'Small Changes'
Blu walked to the living room at tanging ang Team Alpha lang ang nakita niya. No sign of his team. Sabay namang lumingon ang Team Alpha sa kanya kaya agad siyang umayos ng tayo. "Nasan po sila?" He asked, referring to his team.
"Nasa isolation room. Ginugulo si Reed." Sagot ni Baxter kaya tumango naman agad si Blu at ngumiti tsaka yumuko kina Jun at Xin. Aalis na sana siya nang biglang nagtanong si Jun. "How did it go?" Agad na nanigas si Blu sa kinatatayuan niya at dahan-dahang lumingon kay Jun.
Jun and everyone were just looking at him, waiting for an answer.
"It went well, your highness." Sagot ni Blu at tipid na ngumiti.
"She dumped you, didn't she?" Agad na tanong ni Walter kaya siniko siya ni Matthew. Blu was taken aback pero bumawi rin naman kaagad ng ngiti. "For good reasons, she did." Mahinahong sagot ni Blu.
Dahan-dahan namang lumapit si Xin sa kanya at hindi alam ni Blu ang gagawin nung bigla nalang siyang niyakap ni Xin at tinapik-tapik ang likod niya.
"I just want to thank you for all the things you did for her. I'm forever grateful to you, Van Saint." Malambing na sabi ni Xin sa kanya.
"I will continue doing so, my Queen." Sagot ni Blu kaya tumingin na si Xin sa kanya at hinawakan ang pisngi niya. "You're always welcome here, sweetie." Nakangiting sabi ni Xin kaya ngumiti narin si Blu at tsaka tumingin sa iba at yumuko tsaka na umalis.
"Ganda sana ng lahi niyo dun, Xin." Wala sa sariling sabi ni Baxter habang nakatingin sa malapad na balikat ni Blu nung naglalakad ito papunta sa isolation room.
"Dude, maganda na ang lahi ni Xin." Sabi ni Duke.
Blu walked into the isolation room and seeing his teammates at the carpet and at the sofa. Audin was telling Reed a story who was silently listening to him. Even Lucas and Xy was there too. Agad namang silang tumingin kay Blu nung pumasok na ito sa isolation room.
"Oh, tapos na kayong mag-usap?" Tanong ni Wilder at tumayo para hilain si Blu palapit dun sa sofa at tsaka siya pinaupo. Tumingin naman sina Reed at Audin sa kanila. Tumango lang si Blu at inayos ang blazer ng tuxedo niya.
"Aalis na ako." Aniya. Blu's voice was low and everyone had a hint of what happened.
Lumapit na si Lucas sa kanya at umupo sa single seater na sofa tsaka tiningnan si Blu. "Did she cry?" Tanong ni Lucas at sinapo naman ni Blu ang mukha niya at mahinang tumango. Agad na tumayo sina Shinshi, Celise at Chloe at tsaka sinabing pupuntahan nila si Zia.
"Kayo lang siguro 'yung nag-break kahit hindi naman kayo." Sabi ni Wilder kaya mahina siyang hinampas ni Ash.
"She pushed you away, huh?" Tanong ni Xy at mahina namang tumango si Blu at tsaka sumandal sa sofa. "I knew she was going to do it." Dagdag ni Xy at tinapik nalang ang balikat ni Blu kahit parang sasabog na siya kanina nung nalaman niyang mag-isa lang sina Zia at Blu dun sa lab.
"Patayin nalang kaya natin si Kharis?" Agad silang napalingon kay Archer na nandun sa bookshelf at naghahanap ng librong babasahin niya. "Dude.." Mahinang sambit ni Wilder.
"..that's a great idea!" Agad na dagdag ni Wilder kaya hinampas na naman siya ng unan ni Ash para 'wag na nitong patulan ang mga pinagsasabi ni Archer.
