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'Zero'
"I don't remember raising an idiot, Nyx."
Yumuko si Nyx at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Kasalukuyan siyang nakaluhod sa loob ng opisina ng lolo niya. Nakatalikod pa rin ito sa kanya at nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ng opisina niya.
"Dinala mo si Sapphire rito at sinama mo pa ang iba. You could've been spotted," anito.
"Anpa, I made sure that the security was tight," sagot ni Nyx pero narinig niya ang mahinang pagtawa ng lolo niya.
"You can never be so sure. Well, since you messed up, Sapphire is going to pay for your sins." Nanginig ang mga kamay ni Nyx saka siya yumuko at nagmakaawa.
"Please, Anpa. She's already suffering enough. Sa akin mo na lang po ibigay ang parusa," pagmamakaawa nito. Mahinang gumalaw ang kamay ng lolo niya pero huminto ito sa ere na parang nagbago ang isip nito.
"Sending her to Fukitsu is already a punishment as it is," sabi nito dahilan para mawala ang panginginig ng katawan ni Nyx dahil sa takot.
"I'm sending Tanaka guards to your mansion tonight. For all we know, the enemy has already spotted her. You're the reason why they spotted her, so you take responsibility for what's to come. I don't care if you or any of your underlings die. Just keep Sapphire safe," mariing utos nito.
Walang pag-aalinlangan na tumango si Nyx at pinatayo na siya ng lolo niya.
"Ahh, one more thing. A bear, really?" natatawang tanong nito.
"It was a gift from Imperial," sagot ni Nyx at pinagpag ang damit niya. Nakita niyang nag-isip ng malalim ang lolo niya kaya naghintay siya ng sagot. "Okay, I'll let her keep it. You may go," tumango si Nyx bilang sagot at umalis na.
Pagbalik niya sa bahay ng doktor ni Saph at nakita niyang natutulog na si Ice sa sofa at nakatunganga naman 'yong apat. "What did he say?" tanong ni Stone na nagpagising kay Ice.
"As usual, nothing much," sagot ni Nyx at pumasok na sa opisina ng doktor ni Saph. Naabutan niya itong nilalagyan na ng patch ang likod ng leeg ni Saph. "She's ready for the Med00," sabi nito.
Ikinuyom ni Nyx ang kamao niya sa narinig niya.
"That Med00 will be the death of her," inis niyang sabi at tumingin sa pinto noong pumasok si Ice na inaantok pa.
"She won't get the Med00 if I beat her to it, right?" inaantok nitong tanong dahilan para tumingin si Nyx sa kanya. Nakita niyang pumasok na rin si Stone at sinilip si Saph na pikit pa rin ang mga mata.
"Yabang mo magsalita. Anong ginawa ng Japan sa 'yo?" tanong ni Stone kay Ice.
"But my words were correct, right? If I beat her to it, she can't have it. We'll just make sure that we beat her," sabi niya. Kunot-noo namang tumingin si Stone sa kanya.
"Since when did you start hitting girls?" taas-kilay na tanong nito. Natawa pa si Ice noong maalala niya na pareho sila ng sinabi ni Saph.
"Wow naman, Mr. Ashton Bridger. Madaldal ka na. Proud ako sa 'yo," Ice said sarcastically.
Stone ignored him at tinapik na ang balikat ni Nyx noong makita niyang kumunot ang noo ni Saph at gumalaw na ito. Agad namang kumilos si Nyx at tiningnan si Saph na gumigising na.
"Aki..." Natawa si Ice sa unang salita na lumabas sa bibig nito.
"Ang cute mo talaga," aniya at pinisil pa ang pisngi ni Saph dahilan para hampasin ni Nyx ang kamay niya. Hinintay nilang magkamalay si Saph at noong nakaupo na ito ay tsaka siya tumingin sa doktor niya at kay Nyx.
"Si Aki?" tanong niya at tumingin-tingin sa paligid.
"You can visit my brother's office. He'll tell you what to do with your bear," ngumiti si Saph sa sinabi ng doktor niya at saka na tumayo at naglakad palabas.
Hinawakan niya pa ang leeg niya at tiningnan ang braso niya na may band-aid na kung saan sa tingin niya ay kinunan siya ng dugo.
Papasok na sana si Saph papunta sa opisina noong doktor na kumuha kay Aki pero pagpihit niya sa pinto ay nasira 'yong doorknob. Napatingin sina Demo sa pinto at sa hawak ni Saph na doorknob.
