VI. Haunting of the past.
᯾✵𖣘⍟۞✫᯽᯾
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"Rebel! Makinig ka na lang, apo.."
I refused to listen!
I will not!
Dahil ano, ha? Nakita ko! Nakita ko kung paano mamatay si Mama. Why is this happening? Bumuhos na lang ang luha ko and I shouted angrily, my voice are sounded so vexed.
"Mom died!" Hikbi ko, "Ilang bala yung natamo niya, and she was killed by those damn politicians. Why? Bakit kailangan siya ang magsisi sa isang pagsusulat niya sa katotohanan? That documentary tells the truth. Totoo naman, di'ba!?"
"Rebel, stop..." Sabi ni Lolo Antonio at umiwas siya ng tingin.
"Totoo namang pinagtatakpan ng batas kung ano yung totoo! Nabubulag na ang tao dahil sa mga ilang salapi na kayang isampal sa kanila mabili lang yung prinsipyo nila! Mom did nothing wrong... she was just reporting what was the truth."
"Hindi ka nila pwedeng makita!"Higit sa'kin ni Lolo Antonio.
I slapped his hand away,"And how about you, Lolo? You just let your own daughter died? Anong klaseng ama ka?"
I shouldn't have said that....
Pero, anong magagawa ko? Yung kaisa-isang tao na nagparamdam sa'kin na hindi ako kakaiba, wala na siya... patay na siya.
I could still remember my childhood. How I was chased by those corrupted souls, and I wasn't aware who I really was. Basta ang tanging alam ko lang ay may nakilala akong isang lalaki noon. I can still remember how pretty his violet eyes were.
I hated how I was weak. Unable to do anything. Just a weeping bastard who couldn't do anything for his dead mother.
"You're his son!"
"Kukunin kita, anak ni Apolaki!"
"Get the fuck away from me!"My hair turns into red at halos dali-dali lumitaw ang mga marka sa katawan ko. Probably, they sense my negative emotions kaya sila naparito para kunin nila ako.
The power was too strong, the red light with me was too strong... I couldn't even handle it.
Lalapit yung mga corrupted souls sa'kin and the guy who's wearing a hood just pushed me away.
"Takbo!"
What's wrong with that guy?
"Anong—"
"Hindi ka ba nakakaintindi!? Tumabo ka na. Ikaw yung hinahanap nila. Ipapain ko ang sarili ko at habang nasa akin ang atensyon nila, umalis ka na dito. Sundin mo ang Lolo mo. Hindi ka pwede mamatay dahil isa kang Demigod,"
Hindi ko maaninag yung lalaki. All that I could see was him covering his face. Tanging napapansin ko lang ay yung hood niyang suot and those violet eyes that were very captivating to everyone.
Hindi ko alam, but something tells me that he's just like me. He's not a human, he's a Demigod. I could sense it. Sigurado akong isa siyang Demigod. I'm sure of it.
I literally hissed at him. Ayoko sa lahat ay yung pinagmumukha akong kawawa!
"And who do you think you are?"
"Wala ka nga talagang alam. Kawawa ka. I'm the son of Dalikmata, Vion. The guardian of the night and the eye of those who are in sleep."
At doon din mismo sa araw na yon, isiniwalat ni Lolo Antonio ang lahat-lahat.
I always ask myself why those corrupted souls are after me? Na kung bakit kailangan ko mawalay sa kababata kong babae, that girl with orange hair who admires Philippine Mythology, matagal ko na siyang hindi nakita.
I never understood anything hanggang sa sinabi ni Lolo sa'kin ang lahat.
Na kung sino talaga ako.
That I was claimed by Apolaki, the God of Sun and War. Hindi ako makapaniwala at sinipa ko na lang yung mga upuan hanggang sa mabali ang mga yon and my hair glowed like the sun.
"I would never accept this!"Sigaw ko
"Rebel, apo..."
"Sun is my hope. And Blood is my enemy. Hangga't nanalaytay ang dugo ng hayop na yon, hindi ko siya kailanman tatanggapin bilang tatay ko. Kahit ilang corrupted souls pa ang makipag-habulan sa'kin, I don't care! Run or Hide... you can't get away from me."Seryosong sinabi ko.
