Snow White is A Gangster (MHSG 2)

by sielalstreim

She vowed to stay. She just needed a keeper for maintenance. Henrietta Arturia is a
drop-dead gorgeous ice princess and yeah, a Freniere Mafia Reaper. She is an
absolute recipe for immense destruction. But after witnessing Summer Leondale’s
courage, bravery and stupidity to fight for Giovanni Freniere, an old flame inside
her spark to life and caused her to cross the dangerous line. And with all the risk
and danger that she is bound to take, there is only one thing on her mission list
that she has decided to push no matter how deadly it is: to seek revenge for her
forlorn, unrequited love story.

Montello High: School of Gangsters Book 2

=================

Prologue

Author’s Note:

I am so back. :) So while waiting for MHSG book, I’m giving you Snow White as your
own personal company. Well, what can I do? My soul is giving me taekwondo match at
night whenever I don’t write what’s playing inside my weird head. And all of the
time, I lose. Duel against yourself – absolutely the hardest battle I could get. So
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, guys! Thank you for being with me up to this
time! Let’s meet someday over a cup of coffee. Seriously, just how many cups of
coffee can we empty? Haha! And yeah, it’s my 230th birthday! I am already 2
centuries and 3 decades old! And I still love Vintage! Consider this as my gift to
you. I guess this is the only way I could reach to you personally – WRITING. So I
won’t stop because I want to reach you wherever you are!

+Siel Alstreim+

***************

Prologue

I wonder how it would feel like to sleep forever. How would it be like if you close
your eyes for a very long time? How would it be like if you stay everyday in the
same position, un-moving and had no capacity to do anything? How would it feel like
not to feel anything at all? How would it be like to be dead?

Was the pain before death unbearable? Was the fear of reaching your end
intolerable? Would you even feel anything at that point? Well, the answer was
probably 'Yes' and I just couldn’t remember. Maybe you would feel everything at
that moment that you just became numb. Maybe it was all there and yet, you couldn’t
feel anything at all. Maybe. Just maybe. I wasn’t so sure.

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang paligid mula sa loob ng umaandar na limousine. I was
looking at everything but not really seeing it. Isang bagay lang ang nakikita ko.
Isang senaryo. Isang tao.

“A penny for your thoughts, Hetta,” wika ng babaeng nakaupo sa tabi ko. This woman
was just so gorgeous. I wish I could be like her when I grow up. They got the same
mysterious dark eyes. And though he never got her blond hair, it didn’t make him
any less than his mom. They were both wonderful in their own way.

“Iniisip ko lang po kung ikatutuwa ni Ian ang pagdating ko kasama niyo,” sagot ko.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakatapak ako sa mansion ng mga Freniere at iyon ay
dahil sa taong ito. I sometimes feel that she thinks of me as her own daughter
since she was friends with my mom. Wala akong masyadong alam kung gaano kalalim ang
relasyon ng pamilya namin. Para sa isang sampung taong gulang na katulad ko, ang
nais ko lang ay maglaro kasama ang kababata ko. My bestfriend.

“Of course, he will be so happy to see you. He’d been telling me about you for a
while now,” sagot niya na may pilyang ngiti sa mga labi.

Naramdaman ko agad ang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero
palagi na lang itong nangyayari kapag tungkol na kay Ian ang pinag-uusapan.
“T-Tita Alexandria, ibig niyo pong sabihin, nababanggit niya po ako?” Gusto kong
takpan ang bibig ko at bawiin ang tanong ko. Mas lalo kasing lumapad ang nanunukso
niyang ngiti na mas nagpainit pa sa pisngi ko.

“Sweetheart, no one can ever resist a wonderful and pretty girl like you,” she
assured me. My little heart started wondering if he also thought that little Hetta
was wonderful. And pretty, too. I smiled back at Alexandria. With a blush against
my dark hair and white skin, I wondered how I looked like. Oh, why am I suddenly
being conscious of myself?

“I think my son likes you,” nakangiti niya pang dagdag na ikinabaling ng paningin
ko sa kanya. This conversation almost felt dream-like, as if like she was telling
an enchanting fairytale and I was the amazed listener. I couldn’t find my own voice
to answer her. She laughed. “Young love. It’s always endearing to witness young
love,” aniya na tila sinasabi rin niya ang bagay na ito sa kanyang sarili. Tumungo
lang ako upang itago ang pamumula ng aking mukha. Young love. Did she really call
it young love?

Malapit na kami sa teritoryo ng mansion nang isang humaharurot na van ang biglang
humarang sa daraanan namin, dahilan upang sumalpok ang sinasakyan naming limousine
rito. Everything seemed to slow down. My head hit the window and broke it before
the force sent me flying across the small room of the limo. Alexandria, with her
shocked expression, was also thrown and smashed on the other side. Because of the
strong impact, the limo rolled 360 degrees in the air before it hit the ground.

Wala akong maramdamang kahit ano kung hindi pagkahilo. Hindi rin ako makahinga at
hindi ko maigalaw ang buo kong katawan. I was coughing, I thought. I was coughing
blood.

“H-Hetta... Oh my God!” Narinig ko ang tinig ni Alexandria. Gusto kong sumagot

subalit hindi ko mahanap ang sarili kong tinig. “I’ll get you out of here, honey,”
wika niya at saka sinipa ang ilan pang salamin na natitira sa bintana. She got out
first and when she was already on the outside, hinila niya ang katawan ko palabas
ng sasakyan. She helplessly looked at the direction of the driver’s seat and seemed
to be equally disappointed and sad on what she saw.
Muli siyang yumuko sa akin at saka ako binuhat tungo sa parteng naka-distansya sa
sasakyan. I let my head fall and as I did, I saw a person getting out of the other
van. He was hideous, scary and very serious. He was really creepy and not even
smiling. I wondered what he was going to do. Would he help us? Marahan at tahimik
siyang naglakad papunta sa amin. I badly wanted to tell Alexandria about the
stranger approaching us subalit kahit ang sarili kong katawan ay hindi ko
maramdaman. I saw something red on Alexandria’s white dress and I wondered where
that came from. I was scared. I was terribly scared of what was happening. I was
scared of this numbing pain.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. Everything will be fine,” she assured me and without second
thoughts, I believed in her. Kung kaya’t tahimik ko lang na pinanuod ang paglapit
ng estranghero. Mukha ring hindi sya napapansin ni Alexandria dahil patuloy lang
sya sa paglalakad. Napansin ng estranghero na pinagmamasdan ko siya. He stared
straight into my eyes and just like that, he managed to inject fear in me. An
absolutely paralyzing fear.

He pulled something from his jacket and I saw a sleek black pistol. He aimed at
us--and that was when I truly panicked... silently. I couldn’t make a noise. Gusto
kong sumigaw at sabihin kay Alexandria na tumakbo at iligtas kami pareho mula sa
estranghero. But I couldn’t do it. The only thing that I could do was to stare at
him with wide eyes.

Alexandria put me on the ground. She looked at me in confusion when she saw the
expression on my face. Her expression changed as a voice behind her said something.

“So young and full of life. What a waste!” Anito na ikinalingon ni Alexandria. I
saw fear cross her face when she saw the gun on his hand.

“W-What do you want?” Nahihintakutang tanong ni Alexandria.

He looked at her and gave a sinister smile. “I want your life.” And then he pulled
the trigger of the gun. I heard a loud shot and I saw Alexandria freeze on her
feet. I wanted to ask her what was happening. I wanted to ask her if she was okay.
Subalit mukhang hindi ko na kailangan pa ng kasagutan dahil unti-unting bumagsak si
Alexandria sa lupa. The most wonderful and gorgeous woman I’ve ever met was falling
in front of me. The one who assured me that everything was going to be fine was
fading away from me. Nagtama pa ang mga mata namin bago ito tuluyang tumiklop.

“And as for you, well, you’re not part of the plan but I would still like to kill
you, too. But seeing all those blood, I think I don’t need to waste another bullet
on you anymore. Because, young girl, I have a bad news. You’re dying,” malinaw
nitong sabi at saka ako tinalikuran.

Pinagmasdan ko ang wala nang buhay na si Alexandria. Am I going to be like her? Why
did he do this? How could he do something like this to us? Isn’t he human, too?

Unti-unti nang nilalamon ng dilim ang paningin ko hanggang sa tuluyan na akong

walang makita. This was probably bad. He said I was dying. Am I?

=================

Chapter 1: A Game of Chess

Chapter One: A Game of Chess

This was just so romantic. Tell me about a happy ending and I would show you this
picture. Every loose knot was tied up in a simple act of following their hearts. If
only everything was just as easy.

Binitiwan ni Mikhail ang babaeng iyon at agad itong tumakbo. Pinanuod ko siya
habang papalapit kay Giovanni Freniere. I couldn’t stop the envy that suddenly
sprang in my heart. If I could just have an ending like hers. She was stupid and
definitely far from the usual heroine of a love story but she still got her happy
ending. And—uh—what was her name again?
Nadadala na ako sa nasaksihan ko nang isang malakas na putok ng baril ang
pumailanlang sa paligid. Everyone froze, including me.

“Take the big fish down before the game ends,” wika ng matandang lalaki mula sa
bukana ng sentrong building at saka tumakbo papasok nito. Sebastian looked as if he
just lost his soul as he watched that unsually-seen smile fade from Giovanni’s
face. Even I couldn’t believe it. I almost believed in happy endings. I almost kept
my own hopes up. Until that stupid, old man ruined it in a blink of an eye. I
suddenly desperately wanted to rip his head off his body.

Agad na natauhan si Sebastian sa pagkabigla at tumakbo sa kinaroroonan ni Giovanni.

This was the second time in a few short months that his easy arrogance seemed to
entirely fade from him. He kneeled beside Giovanni na nakahiga sa lupa. Nakaluhod
din sa tabi nito ang babaing iyon. Sir Algernon Freniere stood frozen—unmoving,
looking at nothing. Ang pag-asang kanina lang ay nagsisimulang bumalong sa paligid
ay napalitan ng luha at kadiliman.

All the reapers stood our ground. We were all waiting for one thing. We were
waiting for his words. Because we do not breathe if our master did not say so. And
so, we were waiting for him to start the game. Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas at
dumating ang hinihintay namin.

“Get them... All of them. But don’t kill them just yet.”

And in less than a second, all the reapers were running towards the building. A few
Reapers were smiling. Because really, this was what we live for now. This was the
life of a Reaper. Everyone was going to take this game seriously. The big catch
would be the old man who shot the young Freniere. But he wasn’t my big catch. I was
aiming for a different person.

“I know what you’re thinking,” wika ng lalaking tumatakbo sa tabi ko. Kaming dalawa
ang nangunguna ngayon sa lahat. I glared at him. I was the fastest Reaper. Clearly,
I hadn’t been focusing enough. Was he messing with me?
“I didn’t know you could read minds,” sagot ko kay Mikhail. He just smiled at me.

“You’re trying to get the Novou,” wika niya.

Of course, he knew my obsession with the Novou clan. And my obsession with winning.
“Would you believe it? You actually read my mind! You must have predicted this too,
then.” In a swift movement, I kicked his left knee and punched his gut, causing him
to stumble to the ground.

“You don’t know the first thing about me,” I whispered coldly at him at saka
ipinagpatuloy ang pagtakbo. I didn’t know if Mikhail had a stupid plan on
surpassing or beating me but he would never succeed. Not when I was his opponent.

Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagtakbo. I could actually be just a blur with how fast I
can move but I could still see everything clearly. Nakakita ako nang ilang
nakamaskara sa daraanan ko subalit pinili ko silang lagpasan. Hindi sila ang target
ko. Ano bang iniisip nila? Nagbabalak silang tumakas? They should know that there
will be no escaping the Freniere Mafia. Sir Algernon specifically told us not to
kill them. I pity them. They infuriated the Mafia head, now death was not an ample
punishment.

Isang grupo ang nakita kong tumatakbo at sa gitna nila ay nakita ko ang ikalawang
target ko. It was the old man who shot Giovanni. Umikot ako sa ibang direksyon
upang salubungin sila at wala pang isang minuto ay nakagawa ko nang humarang sa
daraanan nila upang hintayin ang kanilang pagdating.

“Reaper!” Sigaw ng unang nakapansin sa akin at akmang tatakbo sa kabilang

direksyon. Subalit mabilis ko silang naabutan at agad itinutok ang baril sa
kanilang pinakalider.
“You can never run away if I was the one chasing you,” bulong ko at saka ipinukpok
ang baril sa batok niya, dahilan upang agad siyang mawalan ng malay at bumagsak sa
paanan ko. Masama kong tiningnan ang mga nakamaskarang lalaki sa paligid ko. Apat
sila. I could take them down. Subalit bago ko pa nagawa ang nasa isip ko ay mabilis
na sumulpot si Mikhail at isa-isang pinatulog ang mga nakapaligid sa akin. Pinanuod
ko lang siya hanggang sa mapatumba niya lahat.

“You’re welcome,” nakangiti nitong sabi.

“I caught the biggest fish,” seryoso kong sagot at sinipa ang walang malay na
pinuno ng Stones Organization.

“Of course you did. Congratulations,” sagot niya. Hindi na ako muling nagsalita pa.
Mikhail was one of the best Mafia Reapers. My relationship with him was like my
relationship with any other Reaper—casual and civil. Mikhail always tried to talk
to me but I couldn’t trust him. He certainly couldn’t trust me, either. No person
should ever trust a Reaper because the truth is that we were the most untrustworthy
people in the world. There was nothing good in us. We only live by the orders that
come out of our master’s mouth.

Muli kong naalala ang orihinal kong plano. I had to get the Novou. I started to
step away nang magsalitang muli si Mikhail.

“Hey, are you just going to leave this fish here?” Nagtatakang tanong niya.

“Can you take him to Sir Algernon?” Tanong ko. He gave me an unbelieving look bago
umiling.

“You know I could take the credit for catching this fish, don’t you?”
Nagkibit-balikat ako sa sinabi niya. “Doesn’t change anything,” seryoso kong sagot.

“Tsk. Oo na. Oo na. You still caught the big fish,” pagsuko niya. I knew what
Mikhail Petrov was up to. He wanted to defeat me more than anything. But he would
never try to cheat. He was too proud. And I could use that pride to my advantage.

After a short nod, tumakbo akong muli sa kabilang direksyon. What was up with this
school? It was enormous, classic and definitely dangerous. I wondered how everyone
could bear to live and study in this maze. It was like a survival arena. Mabilis
akong nakarating sa sixth floor. Tahimik ang paligid at walang kahit isang tao.
Posible ring naunahan ko pa ang mga miyembro ng organisasyong iyon sa pagtakbo.
Nanatili akong nakatayo at hindi kumikilos. Kailangan kong maramdaman ang lahat.
Mula sa dampi ng hangin, mga walang buhay na bagay at lalo na ang presensya ng mga
humihingang nilalang. And that was when I looked up. Someone was there. Nothing
could beat an assassin’s instinct.

Mabilis kong inakyat ang hagdan at ilang sandal pa ay nasa pinakamataas na bahagi
na ako ng Montello High School. The wind was trying to force me backwards but I
held my ground. I knew someone was here. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko at agad ding
nakita ang aking hinahanap. But he wasn’t alone. He was with a student.

The Novou assassin was pointing a gun to a student standing at the edge of the
building. The student could easily drop to the ground at any moment. There were
only two choices for him, but with the same outcome. Either he got killed by Novou
or he got killed by jumping off this height. Kalmado akong naglakad papalapit sa
kanila. I had to get Novou.

“You can betray everyone but you can’t betray a Novou and expect to get away with
it,” galit na galit na wika ng assassin. I wondered what this student did to him.
The boy looked decent and formal. Paano kaya niya nagawang galitin ang isang Novou?
The student just smiled widely. “Mamamatay din naman ako sa araw na ito pero
pipiliin kong hindi sa kamay mo,” at saka tumingin sa ibaba.

“Oh, but a bullet would be faster than your falling body, Montreal,” sagot ni
Novou.

This was a stupid drama. Why can’t he just pull the trigger? Why the hell can’t he
just jump then? That was when I decided to pull my own sleek black pistol at
itinutok sa direksyon ng Novou assassin. Mukhang agad na naramdaman nito ang banta
sa buhay niya kaya ibinaling niya ang tingin sa akin.

“Oh? A Reaper. If you’re going to save this guy, you’re too late,” he playfully
said. Ano ba’ng sinasabi niya? He could kill the student for all I care. Kinalabit
ko ang gatilyo ng baril.

Mukhang nasorpresa siya sa ginawa ko subalit agad rin siyang nakailag. The bullet
hit his shoulder instead of his chest. I decided to shoot him again but he easily
dodged. He must have realized that he could never win against me because he was
wounded so he ran to the edge of the building and jumped.

No! This was infuriating me. I ran after him subalit tuluyan na siyang nakababa. I
watched his painful way of climbing down, holding on to the railings of the lower
floors until he reached the ground. It must be so fortunate of him that he landed
on the back side of the school. I initially thought he must have been dead when he
didn’t move. Subalit makalipas ang ilang segundo ay mablis siyang tumayo at naglaho
sa masukal na Nightwoods.

I could jump my way down and pursue him but decided against it. Alam ko kung kailan
dapat isinusuko ang isang laro. And it wasn't like I was giving up. Never. I heaved
a deep breath to suppress my frustration at saka ibinalik ang baril sa loob ng
aking jacket. Agad kong naramdaman ang pares ng mga matang nakatingin sa akin.
Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. Pareho kaming walang imik na naglalaban ng titigan.
Finally, he blinked at saka inilipat ang paningin sa ibaba ng building. He was
about to jump off. I decided to pull him back. Natumba siya sa sahig ng rooftop.
Kung ano man ang dahilan ng pagpapakamatay niya, I didn’t really care. Dahil sa mga
oras na iyon, I needed something from this guy.

“You have to come with me,” anunsyo ko na ikinagulat niya.

“You’re crazy! You should have let me die! I deserve it,” galit niyang sagot. Sa
simula ay nakaramdam ako ng awa sa kaniya. He must have done something really
terrible to hate his life. But I hid my pity and gave him a cold, icy stare.

“I don’t care. I just need something from you. After that, I can take your life.
For free.” He just looked at me like he couldn’t believe me. Hindi ko alam kung
sumasang-ayon siya but that didn’t matter. I had decided. I would have to bring
this guy with me.

=================

Chapter 2: Hide and Seek

Chapter Two: Hide and Seek

We ran down the stairs. This school had a stupid backstairs and that assassin was
too stupid to realize that. Or did I really scare him too much that he’d rather
jump off the building than be caught by me?

Mahigpit kong hinawakan sa kamay ang estudyante habang pinakikiramdaman kung may
tao sa paligid na maaaring makakita sa amin. Hindi maaaring makita ng ibang Reapers
ang taong ito. This student surely was a part of this game. Maraming nagnanais na
makuha siya. I could come and go undetected. If I was alone. Pero dahil may kasama
ako, I had to be more careful.
Nasa ikalawang palapag na kami. Sandaling pag-iingat na lang at makakalabas na kami
ng gusaling ito.

“How do we get out of this school?” Mahina kong tanong sa kasama ko.

“Entrance?” Mahinahon niyang sagot. My impatience was quickly building up. I wasn’t
an impatient person but this was a drastic situation. I looked back at him and
didn’t say a word. I kept staring at him until he swallowed back because of
discomfort.

“Nightwoods.” Muli siyang nagsalita at saka tumingin sa direksyon ng natatanaw

naming gubat. Wala mang umaamin, alam kong nagtanim na ng pangamba ang lugar na
tinatawag na Nightwoods sa aming mga Reapers. Simula nang malaman namin na sa lugar
na iyon namatay ang pinakamagaling na Reaper at pinakabatang miyembro ng Freniere.
It was an ambush. A small fear started inside me. They really wanted the Freniere
dead. They had succeeded before. They needed to be stopped. And I will stop them. I
shook off my fear. Reapers shouldn’t fear anything and I had learned to hide mine.
Fear was weakness. Letting others know your fears was fatal.

Even if the Nightwoods was the most dangerous place in the world, I didn’t care.
That girl outside who was crying for the young Freniere had taken the deadly risk
for the one she loves. And she was just a girl. I am a Reaper. My kind of danger
was more dangerous than hers.

We flee when we saw that the grounds were already clear. The reapers were probably
still playing the game. It was also possible that the mafia was cleaning up the
mess at the front side of the school. I led this guy into the Nightwoods. We kept
on running until we reached a clearing. I thought he was just leading me into a
trap subalit natanaw ko ang nagdidilim nang kalsada. Isang bus ang paparating kung
kaya’t mabilis ko siyang hinila tungo sa sementadong daan. The student looked
tired. His breath was coming in slowly and deep. But I need to get him as far away
as possible from this school. Kung isa lang itong ordinaryong sitwasyon ng
pagtakas, wala siyang pag-asang makapagtago mula sa mga Reaper. But I was his
keeper. It would be a child’s play for me to hide him where no one could ever find
him.
Nang tumigil ang bus ay agad kaming sumakay. Itinulak ko siya sa isang bakanteng
upuan at saka naupo sa tabi niya. I felt relieved nang magsimulang umandar ang bus
papalayo ng eskwelahan. Isinandal ko ang aking ulo sa upuan at saka ipinikit ang
aking mga mata. Pinoproseso ng utak ko ang mga nangyari at aking ginawa. I was
always sure of every single move that I take. My moves were always perfectly
executed. But this time, I jumped in without thinking. And it felt more deadly and
dangerous than my usual Reaper activities. But strangely, I also felt hopeful. This
would surely give me the worst type of ricochet.

“Why did you save me?” Narinig kong tanong ng katabi ko. Hindi ako sumagot. Sa
halip ay ginawa kong normal ang paghinga at nagkunwaring tulog. Did I just save
him? Maybe if you look at it from a different perspective, that was how it would
look like. But my intentions weren’t really honorable. I wasn’t suddenly trying to
be philanthropic or even heroic. Saving someone wasn’t my forte. I learned about it
eight years ago. Ever since that day, I knew that I couldn’t save anyone.

Hindi na muling nagtanong pa ang estudyante sa tabi ko. Maaaring tahimik rin niyang
binabawi ang lakas. Inisip ko kung ano ang susunod kong gagawin. This was the worst
idea I ever had pero ito lang din ang isang pagkakataong hindi ko dapat palampasin.
Besides, it wasn’t everyday that Henrietta Arturia did something imperfect. Isang
minuto pa ang lumipas bago ko ipinasyang imulat muli ang aking mga mata. Saktong
lumapit sa amin ang isang lalaki na nangongolekta ng pamasahe sa mga nakasakay sa
bus. Tinanong niya ako kung saan kami patungo.

“Arturia Mansion,” seryoso kong sagot. Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang buong isang libong
piso.

Hindi kaagad nakapagreact ang lalaki. I frowned. May mali ba sa aking ginawa? Nang
makahuma na ito ay sinabi nitong hindi kami maihahatid sa Arturia Mansion. “Hindi
kami liliko sa direksyon tungo sa Arturia Mansion. Pribadong lugar iyon. At saka
wala ho ba kayong barya? Ang laki naman masyado ng ibinigay ninyo,” anito.

Oh? I didn’t know that public vehicles were like this. I left my car on a place
near Montello High School. “How about Arturia University?” Tanong ko. My other car
was there. The one I use when I have to live like a normal person.
“Sa kanto lang nun,” sagot nito at akmang ibabalik ang perang ibinigay ko sa
kaniya.

Kinuha ko iyon sabay sabing, “Thank you for the free ride.” Maybe public
transportation was a bad idea. Tila hindi naman makapaniwala ang lalaki at
tinapunan ako ng tingin at saka umalis. The student beside me was also looking at
me with a weird expression. I ignored him.

“You’re from Arturia University?” Tanong niya. Hindi ako sumagot. Sa halip ay
tiningnan ko ang aking relo. It was almost dinner time at home. I promised Dad that
I would have dinner with him. And Mom. And Wycliffe would probably be looking for
me.

“Can I just go and hide myself?” Napalingon ako sa sinabi ng katabi ko.

“No.” Matipid kong sagot. He couldn’t go by himself. Oras na mawala siya sa

pangangalaga ko, ikamamatay niya. The others would find him. As long as I was with
him, no one would even think he was with me.

“You don’t have to go through all these trouble to save me. I deserve it.”

“I’m not saving you,” I said in a threatening voice that made him shut up. I always
use this tone to end a conversation. And it always worked. Muli kong ipinikit ang
aking mga mata at nagpanggap na tulog. But I was hyper aware of my surroundings.
Every stops and curious movements. Reapers were always alert.

Halos isang oras ang lumipas nang marinig ko ang lalaking kumukuha ng pamasahe na
banggitin ang ‘Arturia University.’ Agad akong nagmulat ng mga mata at hinila
patayo ang kasama ko. Ilang sandali pa ay nakalabas na kami ng sasakyan at naglakad
patungong Arturia University.

“You stay here,” utos ko sa kaniya nang nasa tagong bahagi kami ng gate ng
paaralan. He looked at me for a moment at saka tumango. “Kung susubukan mong
tumakas, siguruhin mong hindi kita mahahanap,” seryoso kong sabi bago naglakad
papasok ng Arturia. I could probably find him if he runs away but if he stayed put,
things would be easier for me. Tumango lang sa akin ang mga gwardiya na
nakasalubong ko hanggang sa makarating ako sa parking lot. I couldn’t let that
student inside my territory. He was still suspicious. I immediately drove my car to
where I left him. Pagbaba ko ng sasakyan ay lumingon ako sa paligid.

“He’s gone.” This made things complicated. I was about to start his manhunt nang
isang pigura ang lumapit sa akin mula sa madilim na bahagi ng lugar.

“You’re looking for me?” Tanong ng estudyante.

“Get in,” sagot ko at sumakay ng kotse. This stranger was starting to make me
wonder now. He had a chance to escape but he didn’t. It wasn’t like I wanted him to
try his luck by escaping. I actually preferred things to be as easy. I was just
curious because I really expected he would escape. But he proved me wrong. What’s
with him?

Pinilit kong iwaksi ang mga isiping tungkol sa taong ito at itinuon ang atensyon sa
pagmamaneho. Everyone must be looking for me now. But the mafia would think that I
had gone my own way out like I always do. Sanay na silang bigla akong nawawala.
Then there was Dad. Oh, no! Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagpapatakbo. Gabi na kung
kaya’t maluwang at halos mangilan-ngilan lang ang sasakyan na dumaraan sa kalsada
papunta sa amin. I was actually exceeding 200km per hour. I was about to push it
further when I noticed the horrified expression on the student’s face. The last
thing I want is him throwing up in my car. If he did that, it would be so easy to
forget my plan and kill him on the spot. I sighed. I really need to get home.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang matanaw ko na ang mansion at binilisan ang

pagmamaneho papasok sa nakabukas na gate. They left it open for me. Sa halip na
pumarada sa labas ng entrance ay inikot ko ang kotse tungo sa likod ng mansion.
This place was woody and this was where I was going to hide him. Itinigil ko ang
sasakyan sa isa sa mga pinakamalaking puno at saka lumabas. Tumingala ako habang
hinihintay ang estranghero na lumabas mula sa kotse. No one would find him here.

“A tree house?” Mahinang bulalas nito habang sinusundan ng tingin ang pinagmamasdan
ko. Yes. It was my old, childhood tree house. I kept it habitable kahit hindi ko na
iyon masyadong ginagamit. This was where I hide when I wanted to shut the whole
world out. I considered burning the tree and the tree house to the ground a long
time ago. But I couldn’t. There were just too many memories I couldn’t part with in
this place.

Umakyat ako at sinenyasan siyang sumunod. Which he did. He seemed surprised that I
could climb a tree. I was so tempted to tell him that I could climb a building.
Just because I looked like Snow White didn’t mean I was a damsel. I am a Reaper.

I took out my necklace and used it to open the door. My pendant looked elegant but
it was actually the key to my tree house. I opened the dim light and it revealed a
single sized gray bed, a desk, a single couch, a refrigerator and an empty canvass.

“You paint?” Tanong niya matapos pagmasdan ang kabuuan ng tree house.

“No,” sagot ko. There was that familiar pain in my chest again. A pain so usually
there, it felt like an old friend. No, I didn’t paint. But I knew someone who can.
Or, who used to. I wished he would try and paint again someday. He—Stop, I
commanded my brain. He’s not called that anymore. Muntik ko nang banggitin sa isip
ko ang pangalan niya. Ang palayaw niya noon. I shouldn’t. I had already decided I
wouldn’t.

“This is a nice place,” komento ng estudyante. It really was a nice place.

“Listen. You must stay here. Don’t ever leave this place. Never show yourself to
anyone. Never go down this tree,” pahayag ko. Tumingin siya sa akin at saka
tumango.

“That’s the longest I’ve ever heard from you.”

I turned my back to him and was about to climb down nang muli siyang magsalita.
“Ethan,” wika niya na ikinalingon ko. I looked at him, confused. “My name’s Ethan,”
wika niyang muli at saka humiga sa kama na tila pagod na pagod. Mukhang anumang
sandali ay lalamunin na siya ng antok. He must have been really tired.

Hindi ko alam kung narinig pa niya ang sagot ko dahil mukhang nakatulog na siya
pagpalapat pa lang ng likod niya sa kama. “Henrietta. Merry Christmas, Ethan,” at
saka ko isinarado ang pinto.

Nothing could ever really stop Christmas Day. I ran towards my family’s house.

=================

Chapter 3: Christmas Day

Chapter 3: Christmas Day

“Did you just give our house a 360-degree drive?”

Napangiti ako nang marinig ang boses na iyon habang naglalakad sa main lounge ng
mansion. There, standing between the gigantic white Christmas tree and a royal blue
couch, was my brother. And he was holding a wrapped gift in his hand.

