'Silent Bird'
Wilder hissed, feeling pain seep through his head. Dahan-dahan siyang nagising at naipikit muli ang mga mata dahil isang palo mula sa ina niya ang nakuha niya. "Ow! Mom!" Reklamo niya at tsaka gumulong sa kama.
Wilder froze, nasa kama siya, sa kwarto niya, sa Alpha village. Agad siyang umupo at tiningnan si Keya na inis na nakatingin sa kanya.
"Kaya ba hindi ka umuuwi rito sa village kasi ilang gabi ka nang lasing dun sa UHT?" Inis na tanong ng ina sa kanya. Sinapo nalang ni Wilder ang mukha at tinakpan ng kumot ang katawan dahil naka-boxers lang pala siya.
"Ano bang nangyari?" Wilder froze again. His Father's tone is different this time. Dahan-dahan niyang tiningnan si Walter na naglalakad papasok habang may dalang isang baso ng tubig. Binigay niya ito kay Wilder at naghalukipkip.
"Dinala ka ni Shinshi dito." Dagdag ni Walter na naging dahilan para mapaubo si Wilder. Naningkit ang mga mata ng ama niya.
"Wilder.." Ma-awtoridad na tawag nito sa pangalan niya kaya napalunok siya at dahan-dahang tiningnan ang ama. "I'm warning you." Dagdag nito.
"'Yang puso mo." What Walter said brought a frown in Keya's face. Malungkot itong nakatingin sa anak niya kaya huminga nalang ng malalim si Wilder at lumapit sa ina tsaka niyakap ang beywang ito.
"Ma, masama sa kapatid ko kapag malulungkot ka." Ani Wilder kaya hinampas lang siya ng ina. Walter sighed at ginulo nalang ang buhok ni Wilder tsaka tinapunan ito ng tuwalya.
"Xy's calling your team for a meeting. Maligo ka muna." Sabi ni Walter at tsaka na sila umalis ni Keya sa kwarto ni Wilder. Wilder huffed, got into the shower and faced the mirror. "Holy shit." Aniya nung makita ang marka sa leeg niya.
"Tangina, 'san ko ba nakuha 'to?" Tanong niya at tiningnan ito ng maigi. He had a hickey on the gap between his shoulder and his neck. Sinapo ni Wilder ang noo at nag-isip ng mabuti. All he could remember was talking to Shinshi at the training site.
And it can't be Shinshi. That's impossible. He knows how she hated his guts.
Binalewala nalang niya iyon at naligo na.
✥✥
"It's thirty-eight degree Celsius outside and you're wearing a turtle neck?" Tanong ni Archer kay Wilder na nakapamulsang naglakad papasok sa meeting room. "Who gave you a hickey this tim—" Bigla nalang dinamba ni Wilder si Archer sa pader.
Nabigla ang team at umalerto kaagad.
"Hoy, ano ba 'yan?" Suway ni Ash at pinaglayo ang dalawa. Tumayo narin si Reed at hinila palayo si Archer na kunot-noong nakatingin kay Wilder. "Palagi ko namang tinatanong 'yun sa kanya pero ngayon lang siya nagalit. Tch." Inis na sabi ni Archer at inayos ang polo niya.
"Wilder, ano bang problema mo?" Tanong ni Ash sa kanya pero inalis lang ni Wilder ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanya at tsaka umupo.
"Anong problema dito?" Sandaling natigilan ang lahat nung pumasok na si Xy sa meeting room. He had his specs on at parang kakatapos niya lang sa mga paperworks. Tumikhim sina Reed at tiningnan sina Shinshi at Atlas na kakapasok lang. Xy quickly cheeked the blue shield surrounding the meeting room.
Wilder took a glance at Shinshi and then looked away.
"Nireregla po si Wilder." Sagot ni Audin habang nagbabasa ng isang makapal na libro tungkol sa programming. Hindi nalang umimik si Wilder at umupo naman si Xy dun sa harap.
"Si Lucas?" Tanong ni Shinshi at umupo sa tabi ni Wilder. Ash looked at the two at napailing nalang.
