'Accepting thy Fate'
Wesy was already on his knees one minute after returning to Venator. Nakatingin lang si Zia sa kanya habang nakayuko ito. "Hmm, you came back." Tipid na sabi nito at dahan-dahan namang inangat ni Zia ang tingin niya rito.
"Will you kill me?" Tanong niya at saglit na tiningnan ang kambal na nandun lang sa gilid at nakatingin sa kanila. Zia shook her head. "Pagod ako." Sagot nito at tsaka humiga.
"Masyadong malakas 'yung lason na nainom ko nung pumunta ako kay Uno. My body needs time to kill it." Dagdag ni Zia at inayos na ang kumot at tsaka pumikit. Dahan-dahang tumayo si Wesy at tiningnan si Zia.
"Kinausap mo na ba 'yung elderly Hunters?" Tanong nito. "I already talked to Avia." Sagot ni Zia habang nakapikit. "Desisyon ko na raw kung babalik pa ba ako." Dagdag niya at tsaka bumuntong-hininga.
"So, babalik ka ba?" Tanong ni Lezo habang nakasandal lang sa pader. Hindi sumagot si Zia at gumulong lang sa kama at tsaka tumingala.
"Uno probably saw what happened." Aniya at sinapo ang mukha.
"It's my fault. Sana hindi ako nagtagal. I got too carried away. Akala ko kasi pwede na akong bumalik nang tuluyan. It's just that seeing my family makes me forget most of the things that are going on." Napabuntong-hininga nalang si Lesis at tsaka dahan-dahang naglakad palapit kay Zia. Namulsa siya at tiningnan ito.
"You also got too carried away and it looked like you were leaving for good. Pwede ka namang bumalik basta alalahanin mo lang kung ilang oras ka magtatagal dun." Mahinahong sabi ni Lesis sa kanya.
"And don't worry. I created a blue shield while explaining to them about your situation. At tsaka pinabibigay rin ng Mama mo." Ani Wesy at binigay kay Zia 'yung kwintas na pinabibigay ni Xin. Wesy also snapped his fingers and all the things that Team Alpha got her, appeared.
"They sent you stuffs so that you won't get bored while you're here." Tipid na ngumiti si Zia sa sinabi ni Wesy at tsaka pumikit muli.
"Nga pala, nakatulog ka ba ng maayos? Baka naman isa 'yun sa rason kung bakit mas lumalala 'yung pagwawala mo." Sambit ni Lezo na nagpangiti kay Zia kaya sandaling kumunot ang noo nilang tatlo.
"I actually had the best sleep after being a Hunter." Sagot ni Zia kaya naningkit naman ang mga mata nung tatlo. "Best sleep?" Tanong ni Lesis.
"Ahh, the Van Saint effect." Nakangising sabi ni Wesy at nagkatinginan naman sina Lezo at Lesis.
"Talaga?! Natulog kayo sa isang kama?! Did you make a baby?" Agad na tinapon ni Lezo ang flower vase kay Lesis dahil sa tanong nito. Mahinang natawa si Zia at tsaka gumulong sa kama para takpan ang mukha niya ng unan.
"He didn't want to." Diretsong sagot ni Zia.
"The hell?! You really asked him to?! Tapos tumanggi siya?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Lezo at hinawakan naman ni Wesy ang panga niya at parang nag-isip pa. "Tumanggi? Baka bakla." Ani Wesy at tsaka tiningnan si Lesis.
"Oi! Ba't ako na naman?!" Galit niyang tanong. Natawa lang ang dalawa at wala nang nagawa si Lesis kundi ang mainis nalang.
"Oi, Zia. Kailan ba natin pipigain si Uno? I'm bored with his games." Reklamo ni Lesis at umupo dun sa sofa. Sandaling minulat ni Zia ang mga mata niya at tiningnan si Lesis. "We're not involved." Tipid niyang sagot.
