Exoplanet: Guardians

Ikalima: Pagkikita

Mga bulaklak lamang ang natira sa paligid ng isang glass vault--wala itong laman na kahit na ano, wala ring kahit na anong gasgas o indikasyon na binuksan ito.

Nakatago ang vault sa isang underground cemetery ng isang museum na hindi madaling mararating ng ordinaryong mamamayan sapagkat protektado ito ng kapangyarihan na hindi ko alam kung kanino. Well, who would dare to sneak in this place just to see dead bodies? Ih! The idea creeps me out.

I didn't meet Kross but based on their reaction, especially Ysabelle's, he seemed a great man. Something intriguing caught my sight, Kailhend's caressing Ysabelle's back to comfort her. The way the former acts, I guess he feel something for her. What do you think?

I was snapped out of my own world when Kuya Laymin flicked my forehead. What was that for?

"Focus", he said.

Napakapit ako kay Kuya Laymin nang may marinig akong halaklak ng mga babae mula sa kung saan. It's a closed area so any noise would echo.

" Those are oreads. Baka sila ang kumuha sa katawan ni Kross.", ani Kuya Jun Yeon kaya agad silang tumakbo para sundan ang pinagmumulan ng mga halakhak. I never thought that this place seems like a maze--I mean, there were two or three passageways in every direction.

(Ang mga oread ay mga nimpas na naninirahan at nangangalaga sa mga kabundukan)

Napahinto ako sa pagsunod sa mga kasama ko nang may mahagip ang aking peripheral vision. It was that Handre-look-alike, keeping his eyes in a glass vault with someone inside. Dahil sa isa akong dakilang chismosa, nakiusyoso ako sa tinitingnan niya. I can't tell if he didn't feel my presence or he just ignored me, for he didn't bother to glance at me at least. Nabaling ang tingin ko sa glass vault and I was so shocked when I saw another man inside. Could it be the real Handre? B-bakit...bakit dalawa sila? The one is dead and the other one is alive!

" I don't know either, if that's what you're going to ask.", narinig na naman niya ang nasa utak ko. Yeah, he heard it. Sabi niya, may telepathic ability siya--audio telepathy to be specific. Sa audio telepathy, nakakausap ng telepath sino mang gustusin niya regardless of distance but it's just the words he hears--like what Laymin, he and I can. Visual telepathy, can also be possible with great distance but a telepath wouldn't be able to communicate with whom he wanted to speak to unless he found it from a great number of faces. The more distant the person is, the more people he can see. Well, it's fun but inconvenient. As for the mind reading, readers can actually read mind according to him but it's the best they can do. They can't communicate nor talk through mind because they can only read the mind of those who are near them. It's Kail's type so I have to be careful with my thoughts next time.

" Can you tell me now your name?", tanong ko habang nag-aalangan pa rin. Malay mo naman 'di ba? But for now, the important thing is, he's not Handre. I admit it, I was mistaken.

" They call me Zion.", sagot niya. On our first encounter, I thought he's cold-hearted and quite snob but after a little conversation, I realized that he's just that silent and serious type of person.

" Do you know Handre?", tanong ko ulit. Hindi siya pwedeng makulitan sa akin dahil kapag sinigawan niya ko, isusumbong ko siya kay Papa. Haha. How childish. Of course I wouldn't do that.

" No. That's why I'm here.", he said before placing his right hand on the glass vault.

" Mag-iimbestiga ka? Oww. Mukhang masaya 'yan ah. Let me help.", I insisted. I know he would object that's why he looked at me, a bit surprised.

" You can't protest, it's my order.", I told him. I smirked when he didn't reply. I won, being a Princess isn't a burden somehow.

" Who.Are.You?", sabay kaming napalingon ni Zion nang marinig sina Kuya Jun Yeon. Gulat ang reaksyon nilang lahat lalo na ni Ysabelle.

" Ahm.. Mga kuya, si Zion. He's the General of War of my father's army. Zion, they are the Guardians, and she's Ysabelle.", pakilala ko kahit nag-aalangan pa dahil sa lungkot na bumabalot sa paligid. Lumapit si Sehran sa glass vault ni Handre bago ilipat ang tingin kay Zion na nakatingin lang rin sa kanya nang walang emosyon. Siguro, naguguluhan lang din siya kung bakit magkamukhang-magkamukha si Handre at Zion, katulad naming lahat.

" Paano nangyari 'to?"

"Are you sure you're not Handre?"

" Nakilala mo na pala ang iyong ama"

***

"Do you know how to use this?", tanong ni Zion habang iniaabot sa akin ang isang espada. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa Mensa para makipaglaban sa Dark Knights na bigla na namang umatake. Seeing that I came with the guardians, Zion followed to protect me, though he doesn't have to.

" Nope. No need. I have my arrow with me.", tumango lamang siya at nanatiling nakapwesto sa may likuran ko. He position his blade that glistened in sun's rays because of its sharpness.

Zion kept on protecting me as I was shooting my targets, taking care the close enemies as I was aiming the distant ones. He waved his sword against a Dark knight that suddenly vanished. I turned at my back coolly, to smash my crystal bow in an enemy behind Zion.

Inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid. Kuya Laymin and Kuya Xian worked together to defeat their opponents. Kuya Xian stomped his foot then ice crystals suddenly appeared, bringing those monsters to their end as Kuya Lay hold ice blades in both of his hands--probably a weapon from Kuya Xian. Skillfully, he thrusted the weapon and left no remains.

Mukha namang hindi nahihirapan si Kuya Chendrick dahil saan man niya itutok ang kanyang kamay, agad itong naabo ng kanyang kidlat. He'll not spare a life with that power. Samantala, pinapaulanan ni Baek Oppa ng light explosives ang makita niyang Dark knight. Maliliit lang ang mga iyon pero sumisiksik sa kalamnan pagkatapos, boom! Burado ka na sa mundong 'to. It's actually cool, suits him when he's serious.

Kuya Chyann, on the other hand, fights with his own manly strength. Edi siya na ang malaki ang katawan. Isa pa, ang cool at ang gwapo niya kapag seryoso. Si Kuya Jun Yeon at Kuya D, hayun at abalang abala sa pagpatay sa mga Dark Knight gamit ang kanilang mga kapangyarihan nang walang kahirap-hirap. Easy dude! Pinaka-astig ang skills ni Kailhend. Teleportation plus physical strength, no doubt he has the advantage. Napagawi ang tingin ko kay Ysabelle. When she was about to be sliced by a sword, she immediately ducked. She got her balance and posture back before releasing an arrow. Yeah, she's great. However, among all, I raised my brow to Sehran. The hell, he was just watching me... No, not me...he was just watching Zion as if he was waiting to see something.