"Killing her won't solve the problem. Sa tingin ko kaya ka iniwan ni Zee dahil may mas malaki siyang problema. In short, she pushed you out of the picture so she can focus on the bigger picture. Am I right?" Tanong ni Ash kaya saglit na natigilan si Blu at maya-maya'y tumango nalang.
"Parang ang sakit naman nung tinulak ka lang palayo kasi hindi ka priority?" Biglang tanong ni Reed kaya napatingin kaagad ang lahat sa kanya.
"Shh, 'wag kang makisali diyan. Ice cream nga hindi mo kilala, pag-ibig pa kaya?" Sumbat ni Audin at pinatahimik na si Reed.
"Ahh. So, 'yung main problem ang inuuna ni Zia ngayon? In short, wala munang lalandi sa kanya. Makinig kayo, wala munang lalandi sa kanya. Stress si Zia. Wala munang lalandi! I repeat, wala munang lalandi!" Inis na tumingin kay Wilder sina Ash at Lucas dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya.
"So, ano na?" Tanong ni Atlas kay Blu. Blu was confused with his question at pati rin 'yung iba ay tumingin kay Atlas habang naguguluhan. "I mean, ano nang plano mo? Diba pinapaalis ka rin ng mga magulang mo sa team?" Tanong ni Atlas.
Dahil dun ay binalik nila ang tingin nila kay Blu.
Today, Blu showcased a lot of new features of him to the team that they still have trouble adjusting to. Like how he just rolled his eyes after hearing Atlas' question and how bored he looked. Blu's usually shiny and kind facial expression was nowhere to be seen.
He's just pissed.
"They can only force me to do one thing." Mariing sabi ni Blu.
"Good, kasi hindi rin naman ako papayag na aalis ka sa team." Agad na sabi ni Xy. Sabay na tumaas ang kilay nina Ash at Archer dahil sa sinabi nito dahil bigla yata itong bumait kay Blu. To Xy, he was just comforting Blu because he knew how it felt to be left.
"Wouldn't it be awkward? For the two of them?" Tanong ulit ni Wilder.
"I mean, you two just.. broke up, right? Tapos magkikita kayo araw-araw dahil nasa iisang team kayo. Tapos maaalala mo lang kung paano ka tinulak palayo ni Zia. Tapos madedepress ka lang." Dagdag ni Wilder. Even though he sounded like he was mocking Blu, he did have a point.
"'Yan kasi, hindi nakinig sa rules. No dating your teammate nga diba?" Sumbat ni Audin kaya si Reed na ang nagpatahimik sa kanya.
"Oo nga. Tapos maaalala pa ni Zia na engage ka na pala kaya probably pipili nalang siya sa isa sa mga naghahabol sa kanya. Geez, Blu. Ang dami pa naman nila. Ako ang natatakot para sa 'yo." Pabirong sabi ni Archer habang pasimpleng nagbubuklat ng libro.
"Wala nga munang lalandi kay Zia, diba? Kasi stress siya!" Pag-uulit ni Wilder kaya binato na siya ni Archer ng libro. Umilag naman siya at tsaka tumingin ulit kay Blu. Nakatingin lang si Blu sa kamay niya at tsaka tumingin nalang sa carpet.
His mind was slowly drifting away.
"Even if Blu stays on the team, Zee won't mind. Priorities ang inuuna ni Zia kaya hindi na niya mapapansin pa si Blu at ang mga nangyayari." Agad na tiningnan ng team ng masama si Ash dahil sa sinabi niya.
"What? I'm just making a point. Kailan ba inuna ni Zia ang sarili niya? Kasi kung ginawa niya 'yun, edi sana hindi nagising 'yung Team Alpha at edi sana inuna niya si Blu." Natahimik silang lahat dahil sa sinabi ni Ash.
"Come to think of it, she's up to something bigger. What makes you think she'd leave Blu just because of a small problem?" Dagdag ni Ash kaya kinagat na ni Blu ang ibabang labi niya. He wanted to think that only if Zia tells him the problem, he could definitely run away from his responsibilities and just be with her.
