin talaga niya ang orasan. Alam niya kung ilang oras ang itatagal ng misyon at kung ilang minuto ang biyahe. "Something came up unexpectedly, Friedan."

He raised his left eyebrow and looked curious at the thought. He crossed his legs without letting go of my gaze. "Oh? Unexpected moments bring the best things! What's it about?" his god-like face was full of questions. 

Is Friedan trying to fish for an information? Or he already knew what's going on and he's just pretending he doesn't know anything?  At the back of my mind, maybe he knew something about me and my parents. He knew who I was before his dad passed away. But why won't he tell me just a hint? 

"Not all good things happen with that unexpected event. Most of the time, bad things... even the most horrible things happen when you least expect them." Napataas ang boses ko sa pagsagot sa lalaki. Bagay na ikinagulat niya dahil sanay itong magalang at kalmado akong sumagot. Marahil ay hindi na ako nakapagtimpi sa lahat ng paglilihim saakin at nabahiran na ng galit ang pagsagot ko. 

I deserve to know the truth. No one should be deprived of the truth as matter-of-factually as everyone deserve to live. Kung may alam si Friedan, bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa siyang sinasabi saakin? Dahil ba para proteksyonan ako? Damn, I don't need protection anymore! I have my alter-persona that takes over everytime I am at risk. 

"Kiera, did you just tell me I am horrible?" he said trying to express his disgust with the way I delivered the lines. Napaangat ang likod nito mula sa pagkakasandal sa sofa. Nagsimulang magsalubong ang mga kilay niya. 

"Yes," I answered.

"Why would you even do that?" napataas ang boses ng lalaki.

"Because you're not telling me what I should need to know?" 

Pinilig nito ang ulo habang nakatingin saakin. He smirked and tried to compose himself as I started frowning. "What do you need to know Kiera?"

"Sino ba talaga ako? I grew up learning that am destined to be a crowned urion. That I can save lives from those shitty outcross! But it looked like there's more to me beyond this crown!"

"Saang tabloid mo napulot 'yang balitang 'yan?" sa tono nito'y ramdam kong galit na siya. Kilala ko ang lalaki. Alam ko kung kailan ito galit at kung kailan mas galit. 

"Why would you even bother knowing it? What's keeping you from telling me everything?" 

"My dad adopted you Kiera because you are special! Look at you now. A crowned urion with the ruby mission. That's what you are. There is nothing more to that! Do not overthink!" he almost screamed. Namumula na ang dulo ng mga tainga nito pati na ang pisngi. He's angry. Which is a good sign. The more angry he is, the greater the chance I could compel him to tell me what he knew. 

"I am special. Yes I know. Pero tell me, were my parents as special as I am? Kaya ba sila pinatay? Kaya ba wala pang isang oras pagkatapos mamatay ng mga magulang ko ay nasa harapan ko na ang dad mo to secure this very special girl?" tinuro ko ang sarili ko. It turned out that our conversation became a confrontation. His eyes grew wider, "Sabihin mo saakin Friedan, anong mayroon sa dugo ko para sabihin ng nagmamay-ari ng red cork na nakasulat na ako sa kasaysayan bago pa ako ipanganak?" 

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