"Papunta na." Sagot ni Archer at maya-maya'y dumating na nga si Lucas habang may dala-dalang kape para sa lahat. Walang-imik niya itong binigay sa team at umupo sa kabilang dulo, pinagigitnaan ng dalawang bakanteng upuan.
Those seats were supposed to be Zia and Blu's seats.
"Ang depressing tingnan ng dalawang upuan na 'to." Sabi ni Atlas at tsaka itinabi ang mga upuan sa gilid.
"Any news on Blu?" Diretsong tanong ni Xy nung makaupo na si Atlas. Saglit pang napaubo sina Ash dahil sa diretsahang tanong nito. "He's at the north border. Nasa village nila." Pasimpleng sagot ni Lucas at kuminang pa ang bagong ear piercing niya.
Now, he has two silver-cross earrings on the same ear.
"Ba't niyo pa ba pinag-uusapan 'yung umalis na?" Tanong ni Audin at ininom ang gatas na binili mismo ni Lucas para sa kanya. Hindi sumagot sina Xy.
"He was bitten by beast demons and as far as we're informed, hindi na nawawala ang epekto nun. Kaya nung umalis siya, that wasn't him. That was the effects of the beast demon's bites." Pagpapaliwanag ni Ash sa kanila.
"Kung nasa epekto nga siya ng kagat ng beast demons, who is he taking orders from? From Uno? As far as I'm informed, Uno stopped giving orders to him dahil sa pagkakaalam ko, isang beses niya lang pwedeng utusan si Blu." Seryosong sabi ni Audin na nagpabigla sa lahat.
"The effects of a beast demon's bite are like using a disposable object. Isang beses mo lang pwedeng gamitin ito at pagkatapos ay itatapon mo na. Uno's chances of controlling Blu are already over, pero bakit umalis parin si Blu sa team?" Sunod-sunod na sabi ni Audin.
The whole team looked at him with concern, especially Reed.
"So, I'm guessing that it might have been Blu's inner thoughts that made him want to leave the team. Hindi siya umalis dahil lang sa epekto ng kagat ng beast demons. Umalis siya dahil gusto niya. That's his true self and the beast demon's bite just showed it to us." Dagdag ni Audin at sinara na ang librong binabasa niya.
After a month of training in silence, the kid in him got so lost in his passion that he's starting to develop a new character that was so not like him. He got serious.
"I get what you mean, DinDin." Mahinahong sabi ni Xy sa kanya.
"But nothing in this world is irreversible." Sandaling kumunot ang noo ng team dahil sa sinabi ni Xy habang nakatingin ito kay Lucas. "Kahit na sabihin nating ayaw ni Blu sa team, we're forcing him back because we're his only stupid friends." Dagdag ni Xy.
"Dude, did you really have to call us his stupid friends?" Bulong ni Ash sa kanya.
"Kasi tanga lang ang pipilitin bumalik ang umalis na." Agad na sagot ni Xy kaya nagkibit-balikat na si Ash dahil may point naman ang sagot nito.
"Lucas is finding a way to completely remove the effects of the beast demons bite." Dagdag ni Xy kaya tumingin na sina Wilder kay Lucas. "Ahh, kaya pala palagi kang wala kasi gumagawa ka na pala ng bromance potion mo?" Tanong ni Wilder.
Tiningnan lang siya ni Lucas at tinapunan ng bottle cap.
"Pero mahihirapan na akong gumawa ng reversing spell." Ani Lucas at sinuklay ang buhok niya gamit ang kanyang mga daliri. He didn't want to cut his hair for the whole month, making it grow, almost giving him a curly raven-colored mullet.
"Bakit?" Tanong ni Archer.
"Zia wiped out the entire beast demons." Sabay na naibuga nina Ash at Atlas ang kape na iniinom nila dahil sa sinabi ni Xy. Wilder was glad that he already swallowed his coffee kundi pati siya at mapapabuga narin.
"She did what?!" Gulat na tanong ni Wilder. Sinapo ni Xy ang mukha niya, looking stressed and somehow confused at the same time.
