XIV. Rebel's darkest secret.
᯾✵𖣘⍟۞✫᯽᯾
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I went for a jog. Serissa had a hangover kaya naman pinaghandaan ko siya ng kakainin niya and I brew some coffee to her because of her sober.
Habang papalapit ako sa gubat, nagulat na lang ako nung may lumiwanag doon. Inangat ko yung kamay ko at nasinagan ako ng araw.
Sun...
He's here.
"Hey!" Sigaw ko, "If you're here, magpakita ka Apolaki! Stop being a damned father and face me!"
Why did he show up? He even told me to stay away, then now he's here? If he's here to fulfill his duties as a father, he's too late!
"Halika rito."
Di ko alam kung para saan ito but I decided to went inside. Masyadong maliwanag dito sa gubat. Only me can withstand it. After all, I'm the son of Apolaki, The Sun God and War.
I saw a man with full of sun tattoos, makisig ito kung tignan, nagliliwanag ang kanyang katawan at kulay pula ang kanyang mga mata.
And he even wore some Ancient Filipino accessories and some earrings at kulay ginto ang mga ito. His long hair was glowing like the sun. Damn it's definitely him, it's my damned father who left me!
(note: credits to rightful owners, para lang po magka-idea kayo kung ano po hitsura ni Apolaki, peace.)
"Narito ako para balaan ka. Narinig ko mula sa ibang Diyos at Diyosa na kasama mo na ang protektor mo."
"Ano naman ngayon sa'yo yon? Pwede ba wag ka nga umaktong tatay ko when you're so absent for too long!"Sigaw ko.
Looks like he doesn't like my tone and I don't give a fuck.
Plus, why did he know about Serissa? Technically, that's not the point. Why does he need to appear now? Bakit naman ngayon lang siya nagpakita?
Di ko alam pero mas lalo lang ako napipikon na kaharap ko siya ngayon.
"Ikaw na bata ka. Kelan ka pa natutong manalita ng ganyan? Noong bata ka, kaaya-aya ka pa noon. Nasa pagrerebelde ka pa din ba hanggang ngayon, Rebel?"
Ha! Who do you think who's fault? It's him! He left me! And he left my mom. Ni kahit isang araw ng burol niya ay wala siya! Kaya paano ko siya tratratuhing tatay ko when he cares about the war?
Lolo keeps on saying that he needs to leave me because to keep me safe and because I'm in danger.
But did he ever know how alone I was!?
Lumaki ako ng walang magulang! Mom died. And there's my aunt who literally hates my existence, kaya sa murang edad kailangan ko magising sa katotohanan na kargo ko ang sarili ko. Sa murang edad kailangan ko magtrabaho para lang mapaaral ko ang sarili ko sa kolehiyo. Para makapagtapos ako sa architecture, I have to work.
Na wala akong aasahan kung hindi sarili ko. My aunt literally looked me down since then. Tawang-tawa pa nga siya nung malaman niyang na-drop ako sa dati kong course. That's how she hates me.
I was supposed to take a BA in History in college, dahil kay Serissa. But after what happened with my dad, kinalimutan ko yung pangarap na iyon because of my relationship with my father. Kaya pilit kong tinatakbuhan ang subject na Philippine History kahit na gustong-gusto ko yon.
This whole thing...bought nothing but pain for me. Sino namang matutuwa na makita mo mismo ng dalawang mata mo kung paano gamitan ng rahas ang nanay mo?
When she just did her job! She just did her job as a reporter, pero sa huli pinatay pa din siya. And shit happens. After her death, I learned from Lolo Antonio about who I was. Nalaman ko na isa akong Demigod. I also learned how dangerous my blood is.
I gripped my fist at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin and I showed those bestial eyes that I have tsaka ko nilagay yung dalawang kamay ko on my pockets at hinarap ko siya,
"Yeah. And it's your fault. Simula noong nawala si Mom, I forgot about you. The only similar thing we have now is the blonde hair and tattoos, but you? You're not my father."
Lakas naman ng loob niya! Coming all over here as if nothing really happened. And coming here para sabihin niyang makinig ako sa kanya? He's a damned father. Even now, I still hate him.
As well as my blood. Dahil nalalaytay ang dugo niya sa'kin. I hate it. I always hated the same blood we share.
"Alam kong galit ka pa sa'kin pero narito ako para ibigay ang isang bagay. Yung dugo na nalalaytay sa'yo mas nararamdaman kong nagiging delikado ito para sa'yo."
