[3RD POV]
Binalot ng tunog ng kulog na sumunod sa kidlat ang karwahe. Walang nakakibo, walang nakasagot. Ang sabay-sabay at pare-pareho nilang mga ekspresyon lang ang naging sagot sa impormasyon na nalaman nila mula kay Joker.
Masyadong maraming impormasyon, masyadong mabigat. Pare-pareho silang nahirapan na iproseso ito.
The Judge . . . was the blessed one among the gifted twins.
Twins aren't new to them, but it's also rare. When gifted twins were born, one will inherit a blessing, and the other is a curse.
It's a phenomenon that has no answer or cure until now, except for Joker, of course.
They couldn't believe it. Xilah and Cross has another sibling, which is Cross' twin.
"W-What?" nahuling reaksyon ni Law. "H-He has a twin?!"
It's a reaction that Joker expected. Of course, no one would've thought of that. Since no one ever mentioned it yet.
"H-How? W-What- wait, it's the first time I've ever heard of it!" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Lemon.
Hindi rin labas ang impormasyon na magkapatid ang Judge at ang guro nilang si Xilah, kaya kaunti lang ang nakakaalam nito, kadalasan ay ang mga matatagal na sa mga academy. Pero ang impormasyon na nalaman nila ngayon ay hindi pa lumalabas kahit sa mga naunang henerasyon na mga estudyante.
"T-That's a huge deal," ani Elroy. "Then, if he has a twin, where is he now?-"
"Dead."
Biglaang bumukas ang pintuan ng karwahe. Sabay-sabay silang napasinghap at napatingin sa taong nagbukas nito, maliban kay Joker na nakangisi.
Dahil nakaupo, umangat ang tingin nila sa malaking lalaki na mababa ang tingin sa kanila. Yadiel's cold eyes met theirs. He has a dark aura around him, they can feel his bloodlust that made them shiver. Because he's getting wet by the rain, it made him look more scarier.
Except Joker who's enjoying the show.
"And if you continue to talk about him, you'll meet him soon," dagdag ni Yadiel.
Pare-parehong napalunok nang malalim ang mga Grim Reapers. Wala sa sarili silang napaayos ng upo. Kahit marami pang katanungan ay pilit nilang isinara ang mga bibig nila.
Nalipat ang nakatitindig balahibong tingin ni Yadiel sa taong nagkalat ng storya. Hindi natinag si Joker na nakapalumbaba at napakindat pa.
"I didn't know that you're entitled to talk about our family affairs, Joker," malalim ang boses ni Yadiel na nagsalita. There's a hint of threat in his voice.
Winasiwas ni Joker ang kamay niya. "Oh come on, I'm just telling a fairytale to the kids," she answered.
Nag-igting ang bagang ni Yadiel. Sina Law na nakikinig lang ang kinilabutan.
"I advise you to treasure your life. If I wasn't the one who heard you, your head would've been flying out of the carriage now."
Everyone knows that he's talking about Xilah.
Joker smiled. "I would take your advise well."
She knows it well that she just revealed an important information, but she just can't help herself. She wanted to see their reactions, and deep down, she kinda wished it was Xilah who heard them first. Joker wanted to see the Venus' reaction— when she hear about her dead little brother.
"Yadiel! It's raining, bakit nandiyan ka pa?" The depressing atmosphere disappeared when they heard another voice. Sa gitna ng ulan, sumulpot sa gilid ni Yadiel si Xilah na walang kaalam-alam kung bakit mabigat ang tensyon sa loob.
"Oh . . . did I miss something?" Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Xilah sa mga estudyante at sa pinsan.
Hindi sumagot sa Yadiel at patagong umismid bago umalis sa pintuan. Xilah's eyes followed him with a confused look.
'This brat.' She thought. She then glanced back at the students and Joker. Sinandal niya ang kamay niya sa itaas ng karwahe habang nakapasok ang ulo sa loob.
