Tantei High (Erityian Tribes, #1) | Published under Pop Fiction

Chapter 65 - See You Soon

Nagpaalam naman siya sa akin dahil marami pa siyang dapat asikasuhin lalo na't ang daming kailangang ayusin sa school. Alam ko namang gusto niyang magkaroon ng time para sa akin para makapag-usap kami, pero alam ko ring mas mahalaga ngayon ang pagiging President niya ng school at leader ng Senshins.

Pumunta naman ako sa gubat at inalala ko ang way na dinaanan namin ni Papa papunta sa grassland. I wanted to see my mother and Demi because I still haven't said proper goodbye to them.

Habang naglalakad ako ay naalala ko lahat ng nangyari nung war. Dito sa lugar na 'to, nalaman ko kung sino talaga ako. Dito rin namatay sina Rin at Sarah. I knew they did bad things and almost killed me but I couldn't help but wonder if they were really that bad or they just turned out like that because of what happened to them.

Sapagkakaalala ko, Sarah was my mother's apprentice while Rin was her sister. Gusto kong malaman ang nangyari sa pagitan nilang tatlo pero wal namang time para kausapin ko si Papa at si Mama . . . I mean, Mama ni Hiro.

I arrived at the grassland but I halted when I saw two people in front of her grave. I was about to summon my weapons but I realized who the guy was. It was Darwin.

Lumapit ako sa kanila at bigla namang lumingon sa direksyon ko ang babaeng nakaupo ro'n. She looked surprised when she saw me but that was replaced with a smile. Napatingin din si Darwin kaya naman tuluyan na akong lumapit sa kanila.

"I thought I saw Rielle," the woman said. "Ikaw pala ang anak niya. I'm Haruka. My real name's Dana. Rielle's frind and Darwin's mother."

Nagulat naman ako nang marinig ko 'yon. Hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko siya. Noong nakaraan, kinukuwento lang siya ni, uhm, Tita Naomi, pero ngayon ay nasa harapan ko na siya. She was the one who helped my mother escape and she was labeled a traitor because of that.

"After fifteen years, ngayon ko lang nadalaw si Rielle. Ang dami ko nang nasabi sa kanya kanina pero pakiramdam ko kulang pa 'yon," sabay lingon sa puntod ni Mama. "Anyway, it seems like you two have a lot to talk about. I'll go first."

After that, Darwin's mother just disappeared.

Ilang segundo kaming tahimik lang at tanging hampas ng hangin ang naririnig namin.

"So, how are you?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm . . . I'm fine."

He smiled. "Good."

"Nahanap mo na pala ang parents mo," sabi ko naman at ngumiti rin ako sa kanya. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks. Tell you Mom—" Napangiti naman ako dahil alam kong hindi niya 'yon sinasadya. Alam kong alam niya na rin lahat ng nangyari at kung sino talaga ang parents ko. "Tell her I said thank you for telling me where they were."

"Okay. I will."

We just stared at each other, unsure of what to say anymore, but I was surprised when he suddenly pulled me toward him and hugged me.

"Promise me, you won't forget about me," he whispered.

"Teka, anong ibig mong sabihin—"

Napatigil ako nang ma-realize ko kung anong nangyayari.

"We're traitors. We can't stay for too long here. They will hunt us, for sure," he said.

"You mean, you're . . . leaving?"

Naramdaman ko naman na humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin.

"Maraming naghihintay kay Mama sa lugar na pinagkulungan sa kanya. Mga Shinigami na tutol din sa policies ng tribe. We're planning to overthrow the current leaders but we need time and plans." Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap at hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. "Dumaan lang kami rito dahil gusto ni Mama na bumisita sa puntod ng kaibigan niya. And I want to see you for the last time."

Pinigilan ko naman ang sarili ko sa pag-iyak. Ayokong umalis siya na ang huling niyang makikita ay ang umiiyak kong mukha kaya tinatagan ko ang loob ko.

"We'll see each other again in the future. And I'm sure, isa ka na sa leaders ng bagong Shinigami tribe," I said and smiled at him.

"And you'll be the Senshin's leader."

"Malabo. I don't have the skills to be a leader."

And I couldn't see myself as a leader. Even though I'm the daughter of the current leader, I felt incompetent and inferior.

"You have," saka siya ngumiti ulit pero nagulat ako nang bigla siyang lumuhod.

"Hey wait! Teka Darwin anong ginagawa mo—"

"I, the leader of the Shinigami tribe in the future, will give my support to the future leader of the Senshine tribe. I will be your ally and I will do everything to help you."

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya ng ilang segundo at matapos no'n ay natawa na lang ako. I didn't expect to see this side of him. Tumayo naman siya agad at tumingin sa akin.

"See you soon," he said and the Black Dimension opened behind him. This would be the last time I'd see him and it seemed like I have to wait for several years before I could see him again.

"Yeah. See you soon."

And just like that, he disappeared.

***