SHEA'S POV
♚Night when Kiyan kissed her.♚
I looked at the clock and it's already 2 in the morning. I just can't sleep. Paulit-ulit yung eksenang nangyari kanina sa amin ni Kiyan at hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Kanina pa ako paikot-ikot sa kama ko.
"Your Highness..."
Napairap nalang ako. What is she doing here at 2 in the morning?
"What?!" I'm just so irritated because I can't sleep. Napatingin ako sa tumawag sa 'kin at si Seraphina lang pala. Nababalot siya ng itim na usok.
"Ay galit?"
I heaved out a deep breath.
"What happened?" kalmado kong tanong sa kanya. This must be important dahil di niya ako gagambalain ng ganitong oras dahil alam niyang nagpapahinga na ako.
"Kumikilos na sila. A fallen angel found them."
"Nahuli ba?" I asked.
"Unfortunately no. Malakas ang kutob kong may inside job na nangyayari dito."
My brows furrowed as I lean on the headboard, "What do you mean?"
"One of them is from the Kingdom of Light."
Napailing nalang ako. As expected. Mukhang hinahamon talaga nila ako. I grinned as something popped into my mind. From Kiyan's kingdom eh? Let's see what they're up to.
"May I know what you have in mind your Highness?" tanong niya sa 'kin.
Umiling ako and looked at her, "May ibabalita ka pa ba?"
"Wala na, Your Highness."
Tumango ako senyales na pwede na siyang umalis.
"Uhmm..."
Napataas ang kilay ko.
"Si Falcon kamusta?" she asked hesitantly.
Napatigil ako. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya and focus more on my pillow while hugging it. Di niya pwedeng malaman na binuhay siya namin ni Kiyan.
"I-I still can't find him." ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Buti nalang pinagbawalan ko siyang pumasok sa impyerno. If she ever gets in, she might find out.
"Mukhang wala na siya. Find someone else."
Bigla akong nainis. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng dugo ko ay umakyat sa ulo ko. "How dare you talk to me like that?! Bakit ba lahat kayo ang dali lang para sa inyo na palitan siya? Don't you know how much he sacrificed his self just to save me from everything? You are also a familiar Seraphina. You should suppose to know the feeling of being replaced."
She stared at me blankly as soon as she recovered from my sudden outburst.
"Falcon is the greatest familiar that I've known. Pero hindi tamang iwan ka especially that you are his responsibility and priority. Familiars are created to protect. His strength lies on you. Kapag wala ka, manghihina siya. It's been 6 months Shea. Familiars can't last a week without the presence of his Mistress."
Hindi niyo ako naintindihan. You don't know the feeling of losing someone that has been almost part of my life. Konti lang ang mga taong malapit sa 'kin at lahat sila ay tinuturing kong mga dyamante. They are all precious and I'll do anything to protect them.
"Go." utos ko.
"I'm sorry."
Nanatili lang akong nakayuko at ramdam kong lumamig bigla ang paligid. "Add more demons and fallen angels into ante-hell up to the last pouch of the 9th circle. Make sure that no one will get close into Lucifer. I'm going to make sure that he'll be burried for eternity."
She bowed down.
"And one more thing, increase the level of acitivity of the devil in the human world. Kailangan ko ng karagdagang lakas. Recruit more soul to hell because I'll be needing them in the future."
She bowed down once again as she descended to the Underworld. This will be exciting. Let's get back to the old me.
♚♚♚
Lahat sila dito sa office ay panay ang tingin sa 'kin. Ezra clinged into my arm habang si Trevor ay sa gilid ko. I sense something in Trevor but nah, hayaan nalang muna siya.
"Everyone's here. We're going." sabi ni Kiyan pagdating ko.
I feel that my face heated up nang maalala ko na naman ang scenario kagabi. At sa kwarto ko pa. I can't believe that he's more perverted than Paxton.
"Sandali lang. You need to have a protocol para masiguradong di kayo pumalpak. This is one of your most important mission as the Alpha. Hindi kayo pupunta sa lugar na kauri natin where you can freely expose and display your powers. You are going to the human world. The common realm. And I know that you are aware of how cruel and narrow minded humans are."
Napatango ako. Exactly. Kaya mas malakas ang kapangyarihan ko kapag nandon ako. The surroundings are full of negativity.
"So before you go, we will have an orientation so you should be aware of what kind of world you are about to enter." he's holding a bond paper at doon nakasulat ang mga guidelines niya papunta sa mundo ng mga tao.