"Huh?" she asked, confused. Tumingin niya ang doorknob na hawak niya at saka na pinto ng bumukas. "Nakalimutan kong ayusin itong doorknob," nakangiting sabi noong isang doktor at pinapasok na si Saph para sabihin sa kanya ang mga pwedeng gawin niya kay Aki. Lumabas naman sina Nyx at tiningnan ang pinto ng wala nang doorknob.
"Bilis umipekto ah."
Tiningnan ng masama ni Nyx si Ice na nakangiti lang habang sinasabi 'yon. Sumunod si Nyx kay Saph para marinig na rin ang mga pwedeng kainin ni Aki. Maya-maya ay lumabas na si Saph sa opisina na 'yon at karga-karga na si Aki.
"Ako na ang bibili ng mga kakainin niya," sabi ni Nyx paglabas nila. Ngumiti si Saph at pumasok na sa kotse. They immediately got out of the village at nakabalik na sila sa subdivision.
Paglabas nila ng kotse ay tiningnan ni Ice si Saph na parang babagsak na dahil nakapikit na ito habang naglalakad. Kinuha niya kaagad si Aki mula rito at agad namang dumating si Stone sa gilid ni Saph tsaka ito sinalo. Tumingin si Nyx sa kanila at sa kapatid niya na wala nang malay.
"These stupid experiments are killing her slowly and I can't believe I'm watching it happen," inis na sabi ni Ice at inayos ang pagkakakarga kay Aki tsaka na pumasok sa mansion.
May lumapit na mga Tanaka guard kay Stone at sila na ang nagkarga kay Saph papunta sa kwarto nito. It was already a warning for him to not touch a Tanaka freely. "Huh, ako na nga ang tumulong, ako pa ang masama," natatawang sabi ni Stone at tiningnan si Saph na kinakarga papunta sa kwarto niya.
"Ba't mo daw kasi hinawakan ang Tanaka?" mapanuksong sabi ni Zack sa kanya at hinila na si Stone papasok. "Bakit nawalan ng malay si Saph?" tanong ni Kiel nang makapasok na sila sa mansion.
"Her doctor's visit takes a toll on her body," sagot ni Demo. Nyx looked at them and that simple look shut them up. Tiningnan naman ni Nyx si Ice na pinaglalaruan ang balahibo ni Aki.
"Saan mo ba nakita 'yan?" tanong nito. "Connections," tipid na sagot ni Ice at kulang na lang ay pigain na niya ang mukha ni Aki dahil nanggigigil siya rito.
"Ang cute mo. Para kang si Saph," taas-kilay na tumingin si Stone kay Ice.
"Are you obsessed with her or what?" nakangiwi niyang tanong rito. Tumingin naman si Ice sa kanya at ngumiti. "Totally," sagot nito.
"Lumunok ka muna ng kutsilyo. Kapag nagawa mo 'yon, pwede mong hawakan ang kamay ng kapatid ko," nakangiting sabi ni Nyx. Umiling na lang si Ice at bumalik sa pakikipaglaro kay Aki.
✥✥
Gumulong si Saph sa kama at kumunot ang noo niya noong hindi niya nakapa si Aki. Nagmulat siya ng mga mata at tumingin-tingin sa paligid. Hindi niya naalala kung paano siya nakatulog o kung paano siya nakarating sa kwarto niya. Kinamot niya ang ulo niya at naglakad palabas ng kwarto tsaka bumaba.
Narinig niya ang ingay sa sala kaya tumingin siya sa orasan na nasa gilid ng hagdanan. It was already eight in the morning. "The princess is awake."
Tumingin si Saph sa gilid niya at nakita niya si Zack na may dalang isang baso ng protein shake. "Anong nangyari kagabi?" tanong niya.
"Napagod ka," sagot ni Nyx na kararating lang. Nagkibit-balikat si Zack sa sinabi ni Nyx at tumango naman si Saph sabay tingin sa shelf doon sa sala kung saan nakatayo si Demo at parang nag-aarrange na naman ng libro.
"Palagi siyang ganyan. Hayaan mo na," sambit ni Stone na tumabi kay Saph. Nagulat pa si Saph dahil hindi niya ito napansin.
"Sino pala 'yong kumarga sa akin papunta sa kwarto ko, or did I walk to my room on my own? I don't remember a thing," she said and looked at her brother who was heading towards the kitchen. Tinuro ni Nyx si Stone dahilan para mapaturo naman si Stone sa sarili niya.
"Nagalit ka pa nga sa akin dahil hinawakan ko siya," bulong niya sa sarili na narinig naman ni Saph.