But Zia's already keeping a wall from everyone the moment she woke up. And that confused Blu.
"May nagbago sa kanya." Mahinang sambit ni Blu habang nakatulala lang.
"Of course, something changed in her. She's got bigger—b-bigger heart. A healthier heart. 'Yun ang tinutukoy ko! Leche!" Kunot-noo lang na tumingin ang team kay Wilder na parang sandaling nabaliw dahil naiinis nalang nang wala namang nanggugulo sa kanya.
"Napaghahalataan 'yang kamanyakan mo, Wilder." Diretsong sabi ni Archer dun sa gilid at natawa naman si Atlas dahil dito. Reed and Audin both rolled their eyes along with Lucas.
"I'm serious. Something really changed." Sambit ni Blu. He kept thinking about what it was but he can't get his mind on it. "Changed? Like 'after she got out of isolation' changed?" Tanong ni Lucas kay Blu dahil alam ng lahat ang pagbabago ni Zia simula nung lumabas ito sa isolation.
Lucas knew it better because back then, Zia would just cry in front of him but after she got out of the asylum, Zia wasn't putting up with him and she was fighting back which was something Lucas took notice of.
"Keep an eye on her." Sambit ni Reed kaya tumingin naman ang team sa kanya.
"We don't know, she might suddenly die.. or maybe, sacrifice herself for this damn realm." Seryosong sabi ni Reed habang nakatingin siya sa braso niya. Naningkit lang ang mga mata nina Audin dahil dito. "Paano mo naman 'yan nasabi?" Tanong ni Audin.
Reed just shrugged his shoulders.
"Just a hunch. Creatures like Zia plans alone and dies alone." Nakatulala naring sabi ni Reed at mahinang natawa nung may maisip siya. Dahil dito ay napunta na sa kanya ang atensiyon na kanina ay binibigay ng team kay Blu.
"Anong nasa isip mo?" Tanong ni Ash kaya tumingin naman si Wilder kay Audin na sinusubukang basahin ang isip ni Reed. Reed just looked at him.
"Tigilan mo na, Audin. Masasaktan ka lang." Mahinang sambit ni Reed at tsaka na inayos ang jacket niya at tumayo.
"I repeat, keep an eye on her." Aniya at tsaka na naglakad papunta sa pinto. "Hoy, 'san ka pupunta?" Tanong ni Wilder sa kanya.
"Aalis, malamang. May mga mata ka naman, diba?" Pasimpleng tanong ni Reed sa kanya kaya napapikit na si Wilder at pinigilan ang sarili niya. "May dalawa nang pesteng Lucas dito sa team." Aniya kaya agad namang tumingin si Lucas sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya.
"The hell did you say?" Tanong ni Lucas sa kanya pero hindi na siya sinagot ni Wilder.
"What makes you think we'll let you leave?" Tanong ni Xy kay Reed na saglit namang huminto at tsaka tumingin kina Xy. "What makes you think I'm here to stay?" Tanong rin ni Reed kaya napatingin na si Wilder kay Audin habang nakanganga.
"How do you handle that guy?!" Naguguluhang tanong ni Wilder kay Audin. Audin just rolled his eyes.
"Nakakaya ko nga ugali mo, kay Reed pa kaya?" Sumbat ni Audin.
"Ba't ba ganito kayo?" Tanong ni Wilder at tumingin naman si Audin kay Reed na tuluyan nang umalis pero nakita niya pa itong naglakad papunta sa direksiyon ng lab. "Let him be, guys. Kulang sa pagmamahal 'yun." Mahinang sabi ni Audin at tsaka nangalumbaba.
"But we need him. For the enemies." Sambit ni Atlas.
"Relax lang mga pre. Hindi naman 'yun paaalisin ni Zia. Tsaka marupok 'yun." Sabi ni Audin at bigla nalang humalaklak si Archer kaya tumingin ulit ang team sa kanya. "See, Blu? If you leave, good bye na sa 'yo." Aniya at tsaka na sinuli ang librong hindi niya naman binasa.