"Then let's get involved. Tulungan na natin sila para matapos na 'to. Gusto ko ng happy ending." Reklamo ni Lesis at tsaka ngumuso. Mahinang natawa si Zia at pumikit muli.
"I'll decide tomorrow. For now, let me rest." Aniya kaya tumayo na ang kambal at tsaka tumango sabay alis. Wesy closed the curtains and lit the scented candle. Inayos niya narin ang mga pinadala ng Team Alpha sa closet ni Zia at tsaka na pinatay ang ilaw.
He looked at her one more time and breathed out.
"You little devil.."
✥✥
Hindi alam ni Blu kung anong nangyari at nawalan siya ng malay at paggising niya, wala na si Zia sa tabi niya. Sinapo niya ang mukha at tsaka ikinuyom ang kamao. She didn't even leave a note before leaving. Blu sighed and looked out a window.
It was already noon.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya nung tumunog ito at tsaka sinagot.
"Oi, Van Saint! Patay ka na ba't hindi ka sumasagot?!" Saglit siyang napapikit dahil sa boses ni Lucas mula sa kabilang linya. "The hell, Lu.." Mahina niyang sagot at tsaka tumayo.
"Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Sir Seth. We have training, you dumbass!" Saglit na kumunot ang noo ni Blu sa sinabi nito. "Training?" Tanong niya.
"You really think what happen would bring everyone down, huh? I guess that stupid cat really has ways to influence anyone. Now everyone wants to be stronger to win the war kaya pumunta ka na rito kung hindi bubugbugin ka nina Xy." Mahinang natawa si Blu sa sinabi nito.
"Alright, I'll be there." Huling sabi niya bago pinatay ang tawag. Hinubad niya ang damit at agad siyang nanigas sa kinatatayuan niya nung makitang may mga marka na naman sa dibdib niya. Red spots and other marks formed in his chest and torso.
Agad na pumula ang kanyang pisngi at tenga kaya tinakpan niya ang mukha niya.
"Damnit, Zia.." Bulong niya at tsaka na nagbihis.
✥✥
"Atlas, usap nga tayo." Tumingin si Audin kina Wilder at Atlas na nasa drinking area ng training site. Break-time kasi nila dahil kasalukuyang pinapagalitan nina Xy si Blu na kararating lang. Isang tango lang ang sinagot ni Atlas bago siya sumunod kay Wilder palabas ng training site.
"Saan na naman pupunta 'yung dalawang 'yun?" Tanong ni Archer at tumabi kay Reed dun sa sofa.
"Boy's talk." Sagot ni Reed habang nakatingin sa label ng water bottle na hawak niya. He got this weird habit of reading the nutritional value of everything UHT provides them. Tumingin narin siya kay Audin na kumakain ng tuna sandwich.
"You just ate." Mariin niyang sabi kaya saglit na nanginig si Audin.
"E ano naman? Gutom ako." Reklamo niya kaya naglabas si Reed ng isang apple. "Eat this instead." Aniya at sinubukang agawin 'yung tuna sandwich na kinakain ni Audin. Audin made a disgusted look at the apple kaya pwersahang kinuha ni Reed sa kanya ang tuna sandwich at binigay sa kanya 'yung apple.
Mangiyak-ngiyak na kinagat ni Audin 'yung apple at tiningnan ng masama si Reed.
"Ang strict mo!" Sigaw niya bago siya umalis at pinuntahan nalang si Shinshi.
"Seriously? Anak mo ba 'yung batang 'yun?" Natatawang tanong ni Archer kay Reed. Reed huffed.
"Inaalagaan ko lang." Sagot niya at nilagay na ang tuna sandwich sa gilid. Archer hummed and looked at the others.
"Hey, do you really think dreams come true?" Tanong ni Archer kaya tumingin naman si Reed sa kanya.