"Isang gabi niya lang ginawa 'yun. She wiped them out. The gods even confirmed it." Sagot ni Xy. Reed's mouth went agape and then looked at Audin who was between shocked and terrified.
"Dude, lumamang siya kay Tita Xin." Nanginginig ang kamay ni Wilder habang sinasabi niya 'yun. Agad namang nagtanong ni Audin kung anong pinagsasabi niya.
"Tita Xin killed 800 men in one night. And also, in one night, Zia wiped out an entire species. Like mother like daughter, right?" Tanong ni Wilder at tiningnan na ang kamay niya na nanginginig parin. Shinshi noticed Wilder's shaking hand kaya sinubukan niya ito hawakan pero bigla nalang tumayo si Wilder at tsaka kumuha ng tubig.
Pagbalik niya ay umupo siya nang walang sinabi at hindi man lang ginugulo si Shinshi.
"Nag-away ba kayo?" Tanong ni Archer sa dalawa. Wilder looked at him pero tumingin naman si Shinsi kay Wilder.
"Kelan ba nagkabati 'yang dalawa?" Tanong ni Ash habang pinaglalaruan ang ballpen na hawak niya. Nagkibit-balikat nalang si Archer at tumingin muli kay Xy. "Ilang linggo na bang hindi nagpaparamdam si Uno?" Tanong niya sa team.
"He went silent after Zia disappeared." Sagot ni Reed.
"Teka, hindi natin napag-usapan 'to ah. But, what kind of a villain is Uno?" Tanong ni Atlas. Bahagya namang napag-isip isip ang team pero si Reed parin ang nakasagot. "A greedy villain." Sagot nito.
"Parang ikaw noon?" Tanong ni Audin. Reed hissed at him.
"I wasn't greedy. I was ambitious." Depensa ni Reed sa sarili na parang hindi narin naging depensa because he also dragged himself down with what he said. Audin just snorted at him. "Pero nung nalaman kong wala naman akong magagawa para makamit 'yung gusto ko, tumigil na ako." Dagdag ni Reed.
"Talagang tumigil ka kasi naging myembro ka na ng team. Karma 'yun, brad." Sumbat ni Audin sa kanya. Hindi nalang siya pinansin ni Reed.
"Uno was born with greed. Gusto niyang palaging siya ang nasa tuktok. Nalaman kong gusto niya akong palitan nung gabing namatay 'yung 'ama' namin. He had this certain look on his face. But I was too confident. I know that I was more powerful than him pero hindi mo talaga matatalo 'yung mga utak ang ginagamit sa laban." Pagpapaliwanag ni Reed.
Audin teased him again because he dragged himself lower this time.
"So, ibig sabihin hindi mo gamit ang utak mo kapag lumalaban ka?" Tanong ni Audin sa kanya.
"Bakit? 'Yang utak mo, gamit na gamit rin ba kapag lumalaban ka?" Wilder blurted out. Napangiwi nalang si Audin. "Ikaw ba si Reed? Ha?" Inis na tanong ni Audin at pinatahimik nalang silang dalawa ni Ash.
"Uno wanted to be number one. Kaya nga Uno ang pangalan niya. He wanted to be on top of everything. All of that, because of his greed." Dagdag ni Reed. Napailing sina Xy.
"You can't stop someone who's greed keeps growing. Kahit na sabihin na nating puro kabaliwan at katangahan lang ang ginagawa niya, he won't stop. Because once the greed eats you up, there's no way to stop." Sabi ni Xy.
Nagkatinginan ang team habang iniisip rin sa sarili nila kung may kinikimkim rin ba silang kasakiman sa sarili nila.
"As mentioned before, Uno is not strong. But he's wise. Kaya niyang ilabas ang potensiyal ng kung sino man ang hawak niya." Reed said. They were all then reminded of Twelve's appearance at UHT kaya alalang tumingin si Audin kay Reed.
"You know once the big day comes, we'll have to take down Twelve too, right?" Mahinahong tanong ni Audin kay Reed na naikuyom ang kamay niya at tsaka dahan-dahang tumango.