“I guess I can never do anything naughty without you noticing. You are one over-
protective, little brother,” biro ko.

“I’m not. I’m just afraid that you’re burying a dead body on our grounds,”
nakangiti niyang ganti na ikinatahimik ko. I knew that he was just joking around
and not really serious about it. But what he said was just too close to the truth
for comfort. And I couldn’t help but react to what he said a little, especially
coming from my favourite person in the world.

“Too much Stephen King books?” Sagot ko na lang at pabagsak na umupo sa couch.
Umupo siya sa tabi ko at saka iniabot ang hawak niyang regalo.

“Hindi ako ang bumili ng Iron Man collectibles para diyan. Actually, I have two
gifts for you, Hetta. But I’m just too excited to give this one to you,” nakangiti
pa rin niyang sabi.

Tinitigan ko siya nang matagal bago tanggapin ang regalo. I still couldn’t read
him. It was like I was on someone else’s shoes and trying to predict another
version of Henrietta Arturia. I always get lost the moment I try to read him.
Giving up, inumpisahan kong tanggalin sa pagkakabalot ang kahon. It revealed a grey
glossy box. Tiningnan ko muna si Wycliffe bago binuksan ang kahon. And I froze
instantly, staring wide-eyed inside the box. It was the first book of Fifty Shades
of Grey. Yeah, he must be a twisted version of me.

Humahalakhak na tumakbo si Wycliffe palayo sa akin. “Well, Santa Claus said, you
can never be naughty!” Tumatawa niyang sabi. If it was just any other person, I
would just ignore it. But it was Wycliffe Arturia. He should never have ideas like
this. How did he even buy this? Forget it. He probably didn’t buy it himself. That
brat.
“As long as you don’t read this, I will gladly keep this on the far corner of my
library.” Hindi ko alam kung ano’ng pumasok sa utak niya at ni-regaluhan niya ako
nito. Palagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na hindi ko pa kayang basahin ang librong ito
kahit gaano pa ito kasikat. And for heaven’s sake! He was only 14 years old!

“You know what, hindi bagay sa personality mo ang hitsura mo. I think you should
wear glasses, long skirts and pull your hair up in a tight bun! That’s how the
freaks in our school are dressing up!” Nakangiti niyang sabi habang pinapanatili
ang distansya naming dalawa.

“Are you bullying someone at school?” kunot-noo kong tanong. Sandali siyang
napaisip. And that made me so sure that he was bullying someone in school.

“She ignores me a lot,” he said with distaste in his voice. I couldn’t help but
smile. It was a really rare event that someone would ignore a boy like him. Maybe,
my brother was really growing up. He was even developing pride and ego now.

“I think I’ll like that girl.” Nakangiti kong sabi na ikinasimangot niya.

“Oh, everyone dislikes her, Hetta!” tutol niya. Bago pa ako makasagot ay isang buo
at malagong na tinig ang pumailanlang sa loob ng mansion.

“Merry Christmas, darlings!” It was the booming voice of our father. He was walking
down the grand staircase with mom on his side. Tumayo ako upang salubungin sila.
Wycliffe and I kissed them on their cheeks like what we always do.

“I think it’s better if we have our Noche Buena ready. I received a call from
Sebastian,” wika ni Mom and she eyed me seriously.
“Is he going to get Hetta again from us?” Tanong ni Wycliffe habang nauuna sa
pagtungo sa dining room. Everything must already be served in there.

“I’ll come back as soon as I can and get your ‘real’ gift,” I assured him. He was
always throwing a temper whenever I have to go to do something related with
Sebastian Freniere. They used to be close friends before everything turned out bad.

“He stopped coming here. Why do you have to keep coming to him?” Iritable niyang
sabi na hindi ko masagot. Good thing my Dad helped me with dealing with Wycliffe.

“Giovanni is in the hospital,” aniya na ikinatahimik naming lahat.

Our families were really close, to the point that almost all of our businesses were
connected to the Freniere. All of us, except Wycliffe, were fully aware of the
illegal transactions of the Freniere. My family handled all the legal aspects of
the empire. But unlike all the other family friends, we didn’t do family bondings
with them. The reason was simply because our names and what we were. Freniere was
a family that anyone would never want to be a member of. It was too tragic and full
of grief, too dark that no one could see.

Christmas day must have been a very long day to everyone. Well, it was for me. It
was just that I got the other way of prolonging this occasion. 11:45 pm. Malamang
sa ospital na ako abutan ng Pasko. Spending Christmas in a hospital sounded
terribly wrong. But I was not a person celebrating a typical Christmas Day. I am a
Reaper. I wonder, since when did I stop believing in Santa Claus?

After dinner with family, I drove carefully towards the parking lot of the
hospital. Mangilan-ngilan lang ang mga sasakyang naroon. Hindi rin ganoon kaabala
ang mga tao sa gusali kung titingnan. This hospital was a part of the Legal
Business of the Mafia. But in times like this, they had to do something to
accommodate Mafia activities. I wondered what they did to cover things up this
time?

Mula sa madilim na bahagi ng paligid ay naramdaman ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. Kinapa

ko ang Eagle of Desert mula sa aking coat habang itinutulak pasara ang pinto ng
sasakyan. I was about to walk towards the entrance but suddenly stopped on my track
because of the small red-headed girl standing on my way.

“I can shoot you between your eyes if you don’t stop sneaking around,” seryoso kong
sabi at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.

“I could have shot you while you were closing the door,” she said, smiling evilly
at me. Of course! Forest was the Mafia’s best Sniper. Kaya niyang tumira ng target
kahit gaano pa ito kalayo. I could say nothing against her accuracy. It would be
really smart not to get on her bad side. “I’m so sleepy. The hospital is almost
empty. Do you think I can sleep in one of their emergency room without being
operated on? You know, I’m not ready for body modification yet,” nakasimangot
niyang sabi.

I couldn't help but be amused at her. She could easily shift her moods in just a
few seconds. Among all the Reapers, she was one of the weirdest. She was animated,
morbid and yeah, strangely weird.

“Where are the patients?” Sa halip ay tanong ko.

“Ipinalipat sila ng ibang ospital. I’m actually surprised that they called it
hospital. I thought we’re just checking in some weird hotel with weird
architectural designs,” sagot niya habang ikinukumpas ang kamay sa hangin. Oh! And
did I mention that among all the reapers, she was my favorite? Because she didn’t
really looked like a Reaper. She was just like an ordinary, clumsy, high school
girl.
“Dapat hindi na lang nila iyon ginawa. May mga pasyenteng— ”

“Oh, just shout it to Tres’ face. He’s so evil. I want to slap him with my angel
wings,” she cut me with rolling eyes. Napailing na rin lang ako. We were supposed
to secure the area tonight. Hindi ko alam kung ilang Mafia Reapers ang nagtatago sa
paligid ng ospital upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga Mafia bosses. Right now,
they were on their fragile state na maaaring samantalahin ng iba.

“And Hetta, do you know that girl who never left Giovanni’s side? God! I’m so
tempted to shoo her away! It feels awkward to have an outsider here. Well, aside
from the doctors. We need them,” aniya na ikinahawak ko sa balikat niya.

“Give her clothes, food and drink. But let her stay by his side,” seryoso kong sabi
na ikinamaang niya. Tinitigan niya ako na tila ibang tao ang kaharap niya.

“You—you have a crush on her?”

“Forest?”

“Okay. Okay. I’ll send one of the nurses to take care of her. Why should it be me?
I’m not her maid,” nakasimangot niyang sabi at saka humiwalay sa akin upang
magtungo sa Nurse’s Station.

Natanaw ko ang pinto kung saan may tatlong Mafia Reapers at ilang Mafia Guards ang
nakabantay. They must be inside. I saw that Mikhail was one of the stationed
Reapers and he smiled immediately after seeing me. He mouthed, ‘Merry Christmas’
which I responded to with a nod. Maliban doon ay wala nang maririnig na ibang ingay
mula sa mga nakatayo roon.
I approached silently at tumigil sa malaking bintana kung saan matatanaw ang mga
tao sa loob. Giovanni Freniere was inside with tubes and an oxygen tank to support
his life. The girl which name I couldn’t remember was sitting beside him. The Great
Maximus Brown and Sir Algernon Freniere were sitting on the far corner with coffee
in their hands. Nararamdaman ko ang bigat ng sitwasyon sa loob.

“The young master is already safe. But he’s not yet opening his eyes,” mahinang
bulong ni Mikhail na tumigil sa tabi ko.

“Soon, he will,” tipid kong sagot. I couldn’t take my eyes off that girl’s face.
She seemed so weak and yet, just like what I’d always known, she has something in
her. Something to reach this far. Something I never had.

“Who would have thought that a devil would find someone to die for?” komento ni
Mihkail. Yeah. Who would have thought that things like this were possible for the
likes of us. Everything must be worth it.

Pumihit ako paharap kay Mikhail. “Are you the one assigned on securing the area?”
Tanong ko.

He gave me one of his dazzling smiles that would definitely make Forest lick her
lips. But she was not here so I just returned it with a cold stare. “Yup! You
evaporated few hours ago. Max told me to secure the area.” Hindi pa rin nabubura
ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

Tumangu-tango lang ako habang hindi inaalis ang paningin sa kanya. He was still
smiling at me. We stayed like that for exactly two minutes until his smile vanished
from his face. “You’re such a damn cold stone.” He cussed silently. “And yeah! Tres
told me to tell you if ever you showed up, na nasa coffee shop lang sya ng
ospital.”
Kumunot ang noo ko. “And I’m supposed to know that because?”

“You are supposed to go,” sagot niya.

Walang imik ko siyang tinalikuran at nagtungo sa direksyon ng elevator. This

hospital looked creepier since mangilan-ngilan lang ang tao sa paligid. There were
Mafia Guards in every floor na nagiging dahilan ng takot ng ilang mga doctor at
nurse. This hospital was awake just to serve Giovanni Freniere. I reached the
second floor where the coffee shop and the cafeteria were located.

Mukhang hindi ko na kailangan pang hanapin ang isang Sebastian Freniere dahil
pagbungad ko pa lang sa coffee shop ay nakita ko na ang grupo sa isang mesa. I
gritted my teeth when I saw him kissing an equally pretty nurse. They were almost
making out in that dark area of the place. I was so tempted to turn around and
forget about meeting him when I caught his eyes. We stayed like that for few
seconds while he was doing obscure things I dare not mention. I decided to approach
them when I saw his hands edging deeper to the woman’s bare legs.

Mukha namang naramdaman ng babae ang presensya ko dahil ito na ang kusang bumitaw
kay Tres. Namumula ang mga pisnging tinapunan niya ako ng tingin. She was pretty.
Just pretty.

I looked at her emotionlessly. “You should have taken precautionary measures, Miss.
You should have known how many DNA you could find from his mouth due to the saliva
he was getting from every girl he gets his hands on. Haven’t you read the Sexually
Transmitted Disease scribbled on his lips?” Wika ko na ikinalaki ng mga mata niya.

Umiling siya ng ilang beses. “No, you’re lying.” At saka tumingin kay Tres na tila
umaasang ipagtatanggol siya nito. But Tres just smirked and licked his lips.
“The hospital bills will be free. That’s how it is. You have to kiss Death to taste
the most sensual lips that ever existed.” And with that, dali-daling umalis ang
babae mula sa pagkakaupo sa hita ni Tres at saka tumakbo palabas ng coffee shop.

“You didn’t need the whole hospital para lang maasikaso si Giovanni. I’m sure na
kaya iyong i-handle ng ilang mga doctor,” wika ko habang umuupo sa upuan na katapat
niya.

“Less people, less trouble. I’m planning to burn this hospital to the ground after
Van’s recovery,” anunsyo niya. I was silently shocked but didn’t show it. The more
emotion he gets from me, the more he would pursue it.

“It is one of the Mafia’s legal businesses. Malaking kawalan kung susunugin mo ang
establisimyentong ito,” pormal kong sabi. Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal na tila
binabasa ang iba pang mga salita sa likod ng aking pahayag.

“You’re thinking of those weak people,” he concluded while staring at me.

Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. I still couldn’t believe how cold those eyes could
get. It was painfully, icily cold and empty that I couldn’t help but to look away.

“You’re still the weak girl that I’ve known. You should know when to die instead,”
dagdag niya na ikinabalik ng tingin ko. It was not the first time that he was
asking me to die. Eight years ago, I approached him crying after the tragic
incident. I was so scared and trying to find comfort, at least from my best friend.
But instead, he asked me why I was still alive.

Ilang minuto akong tumahimik at hinintay ang sunod niyang sasabihin. I watched him
as he put some liquor on his Americano. I didn’t want to argue about being alive
right now. Nang ilang sandali pa ang lumipas at wala pa rin siyang binibitiwang
salita, ipinasya ko nang tumayo at magpaalam.
“You stay when you’re not asked to. You leave when you are not allowed to,” aniya
matapos humigop sa kanyang tasa.

“Hindi ako mahilig manood ng mga eksena na may kinalaman sa paghigop ng kape. I
think this is exactly the point where I have to stand and take a movie break,”
seryoso kong sagot. I just couldn’t stand seeing him like that.

“You have a task,” wika niya sa seryosong tono. He either becomes serious or mad
whenever someone gets to him. And because I was an ice princess, everything he does
just bounced off of me. At least that how it appeared. Most of the time, I just
couldn’t stand him like this. “Bring Van’s bitch home. It’s so annoying to have her
within a thousand radius!” Patuloy niya.

Maybe it was really better to bring her home. If she was making the Mafia
uncomfortable, then it would just be some time before someone could do actions
against her. Isa pa, isa pa rin siyang normal na tao sa paningin ng lahat. Ang
halaga niya ay natatapos kay Giovanni Freniere at hangga’t nakaratay ang taong
iyon, wala siyang aasahang pwedeng pumrotekta sa kanya. Or maybe, Maximus Brown
would protect her.

“You’re also worried about her,” sagot ko.

He laughed soundlessly until it slowly changed into a loud, demonic laugh. “I was
actually thinking of different ways to kill her and how I would make it appear to
my brother once he wakes up.” I just stared at him as he finished laughing. I
silently hoped that everything would still be worth it.

“You have no idea how people strive to survive until you end their lives in just
few seconds,” sagot ko at saka nilisan ang lugar. It was ironic that I would say
that, given my job description. Being a mafia reaper was just being a glorified
assassin, after all. But then, talking to him becomes harder and harder. The shadow
of loneliness was slowly growing inside me. It saddened me every time I have a
conversation with him.
Muli akong bumalik sa kinaroroonan ni Giovanni Freniere. Uh, I forgot to ask Tres
about that girl’s name. Why couldn’t I remember her name? There must be a clue to
this. Hindi na nagtangka si Mikhail na kausapin ako. Walang ingay na pumasok ako sa
loob ng kwarto. She was still by his side. She had folded clothes, a burger and a
canned coke on the table beside her but she was not even giving attention to it.
Dumiretso ako sa kinaroroonan nina Maximus Brown at Sir Algernon. They both stood
up and offered me a vacant seat. I think they were the only remnants of the old
value of chivalry.

“I’ll drive her home,” anunsyo ko nang sabay kaming muling maupo. They both looked
at the girl who kept on staring at one of the Mafia Boss’s face. How I hated this
scene. How I despised hospitals.

“Mukhang mas makabubuti para sa kanya kung saglit siyang uuwi,” tumatangu–tangong
wika ni Maximus.

“Ipinagtataka ko rin kung bakit narito pa ang kanyang presensya,” seryosong dagdag
ni Sir Algernon.

“Maaari mo ring isama si Forest. Sa tingin ko ay ikatutuwa niya kung kahit paano’y
malalayo siya sa ospital na ito. Mukhang hindi siya natutuwa sa kanyang
kinaroroonan,” wikang muli ni Maximus.

I also thought Forest would be really glad if she was going to be at least a few
meters away from this hospital. She seemed to not like this girl but I think she
would risk a few minutes spent with the unlikable person than enduring more hours
being here.

“I’ll get her then,” wika ko at saka tumayo. Subalit bago pa ako lumingon sa
direksyon ng aming paksa ay narinig naming ang kanyang boses.
“I’m not leaving,” she said. We all stared back at her. She had this look that says
she wouldn’t take orders from anyone.

Matapos ang ilang segundo ay ibinalik na nila Maximus at Sir Algernon ang atensyon
nila sa kanilang pinag-uusapan. I was so tempted to just ignore her but it seemed
that it was going be a part of my job now to at least talk to her. Agad akong
lumapit sa kanya.

“I’m not going with you,” determinado niyang sabi at saka humalukipkip. As much as
I wanted to pity her, there was still this hard-headed part of her that was really
annoying.

“It’s going to be for the best. Isa pa, he’ll be okay soon. We will inform you once
he wakes up. Surely, he’ll be looking for you.” At saka ko tinapunan ng tingin si
Giovanni.

“I want to be here when he wakes up,” matigas niyang sabi. I really doubted if she
could comprehend logical reasons right at this moment.

“You just proved where you really belong. But everything does not end here. Things
are not ending with you sitting around here in the hospital. You have another life
to live outside this place. Do you think he’ll like being watched 24/7 in his worst
state?” I just hate saying too much.

“Yes. He’s just that conceited that he wanted all eyes on him.” Nagmamatigas niya
pa ring wika. Again, this girl was amusing me. I wanted to ask her just what kind
of a guy Van was with her. But I had no time for gossips. I didn’t even have time
for this.
Matapos ang ilang segundong sukatan ng tingin ay mahigpit ko siyang hinawakan sa
braso at hinila patungo sa direksyon ng pinto. She tried to resist but her strength
at this moment was not enough to fight mine. Hindi rin kami pinansin ng mga nag-
uusap sa may coffee table. Even the Mafia Reapers and Guards outside the room
didn’t even try to question my actions.

“Hey, Arturia! Stop dragging me out of this hospital. Hindi mo pag-aari ang
gusaling ito!” Galit niyang sigaw subalit hindi ko iyon masyadong pinagtuunan ng
pansin at sa halip ay mas hinigpitan ko pa ang kapit sa braso niya. There must be
more challenging tasks out there for me than handling this girl.

“Actually, I own the whole building,” halos pabulong kong sagot na hindi naman
nakalampas sa pandinig niya. Bumakas ang tila hindi makapaniwalang ekspresyon niya
subalit agad din iyong nawala nang maipasok ko na siya sa elevator.

“Oh, so, what now? You’ll be a future doctor who can drag someone out from the
hospital in just few seconds?” Sarkastiko niyang komento. Pilit niya pa ring
inihihiwalay ang braso niya mula sa aking pagkakakapit.

I was suddenly just so tired of this day that I wanted to tell her that what I
wanted to be in the future didn’t matter anymore. It had been long decided. Muli ko
siyang iginiya palabas ng elevator nang muli itong bumukas. Ginamit niya ang
natitira niya pang lakas upang manlaban subalit dahil marahil sa pagod ay ni hindi
man lang niya magawang pumalag. She was just trashing around nang makita ko ang
papasalubong na si Forest. She was smiling at us and frowned a little when she saw
the uncomfortable situation with the girl in my hand.

“Just make it easy for us,” wika ko bago pa makalapit si Forest. Muli sana siyang
magpupumiglas subalit hindi ko inaasahan nang bigla siyang hampasin ni Forest gamit
ang braso nito sa may parting batok. Isang Segundo lang ang lumipas at agad itong
nawalan ng malay na pareho naming sinalo.

“Didn’t you just ask for something easy? This is easier,” pagdidiin ni Forest.
Napailing na lang ako. Giovanni Freniere must not hear a word of it or else, Forest
would never see the light of day.

=================

Chapter 4: Silent Night

Author's Note:

Hey, guys! So this is after the minor accident. Thank you for worrying, guys! I’m
okay. No fractured ribs. No broken bones. I can still write, so no ghost writer. So
much for trying to be one of the Avengers. But since I’m still alive, maybe I
actually am one!

And yeah, the soundtracks are back! I’m receiving good feedbacks on the MHSG
Soundtracks so I decided to continue sharing it on SWAG. So for this chapter, it
will be ‘Eyes on Fire’ of Blue Foundation. It was one of Twilight’s soundtrack and
I found it really captivating and dark... which suits our beloved reapers.

So there you go! I’ll try to give up sleeping one time to write more! Because
really, I’m so busy. It’s my 4th week of doing overtimes busy and—okay, I’ll shut
up now. :)

+Siel Alstreim+

**********

Chapter 4: Silent Night

“You didn’t have to do that. She’s not one of us,” madiin kong sabi habang
nagmamaneho. Forest just rolled her eyes and flipped her red hair at me at saka
lumingon sa natutulog na babae sa back seat.
“Exactly. She’s not one of us. Which was why I did it.” Inulit lang niya ang sinabi
ko. Parehong magkaiba ang nais naming iparating sa isa’t isa.

“You know what I mean. She’s not as physically tough as you. Or us.” Mukhang wala
rin namang patutunguhan ang pagtatalo namin. Forest was one of the hardest headed
people in the planet.

“And that’s because she’s not one of us. Why are you protecting her anyway? I’d
rather protect wild life from uncultured people than protect an outsider.” Pinili
kong hindi na lang sumagot. I was not protecting her. I was sure she could handle
herself just fine. But I had seen hope from her and I would never let anyone
vanquish that hope just because of a reaper’s bloodlust.

Itinuon ko na lang ang atensyon sa pagmamaneho. Hindi ko alam kung hihilingin kong
maging maayos na ang kalagayan ni Giovanni Freniere. I didn’t want Tres burning
down the hospital to the ground after the recovery of his brother.

“I saw you in the hospital’s coffee shop,” bigla ay banggit ni Forest. Hindi ko
siya nilingon. Walang dapat pag-usapan tungkol sa coffee shop. Mas binilisan ko pa
ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan. Mukhang sa mga oras na ito ay pag-aari ko ang
kalsada.

“You were with our psycho boss,” she pushed. Patuloy ko siyang hindi pinansin,
hinihiling na sana’y baguhin na niya ang kaniyang paksa.

“You were French-kissing with him.” Okay. That statement was just too much to
ignore. I gave her a serious and deadly look. “Now, I have your attention. Why were
you with him?” Tila walang anumang tanong niya.
“The same reason why we are in the car right now,” sagot ko.

And of course, that answer would never be enough for her. “Malaki ang pagkakaiba ng
reaksyon mo noong magkaharap kayo at sa naging pinta ng mukha mo noong talikuran mo
siya. I’m sure that wasn’t just about driving this girl home.”

Ano nga ba ang dapat maging reaksyon ng isang taong hinihilingan ng sariling
kamatayan? Every time I talk to him, my death always slips from his lips. This was
Tres. Death was the only thing a person could get from Sebastian Freniere. Subalit
mayroong parte sa aking pagkatao ang naniniwalang buhay pa ang Sebastian na
nakilala ko maraming taon na ang nakalipas. At hindi ko pa matiyak kung gaano
kalaki ang parteng iyon upang magtulak sa aking gumawa ng bagay na higit pa sa
limitasyon ng isang reaper. The sight of my lovely tree house flashed on my mind.

“I don’t know the things about you, Hetta. But I’ve heard the stories about the
past. I don’t know the details but I know enough. Sebastian Freniere is one of the
biggest, gorgeous and fiendish asshole that I have ever encountered on my immortal
life. Don’t waste your lifetime having hots on him,” Forest said. Then she
reconsidered, “well, you can lick his chest down to his pelvic bones but don’t go
further.” I wanted to gag from what she said. She was my most favorite reaper but
she could also be my most hated.

“Gross, Forest. Sanctify your mind, please,” komento ko.

“I find it sexy, though,” aniya na malapad ang ngiti. That was when we both caught
the slightest movement of the girl on the backseat.

“Ugh. Sleeping Beauty is waking up. Jeez! I hate fairytales. It’s making me feel
more like I’m a witch,” Forest grunted as the so-called ‘Sleeping Beauty’ opened
her eyes.
“I’m sure I would never be a princess in a fairytale,” sagot ng babaeng laging nasa
tabi ni Giovanni Freniere. God, I still couldn’t remember her name. Inayos nito ang
pagkakaupo at hinimas ang nasaktang batok kanina.

“Forest is a really impatient creature. I hope you understand,” wika ko habang

nakatingin sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng front mirror. Sinalubong niya ang tingin ko
at saka tumingin sa direksyon ni Forest. Forest was already giving her a psycho-
killer’s smile which was enough to scare a normal person. Sa una ay nakita ko ang
pagrehistro ng pagkabigla sa mukha ng babae. But it immediately turned into her own
fierce look.

I think her name is connected to the weather. I sighed silently. I could be wrong,
though.

“If you wanted to exchange punches with me, sana sinabi mo na lang,” sarkastiko
nitong sabi. Mas lumapad pa ang ngisi ni Forest.

“Naisip ko kasi na baka hindi ka pumayag,” ani Forest. Oh, please. I didn’t want to
witness this conversation.

“Hindi kita uurungan kung binigyan mo ako ng pormal na hamon,” sagot ng nasa back
seat.

“Pormal kitang hinahamon,” wika ni Forest at saka sila nagsukatan ng tingin. Should
I head straight to an asylum and deliver this two? Mukhang wala silang balak
magbawian ng tingin kung kaya’t mas binilisan ko pa ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse. I
was driving 300 km/h already. They seemed to feel the increasing speed but their
pride couldn’t allow them to give in to fear.
Meanwhile, I saw a turn towards a familiar street—the street where the girl lives.
Have I been here before? With a quick glance on my two wards doing an epic battle
of the glare, I put the car on a halt that caused both of them to jerk forward on
their seat belts.

“What the hell?!”

“D*mn it, Hetta!” Halos sabay nilang bulalas. I frowned on their profanities.

“Don’t cuss inside my car,” seryoso kong saway sa kanila na tila hindi naman nila
pinakinggan.

“Please tell me you did that because of a passing wild rainbow colored zebra!!!”
Pasigaw na sabi ni Forest.

“Yeah, bitch! If you suddenly decided that you didn’t know how to drive then tell
me! Or else I will burn this car with you to the ground!” Malakas ding sabi ng
isang nasa back seat.

This was the last straw. Of all things I couldn’t tolerate, it was stupidity and
noise in a small crammed space.

Magsasalita pa sana si Forest subalit agad kong nailabas ang eagle of desert ko at
itinutok sa kanya. Inilabas ko rin ang isang M9 pistol at itinutok sa babae sa
likod ng sasakyan.
“I’m too tired to talk back now. I hope these two could do the job for me,” seryoso
kong sabi na ikinatahimik nila.

“I’m your best friend, Hetta— ”

I cut Forest off by a slight movement of my gun. That was when she realized how
deadly serious I was.

“This car is a sanctuary to me. Respect it,” wika ko. Nang mabasa ko sa ekspresyon
nila ang labag sa loob na pagsang-ayon ay muli kong itinago ang mga armas sa suot
kong coat at muling pinaandar ang sasakyan. Tahimik naming binagtas ang lugar tungo
sa address ng tahanan ng babae sa likod. The mafia did a full background check on
her months ago. I thought Giovanni Freniere was going to kill her just for fun. I
didn’t know that they would come a long way.

Inihinto ko ang sasakyan, di-kalayuan mula sa isang modern at simpleng bahay. This
was nothing compared to the Arturia Mansion. What does this girl really have?
Nakasimangot niyang binuksan ang pinto at padabog na lumabas ng sasakyan. I liked
to think I was a patient person. But I realized that being trapped in a limited
space with two explosive girls in tow might be bad for me. Ipinikit ko na lang ang
mga mata nang maramdaman ko ang epekto ng malakas niyang pagsara ng pinto ng
sasakyan ko. I shouldn’t kill her. I really shouldn’t kill her.

“Sweet, little bitchy bitch...” Pakanta namang komento ni Forest.

Binuksan kong muli ang aking mga mata nang marinig ko ang pagkatok sa bintana ng
aking kotse. I calmly opened it, still chanting the lines about not killing her
inside my head.

“Babalik ako. Hindi niyo ako mapipigilan. Matutulog lang ako nang konti pero
babalik ako,” aniya at saka nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Pinanuod ko lang siya
habang binabagtas ang daan patungo sa tahanan niya.

“I f*cking hate her,” wika ni Forest. Of course, she hated her.

“I used to wonder what your reaction would be if you met another Forest,” komento
ko.

She smiled wickedly at me. “We will plan something enormous,” nakangiti niyang
sagot. Hopefully, the world was kind enough not to create another Forest.

I was about to start the car again when I saw figures from afar. Two dark figures.
Mukhang ang scope lang nila ay ilang metro malapit sa naturang bahay kung kaya’t
hindi nila napansin ang sasakyan namin.

One of the figures was advancing towards the walking girl. The other one was a
sniper. Mukha ring walang kaalam-alam ang babae sa nakabadyang pag-atake sa kaniya.

“Ugh! Gaano ba karami ang miyembro ng Stones at mukhang hindi sila maubos-ubos?”
Inis na bulalas ni Forest nang mapansin niya ang pumukaw ng aking atensyon.

“Take the sniper,” wika ko kay Forest.

“Why should I?” Nagmamatigas niyang tanong.

Hindi ko mapipilit ang isang reaper sa bagay na ayaw niyang gawin. I was not her
master. Besides, she hated the girl. She would probably want her dead. It would
seem that I didn’t have a choice. I had to do it alone. But which one should I take
first? Attacker or sniper? If I took the sniper, the other one would probably get
to her and kill her. If I took the advancing one, I could save the girl until she
gets inside her home. But I would risk being shot by the sniper. I guess I just
have to trust my speed.

