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'Fukitsu'
Kumunot ang noo ni Saph nang marinig niya na tumunog ang doorbell ng Bronze Manor. Naglakad siya pababa at tiningnan mula sa doorbell camera kung sino ang nasa labas. Nakita niya si Stone na parang may dala-dalang malaking box.
"Hey, it's me, Stone. Ang bigat nito."
Bumuntong-hininga si Saph at binuksan ang pinto ng bahay niya tsaka pinapasok si Stone. Tumingin pa siya sa likuran nito dahil baka may kasunod ito.
"Ako lang malakas ang loob," sabi nito kaya sinara na ni Saph ang pinto saka ito sinundan sa kusina.
"Ano 'yan?" tanong niya. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You're talking to me. Hindi ka galit sa akin?" natatawang tanong nito.
"Hindi, mukha ka kasing clown. It's hard to be angry at you, stoneface." Inis siyang tiningnan ni Stone kaya natawa si Saph sa kanya. "Well, you didn't greet us when you came back from Japan," sabi nito at kumuha ng kutsilyo sabay bukas ng box.
"Nyx was there. I didn't want to talk. And I'm not mad at you. I have no reason to," she said and peeked at what was inside the box. She looked disappointed when she saw that there was just kitchenware.
"No, tinago namin sa 'yo ang mga experime—"
"You had no choice and besides, hindi naman tayo close. It's alright if you didn't say anything about that. Nyx and Ice should've said something to me. Nyx is my brother and Ice has been my friend since we were kids. Do you get my point?" mahinahon niyang tanong rito.
He admired her idea na hindi niya dinadamay ang lahat ng tao ng paligid niya dahil lang sa trust issues niya sa pamilya niya. It was reasonable for her to show hatred to the people closest to her because they had their chance to tell her everything.
Her connections with Stone, Demo, Kiel, and Zack were purely business and she did not let her situation get involved with them. He noticed that she was still nice to people around her like the dean and even cared for that Tanaka guard who opened the door for Nyx. Nakita na nina Stone doon na kay Nyx at Ice lang siya galit. He saw that she still had that pureness in her. Stone looked at her and showed her a smile kaya kilay na naman ni Saph ang tumaas.
"Ngumingiti ka?" natatawang niyang tanong rito.
Nawala kaagad ang ngiti ni Stone at bumalik ito sa pagkakasimangot tsaka inilabas na ang mga kitchenware sa box at sinimulan itong i-display sa mga cabinet. Tumulong na rin si Saph sa kanya habang panay tanong naman si Stone sa mga pinaggagawa niya sa Japan.
"Ang daldal mo pala. Akala ko ba cool-type ka?" she asked him.
"I want to get closer to you." Natigilan si Saph dahil sa sinagot nito sa kanya.
"Why? Because I'm a Tanaka?" she asked, and he could feel her radiating bloodlust after asking that question.
"Hindi, crush ko kasi si Nyx." Isang minuto naging tahimik ang dalawa dahil parang naniwala si Saph sa sinabi ni Stone.
"Hoy! Joke lang 'yon," sabi niya rito. She looked at him and shrugged off tsaka nagpatuloy sa pagdisplay ng mga kutsilyo at pinggan sa cabinet. "Seriously though, why?" tanong ulit ni Saph sa kanya. Bumuntong-hininga si Stone at tumingin sa kanya.
"Kailangan ba may rason para makipagkaibigan sa 'yo?" tanong ni rito. She gave it a thought and shook her head.
"Sorry, I don't have friends, so I don't know how the process goes," diretso niyang sagot. He looked at her and realized that she might have already heard about the Angels; Yuri, Sasha, and Xyra at nalaman na niya na hindi niya talaga totoong mga kaibigan ang mga 'yon.
"Well, one thing for sure, I'm not one of your grandfather's slaves," sabi nito at tiningnan ang ref kung nakasaksak na ba ito.
"Wala ka pang pagkain. We can still get groceries now," sabi nito at tiningnan ang relo niya at sinabing alas sais pa at bukas pa 'yong grocery sa Fukitsu. Saph looked at him and smiled again.
"Thank you." He gave her a slightly weirded-out face. "Ano na naman? Ba't ka na naman nagt-thank you? Ang weird mo."
Natawa si Saph sa kanya at sinabing kukuha lang siya ng jacket at saka na sila lumabas ng Bronze Manor para bumili ng groceries. Paglabas nila ay pinagtitinginan kaagad sila ng mga tao. "Wow, you're a celebrity," ani Stone pero kumunot ang noo ni Saph.