"First, you will be sent into an ordinary school and act as a normal student. Are you aware about the behavior of humans in school?" tanong niya.
Tumango naman sila.
"Kyaaaa! Excited na akong makapunta sa mundo niyo Shea." Ezra exclaimed.
"Ako rin! Gusto kong maranasan kung paano sila mamuhay ng walang kapangyarihan. Like it's so boring right? I'm sure mabibighani sila sa ka-dyosahan ko." Trevor said.
"Tumahimik ka dyan bakla kung ayaw mong hatiin ko 'yang mukha mo sa dalawa." Vishna said irritatedly.
Inirapan siya nito and then he pouted. Di ko talaga alam kung bakit siya naging bakla.
"Inggit lang siya sa feslak ko. Palibhasa kasi pinagalitan ni fafa Kiyan."
"Anong sabi mo?!"
Mukhang mag-aaway na ang dalawa.
"Tumahimik kayo dyan kung ayaw niyong mauna sa langit." pigil sa kanila ni Ice.
Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin kay Kiyan at agad silang nabalot ng takot. Halos matawa na ako sa reaksyon nilang anim. Akala siguro nila pagagalitan na naman sila ng Master nila.
But they were all surprised including the headmaster. Ezra even rubbed her eyes to make sure that she's not seeing things.
"Bro, do you see what I see?"
"Tumahimik ka dyan Ice."
"Am I seeing things or what?"
"Sigurado ba kayong si Master Kiyan 'yan?"
"Ako lang ba ang nakakapansin na maganda yata ang mood ni Master ngayon? Hehe…" nakangiting tanong ni Ice.
Kiyan is sitting on his usual spot, reading a book and acting like a king. Pero ang pinagkaiba lang, he looks relaxed—and happy? I don't know he's not even smiling. Pero di ko alam kung ano ang tamang salita to describe him. Blooming? Parang maaliwalas ang mukha niya ngayon at hindi kasing lamig ang aura niya tulad noon. Hindi rin siya nagalit nung may nag-aaway sa harapan niya.
He closed the book at tumingin sa amin, "Bakit may mali ba?"
"Enebe eng kewl nye megtegeleg." who else would that be?
"Hindi siya galit?" Ezra looked surprised.
"Master? It's good to see you happy. May we know the reason?" nakangiting tanong ng babaeng parang si Cein.
Bigla siyang tumingin sa 'kin and touched his lips. I stood there frozen at di alam kung ano ang magiging reaction ko. Sabay-sabay silang lumingon sa direksyon ko at napatakip pa ng bibig sina Ezra at Trevor.
"What?" I asked.
I saw Fire and Ice grinned at tumingin pabalik kay Kiyan.
"Mukhang alam ko na bro." Ice winked at Fire. Mga abnormal.
"Ahem!" agaw eksena ni sir Millet.
"Can I continue?"
Di ko nalang sila pinansin at tinuon ang atensyon ko sa headmaster na wala naman yatang nakikinig.
"Pangalawa, as much as possible huwag gamitin ang kapangyarihan kung hindi naman kinakailangan. Remember that your only mission is to find the lost princess and bring her here. At oo nga pala, Vishna manipulated the time sa mundo ng mga tao. She forwarded it to the first day of class. And Trevor fixed the sequence of events para hindi maapektuhan ang mga tao sa biglang pagbilis ng panahon." The headmaster explained.
To think of it, di ko pa alam kung ano ang mga kapangyarihan nila except kay Vishna at Kiyan. Is Trevor a fate manipulator or whatever?
"Si bakla rin ang naglagay ng mga pekeng pangyayari sa utak ng mga estudyante after the pageant para hindi sila magtaka sa time skip after you erased their memories." bulong sa 'kin ni Ezra.
Nanlaki ang mata kong tumingin sa kanya. They knew?!
"O yes dear. Master restored our memories." she winked at me at tumawa pa.
O-kay. Never saw that coming. But Trevor and Vishna's team up are quite amazing.
"Shea,"
Napatigil silang lahat. Tumahimik ang buong paligid nang biglang binigkas ni Kiyan ang pangalan ko. I stared at him blankly. Sinarado niya ang librong binabasa niya habang nakatingin sa 'kin.
"Why are you wearing your disguise?"
I smirked. Ramdam ko ang mga titig nila sa 'kin at inaabangan ang sagot.
"None of your business."
"It is my business." he countered coldly. I didn't remove my eye contact towards him at alam kong bumibigat na ang paligid.