"Tungkol parin ba 'to sa panaginip ni Celise nung gabing 'yun?" He asked. Tumango naman si Archer bilang sagot. Reed breathed out and shrugged his shoulders. "Hindi lahat." Tipid niyang sagot at tiningnan si Audin na bigla nalang nadapa kaya tumingin si Lucas sa kanya.
"Naglalakad ka na nga lang, madadapa ka pa?" Tanong ni Lucas sa kanya.
"Hmp! Sungit!" Sigaw rin ni Audin at tsaka tumayo at naglakad muli.
"Zia saved me that night, right?" Archer asked, referring to how Zia made Uno stop his plans to attack. Hindi nakasagot si Reed at tumingin muna kay Shinshi. He looked at her and flicked his tongue. "She saved her too." Aniya.
Kumunot ang noo ni Archer dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Pati si Wilder." Dagdag ni Reed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tanong ni Archer sa kanya.
"I had a hint of Uno's plan or should I say, Zia had a hint. Uno was going to use two of our siblings to shift into wolves and mark Shinshi. At alam kong alam mo na kung anong ibig-sabihin kapag pwersahang minarkahan ang isang wolf. If Zia didn't stop Uno's attacks, Shinshi would've been marked by my siblings and if she did, Wilder will have a paradidomi." Pagpapaliwanag ni Reed at hindi niya namalayang napalakas pala ang boses niya kaya saglit siyang natigilan nung malamang nakatingin pala ang lahat sa kanya.
Pati sina Wilder na kararating lang ay narinig ang sinabi niya.
"What?" Nauutal na tanong ni Shinshi at dahan-dahang tumayo. Reed just breathed out.
"Yes, that was one of Uno's original plans that night. Buti nalang hindi niya tinuloy." Sagot ni Reed at dahan-dahan nang lumapit sa kanya ang team.
"Wait, that was Zia's hint. Paano mo nalaman? Sinabi niya sa 'yo?" Tanong ni Archer sa kanya at mahina nalang natawa si Reed.
"You guys always forget that we were bounded ever since we were born. What she thinks, I know." Nakangiting sagot ni Reed at sinadyang tingnan si Blu na nakatingin ng diretso sa kanya.
"How does that make you feel, Van Saint? It seems like I have a better connection with her than you do." Reed said, trying to taunt him. Saglit na yumuko si Blu pero bigla nalang umangat ang tingin niya kay Reed at may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi niya.
"It doesn't really bother me, Reed. She's already mine." Blu said, wearing a sneaky grin on his face that none of them are used to seeing.
"Just because she asked you to sleep with her? But you didn't even do anything, Van Saint. Masyado kang takot." Nakangising sabi ni Reed at dahan-dahan nang tumayo. Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Lucas at tiningnan si Blu na mas lumawak ang ngiti sa labi niya.
"I wasn't afraid. I was being respectful." Sagot niya.
Audin immediately crossed his own wall and went on to read Blu's mind. Kumunot pa ang noo niya habang ginagawa niya ito and after seeing flashes from his memory, Audin fell on the ground. Too shocked and traumatized.
"Nani?!" Naguguluhan niyang tanong habang turo-turo pa si Blu.
"Bastos! Ang bastos niyo! Isusumbong ko kayo kay King Jun!" Sigaw ni Audin habang tumatakbo palabas ng training site. Agad na kinuwelyuhan ni Lucas si Blu at galit itong tiningnan.
"Oi, Van Saint. We agreed on this remember?" Nakayukong tanong ni Lucas habang pahigpit nang pahigpit ang hawak niya sa kwelyo ni Blu pero bigla nalang may pumigil sa kamay niya. Lucas flinched after feeling electricity running from his hands at dun niya lang nalaman na si Xy pala ang may hawak sa kanya.
Sabay silang tumingin kay Xy na pinapalibutan na ng kuryente ang katawan habang walang emosyon siyang nakatingin kay Blu.
"Move." Utos niya kay Lucas kaya agad itong umalis.