"No, I think they're looking at you," sabi niya at narinig niyang medyo natawa si Stone at noong may nakakita sa kanya na tumawa ay nagtilian ang mga ito.
"It's good to have a familiar face showing me around," mahinang sabi ni Saph.
Stone couldn't figure out her character. He thought that she already planned to hate on everybody but then he saw her politely asking the coordinator for the ballpen, smiling at the dean for calling her Ms. Dela Vega, and now talking to him after all the things that happened at the mansion.
He concluded that this is still the Sapphire they met at the mansion, except now that she hates every bit of being a Tanaka. The only ones she loathes are Nyx, her grandfather, her entire Tanaka family, and slightly Ice.
"Word of advice because you're naturally sweet and cute—" Umismid si Saph sa sinabi ni Stone dahil natawa pa ito sa huling sinabi. "—don't take off your mask," dagdag nito.
"What mask?" she asked.
"The mask you wore when you first walked the lobby of Fukitsu and had your fight at the arena. The tough mask. If you want to bring chaos to Fukitsu, don't smile at people. You can smile at me though," pahabol pa nito kaya pinigilan na lang ni Saph na matawa.
"How did you know I'd bring chaos here?" she asked upon entering the grocery center.
"It's predictable. So, what I'm saying is, be tough. You can come to us for help if you need some, but knowing you, hindi ka naman nanghihingi ng tulong," sabi nito at niya na mismo ang nagtulak ng cart. Magsasalita pa sana si Saph pero pinigilan na siya ni Stone.
"If you're going to say thank you again, don't even think about it," natawa siya ulit at hindi na lang nagsalita.
Namili na sila ng pagkain para at mga bagay ng kakailanganin sa bahay niya. Saph had two choices at the moment, either she buys all her needed items or let the Tanaka guards handle it at mas pinili niya na siya ang bumili ng lahat.
Matapos nilang bumili ay sinabihan sila ng cashier na sila na ang maghahatid sa mga groceries ni Saph sa bahay nito dahil marami 'yong binili nila. Lumabas na silang dalawa ni Stone sa grocery. He handed her a cup of cold coffee. Tinanggap niya ito at naglakad na sila papunta sa field ng Fukitsu since Stone presented that he'll give her a tour.
"We buried Aki in a pet cemetery." Tumigil si Saph sa paglalakad dahil sa sinabi ni Stone.
"Ilang araw umiyak si Kiel dahil siya 'yong nagdala kay Aki sa vet hospital. Tinutukan niya pa ng baril 'yong doktor noong sinabi nitong patay na si Aki."
Saph could imagine Kiel's cheeky face vanishing and being replaced with tears and sadness. She appreciated his gestures towards a bear that wasn't even his.
"Nakita mo na ba 'yong class schedules mo?" Tumigil sina Saph sa paglalakad nang sinalubong sina nina Demo, Kiel, at Zack. Si Demo 'yong nagtanong. Tumango si Saph bilang sagot habang sumimangot naman si Zack.
"Ba't kayo lang 'yong naglilibot? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa amin?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong kay Stone.
"It's annoying to be around you. Dami mong babae na hinihila palapit," sabi ni Stone at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad at sumabay naman sa kanila 'yong tatlo.
Saph walked at the back with Kiel and gave him her thanks. The four of them have already figured out that Saph didn't have any bitter feelings towards them knowing that she went grocery shopping with Stone.
"Excellent fight earlier, Saph," sambit ni Demo.
"Oy, baka nakakalimutan niyo, pinatumba na tayo niyan noon," sambit ni Zack.
Hindi sumagot si Saph at uminom na lang ng kape na binigay ni Stone sa kanya. Habang naglalakad sila ay nakita niya ang mga tao sa paligid na panay pa rin ang tingin sa kanila. Kinamot ni Saph ang batok niya at tinawag sina Stone dahilan para lumingon 'yong apat sa kanya.
"Can I go around on my own? Ang dami niyong fans oh," mahinang sabi ni Saph kaya tumingin-tingin naman si Kiel sa paligid. "Will you be alright though?" tanong ni Stone. She nodded.
"Okay. Kung may manggugulo sa 'yo, basagin mo 'yong mukha," natatawang sabi ni Zack at mahinang tinapik ang balikat ni Saph tsaka na sila umalis. She immediately roamed around the campus, looking at the school bulletin board, the canteen, the tennis court, and other places.
