CHAPTER ONE: THE PHOENIX

"Shit!" a loud curse makes everyone stop for what they're doing.

A man in black leather jacket with a slick back with a volume hairstyle that made him look super attractive. He stands at 189 cm tall among the odds and he looks like a fallen Greek god with his dark aura.

"So yeah, as I was saying, alam niyo bang may upcoming event sa MOA?" Vanessa Kennedy went back to her topic with her three boyfriends.

"Sino na naman yan, Vans? E may tournament tayo this coming week?" Paalala ni Yoon Jeo.

"Oo nga pala, we must be back in Korea this Friday then?" Kang Geun asked.

Malakas na batok ang natamo nito galing kay Park Noa. They are all from a Pheonix team of Korea, naligaw lang sa groupo na itong si Vanessa dahil sa galing nito sa larong Mobile legend, at Arena of Valor. A popular mobile games na pinag kakagulohan nang mga kabataan.

They're now sitting at this unfamiliar café na ni-reccomend ng isa sa mga fans nila. The place was good and can lighten up your mood dahil sa aesthetic nitong paligid.

"Ayoko pang bumalik ng Korea mga men." malungkot na saad ni Vanessa.

"So am I." Geun agreed.

"Stop being a baby Geun, hindi ka naman babae para mag pa-cute." basag ni Noa sa trip ni Geun.

Naibuga naman ni Jeo ang kapeng iniinom niya dahil sa sinabi ni Noa. Naagaw naman nila ang attention nang mga taong nasa loob. Imbes na pasikreto silang mag chi-chill ay mukhang mabibigo na naman sila dahil sa mga kalokohan nila mismo.

"The fuck is wrong with you, Jeo?!" natatawang tanong ni Vanessa sa kaniya.

"We can't even have a peaceful and out of social media week pag magkakasama tayong apat." Noa said.

"Sabi ng clown sa groupo." Geun replied.

Napag desisyonan nalang nila na umalis sa lugar dahil sa ingay na ginagawa nila, they apologize for themselves na ikinatuwa naman nang mga taong basa loob dahil napaka mindful ng mga ito. They know their mistakes and even ask forgiveness towards the people inside. Habang lahat sila ay pinupuri ang magandang asal ng mga ito ay parang naka kita naman ng multo ang lalaking nakaupo sa pinaka gitnang table.

"You okay, hon?" his girlfriend worriedly touched his hand.

But his expression went furious when he remembered that face of 20 years ago, how can a person that went missing for almost two decades and confirmed to be dead is laughing with the group of guys and having her best life enjoying it. While they're left behind with pain and sorrow for her soul.

"How did it happend?" he asked.

"What? Honey, you're creeping me oit right now." pilit itong tumawa ngunit hindi parin nag babago ang expression niya.

Natalia Baltazar, a famous model and tge owner of the NBK also known as (Natalia Baltazar's Kitchen) with a 4 star review all over the world is now dating a former Gang Leader, Top notcher in the university, a Bachelor degree holder, a Ceo, Model, and the man who holds the world record of 'The most handsome man in the world.'

Raizel Zachiro Liebert, a 34 years old who is agreed or should I say, supposed to

marry Natalia but, when hesaw his first love inside the café where he supposed to pull out all of the investment. The determination of finding her is now back, he don't want to marry any other girl execpt for her. Because, that's the promise they had swear before the tragedy happend.

"Let's end this, I already pay the bills. Again, let's end this stupid relationship." he said and then left without waiting for her violent reaction.

He's not a fan of saving himself from social media. He only let people realize that he has a deep reason why. He drove off to his home and went straight where he could find his Mom.

"Oh, Raizel ang aga mo yatang umuwi?" gulat na bungad ng isang Maid nila.

"Manang, where's Mom?" he asked.

"At her room or sa office nila yata." sagot naman nito at bumalik sa trabaho niya.

He wanted some answers bago pa siya sumabog sa galit. Kung nawala man noon ang babaeng kinababaliwan niya? Sino ang babaeng nakita niya sa loob ng cafeteria?

As he went upstairs may mga maids siyang nakaka salubong at tanging pag-bati lamang ang kaniyang naririnig habang dinadaanan niya ang mga ito. As he reached his Mom's office, three loud knock made him stopped from opening the front door.

"I had a bad news Ma, I think our son just saw Vanessa inside the café." his Dad's voice seemed to be worried and at the same time guilty for it.

"What? How did it happen? E, nilibing na na'tin si Vanessa 20 years ago." his Mom was confused.

Raizel keep on leaning to the door to find the answer of Vanessa's sudden disappearance dahil alam niya sa sarili niya na may hindi tama, ngunit kailangan niyang tanggappin dahil 'yon ang gustong gawin nang lahat.

