'Secrets'
He left.
Lucas punched him to get him to think straight, but he left. Wilder and the team talked to him over it, at sinabi pang hintayin na bumalik si Zia, but still, he left. Audin didn't cry. He hated Blu.
"You really want to leave?" Nakayukong tanong ni Audin sa kanya, balling his small hands into a fist. Blu just looked at him and said yes. Audin's hands trembled.
"Okay, umalis ka. At kapag umalis ka na, 'wag na 'wag ka nang babalik."
✥✥
Rumors, gossips, news, and whatever it is that can spread the word have made its way all over the realm. This time, they didn't only question Xin and Team Alpha, the creatures of the realm started questioning the gods.
In that subject, Zeus called for a meeting kasama ang Team Alpha.
"Tell me what is happening in your realm?" Zeus asked Seth. Tumingin muna si Seth kay Xin na nakaangat lang ang tingin sa lahat. Chin-up and poised, not wanting the situation to get into her.
"Dimitri Blu Van Saint, the second member of the Midnight Angels have left the team." Agad na sagot ni Seth. Silence covered the throne room habang 'yung iba naman ay naghihintay na magsalita si Xin pero pinagpatuloy lang ni Seth ang sinasabi niya.
"Apparently, Blu had been bitten by beast demons. And I'm guessing you all know the effects to that." He said and some of the gods sighed. Bigla nalang may mga nagsidatingan na demigods sa throne room dahilan para tumingin ang Team Alpha sa kanila.
"W-We have a report." Sabi ng isa at tumango naman si Zeus para magpatuloy sila sa sinasabi niya.
"Another species has gone extinct. I-It's the beast demons. They all got wiped out a week ago." Agad na umangat ang gilid ng labi ni Hades kaya tumingin naman ang iba sa kanya. "Oh, don't look at me. I didn't do it." Aniya pero hindi maalis sa labi niya ang ngiti.
"Then why are you smiling?" Poseidon and Apollo asked in unison.
"Oh, chaos has always made me smile. Nothing new." Sagot niya at tsaka tiningnan si Xin na nakatingin lang sa kanya. "I guess she's finally awake." Nakangiting sabi ni Hades sa kanya dahilan para tumingin si Xin sa team.
Walter and the others have a surprised expression on.
"D-Did she just wiped out an entire specie?" Nauutal na bulong ni Dino kay Xin na mahina lang tumango. Walter smirked. "Sabi ko na diba? Her decisions are worth it." Aniya at tsaka na tumingin kina Matthew na diretso lang ang tingin kay Xin.
"You know, wiping out an entire species is a crime. Unless you're a god, you're exempted. Do you all know what crime she just committed?" Ares asked them.
"What? Are you going to punish her?" Mahinang tanong ni Hoshi sa kanila. Naningkit naman ang mga mata nila habang nakatingin kay Hoshi. "We can't interfere, so, no. But now that I think about it, the first member of the rescue team just became a Hunter. Any concerns, Zeus?" Tumingin ang lahat kay Zeus dahil sa tanong ni Ares sa kanya.
Zeus tapped his fingers on the throne.
"Yeah. You said that the one who 'chose' the members of the team did not make a mistake in choosing them. Now why is Zia—"
"In the first place, she wasn't chosen. You forced her into this team. You forced her into this role. Rebelling from that is no longer surprising." Xin interrupted. She had always been the one who could interrupt the gods on her will.
"You're allowing your daughter to rebel?" Athena asked. Xin scoffed.
"I'm allowing her to be free." Sagot niya at hindi na matanggal sa labi ni Hades ang ngiti habang nakikinig sa mga usapan nila.
"Alright, we no longer have an issue about what she is right now. But we just need to know about her whereabouts." Apollo asked calmly.
"About that, aren't we going to spread news about your daughter, Syzygy? The realm is in chaos." Athena said. "Yes, when will she show up?" Ares asked. Xin scoffed.
"Hindi ko na hawak ang desisyon ng anak ko. She will show up when she's ready. For now, let her rest if you still want to win this war." Diretsong sagot ni Xin, trying to ignore Hades' phone who was obviously recording her. He still hasn't changed, isip ni Xin.
