'Royal Dismissal'
XIN
"Whaaaaaat?" Tiningnan lang namin si Hoshi nung tinanong niya 'yun.
"Dude, you sound like a minion. Stop it." Vernon said as we looked at the moving waters towards us. Hindi ko nalang muna sila pinansin at tumingin ako sa braso ko. Our Alpha symbol, it was glowing. It's been a while since it glowed. Tumingin agad ako sa mga braso nila at nakita kong nagliliwanag rin ang mga symbol dito.
"Anyone up for killing a great white snake?" Walter asked after pulling out his horcrux. Tiningnan ko lang siya at tsaka ko tiningnan si Jayden. Napapikit nalang ako. "No, Walter. Put that away." Mahina kong sambit at napanguso lang si Walter tsaka inalis na ang horcrux. Gumawa nalang ako ng portal at tiningnan ang team.
"This is no fun." He said and removed some salt water from his eyes. Umangat lang ang gilid ng labi ko at tumingin na sa portal.
"Trust me, bro. You're going to thank me later." Pabulong kong sabi pero narinig niya naman. Hindi na ako umimik at pumasok na kami sa portal habang kinakarga nila si Matthew. Seth immediately laid Matthew on the couch when we arrived at nakita kong nagliliwanag parin ang alpha symbol namin. What could it be? Inalis ko muna 'yun sa isip ko at lumuhod sa harap ni Matthew at tiningnan siya.
How come you just passed out? Tiningnan ko agad si Jayden na nasa tabi ko lang.
"You sure he just passed out?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tiningnan siya sa mga mata. Jayden didn't break contact with my eyes and even moved closer.
"Isn't it enough that you're suspecting your best friend? And now, you're suspecting me?" Tanong niya at dun na ako nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya.
"I'm not suspecting you, Jay." Tipid kong sagot at hinayaan na sina Duke dun sa ginagawa nila. I know I said that I should trust that team and the team only. And I should. They're the only one I can trust. Tumayo na ako at nakita kong nakatingin sa amin sina Seth at Joshua. Jayden just walked away after tapping my shoulder. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at tsaka sumunod sa kanya. Pumunta siya sa likod ng dorm at kinuha ang water hose doon tsaka nilinis ang sarili niya.
I just looked at him and leaned on the door frame.
"It's one of the punishments, I guess. We hurt those we touch." Nakayuko niyang sabi at tiningnan ko ang alpha symbol ng kamay namin. It was glowing red. Now it makes sense. It was warning us that one alpha member is hurting another alpha member. Tiningnan ko lang si Jayden na nakatingin sa kamay niya nung binaba na niya ang hose. Matthew must've passed out because of Jayden's touch.
The consequences are coming to him one by one. If he ever makes skin contact with someone, that's how the punishment takes effect.
"Have you seen Frozen?" Napalingon agad kaming dalawa kay Hoshi na nandun sa pinto at nakatingin sa amin.
"Hosh, we have no time for you—" Hindi ko na pinatapos si Jayden at tiningnan si Hoshi na nakanguso lang. "What about it?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Tumingin lang siya sa akin at ngumiti.
"Well, Elsa had powers. Everything freezes if she touches them, which is so cool by the way. Elsa wears gloves because, conceal~ don't feel~ don't let them know! And now they know~ Let it go! Let it go! Nanananananaa~ Let it go! Let it go! Namanamanana!" Saglit akong napapikit at tiningnan lang namin ni Jayden si Hoshi na kumakanta pa ng Let it Go kahit hindi naman niya alam 'yung lyrics at hinayaan pa namin siyang matapos sa pagkanta niya. Tumigil na siya nung hindi na niya maabot ang nota at tinapunan na siya ni Wolfie ng tsinelas mula sa living room.
"But my point is, Jayden should wear gloves." Sabi niya at tinuro ang kamay ni Jayden. Napatingin namin kami dun at nagkatinginan pa kami ni Jayden tsaka namin tiningnan si Hoshi. So, that was his point and he just wanted to sing? Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin. It's so him.
"Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let them know." Dagdag nito at kumindat pa tsaka tumalikod na. Mahina kaming natawa ni Jayden habang tinitingnan si Hoshi na naglalakad papasok sa dorm. "He could be a smart ass sometimes." Sabi ni Jayden. Tiningnan ko lang ang likod ni Hoshi at tumango-tango.
"Ayo! Mosquito! Make me some jell-o!" Natawa nalang ako at napailing tsaka na kami pumasok ni Jayden. Namulsa nalang si Jayden para wala siyang mahawakan, because from the way I see it, he can't hurt himself. It was up for me to explain the situation to the team matapos naming maligo dahil nanlalagkit kami sa tubig dagat.
When all of the team was gathered in the living room, maliban kay Matthew na nandun sa kwarto nila at wala paring malay ay bumaba na si Jayden na dala-dala ang gloves ko at tiningnan ito. Tapos ko nang ipaliwanag sa team ang sitwasyon ni Jadyen at nakatingin na kaming lahat sa kanya.
"Your hands are so small, baby sis." Reklamo niya at tiningnan ako dahilan para mapatingin kaming lahat sa kamay ko. Oh, they're not small. They just have big hands because they're men.
"Hey, Hoshi's hands are the same size as mine." Depensa ko sa sarili at tinuro si Hoshi na napatingin narin sa kamay niya at tsaka pinagkumpara ang kamay ko sa kanya tsaka nabigla na kunti lang ang agwat niya sa kamay ko.
"Baby hands~" He said in a toothy grin and squeezed my hands. Tumingin nalang ako sa kamay ng team. They sure have big hands. Sinalo ko nalang ang gloves ko na pinasa ni Jayden sa akin. Tiningnan agad namin si Milo na tumayo at pumunta sa kwarto nila. Paglabas niya ay may dala siyang black leather gloves at binigay ito kay Jayden.
Jayden took it and looked at him.
"I think that's your size." Sabi ni Milo at halatang nag-iiwas ng tingin kay Jayden. Jayden just tapped his shoulders as a sign of gratitude at sinuot na ang gloves.
"Elsa? I—mean, Jayden? Do you wanna build a snowma—" Tinakpan na agad ni Wolfie ang bibig ni Hoshi at natawa nalang 'yung iba sa kanya.
✥✥
"You wanted to see me?" Tiningnan ko lang si Keya na naglalakad palapit sa akin habang nakangiti. Ngumiti lang din ako sa kanya at tinapik ang bench para umupo siya sa tabi ko. She just sat beside me and looked at me, waiting for me say something.
Tumingin muna ako sa lake na nasa harap namin. Yes, I called her in the lake and she came in a flash. Binalik ko nalang ang tingin ko sa kanya at nginitian siya.
"You know that you are part of our family now, right?" Tanong ko sa kanya dahilan para saglit siyang natigilan at maya-maya'y tumango naman habang nakangiti pa. "You know that Walter betrayed me for you, just to let you live with him for a lifetime. And that—"
"And that if ever I leave him, he would experience the same fate as his brother Lincoln. He would have a paradidomi and die. Alam ko na 'yan, Xin. And you know that I won't leave Walter. Ever." Aniya at seryosong nakatingin sa akin. Ngumiti lang ako sa sinabi niya at bahagyang nag-iwas ng tingin. I breathed slow and then looked at Keya who was now looking at me.
"Keya, the girl I've just known for a few years. Keya, my dear brother's beloved. Keya, someone whom I considered as a sister." Saglit na kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa mga sinasabi ko habang nakatingin ako sa kanya. Napalunok pa siya habang nakatingin siya sa akin. "What's this? You're suddenly complementing me. It's weird." Natatawa niyang sambit habang nakatingin sa akin. Hinawakan ko na ang kamay niya at pinasadahan ng daliri ang pulso niya.
It glowed instantly when I touched it. A white, s-line glow.