Without saying goodbye to Forest, lumabas ako ng sasakyan at mabilis na tumakbo

tungo sa direksyon ng naglalakad na assassin. He was only a few feet away but the
girl didn’t notice him. I frowned. How could she not feel that? Was she that tired?
Kailangang maabutan ko ang assassin bago pa ito makalapit sa kaniya. Mas binilisan
ko pa ang pagtakbo. I must be breaking a new record. Nasa porch na ng kaniyang
bahay ang babae at papasok na sa tahanan nila. The guy was about to shoot her but I
reached him before he could do it. I wrestled him to the ground. Mukhang ikinagulat
niya ang mabilis kong pag-atake kung kaya’t wala na siyang nagawa nang maagaw ko
ang baril at itinutok iyon sa kaniyang sentido.

“Wag mo akong patayin! Pakiusap!” Nahihintakutan nitong sabi.

Hindi ko siya tiningnan sa mata nang hampasin ko siya ng sarili niyang armas.
Dahilan upang ikawala niya ng malay. Tumayo ako at saka lumingon sa paligid. The
door of the house was already closed and the family inside would be none-the-wiser.
The girl didn’t see us.

Sa pagpaling ko ng direksyon ay natanaw ko ang kasamang sniper ng assassin. I was

now his target. I was about to make a move and escape the bullet subalit bumulagta
ang sniper sa lupa. Hinanap ko ang posibleng dahilan niyon at nakita ko ang
nakatayong si Forest sa bubong ng aking sasakyan.

I saw her kiss her gun with a silencer and smiled on my direction. I couldn’t help
the silent hatred that was creeping into my heart. It was just hatred without any
object. Galit na hindi para kanino man. Isa lang galit. Whole and all-consuming.
“Stop that, Hetta. It’s weirdly scary.”

I kept the anger in and looked at Forest. “I am a reaper. The world should be
scared of me.”

“Well, yes... but that’s not what I meant,” she said. She looked bothered. I waited
for her to continue. “Normally, you’re just an ice princess with nothing giving you
away. But when you look like that, you’re really deadly. It’s a scary vision.” She
tilted her head, studying me. “Yet somehow, you look even more alluring. Like an
angel come to deliver justice. Or, in this case, vengeance.”

Her words put me off. I didn’t like being associated to anything remotely related
to fancy creatures. Princesses. Angels. I am a reaper. And I shouldn’t allow my
feelings to get the better of me. I kept it in, like what I always did.

Tiningnan ko ang walang malay na katawan sa aking paanan. This one was still
breathing. Tinapunan ko rin ng tingin ang hindi na gumagalaw na pigura ng sniper.
That one should be cleaned. Inilabas ko ang aking cellphone at hinanap sa contacts
ang maaaring umayos ng mga ito.

“Just a call away when you need me, Hetta. Where are you?” Alam kong nakapinta sa
mukha ni Mikhail ang isang ngiti habang sumasagot sa tawag ko.

“Two bodies. Few meters away from the girl’s house. Clean this,” tahimik kong sagot
kay Mikhail.

“Hey, what are you gonna do after—”

I hanged up at saka pumunta sa aking sasakyan. There was no ‘me’ in this
transaction. There was no ‘me’ in Reaper. I saw Forest sprawled on my roof. She
seemed to be enjoying the comfort offered by the roof of my car.

“Hetta, do you think they would still go after her?” She asked nang makababa mula
sa bubong ng kotse.

“They are the last ones,” pinal kong sabi at saka pumasok sa kotse. Sumunod na rin
siya. And you just killed one of them, nais kong idagdag subalit mas pinili ko na
lang na paandarin muli ang kotse. I drove silently. Too much for avoiding death on
Christmas day. As usual, I dropped Forest on the nearest church. No one really knew
Forest. I didn’t even know her family name. Only Algernon Freniere and Maximus
Brown knew her story. Those two just knew everything. I also couldn’t understand
why she had to be dropped off to some church.

I decided not to go back to the hospital. Maliban sa ihatid ang babaeng iyon sa
kaniyang tahanan ay wala nang ibang utos sa akin. Hindi rin naman ako itinalaga sa
buong seguridad ng ospital. I might as well go back to Arturia Mansion and
celebrate Christmas like a normal girl on a holiday. I drove faster. I didn’t know
why but driving like the wind gives me relief. It was like no matter how perfect
the situation was or how wonderful the place could be, you could just get past it.
Same goes with the horrible days and nightmares. Everything would pass by rapidly.

Mabilis kong narating ang mansion. It was past four in the morning and no matter
how beautiful the glow of the Christmas lights were, the Arturia Mansion remained
silent. Using my own key, I entered the mansion and crept silently towards my room.
This was one of my longest Christmas Day I had ever had. I sighed as I reached my
bed. If I had another name, it should be Silent Night.

=================

Chapter 5: Captured

Chapter 5: Captured

Soundtrack: Anymore of This - Mindy Smith and Matthew Perryman

I felt him waking up as I put the food I brought on the table. It was seven in the
morning and everyone outside this tree house was already busy.

“How did you manage to sneak in here without a sound?” tanong niya nang makaupo sa
kama. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang paglalagay ng iba pang mga pagkain sa cupboard. These
food would be enough for three days.

“Your personal needs are in the bathroom,” wika ko. It was a good thing that my
tree house offered a small bathroom. I always thought that it’d come in handy. I
muffled a yawn before looking back at him. “You can have your breakfast now. You
must be hungry,” muli kong sabi. Hindi sya kumilos sa kanyang kinalalagyan.
Tinapunan lang niya ng tingin ang mga pagkain bago ibinalik sa akin ang kanyang
paningin.

“It’s Christmas,” wika niya.

“Yes, it is.”

“Kailangan ko nang umuwi sa amin. Hinahanap na ako ng pamilya ko,” malalim na

buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ko siya sinagot.

“Hindi lang ang pamilya mo ang naghahanap sa’yo.” I matched the seriousness of his
tone. “You can’t go home yet.”

“You can’t just put me in a cage.” A controlled anger hinted at his voice subalit
hindi ko pa rin binago ang reaction ko.
“This cage would make you alive for now. Everyone will be running for your neck
once you’re out in the open,” seryoso kong sagot.

“Why are you keeping me alive then?”

I stared at him with blank emotion. He should have been dead yesterday. I was just
prolonging his life. “Because there’s something I need and I could use you. I
borrowed you from death. It’s up to me kung kailan kita isasauli.” Fear and
hopelessness crossed his face. He’s still a traitor. I should always remember that.

Hindi na siya muling nagsalita kung kaya’t ipinasya kong bumalik na lang sa
mansion. There would be visitors coming and Dad—as usual—would introduce us to them
proudly like we were the most wonderful treasure he’d ever owned in his lifetime.

“So you didn’t saved me,” narinig kong muli ang tinig niya na dahilan upang muli
akong tumingin sa kanya.

“You’re not worth saving,” sagot ko at saka tuluyang tumalikod at lumabas ng tree
house. I locked it quickly and walked back to the mansion. It was cold and the view
from that woody part of the mansion made it seem colder. It was December after all.
It was both my favourite and most hated season.

At katulad ng iniisip ko, abala ang halos lahat ng mga tao sa mansion maliban kay
Wycliffe na nakaupo sa sofa at nakatitig sa mga regalo sa ilalim ng Christmas Tree.
I walked towards him at umupo sa tabi niya.

“Are you trying to burn all the gifts and the Christmas tree?” I asked. Hindi niya
ako nilingon. Nanatili pa rin siya sa kanyang posisyon. I smiled and hugged him
from behind. “Merry Christmas, little brother,” I whispered. It felt so good being
around him. I could just be my true self that I deny very often. I could wear my
heart out when I’m beside him.

“I’m very sad,” mahina niyang sabi. Nakatitig pa rin sa mga regalo.

I frowned. I wonder what could make a jolly and animated Wycliffe sad. “Well, it’s
Christmas. You shouldn’t be.”

“Wala kasi yung gusto kong regalo sa mga ito,” aniya na hindi pa rin inaalis ang
pagkakatitig sa mga regalo.

“How did you know that? They’re all wrapped. Maaring ang ilan diyan ay magustuhan
mo,” wika ko.

“I’m pretty sure it’s not there,” kumbinsido niyang sagot. “Nothing in there is
close to the size of the gift that I want.”

Now, it got me curious about what gift he wanted to have. Maselan siya pagdating sa
mga material na bagay. He had a say to anything from Soccer League uniforms to
Computer Games. It was really hard to please him.

“Ano bang regalo ang ini-expect mo?” tanong ko. That’s when he turned and faced me.

“A car. I’ve been asking Dad for a car the entire year,” seryoso niyang sabi. I
couldn’t believe him. He was not serious, right?
“But you’re still a kid! You don’t even have a driver’s license!” Bulalas ko.

“I’m not a kid anymore, Hetta! How many break-ups have you been through?” Tanong
niya na medyo ikinabigla ko.

“Uh, none?”

“See? You’re the kid.” Okay. So paano napunta ang usapang ito dito?

“Hey! Having no boyfriends doesn’t mean that I’m a kid! I’m just mature enough not
to give attention on things that will never last.” Jeez. He could really get
reactions out of me. How could he say that? I’m her big sister.

“I have faith on happily ever after.” Aniya. This is really going farther and off-
tangent. Hindi na lang ako sumagot. Sa halip ay sumandal sa sofa at ipinikitang
aking mga mata. “They’re real, Hetta.” Maya-maya ay narinig kong muli ang tinig ni
Wycliffe. Hindi talaga siya titigil.

“I’ve long given up on it.” Since when did I stop believing in fairytales?

He was about to say something subalit naputol iyon nang makarinig kami ng tunog ng
isang parating na kotse. It must be one of the visitors. Kasabay niyon ay ang
pagbaba nina Daddy to welcome our guest. It was one of the business partners’
family. The day started getting busy since then. I remained silent the whole time
Dad was telling them about me and Wycliffe. He must be really proud of us. We were
just sharing glasses of wine nang isang mensahe ang natanggap ng phone ko. I opened
it and was surprised to see who the sender was.
3:00 PM, Tres Freniere:

Outside.

Was this some kind of a sick joke? So he couldn’t have chosen a better time to send
this. I was weighing if I should ignore this or check outside the house—if that’s
the “outside” he was pertaining to. He was so weird. I thought of ignoring it as I
sipped on my wine glass. Subalit matapos ang ilang minuto ay ini-excuse ko rin ang
sarili ko sa mga nasa hapag-kainan at naglakad palabas ng mansion. We had a wide
yard so I took my time walking towards the gate. As I was walking, I realized that
I really should just have ignored it.

Lumingon ako sa paligid nang makalabas ako ng Arturia Mansion. No one’s here.
Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot at disappointment. I shouldn’t have paid attention to it.
It wasn’t even related to my mission. Tatalikod na sana ako upang pumasok muli ng
mansion nang isang humaharurot na itim na Hummer ang biglang tumigil sa harap ko.
Bukas ang bintana nito at nakitako ang guwapong mukha ni Tres.

“Hop in.” He smirked at me. I just stared at him questioningly. First, why is he
here? Second, why is he asking me to climb the car. Third, why should I do that?
Fourth, where are we going? “Reaper. Are you just going to stare at me?” tanong
niya. Naging seryoso ang ekspresyon niya nang mabasa niya ang desisyon kong
pagtanggi. Of course, I should refuse. It was Christmas Day. Hindi ko inaasahan ang
sunod niyang ginawa. Lumabas siya sa kotse at saka naglakad patungo sa kinatatayuan
ko. “So what should I do to you to make you come with me? Should I use hand-cuffs?
Ropes?” He looked at me lustfully. “Should I tie you to a bed?”

Tss. I glared at him at saka tumalikod upang pumasok muli ng mansion. I should have
known better than to check if his message was real. And the monster just appeared
in front of our house. Subalit bago ko pa mabuksan ang maliit na gate ay umangat na
ang katawan ko sa lupa at tila isa lang akong magaang bagay na itinapon niya sa
kanyang balikat.
“Tres!”Gulat kong sabi. I was really caught off-guard. Nag-kick in lang ang
Reaper’s instinct ko nang ipapasok niya na ako sa sasakyan. It was a surprise that
my Reaper side still kicked in. Usually, it was out of nowhere whenever I’m with
Tres. I kicked him on his gut when I was seated on the passenger seat. Subalit wala
lang iyon sa kanya. I tried to kick him again subalit nahuli niya ang binti ko and
grabbed it really hard making me wince.

“Be good, reaper. Or I’ll break this gorgeous leg of yours.” Wika niya at saka
binitiwan ang aking binti. I pulled it to my side as he slammed the door. He
climbed to the driver’s seat and started the car.

Wala kaming imik habang nagmamaneho sya tungo sa kung saan. I didn’t try to ask
where we were going. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter anymore. Nakatulala lang ako
sa kalsadang tinatahak namin. It was getting unfamiliar and farther. My leg was
still throbbing. His big and strong hand left a mark on my skin. He had always been
telling me that he had no qualms hurting me. Never thought it’s going to be this
day.

“Stupid Christmas Day,” he murmured. I love Christmas Day. Gusto kong sabihin iyon
sa kanya subalit pinili ko na lang na manahimik.

Isang oras pa ang lumipas at patuloy pa rin sya sa pagmamaneho. Now, it was
starting to get me wondering where we were going. Maybe I should just ask him.
“Where are you taking me?” seryoso kong tanong.

“Someplace where I can take that f*cking dress off,”mabilis niyang sagot. I gritted
my teeth. I couldn’t act like a cold reaper in front of him. He could see right
through me and everything about him breaks my mask off.

“I’m not some random girl you can play with.” Inis kong sabi.
“Oh, believe me. You will be the best playmate that I will have,” aniya na mas
lalong ikinakunot ng noo ko. Pinili ko na lang na manahimik muli dahil ayoko nang
makarinig pa ng mga salitang ibabalik niya sa bawat tanong ko. He was so stupid and
a total pervert.

Nang ilang minuto ang nagdaan at wala pa ring umiimik sa amin ay ipinasya ko na
lang na ipikit ang aking mga mata. I only had few hours of sleep last night. At
maaring dahil doon kung kaya’t tila tinatalo ako ng antok. Isa pa nakakaantok ang
byahe kung kaya’t minabuti ko na lang na umidlip. Nang muli akong magising ay tila
nasa ibang lugar na ako at isa lang rin iyong panaginip. It was just that I was
still in the car with this monster. However, the scenery outside the car was so
captivating. We were driving on a road beside the sea and I could clearly see the
sunset. It was casting shades of yellow, red and indigo to our surroundings. It was
perfect.

I caught a glimpse of my captors’ face and saw some lights reflecting on it. No
doubt about it, he was still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met. The most
dangerous, too. But as I watched his calm face contently fixed on the road, I knew
that all the risk that I’m taking will all be worth it.

=================

Chapter 6: Between the Moon and the Sea

Chapter 6: Between the Moon and the Sea

Author’s Note:

So here’s to my No. 1 Readers. And No. 0, too. Thank you for waiting and not giving
up on me. Thank you for not leaving me.

Soundtrack: Turn Back Around by Lucy Schwartz

+Siel Alstreim+

Huminto ang kotse sa isang pantalan. It was the type of Sea Port where illegal
transactions could be done without being noticed by the authority. Now it got me
wondering if we have any business here.

“Is this an emergency? You know I don’t take any order on Christmas Day,” seryoso
kong sabi.

“Who cares about Christmas Day?” He smirked at my direction bago binuksan ang
pinto. Gusto kong sabihin na I do care about Christmas Day subalit pinili ko na
lang na manahimik habang pinapanood siyang kinakausap ang ilang mga tao sa
pantalan. Knowing him, he didn’t care about what everyone cared about.

I turned my gaze to the sea. For the month of December, it sure was sunny. The way
the waves danced calmly was so welcoming. It was like asking me to feel it with my
body. But this was not the right time for any type of leisurely activities. Lumabas
ako ng sasakyan at naglakad tungo sa grupo sa di-kalayuan. Napatigil sa pagsasalita
at napatunganga ang mga kausap ni Tres nang makita nila akong paparating. I tend to
get people’s attention effortlessly.

“So Captain, what do you think of me feeding eyeballs to the fishes?” muling
bumalik ang atensyon nila sa nagsalita. Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagkawala
ng spot light sa kanya.

“Paumanhin, Mr. Freniere,” wika ng tinawag na Captain. He was an old man with a
tall bulky figure.

“I want to check the items. Gusto ko iyong makita nang personal,” wika ni Tres. It
seems like we were really going to have transactions today. I hated him being like
this. I hated him doing something that included me without even my consent.

“Handa nang umalis ang yacht anumang oras niyo naisin,” sagot ng kapitan. Kung
gayon ay isa iyong transaksyon sa gitna ng karagatan. Nang marinig iyon ay
nagsimula na siyang maglakad na tila kabisado niya ang lugar at ang kinaroroonan ng
sasakyang pandagat. Sumunod ako sa kanya. Gayundin ang ginawa ng Kapitan at ng mga
malamang ay crew nito.

Muling tumigil si Tres na ipinagtaka namin. Lumingon siya. “I only need the Captain
and the Reaper.” Bakas ang pagkabigla ng lahat nang banggitin niya ang salitang
reaper. “I’m not really going to go on fishing so I don’t need bait.” Patuloy nito
na hindi kababakasan ng ka-seryosohan dahil sa nakaka-insultong ngiti na nakapinta
sa labi nito. It was his signature smirk. Everyone could fall for it. He uses it to
enchant women or threaten people. I think it was always working since I felt few
people step back behind me.

“Subalit Mr. Freniere, delikadong kumilos ka nang may mababang numero ng mga
kasama. Baka kailanganin natin ang tulong ng mga tauhan ko,” protesta ng Kapitan.
It was true. Marami sa mga taga-underground society ang nagnanais na mawala ang
Freniere Mafia. They hated and envied them for monopolizing almost everything. And
one of the Freniere was in the hospital right at this moment. They were undoubtedly
weak right now and some people would definitely take advantage of it. Cowards.

Tila naman mas naging nakakaloko pa ang ngisi ni Tres. “Are you doubting the skills
of my Reaper?” tanong nito. I just stayed calm and kept a blank expression.

“H-Hindi naman sa ganun. Iniisip ko lang ang seguridad mo,” kinakabahang sagot ng
Kapitan.

He gave a malicious laugh. “So, you are really doubting my Reaper,” he insanely
concluded. I felt the tension and fear building up around us. Who wouldn’t be
scared if you’re dealing with a crazy Mafia Leader/ But I kept myself calm. No one
really knows what was running through his mind.

“Ah— hindi—”
“This reaper could kill all your crew in just less than a minute,” tila hindi nito
naririnig ang depensa ng kapitan. “Reaper,” this time, he turned his attention to
me. “Kill them.” Utos niya.

I looked at him and then to the Captain and his crew. Tres must have gone crazy.
Hindi ako sumunod at sa halip ay ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa karagatan. Nagulat
ako nang lumapit si Tres at tumigil sa harap ko. I stepped back but he caught my
chin quickly.

“I said, kill them,” seryoso na niyang sabi. His closeness was so uncomfortable.

“I won’t,” kalmado ko pa ring sabi. I knew what he was trying to do. He wanted me
to kill without sense.

Mas inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin at nagngangalit ang mga bagang na nag-
salitang muli. “I am your Mafia Boss. You must obey my orders.”

Determinadong sinalubong ko ang kanyang tingin. “If you show me the Black Notebook
with these people’s names on it, then without second words, I will kill them.”

Hindi sumagot si Tres. Nagtatagis ang mga bagang na tinitigan niya ako at saka
marahas na binitiwan ang aking baba dahilan upang pumaling ang mukha ko sa ibang
direksyon. There were very few people who can disobey orders from Tres. I wondered
what was going on his mind right now. Isang masamang tingin ang ibinigay niya sa
aming lahat bago tumalikod.

“I only need the Reaper and the Captain. Those who are not and yet followed will be
killed. I’ll kill you myself,” ani Tres habang papalayo. Nahihintakutan namang
nagkatinginan ang mga naiwan nito. He could really inject fear to people.
I looked at them. “He’s right. I can kill all of you in less than a minute. You
don’t have to come. I can protect the Mafia Boss myself,” wika ko at saka sumunod
kay Tres.

Mukhang agad silang sumang-ayon sa akin dahil tanging ang Kapitan lang ang
naramdaman kong kumilos at naglakad. Nakasakay na sa Yacht si Tres at nakasandal sa
railings nang maabutan namin. The Captain gave me a FN FNC assault rifle nang
makasampana kami sa yate. Nag-uumpisa nang dumilim at naghahalo na ang pula, dilaw,
kahel at lila sa kanluran. The sun would be gone and soon, the darkness will
embrace us all. Nararamdaman ko na rin ang mas lumalamig pang ihip ng hangin. I
wondered what this night would bring to us.

Lumipas ang isang oras at hindi ko na natatanaw ang mga ilaw ng siyudad. Tanging
ang malawak na karagatan lang sa ilalim ng bilog na buwan ang aking nakikita. I
decided to put the telescope down and watch the night with my bare eyes. It was a
night over water. Tila walang anumang namamagitan upang magtagpo ang langit at
tubig. There was nothing else here but the moon, the dark sea, the yacht and us.
Enchanting and dangerous.

“It’s beautiful. Until someone shot you dead from the distance.” Lumingon ako sa
tinig na humalo sa tunog ng makina ng yate. I guess I would always be surprised
with his entrance.

“You always have the audacity to ruin even the most beautiful thing.” Sagot ko at
ibinaling muli ang aking paningin sa ibang direksyon. This time, the moon helped me
pay attention to something else.

“Of course. If I could, I would throw an atomic bomb on that stupid floating
stone.” Tukoy niya sa buwan na ikinailing ko. How could someone hate the moon? It
was actually one of the most enchanting things that ever existed.

“If you do that, then the night would be darker.” Wika ko.
“Then I would be more powerful,” aniya. Yeah, he was a creature of the night. He
was also one of the types that hate its kind.

“Sebastian,” wika ko nang lumingon akong muli sa kanya. He stared back at me.
“Since when did you hate the moon?” tanong ko na lubusan kong pinagsisihan. Uh. I
was crossing the line. But then, he used to—

“Ever since you existed,” seryoso niya ng sabi na ikinabuhol ng dila ko. I couldn’t
see any emotion in his eyes. It was the orbs of a heartless person. Did he really
hate me that much? Hindi na ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon na sumagot dahil sa
pagtigil ng yate. Sabay kaming tumingala sa Captain’s deck at nakita naming ang
kapitan na sumisenyas sa aming direksyon.

“Nasa Bangka na iyon!” Anito. Mula sa kinatatayuan namin ay nakakita kami ng isang
di kalakihang Bangka ilang metro ang layo mula sa amin.

“Bakit hindi natin pwedeng lapitan?” tanong ko. We couldn’t possibly get to it from
this distance without going into the water.

“Dahil teritoryo ito ng grupong ka-transaksyon ng Freniere Mafia. Ang usapan lang
ay kukunin ang mga regalo. Maaalerto sila kapag pumasok sa teritoryo nila ang
yateng pag-aari ng ibang grupo,” wika ni Tres na nagsisimulang maghubad ng suot na
pang-itaas. I couldn’t help but to stare at him. Naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng
aking mga pisngi ng salubungin niya ang aking tingin.

“I—I-che-check ko ang paligid,” wika ko at nagmamadaling itinakip sa mga mata ko

ang telescope. It almost slipped on my hands.
I could feel his smirk as he took off his belt. “Can’t wait to run your lips on my
skin?” narinig kong sabi niya na mas ikinainit ng pisngi ko. What was he thinking?

“No, thank you,” pormal kong sagot. I shouldn’t stare at him. I should never stare
at him again. Why was he undressing in front of me in the first place?

“Are you sure? We can both get naked underwater. I assure you that all the mermaids
down there will be envious of what I’ll do to—” He wasn’t able to finish it because
I dashed to his direction and pushed him hard over the railing until he fell down
to the cold sea. “Mother fucking shark bitch!” malutong niyang mura nang makaahon
mula sa ilalim. I couldn’t help but scratch my ears.

“Enjoy the mermaids, perv.” Sagot ko. Isinabit ko na ang baril sa aking katawan at
saka muling ibinalik ang telescope sa aking mga mata. I should scan the surrounding
if we were on somebody’s territory. I shouldn’t take risk.

Nagsimula na ring lumangoy si Tres tungo sa Bangka sa di kalayuan. What exactly

were the goods in there? Tahimik ang paligid. Ngayong naka-patay na ang makina ng
yate ay malinaw na naririnig ang tunog na nililikha ng paglangoy ni Tres.

“Anong uri ng transaksyon ito?” tanong ko sa Capitan na may binoculars ring gamit
upang magmasid sa paligid.

“Illegal firearms and weapons mulasa Europa,” sagot nito. Kung gayun ay mga armas
pala ang naandoon. Mabilis na narating ni Tres ang bangka. Nakita kong huminga siya
nang malalim bago lumubog sa tubig. I frowned at that. Of course. The firearms were
not inside the boat. It was under it. Nagsisilbi itong pampabigat upang hindi
anurin ang bangka.
“Gaano karami iyon? Do you think he can carry them all?” tanong kong muli. Ugh. I
was becoming tactful and curious already. But I didn’t know. I had this bad feeling
about it.

“Hindi naman sobrang dami. Kayang-kaya po ni Master Tres iyon,” sagot muli ng
Kapitan. Subalit bakit hindi nawawala yung uneasiness na nararamdaman ko?

I scanned the surroundings again. Wala namang kakaiba na pwedeng paghinalaan. Nang
lumipas ang tatlong minuto at hindi ko pa rin nakikita si Tres ay hinubad ko na ang
aking sapatos. Subalit nang mahubad ko iyon ay nakita kong lumitaw si Tres habol
ang paghinga. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin at tila umiling sya bago muling sumisid
pailalim. This ugly feeling was starting to grow bigger. Nakakunot na rin ang noo
ng Kapitan. Something was wrong. Nang dalawang minuto ang lumipas at di pa rin
umaahon si Tres ay nagdesisyon na ako.

“Call Mikhail Petrov!” Sigaw ko sa Kapitan na nagmamadaling inilabas ang cellphone

habang tinatanggal ko ang armas sa aking katawan. I kept the pistol that I always
bring. Uh. It was a pretty dress for Christmas day. But who cared about it. And
then I dived into the cold water. I used my speed to reach Tres. And with no
surprise, I made it in less than a minute. The boat was empty.

Huminga ako nang malalim at saka sumisid. Nakita ko kaagad si Tres isang metro lang
mula sa ibabaw ng tubig. Everything was clear as the full moon provided light to
us. Nasa loob ng isang net ang mga armas. And Tres was trying to stop a—No! I
immediately reached him and he seemed surprised to see me. Ano bang iniisip niya?
Trying to stop it? Nakita kong umaandar ito at limang minuto na lang ang natitira.
Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagsunod ko dahil itinulak niya ako palayo. But I
didn’t falter. Lumangoy ulit ako at lumapit sa kanya. I wanted to scream that we
have to leave subalit mukhang hindi niya ako pakikinggan. He was about to shove me
away nang mahagip ko ang tingin niya at saka ako umiling. I would never leave him.
Like I always do. Mukhang naintindihan niya ang ibig kong sabihin dahil gamit ang
maliit niyang hunting knife ay nilagot niya ang lubid na nagdudugtong sa mga armas
at bomba. It must have been activated when he tried to pull it away. Gusto kong
magprotesta dahil balak niya pa ring kunin ang mga armas subalit mukhang hindi niya
ito pakakawalan. Hinawakan ko ang isang parte ng net at saka sabay kaming lumangoy
palayo. Less than five minutes. Will we be able to make it? If it was only one
person who was doing it then he might be never be able to make it. But there were
two of us and I have speed. We can make it.
Mas binilisan ko pa to the point na nauuna na akong lumangoy kay Tres. We both
emerged into the water and he was gasping for breath. Agad na ibinaba ng Kapitan
ang ladder upang makaakyat kami.

“Start the yacht now! That boat will explode in 3 minutes.” Utos ko na agad na
sinunod ng Kapitan.

“You go up now!” utos ko kay Tres. I still got the strength here and he was still
trying to inhale more oxygen.

“No. You—You... go up first,” wika niya. Narinig ko na ang pagbuhay ng makina ng

yate.

“You are slowing us, idiot!” Inis kong sabi and I shove him to the ladder. He
decided to climb as I tied the end of the rope in one of the steps. I managed to
get it done nang magsimulang umandar ang yate. I was about to haul myself up but I
lost my hold on the ladder as well as the net of firearms. Good thing, it worked.
We never have to leave the goods.

“Hey! What the hell are you fucking doing!? Swim!” sigaw ni Tres nang mapansin
niyang naiiwanan ako ng yate. I looked at him as the time created distance between
us. I couldn’t swim to him.

“Reaper... swim!” Aniya. Nang umasta siyang tatalong muli ay saka ako nagkaroon ng
adrenaline rush.

“I’ll swim! Wait for me there!” sigaw ko and just as I dived below the water, the
bomb exploded from the distance.
=================

Chapter 7: Missing

Chapter Seven: Missing

Soundtrack: No Angels by Bastille

The explosion created waves that made it hard for me to stay on the surface. The
pressure kept pulling me beneath the water. And just when I was struggling to keep
myself up, a strong arm wrapped my waist and hoisted me up. It didn’t take me too
long to recognize his long brown hair and fierce expression. He looked so different
under the water.

Mukhang itinigil ng kapitan ang yate dahil nang maiangat na namin ang aming ulo sa
dagat ay nakita namin ito sa di kalayuan na naghihintay.

“I can do it,” sabi ko at nauna na akong lumangoy patungo sa yate. He followed me

afterwards.

