C: 02

Chapter 2: Gem.

GEMINI's:

"I mean, bakit kailangan ka pang ilipat kay Cathya? You can handle me, right?" I ranted everything about what happened yesterday.

Hector, who was patiently and comfortably sitting in front of me blinked. I can't get over about what happened yesterday.

Paano ko na magagawa ang mga mission ko? Hector is one of my most trusted person. Tiwala akong kaya niya akong i-handle at ma-control. Overreacting lang si master.

"I think, Tito was right. Your recklessness and pertinacious behavior was tearing the walls I built even before I met you. You're always hitting my weakness, G." he seriously said while caressing his chin. "And your recklessness might be a problem someday. If it's not yours or my problem, then I think it's Crystal Afreets problem in the future."

May point naman siya roon pero bakit sa lahat ng pwedeng paglipatan niya, si Cathya pa? I think, I couldn't trust that woman. Even though she's a good mafia soldier of our organization, she's still a headache of mine and a bully for 3 straight years.

"You're probably concerning about me being with Cathya, right?" I shook my head but he smiled at me, of course, he didn't believe me. "Don't worry, you're still the best cousin in the world."

"Stop it, idiot. I'm not worried about you. I'm more worried about myself, she'll probably bully me after she learned about this dilemma." Problemadong sambit ko at napabuntong-hininga.

If father is the worst person I've ever met, Cathya is the worst creature I've ever seen. She's not just a bully, she's the worst bully that you will ever imagine.

"Don't worry, ikaw ang pinakamahirap i-handle sa mga Pelatrosa, G. Madali lang para sa 'kin si Cathya." Let's just wait and see, Hec.

After that discussion with Hector, I immediately went on my classes. I also need to learn, I'm still a minor and I still had a lot of dreams. At hindi ito kasali sa pangarap ko, it's just a force agreement. I believe I didn't specifically introduce myself?

I am Gemini Leah. 17 years old ABM or Accountancy, Business and Management student in Smithville's High. I was adopted by Geraldo Pelatrosa when I was 5 years old. He told me that my parents were dead and I don't need to be worried. I'm hard to comprehend, hard to bond with and hard to vibe with.

I don't believe that ghosts really exists, gawa gawa lamang ng ilusyon at imahinasyon natin. Mas maniniwala ako sa mga demonyo, marami kayang nagkakalat dito.

"Okay, class dismissed."

Mabilis pa kay Flash akong kumilos at lumabas sa classroom namin. Hector and I didn't belong in the same class. Gusto niyang mag-engineer kaya kinuha niya ang strand na STEM.

After I got out of our room, a loud blow of the wind welcomed me. Hindi nagbago ang reaksyon ko. Unti-unting bumungad sa harapan ko ang inaanak ni Master. His eyes were dark, his fists were clenched and his lips is in a grim line.

"Finally, you're done. Let's go?" he uttered, seriously.

Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ko at mabilis na lumapit sa kaniya. Akala ko si Hector ang susundo sa 'kin but it turns out that, I'm ending up with this man.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko sa kaniya at humalukipkip.

Nagtama ang paningin naming dalawa. His brown eyes met my ash-gray ones. Walang makikita kun' 'di dilim, walang emosyon o kahit 'man lang isang kurap, hindi niya nagagawa. Para kaming nasa staring contest.

Ang kaibahan nga lang, may emosyon akong nararamdaman. Mabilis na tumibok ang puso ko nang sumandal siyang muli sa pader na sinasandalan niya kanina.

"I'm here to pick you up, isn't that obvious?" Parang siya pa ang nagambala ko kung makapag-salita siya ng ganyan.

"You don't need to. I can handle myself." Determinadong sabi ko at mabilis siyang tinalikuran.

Akmang lalarga na ako paalis nang bigla niyang higitin ang palapulsuhan ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat at muling lumingon sa kaniya. Hinila niya ako papalapit at hinigpitan ang hawak sa pulso ko.

He breathe deeply while shaking his head. "They were right, you are stubborn." he jested before flashing an irritating smirk.

"Argh!" I growled as I tried to lift my pulse up before I pushed him against the wall.