"No it's not. It doesn't mean na kasali na ako sa inyo ay pwede mo na akong kontrolin. I have my own rule and it's none of your business. Now, if you won't consider it then I'll gladly leave this group and be on my own." diretso kong sagot.
Ngunit imbis na magalit ay bigla siyang ngumisi. Ezra and Trevor gasped and I know all of them weren't expecting that.
Tinaas niya ang dalawa niyang kamay na parang sumusuko which made my brows narrowed into slits. "Okay Your Highness, you win this time. You can do whatever you want. I'm only asking." sabi niya na hindi parin maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.
Humalukipkip ako at napataas ang kilay, "I'm not asking your permission, Your Majesty." I emphasized the 'Your Majesty' part as a tone of sarcasm.
"Walang panama si Master kay Shea. Pfft!"
"Tumahimik ka dyan Ezra baka masipa tayo dito."
"He just smiled right?"
In a blink of an eye, bigla siyang nawala sa upuan niya as he showed up right in front of my face. Ilang pulgada lang ang distansya namin sa isa't-isa at may mga nanonood pa sa amin. Ano na naman ba 'to Kiyan? Kagabi ka pa ah.
"One more word from you and I'll kiss you. In front of them." he whispered in a husky voice.
My heart starts to race dahil di ko inaasahan ang sinabi niya. Di ko maiwasang mapangiti.
"Try it and you'll be very much welcome in hell." I replied.
"What if I did? I'm pretty sure that you'll be in paradise."
What the—?
"Ahem! Hello po may dyosa dito. Yohooo di po 'to motel office po 'to. Office." Pagsalita ni Trevor.
Naramdaman kong uminit bigla ang mukha ko at di ako makatingin ng diretso sa kanila. Almost all of them are laughing habang ako ay nakayuko lang. Di ko alam kung ano yung ginagawa ni Kiyan.
"Bakla ka talaga. Hahaha!" tawa ni Ezra na sinabayan naman ng kambal. I'm embarassed dahil sa mga kilos ni Kiyan. He started being like this nang nawala si Paxton.
"I just missed my Queen. Got a problem with that?" sabi niya at bigla akong hinapit sa bewang as he pulls me closer to him.
Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya at bigla ko syang naitulak. Sumakit rin kasi bigla ang dibdib ko dahil sa biglaang paglapit namin.
"Yiieeeee! King and Queen. Perfect!" Ezra exclaimed.
"Yeah, perfect for killing each other." biglang natahimik ang lahat nang magsalita ang babaeng blonde ang buhok na parang si Cein.
Bigla nalang siyang lumabas as she slammed the door shut.
"Don't mind her. Kanina pa kasi mainit ang ulo 'non." sabi ni Ice.
Kiyan returned to his seat kaya nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. Parang wala lang syang narinig. Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga kilos niya. Bakit bigla siya naging ganon? Why does he act like this? Kung nandito lang sana si Paxton.
Nasaan ka na ba kasi? I know I said that I can handle myself without you. Pero iba parin kapag nandito ka. I feel very secured.
"Okay let's get back to business. Saan na nga tayo?" Mr. Millet asked.
Walang sumagot sa kanya dahil di naman sila nakikinig.
"Ah so iyon na nga, about sa fast forward ng oras. And before you go, may ibibigay ako."
An object suddenly appeared in front of us. A phone? Hinawakan ko ito at totoong phone nga. I saw their reactions at takang-taka silang lahat sa kanilang nakita. Oo nga pala, di sila gumagamit ng cellphone dito.
"Uhh... ano 'to?" tanong ni Ice habang sinusuri ito.
"Must be a power gadget where it monitors our power we release in certain situations. But it says here, ‘swipe screen to unlock.’ Why do we have to unlock it? Are there some dangerous powers in here that this gadget must be locked? Or a creature?"
Parang matatawa naman ako sa observations ni Fire. Well, at least he tried.
"Noob. It's a communicating device used by humans." sabi ni Vishna.
"They call it a cellphone. It's a device used by humans for communicating when they are far away from each other. Or they can also use it for entertainment and other purposes. Bawat isa sa inyo ay naka record na ang mga number sa inyong phone book. Let Shea demonstrate it once you've arrived in her previous world." paliwanag ng headmaster. Kinuha naman ni Vishna ang phone para sa babaeng dilaw ang buhok.
At bakit ako pa ang magtuturo sa kanila? They're good so they must know how to use it.
"Let's not waste time. You should go. Mr. Carlson!" tawag ng Headmaster sa adviser namin.