"And don't worry, ipapa-ambush namin si Kharis tsaka pakukulayan namin ng puti 'yung buhok ni Zia." Dagdag ni Wilder.
"Wow, nakakatouch naman 'yang support niyo. If I know, hindi sang-ayon 'yung iba diyan kasi ngayong wala na si Blu, open na 'yung slot sa gilid ni Zia." Sambit ni Audin at umakyat na sa kama ni Reed at muntik pa siyang mahulog dahil ang taas nito at ang liit niya.
Nung makaupo na siya sa kama ay tsaka siya ngumiti kay Blu na nakatingin lang sa kanya.
"That slot is still mine." Mariing sabi ni Blu at mahina namang natawa si Lucas.
"Be careful, Van Saint." Mahinahong sabi ni Lucas at tsaka na tumayo.
"She might suddenly fall in love with me." Dagdag ni Lucas at agad na sinalo ang unan na binato nina Wilder at Xy sa kanya. Blu didn't know what to say, instead, he smiled at Lucas.
"As long as you take better of her, I'm fine with it." Sambit ni Blu at tumayo na tsaka tinapik ang balikat ni Lucas. Lucas just looked at him, suddenly feeling guilty of toying with Blu's fresh broken heart.
"After I leave today, I can't promise that I'll always be on the team or that I'll always be there to support her. In my absence, please take good care of her. She means the world to me."
With those words, Blu left, leaving his team for a while. After he left, things went back to the way they were. As if Zia didn't have her near-death attack or as if they didn't fear Uno's claim of bringing chaos to this realm.
Zia would smile from time to time.
But her smiles were limited. A sign of missing Blu and a sign of her building a new wall. The wall she built was huge and unbreakable. That even when it was her own parents who asked her what was going on, she'd just smile and shake the question off.
Her wall was becoming dangerous.
The only person she talks to was her brother. She would call for Xy to talk before she sleeps. When Xy gets out of her room, everyone would ask what they talked about, pero ngiti lang din ang sinusukli ni Xy sa kanila.
Team Alpha was still struggling to maintain themselves from exposing the fact that their body was now vulnerable. Tanging si Zia parin ang nakakaalam sa kondisyon nila. Zia would ask for cuddles from her family. She would sit on the couch and just hugs whoever was sitting there.
She would smile and then she'd space out.
Everyone was getting worried.
✥✥
It took a week before they finally went back to UHT. While Team Alpha was secretly in medication, the Midnight Angels were currently planning for the safety of the realm. And just like the usual scenario, hindi na nagsasalita si Zia.
She would just listen to them planning a defensive method.
Kung tatanungin siya kung okay ba sa kanya ang plano, tatango lang siya at tsaka pipikit at sinasabing inaantok siya.
Sleeping. She's been doing it a lot lately. She just sleeps, talks by herself at gigising ng maaga para umupo dun sa bench sa labas ng dorm nila.
"Ganyan ba talaga ang mga babae kapag kakabreak lang?" Alalang tanong ni Audin habang nakatingin silang dalawa ni Wilder kay Zia na nasa bench sa labas ng dorm. It was four in the morning at sabay silang nagising para bantayan si Zia na nakaupo mag-isa sa labas.
"She's not like that because of the break-up." Mahinang sambit ni Shinshi na kakababa lang din at basa pa ang buhok. Tumingin lang si Wilder sa kanya at hinila ang upuang nasa gilid niya at dun naman umupo si Shinshi.
"Eh ano? She's been like that for a week now. Tsaka kalian ba babalik si Blu?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Audin habang hinintay na lumamig 'yung hot choco niya. Blu haven't return ever since he left. He's still in contact with the team but there was no guarantee when he'll come back.
Nagkatinginan naman sina Wilder at Shinshi.