"We'll fight using the tricks and plan that Team Alpha gave us. Excluding Zia and Blu this time." Napatingin ang lahat sa dalawang upuan na nilagay ni Atlas sa gilid. Zia and Blu's chair. Audin frowned at Zia's designated chair and hissed at Blu's designated chair.
Tinakpan nalang ni Reed ng panyo ang mukha niya para patigilin siya.
"But Xy, will that be enough?" Tanong ni Shinshi dahilan para tumingin si Xy sa kanya.
"I mean, remember what happened before. I broke my back, Audin almost broke his neck, Wilder passed out at ikaw lang 'yung nakapigil kay Blu. We haven't even received any of Twelve's attacks yet. Hindi natin alam kung gaano siya kalakas kaya hindi natin matantiya kung gaano kalakas rin tayo susugod." Alalang sabi ni Shinshi and finally, Wilder took a glance at her.
Worry was visible in her eyes.
"Hindi ko naman sinabing 'yun lang ang gagawin natin." Sandaling nawala ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Shinshi. Tumingin muli si Xy sa blue shield na nakapalibot sa meeting room.
He then glanced at his members and gave them a smile.
"I'm not the leader for nothing. I already have another plan."
✥✥
"Lesis! Diba sinabi ko putulin mo na 'yang buhok mo?! Look where your hair strands are right now!" Sigaw ni Lezo mula sa dulo ng hallways habang may hawak-hawak siyang bowl ng noodles. Lesis glanced at him.
A single strand of long crimson hair was on Lezo's noodles.
"Hala, paano naman 'yan mapupunta diyan e kararating ko lang?" Tanong niya sa kapatid habang naglalakad papunta sa garden. Inis na sumunod si Lezo sa kanya. "Then who else has red and long hair in this damn castle? Ikaw lang naman!" Lezo said, losing his appetite and putting the bowl in random places.
Hindi nalang umimik si Lesis at saglit na huminto nung makita nilang si Zia na nakaupo sa bench dun sa garden at may ibon na nakapatong sa daliri nito.
Her skin glowed under the sun, her purple eyes shining as it gleams from her laughter.
"Can you imagine someone so sweet, cute and precious looking as her wiping out an entire specie in a single night?" Mahinang tanong ni Lezo na parang nawala ang pagkainis sa buhok na nasa noodles niya nung makita niya si Zia.
"Zia! Yoo-hoo!" Masiglahing tawag ni Lesis sa kanya at tumakbo palapit dito. Sinapo nalang ni Lezo ang mukha at sinundan na ang kapatid.
"Ahh, Lesis. You scared the birds away." Mahinahong sabi ni Zia at pabirong pinalo ang ulo ni Lesis.
"Good mood ka yata." Nakangiting sabi ni Lezo at itinaas ang kamay niya at maya-maya'y may mga ibon nang pumunta sa kamay niya. Lezo had a way to attracts birds kaya napangiti nalang si Zia. "I just finished writing a letter." Sagot ni Zia at naglabas ng isang sulat.
The twins looked at it. Zia looked at Lezo specifically.
"Will you do me a favor?" Nakangiting tanong ni Zia sa kanya. Lezo blushed and looked away.
"Sabi ni Wesy kaya mo raw 'tong dalhin sa kanila." Dagdag ni Zia.
"Alam mo namang may barrier sa village niyo. Hindi rin naman ako makakapasok." Sagot ni Lezo pero kinuha parin ang sulat. Zia stood up and ruffled Lezo's hair. "I give you permission to enter the village." Pasimpleng sabi ni Zia pero bigla nalang sumulpot si Lesis sa harap nila.
"You can pat my hair too!" Excited nitong sabi. Zia flicked his forehead and looked at Lezo. Wala nang nagawa si Lezo, as if he could even resist Zia's very rare request.
He shifted into a raven at nakangiwi namang nakatingin ang kambal niya sa kanya.
"Namatay raw siya sa laban pero magiging ibon lang naman." Lesis said. Lezo glared at him.