Agad naman siyang pumasok. As he enters the room, may kakaiba akong naramdaman. And I don't like it.
He created a portal that will lead us to the world I once lived. Oo nga pala, he's also a tracker. The ability to find lost things or even a lost individual I guess.
"This portal leads where the princess is. Good luck Alpha, stay strong." he gave us a sly smile at alam kong may ibig-sabihin 'yon.
"Looks like you're forgetting someone."
The door creaked open at may dalawang babae na pumasok. Can't believe that she's still alive.
"Yo Shea. Long time no see. Ugly as ever." she smirked at me and sitted next to Kiyan. What a good way to greet a Queen.
"Good to see you back, Alzena." Ezra greeted. Yeah, Alzena's here. Wearing a tight blouse na halos pumutok na ang butones sa may dibdib niya.
"Just fixed some stuff from the Empyrean. Can't believe that she joined us." she looked at me like a dirt. Di pa rin siya nagbabago.
"You go first Alzena. We'll follow." utos sa kanya ni Kiyan.
"Yes Master." she bowed down at nauna nang pumasok sa portal. Nakita ko pang inirapan niya ako bago siya pumasok.
Sumunod naman ang kasabay ni Alzena kanina. She walks casually yet sophisticated into the portal pero bago sya pumasok ay masama niya akong tinignan.
"It's Alison. Alison Olieta. Rank 2." sabi niya as she passed me at dumiretso na papasok.
Di ko nalang 'yon pinansin and focus more on the portal kung saan isa-isa na silang pumapasok.
What's wrong with my face? I know everything's wrong right now but why do they keep glaring at me?
Dalawa nalang kami ni Kiyan ang natira dito and I gave him a signal na siya na ang mauna. But he held my hand and grab me into the portal at sabay kaming pumasok. Medyo nanghina ako kasi ang lapit namin sa isa't-isa. And I know he feels the same way.
As soon as we got out of the portal, biglang tumaas ang enerhiya ko. The familiar scent of the surroundings. The smell of the human world.
ELOINY'S POV
"Ako kakatok tapos ikaw magbubukas." sabi ko kay Cein.
"Ayaw ko nga nee-chan! Ako nalang kakatok tapos ikaw bubukas."
"Ayoko nga!"
"Eh ayaw ko rin."
Naman eh! Kanina pa kami nagtatalo ni Cein dito kung sino ang kakatok at magbubukas ng pinto sa office ni sir Millet. Oo, nandito kami sa tapat ng office niya kanina pa dahil sinusundan namin si Shea.
Sinimulan na kasi namin ang oplan: tokhang kahapon pa at ngayon lang nag mobilize. Char!
Waaaaahh! Pupunta sila sa mundo ng mga tao. Gusto kong sumama huhuhu.
"They're all there. I should take my leave at may klase pa ako." rinig naming sabi ni sir Carlson.
"Omo! Isasarado na niya yung portal!" I exclaimed.
"Shh... Nee-chan!"
Nagsimula na kaming mag panic dito sa labas. No, ganon ganon nalang 'yon? Kakasimula palang namin sa aming imbestigasyon at palpak na agad? Di 'to pwede. What to do! What to do!
"Maraming salamat." sabi ng headmaster.
Bahala na.
I grab Cein on the arm and barged in the office. Mukhang nagulat naman ang dalawang guro namin and I totally have no explanations in mind right now.
"H-hi po! Good morning? Hehe." gaga ka talaga Eloiny. Pero buti nalang bukas pa ang portal.
"You two are in my class right? What are you doing here?" tanong sa amin ni sir Carlson.
"Nee-chan what are you planning to do?" Cein whispered. Di ko nga rin alam eh.
"U-uhh... Uhmm... kasi sir ano… hehe." napakamot nalang ako sa batok. An idea suddenly popped into my mind.
Hinawakan ko ulit si Cein at pinagaan ang gravity sa paligid niya. I lift her up and threw her into the portal right behind us. Yes, tinapon ko siya and I can still hear her scream.
"Enroll nalang ako next year pag na-drop ako sir. Sorry!" I jumped into the portal without hearing their reactions. Yohoo! Good job Eloiny. You're a genius!
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Nine of them are walking down the hallway of the school building. All eyes were on them. Who wouldn't? Kahit nga si Shea noon namangha sa kanila nung una niya silang nakita eh. May ibang naglakas loob na magpapicture sa kanila and some tried to talk to them. Ngunit nginitian lang sila nina Ezra, Trevor at Ice. The rest ay wala nang pake.
