I was just staring at her with a grim face. I'm still at my perfect stance while Hera's too tired to fight back. That's what I'm seeing from here. She's breathing hard and that indicates that she's already had enough.
I never thought that she would be this desperate over something. I know what she wants from me that's why she's following me for ages. But I always clear with her that I will never ever give whatever she wants. That's the least thing that I can do for her twin's grace.
"Ano bang mahirap sa ibigay mo nalang sa akin ang impormasyong kailangan ko upang gumaling ako? You won't even help me either way kahit ikaw pa ang Host ng Apollo. You know I'll die soon. You know that between me and my sister, I will never stand a chance to be healed completely." She's desperate. Really desparate that she will do anything just to get the information she needed.
"At ano ba sa salitang hindi ang hindi mo maintindihan? I promised your sister that I won't meddle with your affairs. And we have a deal about it. We don't just meddle with each other's problem not unless it is necessary."
"Is my life not that necessary for you?" Now her face turns into a painful expression. "Bakit ayaw niyong gumaling ako?"
Napailing iling na ako sa sinasabi niya. "This is nonsense. You need to get out of here--"
"No! Hindi ako aalis rito nang walang napapala!" sigaw nito sa akin.
As if I'm scared. "Talagang wala kang mapapala sa akin, Hera. Kung ayaw mong tuluyang pumutok ang pasensya ko sa'yo susundin mo ang gusto ko. And I want you to leave this place immediately."
Natigilan si Hera sa aking madiin na wika. Tila nahintakutan ito sa aking itsura.
"Bakit ba lagi nalang siya ang gusto niyong iligtas?! I also value my life! Gusto ko pang mabuhay?! Bakit pati iyon ay kailangan kapatid ko pa ang magdidikta?! Dapat si Vera nalang ang nasa kalagayan ko?! Sana siya nalang ang mamatay?!"
Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sariling nilapitan si Hera at sinampal ito ng sobrang lakas.
Sampal na nakakayanig ng ulirat.
Natigilan ito sa aking ginawa at dahan dahan akong tiningnan.
"Hindi mo alam ang ginagawa ng kapatid mo para iligtas ang buhay mo. Kung iyon ang iniisip mo, bahala ka sa buhay mo at wala na akong pakialam kung iyan ang gusto mong paniwalaan. Huwag na huwag mo lang pagsasalitaan ang kapatid mo sa harap ko ng ganyan dahil hindi mo alam ang ginagawa namin para lang makahanap ng paraan para gumaling kayong dalawa." Seryoso kong wika sa kanya.
"Mayroon nga ba? Based from I have observed a while ago, it seems like you're having fun with Alastair Aldeguer."
Ako naman ang natigilan sa winika nito.
"You shut your mouth." Then Hera smirked and scoffed. "Kasama ba ang paglalandi mo sa kanya ang sinasabi mong hinahanap na paraan para maligtas kaming dalawa?"
I clenched my fist from what she has said. How dare her mingle with my errands.
"I never thought that you will be this low. Ang nirerespeto at niluluhuran ng mga tagasunod mo ay walang ibang maisip na paraan para tulungan kaming magkambal kundi ang maglandi--"
I immediately gripped her neck that made her stunned and shock at the same time. Pinipilit nitong tanggalin ang braso ko ngunit hindi nito iyon magawa dahil sa higpit ng pagkakasakal ko sa kanya.
I felt the two white rings on my Iris lingered as I stared at Hera dangerously.
This is what I hate from being mad. I don't want to use this. The last time that I used it was when Dasha made me mad because of her joke about Chizo. This will be the second time that I'll use it again.
"Hindi ko gusto ang lumalabas sa bibig mo. Masyadong marumi. Uulitin ko ang sinabi ko kanina. Wala akong pakialam sa sasabihin at paniniwalaan mo. Kung iyan ang iniisip mo sa ginagawa ko ngayon, pwes magpaparty ka kung gusto mo. Ngayon, inuubos mo ang pasensya ko and you should know me very well kung ano ang nagagawa ko sa mga katulad mong walang kwentang kausap. Again, I'm ordering you to leave this place immediately. Kung ayaw mong mawalan agad ng buhay, susundin mo ang inutos ko. At wala pa miski isa ang umayaw sa lahat ng sinabi ko."
My eyes lingered inside her brain and change her mind pattern. I changed it in accordance to follow my demand. This curse of mine is somehow helpful but at the same time painful once I'm done using it. Feel my curse, bitch.
Binitawan ko siya and Hera's facial expression turned into a poker one. Tumango ito sa akin at mabilis na naghanap ng paraan kung paano makakaalis sa banyo ng hindi dumadaan sa pintuan. I can sense someone will be here in a while.
Pagkaalis ni Hera ay siyang marahas na pagbukas ng pintuan ng banyo. Ngunit kasabay no'n ay ang pagkakaupo ko sa sahig gawa ng panghihina.
"Bella Cieco!" I closed my Lenses immediately and I just felt Alastair's hands on my shoulder. "Are you okay?! Tell me?!"
Ang ingay naman nito. Okay lang na nanghina iyong tao?
"I'm okay." I murmured. Everytime that I'm using my curse, it drains the hell out of me. Shit!
"No, you're not. Where's the culprit?!" He asked me and now he stood up and tried to search in every cubicle.
Dinaluhan rin ako nina Aarav at Oliver at dahan dahan na itinayo. Isinukbit nila ang magkabila kong braso sa balikat nila upang may guide akong makatayo.
I was taken aback when I felt the sudden force pulling me out of Aarav's and Oliver's shoulders. Alastair pulled me and he guided me instead.