"Baka nakakalimutan mong nahulog ka lang sa hagdanan?" Lezo asked, glaring once more before leaving the castle. Napaturo nalang si Lesis sa kanya at tsaka tiningnan si Zia.
"Naniniwala ka ba talagang nahulog lang ako sa hagdanan? Sa ganda ng katawan ko, sa lakas kong 'to tapos mamamatay lang ako sa hagdanan?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Lesis. Zia smirked.
"Why? Ang remarkable kaya nun. Dying in battles are boring. Isipin mo, sasabihin ng mga nakakakilala sa 'yo noon na.. 'Ahh, si Lesis? 'Yung nahulog sa hagdanan?'" Si Zia na ang natawa sa sarili niya habang mangiyak-ngiyak na nakatingin si Lesis sa kanya.
"A-Ang baduy nun pero ang cute mong tumawa." Lesis said, wiping his inexistent tears. May kamay namang humawak sa balikat niya at tiningnan siya ni Wesy na kararating lang.
"Savor it. Minsan lang mangyayari 'yan." Bulong ni Wesy kay Lesis at binigay na kay Zia ang sketchpad niya. Tinanggap ito ni Zia at tsaka na inakbayan ni Wesy si Lesis pero naipit lang ang buhok nito sa braso ni Wesy.
"We told you to cut your hair!" May halong inis na sabi ni Wesy kay Lesis na nag-aalburuto parin dahil sa buhok niya.
"W-Why? Why are you all telling me to cut my hair?" Pagdadrama ni Lesis. Hinawakan nalang ni Wesy ang nose bridge niya at tsaka na hinila si Lesis palayo dahil naiisturbo na nito si Zia.
"Hindi ko pa tanggap na nahulog na ako sa hagdanan tapos gusto niyo pang putulin ang buhok ko? Bakit ang sasama niyo?" Wesy sighed at what Lesis said. Zia looked at them and smiled too. Pero nawala ang ngiti niya nung may mainit siyang naramdaman sa braso niya.
She rolled her sleeves and saw her symbol glowing.
✥✥
At the same day, a purple-eyed raven arrived at the alpha village. Kumatok ito sa bintana ng kwarto ni Zia kung saan natutulog si Xin. Agad na bumangon si Xin at tumingin sa bintana. The raven peeked at her at napansin ni Xin ang dala nitong liham.
She quickly opened the door and the raven immediately handed the letter to her at aalis na sana.
"W-Wait!" Sandaling lumingon ang raven kay Xin.
"M-My baby. Is she eating well?" Tanong ni Xin. The raven just moved closer and nudged the letter, as if telling her to just read the letter. Aalis na sana ng tuluyan ang raven pero natigilan ito. Lezo wondered how Xin knew that the raven had connections with Zia.
Dahil doon ay tumingin siya kay Xin na nakatingin parin sa kanya.
Indeed, hybrid2.
"She's smiling." Lezo said, breaking his own rule of not talking to anyone else while in his raven form. And with that, Xin flashed a smile. A smile like Zia's.
The raven flew away at napapikit nalang si Xin habang hawak-hawak ang sulat.
Meanwhile, chaos sparked in UHT. Not chaos caused by trouble but chaos caused by gossips. Even under the heat of the sun, vampires were free to roam UHT. Especially the most known pure-blood vampire in UHT.
Dimitri Blu Van Saint.
Wearing his UHT uniform, his once smooth and curly hair turned into a semi-undercut, highlighting his silver hair, styling it as he simply sweeps in back as he walks. He had a black watch on his left wrist, casually looking at the time, his red eyes taking glances of the surrounding.
His backpack swinging as he hangs it freely on his left shoulder.
He had the first two buttons of his uniform open, messing up his necktie a little. He checked his class schedule and casually entered his classroom.
"V-Van Saint." Nauutal na bati ng isang professor sa kanya, not actually believing that Blu was taking regular classes now instead of training with the team. Sumunod sa kanya si Kharis na may dala-dalang libro at tsaka umupo sa tabi niya.