He immediately dodge my left foot who was about to crash his right foot. Damn, he's too strong. Habang ginagawa namin 'yon, nakatitig lang kami sa isa't isa at nagsasamaan ng tingin.

Ang tanong lang na nasa isip ko ngayon ay, who will win?

"You're not a kid anymore, Gea. Why did you two fought?" Hector asked me thru whispering.

Hindi ko siya pinansin dahil nananatili ang masama kong tingin sa lalaking komportableng nakaupo kasama ang mga members ng Crystal Afreets. Ang mas nakakairita pa, nakikipag-flirt siya kay Kalliah.

"Gemini Leah Pelatro—"

"Curse once more, I'll rip your tongue out of your mouth." Malamig kong utas nang makabalik na sa dating takbo ang utak ko.

After he dodged my foot, inikot niya ako at talagang pinatama ang baba ko sa matigas na sahig habang hawak ang dalawang kamay ko sa aking likuran. How humiliating, right?

"Easy, easy. Just let me clean your sugat and there will be no arguments." he said so I leaned closer to him.

Kumuha siya ng wound solution at ipinahid sa aking baba, using cotton buds. Nalinisan na kasi niya 'yan kanina gamit ang tubig at towel, ginagawa niya lang 'to para malagyan ng band-aid ang sugat ko.

Malapit na sana kaming matapos... kung hindi lang dumating ang bagyo sa harapan naming dalawa ni Hector.

"Oy, Gemini!" tawag sa 'kin ni Crest kaya nabaling ang paningin ko sa kaniya. "Anong nangyari dyan sa baba mo? H'wag mong sabihin sa 'king nadapa ka, kung 'di iisipin kong tanga ka—"

"You don't have to say it. I just accidentally cut the skin of my chin while I was chopping the body of my last mission. Wanna see the video?" I flashed a wide grin when his smile fades away.

"Hindi mo naman ako kailangang takutin ng ganyan, Gemini, eh. Ano nga kasing nangyari dyan? Kung sana'y ako pa rin ang taga-sundo mo, baka hindi 'yan nangyari sayo." Inilapit niya ang mukha niya para tingnan ang sugat ko pero inurong ni Hector ang mukha niya palayo gamit ang cotton buds.

"Don't lean closer to my cousin's face. Baka mahawaan mo siya ng blackheads." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Hector na siyang ikinalawak ng ngisi ko.

Ganito lagi ang scenario kapag kaming tatlo ang nagkakasama sa iisang kwarto o grupo. We're always teasing each other, vexing and saying harsh things about us that is not true.

"Grabe ka naman, Thor. Bumili ako ng skin care products tapos nanood ng skin care routine sa YouTube noh! Hindi mo ba napapansin ang mukha ko? Mas lalong gumwapo, 'tol!" And there's the thunder and lightning.

We tease each other until father came to the headquarters. Pinagtabi pa talaga niya kami ng Nathaniel na 'to. Tss, kung wala lang dito si master Geraldo, malamang hindi ako didikit dito.

No way in hell!

"I would like to announce the updates these past few days. We lost three of our trusted men in our organization three days ago. Replica, Judisio and P." The underboss explained. "Next week, we're going to face an anonymous organization, Devil's Paragon. It doesn't ring a bell, does it?"

They nodded, except me and the person beside me. My father and I exchanged glances while listening to his underboss. Hindi ako madalas nakikinig sa update nila, ngayon lang nakuha ng update nila ang atensyon ko dahil sa pangalang 'Devil's Paragon'. 

I've been chasing them for years, kaso kung kailan papalapit na ako sa tuktok, nawawala ang hawak ko. Parang tubig lang na lumulusot sa butas ng daliri't kamay ko.

They killed my girl best friend.

Ang pinaka-unang kaibigan ko na babae. She's the reason why I don't want to be called as Gemini Leah Pela—damn it. Ayan kasi ang huling sinabi niya sa 'kin habang hawak ko siya noon sa isang abandonadong building.

She was planning to be a reporter someday at naghahanda na siya noon para mas matuto siya sa larangang iyon. Sinabi niya sa 'kin na gusto niyang imbestigahan ang Devil's Paragon at inaya ako pero hindi ko tinanggap dahil pinagbantaan ako ni master Geraldo. 