He flicked his hand and may lumitaw na isang bracelet. It was a Gold Plated Ancient Bracelet. There was a sun design with it. Napataas naman ang kilay ko and I held the bracelet tightly at nagulat ako na may umilaw doon. It looks like a moon's aura and a lightning that struck at me.
Sobrang lakas nito at halos mapatumba ako doon. I couldn't even move.
Sinamaan ko na lang siya ng tingin, "Are you trying to kill your own son!?"
"Ibigay mo yan sa kanya. Ibigay mo yan kay Serissa. Kakailanganin niya yan kapag nangyari ang kinakatakutan mo. Natural lang na malaki ang epekto sa'yo ang ilaw ng buwan, isa yon sa kahinaan mo."
The bracelet was still shining, ni hindi ko man lang ito mahawakan.With the use of the bracelet, it can release some of lunar energy for defenses, possibly becoming almost untouchable and granting them various attacks. The aura may also give the bracelet in order to enhance physical capabilities such as speed, strength and durability.
Isa lang ang nasisiguro ko, this might be the thing that Serissa was looking for. And wait, we're about to look for that thing!Paano ito napunta sa kanya?
Ano ba talagang pakay niya at pumunta pa siya dito? Is he busy at war? Knowing this man?
Ha! All that he could think of is war. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nandito but I guess I have to find out. Galit ako sa kanya but if this means about the dangers that I need to face, fine then. I'll listen to him.
"Tell me, ano ba kailangan mo sabihin?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
"Para balaan ka. Mas dadami ang lalapit sa'yo dahil diyan sa dugo mo. Kailangan mong mag-ingat."
"I know. I'm already facing corrupted souls, thanks to you." Sarkastiko kong sinabi and I just crossed my arms.
"Hindi lang yon. Magsisimula na ang tunay mong misyon, ikaw lang ang makakagawa non. Alam kong nakilala mo na ang iba mong katulad. Kailangan mo malaman ang totoo, na lahat sila'y isang anak ng Diyos at Diyosa."
I'm aware of that. I met Vion and Saturino. Nararamdaman ko din na malapit din ang iba dito. I could sense them. It's easy for me to determine if there's other Demigods.
I thought it was weird that I'm sensing them but it's not. Alam kong nandito lang sila, heck knows when I'll meet them.
Mas lalong lumiwanag yung kagubtan and tanging naaninag ko lang ay yung mga tattoo niya sa katawan. Is he going to leave now? Like before, sumusulpot lang siya kapag may nangyari e.
What surprised me next is that I felt someone hugging me. It's him. The damned father I hated.
"Patawarin mo'ko. Kailangan ko lumayo para maprotektahan kita. Kayo ng ina mo. Wala akong nagawa para sa kanya kaya naman hindi ko na hahayaan na may mangyari sa'yo."
Mas lumiwanag sa lugar and I grabbed the bracelet saka ako umalis. That guy..he's going to blow this up!Damn, he's not a Sun God and War for nothing.
Maingat si Apolaki. He wouldn't let any Gods or Goddess know about our relationship. He's not very affectionate.
He's a Sun God and War and who knows what he's thinking. Nagulat na ako ng suminag ng sobrang liwanag yung kagubatan at sumabog ito. Nagulat ang iba kaya naman mas nagkaroon pa ng commotion dito.
I need to get out of here.
I put on my hood at agad akong nagulat nung may nakabangga akong isang babae. Mukhang ka-edaran ko lang ito. She looks young. And looks like she's working from a flower shop.
Dumaan ito sa'kin at humingi ng paumanhin, "Pasensya na."
Something's odd. Her aura? Ewan ko. Parang katulad lang siya nila Saturino at ni Vion.
Wait, is she a Demigod? Gustuhin ko man alamin kung sino yon but I don't have time. Tsaka kanina pa nanakit yung kuryente na binibigay nung bracelet na hawak ko. Tinitiis ko lang! I was about to ask her pero nagmadali siya paalis.
Now, my attention went to the bracelet na kanina pa kumukuryente sa'kin, "Pucha, ang sakit!"Sigaw ko
Agad ko naman binitawan iyon but the bracelet just moved on its own at lumitaw-litaw ito. Seriously, why did even Apolaki give that thing? He's my father but I can't understand him.
