Alaine POV
"Fuck!" He cursed as I cut some strands of his hair.
Mas mukha pa siyang galit sa nagawa ko kaysa kaninang nadaplisan ko ang braso niya. Kasalukuyan pa ngang tumutulo ang dugo mula rito. Well, he loves his long hair so much.
I smirk. He glared at me as his attacked become more aggressive. Mukhang seseryosohin na niya ang laban.
I leapt backwards while countering his attack. He grinned when he almost slashed my thigh.
Our movements, in every way, resemble fusing with the wind. The sound of the blades clashing is enchanting to me, just like the breeze of the wind.
I need to finish this. I'm getting tired. I haven't really been in good shape, and that's my disadvantage. If I let this fight go on longer, I will be exhausted and will definitely lose.
"You lost." I said as I pointed my katana at his chest. He fell down because he didn't expect my sudden attack.
He smirked and raised his hand, accepting his defeat. Then he wiped away his sweat. He asked one of our maids to bring us water and a towel.
I moved my katana away from him and sat down next to him.
Ramdam ko ang pagod sa paghingal. Ilang minuto lamang iyon. Nakaka-disappoint na ganoon kaagad ang reaksyon ng katawan ko.
I'm still really weak. But I'm happy that I win against him.
"You're lucky my wrist hurt if not I will definitely win." I rolled my eyes.
"Reasons. Alam ko, natalo talaga kita."
Pinanood ko siya habang tinatalian ang braso niyang nasugatan ko kanina. Nang makitang nahihirapan siya ay ako na ang nagtali.
Maybe it's true that his wrist hurts, but still, I will not accept this reason for his losing.
"Yeah, your good but definitely you need to work out your cardio. You can't survived a long fight, Prinsesitha."
Napabuntong-hininga ako. "I know."
"Pero kung hindi mo pa kaya. Hindi mo pwedeng pwersahin ang sarili mo. Let your body heal first then slowly you will gain your pace."
"Yeah, I know but it's really frustrating."
"Just be patient, Prinsesitha." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko. Mabilis ko namang tinanggal ang kamay niya. Ayaw ko talagang ginugulo niya ang buhok ko.
"I really need to be stronger. I can't wait for the time to take my revenge to those people who made me like this."
Tumaas ang kilay niya at ngumisi.
"I'm looking forward for that. Your revenge should be painful."
Nanatili pa kami nang ilang minuto bago pumasok na sa mansion para makapagpahinga.
Naabutan pa naming paalis ang lalaking bisita ni Ate. Mabilis itong yumuko bilang paggalang sa amin.
May makapal itong harang sa mukha kaya ni hindi ko makita ang mukha niya. Sinundan ko ito ng tingin.
"That's Agent Kim. One of the trusted minds of Ponos." Hellion said. Maybe he sees my curiosity towards the man.
Minds are the mafia's hidden people. They are the ones who investigate and handle issues. They take action silently and report to us. Their identities remain hidden so that they can blend with the people in the mafia world without any problem.
Ano kaya ang binalita noon kay Ate?
"Anong kurso ang gusto mong kunin?" Napatigil ako sa paglalaro ng arrow ko. Nakaupo kasi kami ngayon sa damuhan dahil katatapos lang naming maglaro ng archery. Binalingan ko siya. Nakangiti siyang nakatingin sa akin.
I hope I can smile like that too. A gentle and genuine smile.
Arthemis and I have been playing archery since this morning. Hellion, on the other hand, has not been present since another business related issue came up. Maybe she saw I was bored again, so she insisted that we play archery.
"Kailangan pa ba 'yon?" Nakangisi kong tugon. We have money, power, and everything. Kung iisipin hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-aral. I can own whatever I want.
"Of course, you still need that. Its important," seryosong saad niya.
Minsan naiisip ko kung ate ko ba talaga siya? Parang kung umasta kasi parang nanay at tatay ko na pero kahit ganun.
I always feel her sincerity. She loves me so much and it alway melts my heart.
"I want to study Business. So that I could help you too." Kusang lumabas sa bibig ko. The truth is, I don't know what I really wanted.
"Really?" Gulat na tanong niya. Tumango ako. Lalong lumaki ang ngiti niya.
"That's great! Grandpa, will be so happy if he know this," masayang sabi pa niya.
"Ikaw, ano bang kinukuha mong course?" tanong ko. Ngayon lang sumagi sa isip ko kung anong hirap ang pinagdadaanan nila ni Hellion. In such a young age, they are managing our business while studying.
"I already graduated. Business administration pareho kami ni Hellion." Gulat akong napalingon sa kanya.
Graduated? Bakit ang bilis? I thought they are also home schooling. I'm really preoccupied. Knowing this now, makes me feel stupid.
Napatawa siya sa gulat kong ekspresyon. Agad din naman itong bumalik sa dati.