“What was that supposed to mean?! What the hell were you doing? I told you not to
come after me!” Galit na sabi ni Tres nang nasa deck na kami ng yate. Inutusan na
rin nito ang Kapitan na paandarin na ang sasakyang pandagat.

I frowned at him. “You didn’t say that I shouldn’t come after you,” mahinahin kong
sabi. The coldness of the night was piercing through my bones. My wet dress is
hugging the curves of my body.

He drastically combed his hands to his hair in frustration. “Umiling ako. That was
a warning. Ang tigas ng ulo mo! Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago!” Pagtataas niya ng
boses. Teka, bakit ba siya galit na galit? I saved him from his stupidity.
“I was just trying to save you!” Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtaas ng aking tono.
So what was he expecting me to do? Just watch while he was obviously in danger?

Lumapit sya akin and I was forced to step back. Patuloy sya sa paglapit hanggang sa
maramdaman ko na ang railings sa likod ko. He leaned on me until I could feel his
breath on the side of my neck. His lips brushed my left ear as he said, “Don’t ever
try to save me again.” At saka siya umalis at pumasok sa loob ng yate.

I was left with my heart beating loudly. I held on to the railings for support. Did
he just forbid me from saving him?

Hanggang sa makarating na kami sa pantalan ay hindi na kami muling nag-usap. It was

almost 12:00 am nang nasa proseso na ng pagdaong ang yate. I saw the crew and some
of the Mafia guards on the port. I also saw two reapers. Mikhail Petrov. I smiled
gladly when I saw the other reaper. Forest, my favorite reaper.

“Oh my god! What did you do to you? Did you have s*x under water?” She asked. Just
when I had good thoughts about her, she always had her way of erasing it.

“Give me your jacket.” Wika ko habang yakap ang sarili.

She looked at her brown leather jacket and then back to me. “Oh, please. It’s
cold. Have mercy to my fragile little figure,” she said and then glanced to
Mikhail’s direction. “Hey! Get undressed!” Utos niya. Nagtataka na lumapit sa amin
si Mikhail. Napailing na lang ako kay Forest. But when I saw Mikhail’s black duster
coat, I silently wished that he would obey Forest’s command.

“What happened out there? We were about to sail when we saw your yacht coming,”
wika niya na nasa akin ang atensyon. I couldn’t answer while my voice is trembling.

“I said, undress yourself,” wika ni Forest.

“Forest, this is not the time for your weird thoughts,” he told Forest with a
smile. That was the perks of being Forest. We couldn’t really get ourselves mad at
her.

Mukha namang hindi nagustuhan ni Forest ang sagot ni Mikhail dahil pumuwesto siya
sa harap nito at nameywang. “You have to undress or else she will die freezing,”
wika nya habang nakaturo sa akin. Agad iyong naintindihan ni Mikhail dahil hinubad
niya ang suot niyang coat at isinuot sakin.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that a snow princess could feel cold, too.” Biro
niya. I just followed his lead until I could feel warm.

“Someone set up a bomb on the firearms. The Mafia Boss was almost hurt,” wika ko na
pinilit pinipigilan ang pangangatal ng tinig.

“I’ll check the transaction details.” Sagot ni Mikhail.

We all turned to Tres’ direction when he got off the yacht with the Captain. He was
giving orders to him and his crew. Mukhang walang kahit na anong bakas ng panganib
sa kanyang buhay kamakailan lang. Ni hindi niya ako tinapunan ng tingin nang dumaan
siya sa harapan namin.

“Petrov. Find out who’s behind this and show the bastard to me,” wika nya at saka
nagpatuloy sa paglalakad tungo sa kanyang kotse. He tossed something in the air and
I immediately caught it. It was my phone. Oh, I forgot about this ever since the
incident happened. Maybe I left in on the yacht.

“He’s scary. Halloween’s over!” Sigaw ni Forest sa tumatakbo nang kotse ni Tres. I
just watched it as it disappeared to the gates of the port. How un-gentlemanly of
him to bring me here and not take me home.

“I’ll take you home,” makangiting wika ni Mikhail. Umiling ako sa kanyang
imbitasyon.

“No, you have to find out immediately who’s behind this. Isa pa, mas kumportable
ako kung ihahatid ako ni Forest.” Wika ko. Saglit siyang nag-isip at saka tumangu-
tango.

“Of course. Orders first. Have a safe ride home ladies.” And he bowed before
leaving us. Forest crossed our arms and we walked side by side towards the gate.
That made me realize something.

“Forest, you brought a car, right?” Tanong ko bagama’t mukhang alam ko na ang
kanyang isasagot.

“Since when did I bring a car? I don’t even know how to drive!” She laughed. “We’ll
commute. We’ll take a subway train.” Wika niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi
niya. I almost walked back to Mikhail and ask him to drive me home. But I couldn’t
do that. I refused already.

“But Forest!” Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. Yeah, she was always riding
with me or in any of the reapers’ cars. I should have thought about that earlier.
“Hey! You chose to be on my side. Now, you have to take the thing that I could
offer. Jeez. Just be a good girl,” wika nito habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad.
Nang nasa labas na kami ng port, pumara siya ng taxi. It was good that there were
still taxi at this time.

I immediately climbed in and said, “Please take us to Arturia Mansion.” Kumunot

naman ang noo ng driver na tila walang idea sa lugar na sinabi ko. Ugh. Just how
far did we go this time?

“To the neareast subway station, please,” sabi ni Forest sa driver. Agad naman
itong tumalima at tahimik na nagmaneho. “This place is 5 hours away from the
Arturia Mansion. You can’t just tell a cab to drive you across the country. At isa
pa, do you even have money with you?” I suddenly realized that I don’t have my
wallet. I only got my phone.

“Well, I can ask for one of our drivers to pick us up.” I tried.

But she waved her hands in dismissal and said, “That would make us 10 hours of
wasting time,” sagot nito at tinakpan ng earphones ang tainga. I guess I couldn’t
do anything about this. I decided to check my phone. Whoa. It had 14 missed calls.
One message. I only knew one person behind this and the message confirmed it

12:49 PM, Wycliffe:

WHERE ART THOU?

I must have gotten him worried. Siya kasi yung tipo ng tao na magtetext ng isang
beses at once na hindi mo siya na-reply-an, bubulabugin ka niya ng sunod-sunod na
tawag. I checked the time. It’s past 12:00 am already. I looked up for his number
and called him back. It rang three times before I heard his sleepy voice.
“Wycliffe.” I said.

“Oh, Hetta. I won’t accept any Christmas gift from you anymore unless it’s a car,”
humihikab na wika nito sa kabilang linya.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll give you my gift when I got home. Isa pa, you haven’t given me
your gift yet.”

“Because you’re suddenly nowhere to be found and I was thinking that Santa Claus
kidnapped you.” I couldn’t help but silently smile at this. No matter how hard he
tried to appear matured, he was still a child.

“I’m on my way back. Santa Clause wants to say ‘Hi’ to you.”

And that’s when Forest grabbed my phone and screamed, “Hoooo, Hooo, Hooo! Porn
videos to you naughty boy. Hooo—”

And then I smashed her face against the car’s window as I put back my phone to my
ears. “Cliff, ignore it.” I demanded.

“Who the hell was that?” Tila nagising ang diwa nitong tanong sa kabilang linya.

“Wycliffe! Watch your language! And it was just a bum on streets trying to snatch
my phone. But I took care of it already.” I lied. I could tell that he was nodding
at the end of the line. “Well, I just called to inform you that I’m on my way home.
Please tell Mom and Dad, okay?”

“Do you want me to wake them up? You’re so cruel to call in the middle of the
night. Now you want me to be cruel to the guys who gave us everything? Oh, come
on.”

“Yeah, I know it’s too cold to go out of the covers of your blanket. But just in
case that they look for me...”

“Oo na. Oo na po. Can I go to sleep now?” He asked.

“Yes, sleep well, sweetie.”

“Hey! Don’t call me—”He wasn’t able to protest because I already ended the call.
That was the time when I decided to let go of Forest’s face. Tiningnan niya ako ng
masama. Mukha ring na-we-weirduhan ang driver sa ginagawa namin dahil minsan ko
syang nahuling sumilip sa aming direksyon.

“Jeez! Believe me! He’s watching porn that’s why he’s still awake in the middle of
the night.” I rolled my eyes at her. Wycliffe is too sleepy to watch anything. Isa
pa, he’d rather watch some movies of Avengers. “Who’s that anyway?”

And she doesn’t even know who I’m calling with. “My brother,” sagot ko.

“Oh, another Arturia,” tangi niya lang komento at ibinalik ang earphones sa kanyang
tainga. Nanatili kaming tahimik nang ilang minuto hanggang sa huminto ang taxi sa
isang subway station. Agad na nag-abot ng pera si Forest sa driver. I think hindi
iyong ganun kadami subalit tila natuwa ang driver. Bigla kong naalala nung unang
beses akong sumakay ng bus. Bakit parang hindi naman natuwa yung konduktor sa
binigay ko, eh samantalang mas malaki ang halaga nun kaysa sa ibinigay ni Forest. I
tried to open the door but it was locked. I almost thought that it was a trap
subalit binuksan ni Forest ang pinto sa kanyang tabi at saka lumabas.

“Miss, sa kabila na lang.” wika ng driver.

“I don’t understand this.” Bulong ko subalit agad din akong tumalima at lumabas sa
pinto na nilabasan ni Forest. Naglakad kami papasok ng subway station. Marami pa
ring tao kahit ganitong oras na ng gabi. Everyone must be so busy.

“Hey, did you bring a gun?” Biglang tanong ni Forest. Tumango ako na ikinatigil
niya. “We’ll take the bus then. I’m so sad. Subway station is faster but there’s no
way I will kill tonight just to get on the train,” tila disappointed nitong wika.

“Me, too.” At sabay kaming lumabas ng istasyon. We immediately saw a bus. Unlike
the subway station, nasa kalahati lang siguro ng normal na dami ng pasahero ng bus
ang mga nakasakay. Well, yeah, Subway train was indeed faster. Agad namin iyong
pinara at sumakay. It was clear to me now that I couldn’t ask them to drive us to
Arturia mansion so I decided to leave everything to Forest. And as expected from
her, she gave a name of a church near to my place. Tsk. Bakit tumango ang driver sa
sinabi niya? Was there something wrong with living in the church and Arturia
Mansion?

“It’s still four hours to get there. I want to sleep,” wika nito at saka inihilig
ang ulo sa tapat ng bintana.

“Hey, how did you get to the port as fast as that?” Tanong ko. I was getting
impatient with the knowledge of the length of time we still need to spend in this
awkward vehicle. Everyone was throwing glance on us specially those group of men
few seats away from us.
“Teleportation,” sagot niya.

“Forest. Seryoso ako.” Mukhang hindi ko na kailangang sabihin iyon dahil bakas sa
boses ko ang pagiging seryoso.

“Chopper. We used the Mafia chopper. Di mo ba yun napansin kanina?” Sagot niya.
Siguro ay sobra akong occupied ng lamig na nararamdaman ko kanina kung kaya’t wala
akong napansing chopper sa pantalan. Bumalik sa pagtulog si Forest habang ako naman
ay kinuha ang headset niyang gamit at I-pod. I wondered what this girl was
listening into. I saw Bastille’s songs. “Daniel in the Den”, “Icarus”, “No Angels”,
“Pompeii”, etc. I decided to put on the earphones and listen to the songs. And I
enjoyed it. This girl had a good taste in music.

I was drifting to sleep when I felt someone staring at me. I immediately opened my
eyes and saw a pair in front of my face. Isa siya sa mga grupo ng kalalakihan na
nasa hulihang bahagi ng bus. I harshly pulled the earphones away from my ears nang
makita ang sitwasyon. Isa sa kanila ay tinututukan ng patalim ang driver. Ang ilan
ay tinatakot ang mga pasahero habang nililimas ang laman ng kanilang bag.

Siniko ko si Forest upang magising but I think she has a blood of Koala. Seriously,
what am I going to do to wake her up? “Ibigay mo sa akin ang ipod at cellphone mo.
Ganun din ang inyong pera.” Nakangisi nitong sabi.

“I’m sorry but we already paid for our fare,” seryoso kong sabi. Why are these
passengers giving them what they’re asking?

“Pero Miss, kung ibibigay mo sa akin ang sarili mo, hindi ka masasaktan.” Nakangisi
pa rin nitong sabi. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at tinitigan siya nang matuwid. Ano
ba sa tingin ng taong ito ang pinapasok niya? Tila naman nakaramdam siya ng
pangingilabot dahil bigla siyang tumuwid sa pagkakayuko at lumayo nang kaunting
distansya sa akin.
“I-ibigay mo na ang mga gamit mo!” nauutal nitong sabi.

“Ano bang problema diyan?” Sigaw ng isa nitong kasamahan at saka lumapit sa amin.
Ngumisi siya nang mapagmasdan kami ni Forest. “Aba, pare! Jackpot! Kanina ko pa
gustong puntahan ang dalawang ito,” wika nito habang hindi ko inaalis ang
pagkakatitig sa kasamahan niya. Muli itong umatraas. “Ano bang kinakatakot mo e mga
babae lang ito,” wika ng kasamahan nito at saka hinampas ng hawak nitong bag ang
natutulog na si Forest. Wrong move.

Agad na napabalikwas si Forest. Nagulat ang lalaki nang kunin nito ang bag na
pinanghampas sa kanya at saka siya hinampas ni Forest hanggang sa nasa sahig na
ito. Forest still had her eyes closed habang walang tigil niyang hinahampas ang
lalaki.

“I told you, Mikhail... Undress... I want to see.” Narinig kong bulong niya habang
nakapikit. She was still hitting the man na ginagawa ang lahat para makaiwas
subalit wala itong magawa. Ugh. Did she just sleep talk? Don’t tell me she was
still sleeping!

Gulat at hindi maka-paniwala sa una ang mga kasamahan nito. Siguro ay lima sila
lahat at pawing mga malalaki ang katawan na hindi basta-basta mapapatumba. Well, as
for Forest, she could still take one down while sleeping. Kahit ang mga pasahero ay
napanganga sa walang tigil na paghampas ni Forest. Wala nang malay ang lalaki
subalit hinahampas pa rin niya. “Undress, Mikhail! Undress!” Mahina niyang usal.

Nang makahuma ang ilang ka-grupo ng lalaki sa sinapit ng kasamahan ay isa sa kanila
ang lumapit na may naka-ambang patalim. They were going to stab Forest at the back.
Subalit bago pa ito lumapat sa katawan ni Forest ay nahawakan ko na ang kamay ng
lalaki at walang hirap na binali iyon.
“You shouldn’t hurt a sleeping girl,” seryoso kong sabi. I grabbed his other hand
and broke it, too. Halos hindi siya magkandatuto sa kakasigaw sa sakit. I smirked
on the rest of his team. Two of them tried to put me down together but I kicked the
first one who got to me and then grabbed the hand of the second and broke it and
before going for his other hand. Nilapitan ko ang natumba sa sahig na lalaki. He
was trying to crawl and run away from me but I grabbed his one leg and break it. I
couldn’t believe that this weak people even had the guts to approach me. Lumingon
ako sa lalaking unang nakipag-usap sa akin at kinukuha ang gamit kong ipod.

“That ipod has lots of really good songs. Do you want to hear it?” Walang emosyon
kong sagot habang palapit sa kanya. Umiling siya at tila hindi makaalis sa
kinatatayuan. Patuloy ako sa paglapit at nang nasa harapan ko na sya ay inilagay ko
ang isang earphone sa kanyang tainga habang ang isa ay nasa akin. It was
Bastille’s “No Angel” playing. “Maganda, hindi ba?” tanong ko subalit hindi siya
sumagot. Sa halip ay tumakbo ito tungo sa pintuan ng bus.

“Buksan niyo ito! Lalabas ako! May halimaw sa loob ng bus na ito!” Sigaw nito.
Binuksan naman iyon ng driver at kahit tumatakbo ang bus ay tumalon ito palabas.
Maging ang lalaking nagbabantay sa driver ay sumunod rito dahil sa takot.

Narinig ko ang pasasalamat ng mga pasahero habang kinukuha nilang muli ang kanilang
mga gamit. I really didn’t like wasting time. Inilagay ko ang earphones sa tainga
ni Forest at ang ipod sa bulsa niya. I shouldn’t use any gadgets while in a public
vehicle. Tila naman kumalma si Forest kaya hinila ko sya patayo ang tossed her on
our seat. She immediately went back to her old position and silently snored. God!
She was really weird. Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga pasahero na pilit kumakausap sa
akin tungkol sa pagdadala sa mga naiwang salarin sa mga pulis. Ipinikit ko nalang
ang aking mga mata at nanatiling alerto sa paligid.

Makalipas ang tatlong oras ay nag-inat si Forest. Familiar na rin sa akin ang
lugar. I can walk my way home already though it was still five in the morning.

“I had a weird dream. This Mikhail won’t take his shirt off! Jeez,” wika niya.
Mukang wala talaga siyang natatandaan sa mga nangyari. Huminto ang bus sa tapat ng
isang simbahan. Kunot-noo at nagtatakang tiningnan ako ni Forest nang magpasalamat
sa amin ang driver at ang mga natirang pasahero nang bumaba kami. “Did you give
them candies?” tanong niya.
Hindi ako sumagot sa halip ay tiningnan ko lang ang simbahan. “Ah, I’ll just stop
here! Goodbye Hetta!” Paalam niya at saka tumakbo sa loob ng madilim na bahagi ng
lugar.

I decided to start walking home. It was just few minutes walk to Arturia Mansion.
Isa pa, iba yung pakiramdam na naihahatid ng paglalakad nang mag-isa sa madilim na
kalsada. Walang kahit na sino man sa iyong daraanan maliban sa panaka-nakang
pagsulpot ng mga ligaw na pusa. Madilim pa rin sa mansion nang marating ko.
Bagama’t pagod ay dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa likurang bahagi ng mansion. I
silently climbed at the tree house. Subalit nagising ang inaantok ko nang diwa nang
makitang hindi ito naka-lock. I immediately opened the door and saw that the place
was empty. It didn’t take me long before I dashed out of the tree house and run to
the woods.

“Where is he?”

My bait was missing.

=================

Chapter 8: The Dead Man of Christmas Day

Author’s Note:

It’s been a long time! I’m back! Freniere Mansion seemed to be overpopulated now
with the hopes of people entering it. So I decided to open Arturia Mansion. Quite
the opposite of the Freniere Mansion, though. And yeah! This Author’s Note is to
thank everyone who supported Montello High: School of Gangsters Book Launch during
the Pop Fiction Fest 2! I’m so grateful for those who came up and showed the power
of Montello High readers. And for those who don’t know yet because they’re busy
lurking in the shadows or hibernating in their dark, creepy dungeon or probably
dating or seducing some dark Prince in a far away castle, Montello High: School of
Gangsters is now out on bookstores! I think you can also avail the E-book of it in
BUQO. And for those who already have it, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MONTELLO HIGH
MEMORIES! Let’s make another awesome story! ;)

P.S. I’m still giving FREE reads on Wattpad. I’m still not taking it down from the
site. You can also grab a copy of it from bookstores. So why the freezing hell are
you still asking for Soft Copies? Hahaha! No, not mad. It’s just that this seems to
be the hottest FAQ of the universe! And my burning answer is NO, I don’t give soft
copies, sweethearts. ;)

P.S.S. The soundtrack is still on for this Chapter: You Found Me by The Fray

Enjoy reading!

+Siel Alstreim+

*****

Chapter Eight: The Dead Man of Christmas Day

Where is he?

I would kill just to find an answer to this question. There is only one way he
could’ve taken to get away. He couldn’t escape through the gates of Arturia
mansion--someone from the house would have seen him. Woods. The approaching sun is
already erasing the shadows of the night. I must find him before the morning comes.

Nanunuot pa rin ang lamig sa aking katawan. I think it’s going to freeze me from
within. Matagal na panahon na rin simula nang mapadpad ako sa mga kakahuyan sa
likurang bahagi ng mansion. And it’s not the perfect time to be attacked by
memories. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagtakbo. The end of the woods would lead me to a
tall brick wall. It will be a dead end. Wala siyang matatakbuhan. Mabilis kong
narating ang dulong bahagi ng mga kakahuyan at naikuyom ko na lang ang aking mga
palad sa tanawing nakita ko. Ilang taon na nga ba simula nang huli akong magawi sa
lugar na ito? Masyado bang matagal na panahon na ang lumipas, dahilan upang maging
higante ang mga punong ito at umakbay ang mga sanga sa tuktok ng pader? Hindi.
Hindi siya pwedeng makatakas!
Agad akong bumalik ng mansion at saka sumakay ng sasakyan. I drive it around the
driveway like some retired crazy car racer at saka pinaharurot sa kalsada. Iniliko
ko ang kotse sa daan kung saan makikita ko ang likurang bahagi ng mansion.
Nagsisimula nang lumiwanag at mahihirapan akong matunton sya sa ilalim ng araw. I’m
just really used on working at night. Reaping at night. Nang marating ko ang mataas
na pader na naghihiwalay sa Arturia Mansion at sa lipunan, mukhang tama ang naging
hinala ko. He climbed the trees. I don’t know how he survived the fall and be gone
so fast. It’s a high wall. Kung isa lang ordinaryong tao ang tatalon nito, malamang
ay hindi nito magagawang makalayo sa lugar na ito. Gangster. He must be one of the
Montello High School gangsters. Of course, he’s the Mafia Boss’ friend. A traitor
friend. And he’s a gangster.

Isang pang-publikong sasakyan ang dumaan sa kalsadang pinanggalingan ko. Ang lugar
na nakasulat sa plaka ng bus ay patungong timog. Isang pamilyar na lugar. Malapit
sa lokasyon na kamakailan lamang ay narating ko na. Muli kong pinaandar ang
sasakyan at saka inunahan ang tumatakbong bus. He must have ridden the bus before
this one. Subalit bakit sa lugar na iyon? Bakit sa taong iyon?

The place is more than thirty minutes away from the Arturia Mansion. Exactly half
an hour from Arturia University. Ilang minuto bago mag-alas sais nang marating ko
ang lugar. Everyone must still be sleeping due to the exhaustion brought by
Christmas celebrations. I parked the car and scanned the area. It’s too quiet.
Well, there were only very few houses around here and the road seemed to be a
little bit far from them. Isang minuto na ang lumilipas subalit wala pa rin akong
nakikitang bakas niya. I was about to go out of the car nang isang bus ang huminto
sa kalsada sa di-kalayuan. I looked at it intently and waited for the one who’ll
alight. And–found him!

Hindi muna ako kumilos hanggang sa muling pag-andar ng sasakyan. Mukha namang hindi
niya napansin ang kinaroroonan ko. I just watched him limping on the ground. Nang
masiguro kong sa bahay ng taong iyon sya patungo ay saka ko pinagpasyahan na
kumilos. Kinuha ko ang baril mula sa compartment ng sasakyan at saka mabilis na
tinakbo ang pagitan namin. He’s already on the porch and about to ring the bell
nang maabutan ko sya. Mukhang nagulat sya nang dumampi ang dulo ng baril ko sa
sintido niya, dahilan upang matigil siya sa akmang pag-doorbell.

“Just because I didn’t kill you on your first day doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna
kill you today,” malamig ang tono kong sabi na tila naging dahilan ng pagrehistro
ng takot sa kanyang mukha. He’s frightened of me. I’m a reaper. I can scare people
whenever I want to. Who said that I can’t make a monster out of this pretty face?
Gamit ang baril ay iminuwestra ko sa kanya na maglakad palayo ng bahay. Our
surrounding is starting to take on a dark grey color and the annoying yellow shades
will soon envelop everything. Another start of a long day for me.

Naglalakad na kami patungo sa kotse nang mahanap niya ang sariling boses. “I didn’t
escape, Henrietta,” wika niya. Hindi ako sumagot. Obviously, he is lying.

Itinulak ko sya sa passenger seat at saka isinara ang pinto. Muli kong inilibot ang
paningin ko sa lugar bago sumakay sa driver’s seat.

“I didn’t escape—“

Natigil sya sa akmang pagsasalita nang tiningnan ko siya nang matiim. The look I
usually give whenever it’s time for people to keep silent. He swallowed his words
and didn’t attempt to continue what he’s about to say. Binawi ko ang tingin ko sa
kanya at pinaandar ang sasakyan. The day hasn’t even started and I’m already tired
of it. Tahimik na rin lang niyang itinuon ang paningin sa kalsada habang ako’y
nagmamaneho. This drive doesn’t make me feel comfortable. Ngayon lang rumehistro sa
isip ko ang hitsura ng sakay ko. For a Christmas day, he seemed to be a mournful
boy in a graveyard. The dark circles under his eyes show that he’d been through a
lot. Not physically, though. Emotionally stressed. And he seems to have been crying
all night.

“You’re still alive. That’s where you should focus your attention,” wika ko. I
don’t normally give comments about things around me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit
kusang lumabas ang bagay na iyon sa bibig. Tila ako nagsisimula ng isang
konbersasyon.

“I’m a dead man. I’m breathing, of course. But I’m still a dead man.” Malungkot
niyang sabi. I’m not expecting such kind of sadness from a traitor.
Hindi ako sumagot. Whatever is causing him sadness, I think it’s the price he
should pay for doing what he did. I pity him and yet, I know that I shouldn’t pity
him. I should only think of my own personal mission. I shouldn’t consider anything
aside from that. I only have one target. The rest will just be part of the shadows.

“I didn’t escape.” Mukhang nahagilap niyang muli ang lakas ng loob upang magsalita.
“I went there to apologize. I felt like I need to tell her I'm sorry. Hangga’t
hindi ko iyon nagagawa ay mukhang hindi ko kakayaning mabuhay. I’m a dead man.”
People are always like this--doing things they’d regret doing. They’d go out of the
right path and expect that those they cared about would always take them back. Some
are fortunate enough. Sometimes, it’s not always the case.

“So you actually think you can still live?" Hindi ko maiwasang ikomento. Alam kong
maaaring kamatayan niya ang kahantungan ng mga plano ko. And I know that he’s aware
of that, too. How could he still think of living?

“Even if it’s just a day after the forgiveness, I think I will still live. Even if
I only have a short time left to live... One day, one hour, one minute... It's
worth it to be able to keep breathing,” aniya.

I think I completely understand him. He is willing to cling to the last remnants of

life as long as it has meaning. For a traitor, he’s probably not that, bad after
all.

“You’re too hopeful for a dead man,” sagot ko. He just smiled at me sadly.

Medyo nakakalayo na kami sa lugar nang may mahagip ang paningin ko sa likod namin.
It’s a black car. I think this one is following us even though it’s three cars
away. Kung tutuusin, sobrang layo nito at hindi masyadong mahahalata kahit na
mangilan ngilan lang ang mga sasakyan sa kalsada. But my guts have never failed to
give me the right warning signals. I eased up on my driving. A little. Tila
naramdaman nito na alam ko na ang ginagawa niyang pagsunod dahil bumagal ang takbo
ng kotse at nagbigay daan sa mga sasakyan sa likuran nito. Ilang minuto ang lumipas
at hindi ko na nahagilap pa ang sumusunod na kotse. But I know that move. It’s not
an ordinary stalking thing. It’s more than that. Those cautious moves are tactics
done by people like me—like a reaper or something along those lines. And whatever
it is, it’s not good.

Hindi kaya dahil sa kanya? Saglit kong tiningnan ang katabi ko. Mukhang wala siyang
ideya dahil sa lalim ng kanyang iniisip. Nang masiguro kong wala nang bakas ng
kahit anong nakasunod sa amin ay dumiretso na ako sa Arturia Mansion. One of the
guards opened the gate nang makita ang kotse ko. It’s a good thing that my car is
tinted black. Hindi nila makikita kung may kasama ako. Agad akong dumiretso sa
likurang bahagi ng mansion. Mukhang alam na niya ang dapat gawin dahil kusa siyang
bumaba ng kotse nang ihinto ko ito sa tapat ng tree house. He climbed up first at
saka ko siya sinundan. We both stopped on our tracks nang buksan namin ang tree
house.

I forgot to replace the lock Ethan broke by trying to get away. And now, a little
demon has managed to lurk his way in.

“Hetta! Your love nest is so cool!” Wycliffe’s excited squeal froze on his face
nang makita niya kung sino ang kasama kong pumasok ng tree house. Oh, God!

=================

Chapter 9: Saudade and the Dead People

Snow White is a Gangster

Chapter 9: Saudade and the Dead People

This is probably the most awkward moment I had with my brother—with him standing in
front of me with a complete stranger. Well, this man is not a complete stranger at
all. I know his name and I have data about him. I just can’t imagine kung ano ang
tumatakbo sa isip ni Wycliffe ngayon.
After the long silence, he decided to speak. “Are you Christian Grey-ing my
sister?” Tanong niya. Lihim kong nahiling na sana hindi na lang natutong mag-salita
o mag-isip ang kapatid ko.

“No!” Matigas at malakas kong sagot. I have an idea about what my brother is saying
and I don’t like it. Mukhang may idea rin sa bagay na iyon ang lalaking ito base sa
kanyang ekspresyon. Within those tired eyes, I could see amusement. Subalit mukhang
hindi pa tapos si Wycliffe. He turned to me.

“Then are you Ana Steel-ing him?” Tanong niya sa akin. Nagtagis na lang ang aking
mga bagang. I need to stay calm in situations like this.

“Nagkakamali ka ng iniisip. We’re friends. I’m—”

“He’s Elric,” mabilis kong sagot. Saglit na napatingin sa akin ang lalaking kasama
ko at saka tumangu-tango at inilahad ang kamay sa aking kapatid. Agad naman iyong
tinanggap ni Wycliffe.