"So, you're finally letting her fight this war?" Tanong ni Ares kay Zeus na siyang nagsabi noon na hindi na lalaban si Zia.
"That is if she wants to. I no longer want to force anyone against their will." Seth silently scoffed, unable to believe that those words just came out from Zeus' lips. Tumingin naman si Zeus sa kanya.
"And as for you, Seth Morgan. Get married even before your lady gives birth." Agad na napaubo si Seth at tsaka na siya palihim na tinukso ng Team Alpha. Tumingin muli si Xin kina Zeus, Hades at Apollo at tsaka yumuko.
The team also stopped teasing Seth at umayos narin ng tayo.
"We will let the realm question us too, as long as we're assured that we will win this war in the end. And besides, everything happens for a reason." Apollo once again calmly said. Tumango naman ang Team Alpha at yumuko na tsaka na umalis.
✥✥
Wesy already prepared Zia's breakfast at kasalukuyan na siyang nakatayo sa harap ng pinto ng royal chambers. "Gising na ba siya?" Tanong niya sa isang royal guard na nakabantay sa pinto.
"Hindi po siya natulog." Sagot nito. Wesy just ruffled his hair and breathed out, stressed by his duties and concerned by Zia's movements. Bumukas na ang pinto at pumasok na si Wesy at naabutan siya si Zia na nagdidilig ng bulaklak niya sa may bintana.
It was a white flower.
"I replaced the coffee with hot choco since I know you like it better." Ani Wesy at nilapag na ang pagkain sa mesa. Sandaling tumingin si Zia sa kanya at tsaka ibinaba ang maliit na watering can na hawak niya at tsaka na lumapit sa mesa.
Yumuko lang si Wesy at tsaka tumalikod para umalis pero tinawag ni Zia ang pangalan niya.
"Wesy, samahan mo akong kumain." Walang emosyong sabi ni Zia. Lumingon si Wesy sa kanya at ngumiti nalang at tsaka hinila ang upuan sa harap ni Zia tsaka umupo rito. Zia gave him the sandwich at tinanggap naman ito ni Wesy.
"Hindi ka na naman raw nakatulog?" Mahinahong tanong ni Wesy sa kanya. "Nightmares." Tipid na sagot ni Zia.
"What nightmares?" Alalang tanong ni Wesy.
"Death." Diretsong sagot ni Zia kaya sandaling nabulunan si Wesy sa sandwich na kinakain niya. Binigyan nalang siya ni Zia ng tubig at mahinang pinitik ang noo niya. "Idiot." She told Wesy with a smirk. Inis namang tumingin si Wesy sa kanya pero wala itong sinabi.
They stayed silent for a while pero may gusto talagang sabihin si Wesy sa kanya.
"Umalis na si Blu sa team." Wesy finally blurted out.
Huminto ang kamay ni Zia sa paghahalo ng hot choco at tsaka niya tiningnan sa mga mata si Wesy. Zia's purple eyes were still new to him even if it's already been weeks after she woke up. Nakakapanibago talaga ang kulay ng mga mata niya.
Wesy's eyes were purple too, a sign of a Hunter.
"Umiyak ba si DinDin?" Pasimpleng tanong ni Zia at pinagpatuloy ang paghahalo sa hot choco. Wesy sighed. "Hindi. Galit siya kay Blu." Sagot niya at kinagat muli ang sandwich. Zia's lips formed an arch.
"Wala ka na ba talagang planong bumalik? You told me you'd come back to them after a week. Dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas, Zi—" Hindi natuloy ni Wesy ang sinasabi niya dahil sa titig na binibigay ni Zia sa kanya. Napailing nalang si Wesy at tsaka tumahimik.
Inubos na ni Zia ang hot choco at tsaka tumayo. Sinapo ni Wesy ang mukha niya at tsaka nilapitan ito.
"Hey, I'm sorry." Mahinang sabi ni Wesy pero nanatiling nakatingin si Zia sa bintana.
"Breakfast is over. You may go." Pasimpleng sabi ni Zia at wala nang nagawa si Wesy kundi ang umalis. Paglabas niya at nandun na pala ang kambal sa tapat ng pinto. Lesis was poking his head in the doorway kaya siya ang unang nakita ni Wesy.