At ano yon? Mission ko? Ano namang ibig sabihin niya doon, ha?
Simula nung nawala si Mama, isa lang ang naging mission ko. I want to save the hopeless kids who don't have any parents anymore.
At higit sa lahat to protect the weak from the wicked. Lalong-lalo na sa mga nakita ko, kung paano nagagawa ng gobyerno na takpan ang mga kasamaan nila. How easy it is for them to change history. Nakakadiri sila.
I'm not a hero or a villain. I'm just a vigilante who wants to avenge the weak from evil. Kaya alam kong hindi magiging madali ang laban ko sa kanila. Now those evil dieties might be here somewhere kailangan ko mag-ingat. And I can't let anyone know about my blood.
Pinangako ko noon na kahit na kailan, hindi ko gagamitin yung kapangyarihan na yon. And I won't be. I won't use it dahil nalalaytay sa'kin ang dugo niya.
Pagdating ko, agad ko binigay kay Serissa yung bracelet. Mukhang kakagising lang niya and she blinks at tinignan niya ito, "What's this?"
"My damned father gave it to me. Sabi niya ibigay ko yan sa'yo."Sambit ko and I hissed.
Her eyes lit up at agad siya lumapit sa'kin and she looked quite excited,"Anooooo!!!? Nagkita kayo ni Apolaki!? Bakit di mo'ko sinama!? I want to meet him too. Gusto kong malaman kung—"
"No." I glared.
Ang ingay niya! When it talks about History, palagi talaga siyang excited doon. Even though I discouraged her a lot of times, dahil sa galit ko kay Apolaki.
"But, but—"
"Serissa!"Sigaw ko na lang and I covered her mouth. Where did she get this energy? Sa tuwing tungkol kay Apolaki ang usapan or with the other Gods and Goddess ang usapan palaging excited yan e.
I'm not excited. Wala ako balak alamin.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin and she just got closer to me and she acted cutely at pinisil-pisil niya ang pisngi ko. Seriously, this woman. I just don't understand her.
"Yung pupuntahan natin, di na matutuloy—"
"No! Edi mag-date na lang tayo!"Sigaw ni Serissa at lumaki na lang ang mata ko sa mga sinabi niya. I covered my mouth and it made me blush.
What? Is she asking me for a date?
"Ah, well.. I mean.."
"Wala ng bawian. Sinabi mo na date then it's a date. We'll go to the beach."Sagot ko tsaka ko sinara yung kurtina. Umupo naman ako sa kama ko and I feel my cheeks are getting hotter.
Umiling na lang ako at tsaka ako nagbihis. Maya-maya lang ay may nakita akong isang babae. Maganda ito sa malayuan but suddenly it started to change Its form. Nagkaroon ito ng mahahabang pangil and it developed some wings. Now, her eyes were red and she looked hideous.
Isa itong Mandurugo.
Pumasok siya dito at agad niya akong hinila. The woman smelled me and she looked so attracted to my blood, "Natagpuan din kita!"
"Ha!? Do you have any idea kung sino yung kinakausap mo!? Get off me if you want to live!" Umilaw yung buhok ko but the woman didn't want to give me up.
"Ikaw yung sinasabi nila. Yung lalaking mapula ang mga mata at yung lalaking pula ang buhok! Kailangan kitang dalhin at doon sa lugar na iyon...doon ko uubusin ang dugo mo!" Sigaw nung babae
"Hindi ako interesado sa'yo, bitaw!"Sigaw ko
Alam ko kung ano ang ginagawa ng isang tulad niyang Mandurugo. She wants to use me for her drinking activities. And I can't let her! Kaya naman may dinukot akong isang papel and I wrote something. I don't know if it could reach Serissa pero kailangan niya malaman to.
Hindi ako papayag sa gusto mangyari ng Mandurugo na ito. Humalakhak naman yung Mandurugo, "Hindi kita tipo, ang dugo mo ang gusto ko."
Wala ako nagawa hanggang sa makapunta kami sa isang gubat. The woman tied me up there at nagsimula itong lumapit. Do you know why I hate my red hair so much? That red hair can easily activate, especially in the dark.
And it did. My blonde hair suddenly changed into red hair. Pati rin ang mga mata ko. Two colors of red. A light and a dark one. Agad ko sinamaan ng tingin yung babae and the blood fall into my eyes. I looked at her with my animalistic stares and I smirked at her.
"Prepare to die."