"Keya, a great white snake." Agad niyang hinila palayo sa akin ang kamay niya at nakita kong nanginginig na siya habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya at tsaka binalik ang tingin ko sa field.
"Why did you lie to me?" Tanong ko sa kanya at hindi ako nakarinig ng sagot mula sa kanya at nung tiningnan ko siya, umiiyak na pala siya habang pinupunasan ang mga luha niya. She was crying silently and I just looked at her. I just clenched my jaw and gave her a handkerchief. Hindi niya ito tinanggap at sa halip ay niyakap niya ako.
My mind was still battling if I'll console her or not. But I suddenly remembered Walter. How he was taken by Nightchasers to Stone Mountain and in the brink of death, he was only thinking of Keya. I remembered how he cared for her. I remembered how he cried for her.
Napapikit nalang ako at dahan-dahan nang niyakap si Keya at tinapik-tapik ang likod niya.
"I-I didn't know that it was me. I didn't know w-what I was doing. I'll just wake up with dead bodies in my room and snake skin on my bed. H-Hindi ko kontrolado ang mga nangyayari sa katawan ko, X-Xin. I keep getting hungry and I'm l-losing my mind. Kaya wala akong sinabi dahil baka walang makakaintindi." Napapikit nalang ako at kumalas na sa pagkakayakap niya. Binigay ko na sa kanya ang panyo ko at dahil sa pag-iyak niya ay pinunasan na niya pati ang mukha niya causing her to remove all her make-up and the baby faced Keya greeted me.
Sumisinghot pa siya habang nakatingin siya sa akin.
"There hasn't been a great white snake since a hundred years ago." Naiiyak niyang sambit, clearing the question on why no one would understand her. And yes, no one would understand her other than another great white snake. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya na umiiyak parin.
"Ayokong sabihin kay W-Walter. Natatakot ako. W-What if he gets disgusted of me? What if he'll leave me and find other normal creatures? I-I also don't want to tell the team. Natatakot ako kay Jayden." Napabuga lang ako ng hangin dahil sa sinabi niya. Yes, Jayden can be really scary if he's into his interrogating mood. Umayos nalang ako ng upo at tiningnan siya.
"Are you listening to yourself? You even wanted me to be your dinner back then at sinabi mo 'yun sa harap ni Walter. And now you're afraid that he might be disgusted with you because you eat like that? He already knew what you were and what you eat. White snake or green snake, it's all the same." Mas lalong umiyak si Keya dahil sa sinabi ko at niyakap na naman ako. I had to push her away at umiyak na naman siya.
"And besides, Walter won't leave you. If he does, eat him." Humagalpak agad si Keya ng tawa dahil sa sinabi ko at habang nakatingin ako sa kanya ay natawa narin ako. So, she was in the lake that time, searching for food. And that if ever she become the white snake, she can't recognize people and that's why she attempted to eat me at the lake. And when I escaped, she tracked me up until the Bermuda triangle because white snakes tends to follow their prey.
Damn, she really was serious about making me her dinner.
Natawa nalang ako sa iniisip ko at pinatahan na si Keya dahil baka biglang dumating si Walter. May Keya-sensor pa naman 'yun.
✥✥
"Hey, baby hands." I jokingly pushed Jun's face away from me and just looked at him holding and playing with my hand as if it's a toy. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at binalik ang tingin ko sa laptop na nasa hita ko. I was just in the living room, surfing the internet because I need to buy new clothes for the whole team when Jun came and annoyed me like he does most of the day. They already put their orders in the cart, I'm just finalizing the orders.
I'm picking up clothes for Lorisse too. I love buying clothes for Lorisse because she fits aesthetic, pastel and cute clothes. Keya has lots of clothes and I can't possibly buy her clothes because her tastes are rather, how do I say this, alluring? And I'm pretty sure white snakes love less clothing and more skin-exposure.
I wonder how Walter would handle Keya's clothing preferences now. And I decided to keep the secret between me and Keya for now. The team's too conflicted to handle such details.
