Against the God: End of the Gifteds (HIATUS)

49

[3RD POV]

Sa kabila ng nanghihina niyang ekspresyon, na para bang kahit anong oras ay tutumba siya, pati na rin ang mga mata niyang walang buhay, kabaliktaran ang lumabas sa bibig ni Law.

Even after hearing the things he needed to hear— confirming Gin's death, he still won't believe it.

It's not like he don't trust their words, but he trust Gin more.

"Gin is not dead," matigas na sambit ni Law. "I will prove it."

Walang nabuhayan sa sinabi niya, bagkus, mas lalong lumungkot ang mga ekspresyon nila. Nalulungkot at naawa, ang nararamdaman nila para kay Law ngayon... maliban sa isa.

Joker has a smug look on her face, that will make anyone irritated. She's doing it on purpose, to tease everyone.

"Prove it?" she scoffed. "By what? Joining him in the afterlife?" Natawa siya sa sinabi niya, siya lang. Hinarap niya si Law na may mapang-asar na ngisi. "Are you going to kill yourself, boy?"

Hindi nagpatinag si Law at humakbang din siya papalapit kay Joker. "Oi, oi. Why? Are you gonna join me?"

Ang mapang-asar na ngisi ni Joker ay napalitan ng isang ngisi na naasar. "The fuck did you-"

"Enough." Ang malalim na boses ni Bora ang nagpahinto sa kanilang dalawa. 

Umayos siya ng upo at huminga nang malalim. "Here comes the proof you needed," malamig ang boses niya. Nakuha niya ang atensyon ng lahat. Napunta ang tingin ni Bora sa bandang pintuan.

"She's here."

There was a sudden silence. Kahit wala siyang nabanggit na pangalan, alam na ng lahat kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

Dahil sa biglaang pagtahimik ng lahat, rinig na rinig ang tunog ng sapatos na nag-eecho sa pasilyo. Bawat pag-apak niya ay palakas nang palakas, palapit nang palapit. Ang aakalaing napakalaking tao dahil sa pagbabago ng tensyon sa silid, ay hindi hamak na isang bata lang.

A little girl with a blonde hair entered the room... but this time, she's not holding a cup of tea.

Lahat ng atensyon ay napunta sa kaniya.

"Principal Helena," ani Bora.

All of her students looked at her with eyes full of emotions, as if kids, seeing their mother for a long time.

"Principal!" they all said in chorus.

Mabilis na sinalubong ni Law ang bagong dating. "P-Principal-"

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya nang inangat ni Helena ang kamay niya, senyales na pinapahinto niya 'to.

"I know, you don't have to tell me..."

Law's expression softened. Nalipat ang tingin ni Helena sa pinakamalaking lalaki na nakaupo sa silid. Nagtama ang mga tingin nila ni Bora.

"Seems like you already had in touch with one of my students," aniya.

Bumuga ng hangin si Bora. "They called, the Grim Reaper kid. Seems he already talked to the guilds from your school," sambit niya. "Mabilis na kumalat ang balita, maraming hindi makapaniwala... marami ang natatakot."

"Mawawala rin ang takot nila!" giit ng kung sino kay Bora. Sumingit sa usapan si Law. Nangungusap ang mga mata niya nang tignan niya si Helena. 

"Because... it's not true, right?" Law looked at her, full of hope.

There was a sudden silence, everyone is waiting for Helena's answer.

The principal's expression didn't changed. She looked at them with a straight face. Naunang bumuka ang bibig niya bago sumunod ang mga salita.

"Gin... died."

Napatitig lahat sa kaniya, pare-parehong tulala. They didn't had reactions, but the look on their eyes shows it all. As if the light was gone— their hope shattered.

Helena kept her straight face, trying to show no weakness.

"What Aren saw, already happened... I saw it too."

"Gin died... and there's nothing..." Helena paused.

May humawak sa magkabilang balikat niya habang nakayuko. Nanatiling deretso ang tingin ni Helena.

"What are you doing, Law?" mahinahon pero may tonong tanong niya.

Law remained silent. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya kay Helena.

"T-Turn it back..." His voice cracked. Parang pinipigilan niya ang umiyak. "Please... turn back the time, Principal."

The Principal faltered, but she still maintained her composure.

"Why?"

Hindi inaangat ni Law ang mukha niya, pilit niyang tinatago ang ekspresyon na meron siya ngayon.

"W-What do you men why?" Kaunting umangat ang tono niya. "Why?! Because it's for Gin, goddamn it!" He's silently sobbing, but Helena who's in front of him, can hear him clearly.

"Y-You won't let him die, right? You won't... you won't let Gin die... Gin is important for us... he's family-"

Naputol ang sasabihin ni Law nang alisin ni Helena ang mga kamay niya sa balikat nito.

"If I save every important people, do you think that there's anyone dead in the family right now?" sarkastikong ani Helena. "Do you think that in a century that I lived, I didn't witness an important person die, Law?"

Hindi nakasagot si Law. At the corner of the room, Bora is also silent. For some reason, he can see himself at Law... that time when he was begging Helena to turn back the time too.

Dinaanan ni Helena si Law. "Gin died. If you're looking for proof, this is it."

Tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng silid si Helena. Walang nagawang makasagot sa mga salitang binitawan niya, o maunang kumibo. They can't lighten the room now, specially after what happened.

For that reason, it's the Principal herself who talked first.

"Well, I've already confirmed it," pangunguna niya. "Pero hindi lang ako nandito para gawin 'yon."

Nakuha niya ang atensyon ng iilang kaya pang maproseso ang mga nangyayari, hindi na roon kabilang ang mga estudyante niya.

"What do you mean by that?" tanong ni Bora.

Helena took a deep breath, made sure that everyone can hear what she's about to say.

"What I'm about to say right now, should be spread to everyone... every student, every guild, every officials."

Everyone suddenly had goosebumps. The tension and pressure is suffocating, it feels like what they're about to hear right now won't be good. 

"Let everyone know... that I won't be here for 5 days, starting tomorrow I will disappear and you won't find me."

Everyone was taken aback, most of them gasped with their eyes wide open. Kahit si Law na walang kibo ay natigilan.

"H-Huh?! Why?" kunot noong tanong ni Xilah. Lumapit siya kay Helena.

Seryoso ang ekspresyon ng Principal, walang halong biro ang mga sinasabi niya ngayon.

"I understand," sagot ni Bora.

"But that will cause more ruckus! We can't!-" Xilah tried to argue, but when she saw both of the Principal's expression, she stopped. 

She can feel it, sense it. That both of the principals are talking, without saying anything, with just the two of them.

"Everyone will know about this, just like what you've instructed."

"Still, can you give us a reason, Helena?" muling tanong ni Bora. "Why do you have to go?"

With a cold expression, and sharp eyes. Principal Helena, the strongest gifted known at this moment, answered...

"Because..."

"I... I lost the ability to control time."

CHAPTER 49
Prove it