“I’m Wycliffe Arturia,” replied my brother. With that, the atmosphere seemed to
loosen up. “If you are friends then why haven’t she introduced you to us?” Tanong
muli ni Wycliffe.

“Because... because I asked her to keep it a secret. I’m... I’m an author,” Ethan
Montreal glanced at me and I nodded. Yes, I get his drift. So now, he is Elric and
he is an author. “Kasalukuyan akong nagpapahinga mula sa pagsusualt. I don’t want
to risk being recognized while on this vacation.”

The lies we are fabricating for my brother could be complicated but as long as it
isn’t affecting my main goal, I am fine with it. Mukha namang mas naging interesado
ang kapatid ko sa gawa-gawang propesyon ni Ethan.
“You are a writer? Anong mga isinusulat mo na?”

“Novels.” Nakangiti at matipid na sagot ni—Elric.

“Seriously? That’s cool! Anong mga novels ang mga na-published mo na?”

Saglit na natahimik si Ethan. I tensed, waiting to see how he will answer this and
working out on another possible fabrication if I had to. My brother loves to read
books. Isang mali at hindi tugmang impormasyon ay hindi iyon makakalampas kay
Wycliffe. I grit my teeth. I don’t like lying. Hindi kasama sa mga abilidad ko ang
pagsisinungaling. I can conceal and hide my movement, my thoughts and my emotions.
But lying is a different game. People just couldn’t read through me. But this
little devil in front of me is an exemption. He can easily read me when I’m lying.

“Saudade.”

Ethan interrupted my train of thoughts nang muli siyang magsalita. Impressive, in a

way. Mukhang sanay magsinungaling ang taong ito. Siya ang tipo ng taong kadalasan
ay hindi ko pinagtutuunan ng pansin. Subalit kung anumang negatibong emosyon ang
naramdaman ko tungkol sa kanyang pagsisinungaling ay siya namang kabaligtaran ng
kislap ng mga mata ng kapatid ko.

“I’ve never met a writer before! Hindi ko pa rin nababasa ang libro mo. But wait
until this December vacation is over and I’ll surely find it!” Excited na wika ni
Wycliffe.

“Yeah, thanks. I’m writing another book so I really don’t want anyone to find and
disturb me. Kaya naman I asked your sister na ipahiram muna sa akin ang tree house
niyo.”
“Don’t worry! Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell even my mom and dad!” And
with that I think they made a deal. Matapos sagutin ni Ethan ang ilang katanungan
ni Wycliffe tungkol sa librong isinulat daw niya ay lumabas na ng tree house si
Wycliffe. After this, I have to deal with that kid. But for now, kailangan ko
munang kausapin ang taong ito.

Agad na nabura ang tila tunay na ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Kung anuman ang mga
pinagdaanan niya, sa tingin ko ay mahusay siya s apagsusuot ng masakara. But
looking behind those masks, I can’t help but pity him. Pity the soul behind it.

“How long do you think you can fool my brother?” Seryoso kong tanong. He looked at
me and smiled weakly.

“As long as you need it for your plan?” Sagot niya. Some part of me wanted to feel
guilty because of how he said it. He didn’t say it like he wanted to show me how
bad of a person I am to use him. Instead, sinabi niya iyon na tila iyon ang
nararapat. He said it like he’s not against my plan at all. And that’s how it made
things morally wrong but practically right.

And because I’m not really sure how I should respond to that, I went back to our
lies. “Saudade, huh,” I said, making his smile a little bit genuine.

“My favourite book. It’s not popular. No one really gave much attention to the
writer so I think your brother will have a hard time finding more information about
the Author of it.” Sagot niya. I nodded. As long as I can keep my plan in place
without dragging my brother through it, I’m on it.

I prepared to leave but not without giving a warning.

“Next time you make me look for you, I will end your life.” I made sure that my
voice conveyed how serious I am. It worked. I saw the tension crept back in his
face. I climb down the tree house. The lock is broken; I have to put a new one. For
now, I just have to trust the weakness of this guy not to run away again. After
everything, he won’t be able to do another stunt like this, I think.

Dumiretso ako sa mansion at saka hinanap si Wycliffe.

Mukha namang gagawin niya ang pinangako niya kay Ethan. If there’s a good thing
about Wycliffe, it’s how he keeps his promises. If he promised to give you a
Christmas gift then he would. It’s just that his choices of gifts are sometimes...
surprising. Wycliffe did buy the book after Christmas vacation. But he hasn’t read
it yet. He said that it doesn’t appeal to him right now and would read it once he
finds the right mood. I don’t know what kind of mood he’s in now and the books he
read at this moment. Ang importante s angayon ay ang pagtupad niya sa ipinangako
niya.

Everything went smoothly as December ends. Ethan didn’t attempt to escape at all.
Sa halip ay tila pinanindigan niya ang pagiging manunulat sapagkat madalas ko na
siyang nakikitang may hawak na pluma at kwaderno. Kung anuman ang sinusulat niya ay
hindi ko na ipinagtuunan ng pansin. In the meantime, I got busy preparing for life.
Aside from my reaper plans, I still have to go back to school and be a normal
student.

I was about to go out of the mansion to check on my bait when my Dad and a visitor
stopped me on my track.

“Heading somewhere?” My Dad said as his way of greeting. Hindi ako sumagot.Sa halip
ay pormal ko silang nilapitan at hinarap. Ngumiti sa akin ang kasama niya na
sinagot kong pagtango.

“I’m sorry, Detective. My daughter doesn’t like smiling.” Pabirong paumanhin ng

aking ama.

“Oh, I’m well acquainted with that fact. But, your daughter is still one of the
loveliest young ladies I’ve ever met,” sagot nito na diretsong nakipagtitigan sa
akin. I definitely know him. I gave him a deadly stare right when my father
couldn’t see.

“Hija, this is Detective Patrick Penber. He said he was fascinated by Arturia

University and wanted to visit it. He even wants to meet the heiress of the
institution.”

I nodded slowly at my father. “I’ll take it from here, Dad.” I smiled at him. He
pats my back at saka pumasok sa loob ng mansion upang hanapin ang aking ina.

Nang maiwan kami ng Detective ay saka ko inalis ang lahat ng pretenses ng pagiging
isang heiress. No need to pretend. This guy knows me as a reaper, probably had the
guts to show up to my home looking for a reaper. So I gave him my reaper stance at
nakipagtitigan ng matiim. Matapos ang ilang segundo ay iginiya ko siya sa labas ng
mansion. Dire-diretso ako sa pulang sasakyan na alam kong pag-aari niya at saka
umupo sa passenger seat. Ilang sandali ang lumipas at saka pumasok na rin ang
detective sa kanyang sasakyan.

“Drive.” Utos ko.

Nakaloloko siyang ngumiti sa akin na tila hindi siya makapaniwalang inuutusan ko

siya. Isang mabilis na pagkilos ng mga kamay ang aking ginawa at agad na napasa
akin ang sarili niyang baril. Tila walang anumang nangyari na itinutok ko iyon sa
kanya.

“Now, drive.”
“Easy, okay? I’ll drive.” Pagsuko ng detective at saka pinaandar ang sasakyan
palabas ng mansion. “It’s rude, you know. Not saying Goodbye to your father.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’ll forget your existence.” Mabilis kong sagot.

Mukhang agad niyang naintindihan ang ibig kong sabihin dahil atubili niya akong
tinapunan ng tingin habang nagmamaneho. “You can’t kill a detective without the
permission of your Mafia, right?” He confidently stated. The kind of confidence
that I want to break.

“The Mafia Freniere would gladly erase you.” Sagot ko. This stupid detective is
making me irritated. Too irritated that he could change my calm mood.

“Look, Reaper—” I cut him off by giving a deathly glare. He relented. “Fine. Miss
Arturia, I know who you are already. Ever since that incident in Montello High, I
couldn’t erase your face in my mind. I was thinking that I’ve seen your face from
somewhere. And that’s when I learned it. You are surprisingly easy to investigate.
High profile heiresses like you have top records.” The way he said it made me
frown.

“So what do you want now?” Hindi ko alam kung paano niya naiisip na kaya niya akong
kontrolin dahil lang sa mga impormasyong iyon. Itinigil niya ang sasakyan sa may
hindi kalayuan sa mansion. Agad niyang binuksan ang dalang leather bag at saka
inilabas ang isang litrato. He gave it to me.

“This kid has been missing ever since the incident.” Wika niya. I gritted my teeth
as the guy from the photo stared back at me.
“What does it have to do with me?” Walang emosyon kong tanong.

“Nothing, I hope. I’m just here to cross-check the facts I have at hand. Miss
Arturia, I know about the Reapers’ Game.”

“I gave you Steins.” May diin kong sabi. I think it this detective even earned
something good from that catch since he was able to put a giant drug syndicate in
jail.

“He’s not the only big fish in the game, right?” Wika niya. I just stared at him
blankly. “Ethan Montreal is one of the big fishes. And he didn’t come back.”

I looked straight at the road while keeping the gun pointing at him. “Probably,
dead.” Wika ko.

“We didn’t find a body. Pero, I was wondering why you didn’t bring Steins
personally after you got him?” Tanong niya na tila nakikipagkwentuhan lang tungkol
sa klima. Umaasta siyang kumportable sa sitwasyon namin.

“You’re right,” I admitted at saka ako humarap sa kanya. “There is a bigger fish.
And that’s the Novou assassin. I went after him but he managed to escape.” Wika ko.
It’s quite true.

Saglit na napaisip ang Detective na tila pino-proseso niya sa kanyang utak ang
impormasyon. Ilang saglit pa ay saka siya tumango. “So why is this kid still
missing?” Mahina niyang sabi na tila ibinulong niya lang iyon sa kanyang sarili. I
decided to rest my arm and give him back the gun. Tila abala pa rin siya sa kanyang
iniisip nang tanggapin niya ang baril. It’s like some maze opened up and he’s busy
solving it. I opened the side door. Subalit bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng sasakyan
ay kinuha ko muna ang atensyon niya.
“Next time you try to enter the Arturia Mansion or even Arturia University,
consider yourself dead.” Wika ko at saka tuluyang lumabas ng sasakyan. Naglakad na
lang ako pabalik ng mansion.

I’m not stupid. This detective is good at getting the clues. I’m sure he’s on to
something kaya ako ang tinanong niya tungkol sa nawawalang estudyante ng Montello—
my bait. And this detective might be brave enough to get tangled in this messy
situation in the Mafia. But it will be a waste to silence him...

While walking, I tried to think what I can do in this circumstance. And as for now,
I have two options. I think it will be practical to the mafia side if I erase him.
But first, I could use him to help me with my mission—even if he doesn’t know it.

=================

Chapter 10: The Root of All The Consequences

Chapter 10: The Root of all Those Consequences

Author’s Note:

Dear Readers,

Thank you for continuously waiting. For now, I’m trying to be back on track. For
those who are in Laguna and have their Montello High: School of Gangsters book
already, meet me in Imall Canlubang! And treat me pizza and coffee and blueberry
cheesecake. Oh, I want to add leche flan and yema cake on the list, too. Haha!

But seriously, I will be in Imall Canlubang Laguna on October 18 for Pandayan

Bookshop/Pop Fiction Book Signing. So for those who are available on that day,
let’s have a date. See you!

Picking out garlic on my midnight food,

+Siel Alstreim+

********

The ground is still covered with mist as I step on it. I tried to keep my normal
pace. I know everyone is watching me while I’m jogging. Mahigit isang oras ko nang
ginagawa ang pagtakbo sa Arturia field at naisipan na rin ng mga kasamahan ko sa
team na magpahinga. Subalit mas pinili kong magpatuloy. Running gives me a sense of
calmness. For me, it serves as a gateway to think clearly and privately.

Subalit nag-atubili ako sa pagtakbo nang maramdaman kong may iba pang nakamasid sa
akin maliban sa mga normal na estudyante. And that’s when I saw her on one of the
far bleachers. She really is like a ghost. Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya at mukha
namang inaasahan niya rin iyon. She seemed to be having fun watching the school
activities. I wonder if she’s ever gotten into a school before.

“How could you deal with it?” Tanong niya nang umupo ako sa kanyang tabi.

Nagtataka akong tumingin kay Forest. I have a lot of things I’m dealing with at the
moment subalit dahil iniisip kong pinatutungkulan niya ay ang aking pagtakbo, I
simply said, “Just run.”

Mukhang hindi iyon ang kanyang ibig sabihin sapagkat tiningnan niya ako na tila
isang milyong milya ang layo ng sagot ko. “I mean this building of shit! It’s full
of tiny skirts and make-ups! And there are no male specimens aside from homework
reapers!”
Kumunot ang noo ko. “Homework reapers?” Nagtataka kong tanong.

She rolled her eyes before responding. “The teachers. They’re always reaping for
homeworks,” sagot niya. Kung gayon ay naranasan naman pala niyang magkaroon ng
paaralan.

“It’s an all-girls school, Forest,” sagot ko.

“Well, at least hire teachers who look like models. Or gym trainers for teaching
P.E.—”

“Is there a point to all of this? You didn’t come here just to give me a lecture on
how we manage Arturia University, right?” Putol ko sa kung ano pa man niyang
sasabihin.

She gave me one of her sarcastic smile that says ‘I know you don’t want to hear my
next words’ before going to the main business.

“I suggest we burn Montello High School to the ground.”

To be quite honest, I’ve been a master at keeping my emotions off my facial

expressions. Even with Forest and her string of strangeness, nagagawa ko nang
umaktong tila normal lang para sa akin ang mali sa takbo ng pag-iisip niya. Still,
what she just said still managed to make my mouth hang open. What in the world is
she saying?
“But we just gained the territory.” Wika ko.

“But it is another building of shit and also full of homework reapers and
gangsters. Oh! Paano nila nagagawang matagalan ang school na yun?” Seryoso niyang
litanya.

“Forest, that school is already closed. Give it a rest,” sagot ko. Mukhang hindi
niya nagustuhan ang nagging pagpunta niya sa paaralang iyon. But no matter how much
she dislikes it, she couldn’t burn it to the ground. It is now the property of the
Mafia at nakadepende na sa mga Freniere kung ano ang gagawin nila roon.

“Well, that’s the reason why I’m here. We should go to that building of shit and
open it for the studious gangsters.”

Now she got my attention. What did she mean by that?

“I don’t like wasting my saliva if it’s not for French kissing so I’m not going to
go all story-teller on you. Fix yourself and let’s go there. Tres is already on his
way.”

She’s really serious about not liking Montello High. And why is Tres on his way
there?

Nagpaalam ako saglit upang magbihis at saka gamit ang sasakyan ko ay mabilis kaming
nagtungo sa paaralan. Questions assaulted me as I was driving. Why are they going
to open it again? After the incident, I doubt if there will still be students
willing to stay in that place. Subalit napatunayan kong mali ang nasa isip ko nang
marating namin ang lugar. I should have known. They are not ordinary students. They
are Montello High gangsters. Kasama namin sila sa pagtugis sa The Stones
Organization. The Reapers played the game, the students saved their school.
Underestimating them is a bad move.

Pinanatili ko ang distansya namin mula sa gate ng school. Maraming estudyante ang
nasa labas niyon at hinihintay na magbukas ito. Ang ilan ay nagpupumilit na akyatin
ang mataas na bakod.

“It will be so fun shooting up on that wall,” nakangising sabi ni Forest habang
nakatingin sa pader ng eskuwelahan kung saan ay may mga umaakyat. Hindi ko na lang
siya pinansin at sa halip ay pinagmasdan ang palagid, looking for threats. I think
everything here is safe. Maliban sa mga estudyante ay wala na akong nakikitang
kahina-hinala sa lugar. May ilang mga tauhan ng Mafia sa paligid at sa palagay ko,
kaming dalawa lang ni Forest ang reaper na naririto ngayon.

Maya-maya pa ay ilang mga Cadillacs ang dumating kasunod niyon any ang isang itim
na Hummer. And I absolutely know who is riding inside that monster car. Like car,
like owner.

“I’ll go closer. It’s not safe—”

“I scanned everything bago kita puntahan. It is safe,” putol ni Forest. Mukhang

alam niya ang akma kong gagawin dahil nakangiti siya nang lingunin ko.

Nakatanaw lang ako habang pinagmamasdan ang pagbaba ng mga sakay ng sasakyan. I
touched my gun. Nakahanda ang baril ko sa anumang panganib. I saw him got off and I
gripped my gun tightly.

Amazement dawned on the students’ faces nang makita siya. It’s like they couldn’t
believe that they would see Giovanni Freniere’s brother again. And he’s just
smirking at them like he’s enjoying the situation. With the number of girls
present, he probably is enjoying it.
“Uh-oh. Make way to our long-haired Superstar!” Forest sang in mockery while
watching.

He walked over to the crowd of people. Mukhang kinakausap niya ang mga estudyante
tungkol sa paaralan. They looked like they were protesting on what he was saying
until a girl approached him. Agad kong namukhaan ang babaeng iyon. She is... she
is...

“Way to go Giovanni’s girl!” Wika muli ni Forest na tila nagko-komento lang sa

isang basketball game.

I watched as the students made a decision to invade their school. Ironically, they
are really invading their school. Tsk. Gangsters. They always resort to violence. I
am waiting for the Mafia guards to make their move when that girl suddenly punched
Tres on his face.

In a short beat, I found myself running towards them. Even before the Mafia guards
could respond to that attack on Tres, I was already grabbing her away from him and
was pushing her to the ground. I automatically pointed my gun on her.

Nagkatinginan kami at mukhang pareho kaming nagulat sa ekspresyon namin. She is

surprised by my sudden appearance and I am surprised of my reaction. Mabilis rin
siyang nakabawi dahil matalim na tingin ang ibinigay niya saken.

“Shoot, bitch! You can never stop us!” She screamed. Her animosity flipped my
reaper senses on and gave her one of my deadliest glare. Mukha namang naapektuhan
siya nun dahil nakita ko ang pag-rehistro ng pangamba sa mukha niya.
A hand grabbed my arm with my gun and pulled me away from her. Napatingin ako sa
taong pumigil sa akin. Our eyes met and I couldn’t help the pain that hit me as he
helped the girl to stand up. Stop it, Hetta. You should be over that.

“Reaper, watch your move,” seryosong wika ni Tres. Napatingin sa akin ang babae na
tila nagulat sa biglang pagiging seryoso ni Tres. I felt a flicker of emotion
passed through my eyes as Giovanni’s girl watched me for a beat. I have no way of
knowing if she noticed the pain flicker in my expression before I schooled my
features to a blank face.

Mabilis ring kumawala ang babae sa pagkakahawak ni Tres. “Don’t touch me, you
monster!” Singhal niya kay Tres. I gritted my teeth, partly from protocol, partly
from how free she is in telling Tres off. No one in the mafia is allowed to treat
him like that. At least not to his face. Not even Forest. But why is he allowing
this girl to do it?

“Do you really want to enter in this school?” He smirked at saka humalukipkip.
Ikinatigil ng mga estudyante ang kaniyang tanong at napalingon ang mga ito sa
direksyon namin.

“Yes!” Matapang na sagot ng babae.

His smirked even grew wider and darker. “Then are you all willing to pay the
consequences of opening Montello High again?”

Natahimik ang paligid sa tanong niyang iyon. It sounded like a threat even though
he veiled his statements in a very non-threatening manner. I could feel the
students weighing his words. Maya-maya ay tila nagkasundong tumango-tango ang mga
estudyante.
“Whatever it is,” the girl voiced out. She is brave, I’d give her that.

Maya-maya pa ay sumenyas na si Tres sa mga tauhan ng Mafia upang buksan ang gate.
Everyone rushed inside like they’ve never been home in a while. They must have
valued this place so much.

Naiwan si Tres, ako at ang mga tauhan sa labas ng gate habang si Forest ay
nakamasid pa rin sa paligid. Nagulat ako nang biglang hilahin ng malakas ni Tres
ang braso ko at naglakad patungo sa Hummer. Why is he dragging me now?

“Someone drive her car. That bitch with her doesn’t know how to use cool things.”
Utos niya na ang pinatutungkulan ay si Forest. Tahimik na lang akong umupo sa
passenger seat nang buksan niya iyon. Seryoso siyang sumunod sa driver’s seat at
saka pinaandar ang sasakyan. Here we go again. He’ll take me somewhere and then
leave me by myself. As usual.

“As for you, reaper, you need some punishment for acting on your own.” He said as
he took on the road.

=================

Chapter 11: Melancholy of the Past

Chapter Eleven: Melancholy of the Past

Tres stopped the car beside the sidewalk and lit a cigarette. I tried to open the
window but it was automatically locked. I looked at him exasperatedly as he blew
smokes out. Does he plan to suffocate us?

“You are very careless, reaper. You could be dead as soon as you pointed a gun on
her,” wika niya habang naninigarilyo. Pinilit kong hindi langhapin ang usok. Was
this the punishment he was talking about? Lung cancer?

“He tried to hurt a leader of Freniere Mafia. I was just doing my job,” seryoso
kong sagot.
“You haven’t realized it yet, right?” Wika niya na ikinakunot ng nuo ko.

“Realized what?” I asked.

“That girl’s value. She’s very important to Giovanni. She’s even more important
than you. You are a valuable reaper, of course, but that girl is very important.”

Pinilit kong hindi ipakita ang sakit na kusa kong naramdaman sa pagkukumpara sa
amin. I wondered if this would ever stop—this pain. I had walled my heart in a cage
of ice and yet he could always hurt me in the worst of ways, whether he knew it or
not.

“I see. The girl must also be so important to you that you are protecting her in
the absence of your brother.” I didn’t know how those words got out but it was too
late for me to bring them back. He was already smirking at my direction.

“Are you jealous, my reaper?” He asked in voice that is dangerously sweet. He’d
never been sweet to me and now that he was doing it, I realized that I hate it. He
was treating me like one of his nameless, faceless flirt buddies. I felt insulted.
He was putting me on the same level as those girls. I am a reaper! I’m not just any
girl!

I reined in my frustrations. His treatment of me had never been better, anyway. It

shouldn’t matter now. I should learn to let it go. Ignore it, then.

“I still need to check the Mafia grounds,” I managed, wishing he would just let me
go.

“You have another task, reaper.”

I sat up straighter. Now he was getting down to business. Good, then. Reaper tasks
were always good. “What is it?” Pormal kong tanong. Now that we were back to the
usual Mafia boss and reaper relationship, I felt relieved.

“You are ordered to watch Summer Leondale.”

I processed the name in my head. Right, Summer Leondale. That Montello Girl.
Giovanni’s girl. I knew it had something to do with the seasons. At least now, she
wasn’t just a nameless face. Wait... did Tres meant what I think he meant?

“I can’t do that task. I’m a reaper, Tres. I’m not a babysitter.” Tutol ko nang
mapagtantong mabuti ang utos.

“It’s a mission, reaper. Sir Algernon Freniere personally assigned you to this
mission,” wika niya.
I could not believe this! Why me? Of course, I could not say that to my boss. I
struggled to keep my face expressionless. “How about the Hunter, Sir Maximus Brown?
They seem to know each other. Or... maybe Forest?” I had nothing against that girl
but I didn’t want to be around her. I was just not comfortable with her. She seemed
like trouble.

Nagtaas ng kilay si Tres. “This is the first time you’re refusing to do a mission
that doesn’t include killing.” Tila nag-isip siyang sandali. “How about I assign
you to assassinate a certain businessman instead?” Agad akong na-alarma.

I silently took a heavy breath. He wasn’t giving me a choice and he knew it. “Give
me the details of this mission. And everything we have on the girl’s profile. My
role and how connected I had to be with her.” Pagsuko ko.

Mukha namang nagustuhan niya ang pagpapatalo ko sa argumento.

“Already sent all the information on your account,” he said confidently. “It seems
like some of the members of the Stone Organization want revenge against her,”
dagdag niya.

Saglit akong natahimik. I would be Summer Leondale’s security detail then. I tried
summing up this mission. I thought we killed the last of that organization. Agad
ring naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang lumapit si Tres sa direksyon ko. My heart
started to beat faster when he went through me and opened my side of the door.
Nothing’s different. He was still going to kick me out of the car in a place I
didn’t know.

“You can start do and do your mission however you want, reaper. For now, I still
have to find that snake little boy,” he said.

I looked at him intently. Snake boy? “Giovanni’s friend in Montello High?” maingat
kong tanong.

“Not his friend anymore.” Iyon lang at saka niya isinara at pinaandar ang kotse.
Naiwan akong nakatingin lang sa papalayong sasakyan.

Now it was getting more complicated. Tres would never stop until he finds him. But
why was he taking that mission personally? What’s his deal with Ethan Montreal?

I decided to call Arturia Mansion to ask for a driver. I had to prepare for this
mission but I still had to go to Arturia University since the holiday vacation was
already over. I guess I could only watch her at night but not during the day.

I was still pondering it when I reached the University again. I saw my car on the
parking lot. I hope the people from the Mafia didn’t scratch it. Sa ngayon,
malamang mayroong mga Mafia guards sa Montello High dahil isa na ito sa mga
teritoryo ng organisasyon. I had to treat this mission seriously dahil malinaw na
seryoso rin ang Freniere Mafia sa importansya ng babaeng iyon. I gritted my teeth
against the memory of how Tres described her. More important than me, he said.

I sent a message to the Basketball Team coach saying that I wouldn’t attend the
practice. I had to figure out this mission carefully. Kailangan ko ring pag-aralan
kung ano ang magiging epekto nito sa personal kong misyon. Agad akong dumiretso sa
Arturia Mansion. I decided to sneak into the Tree House to check my bait. I found
him writing something on one of my blank notebooks from my small shelf. Lumingon
sya at itinigil ang ginagawa nang makita ako.

“Hindi ako tatakas, kaya hindi mo na kailangang magmadali sa pag-uwi,” aniya.

Tiningnan ko sya nang matiim at saka dumako ang paningin ko sa notebook.

Apparently, he was not just writing. He was drawing a ship. Mukhang napansin niya
rin kung ano ang pumukaw sa atensyon ko.

“Gusto kong maging isang kapitan ng barko.”

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong isagot sa sinabi niyang iyun dahil hindi ko rin
alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya. Mukhang masyado na syang nakukulong sa
lugar na ito.

“Do you want me to bring more books?” Tanong ko na lang. Mayroon akong mga libro sa
tree house but they were classics. Wala akong mga bagong libro na naka-stock sa
lugar dahil matagal ko nang hindi ito pinupuntahan.

“No need. I’m enjoying Alfred Tennyson’s collection of poems,” nakangiti niyang
sabi.

“You should never leave this place from now on,” wika ko. Ngayong hinahanap sya ni
Tres, mas kailangan kong mag-ingat. For now, Ethan Montreal was safe here. Tres
might scope the whole world for him but I doubt Tres would ever think to look for
Giovanni’s friend in this Tree House. He’d never been here for a long time and I
knew he never planned to visit this place anymore. This place was a portal to the
painful part of his past. Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot para sa lugar na ito. Just like
that, this Tree House was rejected. This used to be my favourite place in the
world.

“I won’t.” Determinado niyang sagot. Hindi ko alam kung ibabalita ko sa kanya ang
muling pagbubukas ng Montello High. I don’t normally give information to people.
But I think he needs to have a glimpse of the outside world.

“I went to Montello High.” Mukhang tama ang hinala kong interesado siya sa kaniyang
paaralan dahil mukhang naghihintay sya sa sunod ko pang sasabihin. Nang hindi ko na
sinundan pa ang aking pahayag ay siya na ang kusang nag-ungkat ng detalye.

“Did you see her? Is she okay?” Tanong niya. I think I knew who he was referring to
and I wondered. Why was everyone thinking of her? What was so special about her?
“I’m going to watch and protect her from people who want to harm her. That’s my new
mission.” Seryoso at malamig ang tinig kong sabi.

Tila naman hindi sya na-apektuhan ng panlalamig ko. “Please, take care of her.
Don’t worry about me. Hindi ako tatakas. Just protect her,” pakiusap niya.
Pinagmasdan ko sya. So, he obviously likes the girl.

“She doesn’t like you, Ethan Montreal.” Diretso kong pahayag ng katotohanan.

Ngumiti lang sya sa akin at sinabing, “I know.”

I was stunned at hindi ako nakasagot. Caring for a person who doesn’t care if you
exist or not? That’s one of the saddest things I could think of. And worse if the
person you care for the most hates you. That was too much for a heart to handle.
Sounds like someone you know, Hetta?

Hindi ko pinansin ang sarili kong tinig na tila nang-uuyam lamang sa akin. I am a
reaper. I had a mission. I didn’t have time to be sentimental. Keeping the ice
princess up again, I decided to be downright cruel. Si Ethan Montreal ay isang pa-
in lamang ng plano ko. And I was willing to use his emotions against him—to get
what I wanted.

“If you try to escape, I might as well kill her before catching you again.” Malamig
kong sabi.

Tumingin lang sya sa akin at saka tumango. “I won’t escape,” seryoso niyang sabi.

Tiningnan ko lang sya at hindi nagsalita. I didn’t know why I suddenly felt so sad.
He was probably aware of stories like this. And I think we both knew too well how
it will end.

=================

Chapter 12: Montello High

Chapter 12: Montello High

“There’s no way that I’m watching an annoying pest voluntarily and whole-
heartedly!”
I already knew she was going to protest my proposal. But I didn’t think there was
anyone else but her I could trust with this mission.

“It’s not like you’re going to do this for the rest of your life.” I pushed the
idea but she still looked like she'd rather eat worms than do what I was
requesting.

“If given a chance, I'd willingly rather be her killer and now you want me to watch
her? Do I look like some guardian angel?” Naiinis na tanong ni Forest.