Xy's hand replaced Lucas' grip on Blu's shirt and grabbed him. Napalunok nalang si Blu pero tiningnan niya parin ng diretso sa mga mata si Xy.
"Say, Van Saint. What did you do to my sister?" Tanong ni Xy habang hawak-hawak ang kwelyo ng damit ni Blu.
"Now, now. Let's talk like civilized creatures. Xy?" Pagpapakalma ni Shinshi pero hindi niya magawang hawakan si Xy dahil sa kuryenteng nakapalibot sa katawan nito. Blu just flinched, feeling the electricity slowly penetrating his skin.
"Hayaan niyo 'yan." Nakangising sabi ni Wilder habang nakasandal lang sa sofa. Hinampas nalang siya ni Ash pero natawa lang siya. "Ano nga bang ginawa mo, Van Saint? At parang nakakita ng hindi kaaya-aya si DinDin?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Atlas sa kanya.
Blu grabbed Xy's hand that was holding him and looked at him straight in the eye.
"Xy.." Mahina ang boses niya habang diretsong nakatingin si Xy sa kanya.
"I want to marry your sister." He said.
The corner of Reed's lips rose up to a smirk as he looked at the two with crossed arms. Lucas pocketed his hands after hearing his words. Napasinghap sina Shinshi habang napanganga naman sina Wilder.
"About time you manned up, Van Saint." Kalmadong sabi ni Reed at umupo na sa sofa. Archer raised his brows at him. "Sinadya mong ibulgar 'yung sekreto nila?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Archer pero hindi sumagot si Reed at tiningnan lang 'yung dalawa.
Hindi nakagalaw si Xy habang diretsong nakatingin si Blu sa kanya.
"I want her to be a Van Saint. Under my care and my protection." Blu said.
"Huli na! May ginawa ka na!" Sigaw ni Wilder habang pinipigilan naman siya nina Atlas. Shinshi just looked at him and Wilder immediately shut up and looked away.
"I did nothing." Sagot ni Blu at naramdaman niyang dahan-dahan nang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ni Xy sa t-shirt niya hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang binitawan nito. Nakayuko lang si Xy at nawala narin ang kuryenteng nakapalibot sa katawan niya.
He turned his back and breathed out.
"Alpha mansion. 10 PM after dinner. Pumunta kang mag-isa." 'Yun lang ang sinabi ni Xy bago naglakad palabas ng training site.
Naguguluhang nakatingin ang team sa kanya at nagkibit-balikat naman si Ash tsaka tiningnan si Blu bago sumunod kay Xy pero bago pa sila makalabas ng training site ay nabunggo nila si Audin na tumatakbo papasok.
Audin was catching his breath as he looked at everyone.
"Sino na namang inaway mo?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Wilder sa kanya.
"S-Si.. Si Zia, nandito!" Sigaw niya at biglang hinila si Xy palabas. Agad na kumilos ang lahat at sumunod sa kanila. Huling lumabas sina Lucas at Blu sa training site at may sinabi si Lucas kay Blu habang naglalakad sila.
"Van Saint, ayusin mo lang 'yung mga pangako mo. Alam mong ayaw ko sa mga hindi tumutupad sa pangako." Ani Lucas at tinapik na ang balikat ni Blu.
"You won this round." Lucas said, wrapping his arms around Blu's shoulder and giving his hair a manly pat.
"Si Zia!"
"I thought she died."
"Nagtaka ka pa. She's just like the hybrid."
"I don't know. Something changed."
"Eye color lang 'yung nagbago, sis."
Sabay na tumingin sina Lucas at Blu sa harap dahil sa mga bulong-bulungan sa paligid. They went closer and finally saw her dashing beauty walking between the crowd, Hunters walking behind her and her golden silk robe shined as it was being blown by the wind.
She then faced her team.
"I'm back." She said with a smile.