"Sabi ni Dad, naging ganyan raw si Tita Xin bago 'yung Blue Night. So, we're keeping an eye on her. She might be planning a suicide mission and hell would I let that happen." Agad na sabi ni Wilder pero saglit rin naman siyang tumahimik nung lumingon si Zia sa kanila mula dun sa labas.
"She can hear you, dumbass." Sabi ni Shinshi sa kanya.
"Mas mabuti na 'yun para malaman niyang alam namin ang mga nasa isip niya." Sagot ni Wilder habang nakatingin parin kay Zia. "Alam mo ba talaga 'yung totoong nasa isip ni Zia?" Tanong ni Shinshi kaya saglit namang tumingin si Wilder sa kanya.
And because Shinshi just took a bath, her flower-scented shampoo was rubbing unto Wilder's nose and it took him off-topic for a moment.
"Eh ikaw, alam mo ba ang totoong nasa isip ko?" Wala sa sariling tanong ni Wilder. Shinshi just shrugged her shoulders. "Don't tell me ako 'yang nasa isip mo? Kapag ako talaga pinagloloko mo, Wilde—"
"Paano kung ikaw talaga laman ng isip ko? Tumatakbo mula dito papunta sa puso ko." Napangiwi agad si Audin dahil sa sinabi ni Wilder at kinuha 'yung hot choco niya tsaka nanood nalang ng tv at iniwan 'yung dalawa dun sa dining area.
Shinshi just smiled and looked at Wilder closely.
"Do you want me to smash your balls and tear you to pieces?" Malambing na tanong ni Shinshi sa kanya. Shinshi was expecting Wilder to move away but instead, he smiled back and leaned closer.
"Do it, then. Smash my balls and tear me to pieces." Wilder said, obviously flirting with Shinshi.
"Why the hell are you guys talking about balls so early in the morning?" Inaantok na tanong ni Xy habang nagsusuot pa ng t-shirt habang pababa siya ng hagdanan. Agad na umiwas si Shinshi kay Wilder at tumabi nalang kay Audin na nanonood ng cartoons.
Wilder just flicked his tongue and licked his lips.
"Si Zia?" Tanong ni Xy at tinuro lang ni Wilder ang bench dun sa labas. Agad namang lumabas si Xy pero pumasok ulit para kumuha ng isang baso ng fresh milk at tsaka ito dinala sa labas.
Xy slowly handed her the milk at tsaka umupo sa tabi ni Zia. "How's your sleep?" Tanong niya at inayos ang pagkakahawi ng buhok ni Zia.
"Good." Tipid na sagot ni Zia at tsaka tumingin kay Xy. "Any dreams?" Tanong ni Xy.
"None." Tipid na sagot ni Zia habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ni Xy. "Can I hug you, Kuya?" Mahinang tanong ni Zia at agad namang ngumiti si Xy.
"Of course, baby. Come here." Aniya at tsaka hinila palapit si Zia at niyakap ito. Zia just closed her eyes and breathed low. "Nag-aalala sila sa 'yo." Mahinang sabi ni Xy. Zia just looked at the milk on her hand. The longer she stared at it, an idea was popping out from her head.
She let her fangs out, big her finger and gave the milk a drop of her blood.
The milk turned black.
Xy clenched his jaw the moment he saw it at humigpit ang pagkakayakap niya kay Zia. Dahan-dahang kumalas si Zia sa pagkakayakap sa Kuya niya at tsaka nilapag ang baso sa armrest at tumayo na. "I'm going to visit Grandpa Hades." Tipid na sabi ni Zia at pinagpag ang jeans niya.
"Sasama ako." Agad na sabi ni Xy pero lumingo-lingo lang si Zia.
"Babalik rin naman ako kaagad. I'll be back before breakfast." Aniya at alam ni Xy na hindi niya mababago ang isip ng kapatid niya. Napabuga nalang siya ng hangin at tsaka na tumango. He escorted Zia to the portal at siya narin ang nagbukas nito.