I had decided that I couldn't do this mission during the day. I have duties at
Arturia University. My dad was not always at the school. Being Director Dresmond
Arturia was not very easy kung kaya’t tinutulungan ko sya sa pamamahala ng
eskuwelahan. Kailangan kong mapanatili ang kaayusan nito habang inaasikaso niya ang
ibang mga bagay. He was other side of the Freniere Mafia. He was the one handling
all the legal assets and connections of the underground organization. Which was why
I needed Forest for this. Getting permission from the mafia leaders to get Forest
as back-up should be easy enough since, like Tres said, Summer Leondale was pretty
important to the mafia now. So I had to use a different type of persuasion.

“Tell me what you want and I will give it to you.” Agad na nagbago ang ekspresyon
ng mukha ni Forest sa sinabi ko. She looked like a child who discovered Santa was
coming on Christmas.

“Anything?” Nakangiti niyang tanong. I tried to read if there was anything

malicious in her smile but I got nothing. She looked innocently harmless enough,
which I knew all too well wasn't true.

“Anything,” pagkumpirma ko.

“Well, build a chapel inside Montello High,” sagot niya. Kumunot ang noo ko. I was
not honestly sure what to expect but this request? Talk about oddball.

“A chapel in a place full of gangsters?" I repeated. She was probably just messing
with me. “You’re going to send the priest that was going to be assigned at that
school in hell instead.”

“That’s not the point. The point is, I want a place I can use while watching our
subject,” sagot niya. Huh? What was up with this girl and churches? She liked being
ferried to old churches and now she wanted to build a new one?

But I didn’t say any of that to her. Instead, I just remarked that, “It will take
time to build it.” Nagkibit lang sya ng balikat.

“It’s okay,” aniya.

I didn’t really get what’s going on with her mind pero pumayag ako sa gusto niya at
sa huli ay nakumbinsi ko rin sya na tulungan ako sa aking misyon. I was still not
happy with this mission even though the mafia had stressed how important this
mission was.

And maybe I understand the mafia. They could never lose another woman important to
the Freniere again. They already lost enough and they shouldn’t take chances.
Nasaksihan ko kung gaano tila nanghina ang mga Freniere noong nawala si Alexandria.
At naramdaman ko rin ang bigat niyon.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang mga normal kong ginagawa sa Arturia University nung araw na
iyon habang nangako si Forest na magbabantay sa paligid ng Montello High. I trust
her when it comes to guarding a target from a distance. Nakapagtataka man subalit
kahit ilang kilometro ang layo niya mula sa lugar ay tila alam niya ang bawat kilos
ng mga tao rito. Well, she wouldn’t be a reaper if she was just an ordinary girl.

Matapos ang lahat ng mga klase ko ay dumiretso na ako sa gym upang mag-paalam sa
coach. Everything here in Arturia was in order. I don’t like messy and chaotic
places. Chaos ruins all the harmony in the surrounding. Subalit nang gabing iyon ay
tila nag-iba ang ikot ng mundo at nagbibiro ang tadhana sapagkat iniharap nito sa
akin ang ‘messy’ at ‘chaotic’ na lugar kong sinasabi. Ang lugar kung nasaan ngayon
si Forest at nagbabantay: Montello High.

Mula sa dulo ng Nightwoods ay ipinasok ko ang kotse at huminto sa kalagitnaan noon.

This place was still as cold as it was when I first ran here to get someone out.

“Wow! How did you know that I’m here?” Narinig kong wika ni Forest mula sa itaas ng
mga puno doon. I looked up and saw her climbed down like a cat from the tree.

“There’s no way that you’ll be watching from the entrance. So I took the back way.
But Forest, you don’t have to come to this place,” sagot ko.

Ngumiti lang sya habang papalapit sa akin at saka sumandal sa sasakyan ko. “I don’t
feel what I know you are feeling towards this place,” wika niya.

Matiim ko syang tiningnan upang hanapin ang katotohanan sa kanyang sinabi. It was
very easy to read mischief through Forest. But whenever she gets serious about
things, I can only see a black, endless mirror. I gave up on reading her.

“This was where the reaper was killed,” tahimik na pahayag ko. Hindi sya sumagot at
nanatiling nakatingin lang sa itaas. Nang hindi pa rin sya kumilos ay muli akong
nagsalita. “I’ll go in. You can leave now, Forest,” wika ko.
Tumingin sya sa akin and I saw a glimpse of emotion in her eyes. It was gone too
soon, though. Maybe it was just a glimpse of a ghost.

“I’ll sleep on top of your car first. I know you got blankets inside.” Muli sana
akong magsasalita upang kumbinsihin siyang umuwi na lang subalit pinutol niya iyon
at sinabing, “I’ll be gone in an hour. Don’t worry about your car."

I looked at the car and then to her. It was not just about the car, though. I just
really don’t like the Nightwoods. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako at saka naglakad
papunta sa Montello High.

Napahinto ako nang ilang metro ang layo mula sa bukana ng eskwelahan. It was 7:00
in the evening and yet everyone seemed to be alive and outside, on the school yard.
There were groups of students lying on the ground and... Rapping? Some of them were
just passing by. Some were night jogging. It looked cluttered compared to the clean
lines of Arturia campus. It was not exactly messy or chaotic, but it felt so
unorganized. I got a sudden itch to clean. Hindi ko alam kung muli akong hahakbang
palabas ng Nightwoods o babalik sa kotse at kakalimutan ang misyon. Sa huli ay
nanaig ang kailangan kong gawin kung kaya’t nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad.

I was about to just stay in the dark subalit natanaw ko sa parking lot ang isang
Hummer. I know whose car that was. Only he would show off anyway he could through a
way that would assert his superiority. I decided to let him know of my presence by
going to the administrator’s office.

I made a scene by coming out of the Nightwoods. Reminded me of slow-motion

movements in movies. I got everyone’s attention and they all stared openly at me. I
didn’t think they remembered me as one of the Reapers who paid Montello High a
visit last Christmas Day dahil sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari. I ignored them and
just continued walking. Malapit na ako sa entrance ng main building nang tatlong
lalaking estudyante ang humarang sa daraanan ko.

“Are you a transferee, Miss?” Tanong ng isa.

“Kung transferee sya, imposibleng hindi umikot ang pangalan niya sa loob ng
eskuwelahan,” another one remarked. “Sa hitsura pa lang,” he paused to leer at me
from head to toe, “she’s definitely going to get attention.”

I looked at them blankly. I didn’t always get this kind of attention since Arturia
was an all-girls school. On the rare occasion that I didn’t like how a guy looks at
me, I teach them a lesson. There were many ways to crush a boy’s ego that wouldn’t
need to end with a murder.

“Bakit hindi ka sumasagot, ha?” Said the second one and then he tried to touch me.
I blocked his arm and twisted it, trying not to break his bones. Napaurong naman
ang dalawa niyang kasama habang hindi maipinta ang mukha niya sa sakit.

“Where is the school director?” Tanong ko.

Atubili at dumadaing niyang inangat ang isang kamay at ituro sa isang direction.
Agad ko siyang binitawan at itinulak palayo. He tumbled before regaining his
balance, clutching his hurt arm close to his chest.

“Where is Summer Leondale?” Muli kong tanong. Nagkatinginan sila at saka itinuro
ang Girl’s dormitory. Agad ko silang tinalikuran at saka naglakad sa unang
direksyong itinuro nila. I stopped at a big door. No need to guess who was inside
this office. I was about to knock when I heard a girl’s laughter. Of course.
Huminga ako nang malalim at saka kumatok.

“Come in,” wika ng baritonong tinig. Atubili kong binuksan ang pinto at saka
tumambad sa akin ang sitwasyon. Sebastian Freniere was sitting on his chair while
there was a woman lying on his desk in a very... compromising position. Honestly,
every single time with this guy sullies my purity and morality. The woman was
wearing very little—only her under garments, actually—while Tres was wearing his
coat and tie. Was she giving him a show? I averted my eyes, giving nothing away. It
would not be a good idea to show any reaction.

“You shouldn’t have said, ‘Come in’,” wika ko habang nakatingin sa ibang direksyon.

“Well, I thought it’s the next girl in line,” sagot niya.

Nanatiling blangko ang ekspresyon at boses ko. “There was no line outside.” Mukhang
walang balak umalis ang babae sa pagkakahiga sa desk dahil hinila pa nito si Tres
palapit sa kanya.

“Oh, so you’re the last. Sorry, but I don’t think you are qualified for the role.”
Wika niya at saka hinawakan sa bewang ang babae.

It was hard talk to him in this kind of situation. I’d rather much face guns and
bombs. “I’m here for the mission. You can go to the Freniere Mansion now and I’ll
look over Montello High,” seryoso kong sabi.

“Well—” Hindi naituloy ni Tres ang sasabihin niya dahil kinuha ng babae ang kanyang
mga labi. I pulled my gun out and walk towards them. I pointed the gun on one of
her breasts and let the cold of its mouth touch her skin.

“How about learning some manners when two adults are talking?” Nagbabanta kong sabi
at tila nahintakutan siyang tumakbo palabas ng office.

Tres smirked while looking at me. “Since you chased away my entertainment, you
should replace her. You’re supposed to lie here on my desk naked,” aniya.
What I should do was probably to slap him with a sexual harassment lawsuit but that
would mean that my father would have to deal with the legalities of that case. I’d
hate to cause my Dad more grief.

“Sorry, I am not qualified for the role,” I said instead, unwittingly full of
mockery, repeating what he said to me earlier.

His jaw twitched and for a while, I tensed, waiting for the kind of cruelty he
doles out to me whenever we were together. But after a second, he just shrugged at
saka pinaikot ang swivel chair na tila hinihintay ang sunod kong sasabihin.

“If you’re going stay here in the evening, why didn’t you just assign the Leondale
mission to yourself?” Tanong ko.

He looked at me and said, “I’m busy tracing the traitor,” kaswal niyang sagot.

“He’s not here,” seryoso kong wika.

“How do you know that?” Natigilan ako sa pagbabalik-tanong niya. If I wasn’t

careful, he was going to find out that I had something to do with Ethen Montreal’s
disappearance. That would burn my plan to the ground.

“It’s pretty obvious,” tangi ko na lang nasabi, feigning nonchalance and

disinterest in the topic.
“He has friends here. Pwedeng isa sa kanila ang nagtatago sa kanya.”

I raised an eyebrow in question. “Not after what he did against the school. He
betrayed them,” I pointed out.

Pinihit muli ni Tres ang kaniyang upuan paharap sa akin. “You should never
underestimate anyone from Montello High,” wika niya at saka tumayo mula sa kanyang
kinauupuan. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad palabas ng opisina.

I just watched him as he disappeared from the door.

“I would never have been a Reaper if I underestimate anyone,” mahina kong sabi.

=================

Chapter 13: Midnight Calls

Chapter 13: Midnight Calls

It’s been weeks and there are still no signs of threats against the girl. Every
reaper is now focused on the newest transaction of the Mafia and I’m still stuck
here watching over a possibly unimportant job. I suggested for a replacement
subalit mukhang ipinako na nila ako sa isang ito. Kung meron mang magandang
naidulot ang sitwasyon, iyon ay ang panandaliang pagkalingat ni Tres sa paghahanap
kay Ethan Montreal. I trust my ability to hide anything from anyone but this is
Tres Freniere I would be dealing with. I wouldn’t put it past him to smell even the
tiniest scent of his prey—and if I’m not careful, I’d end up finding him with his
claws on Ethan’s neck.
Mahina kong sinipa palayo ang maliit na batong nasa harapan ko habang nakasandal sa
likod ng kotse. Things are still normal in Montello High. Well, as normal as this
school can get, at least. I think punching each other’s faces and then laughing
about is considered normal here. Serious rivalry between two gangster groups is
even more common. Silence only exists in the middle of the night where I’m probably
the only one who’s awake. I’m wasting time here. I’m wasting money building
Forest’s chapel on the entrance of the Nightwoods. The students are actually
wondering about the sudden construction on the school grounds. Rumors of Admin
President building his own rest house in the school spread. Sebastian allowing it
fed the idea. There were also conversations about their coming Graduation.

At least tonight it's quiet.

Madilim sa bahagi ng Nightwoods na kinaroroonan ko. Tanging ilaw lang ng kotse ang
nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid. This place is very sad. Maaaring nakakatakot at
napakadilim ng Nightwoods sa mata ng nakararami. But for me, I just think it’s sad.
After hanging out here for so long, I’ve gotten used to this place. I hope Forest
had, too.

Muli sana akong papasok sa loob ng kotse upang doon na lang magbantay nang marinig
ko ang tunog ng aking cellphone. A midnight call? This is going to be either the
most important or the most nonsensical. I have to get this one.

Isang unknown number ang nakita ko sa screen. I accept the call and silently listen
to the other line.

“Henrietta Arturia.”

I recognize the voice of the caller. Guess this is one of those nonsensical calls,
then.
“Mikhail Petrov,” I answer seriously.

“You don’t sound so eager to hear from me,” Aniya. Hindi ako sumagot. Hinintay ko
lang siyang magsalitang muli. Kung wala syang sasabihing importanteng bagay sa loob
ng isang minuto ay ka-kanselahin ko na ang kanyang tawag.

“Don’t worry too much about the new transcation. I know you’re about it,” patuloy
niya.Hindi pa rin ako sumagot. One more unimportant statement from him and I’m
gonna end the call. “And the mission doesn’t need more reaper.” He said.

“That’s it.” I am about to cancel it subalit mabilis siyang muling nagsalita.

“Giovanni Freniere is awake.”

Muli kong ibinalik ang aparato sa aking tainga nang marinig ko ang mensaheng iyon.
Good thing I have excellent hearing.

“What did you say?” I heard him clearly. But this is the kind of news I have to
confirm carefully before I could make any move.

“Giovanni Freniere is awake. And he’s looking for your subject,” Wika ni Mikhail.
Lumingon ako sa kinaroroonan ng Montello High building at saka inilipat ang aking
paningin sa girls’ dormitory. I can only see its silhouette since its midnight.

“I know what to do now.” Seryoso kong sabi at saka pinutol ang tawag. I check the
gun on my waist, making sure that the coat I wear covers it. Tahimik at sigurado
ang mga hakbang ko palabas ng Nightwoods.
I can feel the cool air against my clothes as I walk across the school yard. If I
am wearing white, I would look like a white figure gliding in the dark. Good thing,
I’m not into white clothes.

Naka-lock ang main door ng dormitory nang marating ko. But that won’t really stop
me from getting in. Kinuha ko ang isa sa mga hairpin sa aking buhok at sinimulang
buksana ng pinto. Ilang Segundo lang at nagawa ko nang pihitin ang door knob
pabukas. Walang tao sa main lounge kung kaya’t dire-diretso akong umakyat ng
hagdan. It is already past curfew. Malamang ay mahimbing nang natutulog ang mga
estudyante.

I have been keeping careful surveillance on Summer Leondale kaya alam ko kung saang
kwarto sya makikita kasama ang dalawang babaeng madalas niyang kasama. Gamit ang
hairpin na pinangbukas ko sa main door, tahimik kong kinalikot ang door knob ng
kwarto. I keep working silently.

Madali kong nabuksan ang pinto at tahimik na pumasok sa kwarto. Tanging ang ilaw
mula sa lampshade lang ang nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid. There are three beds
inside the room. And I quickly recognize Summer Leondale’s bed on the farthest
side. I walk towards her quietly, but pause when I notice a white pillow flying to
my direction from across the room. I instinctively dodge it as the light flooded
the place. Napabalikwas sa kama ang taong pakay ko. Isang babae ang nagbukas ng
ilaw at ang isa pa ay may hawak na unan.

“A girl?” Bulalas ng babaeng may salamin. “Are you from the Mafia, or what?” dagdag
niya.

“Maybe she’s not! She didn’t come from the window!” Wika ng isa pa. Nagtungo ang
paningin ko sa may bintana. How can I go through the window? It was locked.
“Kung gayon ay isa kang kalaban!” konklusyon nila at muli sana nila akong babatuhin
ng kung anong bagay nang magsalita ang babaeng nasa harapanko.

“She’s from Arturia University,” Aniya na ikinatigil ng dalawa. Tila hindi sila
kumbinsido dahil mataman nila akong tiningnan. “And she’s a Mafia Reaper. A
dangerous one.” That made them uncomfortable. Ibinaling niya sa akin ang kanyang
atensyon at saka nagtanong.“Anong kailangan mo?”

I couldn’t sense any fear from her. And I don’t like it. I don’t like her. I don’t
like her importance no matter how her existence changed my views. I still don’t
like her.

“Come with me.” I said.

Humalukipkip siya at sumandal sa headboard. She made herself even more comfortable
on her bed. “No,” nagmamatigas niyang sagot.

“How could she even enter the school ground at this time?” narinig kong bulungan ng
dalawa. They’re untrusting and suspecting.

“You have to come with me, Leondale,” Matigas ko ring anunsyo.

“I don’t want to come with you.” And she rolled her eyes. At me. I fight the urge
to shoot her eyes with my gun.

“The feeling is mutual. But I’m doing an important mission. What I feel—or what you
feel doesn’t matter. I just need to get the job done. And right now my job asks me
to take you. The Mafia leader is looking for you.” I try to say all that without as
much irritation as I am feeling.

“Tell your man-whore leader that whatever the matter is, it doesn’t interest me,”
wika niya.

Man-whore leader? She must mean Tres, then. Sir Algernon doesn’t have any woman
from the reaper and his wife who are both gone. Giovanni is still in the hospital
bed, too weak to do man-whore things. I glared at her. Humakbang ako patungo sa
pinto at saka binuksan iyon.

“Giovanni Freniere wouldn’t be happy to hear about the failure of his first order,”
Wika ko. Pare-pareho silang natigilan subalit makalipas ang ilang segundo ay tila
nagulantang sila sa narinig. They all rush to me in their pajamas.

“No. The two of you should stay. The leader only requested for her,” wika ko sa
kanila at saka dire-diretsong tinungo ang daan palabas ng dormitoryo. I don’t
glance back as desperate steps of slipper-clad feet come running after me.

It’s going to be another long night

=================

Chapter 14: Speedster

Chapter 14: Speedster

This girl.
She just can’t keep still and it’s slowly driving me crazy. Hindi siya mapakili
habang nakaupo sa passenger seat at nakatanaw sa labas ng kotse. She is wearing
short cotton shorts and a loose sweatshirt. Subalit isa ito sa mga malalamig na
gabi. Hindi ko alam kung ang nararamdaman niya pa ang ginawa sanhi ng kanyang
pagkabalisa. I decid to focus on the road instead.

“I know you can drive faster. Can’t you just do it?” Naiinip niyang tanong sa akin.

That was a question. A question that sounds like an impatient demand.

“This is not an emergency,” sagot ko. Ligtas na sa anumang panganib ang buhay ni
Giovanni Freniere. I don’t think there’s a need to hurry.

“Well, for me it is!” Pagtataas niyang boses.

I look at her darkly and say, “You shouldn’t raise your voice at a mafia reaper.”
She stays silent for a little while before speaking. Again.

“I need to see him. I need to talk to him. We haven’t talked for a very long time
now.” At least this time, her voice is lower. Napailing ako.

“What’s so hard in saying ‘You missed him?’” tanong ko. Napatulala siya sa akin at
akmang ibubuka ang bibig subalit hindi naman magawang ituloy ang sasabihin. Matapos
ang ilang pagtatangkang sumagot ay ipinasya niyang tumingin na lang muli sa labas
at manahimik.
Akala ko’y magkakaroon na kami sa wakas ng tahimik na biyahe tungo sa ospital nang
muli siyang magsalita.

“You’d do everything for that man-whore jerk, right?” tanong niya. I frown at her
and decide to keep silent. “I saw it in your eyes. Itinutok mo sa akin ang baril mo
dahil lang inatake ko sya. Alam kong hindi ka mag-aalinlangang patayin ako kung
sinaktan ko siya.”

I keep ignoring her, silently wishing she stops. But she keeps going.

“But he’s a monster, Henrietta Arturia. It must be painful to love a monster like
him.”

“Stop. Talking.” Wika ko.

“It’s not like I am sincerely concerned about you. Pero ang tulad ni Tres ay isang
bangungot.”

I glare at her. Why won’t she shut up?

“You have no idea what you are talking about.” Nagbabanta kong sabi. We should not
even be having conversations like this.

“I think I understand now. They way you act around him? That used to puzzle me. But
you should not be protecting someone like him. He’s not worthy of any shit you give
about him.” Patuloy niya.
“And you think you do? You think you deserve all the things you are getting now?” I
can’t mask the sarcasm in my tone as I asked her that. Napanganga lang sya sa akin
na tila hindi niya alam ang sagot sa tanong ko kung kaya’t nagpatuloy ako. “All of
this protection, the second life? Saving you? Even the love you are feeling right
now! Do you think you deserve it?” She stays silent. I don’t what I want or why I
am saying this but I can’t stop now. Masyado syang paki-alamera at mayroon siyang
binuksan sa damdamin ko na hindi ko makontrol. At least not right now, while I’m
sitting here with her. So I keep going.

“What you think you know does not even graze half of the truth. Alam mo lang ang
mga bagay na hinayaan nilang malaman mo. Hindi mo alam ang totoong istorya so don’t
even pretend that you know everything.”

Hindi ko ini-expect na maiintindihan niya o madali niyang matatanggap ang sinabi

ko. Subalit matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan sa aming dalawa ay tumangu-
tango siya sabay sabing, “I’m sorry. Please drive fast.”

I don’t really drive that fast but I do increase my speed a little. Tahimik at wala
nang muling nagsalita sa amin hanggang sa marating naming ang hospital. Nang mai-
park ko na ang sasakyan ay tila bagyo siyang lumabas ng kotse ko at tumakbo patungo
sa entradang gusali. Ni hindi na niya naisipang isara ang pinto ng kotse.

Sinundan ko sya tungo sa kuwarto kung saan naroon ang pinuno. From the glass
window, I see the girl just standing and staring at the leader. They’re just
staring at each other and no one is trying to speak. Papasok na sana ako ng kuwarto
nang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa niyon si Mikhail Petrov at ang ilan pang mga
bantay.

“You will die if you enter this room in the next few hours,” wika niya at hinila
ako palayo roon. I pull my arm away from him at saka kaswal na naglakad sa tabi
niya.
“Akala ko ba nasa misyon ka?” wika ko.

“Sebastian Freniere told me to watch his brother tonight. The transaction will last
for a week so I can still go there tomorrow.” Sagot niya.

“Kung gayon ay walang reaper na kasama ang pinuno ngayon?” Tanong ko. Pilit kong
iwinawaksi ang pagkabahalang unti-unting lumulukob sa aking dibdib.

“Gabriel and Dia are there. They can surely protect Tres if he needed protection.
Pero alam kong hindi niya iyon kakailanganin. Kahit ang tulong mo.”

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Why do people keep approaching me in pessimism? Hinayaan

ko na lang ang sinabi niya. Gabriel and Dia are one of the Freniere Mafia Reapers.
Gab’s expertise is about different kinds of weapons while Dia has deadly martial
arts skills. Yes, they could protect the leader if something happens.

“Do you want to have coffee with me?” Bigla ay tanong ni Mikhail.

Agad ko siyang sinagot, “No.” At saka tiningnan ang kotse ko mula sa bintana ng
hospital na nadaanan namin. “Can you please look after Summer Leondale? Mukhang
wala siyang balak bumalik ng Montello High ngayong gabi. At kung sakaling aalis
siya, sabihin mo kay Giovanni Freniere ang detalye ng misyon tungkol sa babae. I
know he’s not gonna let her go.” Wika ko.

“Oh, okay. Well, how about a coffee?” Muli niyang tanong.

“No. Kailangan ko munang bumalik sa bahay. It’s almost dawn. I have to prepare for
school.”

“How about we’ll take out a coffee and I’ll drive you home?” Tanong niya.

“I have a car.” Mabilis kong sagot.

“Just take out—”

“Mikhail Petrov.” Sambit ko sa pangalan niya. Isa iyon sa paraan upang ipaalam sa
kanya na hindi ako interesado sa kung anumang iaalok niya.

He sighs. “Okay. Someday, you will regret that you keep rejecting my offers.” He
says while smiling.

Tiningnan ko sya nang matiim at sinabing, “No. I’d still reject your offers in the
future.”

His smile grows wider. “Of course, you would, Henrietta Arturia. What would you
need from anyone?” Aniya.

Yes. What would I need from someone especially when I have almost everything?
Almost.
Tiningnan ko siya nang matagal at saka sya tinalikuran. Naglakad ako palabas ng
ospital. Dawn is approaching. I have to get ready for school. Tahimik akong
nagdrive patungo sa Arturia Mansion. Kay raming gumugulo sa isipan ko. I don’t like
it. Dati ay sobrang kalma lang ng pag-iisip ko at madali lang sa akin ang ibigay
ang buong atensyon ko sa pinakamahalagang bagay—the mission comes first.

But what’s happening right now makes me think that I’m probably weighing the
importance of things in a very wrong way. I might need to put some changes in my
perspective. Change priorities.

I am halfway my home when I notice a black car tailing my Mercedez. I think it’s
the same car that followed me before. Ang paraan ng pagsunod nila ay tila gawa ng
isang eksperto. Ni hindi sila mapapansin dahil sa layo ng agwat ng mga sasakyan at
mangilan-ngilang kotse na nasa pagitan namin. But I can notice them that instant.
Because that’s what I do when I’m tailing someone on missions.

I drive in a way that wouldn’t give them a hint that I noticed them already. I
maintain my lazy speed. Patuloy pa rin sila sa pagsunod. I start to plan a defense
if they try to ambush me. I can lead them to a deserted place. Kung mag-isa lang
ang sumusunod sa akin, sa tingin ko ay kaya ko siyang i-handle. I’d take chances
even though that person must have the same ability as me. But if it’s a group of
highly-trained assassins who are going after me, I am absolutely outnumbered.

But I couldn’t just give my life to them that easy. I could leave the car and
escape through the grounds. Or leave the car, shoot some assassins in the distance
and escape. And if ever they still caught me, I’d take even the last drop of my
blood to die as a mafia reaper. But I’d make sure to bring some of them to the
afterlife with me if I have no choice but to die. Tulad na lang ng ginawa ng batang
Mafia Reaper.

Planado na ang lahat sa aking isipan nang tumingin ako sa side mirror at tila mula
sa kalayuan ay nakita ng driver ang ginawa kong pagsulyap sa direksyon niya. I keep
driving casually ngunit nang muli kong subukang tingnan ang sasakyan ay wala na
ito. Walang kahit na anumang bakas ng sasakyan na bumubuntot sa akin.
This is worse than the expected ambush I’m thinking. It’s better if he attacks me
instead. This only proves that this tracker is unpredictable. I won’t know what his
move would be, how he’s going to do it and why he’s doing it. I wouldn’t know any
details about his plan. The more unpredictable the pursuer, the harder it is to
defend. It feels like they’re playing with me—letting me go because they can still
kill me some other time. Can they? I trust in my ability as a mafia reaper but I’m
still mortal. I’m not scared to die but I don’t like that they make me feel
helpless.

I drive carefully and consciously towards the mansion. Kung ako ang target niya,
malamang ay alam na niya ang tungkol sa akin. But this mansion is not so easy to
attack. It has the perfect security system provided by the Mafia. If my family’s
mansion is attacked, the Mafia will immediately respond.

Tahimik akong pumasok sa driveway. I’m so exhausted and the surrounding is

beginning to be bathed in early morning light. Sa halip na dumiretso sa mansion ay
nagdrive ako tungo sa likurang bahagi ng mansion. I look up at the tree house
before climbing. And I see my bait up and awake. He is on the coffee table writing
on a thick notebook.

“Pirates again?” tanong ko. But my eyes are heavy and the bed looks tempting and
comfortable.

“Yeah. Are you okay?” Tanong niya.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at sa halip ay humiga ako padapa sa kama. He’s still asking
kung okay lang ako subalit hindi ko nagawang sumagot pa. I stay on the bed like
that until I fall asleep. I know it’s morning and there’s school but for the first
time... I just don’t care.

=================
Chapter 15: Sadness and Happiness

Chapter 15: Sadness and Happiness

Soundtrack: Kiss It All Better – He Is We

I woke up on the sound of two people talking. It must be already bright for my eyes
refuse to open. Ipinasya kong manatiling nakapikit at ipagpatuloy ang pakikinig sa
usapan nila. "I think she's not going to school." Boses ng isang binatilyo. School.
It is very irresponsible of someone not to go to school. He might miss lots of big
things in just one day.

"She needs to rest longer. Mukhang pagod na pagod sya nang dumating kagabi." Sagot
naman ng isa pang boses na pagmamay-ari malamang ng mas nakatatanda pang lalaki.

I'm starting to realize my surrounding now and the images from last night are
beginning to flash on my mind in order. I can't believe that I slept here in the
tree house with a stranger.

"Then there's no way I'm going to school. I'm so tired, too. I've been dealing with
my stupid seatmate and boring teacher for a very long time now." That's when I
decided to open my eyes and sat up on the bed facing the two. One is sitting on the
floor and the other one is on the desk, probably writing.

"Good morning, Hetta." Bati agad ni Wycliffe. He's a handsome young man in his
school uniform.

"Anong oras na?" seryoso kong tanong.

Sabay-sabay kaming lumingon sa wall clock na nasa taas ng pintuan ng tree house.
8:30 in the morning. I'm supposed to be at school by seven o clock. How could I be
so irresponsible? Ibinaling ko ang paningin ko kay Wycliffe. It's 8:30 in the
morning. Why is this little devil still here in the tree house?

"Does this tree house look like a school to you?" tanong ko. His smile is still
plastered on his face.

"I know what you're thinking. It's not what you think it is. I have good grades.
I'm one of the top students in my class. Not the first but who cares?" He said
defensively.