✥✥
"DinDin, you don't have to cling to her that tight." Sabi ni Reed habang nakayakap lang si Audin sa braso ni Zia at ayaw itong bitawan. Zia didn't mind it and just faced everyone. Kasalukuyan silang nasa training site dahil masyadong maingay sa labas.
"Ayoko, baka umalis na naman siya." Ani Audin. Lesis huffed.
"Aalis talaga siya kasi uuwi siya. Unless you want her to go berserk again." Diretsong sabi ni Lesis kaya napatingin si Audin kay Zia.
"Ahh, about what happened. Sorry~ I didn't warn you. But it's alright. I'll visit every day. Just for a few hours though." Mahinahong sabi ni Zia at tinanggap ang cold coffee na binigay ni Lucas sa kanya. Napanguso nalang si Audin.
"Kinausap mo na sina Tita?" Tanong ni Shinshi at ngumiti naman si Zia at tsaka tumango.
"I went there before coming here." Sagot niya.
Somehow, their conversations went smoothly. As if nothing happened yesterday. As if she didn't threaten to kill everyone. As if Xy didn't tell everyone to rest. As if Wesy didn't reveal the dark side of Zia's return. And as if everything was fine.
It's a strange feeling but everyone is satisfied. As long as they get to see her every day, it's more than enough.
"How long can you stay?" Kalmadong tanong ni Xy sa kanya.
"Mamaya ko na sasabihin. Uno's probably watching us right now, right Uno sweetie?" Tanong ni Zia at tsaka tumingala. Reed disapproved of what she called him but stayed silent. Lucas acted otherwise.
"Hey, stupid cat. Stop calling everyone stupid names at baka magkaproblema ka na naman." Lucas lectured her. Zia giggled.
"Uno's already a problem." Aniya at tsaka tumingin sa team. Zia looked at Wesy at agad na gumawa ng blue shield si Wesy sa training site.
"Are you ready to fix that problem?" She asked, looking at everyone, ending her stare at Reed. Sandaling napayuko si Reed pero mahina ring tumango. Tumingin lang si Audin sa kanya. "He probably didn't want to fight Twelve." Audin mumbled.
"So, are you really helping with the war?" Archer asked.
"Oh, labas kami diyan." Singit ni Wesy sa usapan. "'Yan na naman?" Tanong ni Wilder pero tiningnan lang siya ng masama ni Shinshi.
"They're the ones taking care of Zia. Show some respect." Nakangiting bulong ni Shinshi sa kanya kaya napangiti nalang din si Wilder at tsaka tumingin kay Wesy na nakataas lang ang kilay.
"Things would've been easy if I can just interfere. But being a Hunter bounds you to many curses. The more I use what I just obtained, the sooner the vanishing will be." Pasimpleng sabi ni Zia. Reed almost cursed because he knew that now wasn't the time for Zia to tell them about the vanishing.
"Vanishing?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Blu. "It's ab—" Hindi na natapos ni Zia ang sasabihin niya dahil sumingit na si Lucas.
"Mawawala sila ng sampung taon." Diretsong sabi ni Lucas habang nakapamulsa lang at nakasandal sa balikat ni Ash. Nag-iwas ng tingin sina Ash at Xy kaya agad na napatayo si Wilder.
"Teka, 'wag niyong sabihin na may alam kayo dito?" Tanong ni Wilder sa kanila. Xy huffed. Zia was surprised that her brother already knew about the vanishing but still had a calm face talking to her. Tumingin rin siya kay Ash na kanina pa hindi makatingin sa kanya.
"Ito ba 'yung pinag-usapan niyo nung umalis kayo kahapon?" Tanong ni Atlas sa kanila. Ash just nodded.
"We had a hint but we didn't know that it was true. Zee confirmed it just now." Nakayukong sagot ni Ash kaya dahan-dahan nang tumingin ang team kay Zia.
"Being a Hunter has a lot of disadvantages, huh?" Archer asked. Zia just smiled.