"We'll be going first. Principal Bora said that he needs to do something here." Tinapunan niya ng tingin sina Law. "When we leave through the tunnel, it's already forbidden to enter Rosa," ma-awtoridad na sambit niya. Maiging pinagsasabihan ang mga estudyante ni Helena na sigurado siyang mahihirapang sumunod.
"THIS, is important. No matter what happens, no matter who it is . . . NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO GO HERE." Titig na titig si Xilah kay Law, parang siya lang ang pinagsisibihan. "Do you copy that?"
Law clicked his tongue before looking away.
"I'll be with Yadiel in front. We're going back to the academy," muling ani Xilah. "Wag kayong makulit dito," huling pasabi niya bago tuluyang lumabas at isara ang pinto.
Naiwan sa loob ang mga estudyante at si Joker na nagpipigil ng tawa dahil sa mga mukha nila. Everyone has a serious look on their faces. Specially Law after hearing what Xilah said.
It's natural to be like that, specially in a time like this. They're worried. They don't want to be far away from their principal when she's vulnerable. Sumara ang pagkakahigpit ng kamao ni Law. Joker noticed his reaction that made her tilt her head.
"Hey, brat. How long do you know the principal?" tanong niya, kahit alam na niya ang sagot.
Napaangat ang tingin sa kaniya ni Law, nakakunot ng noo. "Oi, oi. What are you talking about?"
"What? Like a day? A week? No, even if you haven't known her for that long, you would know. You would know that she's not someone you should worry about." She formed a smirk, an arrogant one.
For someone who knows the principal for a quite some time now . . . she knows what she's talking about.
"You should worry more about yourself," Joker added. Hindi nakasagot si Law.
The carriage started moving. It wasn't long before darkness filled the carriage when they went through the tunnel. After a couple of seconds, they're out of Rosa. They're not allowed to go back or to see Principal Helena.
Tahimik lang sa loob ng karwahe. Nakasalumbaba si Joker at nakasandal sa bintana, pinapanood ang bumabagsak na ulan. Ilang segundo, tumalim ang tingin niya na sinundan ng pag-ismid.
Nakuha niya ang atensyon ng mga kasama. Ngunit bago pa makapag-react, bigla silang nakaramdam ng mga presenysa. Ang dalawa sa labas na nasa pwesto ng kutsero ay nakaramdam din.
Yadiel continued moving the carriage, while Xilah who's next to him is casually sitting, legs crossed, unbothered.
"We have some company," aniya nang maramdaman din ang mga presensya.
May mga aninong natatabunan ang sinag ng buwan mula sa bintana ng karwahe. Nakuha nito kaagad ang mga atensyon nina Law at lahat sila ay naging alerto sa loob. Maliban lang kay Joker na hindi nagbago ang posisyon.
"W-What's that?" nababahalang tanong ni August.
Napabuntonghininga si Joker. "The two Portugals outside can handle them by themselves, but I think they're too many, it might take some time. Y'all should go too and handle them, I will stay here."
Elroy gasped. "What are you saying?!"
Sumimangot si Joker. "What do you want me to do? Cheer you? The fuck, brat. You can handle them."
"Them? Are they gifteds?" mariing tanong ni Lemon na may seryosong ekspresyon.
"Nah, just some babies," Joker answered that left the Grim Reapers dumbfounded. "Mukhang pinalabas na silang lahat ni Andina." Kumurba ang labi niya sa isang ngisi.
"From now on, the gifteds aren't the only ones you should worry about."
"They're already here . . ."
Sa labas ng karwaheng patuloy na umaandar, napalilibutan ng mapunong kagubatan—hindi lang mga puno at mga hayop ang nakatago.
Glowing eyes, different figures, random sizes, but all deadly and strong. The creatures have already emerged, doing their duty as children.
Joker showed a grin, still looking outside.
"Typon, father of all monsters . . . his children are here."
CHAPTER 72
Children of Typhon