"You're supposed to be in your class right at this hour," Wika ko. Subalit suot
niya ang kanyang uniporme. Maybe he's not feeling okay. "May sakit ka ba?" mabilis
akong tumayo mula sa higaan at lumapit sa kanya. Sinipat ko ang kanyang noo at
nakahinga nang maluwag nang masiguro kong normal ang kanyang temperatura.

"I can't find any reason for you not to attend the class today." I finally told
him.

Tumingin siya sa taong nasa desk na tahimik lang na nanonood sa amin atsaka muling
ibinaling sa akin ang kanyang paningin. "Well, you're not attending school today,
too." Wika ni Cliffe.

Yeah right. I missed school today. I can stand here and talk to him about some
things he shouldn't follow about me but I decided not to. Bumalik na lang ako sa
higaan, umupo at tiningnan siya. Ilang minutong nanatili saamin ang katahimikan
hanggang sa magsalita ang tao na nasa desk. Mukhang pinapanuod niya lang kami all
this time and I couldn't read what he's thinking.

"I think this day would be just good for you guys to rest or do something you want
to do that's not related to school or – other things." I looked straight at him on
his last couple of words. Wycliffe has no idea of the things I'm doing outside my
normal life. I would never be risky when it comes to him.

"And that's definitely not staying at home. Let's go out for few hours." Tila
nabuhayan si Wycliffe sa sariling ideya.

"Yes. You can go out together, watch a movie or go shopping. Don't let this day go
wasted." Sang-ayon ni Ethan. But I'm very skeptic about this idea. I shouldn't just
take this for granted. I still have a mission. Well, that could wait until night.

"Only the two of us together? That would make this day entirely and extremely
boring!" pabiro at tumatawang sagot ni Wycliffe. I know he meant it as a jok but
that still made me want to break some bones in my brother's body.

"Or I can just drive you to school right now." Seryoso kong sabi. His jolly
expression turned into troubled.

"Oh, please Hetta. I've never been absent in my whole school life. I think I'm
going to transform into one of the desks there if I'm not gonna take a break.
Let's just go out today. Let's bring Elric." I frowned at the name and then I
realized that's how I introduced Ethan to him. Elric, my writer friend.

But bringing this so called friend outside would definitely be a bad idea. It's
like lighting a cigarette in a gasoline station. Lalo pa at gumugulo pa rin sa isip
ko ang nangyari kaninang madaling araw.

I didn't know how Wycliffe got me behind the wheels, drive my Mercedes Benz G500
across the lawn to the back of the mansion. I'm tapping my fingers as I waited for
them to climb down from the tree house. I'm actually thinking of backing out but
the disappointment on Wycliffe's face makes me hard to do it. Nang sa wakas ay
bumaba na sila, napagdesisyunan kong ituloy na lang ang plano sa ngayon.
Apparently, my parents went out early today kung kaya't nagawa ni Wycliffe na hindi
pumasok ng school. Pumuwesto agad ang kapatid ko sa likuran nang sasakyan kung
kaya't sa passenger seat umupo si Ethan. It's better. I can grab him if ever he
tries jumping off the car. Hindi tumigil si Wycliffe sa pa-iexpress ng kanyang
excitement habang nasa daan kami. Ethan seemed to be amused by it. Mukhang
nagkakasundo na talaga sila.

We ended up in an Amusement Park. It wasn't the first time we've been in an

amusement park. It's both our second time actually. Hindi ko matandaan ang
eksaktong panahon ng huling pagpunta ko sa lugar na tulad nito sapagkat bata pa ako
nun and the only thing I remember I could ride was Carousel. And I'm sure Wycliffe
can't remember it.

This boy is already itching on the first booth he saw. Basketball shooting. Sumunod
kami sa kanya at pinanuod ang pawisang manlalaro na pilit inaabot ang nais na score
upang makuha ang premyo. The price? It's a big, white teddy bear. Mukhang maraming
oras at salapi na rin ang iginugol niya makamit lang ito.

"I'm gonna try this." Desididong wika ni Wycliffe.

I looked at him and said, "It's a waste of time. We can just go to a mall and buy a
bigger teddy bear." Wika ko. I don't want him to end up like that guy who's still
shooting hoops despite of the exhaustion.

"But that's the reason why we're here, right? To waste our time." Tumatawang wika
ni Wycliffe habang patuloy na pinapanuod ang lalaking naglalaro. He's right. We're
wasting our time in here. I have a lot of things to do and they're all hanging on
the air just because I'm in a chaotic, noisy and crowded place like this.

Sa wakas ay sumuko na ang lalaking naglalaro ng basketball. He picked up his things

and walked out. He's probably going to another booth. Yayayain ko na sanang
maglakad si Wycliffe nang makita ko syang pumuwesto sa gitna. He's getting ready to
play. He has three throws and he needs to shoot them all to get the prize. I looked
at the teddy bear. Why would he want that? It is supposed to be easy if it's just
some usual arcade game. But the distance between the ring and the player is like
throwing a three-point shot. My brother doesn't like playing sports actively. He
prefers reading or anything that has to do with computers. He wouldn't make this
game.

"I'm waiting to see him fail." Komento ko habang pinapanuod ko sya. Isa lamang
iyong personal na komentaryo subalit sumagot pa rin ang taong kasama kong nanunuod.

"I'm seeing it in a different way. Sa tingin ko makakapuntos sya." Wika ni Ethan. I

looked at him, showing that my recent comments doesn't need an answer. Atsaka ko
ibinalik ang aking paningin kay Wycliffe. Naghahanda na sya sa una niyang pagshoot
ng bola. Nang i-angat niya ang kanyang mga braso at iangat niya ang bola sa ere ay
alam ko nang hindi niyon magagawang umabot sa ring. He missed the first shot. He
received unpleasant jokes from the watchers. Ayokong maranasan niya ang mapahiya.
It's almost easy for me to pull out my gun and show it to them protectively while
my brother is taking shots. Subalit mukhang hindi iyon iniinda ni Wycliffe. Sa
halip ay tumatawa siyang naghanda para sa susunod na tira.

"I hope you can have a chance to be like him." Narinig kong muli ang boses ni
Ethan.

Kunot-noo akong lumingon sa kanya. "What do you mean?" seryoso kong tanong.

"Hindi mo ba nakikita yung kapatid mo? Sobrang laki ng pinagkaiba niyo." Hindi ako
sumagot. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya na habang ipinagpapatuloy niya ang nais
sabihin. "He's free, you're caged. He's full of life while you bring death. He has
the happiest face, you got the saddest one. I wonder how come you live in the same
place together but grew differently." Ilang segundo akong natahimik at hindi alam
ang isasagot sa kanya. It's not like I have plan to engage in a conversation with
him on a topic like this. His words, however, demand an answer. It doesn't matter
if I would utter it loudly or keep it to myself. It just needs an answer. And that
answer is something I don't have right at this moment.

Wycliffe saved me by throwing his second shot so my gaze returned to him. He missed
again but this time, he was able to reach the ring. He's really determined as he
prepared for his last shot. I watch the ball as it fly high through the air and
without a miss, it goes through the metal ring.

Hindi niya makukuha ang premyo subalit tila nanalo sya ng isang napakalaking bagay
dahil sa ginawa niyang paglundag at pagtawa. "There are things sadness would never
understand. We would never understand him. And I wish we do." Wika niya bago
tuluyang lumapit kay Wycliffe. I looked at them as they're all laughing cheerfully
about the last shot. Wycliffe is so happy. He's just so happy that I could not go
near him. It's like going near to him would fade some colors of happiness from him.

Kung kaya't sa halip na lumapit sa kanila ay pumunta ako sa taong nagbabantay sa

booth. Tumingin sya saakin na tila wala syang ideya sa kung anumang dahilan ng
paglapit ko sa kanya. "I will play." Tipid kong sabi. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan
na ang babaeng katulad ko ay maglalaro ng tulad nito. "Three consecutive shoots
para makuha po ang teddy bear." Paalala niya saakin habang kinukuha ang bayad ko.
Tila sinisiguro niya na alam ko ang ginagawa ko. Tumango ako sa kanya atsaka
naglakad sa kinaroroonan nina Wycliffe.

"Hmm, Hetta?" nagtatakang wika ni Wycliffe nang mapansin niyang hawak ko ang bola.
Naintindihan naman iyon ni Ethan kung kaya't iginiya niya si Wycliffe sa tabi.

I raised my arms with the ball and slightly bended my knees like I always do during
practice and throw it. I watched it as it made the first score. Tila nakuha ko ang
atensyon ng mga manunuod dahil napansin kong dumami ang tao sa paligid.

"Yeah! That's my cool girlfriend over there!" sigaw bi Wycliffe. Tiningnan ko sya
atsaka umiling. Wycliffe would never be him without cups of naughtiness. Muli kong
inihanda ang aking sarili para sa sunod na tira. It's easier this time since I got
used to the distance. I heard some 'Oh' from the crowded as I made a perfect shot.

Nakita kong lumapit sa counter si Wycliffe upang hingin ang teddy bear habang
naghahanda ako sa huli kong pag-shoot. That's one good and scary thing about him.
He believes in me so much. I saw him reaching to the bear as I made my last shot. I
made it. Everyone's cheering loudly and Wycliffe happily received the teddy bear.
"See, I told you I could get the prize." He smirked at me as we stroll to the next
booth. I sighed. Did my brother just used me to get the bear?

=================

Chapter 16: City Lights

Chapter 16: City Lights

Soundtrack: Yellow Flicker Beat - Lorde

It took us five more booths and few rides before Wycliffe decided he
wants to have some snacks and drinks. Medyo hapon na rin kung kaya't normal lang na
makaramdam sya ng gutom. We decided to eat in a pizza and pasta house. Napansin ko
ang ilang beses na pagsulyap ni Ethan kay Wycliffe habang kumakain ito ng pizza. I
looked at him making sure that he'd feel the uneasiness of having someone's eyes
fixed at you while eating. He looked at me and faked a cough when our eyes met.

I'm sorry. I just remember something." Wika niya.

"Someone?" tanong naman ni Wycliffe sa gitna ng pagkain.

Saglit na natigilan si Ethan bago muling sumagot. "Hmm, yeah. Kinda

like that."
 "Well, sino si 'Someone'?" patuloy ni Wycliffe. I'm pretty sure that
this isn't something he should ask so I decided to cut him.

"Elric doesn't need to answer that." Wika ko atsaka sumulyap kay Ethan.
Mukha namang nakahinga siya nang maluwag sa ginawa ko. Subalit hindi ganoon kabilis
sumuko si Wycliffe. He still pushed the question and I watched as Ethan grew
uncomfortable about the situation.

"Is it your ex-girlfriend? Nag-ta-trabaho ba siya sa isang pizza

parlor?" tanong nitong muli.

"Not a girlfriend." He said and tried to smile at him.

"A friend?" Marahan at tila nag-aalinlangang tumango si Ethan. Hindi na

siya muling nagsalita pa. Mukha namang naintindihan ni Wycliffe ang pananahimik ni
Ethan kung kaya't hindi na niya sinundan ang kanyang mga katanungan. Tahimik naming
ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"We need to go home after this." Wika ko sa gitna ng katahimikan.

Nasundan naman iyong ng agad na pagtutol ni Wycliffe.

"But we're not yet done here." Protesta niya.

"You've ridden almost all the rides this amusement park could offer." I
reasoned out. Nanatiling tahimik lang si Ethan sa kabila ng aming argumento.
 "But not the Ferris Wheel." Aniya atsaka tumingin sa glass wall ng
kainan.

I saw the gigantic Ferris Wheel and its cabs with people enjoying the
view from above. If it's a different situation, going inside one of those boxes
would definitely be a bad idea. It's like making yourself an easy target inside the
bottle.

"No." tipid kong bulalas. Tila malayo ang sagot na iyon sa sinabi ni
Wycliffe. It's like me saying 'No' to what I pictured in my mind.

"What? How could I say that I went to an amusement park without riding
a Ferris Wheel? Come on! It's the most important ride." He's now close to throwing
tantrums. Magsasalita pa sana ako tungkol sa Roller Coaster subalit napigil iyon ng
pagpasok ni Ethan sa konbersasyon.

"Being at the top of a Ferris Wheel at night offers an enchanting view.

Siguro naman maaari mo siyang pagbigyan na maranasan ang ganoong pagkakataon."
Seryoso nitong sabi.

Pareho kaming napalingon sa nagsalita. He's serious this time. I wonder

what's going on inside his head. "Majority wins!" malakas na sabi ni Wycliffe. He
smiled at us and continued eating to finalize the unsaid decision.

It's already completely dark when we finished eating and I found myself
behind these two boys lining up for our turn on the Ferris Wheel. It was a long
line and I was close to grabbing them and turn our back from it. Subalit mapilit si
Wycliffe at mukhang sinusuportahan siya ni Ethan.
 I stayed calm and silent while we are waiting, slowly stepping for our
turn. It took us more than fifteen minutes until we reached the small gate that
would let us in to the one of the cabs. I eyed on it intently as the one we will be
using stopped in front of us.

"Siguro mas mabuti kung hihintayin ko na lang kayo rito." Wika ko sa

kanila. Mas magiging kumportable ako kung mananatili ako sa lugar na hindi
nililimitahan ang mga kilos ko.

"I wouldn't believe it if you'd say you're acrophobic." Wika ni Ethan.

I like to tell him about how he shouldn't be so sure of what he believes about me
but then, a picture of us rushing down from the 6th floor of Montello High flashed
on my mind.

Hinila ako ni Wycliffe sa braso tungo sa naghihintay na cab. "For once,

please stop killing everyone's joy." Aniya na ikinatigil ko. Dahil sa pagkabigla ko
ay naging madali sa kanya ang pag-giya sa akin sa loob ng cab. Mabilis silang
pumasok upang agad rin itong isara. Naramdaman ko na lang ang marahang pag-galaw at
pag-ikot ng Ferris Wheel.

"For someone who is so fast, meron pa rin palang tao na kayang idaan ka
sa bilis." Komento ni Ethan habang namimili ng kumportableng pwesto. I could have
stopped them and dragged both of them to the place that is far from here. I can
also make us jump together right now and land safe on the ground. Subalit imbes na
gawin ang nasa isip ko ay pinili ko na lang na maupo at manahimik. Stop killing
everyone's joy. Wycliffe's words are still echoing in my head. I wonder what would
he say once he learned that I'm a dangerous reaper.

"Whoa! I think I would try not going to school again tomorrow if I

missed this sight!" aniya habang nakatingin sa labas. I glanced on the direction
he's facing now and I saw tiny lights glowing from the distance. They seemed to
mirror the stars at night.
 "City lights." Wika ni Ethan na nakatingin rin sa direksyong tinutukoy
ni Wycliffe.

"This is our first time in a Ferris Wheel. Our parents are really busy
that they don't have time for amusement parks like this. All this time, I was
wondering if amusement parks are really amusing because carousels didn't have that
effect on me." Nakangiting wika ni Wycliffe. Mukhang nagkakapalagayan na sila ng
loob dahil sa ginagawa kong pagkontra sa kagustuhan nila.

"Why is that? You're missing some childhood adventures you know." Sagot
ni Ethan. Tahimik ko lang silang pinakikinggan habang binubusog ang aking mga mata
sa tanawing nakikita ko. Wycliffe is right. I've never ridden most of the rides
here. And I have to admit that riding in a Ferris Wheel at night offers enchanting
views.

"Hmm, because I am a gentleman of Arturia and my sister is the lady of

Arturia. We're supposed to be living right and properly. Going in an amusement park
and screaming at the top of our lungs like crazy is like going against the manner."
You forgot skipping classes. I wanted to add it but I was just too amazed on what
my eyes are seeing.

"Well, you do it because they're expecting you to do it. But soon,

you'll have to make your own choice. And it depends upon you if you have the guts
to break all the expectations." Seryosong wika ni Ethan. Wycliffe seemed to ponder
on that because he stayed silent for a moment. Ethan decided to continue by saying,
"In the end, what we become is our choice."

Hindi pa rin sumasagot si Wycliffe. Tiningnan ko sya at nakita kong

seryoso siyang nakatingin sa mga ilaw sa kalayuan. "There are people who do not
have the luxury of having choices." Tahimik kong sabi. I'm not sure if I'm saying
that to Wycliffe to silently explain myself about what I've become. To Ethan,
because he seemed to be so sure of what's he saying and it needed a little
contradiction. Or maybe, I'm just speaking to myself.

"Uh, what's with this Ferris' Wheel? It makes us so sentimental."

Nakangiting wika ni Wycliffe. Kung ano man ang nabuo sa isipan niya ay wala akong
idea. Nawala na rin sa isip ko kung ilang beses na bang umikot ang Ferris' Wheel.
Maya-maya lang ay unti-unti na itong bumabagal. Hudyat na malapit nang matapos ang
oras ng aming pagsakay. Nang marating namin ang itaas ay muli naming pinagmasdaan
ang tanawin na tila ba ito na ang huling sandaling makikita namin ito. Mukhang
meron na lamang kaming dalawang ikot.

"I'd never forget the city lights." Wika ni Wycliffe habang unti-unting
bumababa ang cab. Just when the cab faced the crowd of people looking up at the
Ferris' Wheel, I felt something. Agad kong hinila ang nagtatakang si Wycliffe at
pinayuko sa gitna ng cab habang tinitingnan ko ang mga tao sa paligid. It's like
someone is watching us.

"What's wrong?" tanong ni Wycliffe. Nakita ko naman ang pagka-unawa sa

mukha ni Ethan at pinanatili niyang nakayuko pa rin ang kapatid ko. When the cab is
moving up again for the last round, I saw the familiar face of a dangerous man. It
is watching directly at me and then to Ethan who finally saw him, too. I could feel
the fear and tension building in our small and limited space. Habang tumataas ang
cab ay hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa kanya. Ni kurap ay hindi ko ginawa. I could
see the malicious smile carving on his face as the cab goes up. Saka lang ako
kumurap nang nasa tuktok na kami at hindi ko na magawang makita pa ang taong iyon.

"We need to go." I announced gravely.

=================

Chapter 17: Running with Shadows

Chapter 17: Running with Shadows

Soundtrack: Glory and Gore - Lorde

"We need to go." I announced in a tone that anyone wouldn't dare to

question. Well, except for Wycliffe.
 "What? I was expecting that you guys liked it and would agree with me
about having another ride!" protesta nito. I tried to cover him by keeping him
close behind me. At this moment, he's the one I need to protect.

"Your sister is right, Wycliffe. We need to go now." Seryosong wika ni

Ethan. Wycliffe looked so confused. He's probably wondering why in just a second,
everyone is going against him. He doesn't understand anything and I think it's
safer to keep it that way. Keep him in the dark. Everyone who understood had been
swallowed by tragedy. And I would never let it happen to Wycliffe. Wala na siyang
nagawa nang huminto ang Ferris Wheel at mabilis ko siyang hinila palabas. Inilibot
ko ang paningin ko sa paligid subalit wala nang bakas ng taong iyon. If I was
alone, I could just leapt from the Ferris Wheel and attack him. But I wasn't.

Mabilis akong naglakad palayo sa lugar na iyon habang hila-hila si

Wycliffe. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na hindi lang si Wycliffe ang kasama ko. I
almost forgot my bait.

But who cares about the dead man? Lumingon ako sa kanya at nakita ko
siyang tumatakbo kasunod namin. Bakas ang takot sa kanyang mukha at tila walang
anumang balak na tumakas. Tumigil ako saglit upang hintayin siya. Nagtataka man ay
mas binilisan pa niya ang kanyang pagtakbo palapit saamin. Nang maabutan niya kami
ay agad kong inihawak ang kamay niya sa braso ni Wycliffe.

"Mauna kayo. Tumakbo kayo at sumakay sa kotse." Utos ko sa kanila. Agad

na tumalima si Ethan tangay-tangay ang nagtatakang si Wycliffe. Muli kong
pinakiramdaman ang paligid. Mukhang wala nang nakamasid sa amin. The surrounding is
in its normal chaos. Nang masiguro kong wala nang nakasunod saamin ay agad akong
tumakbo tungo sa direksyong pinuntahan nila Ethan. I saw them in the car with Ethan
on the driver's seat. I'm not really comfortable having someone else drives my car
but right now, we don't have time to argue. Agad akong sumakay sa passenger's seat
and pushed Wycliffe down. He's almost lying on the back seat. Ethan started the car
and I was about to get the gun from the compartment but decided against it when I
realized that I'm with Wycliffe. I tried to hide my frustration by clenching my
fist.

Nang makalabas na kami ng amusement park ay agad na nagsalita si

Wycliffe. "Uh, can someone tell me what's happening?" Halos nakahiga pa rin siya sa
backseat.

Nanatili kaming tahimik ni Ethan. I don't know what he's thinking while
driving. Mukhang nakabisado na rin niya ang daan pabalik ng mansion. And as for me,
I'm just not good in lying specially to this young man. I could hide something, but
I just couldn't lie. "Please. It was all fun and then you both act like lunatic
trying to escape a psychopath."

Ethan cleared his throat and said, "It was someone I know. And I just
need to get away from him because I don't want him to know my whereabouts. I don't
like any disturbances while I'm writing." Wika nito. It was almost the truth.
Subalit tila sanay na siyang gawin ang bagay na ito. Tiningnan ko si Wycliffe at
mukhang iniisip niya ang mga pangyayari.

Tumangu-tango siya. "Mukha ngang malaking sagabal siya sa iyong

pagsusulat." Wika niya. Tiningnan ko siya at base sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya ay
alam kong hindi pa rin siya lubusang nakukumbinsi sa sinabi ni Ethan.

Nagpatuloy ang katahimikan sa loob ng sasakyan. Mukhang masama pa rin

ang loob ni Wycliffe dahil sa bigla naming pag-uwi. But I know he would understand
without knowing the details. Tila naman malalim ang iniisip ni Ethan habang
nagmamaneho. I just looked at the surrounding checking if something isn't normal or
someone's following us. I sighed as I saw the mansion in the distance. I was
wondering if I should leave tonight or just stay.

Itinigil ni Ethan ang kotse sa hindi kalayuan sa mansion. "It's probably time for
you to drive inside." Wika niya atsaka lumabas ng kotse. Lumipat ako sa driver's
seat. Pinanuod ko ang pag-ikot niya sa harapan ng kotse upang lumipat sa
passenger's seat. What if he's going to run? How could I explain to Wycliffe the
things that are happening in front of his eyes? Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang
buksan niya ang pinto at umupo sa tabi ko. I started the engine and headed to the
mansion. Nang marating naming ang mansion ay nagpaalam si Wycliffe na mauuna na sa
loob. It's already 7:30 in the evening. It's probably dinner time. Umikot muna ako
sa loob ng mansion. I climbed the tree house with Ethan.
"I've always known that Ephraim would find me. Find us." Seryoso niyang sabi. It
feels so awkward that we're both standing inside the tree house. We couldn't bring
ourselves to sit down. I looked outside the window and watched the shadows of the
trees forming figures. I've waited for this thing to happen, right. But why am I
confused now? Why suddenly I couldn't bear myself to think of a possible counter
attacks using the bait?

"Well, I think everything is happening according to your plan." He said bitterly.

"This is not exactly the plan. It shouldn't be him who found us. It should be me
finding him. It should only be between me, you and the Novous. My brother should be
out of this ugly picture. Now, can you see the difference of what I've planned?" I
am not always this sarcastic. I guess the frustration I was trying hard not to
express has gotten its way through my words.

"He didn't see Wycliffe. I'm sure of that." He assured me. Unfortunately, any
assurance wouldn't keep me calm at this moment. I fished my phone from the pocket
of my coat to get some Mafia guards to do the job for me tonight. I saw few
messages from my mom and one from Mikhail. I decided to open Mikhail's first since
I know that my mom would just be asking about our location.

'All nearby Reapers are summoned to the Freniere Mansion tonight.'

They've probably assigned someone in my place already. That left me no

option but to leave again. Everything's happening like the sudden flow of rainwater
that has been trapped in a certain place for the whole summer. I was preparing
myself to go and heading towards the door when Ethan grabbed my arm. I stopped and
looked at him.

"Can you please... stay?" he asked silently. I could see sadness and
fear in his eyes. He must be scared because death has already smelled him and
thirsting for his soul.
 "You wouldn't die tonight." Wika ko atsaka inalis ang kamay niya sa
braso ko. Palabas na ako nang pinto nang muli siyang magsalita.

"Please, take care and come back." Aniya. I shrugged and climbed down
the tree house. Sumakay ako agad ng kotse at mabilis itong pinaandar palabas ng
mansion. I am so exhausted thinking of everything at once. Kailangan ko munang
isantabi si Ephraim Novou. It wouldn't be smart of him kung makikita niya ako sa
mga oras na ito at susundan patungo sa Freniere Mansion. He wouldn't dare enter the
territory. What I should be thinking right now is the purpose of this sudden
meeting. Hindi madalas na ipinapatawag ang mga reapers sa mansion. Something huge
must have happened.

I think I've been driving with a blank and confused mind dahil
namalayan ko na lang pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay papasok na ako sa teritoryo ng
Mafia Freniere. It still has this gloomy and eerie atmosphere. I could see shadows
on the trees beside the silent road. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagmamaneho hanggang sa
makarating ako sa gate ng mansion. I was ushered by the guards on the gate inside.
Ilang kotse na rin ang nakaparada sa tapat ng mansion.

I walked silently towards the entrance. Forest suddenly appeared beside

me and crossed her arm in mine. "This meeting saved me from the possibility of
standing in the Nightwoods until the next night. Where have you been?" wika niya.

"Family reasons." Tipid kong sagot. Hindi na siya muling nagtanong pa

dahil nagkaroon na kami ng mga kasama. We've already reached the grand room of the
mansion. There must be atleast ten reapers and they're everywhere in the room.
Forest and I found a comfortable place in the sofa. Tahimik naming pinagmasdan ang
isa't isa. No one's making a sound or starting a conversation. We all looked up as
we heard the sound of footsteps at the top of the stairs. I saw Sebastian and
Giovanni with bandage on his right arm. He's now recovering too fast. Mikhail
stayed behind them. Sebastian demanded our attention by clearing his throat.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," He started with a devilish grin

plastered on his face. "I've summoned all of you to say that, I loathe traitors."
=================

Chapter 18: The Dangerous Man

Chapter 18: The Dangerous Man

Soundtrack: Dreaming Alone – Against The Current ft. Taka

Author's Note:

Thanks for all the Soundtrack suggestions on Facebook! You guys have awesome taste
in music!

-Siel

"I loathe traitors." His words brought a burning and biting coldness at
the back of my neck. I felt all the hairs on my skin standing matching the sudden
fast beating of my heart.

"I understand. I loathe traitors, too." Forest said grinning. Tiningnan

ko siya at mukhang interesado siya sa susunod na sasabihin ni Sebastian. Abot tenga
ang ngiti na inilibot niya ang kanyang paningin sa mga reapers na nasa paligid. "I
loathe traitors." Muli niyang sabi atsaka ibinalik ang tingin sa itaas ng hagdan.
She received deadly glares from some reapers in the room but it seemed that she
wouldn't mind it.

"Another fucking sabotaged transaction. Congratulations, Freniere

Mafia! I am so proud of us!" Sebastian said smiling smugly. Everyone in the room
knows the danger behind those curbs on his lips.

"What's actually puzzling is that all the transaction details are

confidential. It's just between us and the client. And I really do hope that this
glitch is in client's part." I felt secretly relieved as I assess the situation. He
doesn't know yet. However, the realization of having a possible traitor in the room
hits me. I tried really hard not to do what Forest just did a while ago. I caught
her smirking at me as I gritted my teeth.

"You are curious about the traitor. I understand." She said grinning.
Hindi ko siya pinansin at sa halip ay itinuon ko na lang aking atensyon sa grupo na
nasa itaas ng hagdan.

"You are all here to receive a warning. Yes, all of you. You, my
beloved reapers are valuable to the mafia. Let's see what would happen if you burn
your value into nothing." Sebastian continued darkly. The room became silent as he
eyed everyone. I felt the coldness of his stare as our eyes met. I tried to stop
myself from taking my eyes away from him. He might see how I betrayed the Mafia.
But before I could blink, his eyes landed to Forest who is actually looking back
from me to Sebastian. It's like she's watching us staring at each other. When Tres
held her eyes, she frowned. "Ugh. Staring is rude."

Sebastian stepped away from the group when he finished his short 'death
threat' speech. Mikhail explained to us that Algernon Freniere would have to leave
and supervise other establishments under the Mafia that are based in other
countries. Thus, Giovanni Freniere is already standing in front of us to act as
leader of the Mafia. I could see that he's not yet fully recovered but he's on his
fastest way of improvement. He gave a Black Notebook Clearing Mission to most of
the Reapers. I wonder who's the unlucky person and why am I not included in the
mission. Apparently, Forest and Maximus Brown would just hang around the mansion to
protect the Mafia Leaders.

"I'll definitely miss the Nightwoods." Sarkastikong sabi ni Forest.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako dahil alam kong maiintindihan ni Maximus Brown kung
hihiramin ko si Forest. I have to admit that I could use help from Forest
sometimes. And aside from that, she's letting me use her.

Some of the reapers started to leave after few minutes. It's like they
become one with the darkness. And soon, I'll be just like them. Forest is already
waiting for me in the car. I sighed. She didn't even ask me if I would take her
with me in the car. She's making me feel like I'm her personal driver. I was about
to walk towards her when a person called my name. I looked back and saw Giovanni
walking towards me. I waited for him. He probably changed his mind and let me join
the Black Notebook Clearing Mission.
 "Henrietta." Muli niyang banggit sa pangalan ko nang makalapit saakin.
Hindi ako sumagot. Hinintay ko nalang ang kung anumang sasabihin niya.