"It's the only way that I could survive." Mahinang sagot ni Zia habang may ngiting nakapaskil sa labi niya. Her smile was so precious that breaking it would be a sin.
Xy and everyone felt sorry after hearing that. Knowing that being a Hunter was the only way that she could survive. But even her survival still cost her so many things. Her freedom and just everything she wanted to do.
Being a Hunter denies her of her will to fight the war. Being a Hunter denies her of spending her time with everyone.
It did give her a lot of advantages plus the power she holds. But the disadvantages are just too much.
"Magd-drama na naman kayo?" Parang nagising ang lahat dahil sa simpleng tanong ni Lucas sa kanila.
"Take it or leave it?" Tanong muli ni Lucas na nagpakunot ng noo ng lahat.
"It's either tanggapin niyong ganito na talaga ang magiging sitwasyon natin at ni Zia o maging bobo na naman kayo at sisihin ang kung sino mang santo na gusto niyong sisihin." Diretsong sabi ni Lucas. He got so impatient and so fed up with things going into cycles.
"Paikot-ikot nalang kasi. Can't we just move on and get this war over with? The more you drag this, the more we'll lose. Let's fight while Zia's still with us." He said. Zia appreciated every word that came out from his lips because those were the exact words that she wanted to say.
"Luca.." Aniya.
"I said don't call me that, you stupid cat!" Inis na sabi ni Lucas sa kanya at mahina nalang natawa si Zia. Seeing Lucas being back to his always irritable self was ironically satisfying.
The team thought it through. Inisip nila ng maayos ang mga nalalaman nila. That Zia cannot force herself to fight the war. Being bound in chains by being a Hunter, the more she uses her abilities, the sooner the vanishing will come.
The vanishing, a dark fate that every Hunter must face. They thought about Zia disappearing for ten years and that thought alone was just pure painful.
"I can't help fully but I can be the brains of your operation." Zia said.
"In short, para kang magiging si Uno?" Tanong ni Audin at mahinang natawa si Zia tsaka tumango.
The remaining time that Zia can still be with them, Zia offered to help. The team knew that that's the very least she could do given the situation. Inisip nila na kapag palagi nalang silang nalulungkot at naguguilty sa mga nangyayari kay Zia, nothing would happen.
Lucas woke them up from the stupid cycle.
They knew that they should end the war sooner habang kasama pa nila si Zia. No one knew when will be the last moment she'll be with them. And they want to spend their time with her before the vanishing. That is why they decided to take it than leave it.
This is their fate now.
This is all they got. This is Zia now.
"Will you accept me for who I am now?" Zia asked softly.
Xy dropped everything, yanked her off the sofa, and greeted her with a tight embrace.
"No matter who you become, you're still my sister." Xy said, comforting his sister in his arms.
"Let's kill Uno!" Sigaw nina Wilder at niyakap narin si Zia. All their commotions puzzled everyone outside the training site. Tumatawa na si Zia habang kaharap ang team niya at nakapangalumbaba namang nakatingin sa kanila ang kambal.
"Ayun, natapos rin." Lezo commented. Wesy sighed in relief.
"Now they can finally get ready for the war." He said and then looked at the two in the corner. Dahan-dahang lumapit si Blu kay Lucas at tinapik ang balikat nito.
"Thank you." Tipid nitong sabi. Those were short words but his emotions were carried by it. Lucas just huffed and smirked. "You owe me again, Van Saint." Nakangiting sabi ni Lucas.
"Let's have a drink after this war." Nakangiting sabi ni Blu sa kanya. Mahinang natawa si Lucas at tumango.
"Ipanalo mo muna." Lucas taunted him.
And while everyone was enjoying the current reunion, Reed walked away just enough to get out of the blue shield and then looked at one corner of the room. He smirked and asked something he knew he could hear.
"Ready to die, Uno?"
❅ Snow ❅