"Thank you," kumunot ang noo ni Stone at taas-kilay siyang tumingin kay Saph.
He recalled the feeling of hatred that he felt last night for being scolded just because he helped her up. Stone is prideful and he doesn't like being told what to do. He's stubborn and immovable as a stone.
I'm not allowed to touch you? As if that would stop me. Isip niya at bigla na lang ginulo ang buhok ni Saph. She groaned in annoyance at ginulo rin ang naka-style na buhok ni Stone.
Napaismid si Saph nang maramdaman niyang may gel sa kamay niya. Kumuha siya ng tissue at umalis na pero nagsalita si Demo. "Congratulations, Saph," rinig niyang sabi ni Demo dahilan para tumigil siya at tumingin rito.
"Para saan?" tanong niya at tinuro naman ni Demo ang buhok ni Stone na magulo pa rin.
"Ikaw ang unang nakagulo ng buhok niyan," aniya at naglakad palapit kay Stone na parang na-estatwa na sa kinatatayuan niya. "Hindi kasi ito nagpapahawak ng buhok. I don't know what's so special about his hair," aniya at hinawakan ang buhok ni Stone at ngumiwi.
"Bro, hindi worth it and expectations namin," aniya at tinanggap ang tissue na binigay ni Saph sa kanya. Hindi pa rin gumagalaw si Stone na kinatatayuan niya at hindi rin ito nagsasalita.
"I think he'll stop functioning once someone touches his precious hair," natatawang sabi ni Saph at tinapik na lang ang balikat ni Stone tsaka na pumunta sa kusina. Naabutan niya sina Nyx, Kiel, at Ice na nag-uusap habang nagkakape. Ngumiti kaagad si Saph at kinuha si Aki.
"Good morning, baby," nakangiti niyang sabi at niyakap ito.
"Sana naging bear na lang ako," wala sa sariling sabi ni Ice kaya tinapunan siya ni Nyx na bottle cap.
"Gutom ka na ba?" tanong ni Nyx sa kapatid niya. Tumango ito umupo sa tabi ni Kiel na kumakain ng pancake. "Nyx, anong nangyari kagabi? Wala akong maalala," tanong nito. Nagkatinginan sina Kiel at Ice sa tanong ni Saph bago nila tiningnan si Nyx na naghahanda ng pancake.
"I told you, napagod ka," sagot nito.
"I didn't even do anything. Bakit ako mapapagod?" she asked.
Ice mentally applauded her for finally asking questions. As he was informed before, Saph does not ask a lot of questions. Her being curious is something he longed to see. He wanted her to finally realize what was going on and that starts with curiosity.
"I don't really know. Let's ask your doctor next time," sagot nito at naglapag ng pancake sa harap ni Saph.
"Why do you need to visit the doctor anyway? It's not like may sakit ka," sambit ni Ice bago tumingin kay Nyx na tumalikod sa kanila at nagtimpla ng kape para kay Saph.
"I don't need to be sick to visit the doctor. It's just a health check-up," sagot nito.
"Connected ba 'to sa sakit sa leeg mo?" he asked again, cautiously this time. Tumango si Saph bilang sagot at tumingin sa kape na nilapag ni Nyx sa harap niya.
"Nyx said there's also something in my blood too. That's why they draw out blood from me from time to time," sagot niya at ngumiti. Oh, what a pure soul she has. Isip ni Kiel at hindi na nagsalita.
"Akin na si Aki at kumain ka na muna," mahinahon nitong sambit. Tumango si Saph at binigay kay Nyx si Aki pero binigay niya rin ito kay Kiel tsaka tiningnan si Ice. "Imperial, come with me," mahinahon na sabi ni Nyx dahilan para tumingin si Saph sa kaibigan niya na nagtiim-bagang at humugot ng malalim na hininga.
"If Nyx comes back alone, consider me dead," pabirong sabi nito na nagpatawa naman kay Saph. Umalis na silang dalawa ni Nyx at naiwan si Saph at Kiel sa kusina. "It's not like he did something bad, right?" natatawang sabi ni Saph.
Ngumiti naman si Kiel pero halatang kinakabahan ito at itinuon na lang ang atensiyon niya kay Aki na nginunguya ang isang saging na may balat pa.
✥✥
"Are you breaking faces again, Zero?"
That question echoed in the entire arena. Kasalukuyang nakatayo ang isang lalake sa madilim na parte ng arena habang nakatingin sa mga tauhan na may binubugbog doon sa gitna ng stage.