Tumingin siya sa relo niya at nalaman niyang alas-otso na pala ng gabi at kahit hindi niya kasama sina Stone ay panay pa rin ang tingin ng mga tao sa kanya. She tried her best not to cause any trouble to them hanggang sa may humarang sa kanya na lalake.
She stopped in her tracks and looked at the person in front of her.
Naka-hoodie ito na itim at noong tumingala si Saph sa kanya ay nalaman niyang hanggang panga lang siya nito.
Saph is not short, which means that this person is just tall. Naamoy niya ang pabango nito at alam na ni Saph na mamahalin ito. She saw his hazelnut-colored eyes staring directly at her and she slightly moved back when she saw him smirk.
It was as if he was looking at something that he wanted to eat or something that he really desired. His expression says everything that he wants to do at the moment.
"What's a dwarf like you doing roaming around on your own?" tanong nito at saglit pang nagsalubong ang kilay tsaka tiningnan ang mga mata ni Saph. She noticed that his voice was low, and it was full of mystery.
Kumunot ang noo ni Saph sa tinawag nito sa kanya. "Dwarf?" natatawa nitong tanong. The guy in front of her shrugged his shoulders and moved an inch closer to her dahilan para umatras palayo si Saph.
"Dwarves are cute," the guy said and looked at her from head to toe—checking her out.
"Welcome to Fukitsu. My name is Zero. Zero Natsugawa."
Kumunot ang noo ni Saph sa narinig niya at naalala niya ang sinabi ni Kyo tungkol sa founding families ng Fukitsu. Kitsune Natsugawa was one of them, which means that the person in front of her belongs to the founding families.
"Sapphire," tipid niyang sagot at tiningnan ang kamay ni Zero na nakalahad sa harap niya.
"Are Tanakas allergic to handshakes?" he teasingly asked.
"I am not a Tanaka," she said and shook his hand. Nabigla pa si Saph dahil malambot ang kamay nito at nakita niyang nakangiti ito sa kanya.
"May problema ba rito?" Sabay na tumingin sina Saph at Zero kay Ice na kararating lang. May suot itong itim na sweater at nakatingin ito sa kamay nina Saph at Zero na magkahawak. She immediately withdraws her hand from his at humarap naman si Zero kay Ice.
"I didn't know ghosts could talk," mapanuksong sabi ni Zero at tiningnan si Saph na hindi man lang tumingin kay Ice.
"Look, three members of the founding families in one frame." Tumingin si Saph sa paligid noong may mga nakakita sa kanila at nagsimula na namang magchismisan. I'm so tired of all these gossips. Isip niya tsaka tiningnan si Ice.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" tanong ni Ice sa kanya.
She heard Zero scoff tsaka ito tumingin sa kanya muli bago umalis. Naiwan silang dalawa at nanatiling tikom ang bibig ni Saph. She did notice that the fake eagle tattoo on his neck was now gone.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asked.
"Oh, come on, Saphy. Wala akong choice. I couldn—"
"You know, if that was you... if your family secretly experimented on your body and I happen to know about it, I'd let you know as well. I'll tell you what they're doing and hiding from you kasi ayaw kitang magmukhang tanga." Natahimik si Ice sa sinabi nito.
"Instead, you let them do what they wanted to do. Pareho lang kayo ni Nyx. No wonder you both live at the Diamond Manor," she said and walked away.
✥✥
It was eight o'clock in the morning when Saph finished her morning routine. She looked at the food inside the fridge at napag-isipan niyang gumawa ng toast bread nang may kumatok sa pintuan niya. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita niya ulit si Stone at ngayon ay kasama na nito sina Kiel.
"Magluluto raw si pareng bato," sabi ni Zack habang kinakamot pa ang ulo niya.
Binuksan ni Saph ang pinto at tiningnan sila na pumasok habang dumiretso naman si Stone sa kusina. "Wala kayong groceries?" tanong niya sa mga 'to.
"Meron, pero gusto niya dito magluto para makakain ka na rin. Baka kasi lasunin ka ng mga tao doon sa canteen," ani Zack at hinila si Kiel paupo doon sa sofa.
Demo waved and her and said good morning. Tumingin si Saph kay Stone na naghahanda na doon sa kusina.
