VISION:Unraveling

- 21 -

MIO's POV

After a few days...

10:00 am na ng magising ako dahil wala namang pasok ngayon. Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng kwarto, ang tahimik. Madalas kasing maingay dito sa loob ng bahay, sa dami ba naman namin. Pero awkward pa rin ako sa kanilang lahat. I never had a proper conversation with them.

Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid pero walang ibang tao. Did they all leave? Pumunta ako sa kusina para kumain. Nagulat ako ng naroon si Shinwoo na nakaupo sa stool. Mag-isa.

Lumapit ako. Nang makita niya ako, inihanda niya ang kakainin ko. Umupo ako sa stool na katapat niya saka kinuha ang pagkain. I started eating but it's extremely too silent that I can't continue eating without saying something so I initiated a talk.

"Where is everyone?"

Umiling si Shinwoo. That means wala.

"Are they on a mission?"

Tumango-tango siya. Kainis. Pipi ba siya?

"Then, why are you here? Hindi ka ba kasama sa misyon?"

Hindi na siya nagbody language at hindi rin sumagot kundi ay patuloy lang sa pagscroll sa cellphone niya.

"I've been here for almost a week at ni minsan di ko pa naririnig ang boses mo. Hindi ba nalalock yang jaw mo dahil hindi ka nagsasalita?" Umiling-iling ako. "Mali na nagtanong pa'ko. I shouldn't have asked because your jaw is already locked."

Napatingin siya sa akin.

"I'm on a mission." Kumunot ang noo ko. I wouldn't get a clear answer from him. Better continue my meal. "To guard you."

"What?" To guard me? Really? Who's that dumb to give that order. Mukha ba akong bata? Mukha ba akong lalayas? These ranks are unbelievable.

Nagpatuloy akong kumain nang maisip ko siyang tanungin tungkol kay Zaza. It pains me to see her everyday pero hindi kami nagpapansinan. I want to know what exactly happened to her.

"I want to ask something... about Zaz--- Zalora." panimula ko.

"I won't answer."

Kainis.

"I just want to know what happened to her while she's away."

"Ask her."

"Kung pwede lang matagal ko ng ginawa. I thought you're smart and one keen observer. Ts. Haven't you noticed? We never talk to each other these days."

"Then you should start talking."

Itinigil ko ang pagkain dahil sa inis. Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kwarto, nagbihis saka bumaba muli. Tinignan niya ako ng nagtataka. "Lalabas ako."

"You are not allowed to go out."

"Says who?" I mocked.

Naglakad ako papunta sa pintuan at nagulat ako ng mabalis akong harangan ni Shinwoo. Nasa harap ko na siya ngayon at sobrang lapit niya. Nakatingin lang siya sakin ganun din ako sa kanya.

Matagal kaming nagkatitigan nang makita ko ang tainga niyang mamula. I suddenly furrowed and took several steps away from him. I don't know why his ears are turning red so if it's a manifestation that he's angry, better go back. Baka gawin akong abo neto.

Bumuntong hininga ako. "Th--"

"I'll tell you." Pinutol niya ako bigla sa sasabihin ko. He said that without looking at me and at this moment. I'm confused.

***

I locked the door of my room after I went in. Hindi ko alam kung anong nag-udyok kay Shinwoo na i-kuwento sa akin ang nangyari kay Zaza but he told me everything.

Now I don't know what I'm gonna do.

"Her mother died during an attack from HOLO. If you still don't know, her mother is part of Legion and is based on Mañue (a district). She's the head there. She fought for the less fortunate whims, the inferiors and the lows. Unfortunately she died."

"This is the second time I heard about HOLO. What exactly are they?"

"They're a group of humans. And for the past years, they have been targeting us especially the Inferiors and lows. "

"But why? We don't harm them. We separated ourselves from them."

"We don't but others do. Not all Whims are good. It's not just a fight between humans and whims but whims to fellow whims as well.Similar to what happened to the whims we saved from Alacastar. They were ordered to kill humans. I don't know. Maybe because of this humans are alarmed and I guess they want to control us all and be the superior ones. That must be their first plan, to take the inferiors and lows for their experiment."

"Experiment?"

"You don't need to know that."

"You shouldn't have told me those in the first place. That already piqued my curiosity."

"I just did so you'd have a better understanding of what Zalora's been going through and where her attitude nowadays is coming from."

"Then why did she end our friendship... I would sympathize if I could."

"Bacause she's angry for the fact that her mother died just to protect inferiors and lows who are..."

Hindi niya tinuloy ang dapat sana'y sasabihin niya kaya ako na ang nagtuloy. "Who are USELESS in our society."

Zaza can't keep my company because I am an inferior.

Ibinagsak ko ang sarili ko sa kama.

Both the two persons whom I trust and depend on are now gone. I'm all alone.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang kumawala sa mata ko saka pumikit.

***

Monday and it would be another long day for sure. Like before, students bully me. They knew that Zaza and I no longer hang out so they're targeting me now. They don't even care about the rank's order to not harm me nowadays.

"Mio!"

Lunch na at narinig ko nanaman ang boses ni Vince. Kung tawagin niya ako akala mo hindi kami nagkita kanina sa klase. nandito ako ngayon sa likod ng school na naging tambayan ko na dahil walang nagpupunta dito. Takot kasi sila dahil sa legend na ewan ko ba kung sinong nagpasimula na may pumapatay das dito.

"Anong ulam mo?" tanong niya habang papalapit.

Tumingin ako sa baon ko na luto ni ate Shaniah.

"WOW! Caldereta!" manghang sabi niya.

"Bakit nandito ka nanaman?"

"Eto naman parang hindi na nasanay. Kesa naman mag-isa kong kumain sa bathroom dito nalang ako kahit sinasabing may pumapatay dito. Nandito ka naman para iligtas ako."

Inirapan ko siya. "Parehas lang tayong inferiors. Ts."