"Nag-away na naman kayo?" Tanong ni Lesis.
"'Wag mo kasing tinatanong si Zia sa mga plano niya. Pamilya niya nga hindi niya sinabihan, tayo pa ba?" Tanong ni Lezo kay Wesy na humugot lang ng malalim na hininga at tsaka na naglakad palayo.
✥✥
Another week have passed since Zia's disappearance. Three weeks of Zia's absence and a week after Blu left the team. Days and nights would pass by the team so quickly. Training, going on simple missions, living their everyday lives, plotting the next attack for Uno and sleeping with messy thoughts.
Archer was the messiest. After months of Zia's assurance, he started falling back to the darkness that had kept dragging him.
And even though Celise couldn't prove anything to Archer, she would still stay by his side at the end of the day, just to assure him of everything.
Xin started feeling the side-effects of letting Zia do all she wanted to do. Nararamdaman na niya ang pangungulila sa anak niya na akala niya ay makakaya niya dahil alam niya namang para sa ikabubuti ni Zia ang ginagawa niya.
But it was hard. For a mother, it's the hardest thing to do. Pretending not to miss your child.
So, she started sleeping on Zia's bed. Having nightmares of her death becoming a reality. Jun would assure her too.
Everyone in the team all wanted assurance.
Gusto ni Audin na masigurong gagaling siya sa mga ginagawa niya. Sinisiguro niyang hindi na siya magkakamali. Reed wanted to assure the team that Zia's disappearance wasn't put in vain. That her sacrifice to free Reed from the curse will be worth it.
Shinshi spent her time strengthening her physical strength at kasama niya ni Atlas sa pagt-training.
Ash trained with the dragons at minsan ay sumasama narin si Reed sa kanya. Reed hasn't transformed yet and he's still finding ways to do it. Xy stayed at the training site. He will train by day, visit the lake by noon and spend time with Dolly at night.
Lucas somehow started to distance himself from everyone, even to Chloe. Wala siyang kinakausap pero nagpapakita parin siya sa training.
He would train in silence and then leave without saying a word.
Wilder, on the other hand, went out of hand. Uuwing lasing at amoy babae. He had been partying after training, leaving the place with a girl or two, spending the night with them and showing up at training in a mess.
Muntik na nga niyang mahalikan si Alice dahil sa kalasingan. Of course, he got slapped for that.
That became their routine for another week. Totaling into a month after Zia's disappearance. Uno hasn't attacked since then at naging tahimik rin ang realm. Naiisip na ng iba na umaatake lang si Uno dahil buhay pa si Zia.
And now that she's missing, without any news about her, Uno also stopped his attacks.
But Reed thought otherwise. Alam niyang nagpaplano si Uno. He knows him better than anyone.
✥✥
"Shinshi, sama ka sa amin sa canteen?" Tanong ni Atlas kay Shinshi na kasalukuyang nag-aayos ng gamit niya. Kakatapos lang kasi ng training nila. Audin also tried inviting Lucas with a smile on his face pero walang imik na naglakad palabas si Lucas kaya nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Audin.
Tinapik nalang ni Reed ang balikat ni Lucas bago ito tuluyang umalis.
"Susunod ako. I just need to take a bath first." Sabi ni Shinshi at nilagay ang tuwalya sa balikat niya.
"Sa dorm ka na maligo." Sabi ni Ash at tsaka tumingin sa wall clock. It's currently nine in the evening. Ganitong oras na kasi natatapos ang training nila kapag si Seth ang may hawak sa schedule.
"Sira 'yung hot water dun." Nakangiting sabi ni Shinshi at kumaway na sa kanila. Kumaway narin sina Atlas sa kanya at tsaka na dumiretso si Shinshi sa washroom. Binilisan niya ang pagligo at tsaka na nagbihis ng komportableng damit.
Sinabit niya ang tuwalya sa leeg balikat habang lumalabas sa washroom habang naglolotion sa braso niya.
She turned off the lights at tanging 'yung sa labas nalang ng training site ang naka-on. Sapat naman ang ilaw na pumapasok sa training site kaya nakikita niya pa ang bag niya dun. Shinshi simply walked towards her bag when someone entered the training site.