"Nag-aapply talaga 'yan maging housewife doon sa mga Tanaka. Tingnan mo, kinukuha niya 'yong loob ni Saph para mapadali 'yong kasal nila ni Nyx." Humagikhik si Kiel sa mga sinabi ni Zack. Umiling si Stone at natawa na rin.
"While we wait for the food, let me orient you about the classrooms here," sabi ni Demo. Tumingin si Saph sa kanya at tumango tsaka umupo sa sofa na katapat ng inuupuan nina Zack.
"Your fight at the arena yesterday also served as you level test." Kunot-noo niyang tiningnan si Demo dahil sa sinabi nito. "Level test?" she asked.
"Fukitsu expanded to undergraduate programs recently... or let's say, college. Every student in Fukitsu has already been assigned to their own classroom. These classrooms are S, A, B, C, and E." May kinuhang papel si Demo at nilagay ito sa coffee table sa harap ni Saph. It showed the different classes.
Nakita ni Saph ang level test. S rank students are those who scored 100 to 95 % during the level test. A rank for those who scored 94-90%, B rank for 89-85%, and C rank for people who scored 84-80%.
"S class is the highest one. We belong there," sabi nito at tumango-tango naman si Kiel.
She congratulated them for reaching that class kaya natawa sina Kiel at Zack. "Ang cute mo," natatawang sabi ni Kiel. Saph gave out an awkward laugh.
"Ano namang mangyayari kung ang test score ng student ay below 80 percent?" she asked after Kiel and Zack stopped teasing her.
"They get sorted to E class and prepare for another level test for a week bago sila bibigyan ng bagong rank. If they failed to even land a position at C class, pinapaalis na sila ng school. Even though Fukitsu already accepted you, you need to pass the level test to be able to stay in school," sagot ni Demo.
"How does the level test usually happen? Kagaya ba ng ginawa ko kahapon sa arena?" tanong ni Saph. Umiling si Demo at inayos ang salamin niya.
"What you did was way beyond the level test. Usually, students will face off with one random Fukitsu guard at magdedepende ang laban nila sa gustong mangyari ng estudyante. For example, student A wants to do a math quiz with a Fukitsu guard, pwede 'yon. That will serve as their level test."
"Wouldn't that be unfair sa Fukitsu guards?" tanong ulit ni Saph.
"Sapphire, the Fukitsu guards excel at everything. Whatever it is. Hindi naman basta-bastang nagiging Fukitsu guard ang isang tao kung lakas lang ang pagbabasihan. They need to be flexible. And like I said, once the level test is over, yong Fukitsu guard mismo ang magd-desisyon kung pasado ang estudyante."
Nakita nilang napag-isip isip si Saph sa sinabi ni Demo.
"'Yong sa 'yo naman, since you're fighting for a house gaya ng ginawa nina Nyx at iba pang nakakuha ng bahay, immediately magiging level test na 'yon. The men that you fought were aspiring Fukitsu guards. Let's say ten of them constitutes one Fukitsu guard. Which means, dalawang guards napatumba mo sa level test."
"Do you want to know your score?" tanong ni Zack nang makita niyang hindi makaimik si Saph at parang nag-iisip pa rin ito.
Tumango si Saph bilang sagot sabay ngiti pero kumunot ang noo niya noong tinakpan ni Zack ang mukha niya at biglang tumayo tsaka umalis. "Ang lambot niya naman," sabi ni Demo noong umalis si Zack.
"Cute kasi ni Saph kaya gano'n," sabi ni Kiel at tumawa. She looked at them and shrugged her shoulders.
"So, what's my score?" she asked again.
"What else? It's 100%." Pumalakpak si Kiel sa sinabi ni Demo.
"Dalawang tao lang sa Fukitsu ang nakascore ng 100% sa level test. You and Zero," sabi ni Zack nang makabalik na siya at parang kumalma na.
"Zero. Zero Natsugawa?" tanong ni Saph dahilan para tumingin sa kanya si Stone.
"You've met him?" tanong ni Stone sa kanya. "Oo, kagabi. He introduced himself to me," sagot ni Saph at nagkatinginan naman sina Kiel at Zack.
"Weird. He's not that friendly," sabi ni Demo.
"He's not friendly, period." Tiningnan nila si Stone na hinahain na ang pagkain kaya tumayo na sila at pumunta sa dining area.