"About your mission, it will still be the same. But make sure that
you'd look for her more carefully this time." Seryosong wika ni Giovanni. Tila ito
ang pinakamahalagang misyon para sa kanya sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyayari.

"I'm spending my time in it. Forest and I are spending our time in it."
Wika ko. Pilit kong tinatanggal sa tinig ko ang pagsalungat ukol sa halaga ng
misyong ibinigay sa akin. I'm probably spending and wasting time in it.

"I understand what you're feeling right now. This mission is too easy
compared to what you can actually do. But there's more into it. Sir Algernon
Freniere even agreed for this mission." Wika niya na ikinanuot ng noo ko.

"What's in it?" tanong ko. Kung mananatiling ganito ang misyon ko,
malamang ay dapat kong malaman kung ano pang nasa likod nito. Subalit naputol ang
ano pa mang sasabihin ni Giovanni sa pagdating ni Sebastian. They glared at each
other. It seems like something is going on between them. Something that made them
take different sides.

"I'll take it from here, my dear brother." Sebastian said and took my
arm.

"Tres." Wika ni Giovanni bago pa man kami makalayo. Walang anumang

balak sumagot si Tres kung kaya't tumigil ako at lumingon kay Giovanni. Sebastian
rolled his eyes and decided to look back, too.
 "I know, you don't understand. Tell Henrietta and she would." Seryosong
wika ni Giovanni.

"She's just a Reaper. If I don't understand, then there's no way she

would." Sagot ni Tres at muling hinila ang aking braso.

I am just a Reaper. His words echoed in my head like the sound of a

knife touching another metal. I want to unheard it. I want to cover my ears. I
looked at him as he dragged me towards the car.

I saw Forest got out of the car as we approached. Sa una ay mukhang

nalilito siya sa kung anong nangyayari. She seemed to not understand, too but
whatever it is, she's against it.

"Hetta? What's happening?" tanong niya saakin. Sebastian got this

sinister look in his face and we just couldn't bear to go against him.

Marahan akong umiling kay Forest upang iparating na hindi ko rin alam
ang dahilan. Forest, being a reaper who doesn't feel any fear about anything,
walked up to us and demanded an answer from Sebastian.

"Get out of the way, Forest. Before I make you kiss the car." Seryosong
wika ni Sebastian. Hindi sumunod si Forest at sa halip ay hinawakan ako sa braso
upang hilahin mula sa pagkakahawak ni Sebastian. But Sebastian is faster and
stronger especially if it's contact combat. Forest is effective if she's dealing
with a long range target. Mabilis niyang nahawakan ang braso ni Forest at inilayo
ito mula saakin at saka inundayan ng siko ang likurang bahagi ni Forest dahilan
upang hindi agad ito makakilos. Naging madali kay Sebastian na sipain ito kung
kaya't buong puwersang tumama ang katawan ni Forest sa gilid ng kotse. I watched
her coughing from pain and impact as she fell to the ground. This time, I couldn't
just watch Sebastian beating Forest. I tried striking him at the lower part of his
ribs but he dodged it well and put both of my hands on my back. He absolutely knew
my next move. How could I fight someone who knew me so well that even all of my
defenses are all from him?
 "Of all the Reapers here, Henrietta. You're the one I could easily
predict." Wika niya at saka marahas akong itinulak papasok sa kotse. I landed on
the passenger's seat and before I could even breathe and think, he opened the other
door and sat on the driver's seat. He started the car and I watched him maneuver it
away from the mansion. I watched Forest getting on her feet and glaring at the car.
She's really pissed off.

"Why are you making a scene now?" I asked coldly towards him.

"Shut up, Reaper." Sagot niya na hindi lumilingon sa akin.

"This is my car, Sebastian. I can ask whoever it is inside my car." I

insisted in a serious tone.

"I can do whatever I want in any cars. I can even buy you and this
car!" he said sarcastically.

"Are you sure you can buy me and this car?" I asked again. Hindi siya
sumagot. Ofcourse, he can buy me and this car. But I am Henrietta Arturia. Arturia
is one of the partners of Freniere in their legal businesses. If he's going to buy
me, he'll have to pay big amount of money.

"Yes! Tsk. No! Why would I buy you and this car if I can get it for
free?" There's still sarcasm in his tone.

"But I'm not giving it to you for free. Aside from that, you are driving my car."
He looked at me and flashed his sarcastic smile. Umiling ako sa kanya habang
pinapanuod siyang magmaneho. That's what he usually do when he couldn't find a
better argument. Yes, this is my car.

"I'm just driving you home." Wika niya. Mukhang nabawasan ang anumang
galit na nararamdaman niya kanina. This might be the right time to talk with him.

"You shouldn't have done that to Forest." I said in a calm tone.

"She's getting in our way. I could kill anyone who gets in our way."
Sagot niya. I don't know why but his words brought warm in my chest making the
thing inside it beats a little bit faster. There must be something in the way of
how he says 'our'. But maybe he meant it differently from how I felt about it.

"About what Giovanni, said –"

I wasn't able to continue what I was about to say. "Oh, yeah! That
lover boy lost his mind. My father lost his mind. They think I couldn't lead the
Mafia. They think I couldn't handle a single Novou sighting," I held my breathing
as he mentioned the name. "They think I would go crazy and make a mess. They think
protecting that girl is the biggest mission we have now. They are thinking shits!"
Atsaka hinampas ang manibela. I closed my eyes as I let him made another hit
towards the wheel. Someone needs to say sorry to my car.

"A- a Novou sighting?" tanong ko. He looked at me and I could see the
hatred flashed in his eyes.

"Yeah. F*cking Novou sighting. We should have killed them at the first
sight. Oh, shit! I can't wait to lay my finger on them." Wika niya.
 He's full of hatred. His mind is clouded with too much hatred. No
wonder they couldn't trust an angry man. "Isn't it bullshit? You know what I'm
saying, right? You've seen how the Novous work. You know that they deserve to die."

He seemed to be waiting for my answer. I couldn't even look straight in

his eyes. Once again, we're talking like this. He's talking to me as if we've known
each other for a very long time now. He's asking me about a certain thing. He's
telling me what he's thinking. It was just like the old times. And I couldn't let
this go. I couldn't ruin this no matter how wrong it is.

Hindi ako sumagot. Nanatili akong tahimik hanggang sa makarating kami

sa labas ng mansion. Isa sa mga sedan ng Mafia ang huminto sa likuran ng aking
sasakyan. Akmang lalabas na si Sebastian ng kotse nang muli akong magsalita.

"They're right." Seryoso kong sabi. It's tearing all my hope. Saying
the truth ruined the little things we've built inside the car.

"What?" seryoso ring tanong ni Sebastian.

"You might not understand it for now. But soon, you will. There are
things sad people don't understand. You are sad and mad. You're a dangerous man,
Ian." I said with sincerity in my voice. I hope he could see it. I hope he would
still believe.

He stared at me. My hope started to shatter as I saw hatred forming in

his eyes. He opened the car door and said, "Ian is dead." And with that, he slammed
the door shut.
 Pinanood ko sya habang patungo sa naghihintay na sedan. Tears are
threatening my eyes as I watched the car being drove away and disappeared on the
road. I couldn't move myself to the driver's seat. I couldn't drive. I couldn't
think. For once, I am letting myself to break down once again.

\I#/

=================

Chapter 19: Words of a Rose

Chapter 19: Words of a Rose

Soundtrack: Angels – Mayday Parade

Author's Note:

The song isn't from the list you gave me on Facebook but I love this song and I was
listening to Mayday Parade while writing this chapter. I don't know, maybe I'm
thinking of Tres saying the song's lyrics (not singing, that would be creepy of
him) but that would not be so him. Maybe it's about the feeling. He might be
feeling this way. :D Oh, God! I'm back to blabbering again. Hahaha!

And oh, I'll be signing Montello High book this Sunday for Philippine Literary
Festival so see you when I see you!

And oh again! Thank you for the nomination of Montello High for the Filipino
Readers' Choice Award! Thank you for remembering the story and appreciating it.
Thank you!

Okay, I'll shut up now.

-Siel Alstreim

A knock on the car's window got my attention and I fought my tears back when I saw
Wycliffe. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng driver's seat atsaka pumasok.
 "Are you okay?" tanong niya. Huminga ako nang malalim atsaka tumango sa
kanya. Hindi ko magawang magsalita sa pangambang garalgal na boses ang kanyang
marinig.

"Well, you don't look okay. Who drove you home?" muli niyang tanong.
Hindi ako muling sumagot at pinili kong ibaling ang atensyon ko sa labas ng kotse.

"Hetta, ano bang nangyari? Someone stole your tongue?" I knew it. He's
not going to stop asking questions.

"Lumipat ka sa likod. I'll drive the car." Wika ko sa kanya sa maliit

na tinig. My throat is aching because of the tears I'm fighting back.

"No, I can drive." Wika niya at ini-start ang kotse. That got my
attention and pushed back all the emotions I have at the moment. Pinanuod ko sya
habang minamaniubra ang kotse papasok ng mansion. I don't like the possibility of
wrecking my car and accident inside our property due to allowing my brother drive
my car.

I saw excitement in his eyes as the car entered the mansion slowly.
"This is amazing!" he breathed and I panicked. Tuluyan nang nawala ang kung anumang
nararamdaman ko at napalitan ng pangamba.

"Okay, Wycliffe. Stop the car." Utos ko sa kanya. Subalit hindi niya
ako pinakinggan at mas binilisan pa ang pagpapatakbo. It's a good thing na medyo
malawak ang paligid ng mansion and that would lessen all the damage he might cause.

"Watch out!" I shouted as he missed a large pot full of roses with

different colors. Our mom loves flowers. She will turn into a beast if she'd see
that we mess up with her flowers. I've never realized how many flowers we have in
the mansion until now. Or maybe, she added more these past few days. But either
way, Wycliffe shouldn't let the car touch any of them.

"Why do we have so many obstacles?" he murmured as he almost hit

another large pot that has red and white roses.

"Just stop it! Let me drive it!" I almost kick him out of the car
through the window. But he is my brother and this is my car. I really don't want to
harm both of them.

We're almost near the garage when he finally hit a pot full of white
roses. I closed my eyes wishing everything is just a weird dream. "Shit! I'm so
dead!" he cursed and suddenly stopped the car. I glared at him. He shouldn't be
cursing.

"Get out of the car now and fix that mess." Seryoso kong sabi sa kanya.

"I'm sorry. Hey, just a while ago, you were feeling bad," aniya na tila
gustong ibaling sa ibang sitwasyon ang aking atensyon. He wouldn't get me with
that.

"Now, I'm feeling worse." Sagot ko. Lumabas naman siya upang ayusin ang
natumbang pot kasabay ng pagbukas ng front door. We both looked up and saw the
shocked face of our mom. I wanted to stay inside the car but she started to rush
towards us and I had no choice but to get out of it.

"Oh God! Can we just pretend that I'm not your mother and you are not
my kids so I can beat the lives out of you, guys?" She said in hysterical voice.
 "Mom, we're so sorry." I said.

"It's entirely my fault, mom. Your flowers are so beautiful just like
you and I really regret ruining it. But the good thing we have now is that I
already know how to drive. Let's look at the bright side." Wycliffe said with a
cheerful witty smile.

I sighed as mom turned to me. "You let him drive?" tanong niya.

Hindi ako sumagot. Tumungo lang ako. How can I tell her that I almost
lost myself just outside the mansion because of a terrible, negative feeling
Sebastian brought. No, I can never tell her that.

"Hetta wasn't feeling well so I offered to drive her car inside. She
didn't agree but I insisted, mom." Wycliffe saved me this time. Nagpalipat-lipat
siya ng tingin saaming dalawa bago nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong-hininga.

"Well, don't drive again Wycliffe. And fix this! Isa pa, we still need
to talk about you missing the classes today. Goodness! What's going on? Is there
something I need to know?" She exclaimed. Nagkatinginan kami ni Wycliffe atsaka ako
napailing. We're definitely in big trouble. Sabay – sabay kaming pumasok sa loob
and saw our dad waiting for us with a cup of coffee in his hands.

"You missed dinner, Henrietta." Wika niya.

The time is already late for dinner. "Maybe a cup of coffee with you,
Dad? I'm really not hungry." Wika ko atsaka umupo sa sofa na kaharap niya. Mom is
already walking towards the kitchen to prepare more than just a coffee for sure.
Despite of their busy schedules, she's still trying to do mother-wife works
whenever she has a chance. I suddenly felt bad about the flower pots.
 "I've heard that you kids weren't sighted at school today." Seryoso
niyang sabi. Muli kaming nagkatinginan ni Wycliffe and I saw him playing an
innocent face. I sighed.

"I overslept Dad. I also had business to attend these past few nights.
I was exhausted." Direkta kong sabi.

Tumangu-tango siya atsaka sinabing, "Business." I think he understands

the things I must do. He said the word again atsaka tumingin kay Wycliffe,
"Business."

"Er- I have business, too! And I'm getting tired of it so I took a

break. I'm sorry." Nakasimangot niyang wika. Apparently, nawawala ang pagiging
presko niya kapag kaharap si Dad. The conversation continued with Dad and Wycliffe
talking about priorities and school. I know he doesn't like conversations like this
but maybe, he needs it.

"What's with the cake?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa slice ng

strawberry cheesecake na katabi ng isang tasa ng kape.

"Oh! It came with the flowers. Don't tell me you never really noticed
my flowers outside. Oh, yes, yes, yes! You guys drove in it. That's terribly
insulting!" I listened as her voice turns from normal to a panicking one. She
probably forgot about what happened already and just remembered it again because I
brought it up with strawberry cheesecake. At kahit hindi ako mahilig sa matatamis
na pagkain, pinili ko na lang na kainin ang inihanda niya. She stopped and joined
Dad and Wycliffe in their 'Formal and Serious' conversation. I could see how it's
torturing my brother.

I excused myself when I was already in the half of the cake and my cup
almost empty. Subalit imbes na dumiretso sa kuwarto ay pumunta ako sa kusina at
lumabas sa kitchen door. Mabilis akong tumakbo patungo sa likurang bahagi ng
mansion. I was just running senseless. Napatigil ako nang matapat ako sa tree
house. It's dark. He must be sleeping already. I started to run again but I found
myself running back after few seconds towards the tree house. I touched the key
pendant of my necklace and climbed. I don't know why I'm doing this but maybe it's
normal for a predator to check her prey.

Tahimik at halos walang ingay kong nabuksan ang pinto at nakapasok sa

tree house. He's already sleeping. Kahit siguro mababaw lang ang kanyang tulog ay
hindi niya magagawang marinig ang aking pagdating. I looked at the table and saw a
notebook opened in the middle. Tila malakas na hangin ang nag-udyok rito upang
bumukas sa pinaka-huling pahina na may sulat. Dahil sa dilim ay hindi ko magawang
maaninag ang mga nakasulat sa kwaderno maliban sa isang linya na tila ba may
sariling espasyo sa papel. I read and it said,

"For I wasn't stolen. He always had me. No sea can take me away from this Pirate."

It must be from the one he's writing. Isinara ko ang kwaderno at tinapunan si Ethan
ng huling tingin. "I loathe traitors," I whispered. But this time, I wasn't sure if
the words are towards him. Maybe I'm the one who supposed to hear them.

Hindi ako nagtagal sa tree house. Agad rin akong bumaba upang
ipagpatuloy ang pagtakbo. Dumiretso ako sa harapan ng mansion at nadaanan ko ang
kumpol ng mga bulaklak na nakakalat sa driveway. Maybe, they'll just fix it
tomorrow. Tiningnan ko ang ibang mga rosas na maayos na nakatanim sa malalaking
paso. They are all the right and perfect combinations of colors. I would think of
Jane Austen if I didn't know it's my mom's. I looked back at the flowers on the
ground and realized that this pot is different than the others. The roses are all
white. They are so pure. There are no other colors of roses with it. Umupo ako sa
tabi nito and picked one of the roses. Nang tatayo na ako ay saka ko napansin ang
isang rosas na natatabunan ng mga puting rosas. Ibinaba ko ang aking hawak at sa
halip ay kinuha ang naiibang bulaklak.

Once the rose touched my hand, I could feel the violent beating of my heart. I
looked around with alert senses but only to see darkness and silence around me. I
stared at the rose intently. It is a black rose. It is like the rose of Freniere
Mafia. But unlike the Mafia rose we have, this one has no torns. It's like someone
intentionally cut them off. The stem was broken making it incapable of standing on
its own. It is a picture of black rose experiencing the hand of a terribly violent
and mad person. I ran back towards the house. I need to talk with my mom.

=================

Chapter 20: The Graduation Day

Chapter 20: The Graduation Day

Soundtrack: Run – Snow Patrol

Author's Note:

Montello High: School of Gangsters is nominated under Young Adult Fiction category
for the Filipino Readers' Choice Award. So if you think the story of Summer, Van
and the gangs is worth reading, vote for it. Thank you!

P.S. Thank you for those who came last Philippine Literary Festival! See you again!
And the soundtrack came from the suggestions you gave me on Facebook. Thank you for
feeding my play list! And oh, join SielAlstreim's Stories (Official Group) on
Facebook. I know, this is super long for P.S. Hahaha! Okay, I'll go now!

-Siel

Lahat sila ay napatigil at napatingin sa akin nang humahangos akong bumungad sa

pinto ng mansion.

"Henrietta. What's wrong?" tanong ni Mommy. Hindi ko na kinailangang sumagot

sapagkat agad nilang nakita ang aking hawak. I saw both my parents turned serious
and let go of Wycliffe.
 "I think you need to sleep now, Wycliffe." My mom suggested.

"Why? What's going on?" nagtataka at naguguluhang tanong ni Wycliffe.

Hindi na niya nagawang mag-protesta dahil sa pagtapik ni Daddy sa kanyang balikat.
It's a sign for him to let go.

Hinintay ko munang makaalis si Wycliffe bago muling magsalita. "I need

to go back to the Freniere Mansion." Deklara ko at aktong inihahanda ko na ang
aking sarili. When my Dad saw me checking my gun for bullets, he stopped me.

"You also need to rest. You look so tired." Aniya.

"But-" protesta ko subalit ginawa niya saakin ang ginawa niyang

pagtapik sa balikat ni Wycliffe. Why are we so much affected with this kind of tap
on the back?

"I will contact the shop that delivered the flowers." Wika ni Mommy who
is now heading on the phone. Masyado nang gabi. I wonder if she'd be able to
contact them.

"Algernon is not in the mansion, right?" tumango ako. It amazed me to

witness how my parents work together.

"I'll call Sebastian-"

 "No, no. It's better if Giovanni knows about it first. He'll know the
right thing to do. He's more logical than his older brother. And I'll be the one to
do that, Henrietta. Go to your room and rest." Pagtataboy niya saakin. Wala akong
nagawa kundi tahimik na umakyat patungo sa aking kuwarto. I even caught Wycliffe
outside his room pressed on the nearest wall to the receiving room probably trying
to eavesdrop. Agad rin siyang pumasok sa kanyang kwarto nang makita ako. Saglit
kong tiningnan ang nakapinid na pinto atsaka tumuloy saaking silid. I still want to
think about the situation but that 'tap on the back' my dad gave me left me an
assurance that he would handle the situation. My body has that reaction whenever I
feel that everything's going to be fine. My dad never failed to give me that. And
since I am under the 'assurance spell' he casted on me, I'm now too weak to resist
the bed. It's been a long day.

I woke up on the sound of my phone ringing. I could feel the sun

slashing its rays to my cheek through the glass window. Maybe I forgot to pull the
curtains. I grabbed the phone and saw Mikhail's name on the screen. Of all the
reapers I know, he's the only one who can't take his phone away from his body.
Umupo ako sa kama atsaka sinagot ang tawag.

"Hello?" narinig ko ang boses ng babae sa kabilang linya. Hindi ako

sumagot at hinintay ko ang kanyang sasabihin katulad ng lagi kong ginagawa.

"Hello? Hello? Hello!?" It seems like the girl doesn't know that she
needs to talk.

"Forest. Give the phone back to Mikhail and let me sleep for five more
minutes." Seryoso kong sabi.

Her high-pitch voice answered back without any hint of consideration.

"He doesn't know I got his phone! Ha! I can't believe I actually got his phone from
him! I think we would have a deal if I ask for one million dollars in exchange of
it."
 "He would probably buy a new one instead of giving you one million
dollars, Forest." I reasoned out sleepily.

"Well, atleast I was able to snatch his phone from him." Aniya.

"Goodbye, Forest." Pagpapaalam ko subalit muli siyang nagsalita.

"It's Graduation Day, Hetta. Aren't you going to attend the Graduation
Day?" tanong niya.

Napakunot-noo ako. I can't remember missing out some school special

announcements. "Hindi ngayon ang Graduation sa Arturia, okay?" sagot ko.

"Whoever said Arturia? People here are actually preparing to go to

Montello High. It's their Graduation Day." Wika niya.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon atsaka nagmamadaling inihanda ang sarili. I

have to call school and tell them that I couldn't make it again, today. I just
can't miss this one. The Frenieres would be there and I need to watch out for them.

"I'll be there. Who else are going?" Tanong ko.

"Giovanni and the asshole. Maximus Brown and I are going, too. The
others are in their own activity." Clearing of the Black Notebook.

"I'll check the perimeter." Wika ko. Muli pa sana siyang magsasalita
subalit minabuti ko nang tapusin ang aming pag-uusap at maghanda sa pag-alis. I
looked for my Dad when I got out of my room subalit mukhang nakaalis na sila. I
checked on Wycliffe and saw him getting ready for school. I know Dad informed the
Mafia already but I still need to talk about it with the Frenieres. I ran towards
my car and started it. Nang malapit na ako sa gate ay bigla kong naalala ang tree
house. He's a student of Montello High. How would one feel if he missed the
Graduation ceremony of his own school? Why am I even thinking about it? I sighed
deeply atsaka ibinalik ang kotse tungo sa likuran nang mansion. Nang marating ko
iyon ay agad akong umakyat sa tree house. I saw him reading on his bed.

"It is Graduation Day." I declared when I caught his attention. Isinara

niya ang librong kanyang binabasa atsaka tumayo.

"Graduation Day in Montello High?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako. Suddenly, he started to take his shirt off and looked for
some decent shirt to wear on a small pile of clothes I provided before.

"What are you doing?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"I'm coming with you. You come here to fetch me, right?' sagot niya
habang nagbibihis. The tree house is apparently small so I looked instead on the
other side of the room. It frustrates me to still see him in the corner of my eyes.

"I didn't come here to fetch you. I just came here to let you know. I
thought you should know." Sabi ko na ikinatigil pansamantala ng mabilis niyang
pagkilos. Gayun pa man ay saglit lang iyon at muli niyang ipinagpatuloy ang
pagbibihis. I faced him when I'm sure he's done with what he's doing.
 "I wish I didn't know." Bagsak ang mga balikat niyang sabi. I turned to
leave but his hand fell on my arm and stopped me. "I know I have no right to ask
you of something. Hell, I shouldn't have the guts to think that I could still step
in Montello High. But please, just this one. This is too much to ask but can I
please go with you?" seryoso at malungkot niyang tanong. Hindi ako humarap sa
kanya. I don't want to see his face at this moment.

"It is risky and dangerous. The Mafia will be there, too." How I wanted
to kick myself when I answered him. Why am I considering things now? Why am I
seeing the ways of how I would bring him.

"I'll hide wherever you want me. I trust you. I know you can hide me.
There's no person who can do it better than you." He said. Trust me. I turned to
him and saw the hope forming in his eyes.

"Trust me? You can never trust a reaper if you're not one of us." Sagot
ko. How can he trust his life to a dangerous person like me?

"No, I can't trust any reaper. I do not trust you as a reaper. I trust
you as Henrietta Arturia." Wika niya habang seryosong nakatingin saakin. I couldn't
move. I couldn't respond a thing. Only Wycliffe can make me feel and forget that
I'm a reaper. Well, as for him, he didn't make me forget that I'm a reaper. He
reminded me that despite of me being a reaper, I am also Henrietta Arturia.

I sighed and nodded slowly. "Move quickly. We have to go now." Seryoso

kong sabi atsaka siya tinalikuran. Mukhang wala na siyang kailangang gawin dahil
ramdam kong nagmamadali siyang nakasunod saakin. "Keep yourself hidden inside the
car. Avoid all the mirrors." Utos ko sa kanya habang nagmamaneho tungo sa Montello
High. Tumango siya at halatang kinakabahan sa maaaring mangyayari. I'm anxious,
too. But I'll make sure that nothing bad will happen. I could not disappoint people
who trust me.
 Tahimik ang loob ng sasakyan na tila may kanya-kanyang giyera kami sa
aming isipan. Umayos si Ethan sa kanyang pagkakaupo nang marating namin ang bukana
ng Nightwoods. This is where I enter and hide whenever I watch for my subject. I
glanced at him and saw the sadness in his face as he looked at the trees around us.
Itinigil ko ang kotse sa hindi kalayuan. "Stay here and keep yourself low. I'll
check the perimeter in three minutes." Atsaka ko isinara ang pinto ng kotse at
mabilis na tumakbo sa ilang bahagi ng Nightwoods. Despite of being here for many
times now, I still couldn't say that I know the place like the back of my hands.
It's like the place itself is a mystery. I could still feel goosebumps whenever the
coldness of the forest touches my skin. Nang masiguro kong walang ibang tao sa
Nightwoods ay agad akong bumalik sa kinaroroonan ng kotse. It seemed like the
graduation took place in the school yard. Someone is saying his speech on the
stage. Despite of the activity being far from where I am, I could still hear
clearly the things he is saying. I was alerted when I saw Ethan getting out of the
car and walking towards me.

"What do you think are you doing? Get back!" I ordered silently subalit
hindi siya sumunod at sa halip ay tumayo sa tabi ko habang nakatanaw sa mga grupo
ng estudyante sa harap ng stage. Mukhang buong puso at seryoso siyang nakikinig sa
sinasabi ng lalaki. Guilt and sadness are evident in his expression. Hindi ko na
lang siya pinilit na bumalik at sa halip ay naging mas maingat ako sa pakikiramdam
sa paligid.

"It's for the memories," I heard the man on the stage saying. "It's for
those who had seen everything from the beginning. It's for the stories we've made.
It's for the pain and the loss. It's for the hope and victory. It's for Montello
High..." I turned to my bait and saw tears crawling on his cheeks. Agad niya iyong
pinahid ng kanyang kamay nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako.

"... Natatakot ako sa bawat oras na lumipas. Natatakot ako sa bawat

sandaling nagtatama ang mga mata natin. Natatakot ako sa maaaring mangyari.
Natatakot ako na ang lahat ng relasyon at pagkakaibigang binuo natin sa paaralang
ito ay tuluyang lamunin ng dilim. Natatakot ako para saatin..." I held my breath.
Silence is beginning to shut all the voices around the campus. It seemed like this
man got everyone attention including Ethan's. Including me. I wonder the thing
they've been through. I remember a girl crashing in the Arturia University looking
for me and screaming my name. I almost knocked her out to the ground because of the
chaos she brought to our school until she mentioned Giovanni Freniere's name
crying.

"... I really thought that fear was our strongest emotion. But I
realized I was wrong. Because there comes this immense emotion that changed
everything. Love. It's our love for this place that freed our hearts from the cage.
We used love to save someone. We used love to save not just ourselves but everyone.
We used love to save Montello High." Using it to save someone. I've known people
who used love to save their loved ones. They were able to save the people they love
but they couldn't save themselves. That's how we know that emotion in our world. A
tragedy. Despair. A move only the bravest can take.

A silence from the man on the stage kept everyone hanging . After few
seconds, he finally said, "Can we just keep the memories? I know that it was
painful and tragic. It even broke your hearts and probably some bones. It was
probably something you didn't want to go back to. They were dark and cold but there
are emotions that shouldn't be forgotten, right? These words are for the memories.
And as we walk out of this school, I hope that you'll bring it with you. I hope you
won't forget. I hope you learn from it. I hope you keep our memories." He said. It
was silence again. It started like a whisper until I could hear everyone saying
'I'll keep it' around the campus. It takes a minute before the rain of 'I'll keep
it' stopped. I thought it was over but then, I heard a voice next to me whispering,
"I'll keep it." I looked at him and he didn't hide his crying. "I'm so sorry, I'll
keep it." He cried silently. "No matter how wrong and painful those are, I'll keep
it. I'll keep all of it." He sobbed.

I don't really know what to do in this kind of situation so I just let

him finish his tears beside me. I was actually surprised that I feel sadness about
it. I feel sad for him. Everyone in the Graduation has someone to hold while
remembering all those memories and yet, he's stuck here with me feeling so alone.
I'm probably the worst companion. I wonder why Forest always wants to be with me.

When I saw a speeding Bugatti Veyron heading to the wide isle of the
venue, I knew the Mafia Leaders have arrived. It didn't stay there for a long time
though and rushed away from Montello High. I heard a familiar voice that made
everyone in the event panicked. I gritted my teeth as I felt my heart beats faster
upon hearing him. When he ended his short speech, cars owned by Freniere Mafia
started arriving. It's probably Sebastian Freniere's service. Maybe, Giovanni
arrived with him and decided to leave without his brother. They left as fast as
they arrived. I let out a sigh of relief. I saw Ethan fixing himself and preparing
to go. Sadness and grief are still painted on his face. I couldn't do anything
about it and I hope he would get over that feeling soon. When we turned to the car,
we saw a figure resting on its hoodie. Ethan became pale and my hands immediately
took out my guns.

"Everyone keeps the memories. You're not the only one." The man with a
familiar feature of face and sinister eyes said coldly.