"Junnie, what's Olympus Express?" Tanong ko nung makita ko ang options ng delivery. He just looked at me while he was still playing with my left hand. Instead of answering my question, he just titled his head and looked at me. "Junnie?" Tanong niya dahilan para mapakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko. Oh, right. I only call him Junnie in my mind.
Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at nag-iwas ng tingin.
"It's a delivery express for demigods, but now it delivers to vampires and witches as well." Si Seth na ang sumagot sa tanong ko at kunot-noong tiningnan si Jun na bumalik sa paglalaro sa mga daliri ko. Jun wasn't even bothered kaya hindi ko na sila pinansin at pinili na 'yung Olympus Express gamit ang kanang kamay ko tsaka na sinara 'yung laptop.
I pulled my hand away from Jun and gave him the laptop.
"I signed the delivery under your name, Mr. Wen. I need to go somewhere." Pagpapaalam ko sa kanila at agad naman silang nagtanong kung saan ako papunta. Sinabi kong may kakausapin lang ako at tsaka na sinuot ang sneakers ko.
"Zeus told us to stay in UHT." Pagpapaalala ni Seth sa akin. His voice was stern and authoritative pero tumingin lang ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"And he told me to be careful." I said, hinting him that I went to see Zeus. Seth just narrowed his gaze at me at gumawa na ako ng portal. Wala nang nagawa si Seth at tiningnan nalang ako. "Be home before 9 PM, Xinny." Paalala ni Seth, being the strict brother he is. Tumango lang ako at kumaway na sa kanila tsaka tuluyan nang pumasok sa portal.
Paglabas ko sa portal ay tumingin ako sa mansion na walang katao-tao. I'm at Itagawa Residence. This place looks haunted to me now. I just shrugged my shoulders and walked in. "I'm here." Tipid kong sabi nung nakapasok na ako.
"You've been ignoring me." Napabuga ako ng hangin dahil sa narinig ko. Is that disappointment in her voice? Naglakad ako papasok sa mirror room at inalis ang white sheet na nakatakip sa kanya. She even attempted to scare me pero hindi ako natinag at kumuha ako ng upuan tsaka umupo sa harap niya.
"It's lonely here, huh?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tiningnan siya. She just smiled at me.
"Bakit mo nga pala ako pinatawag?" Tanong ko at inilawan ang paligid. "Sasabihin mo na ba ang pangalan mo?" I asked again and looked at her.
"Daeng. Wrong answer. Try again." Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Natawa nalang din siya at nakita ko siyang naghihila ng upuan at ginaya ang pagkakaupo ko. Mirroring me. Oh, that's a good pun. Tumikhim nalang ako at tumingin sa kanya. "Just tell me." Mahinahon kong sabi sa kanya.
"You know that there's only one person who can answer all your questions, right?" Tanong niya kaya humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa hawakan ng upuan. Nakita niya 'to kaya mahina siyang natawa at tiningnan ako. "Do you want to see him?" Tanong niya dahilan para manuyo ang lalamunan ako. Should I? Should I believe her?
Natawa na naman siya at nakita kong may kamay na lumabas mula sa salamin. It was a hand who looked like it was dipped in black paint, just as black as the mirror.
"If you badly want to see him, come." Tiningnan ko lang siya habang nakapangalumbaba ako sa upuan. I chewed the insides of my cheeks and looked at her. Napapikit nalang ako at tumayo na. I slowly reached for her hand and she immediately pulled me inside the mirror.
When she pulled me, it was like I entered a portal. I was directed to a place. There was water surrounding us, and there was him.
It was Storm. Nakatalikod siya sa akin at nakatingin lang sa malawak na karagatan na pumapalibot sa amin. Is this even real?
"Storm?" Mahinang tawag ko sa kanya at nakita kong dahan-dahan na siyang lumingon sa akin. But just as he could finally see me, the mirror pulled me back to Itagawa Residence. Napahawak agad ako sa braso kong basa at napatingin ako sa carpet na basa narin. Wait, that was real?