"Diba sinabi ko susunod ak—" Hindi na natapos ni Shinshi ang sinasabi niya nung maamoy niya kung sino ito.
Agad siyang tumingin kay Wilder na nakasandal dun sa may pinto. Amoy alak at perfume ng babae na naman siya kaya umirap nalang si Shinshi at kinuha na ang bag niya at aalis na sana pero hinatak lang ni Wilder ang braso niya at dinamba niya sa pader.
"W-Wilder!" Sigaw ni Shinshi pero mas lalo siyang diniin ni Wilder sa pader at tsaka inamoy ang leeg niya.
"Wilder, ano ba?" Inis niyang tanong at nagawa niyang itulak si Wilder palayo. Wilder fell on his back habang nakatingin lang si Shinshi sa kanya. Umupo ito at tsaka sinapo ang mukha at maya-maya'y bigla nalang natawa.
"Umalis ka na." Ani Wilder at tumayo tsaka tinalikuran si Shinshi. Shinshi was pissed by his actions earlier kaya binaba niya ang bag niya at tiningnan si Wilder.
"I really don't want to ask this dahil alam kong ganito ka naman. Partying, hanging out with girls at posibleng paiba-iba ang babaeng—" Natigilan si Shinshi dahil bigla nalang natawa si Shinshi at dahan-dahang humarap sa kanya.
"Look who's talking. Bakit, Shin? Kilalang-kilala mo ba ako?" Natatawang tanong ni Wilder sa kanya. Wilder ruffled his hair and messed up his uniform's necktie because he was pissed. Hindi rin kasi siya sumali sa training kanina kaya naka-uniform pa siya.
Shinshi crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at Wilder.
"Bakit? Tama naman, diba? Diba ito rin 'yung dahilan kung bakit hindi ka sumipot noon?" Tanong ni Shinshi na mas lalong nagpatawa kay Wilder.
"Fuck. J-Just.. Fuck, Shin. Ito na naman?! Didn't I already explain my side? I was in a situation I couldn't get out of." Pagpapaliwanag ni Wilder sa kanya pero hindi nagbago ang timpla ng mukha ni Shinshi.
"I waited for the whole day, got soaked in the rain, got sick after that, pero ano? Hindi ka sumipot kasi may kasama ka na palang iba." Natatawang sabi ni Shinshi. Wilder bit his lip, having a flashback of that certain day.
"Shin! Shin na pandak!" Inis na tumingin si Shinshi kay Wilder na nakauniform pa at tumatakbo papunta sa kanya. She was seventeen, a few years older than Wilder and have always wanted Wilder to respect her pero hindi naman nakikinig si Wilder.
Wilder is currently in his first year of high school pero sikat na ito sa mga babae sa UHT.
"What?" Inis niyang tanong rito. "Guess what? I just kissed a girl." Pagmamayabang ni Wilder kaya tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Shinshi.
"Oh? Akala ko nung elementary pa nawala 'yang first kiss mo." Diretsong sabi ni Shinshi sa kanya. Wilder then started thinking to himself at tsaka tumango-tango. "Oo nga pala. But hey, that wasn't a kiss. Smack lang 'yun. Iba talaga 'yung kanina." Shinshi just made a disgusted face.
Umangat naman ang gilid ng labi ni Wilder.
"Ano namang sunod na mawawala sa 'yo? Virginity mo?" Mapaklang tanong ni Shinshi. Wilder walked over to her and even though he was younger than her, mas matangkad parin si Wilder sa kanya.
"Hindi, sa 'yo ko lang ibibigay 'yun." Mapanuksong sabi ni Wilder kaya agad siyang hinampas ni Shinshi ng libro at tsaka hinabol.
Naghabulan sila hanggang sa mapunta sila sa field at dahil bigla nalang lumingon si Wilder at dahil napabilis rin ang pagtakbo ni Shinshi ay nabunggo niya ito, causing both of them to fall on the ground. Agad namang niyakap ni Wilder si Shinshi bago sila natumba.
Wilder giggled after that at hinampas lang siya ni Shinshi pero hindi naihanda ni Shinshi ang sunod na nangyari.
