The time finally came...
Yesterday seemed nothing more than a prologue to the prologue
But you can skim through if you wish;
from here on out is my story.
~A verse from Radwimps song 'Sparkle'~
........
Arcane City @ approximately 4:45pm.
VRROOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!
EENNNGGGG!!!!! EENNNGGGG!!!!!
Isang napaka-ingay na event ang nagaganap ngayon sa Arcane University. Isang prestihiyosong unibersidad sa mismong lungsod ng Arcane na katabi lamang ng Mystic city.
"Wooohooo!!"
"YEA!!!"
Ngunit salungat sa Mystic city na kilala bilang city of gang wars, ang Arcane city naman ay kilala bilang 'city of Deluxe'. Isang well-developed city kung saan ang lahat ng karangyaan sa mundo ay pwede mong makita o maranas dito. Kahit sino ay pinapangarap ang makarating sa lugar na ito at halos lahat na pinakamayamang angkan at personalidad ng bansa ay dito na rin nagtipon at naninirahan.
"Now we are down to the last lap..."
Isang drag race ang nagsimulang mag-ingay sa loob ng unibersidad na isa sa pinagmamalaki nilang sports sa ciudad.
"and yes, the Bugatti Chiron is still and undoubtedly is leading the race."
One of the students, being the announcer of the said competition is getting excited as he gives details of the current standing of this game. And his eyes are not looking away from the race track even just for a second.
"Tch.."
"The race is nearing to its final moment as the leading cars are almost on the finished line!!" muling sabi ng announcer habang nakatutok ang tingin sa dalawang nangungunang luxury supercars na Bugatti Chiron at Lamborghini Veneno.
"Wala! Talo na iyan!"
"Go! Stanley for the win!"
"Yes!! Bugatti!!!"
Patuloy na nagsisigawan ang mga tao sa loob ng stadium habang pinapanood ang karera ng anim na iba't ibang luxury cars na kasalukuyang nagpapaligsahan para sa kanilang bet na racers. At syempre, hindi mawawala ang pustahan sa mananalo.
"Aba. Kung makapag-diwang sila, akala mo naman ay nanalo na," dinig ni Louie ang komento ng katabi. She crossed her legs while sitting comfortably with her arms on each sides of the arm rest where she is seated.
"Sshh... 'wag masyadong mainit ang ulo." saway niya dito.
"They should not under estimate us. That Stan guy may be a defending champion or what but it's still nothing to a genius."
"Ano ba Nyx?" pabulong nyang saway sa katabi. "Nandito tayo sa kanilang teritoryo kaya mag-ingat ka sa sinasabi mo."
Pero binalewala lang ito ni Nyx at inirapan lamang si Louie habang matalim na tinitigan ang mga nagsasayang mga estudyante sa harapan nila.
Currently, they are inside the VIP section ng stadium kasama ang ibang high class students ng prestihiyosong unibersidad dito. Sa loob nito ay kitang-kita nila ang buong kaganapan sa race through the glass wall. Binalik nila ang tingin sa race track at tinuon ang atensyon sa itim na McLaren na pangatlong nangunguna sa race.
"Heh..."
Napansin naman ni Louie ang pag guhit ng matagumpay na ngiti sa labi ng katabi.
"This is it everyone. The lead is now halfway of the last lap and...HOHOHO... This is unexpected. The McLaren smoothly went passed the Lamborghini and now closing the race with the crowds fave Bugatti!"
Parang di makapaniwala sa ngayon lang pinapakitang bilis ng Mclaren, ang kaninang masasaya at nakakabinging sigawan ay unti-unting humina. Nearing to the last turning point of the race and the race will be finished. But since the track is going left, the big advantage to win this race is for the Bugatti that stayed on the left side of the track while the McLaren is on its right.
Ibinaba ni Stanley ang right window ng kanyang Bugatti at ngumiti sa driver ng McLaren. Sa kabila ng tinted na bintana nito ay kita niya ang pagsulyap sa kanya ng driver.
"Sorry dude! I have to go....FIRST! hahahaha..." he shouted as he stepped on the gas expecting to get his win.
The crowd are all cheering to their bets. And well, the Bugatti is speeding up indeed. But to his surprise, his car is not advancing even an inch.
