"Especially with your family," sabay ngiti niya. "Family is just a responsibility. A duty that you will never escape. So don't mistake it with love."
Natahimik ako after that at tumalikod ulit siya sa akin. I hate to think about it, but I quite agree with her.
My parents died when I was young and I can't remember anything about them besides that dream that haunts me every night. I didn't experience nor remember the "parents' love" because the time we spent together was too short. Maybe the closest experience I could associate with love is my childhood, together with Hideo, Akira, Mayu and Michiko.
Bago pa ako tuluyang malunod sa mga iniisip ko ay binuksan ko na ang libro at nagsimulang magbasa.
***
"There are various neurochemicals that facilitate the factors involved in love, such as vasopressin, estrogen, testosterone, dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals result to behavioral patterns of people who experience love like lust, attachment and attraction."
I was already on page 13 when I read that part and I was amazed because those chemicals can induce the emotion called love. The science part is interesting but I'm more excited to read the psychological interpretation of it.
Gusto ko pa sanang magbasa pero maaga pa ang klase namin bukas kaya naman sinara ko na ang libro at tuluyan nang natulog pero mababaw lang ang tulog ko dahil iniisip ko pa rin ang binasa ko. I'm not sure if that was part of my dream but I think Akemi sneaked out of our room again.
***
After ng class namin kay Sir Kyo ay dumiretso kami sa dorm. Pagkapasok namin sa room ay may kinuha si Akemi sa closet niya. Nagtinginan lang kami ni Akira no'ng nilabas niya ang dalawang libro na nakabalot sa itim na cloak at sinabi niyang kinuha niya 'yon sa restricted section. Halos manlaki naman ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko pero imbes na tulungan ako ni Akira ay sinuportahan niya pa ang ginawa ni Akemi. God, these girls can't even follow a single rule!
Dahil nakapag-decode na kami before ay mabilis naming nabasa ang first parts ng libro, pero hindi ko akalaing may malalaman kami roon.
Seventh Sense, huh? I didn't know that a skill like that exists and can be pulled off by a group of people. In addition, you can read the minds of people connected to you . . . without any restrictions. Somehow, it's a bit similar to my sixth sense, but of a higher degree.
Naudlot naman ang pagdedecode namin dahil sa isang case at no'ng nakasakay na kami kay Miyu ay kinuwento ni Akemi ang ginawa niya at ang pagkuha niya sa libro.
"Seventh sense, huh?" sabi ni Mitsuo. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya dahil magkatabi kami pero agad akong napaiwas no'ng tumingin din siya. When I saw his face, that scenario flashed inside my head. I calmed myself to avoid unneccessary attention and I don't want that guy to notice my restlessness.
'What's wrong?' Crap. He noticed it. That's Hideo for you.
'Nothing,' sabi ko naman. 'Kulang lang ako sa tulog.'
'Are you sure? Something's not—'
'I am. And how about you? You have terrible bags under your eyes.' Saglit siyang natahimik.
'I was monitoring someone.'
'Akemi, isn't it?' I asked.
'Yeah. That girl keeps on going out when no one's around. She's up to something.'
'I noticed that, too. I'm also observing her but it seems like she can stay awake far longer than me.'
Napatingin ako kay Akemi at nakatingin naman siya sa labas, na nakaproject sa gilid ni Miyu. Nang makarating kami sa crime scene ay agad kaming lumabas at nangalap ng clues.
After some time ay dumating ang suspects at isa-isa naming nasolve ang nangyari. The victim was found dead in her bathtub and her relationship with the suspects complicated things. But when we solved the crime, I suddenly felt sad.
Catherine, the victim loved one of the suspects, Francis. However, Catherine's sister, Carla who was also a suspect, was Francis' girlfriend. After reading that book yesterday, I can somehow understand their point of views.
"She killed herself . . . maybe because she can't take the pain anymore," sabi ko pagkatapos sabihin ni Akemi ang nangyari. "She wants to frame you," sabay tingin ko kay Carla, "siguro dahil kay Francis. Mas una silang nagkakilala pero ikaw ang minahal niya. Alam mong mahal siya ng kapatid mo dati pa pero kayo pa rin ang nagkatuluyan."
Natahimik sila pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon at tuluyan nang umiyak si Carla. Hindi ko rin akalaing lalabas sa bibig ko ang mga salitang 'yon.
Almost all the cases we solved were caused by the murderer's anger, revenge or grief. Maybe I just didn't understand love before and underestimated it as a motive for a crime. Maybe the anger felt by the killer was triggered by his or her love for someone or something. Bigla kong naalala ang isang linya sa librong binasa ko kagabi.
"Love is dangerous, and is just next door to death."
Pagkatapos ng case na 'yon ay balak ko sanang ipagpatuloy ang librong binabasa ko pero biglang may nangyaring hindi inaasahan.
"Three Shinigamis, One Custos, detected."
Pinaubaya namin sa Senshin Police ang case at agad kaming pumunta sa tinurong lugar ni Miyu. Naghiwa-hiwalay kami para mapalibutan namin sila at sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ay napunta kami sa iisang lugar ni Mitsuo. Pagtingin ko sa kanya ay seryoso siyang nakatingin sa paligid habang hawak ang dalawang baril. I, too, readied my fan in case attacks came to us.
"Be careful. Shinigamis are not easy to deal with," sabi ko dahil hindi ko alam kung naka-encounter na ba siya ng Shinigamis.
"I know. I've met some before. But you know what? Sinful Senshins are harder to handle than them." Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig ko sa kanya.
"What do you mean—!" Hindi ko na natapos ang tanong ko dahil bigla niya akong hinatak palapit sa kanya. Doon ko lang narealize na nagbabagsakan na pala ang debris ng building sa harapan namin dahil mukhang doon galing ang Shinigamis at Custos.
His face was too close to mine and I froze when he smirked.
"Seems like you're the one who isn't careful," he said and my hand landed on his left cheek.
Binitiwan niya ako at agad akong lumayo sa kanya. Bigla naman akong na-guilty dahil sa lakas ng sampal ko pero nawala 'yon no'ng tumingin siya sa akin habang nakangiti.
"You said you will stop hitting me. You broke a promise."
"I didn't promise anything. I just said okay."
Pagkatapos no'n ay nagkaroon ng tension sa pagitan naming dalawa pero isinantabi ko 'yon nang may maramdaman akong presence sa paligid. Two of them, and they are strong.
"They're here," he said while looking above.
"I know."
As if on cue, two persons wearing black capes jumped off the collapsing building, their weapons aimed at us.
"It's been a long time since I fought seriously," mahinang sabi ni Mitsuo. "Time to devour the enemies."
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
Suddenly, Mitsuo's expression changed and pointed his guns at those Shinigamis. With his sinister smile and malicious eyes, he started to attack.