Wilder was only staring at her eyes but the next thing she knew, she felt his lips moving unto hers.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Shinshi at tsaka tumayo sabay hampas kay Wilder. "Wilder! I hate you! That was my first kiss you idiot!" Galit niyang sigaw kay Wilder na parang nabigla rin sa ginawa niya.
"S-Sorry, hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ginawa 'yun." Ani Wilder kaya nakatanggap kaagad siya ng isang suntok kay Shinshi. Dumugo kaagad ang ilong niya pero hindi na niya ito pinansin at tiningnan si Shinshi na parang maiiyak na.
"What? Am I just one of your stupid girls now?!" Galit na sigaw ni Shinshi sa kanya kaya agad na nataranta si Wilder.
"S-Shin, hindi. Hindi mangyayari 'yun. T-Talagang hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ginawa 'yun. Sorry. Sorry, Shin. Sorry." Hinila na ni Wilder si Shinshi at niyakap ito habang nakahawak siya sa buhok ni Shinshi.
Shinshi even punched him in the stomach, making Wilder groan in pain pero tiniis niya rin ito.
"Hey, how about this. Kita tayo sa South Lake bukas. Magpapaalila ako sa 'yo. Pwede mo akong lunurin dun. I just want to prove that I'm really sorry." Ani Wilder at inis lang siyang tiningnan ni Shinshi at hinampas na naman ang balikat nito. Wilder just smiled at her.
And so, it happened. Shinshi waited for him. She couldn't wait to drown Wilder in the lake. But she waited for hours, day turning into night and still, Wilder didn't show up.
Then she got a phone call from him.
"Hello? Shin? Shin! I-I'm so sorry. I lost track of time. Pinilit kasi ako ni Jeane na sumama sa kanya sa mall. Nasa South Lake ka pa ba? Papunta na ak—"
"Nothing happened between us at the field. I hate you; you hate me. Walang nagbago." Huling sabi ni Shinshi at pinatay na ang tawag.
After that, they returned back to normal. Pegging as the two who hated each other's guts. Burying that certain memory at the back of their minds and living their lives on their own.
"I told you, pinilit ako. That girl and I had a deal at wrong timing lang talaga 'yung pag-aaya niya." Wilder explained. Shinshi scoffed, looking at the darkness that was surrounding them both.
"In short, you're all talk. And I'm pretty sure mas pinili mong samahan ang babaeng 'yun because she's not a conservative lady like me." Sabi ni Shinshi at tumalikod narin tsaka na dinampot ang kanyang bag.
"And now you're going out with nearly everyone. Good thing for you, Wilder." Dagdag ni Shinshi tsaka umayos na ng tayo at nagsimula nang maglakad pero nabigla siya nung bigla nalang dumating si Wilder sa likod niya at niyakap siya nito.
Shinshi was about to push him away when she heard him sniff at may tumutulo narin sa balikat ni Shinshi.
"Shin, sinadya ko talaga 'yun." Wilder said, embracing her tight.
"Sinadya ko talagang halikan ka nun." Dagdag niya at binaon ang mukha niya sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat ni Shinshi. "Sinadya ko 'yun kasi matagal ko nang gustong gawin 'yun." Nanginginig ang boses ni Wilder pati rin ang kamay na nakayakap kay Shinshi.
Shinshi gulped and closed her eyes. Trying to find her will to escape the situation.
"At oo, kasalanan ko na sumama ako sa babaeng 'yun pero ginawa ko 'yun dahil gusto kong wala na akong sabit kapag humarap na ako sa 'yo. Na wala na akong tinatagong sekreto. K-Kasalanan ko talaga 'yun. I-Inaamin ko na, Shin." Mas lalong binaon ni Wilder ang mukha niya sa leeg ni Shinshi.
Shinshi could now feel Wilder's hot breath on her nape.
"No, you're drunk. Matulog ka na." Mariing sabi ni Shinshi at pinilit tanggalin ang kamay ni Wilder na nakapulupot sa beywang niya.
"Shin.." Shinshi froze. Wilder's voice was husky and low, containing authority. Wanting her to stay still. Napalunok si Shinshi nung maramdaman niya ang labi ni Wilder leeg niya, giving it an openmouthed kiss.
"Akin ka lang."
❅ Snow ❅