Tumingin agad ako sa salamin na nakangiti lang sa akin.
"I said, see him. Not talk to him, you dummy." Napaawang nalang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Tiningnan ko lang siya na nakatingin lang sa akin at parang naghihintay na magsalita ako. That was real? That was Storm? I don't even know where she took me. That place was just pure water and there's a lot of oceans in this realm.
Umupo nalang ulit ako at tiningnan 'yung salamin pero bigla nalang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Agad ko itong kinuha at tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag. It was Milo.
"Xinny, where are you?" Bungad niya. Tumingin lang ako sa salamin at tumayo na.
"Itagawa Residence. Why?" Tanong ko sa kanya. He just hummed from the other line and then hang up. Hindi na ako nabigla nung may portal na bumungad sa harap ko. Tiningnan ko lang si Hoshi na tumingin sa akin at kumaway. "Time to go." Sabi niya at tinuro ang kwintas niyang nagliliwanag. Dun ko lang din napansin na nagliliwanag rin pala ang kwintas ko. Tumango nalang ako at tumingin muli sa salamin.
"Babalik ako." Tipid kong sabi dito. "I know." Nakangiti nitong sabi at tuluyan na akong pumasok sa portal. They weren't even able to ask me what I was doing dahil itinaas ko na ang kamay ko at sinabing mamaya na ako magpapaliwanag. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanila at tiningnan si Hoshi na kumakain ng ice cream habang inilalahad ang kamay niya sa akin.
Lumapit lang ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Just then, light started covering our bodies.
"Bye, Hosh! 'Wag ka nang babalik." Pabirong sabi ni Duke sa kanya. Ngumiti lang si Hoshi at kumaway pa. Kumaway narin ako sa kanila at niyakap na si Hoshi at pinikit na ang mga mata ko. And again, I felt the blast as we were transported to the Star Kingdom.
Naimulat ko na ang mga mata ko na may suot na akong sunglasses dahil sa liwanag ng paligid. Tiningnan ko lang si Hoshi na nakatingin sa ice cream niyang natunaw na pala kaya napanguso nalang siya. Natawa nalang ako at tumingin sa mga palace guards na nakapalibot sa amin.
"My Prince, this way." Sabi nila at tinuro na ang daan. Hoshi had to pull me to his side to make my presence known. Ngumiti nalang ako sa kanya pero nakatingin lang siya sa mga palace guards at bigla nalang nagseryoso.
"She's my sister. Where are your manners?" Tanong niya sa mga 'to at agad naman silang yumuko sa akin at humingi pa ng tawad.
"That's better." Aniya at hinawakan na ang kamay ko at tsaka na kami pumasok sa palasyo. Sinundan ko lang siya at tinanggal na ang sunglasses nung nakapasok na kami. He just shrugged his shoulders and looked at the place. It's still the same. Family portraits. Pictures of Hoshi on the wall. Hoshi does look good. So cute. Tumingin lang ako sa mga portraits at ngumiti nalang.
Why did I even expect to find a photo of me here? I got my hopes up for no reason.
"My two beautiful children!" Sabay kami ni Hoshi na tumingin kay Dad na sumalubong sa amin. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at tinanggap ang yakap niya pero umiwas lang si Hoshi at tumingin sa paligid. He greeted Mom, but he didn't greet Dad. Tiningnan ko lang siya na halatang umiiwas kay Dad at nagtitiim-bagang tuwing kakausapin siya nito.
Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin nung tiningnan ako ni Dad.
"What's wrong with your brother?" Kunot-noo niyang tanong sa akin at hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko sa tanong niya.
"What's wrong with this place? No picture of Xin. Useless family portraits." Tiningnan lang namin si Hoshi dahil sa sinabi niya. Even Mom was surprised by his words.
"He didn't give a life before coming here, right?" Tanong ni Mom at nilapitan ako. Agad akong lumingo-lingo. Hoshi's mood changed 360 degrees when we got here. "How could he give a life when he only has one left?" Tanong ni Dad at umupo na sa dining table. Umupo narin ako sa harap ni Hoshi, katabi ni Mom. Mom and I were both reading the mood of the place. Hoshi was still quiet, but he was eating.