"Baka may plano siyang pagtripan si Saph. He has a thing for Tanakas, not a good one though, a bad one. He and Nyx got into a fight before," sabi ni Kiel habang naglalagay ng pagkain sa pinggan niya. Hinintay nila na magtanong si Saph kung anong away ang meron sa kanila pero nakita nila na wala itong pakialam kapag nasasali na si Nyx sa usapan kaya hindi na nila ito inabala.
"Just be careful around him," Demo advised. Nagkibit-balikat si Saph at kumain na.
Pagkatapos nilang kumain ay sinabihan nina Stone si Saph na magbihis at sabay silang pupunta sa classroom nila. "You know, you guys don't have to follow me around here. Just do your thing," sabi niya sa mga 'to.
"We're not being told what to do, Saph," ani Stone. Wala nang nagawa si Saph kundi ang magbihis. Pagbaba niya ay tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Zack.
"Bilis ah. Hindi ka na nagm-make up?" tanong niya rito. "Why would I? We're at school," sabi niya rito.
"Eh ba't ang cute mo pa rin?" parang wala sa sariling sabi ni Zack kaya binatukan na lang siya ni Stone at sinabihan na si Saph na sundan sila. The five of them walked out of the Bronze Manor and as soon as they stepped outside, people were already looking at them.
"Hindi ba sila napapagod kakatingin sa inyo? It's been like this since yesterday," she said.
"It's been like this since forever, Saph. Masanay ka na lang," mahangin na sabi ni Zack. Habang naglalakad sila ay nakatingin lang si Saph sa class schedule niya. "You seem serious about the class schedules," sabi ni Demo na katabi niya.
"We're at school. Ano bang dapat seryosohin natin?" tanong niya rito. Umismid si Kiel at sinabing tama ang sinabi ni Saph.
"Balita ko matalino ka raw," sabi ni Zack habang naglalakad sila. Umiling si Saph. "Hindi," sagot niya pero narinig nilang natawa si Stone.
"Pahumble ka pa eh nakita namin 'yong certificates mo sa mansion niyo. Valedictorian, Dawn Sapphire. And aren't you going to talk about your coding and mathematics trophies?" tanong ni Stone sa kanya.
"One on one tayo, coding," paghahamon niya rito kaya pinaharap na lang siya ni Saph sa daan at pinatahimik ito.
Nakarating sila sa tapat ng elevator at nakita ni Saph na may mga estudyante sana sa sasakay pero noong makita nila sina Stone ay agad silang umiwas at yumuko pa. "You make people bow down to you too?" she asked Stone.
"We didn't make them. Sila na mismo ang gumagawa," sagot nito habang pinindot naman ni Demo ang fourth floor. The building they are in only has five floors. Napansin ni Saph si Zack na nagpapapogi doon sa salamin.
"Gwapo sana siya pero ang hangin naman, nawawala tuloy effect ng mukha niya," bulong ni Saph sa sarili pero humagalkpak ng tawa si Stone dahil narinig niya ito.
"You know, that's exactly what Lucie said. See? We all think the same." Napansin nina Demo na parang tawang-tawa si Stone sa sinabi ni Saph at parang ngayon lang ito ngumiti ng pagkalaki-laki. Saktong bumukas ang elevator at nakita nila sina Ice at Nyx na naghihintay sa kanila.
Kumunot pa ang noo ni Ice noong makitang ang laki ng tawa ni Stone. Pati 'yong mga dumaan ay napansin rin ito ay may iba pang gustong kunan ng larawan si Stone. Mabuti na lang ay bumawi kaagad ito at sumimangot na naman.
"You're late. What took you so l—"
Hindi na pinatapos ni Saph si Nyx sa pagsasalita dahil nilagpasan na niya ito at umuna na sa paglalakad pero napahinto siya dahil bumukas ang kabilang elevator. There were four people in the elevator. One of them was the guy that Saph met yesterday.
Nakita ni Saph na yumuko kay Zero ang ibang estudyante na nasa floor nila. He was not wearing a black hoodie this time. Instead, it was a black polo paired with black jeans and a golden watch was spotted on his wrist.
"Oh, hey, dwarf."
Kumaway pa si Zero kay Saph habang nakangiti. The people behind him looked at him in confusion and fear.
"Hi," tipid na bati ni Saph sa kanya bago ito tuluyang umalis. Sumunod naman sa kanya sina Ice and Stone. Ice looked at Zero in a very questioning way. Zero then looked at Nyx and smirked at him.
"Your sister is interesting."
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