Truth Behind Her Glasses [REVISING]

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Sakiya Ashanti.

Nanghihinang napaupo ako sa duyan ng greenhouse. Mariing ipinikit ko ang mga mata. Napahigpit ang kapit ko sa strap ng bag ko bago ilang ulit na humigit ng hininga.

Alright.. it's alright, Sakiya. It's okay. I calm my face as I started to browse on my phone.

Death Rebellion is composed of five persons. Lithus, their tracker, Zircon- the attacker, he's good at closed combat skill and weak when it comes on long distance shooting. Calx, their planner. He execute plans, tecniques when it comes on attacking. He's good at guns and other weapons. Caesius, the racer. He's the escape plan.

Kung si Calx ang nagpa-plano kung paano sila aatake, si Caesius ang may alam ng escape plan. He's specialized on medicine and poisons. Caesius can use guns but he preferred using poisons to kill his opponent.

And lastly, Ignis. The mind and heart of the group. He can control his sorroundings, people and places. And he's merciless. That makes them perfect. Iisa lang ang kilos at galaw nilang lahat. Balanse din ang bawat desisyon. Sapat na iyon para masungkit na nila ang pangalawang pwesto sa Bloody Ranking.

I knew Caesius' identity, the million-dollar smile, the flirt whom I met way back in Spain, Tristan Fellaier. And Calx which is Cire Newrey. Ang kailangan ko na lang malaman ay kung sino sa natitirang tatlo si Lithus, Zircon at Ignis.

Huminga ako ng malalim. The battle started 12 years ago. When Lothus decided to messed with the life of that girl. When Mr. Deival saved the young girl for the sake of the experiments, and continued when Ignis intervined my plans.

I closed my fist when realization hits me. Nakapalibot silang lahat sa akin. Ang Death Rebellion, Lothus and Ignis. Ah right, Syto is still there too. Napansin ko na hindi naman natatapos ang laban ko, hindi man lang ako umuusad.

Palaki lang ng palaki ang mga nakakalaban ko. Parami sila ng parami. Hindi ko alam pero sila 'tong may atraso sa akin, bakit parang ako pa ang may kasalanan ngayong naisip ko ng lumaban?

"What's bothering you? Gaano kalalim ang iniisip mo at di mo ako naramdaman?"

Gulat na napamulat ako ng mata ng marinig ang nagsalita. Bahagya kong ini-iwas ang mukha ko ng mapansin na sobrang lapit niya sa akin. Isang dangkal lang ang layo sa isa't isa.

"The heck?" Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. Tumayo naman ito ng tuwid.

"Sabi na, dito lang kita mahahanap." Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Streya na kumakahol.

"Baby, kumain ka na ba?" Malambing na tanong ko sa aso. Bahagyang hinaplos ko ang ulunan nito pababa sa  leeg nito.

"Ako? Di mo tatanungin?"

Bahagya akong nagangat kay Striel na matamang nakatingin sa akin. Pansin ang pagkakakunot ng noo nito.

"Bakit? Aso ka ba?" He pouted and settled himself beside me.

"Harsh." Napailing-iling na lang ako sabay kuha kay Streya. Kinuha ko naman sa bag ko ang dog food na nakalagay sa tupperware at iyon ang pinakain ko kay Streya.

"It's almost one o'clock. Do you want to grab foods?" Striel asked me while staring at Streya.

"Are you hungry?" Balik tanong ko dito. "Hindi ka pa ba kumakain?" Bahagya akong nagsquat sa lupa.

The kind of sit wherein your knees touch your chest. Pinasadahan ko ng kamay ang ulunan ni Streya. Lumalaki na ito kumpara sa unang bigay sa akin ni Striel.

"I'm waiting for you. Kaso tinakasan mo ako." He shrugged.

"Kailangan mong kumain on-time." Sambit ko na lang.

"So are you. Hihintayin kita palagi para sabay tayong kakain. In that way, I can make sure that you ate real foods at the right time." He stated like eating wasn't big deal at all. He sounds so normal like we're living in a normal and peaceful sorroundings.

He sounds so peaceful and calm, like we.. aren't from Underground. Humigit ako ng hininga bago binalingan siya ng tingin.

"You shouldn't do that." Umiling ako.

"Why?" He blinked.

"Striel, I can't.." mariing tumitig ako sa mga mata niya. "We.. we can't."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.  He looks at me.. the kind of look that makes your knees weak. Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Why?" He whispered. He reach for my hands, gently holding it.. "Why does your words always contradict your actions?"

Nahigit ko ang paghinga. I can't move.

"Your words push me away but your actions always pull me close. Saan ako lulugar?" He shut his eyes. It seems like he's frustrated and he's holding himself from doing something he might regret later.

"Kagaya na lang ngayon. You said that we can't.. you can't, but why do you let me hold your hands like this?" Nagangat siya ng tingin. "Why do you look at me like I am your everything? Why do you keep on glancing at me like you wanted to protect me or something? Sakiya, I'm not kidding when I told you that I saw through you."

"Striel.." bahagyang humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko.

"Sakiya, let me.." his voice sounds brittle.  "Let me love you."

Unti-unti kong kinalas ang hawak niya sa kamay ko.

"I'll hurt you again.." mahinang sambit ko. "And I know, I will keep on hurting you, that's why I can't." Ibinaling ko ang tingin kay Streya na paubos na ang kinakain.

"We're from Underground." I stated. "You know how messy our world is."

"You're my peace. The one I wanted to call home." You became my peace too.

Sandali akong natahimik. His shoulder fell and pain is visible in his eyes. He looks lost and puzzled. And then it hits me.

He's Striel Zerist.. not the one who came from Underground but Striel Zerist. He's showing me his true identity as a person.

Without his identity from Underground. Not the one who kills, not the one who's merciless but the one who laugh and smile.

Matamang tumitig ako dito. I bit my lowerlip.

Why are you afraid, Sakiya? You're Deathrose. You shouldn't be afraid of something like this. You.. shouldn't be afraid of falling deeper.. you shouldn't be afraid of facing the consequences of your decisions. Sakiya, you are Deathrose.. and Striel Zerist is not someone you should be afraid to.

The situations must not be enough to make you step back. Protect him.. do not hurt him. I hitched my breath as I bit my lowerlip.

"Striel, do you want to take the risk?" I clenched my fist. "Do you want to pay the consequence of this, together? Do.. do you want to suffer with me?" His eyes lit up.

"Striel, do you want to take the risk even though everything might go west?" I stared at him intently.

"Are you kidding me?" His eyes blazed with happiness. "Kahit sa east or north pa yan. I am more than willing to take the risk and suffer with you, Ma Lumière." He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Let's pay our consequences, together." I let out a content smile.

Striel, you're hopeless.

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