The whole lunch, I was the only one answering their questions about us. Because it's been a while since they've seen us, but Hoshi won't even talk.
"Bakit ba ang dami mong tinatanong sa kanya? Just tell her directly why you called us." Walang lingong sabi ni Hoshi na naghihiwa ng steak. Napasapo nalang si Mom sa noo niya kaya tiningnan ko si Dad na bahagyang natigilan at tsaka na dahan-dahang lumingon sa akin. He just looked at me and gulped for a few times.
"I saw your dreams. That's why we decided that from now on, Hoshi's staying here." Kumunot agad ang noo ko sa sinabi niya at inisip pa kung anong ibig niyang sabihin at napaawang nalang ang bibig ko nung makuha ko ang sinasabi niya. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at tiningnan si Hoshi na naghihiwa parin ng steak at walang-imik.
I get it now. Dad called us here, so that Hoshi won't have to offer a life to me when that dream happens.
"Did you even consider that if I stay here, she might die." Walang ganang sabi ni Hoshi. Napalunok nalang ako at tiningnan si Dad.
"Honey, if you go. You will die. We saw your dreams." It was Mom's turn to talk. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Hoshi pero inalis niya lang ito at uminom ng wine. I was thinking of the whole situation. Everything was funny. So funny that I found myself laughing so loud that I was almost crying. Dad and Mom said it themselves.
That they'd prefer that I die, rather than Hoshi.
Because yes, Hoshi's more important. He's the real star. Total, sino ba naman ako? Tumango-tango nalang ako at pinaypayan ang mukha ko tsaka ngumiti sa kanila.
"Nga pala, Dad. I wanted to ask you about the Blue Scout Program. Was it really named Blue Scout Program in the first place?" Tanong ko sa kanya, in attempt to change the topic. Hoshi just dropped his utensils and left the table. Mom followed him immediately. Ngumiti lang ako at tiningnan si Dad na nakatingin sa akin. Tumango-tango lang siya bilang sagot at tinanong pa ako kung bakit ko naman tinanong 'yun.
Kumunot agad ang noo ko nung malaman kong mali naman 'yung tinanong ko. It's supposed to be Blue Scouts Headquarters, not Blue Scout Program. O baka naman pareho lang 'yun para sa kanya.
Tiningnan ko nalang si Dad at napatingin sa mga mata niya. His sectoral heterochromia. Bigla nalang sumagi sa isip ko ang mga mata ni Storm. Those red eyes.
"Are you thinking that I'm a bad person, pumpkin?" Bumalik agad ako sa katinuan at tumingin agad ako sa kanya. How come he has the audacity to ask that question? Harap-harapan niya ngang sinabi na okay lang na mawala ako, 'wag lang si Hoshi. This place it so messed up.
Something ticked inside my head. A light bulb. A plan, maybe. A game, perhaps? Dahil sa tanong niya, dahan-dahang umangat ang gilid ng labi ko at tumingin ako sa kanya.
"No, Dad." I said, emphasizing that word 'Dad'.
"I don't think you're a bad person. You even got me out of the combat camp, right? You gave me a life, and I thank you for that." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya. I hope what Luce said was true. That I could convince anyone with just my smile. And I think it's working on him. Tumango-tango lang siya at ngumiti pa.
"Yeah, I took you right after I took Matthew." Ting. The light bulb and the bell rang in my head. Umangat na naman ang gilid ng labi ko at tumingin ako sa kanya. I tilted my head and smiled at him.
"Dad, it was Milo. Not Matthew." Tipid kong sabi sa kanya at tumayo na. Ngumiti lang ako at tiningnan siya na bahagyang natigilan at nakita kong napapikit pa siya tsaka hinawakan ang sintedo niya. I just scoffed and looked at him.
Memories don't lie.
❅ Snow ❅