Muli siyang napatingin sa driver ng McLaren and at this time nakita niya ang paghikab ng nagmamaneho.
"Damn you Ken!!" Stan got triggered and became impatient to win that he made an early apex to pass through the turn in point advancing him to the right lane of the track. Expecting that the McLaren is behind him he looked through his center mirror "Hahaha!! Ano ka ngayon ha?" he happily said but to find no McLaren F1.
"Oh my gosh!!" almost everyone gasped that even the announcer left speechless, witnessing how the Mclaren F1 recklessly gains the lead position by making a late apex at an incredible speed drifting his turn and successfully taking over the left side of the track.
Stanley tried to take the lead back but just a blink of an eye, like in slow motion he saw the black and white checkered flag raised up.
At that moment, the Mclaren have reached the finished line first. And the next thing he knew, he is stepping on his brakes too hard.
Scrrreeeeeeeeccchhhh!!!!!!
Umusok ang mga gulong ng Bugatti ng marahas itong napahinto na sumakto naman sa harapan ng McLaren.
"Oooohh!! Lucky!!!" napatalon ang katabi ni Louie pagkatapos makita ang naging resulta ng drag race habang siya naman ay napa-iling lamang. Alam ni Louie na sinadya ng kasama na ipakita ang sobrang pagkatuwa sa pagkapanalo sa lahat na nandun sa loob ng kwarto. At matagumpay nga naman nitong nakuha ang atensyon ng lahat.
"A-a... t-the McLaren F1 won the race!!!" sigaw ng announcer sa di makapaniwalang tinig.
"T-talo tayo?!!"
"Aahh... dammit!!"
Inis ang isinasatinig ng halos lahat sa pagkatalo lalo na ng may nakatayang pusta sa mananalo sa race. Sino nga ba naman ang maniniwala? Almost everyone bet on their number one car racer not just in their University but in the whole country.
The owner of the Bugatti Chiron who is the National Champion in car racing, lost unexpectedly today. And never did anyone expect that someone from somewhere could win against him.
"I guess this is what they called... ~shocking!! ♪♪ " she said in a sing-song voice.
"Tama na nga yan." Louie grabbed her from the back of her shirt and dragged her out of the room.
"S-sandali.." nagpumiglas man ay wala naman itong nagawa kundi magpakabusangot at magpahila kay Louie.
......
Shins POV
I stretched my arms wide up while waiting bored for him here in their rooftop.
"Hmpp.hai."
It's good to breathe some fresh air once in a while. Especially now that Mystic city is getting back to how it was before. A gang war city.
Naglipana ang mga gang fights sa buong city na mismong mga exiles ang pasimuno. Probably ay para guluhin ang sistema ng outlaw alliance na ilang taon ding iningatang mapanatili ng mga legal gangs. There is something, or rather, 'someone' boosting the confidence of those exiles to finally come out from their shells. And whoever this someone is yet to come out from its shadows. Maybe waiting for the right timing? I could only smirk on that thought. So before anything worst comes, we have to do something.
Napabulsa ako ng makapa ang isang sulat. Its been a month since then.
"What's this?" I asked while looking at the white envelope she placed on my desk infront of me.
"Um. Lahat na impormasyon na kailangan niyong malaman tungkol kay Ash."
"A- ha?... sa-sandali.. ano ang ibig sabihin nito?"
"Ang pakay at plano ni Ash. Yun ang misyon ko diba?"
I can only nod at the face of a girl who seemed familiar yet different.
"Na-icompile ko na diyan lahat. Just in case na you need more information, hindi na ako makakatulong. Hindi na rin ako babalik ng student council."
She smiles. But somewhere behind that smile, I can sense something being hidden. I wanted to ask "why" but my confidence seems to have been taken away and suddenly I became speechless.
"At... pakibigay na rin po sana nito sa gang."
A rejection letter to the club invitation?
This will be a first for the gang. I laughed at the thought na sa pambihira at unang pagkakataong sana ay may babae nang miyembro ang Demon Fist ay una rin sila makakatanggap ng rejection letter.
I could only nod to everything she say.
"Okay." tanging sagot ko atsaka naman siya nagbadyang umalis. Pero may naalala ako...