I feel so much anger just hearing about my old man's name. He wasn't even there on my mom's wake. Wala naman siya sa buhay ko ng ilang taon eh! Tapos ngayon susulpot lang siya para ipaalam ang lahat ng ito? I don't care.
Sa tingin ba niya may pake pa ako?
He is protecting me from corrupted souls and to evil dieties who wants to hurt me, talagang misyon lang niya talaga ang mahalaga sa kanya noh? He never realize that he has a fucking son!
A ten-year-old who was waiting for him to come home!
"You can't deal with this on your own, apo! Kailangan mo ang tatay mo—"
"Sinong may sabi na kailangan ko siya?"I smirked at him.
"I don't need him."
Yes, I don't.
Dahil simula pa lang noon, kargo ko na ang sarili ko. No one knows how much my aunt wants me out of her life dahil sa kamalasan na dinulot ko raw sa kanya. To the point where she tried to poison me.
The poison is known as Philter, Moon of Conflicts. At first it looks like an alluring and hauntingly appearance. Mabibighani ka rito dahil sa moonlight appearance sa tubig nang syrup but if I were you? Hindi ako mabibighani diyan.
You wouldn't even guess that it was a poison. I mean, how can you?
When potion's aroma is both alluring and foreboding, with subtle hints of night-blooming flowers and exotic spices, intertwined with an underlying sense of impending danger. The scent evokes a sense of mystery and intrigue, drawing in unsuspecting victims with its enticing allure.
Upon consumption, the Philter, Moon of Conflicts, unleashes a cascade of effects that are as unpredictable as the phases of the moon.
Kung akala mo'y maganda itong titigan, nagkakamali ka. Nakakamatay yung potion. It could cause your breath to come in ragged gasps, and your heart to race erratically.
It almost nearly killed me a lot of times. Because the Sun's weakness is the Moon. Kaya ba niya yon pinainom sa'kin? Where did she get those?
So if you think that moon is something enchanting, it's not. Hindi ko alam kung saan nakuha ni Martha iyon but she used that poison to kill me... a lot of times. Gustong-gusto niya ako mawala sa buhay niya, that's why she did this.
And for that, Apolaki. I hate you.
I hate you, Dad.
BACK TO PRESENT
Halos may maramdaman ako na kakaiba so I excuse myself to Evian and Gaia.
"Saglit lang... susunod ako sa klase ha."
"Dude!You look pale, okay ka lang?"Tanong ni Evian at tumango na lang ako.
I could feel nauseous for a while at lumabas ako. Sa di kalayuan, nakita ko na may nilapitang lalaki si Serissa. Nagmamakaawa pa siya.
"Dali na kasi! I will pay, don't worry! Name your prices! 8k?10k? I have my cards! Gold or Black? Mamili ka! Basta tulungan mo lang ako mag-research kuya!"Sigaw ni Serissa.
May matangkad na lalaki siyang kausap. Mukhang masungit, he looked so cold na parang wala man lang siyang pake sa presence ni Serissa. He has deep brown eyes, the same color as the coffee. And he had dark hair. His face almost had a sculpture of a Greek God. Nakasalamin ito at agaw pansinin.
His body was quite daring, pluky and had a bold appearance. He was quite built in. I must say, it's damn perfect. He has defined Jaws and a perfect cupid bow-like lips.
"Your fucking noisy," He glared, "Crazy woman. Sa tingin mo ba talaga mabibili mo ng pera ang lahat? I'll do it, okay? Kahit di mo'ko bayaran."
"Eh kasi naman ginagawa ko lang talaga tong pabor na ito para sa siraulong lalaking kasama ko! So pretty please? Kahit ngayon lang!T–tsaka madami na iniintindi yon e, ayoko mamroblema siya sa reporting. Serissa nga pala pangalan ko. And hey! I'm not crazy as you think! I have a name!"Sigaw ko
"Ingay mo kasi."He glared at inabot niya yung kamay niya,"Giordan."
Humanda ka sa'kin mamaya, Serissa.