All of them were amazed dahil ikaw ba naman ang makakita ng mga dyos at dyosa sa iisang grupo di ‘ba?
Nilagpasan nila ang mga estudyanteng nag-aabang sa kanila but at the end of the group lies the Queen who are disguised as an ugly nerd. Sari-sari ang reaksyon ng mga estudyante nang makita siya.
"Ay."
"Ano ba 'yan. Pati ba siya kasama?"
"Panira naman ng grupo 'yan. Kung ako sa kanila, di ko na isasama 'yan. Kadiri."
"Shh... baka marinig kayo."
"Eh totoo naman eh! Duhh... ang pangit pangit niya kaya."
"Sandali lang, hindi ba siya pamilyar sa inyo?"
"Huh?"
Shea grinned nang marinig niya ang huling sinabi nila. Looks like may nakaalala pa sa kanya.
"Oh my gosh I remember her!"
"Shea right? Yung nerd sa school dati na biglang nag transfer?"
"Oo nga! Yung nag confess kay William."
"Eww. Why is she here?"
Di niya nalang sila pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. However, napatigil silang lahat sa paglalakad kaya nagtaka siya. Nagsimulang tumili ang mga kababaihan and the Alpha smiled towards her na parang kinikilig.
Kiyan is heading towards her direction with a bored look on his face. Tumabi siya dito at akmang hahawakan na naman siya nito sa bewang nang tiningnan niya ito ng masama.
"Don't touch me. I'm fine. 'Wag mo nalang silang pansinin sanay narin naman ako sa mga ganyan."
He sighed.
"I can't believe them." Kiyan said with a hint of disappointment.
"Those are my people yet their attitude suits in hell. If only I could tell them straight about their sins."
Nabigla si Shea sa sinabi ni Kiyan. Ngayon lang niya nakitang nagpalabas siya ng emosyon. And he was disappointed of what he witnessed.
Kiyan is the disciple of Light and Creation and seeing those people doing bad things right in front of him hurts him. Oo nga naman, together with his Master, dalawa sila ang lumikha sa kanila. Yet they are siding with the evil side. People who are judgemental deserves to be thrown in one of the circles of hell. Maaari lang silang maligtas if they repent on their sins at mangangakong magbabago na.
"Let's go." aya ni Shea sa kanya. Ngayon nga lang siya magpapakita ng emosyon, disappointed pa.
SHEA'S POV
All of a sudden, loud music plays from the amphitheatre. Nagsimula nang magtakbuhan ang mga estudyante papunta doon and they look very excited.
"Kyaaaa! Ang Penultimate!"
"OMG OMG makikita ko na ulit si Xenon babe ko!"
"Che! 'Wag kang feeling akin si Xenon."
"Xenon's a noble gas. And you are the electrons. He doesn’t need you."
"Shut up you Science geek. Gusto mo rin naman siya."
"Kyaaaaa! I love you Xenon!"
Nagtakbuhan na sila pero di parin nila maialis ang tingin sa amin.
"Anong nangyayari?" Ice asked.
"Must be the opening ceremony. Follow me." sabi ko at tumungo narin sa amphi.
Punong-puno na ito pagdating namin. Pero bigla nalang humawi sa gitna as students saw us. Mukhang ang bait nila sa 'kin ngayon kasi may mga kasama ako. We all sitted and some students greeted them.
"Sht."
Napamura ako nang bigla akong mawalan ng hininga. Nag-umpisa akong manginig as another strong force went inside me. This feeling seems familiar.
"WELCOME STUDENTS OF VALDEMORE HIGH!"
Bigla akong napatigil. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Parang tumigil ang oras habang dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa stage.
"KYAAAAAH! XENOOOON ANAKAN MO AKOO!"
"TANGINA XENON I-VERSACE MO AKO NGAYON NA!"
"XENOOOOONN!"
"WAAAAHH I LOVE YOU XENON!"
N-no way. Ito ba ang dahilan kaya nag react ang katawan ko? Di alintana ang ingay sa paligid namin as my eyes focused on the guy on stage. Bumigat ang paghinga ko at halos lumabas na ang puso sa katawan ko sa lakas ng kabog nito.
H-hindi ako pwedeng magkamali...
"P-Paxton..."
Bigla siyang tumingin sa direksyon ko at tila napatigil rin.
"Paxton... Ikaw nga." bulong ko as tear fell from my eye. Nandito siya.
👑👑👑