"A Luna..."
I am surprised when she looked to me straight.
"..aa..a-about James," I started as I compose myself. "...condolence. We don't know what exactly happened but if you need help just let us know."
She smiled again but for some reason I feel the cold. "Thank you Prez. But we're fine."
Biglang naputol ang pag-alala ko ng maramdaman na ang taong kakarating.
"Ay salamat naman at dumating ka rin." pinatong ko agad ang sulat na hawak sa mesang kinauupuan ko. Tiningnan niya ito ng masama.
"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang plano niyo sa rejection letter na ito ha? Pero hindi pa ako nakakarinig ng isang rejection letter na ni-reject. Kaya bilang leader ng gang niyo better make it done. Zero."
"You should have just given it to the guys.." he only said as he sat down to the vacant seat in front of me.
"Which I did. Pero parang wala silang paki-alam dito at ni -isa sa kanila ay walang tumanggap. E muntikan pa ngang mapunit ito ni Logan, mabuti na lang talaga at ang envelope ang naibigay ko sa kanya. I just don't get you guys."
That time right after Luna gave me the letter, I immediately went to the gangs HQ. At dahil wala si Zero noon ay sa ibang Kings ko ito tinangkang ibigay pero pinalayas lang nila ako.
Narinig ko na lang ang pagbuntong-hininga ng kaharap ko.
"I told them not to accept it."
At doon naman ako nagulat. "W-what?"
"If she badly wants to reject the gang, I personally need to talk to her first." seryoso niyang sagot.
"Eee? Bukas pa sya babalik. So meaning bukas kakausapin mo sya?"
Tumango lang siya. Napasandal ako sa kinauupuan..
"Haist... you better make sure that, that is important. Naaalala mo naman sigurong may meeting tayo sa alliance di ba? at bukas na rin iyon. At napakahalaga pa naman ng agenda natin bukas, "the legends comeback."
"Of course."
......
Third Persons POV
"You just got lucky Ken. I'll make sure next time, it's my win," Stan said before completely getting off the track.
Sinundan lamang ito ng tingin ni Ken habang umaalis sa lugar hanggang sa maramdaman niya ang mabigat na braso ni Louie na umakbay sa kanya.
"Was that a threat?"
"Nah." agad na silang sumakay sa sasakyan para makabalik sa Mystic city.
"Woahohoho!!!"
"Hoy, Nyx tigilan mo na nga yan!" inis na saway ni Louie at pilit itong pinapaupo ng maayos. Kasalukuyan siya ang nag-dadrive since may tatawagan si Ken habang nasa biyahe sila.
"Sh*t. Hindi ako sumama dito para lang maging baby sitter ng batang-isip na ito."
"Anong sabi mo?! Aba, kung hindi dahil kay ate nungka naman akong sasama sa'yo noh!"
"Hm. At lalo naman ako."
"Shh... guys cut it." saway naman ni Ken bago tinutok ang hawak na telepono sa tenga. Ilang ring pa ay sumagot din ang nasa kabilang linya.
"Yes. Pa-uwi na rin kami ngayon pero baka gagabihin na kami, dadalhan ka na lang ba namin ng pagkain?"
...
"Hmm.. hindi na kailangan. Wala din naman ako dito pagdating niyo e. Sige at maghahanda na ako."
[Okay Hime. Mag-ingat ka.]
She almost laughed at Ken last words. Hindi na siya sumagot dito at binaba na agad ang tawag. Sinilip niya ang panahon sa labas mula sa bintana at malapit na ngang dumilim. Pumasok na siya sa kanyang kwarto at doon ay pinagmasdan ang gamit na nakapatong sa kanyang kama.
It's been a month hu?
She sits down at the side of her bed taking first her black boots. After wearing it, she looked at her black cloak. She placed a hand on it and feel the fabric from seam to seam.
I will definitely find you.
She took the cloak and finally put it on. While on her side, she picked up the dagger she has left.
I'll take my revenge.
I'll go back to every streets every night.
Make some ruckus. Make them take the bait.
If this is the only way then be it.
You will definitely regret this. Coz I'm bringing that legend back.
I'll wake up every night as Heartless, if its all that it has to take.