Hindi na talaga maganda ang pakiramdam ko so I decided to go in male restroom at nagtatakbo ako sa lababo at hinugasan ko yung mukha ko. Whenever I think about my aunt, hindi ko mapigilang masuka. Sukang-suka ako sa pagiging impakta niya sa buhay ko!
"U–umm.."
The guy was nervous as a wreck! Lumunok na lang siya and he tried to scanned me, "Ayos ka lang?"
"Do I look okay to you?"I asked.
May mga lalaking mga lumabas at mukhang kaklase nila yung lalaking kausap ko. At nagsibulungan pa ito at tinawanan yung mga kasama nila. The guy's with me is a gay. I could tell that, already.
Ano bang meron sa bakla?
Tao rin sila.
"Ingat brad!"
"Baklain ka niyan!"
"Oh, tapos? Fuck off!" I raised my middle finger at natameme sila, "Mga tao ngayon! Bagong taon na, wala pa ding alam sa sexuality? Ano naman kung bakla siya? Does it matter? Whatever your sexuality is, whatever it is, hanggang wala kang natatapakang iba hindi yon dapat maging issue sa baluktot niyong ugali. Kayo tong straight mas kayo yung baluktot mga gago!"
"Okay lang Kuya... totoo naman e..."
"And so? You'll let these freeloaders bully you?"I asked him.
He's not that bad, you know. He has a handsome face, that's for sure. He has natural brown hair, he has a captivating and alluring physique.
As for his eyes, he has alluring crystal blue eyes that make him stand out. Those small faces sculpted by a God with natural pink cheeks, a button nose that could make him look even more captivating. And those cupid's bow-like lips that attract everyone.
"Ano kamo!?"
Mainit ulo ko!
Wag nila ako simulan!
Hindi ako nagpaawat at hinila ko mga ulo nila and then I quickly kicked them off. Isa-isa sila pinatumba ko. Pinaulanan ko lang naman sila ng sunod-sunod na sipa para magsitigil sila.
"Luh," Natawa yung lalaki at kitang-kitang nagpipigil siya.
I cracked my fingers at sinamaan ko sila ng tingin, "Ano? Lalaban pa kayo? Ano!? Wala pala tong mga to, kayo ata tong bakla e."
Aalis sana kami ng kasama ko kaso bigla naman hinaltak nung lalaki yung damit ko. I felt some aura around him that I couldn't even explain. Para bang may nakita siya. His expression changed for awhile at tinignan niya yung mga corrupted souls na papunta sa'min.
"What are those?"He asked.
"You can see them."
Huminga ako ng malalim and I raised my brows, "What are you?"
"Ha! Kahit hindi mo sabihin, I could already tell it! You're a Demigod!"
The guy bit his lip and he felt defeated, "Oo na... oo na. Tama ka na ng hinala. The name's Saturino Rosales."
"Rebel Danilo Apoian."Sagot ko
"So ano na nga?" Napamewang siya, "Anong gagawin natin sa mga yon?" He pointed to the corrupted souls.
"Simple lang. Ganito,"
I created some sun ropes at pinilupot ko iyon sa kamay ko. Because with this ability, I can create or wield weapons that have power over the sun or sunlight, which grants the user of a wide variety of sun-based abilities, including variable power with the amount of sunlight and the ability to let out the sun's power with an attack.
This ability is not only specific to mystic weapons but also technologically advanced weapons. The power of the weapons depends on what they were created for or what level of solar ability I posses.
Lumapit ako sa mga corrupted souls na iyon at isa-isa ko silang pinagsusuntok! Thanks to that guy, I could already tell that those corrupted souls are after me. I don't know what he did, but I know he did something!
Napasapo siya sa mukha, "Tama nga si Serissa, di ka talaga nag-iisip.."
"Hey!I saved your life!" Duro ko sa kanya
"Kung hindi kita tinulungan beh! Ewan ko sa'yo, Rebel!"Sabi ni Saturino
"If I did not see those souls baka kung ano nangyari sa'yo, ipaalala ko lang po Kuya."
I am right from the start. Nandito rin sila. Sinadya ba talagang itago yung pagkatao nila dito or was this something else? Vion, Saturino, now who's next?