"Tawagan mo ako kapag babalik ka na. I'll open it for you." Bilin ni Xy at ngumiti lang si Zia sa kanya at walang-imik na pumasok sa portal. As soon as Zia stepped in, she was immediately transported to Hades' living room.
Naabutan niya si Hades na may hawak na baso ng wine at naninigarilyo pa.
Hades almost swallowed his cigarette when he saw Zia appearing in front of him. He immediately burned the cigarette and threw the wine away. "B-Baby! Good to see you—and no, I wasn't smoking. That wasn't a cigarette. Don't smoke, that's bad for your heart." Depensa niya agad sa sarili niya.
Zia just smiled shortly.
"How are you feeling? Did you miss your Grandpa?" Nakangiting tanong ni Hades pero tumingin lang si Zia sa bintana kaya napabuga nalang siya ng hangin at tiningnan lang si Zia. "Why are you slowly becoming like your mother?" Hades asked, sulking.
Mahina lang natawa si Zia sa kanya at tiningnan siya.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm just tired." Mahinang sambit ni Zia.
"I just came here to visit someone." Aniya at lumapit sa bintana. Hades wanted to ask more questions but Zia already bid him goodbye and flew somewhere in hell. Hades breathed out and looked at his little girl.
"You talked to her, didn't you?" Hades asked and a woman appeared in his mirror.
It was Time.
"I promised Xin a good life. So, I gave her daughter a hint to the future." She answered.
"That hint will kill her." Hades said. "There's nothing we can do to prevent it. They're mere creatures born with a drastic flow of fate." Time answered.
"Is there another way though?" Tanong ni Hades at tiningnan ang picture niya kasama si Xin nung kakapanganak palang nito kay Zia. "None." Time answered shortly.
"Poor kid." Hades said, a hint of hopelessness in his voice.
"You know, it's rare to see the devil worry about mere creatures." Time said. Tumingin lang si Hades sa kanya. "They're not just mere creatures. They're my family." Aniya at umupo na sa sofa.
As for Zia, she finally arrived at the place she wanted to visit. The pomegranate plantation. Iniligpit niya ang mga pakpak niya at tumingin-tingin sa paligid. She looked around, lightly touching the pomegranates and poking them for fun.
"Well, well, well. Looks like beauty has returned in the land of sorrows." Agad na tumingin si Zia sa direksiyon na pinanggalingan ng boses ng 'yun. And there he was, Wesy.
"I'm looking for you." Tipid na sambit ni Zia kaya medyo natigilan si Wesy at napalunok pa pero umayos rin naman ng tayo at tsaka ngumisi. "Why so?" He asked.
Tumingin lang si Zia sa kanya. Isang malalim ng titig ang binibigay niya kay Wesy kaya medyo naguluhan na si Wesy hanggang sa dahan-dahang umangat ang gilid ng labi ni Zia.
"You're not a dog-sitter, aren't you?" Tanong ni Zia sa kanya. Wesy just raised an eyebrow at her.
"I am a dog-sitter. Kaya nga buhay pa ako, diba?" Natatawa niyang tanong pero umiling lang si Zia at ngumiti. "Don't lie to me." Tipid na sabi ni Zia at dahan-dahang nilapitan si Wesy.
"Kaya ka buhay kasi kinuha ka nila." Mahinahong sambit ni Zia at sinuri si Wesy. Wesy's cover was already blown so he gave her a smile and flicked his tongue. "You know, smart girls turn me on." Wesy said, raising an eyebrow because of amusement.
Zia just looked at him.
"I'm not smart. You're just too obvious." Sagot ni Zia at pumitas ng isang pomegranate at tiningnan ito.
"Should we change your description now?" Mahinang tanong ni Zia at tsaka dahan-dahang tumingin kay Wesy na nakahalukipkip lang at nakatitig sa kanya. "Wesy, former demon, and junior reaper.." Zia trailed off.
"..current Hunter."
❅ Snow ❅