Sarap kaltukan rin nito 'eh. Kita nang tinulungan na ako nang dalawa, marahas pa akong hinila. Sampalin ko ito ng tsinelas sa mukha.
"Kami na ang magdadala sa kanya, Boss." Wika ni Aarav.
"Yeah, Supremo wants to see you and he wants to talk about the sudden attack a while ago."
Huh? Sudden attack?
"What h-happened?" I asked them. Gusto kong magmura dahil sobra talagang nanghihina ang mga tuhod ko at halos wala na akong lakas upang tumayo.
"You don't need to know that." Tugon sa akin ni Alastair at kapagkuwa'y itinuon ang atensyon sa dalawang binata na naghihintay ng sasabihin nito. "I'll talk to him later. Rely the message for me. And make sure every students will be accompanied safely in their respective dorms. We don't want any casualties. Understood?"
I felt the two men nodded and immediately dissapeared.
"Where's Anabelle?" I asked Alastair habang tumitiklop tiklop ang aking mata sa pagod.
"Why did you ask for her whereabouts?" He asked me back.
Baka umepal na naman kami siya sa moment kong halos kayakap ka bakit ba? Para masupalpal ko siya ngayon sa inidoro at painumin ng tubig do'n. Nyeta siya.
"Nothing." I replied then I almost fell again when I tried to stand up.
"Merda!" Shit. Then he carried me in a wedding style.
I felt my cheeks turned red because of my position. Gosh, bakit niya ako binuhat? Kaya ko naman maglakad. Kailangan ko lang ng time magpahinga saglit.
"Y-You don't need to do this--" I tried talking to him but he cut me off in an instant.
"Shut up."
I pursed my lips and didn't say anything more and I felt him starting to walk.
"You shut up." Komento nito ilang minuto ang nakaraan nang makalabas kami ng hall. I'm hearing a lot of noises including a patrol team in which I think the ones who's taking care of the sudden attack that Alastair's been talking about.
"And so?" I murmured.
"This is the first time you complied with my words."
I just don't want to talk at baka mamaya mahalikan mo ako gaya ng mga kinukwento sa akin ni Claude na napapanuod nito sa TV. Nagkakasala na ako. At baka maniwala na ako kay Hera na nandito lang ako para landiin kang yummy ka.
"Whatever." Iyon na lamang ang naisagot ko sa haba ng nasa isip ko.
"Tsk. Your dress is sinful." Sunod kong rinig mula sa kanya.
"Huh?" I unconsiously responded.
"They're looking at you immensely. Men a while ago even ogling at you. Don't you know that?" Sunod nitong wika na halata sa tono nito ang pagkainis.
Wag ka ngang ganyan. Para shiyang tsimang.
I didn't say anything. Naramdaman ko na lang na iniupo niya ako sa isang golf car. Umikot ito upang sumakay sa driver seat at mariin na pinaandar ang sasakyan.
"What really happened a while ago?" I asked when I think I'm already okay.
"What happened to you before we opened the door?" He asked me back.
Napapikit ako ng mariin at napahilot sa aking sentido. Clearly, he doesn't want me to be involved and doesn't want me to know what happened.
"Someone tried to kill me a while ago but I manage to keep myself alive. Now, answer me." I replied and demanded.
"You should've runaway instead of fighting back--" I cut him immediately as I can't help it anymore.
"I'm a fighter, Alastair! Specifically, an Assassin. Why would you want me to runaway if I can fight back? And please! Tell me what happened before or else I will jump here right in an instant."
Isa pa ito 'eh. Inuubos ang pasensya ko.
"Just rest and fuck--!" He immediately stopped the car and held my wrist and when I was about to jump. "Are you insane?!"
I scoffed at him. "I'll do what I have said, Alastair. If I say I'll jump here, I'll do it with flying colors. Now tell me what happened or I'll make sure I'll find any way to go back there and ask someone instead."
"You're being hardheaded." Komento nito sa akin pero ramdam ko sa tono nito na pinagtitimpian lang ako.
"Because I am, you arse." I said confidently.
Matigas talaga ang ulo ko. Kung ano ang gusto ko iyon ang makukuha ko.
Huminga ng malalim si Alastair at napahawak sa tungki ng ilong nito.
"I'll tell you when--" I cut him again.
"Say it now." I demanded.
He groaned loudly and he was about to talk when his phone rang.
"Don't talk." Utos niya sa akin at kapagkuwa'y sinagot ang tawag sa kanya.
Hindi nalang ako umimik at tahimik na nakinig. Kunwari wala sa kausap nito ang atensyon ko ngunit ang totoo, gusto ko nang idikit ang tainga ko sa cellphone nito.
"Yes, she's with me." Rinig kong tugon ni Alastair sa kausap.
"No, she needs to rest--" someone cut him off as well. "Fine. But make sure that the investigation will be pushing through. What happened a while ago will be the last attack we will have. I want you to make sure."
Then he put down his phone. Hindi ito nagsalita in which iyon nga ang hinihintay ko. I was about to ask when he started again the golf car.
"Where are we going? You haven't answered--"
"I'll tell you what happened. But someone wants to see you tonight."
Natigilan ako sa winika nito at napaseryoso nang may hinuha na ako kung sino.
"Who would it be?" I asked him confirming my intuition.
Hindiq siya nito agad sinagot ngunit inusal rin kalaunan ang pangalang inaasahan kong gusto ako muling makita.
.
.
.
"The Consigliere himself of Aldeguer Mafia-- Supremo."