Hindi na na kinaya at binuksan niya ang pinto. Mukhang hindi nila inaasahan ang biglaang pag dating nang binata.

"What's with you two? Kailan niyo ba balak hawakan ang café na 'yan?" he asked upon entering the room.

"For goodness sake, Raizel!" bulyaw naman ng kaniyang Ina.

Halatang nagulat ito dahil napa-hawak sa kaniyang dibdib at hindi gaano mai-guhit ang pag-mumukha nito.

"Anak! Balita ko nakita mo daw si Vanessa?" his Father automatically change the subject.

"I guess so? I came here to make things clear." seryosong saad ng binata. "Did she really die on that ship accident?" he continue.

"Well anak, to be honest… Hindi rin namin alam kung siya ba talaga ang inilibing o hindi." malungkot na sagot nang kaniyang Ina.

"What do you mean, Mom? Nandoon kayo nang I rescue sila Tita, right?" Raizel argued.

The silence was too loud and it suffocates him to death, he can't believe that his own parents lied about her death. He believed that the person he love is gone forever that made him crazy, and now malalaman niya ang totoo na hindi pala sigurado kung katawan nga ba ni Vanessa ang inilibing o hindi.

"Wow, I can't believe it. You really lied to me?" hindi maka paniwalang ngumiti si Raizel at iniwan ang kwarto.

Puno nang pag-sisisi ang mag asawa dahil sa kasalanan na ginawa nila, ngunit, 'yon lamang ang tanging paraan upang matulongan nila ang batang binabalak na patayin ng sariling kamag-anak. Hindi nila ginusto ang nangyari, pero 'yon nalang ang tanging paraan na nakikita nila habang plina-plano ng Tita ni Vanessa ang karumaldumal na paraan upang patayin siya.

Ito'y dahil sa kayamanan na hawak ni Vanessa. Dahil bata pa lamang ito ay maraming negosyanteng tao ang nag abot ng pera sa kaniya, dahil sa sobrang inggit ng kaniyang Tiyahin ay nilamon na nito ang sistema ng kasakiman.

"Hindi na'tin ginusto ang lahat, tahan na.." pag papakalma ni Mr. Liebert sa kaniyang asawa.

"She must be doing well now, probably." he assured his wife that Vanessa is safe. But deep inside, he wanted to contact Vanessa's parents to make things clear. They lied for her safety, they lied, dahil gusto nilang mabuhay ang batang napa-mahal sa kanila.

•••••••••

"Hey, wanted to go get some ice cream?" Geun asked while pointing at the ice cream station inside the mall.

"I want magnum, pero ayaw ko sa chocolates." Vanessa.

"''Wag ka na, ikaw pinaka mayaman sa ating apat tapos ikaw itong pala request na libre." reklamo naman ni Geun.

"E, 'di kayo na ang bumalik sa Korea, ''wag niyo na ako isama." nag dadabog itong nag lakad papasok sa ice cream station at namili ng flavor na gusto niya.

Todo sermon naman ang inabot ni Geun dahil nag tampo si Vanessa sa kaniya. Vanessa is treated like a princess, kaya wala siyang masabi sa kanilang apat. Except for that one anonymous player na naging team leader nila.

Hinabol naman ni Geun si Vanessa upang humingi mg pasensiya, habang si Noa at Jeo na nag hihintay sa may tapat ng Goldilocks.

"We should buy her some." pag yaya ni Jeo kay Noa.

"Yup," tango-tangong sang-ayon ni Noa. "Do you think this white cake has chocolate inside?" usisa niya.

"There's only one way to find out." pumasok sila sa loob sabay sinuot ang mask na kanina pang nasa bulsa nila.

"Hi sir, welcome." a man wearing a Goldilocks logo greeted them.

"Oh, we would like to ask if this white forest cake has no chocolate inside?" Jeo asked the man politely. He look like a middle aged man dahil sa style nito. He tucked-in his shirt, the 90's style of haircut, and the wrinkles.

"For your girlfriend sir?" the man asked.

"No, 'OUR' girlfriend." sumingit naman si Noa at emphasize nito ang salitang 'our'.

"O-oh, I see…" Na-uutal na tumango ang salesman saka ipinaliwanag ang nasa loob ng cake.

"This white forest cake don't have a chocolate inside, perfect match po siya when you grab a coffe or tea na mag bibigay ng best combination sa iyo.," the man explained.

"Okay, give us that one." biglang nag labas ng black card ang dalawa at paunahan sa counter na mag bayad.

"I'll do it, Noa." Jeo insisted.

"Nope, I'll do it." Noa protested.

"How much?" sabay nilang tanong sa cashier.

"900, sir." the cashier replied.