"I'm not even touching him," sagot ng lalake na nasa madilim na parte ng arena. His voice was deep. Full of mysteries.
The one who asked the question was hiding behind a mask, but by that person's voice, it was certain that it was a lady behind the mask.
"You don't need to touch their face. You just have to look at them and your men do it for you," sabi ng babae at tiningnan ang lalake na binubugbog. "Anong kasalanan nito?" tanong niya ulit.
"I've been meaning to ask him that," sabi ng isang lalake na kararating lang. He was wearing a white baseball cap and a dark green cardigan.
"Natsugawa business," sagot ng lalake na nasa gilid naman ng arena. Pula ang buhok nito at may piercing ito sa kanang kilay habang itim naman ang kulay ng damit nito maliban sa kulay pula nitong sapatos at jacket. "You can't use that phrase, Red. The Tanakas own that," natatawang sabi noong lalake na may suot ng baseball cap.
"Talaga ba, Evo? Sa kanila rin 'yon? Ba't nasa kanila na ang lahat?" kunot-noo na tanong ni Red sa lalake na naka-baseball cap. Evo and Red looked at the guy who was at the dark spot of the arena.
"Did you hear the news, Zero?" Evo asked.
"What news?" the guy named Zero asked. His voice was not showing any interest at all. It seems like he wanted to get out of the place as quickly as possible.
"May isasama si Nyx pagbalik niya sa Fukitsu next school term," sagot ng babae at tinanggal ang mask sa mukha niya. Her eyes resembled a fox, slanted and mischievous. She wore a dark red lipstick and has a well-defined nose.
"Isasama? Sino naman?" tanong ni Red.
"I think they're revealing the hidden Tanaka at Fukitsu," sagot ni Aya at naramdaman nilang kumilos 'yong lalake na tinatawag nilang Zero.
"Stop. Finish that outside," utos nito.
Nakita nilang tumigil ang mga tauhan na nasa stage at hinila 'yong lalake palabas ng arena at naiwan silang lima. They noticed that Zero moved again. To Red, it was uncommon for him to move a lot during one of their projects. Red thought that maybe the word Tanaka stirred him up.
"Hidden Tanaka?" he asked, still concealing himself in the shadows.
"So, you're saying that Fukitsu will become a battlefield this year?" natatawang tanong ni Red at tumingin kay Evo na umupo doon sa gilid at inalis ang baseball cap niya. Evo ruffled his platinum blonde hair and looked in Zero's direction.
"It's a girl. The hidden Tanaka is a girl," paglilinaw ni Aya at nakiramdam sa reaksiyon ni Zero.
"That's a very valuable information, Aya," mahinang sabi ni Zero. They heard footstep coming towards them at tumayo na ng maayos sina Red at Evo.
"A new prey is entering Fukitsu?" he asked, slowly revealing himself from the shadows.
His hands were in his pockets. He wore a loosely buttoned tuxedo, but his dark brown hair was perfectly in place. Zero looked at them with his hazelnut brown eyes and pursed his lips which were shaped like it was inviting people to focus on them.
He was the tallest in the room and his tuxedo couldn't hide his great physique. His aura was not as intimidating as a Tanaka, but it was different. The type of presence that would make people bow down to him upon sight. Yumuko kaagad sina Aya at ang mga kasama niya noong nagpakita na si Zero.
"Tell me what you know, Aya," he said, still walking towards them with his hands in his pocket.
"The new girl is his sister. Dawn Sapphire Tanaka Dela Vega," sagot ni Aya habang nakayuko.
"The Midnight Phantoms are already with them to make sure she arrives safe at Fukitsu. The only son of the Imperial clan is with them too," dagdag ni Aya. "Ice is back?" kunot-noong tanong ni Evo at tiningnan si Red na nagkibit-balikat lang.
"I'm amazed that you have information about this. The society doesn't even know about it yet," he said and made his way down the stage. Umayo na ng tayo sina Aya at tumingin kay Zero.
"Nyx confirmed it to me himself. He wanted me to tell you in advance. In case you cause any trouble." Natawa si Zero sa sinabi ni Aya at saka siya naglakad palapit rito.
"Trouble? Why would I cause any trouble?" he asked. Aya looked at him straight in the eye. She wasn't fazed by his presence, nor was she afraid while facing Nyx when she acquired these pieces of information.
"Because she's a Tanaka and as far as I remember, you hate Tanakas," mariin niyang sabi rito. Zero chuckled and playfully flicked Aya's forehead.
"If she's cute, I won't kill her," he said before walking away.
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