He will kill her if she'll try to go further. She's the most important thing to me before, natural, siya lang ang nag-iisang babae kong kaibigan. She's like a sister to me, hindi ko naramdamang wala akong karamay dahil sa kaniya.

And now, it's time for me to avenge my murdered friend. They are cowards, they were hiding behind the shadows and ashes for a long time. Bakit hindi nila kami harapin? 

We're in the middle of our discussion when an irritating person interrupted. Nakasakay sa kaniyang motor ang nag-iisang taong kinaiinisan ko...

"I'm sorry, am I late?" Her annoying grin was already plastered on her lips. Iniwas ko na lang ang aking paningin sa kaniya.

She's not worth looking at.

"You're always late, Cathya Alecia Pelatrosa. Plus, you're riding my precious baby again." The underboss, Noah, said.

Cathya laughed, which always annoy me, before hopping out of Noah's black motorcycle. I used to ride Noah's motor before because he's my trainer. Masasabi kong katiwa-tiwala talaga si Noah but I'm not one hundred percent convinced with his actions.

There's something wrong with him sometimes.

"Oh, come on. I can ride whatever and whoever I want." I didn't mention her bitchy attitude, am I right? "Anyway, what's with the faces? No one updated me na magkakaroon tayo ng bagong cutie member." She tried to act cutely when her eyes turned into the man beside me.

Geez, she really have a bad taste in men. Gaya ng dati, she's always flirting with the new members. Pagkatapos n'yan, one night stand na agad ang punta then after that, ignored na ulit ang lalaking 'yun sa kaniya.

Ang tanging nakatanggi lang sa charm niya ay si Noah. I don't know if I should tell you this but I had a crush on him. Had. Past tense, okay? He's a good trainer, a handsome underboss, and a generous gentleman. Who wouldn't like him?

"Hello, there, Gemini Leah—"

"Cut your act." Mabilis kong pagpigil sa kaniya at sinamaan siya ng titig sa mga mata. "Noah, proceed." I commanded without looking away from Cathya's eyes.

She devilishly smiled at me and the person beside me. Alam ko na ang gagawin niya sa ngitian pa lang niyang 'yan. She grew from another world, that's why.

When Noah did what I said, Cathya immediately sit beside our father. Kapag dating sa discussion, they are always chilling, hindi nagsasalita. Takot kasi silang mag-share ng information sa iba, pati naman ako.

"We're running out of guns. Pati kagamitan sa bidding, wala na rin. We can buy guns, anyway, but we can't buy the things in bidding. Any suggestions?" saad ni Noah kaya kumunot ang noo ko at magsasalita sana ngunit nauna na si Cathya.

"We can steal. There's a lot of Museum in the Philippines, don't lose hope." she said, relaxedly.

I just lick my lips to shut my mouth. She's always like this, hindi kasi updated eh. Maybe she's still under her mother's malediction, kaya ganyan umakto.

"We can't steal, Cathya. Mainit ang mga mata ng pulis sa atin. Sigurado akong iniisip na nilang mauulit ang ganitong pangyayari." Malumanay na sabi ni Hector na siyang nasa harapan ko.

He's right, though.

"Nandyan ka pala, cous?" Her voice was so annoying! "Of course, you'll interrupt. But we're running out of time. We need something elegant and expensive for the bidding. Dapat mas unique... ano kaya?" Tumingin siya sa taas habang hawak ang kaniyang baba.

Her eyes wandered around the room until her eyes stopped on my spot. My eyes blazed in anger when I saw some hint in her eyes. Don't your dare. Saad ko sa isip ko at tinitigan siya ng masama but she just grinned at me.

"How about Gemini? We can sell her, right? Tutal, wala naman siyang—"

"Cathya." Natahimik ang lahat ng tao sa kwarto nang magsalita si master Geraldo.

Finally, he spoke.

"Sell everything... but not my Gem." he coldly uttered.

I gasped when I heard his words.

"Sell everything... but not my Gem."

I am his gem?

"Stop treating your sister as your rival, Cathya. She's the Afreet's fallen angel, understood?"

•••

End of Chapter 2.