Bigla namang dumating si Vanessa kasama si Geun, saktong naagaw ang pansin ni Jeo kaya mabilis na inabot ni Noa ang black card niya sa cashier.

"Ring it here." Noa smirked.

As the cashier swiped his card, he turned to Jeo with a smirk on his face.

"I bought a white forest cake, and it has no chocolate inside." masayang sumbong kay Vanessa.

"Yehey! The best talaga kayo!" She hugged the three of them and made everyone look in their direction.

"Tara, may live pa tayo mamaya." Vanessa let go then Jeo get the cake.

They walk freely outside nang may isang bata na mukhang 15 years old palang na lumapit kay Vanessa.

"You must be Vanessa Kennedy, right? I'm a big fan of your team!" excited nitong sigaw na umagaw ulit sa attention ng nakararami.

"Yes kiddo, I'm Vans." matamis na ngumiti si Vanessa sa bata.

"Can I take a picture with you?" pag mamakaawa nito.

"Sure!"

They compress themselves para makapag take ng selfie, hindi nila napansin na napapalibutan na pala sila nang mga tao.

"Oh my fireball, you must be the team Phoenix right?" tili ng isang babae na nasa mataas na palapag.

Bigla naman silang pinag ka gulohan, after ilang minutes na pakikipag interact sa mga fans nila ay kaagad na silang umalis upang bumalik sa condo nila.

"I think makikita na na'tin ang Leader natin mamayang gabi." Jeo announced.

"Really?"

"Wehhh?"

"...."

Sari-sari ang reaction nila habang pinag-uusapan ang team Leader nila.

'Tsk, nandoon na siya kanina pero hindi parin siya nagpa kilala?'

Noa remain silent to the whole ride, hindi siya nakikipag kulitan sa mga kasama niya. It's new for Vans.

When they arrived at their condo Vans keep on following Noa. Napansin naman ito nila Jeo at Geun kaya sumunod na rin ang mga ito.

Para silang train na palibot-libot sa boung condo nila.

"Guy's stop." saway ni Noa habang patuloy parin na nag lalakad papunta sa mini bar ng condo nila.

"Ano nga?" Vanessa asked.

"What?" pabalik na tanong ni Noa.

"Just spill it, alam na namin kung ano 'yan." She crosses her arms and stands straight while looking at Noa's figure.

"Psh, nakita ko siya kanina. Pero nag tataka ako kung bakit hindi niya tayo nilapitan." Noa finally give up and explain his thoughts.

"Sorry ka te, bulag mga kasama mo." Vanessa jokingly replied.

Noa just let out a big sigh at nagsimula nang mag-ayos ng gaming table nila habang sila Vanessa naman ay nag lilinis at nag luluto ng pagkain.

•••••

7:59 PM after everyone is fresh from the shower, they installed all the camera in its perfect angle saka umupo sa kani-kanilang pwesto.

Noa looks at the empty seat next to him and Vanessa.

"If only we're complete, siguro masaya tayo." his voice really sounds disappointed.

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Hello our Warriors, we are now live as we promise, ready your control for this game!" Noa introduced their team with a warm smile.

"Ready your phone, let's now start!" they happily announced.

"Mid lane, paki bantayan si Vans." Noa warned everyone as the game start.

"Teka, bakit parang unfair sa akin? Samahan mo ako dito, Vans!" tawag ni Geun kay Vanessa as he take the EXP Lane.

"Ayaw behh, magpapa level Five lang ako." Vanessa refused as she continue to play.

Maigi naman na nakikinig ang leader nilang hindi pamilyar o gaanong ka kilala ang mukha.

"Tank, tumingin ka naman sa map." walang ganang utos ni Vanessa sa Leader nila dahil pinag kakaisahan na ito habang pinipilit na kunin ang unang turtle.

"Jusko! Parang hindi pro-player amp*ta. Early game palang po, so matic hindi ka pa kasing kunat ni Luffy!" sigaw niya sa mic.

She only got a giggle as a response. Mukhang sanay na ito na lagi niyang sinisigawan at pinapansin niya kaya tumahimik na lamang siya at nag focus sa laro.

Five minutes passed at lamang na rin sila sa wakas ng apat na patay. Samantalang ang kalaban naman ay malabo ng makahabol sa puntos na meron sila.

"End na muna, natatae ako." biglang sabi ni Vanessa habang nasa gitna nang laro.

Kung nasa live game sila ay malamang sa alamang ang lakas nang tawanan ng kanilang mga taga hanga.

They don't have a choice but to end the game dahil naririnig na rin nila ang pag rereklamo ng tiyan ni Vanessa.

"Later, Phoenys!" paalam niya sa cellphone kung saan sila nag la-live.

Puro 'Haha' react ang natanggap nila sa first game. Bawi nalang sa next game.

•••

S4TURNKILLS