"You know honey. Grandpa is powerful. When you disappear, the mafia and our business is at risk. We need to help grandpa as soon as possible. So, we accelerated."
Napaiwas siya ng tingin sa akin na parang nagkamali siya. Gusto ko sana siya tanungin ulit kaso sa kinikilos niya mukhang huwag na lang.
Obviously, they are hiding something from me. Until now, they have avoided opening topics about the tragedy and the people who are involved.
They just say, it's from the rival mafia. Nothing more. Not even mentioning what mafia is that. Maybe I will act alone to find the answers to the queries in my mind.
"Jewel, Themis." Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses.
"Grandpa." Ngumisi siya. His cold dangerous eyes meets mine.
Ang kanyang presensya ay nagsusumigaw nang kanyang awtoridad. Na parang kailangang lumuhod ang sino man. Halata na kung kanino ako nagmana. Namana ko sa kanya ang kanyang taglay na presensya at mga blankong mata pero hindi ang kulay nito. Themis said I inherited it from our grandmother.
That's why, grandpa favors me alot.
He looks so dangerous, merciless, and blank when you stare at him, but he is really soft on the inside. A loving grandfather to us.
I really look up to him. I wanted to become like him someday.
"Éla edó. As milísoume káti simantikó." (Come here. Let's talk something important.)
Hindi ko alam pero bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Mula nang magising ako sa pagkacomatose. Ngayon niya lang kami kinausap nang ganito kaseryoso.
***
Zero POV
When you easily give up on a person, it means she's not that important. Your love is not as deep as the ocean. You will not feel loneliness for so long.
Moving on becomes an easy process.
Then what is it I'm feeling now? Is it that my love for her is beyond?
For two years, I have never forgotten her.
Every single day, I can always hear her voice. How irritated she is to my pranks. How she timidly hides herself in that eyeglasses and cap.
I miss her. I miss her so much.
Sometimes I want to sleep longer because in my dreams I'm with her.
Breathing. Laughing. Shouting.
I have never loved a person like this or been hurt like this. It's like waking up in hell every morning knowing I won't see her.
Yeah, I was hurt when my parents died. I'm so devastated. But this pain I'm feeling right now is more painful.
My heart shattered into pieces when I remembered that night. The night, I wish that I've protect her.
That night, I wish I just focused and believed in her, and the whole revenge thing didn't matter anymore. If only I could turn back time.
Sana mas binilisan ko pa ang pagtakbo. Sana nailigtas ko siya.
Minsan sumasagi sa isipan ko. Sana, hindi na lang din ako nabuhay para magkasama pa kami. Pero agad ding kinukontra ng utak ko na paano kung buhay pa siya? And she is just in the place where we can't track her. I can't just give up.
Napatitig ako sa braso kong may malaking peklat dulot ng malaking pagsabog noon. I was the nearest one in that bomb explosion. Kaya may naiwang marka sa akin.
This mark will always make me remember that night.
Tinapakan ko ang upos ng sigarilyo at nagpasyang lumabas na sa University. I just checked Clint awhile ago since we rarely see him.
The four of us, together with Carl, are already in our 2nd year of college, while Clint is in his last year of high school.
Sana ga-graduate na rin si Rain ngayon kasabay siya.
I smiled bitterly.
I remember Clint word awhile ago.
"Kung pupuntahan mo na naman ako para i-check ako. Nakikita mo naman, buhay pa ako. I am still alive and I hate it!"
We even hired men just to watch him. He is the most vulnerable among us about her death. He once tried to commit suicide. That scared us. We couldn't lose him.
"I hate all of you! You are continuing your life as if nothing happened! I hate it when I feel like I'm the only one being left out!"
Napatingin ako sa kamao kong ipinansuntok ko sa kanya kanina. Sana natauhan na siya.
Tingin niya talaga katulad pa rin kami ng dati. That her death means nothing to us? Hell no! Maraming nagbago sa amin mula nang mangyari ang gabing iyon. Hindi lang siya ang naiwang nagdurusa.
And, I am in pain too! Totally miserable but I can't just show them. I am the strongest one in the group. I'm their leader. I will just suffer this pain alone then showing them.
I was taught that being the leader of the group meant being the foundation for each member. I can't break down. Not this time that I'm still believing she's alive!
"The pain you are feeling now is double to what I'm feeling! This life without her is shattering my soul and mind, Clint. You know, I love her too! How could I move on? But, I am still trying to live because I have this tiny hope! That maybe, she is still alive."
I stopped walking when I saw a nerdy highschool girl running happily towards a boy.
Dati hindi ko sila binibigyang pansin pero mula noong mawala siya sa buhay namin. Sila na ang dahilan para maalala ko siya.
How bravely she fought our pranks with those thick eye glasses.
"Damn, I miss you so much that it hurts."
Shels<3