Rumors started to spread. And that rumors spread fast dahil nasa harap na ng classroom nila si Lucas. He took a glance at Blu. He looked different, felt different, and smelled different.
"Sup, halfling?" Nakangising bati ni Blu sa kanya. Lucas wasted no time at bigla nalang hinila si Blu palabas ng classroom pero nung nasa pinto na sila ay pasimple lang hinawakan ni Blu na kamay ni Lucas at marahas itong tinanggal.
"I know we were friends before but you just can't drag out a Van Saint like tha—" Hindi na natapos ni Blu ang sasabihin niya dahil sinalo na niya ang bola na papalapit sa mukha niya. He then looked at who was coming.
It was Xy and the others.
"Wassup, traitor." Nakangising bati ni Wilder sa kanya na siyang nagtapon ng bola. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Blu.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ni Atlas sa kanya. Blu scoffed. "Studying, obviously." Sagot niya. Walang gana namang nakatingin si Audin sa kanya.
"Ahh, don't worry, losers. I'm not here to rejoin your team. You can suck on it." Kalmadong sabi ni Blu pero bigla nalang tumilapon sa ulo niya ang sapatos ni Audin. He quickly looked at the kid pero natigilan siya nung makitang umiiyak na pala ito.
"Sige! Umalis ka ulit! Umalis ka!" Sigaw ni Audin at tinapon pa ang isang sapatos niya kay Blu.
"Umalis ka gaya ni Zia! Umalis ka gaya nina Momma at Poppa! Umalis ka! Umalis ka!" Lumapit si Audin kay Blu at pinagsusuntok ang sikmura nito. Blu just stood in front of him, looking down at Audin.
Nagsilabasan narin ang mga estudyante mula sa mga classroom nila dahil sa iyak ni Audin at tiningnan kung anong nangyayari. Reed, who couldn't stand seeing the child cry, punched Blu so hard he went flying towards a column, shaking the whole building in return.
"Kung wala kang magandang sasabihin, 'wag ka nang magpapakita sa amin." Mariing sabi ni Reed at kinarga na si Audin na umiiyak sa balikat niya.
Dahan-dahang tumayo si Blu at pasuray-suray na naglakad palapit kay Reed. Blu stretched his muscles habang nakatingin ng diretso kay Reed. Lucas went in front of Reed, wanting him to step back habang tiningnan si Blu. Xy leaned on the wall, looking at the two.
He knows he can't stop them if a fight was what they wanted.
But when the two were about to hit each other, two guys showed up. One with shoulder length hair and one with a rather long one. Two pairs of purple eyes greeted Blu and Lucas and the next thing they knew they were sent flying towards the fountain.
Parehong tumilapon sa loob ng fountain ang dalawa at napako ang tingin nina Xy sa dalawang lalaking nagpakita sa harap nila.
It was the twins. Lezo and Lesis.
Suddenly, Xy felt a familiar aura. The team felt it too at dahan-dahan silang tumingin sa likuran nila. They saw how the crowd gave a path to someone.
"Still fighting in the hallways, eh?" Nakangiting tanong ni Wesy kaya umayos ng tayo si Xy at tumahan na si Audin tsaka tiningnan si Wesy. Agad itong kinuwelyuhan nina Wilder pero agad na kumilos sina Lesis.
They easily took of Wilder's hold at tinabihan si Wesy.
Wesy grinned.
"Where's my sister?" Tanong ni Xy sa kanila. The twins looked at everyone. Lesis specifically looked at Blu and Lucas on the fountain. "I wonder what Zia will do to them kung nakita niyang ganito 'yung dalawa?" Isip niya.
Wesy took out another letter from his pocket at ibibigay na sana ito kay Xy pero binawi niya ito muli, making Xy hiss at him. Wesy smirked and finally handed him the letter pero bago pa man ito mabuksan ni Xy ay may sinabi si Wesy na nagpatigil sa kanilang lahat.
"Pinapasabi niya pala 'to. Hindi na siya babalik."
❅ Snow ❅