CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

-3-

"ACE, LEONARD'S son is now currently studying in Levíour Seijin Academy." A woman said to a man who was sitting comfortably on the couch.

"I see. Keep an eye on him." the man muttered, fixing his hair on the side.

The woman bowed as she walked out from a room. Her braided hair bounced as she exited towards the huge double door.

'Finally!' the man screamed internally, clasping his hands together.

***

NIKOLINA EUN-JI

GOOD MORNING, Saturday!

Bago ako bumangon sa kama ay paulit-ulit na muna akong humikab. Inunat-unat ko ang aking braso at paa. But in the middle of my stretching, I stopped because I suddenly felt strange. I sniffed my nose many times and I smelt something. Agad akong napabanhon dahil sa napakabangong familiar na pagkain.

My eyes widened. Wait a minute! As far as I remember, my colleagues are not here right on this moment kasi umuwi na muna sila sa kanilang bahay.

Oo, wala akong kasamang kapamilya ko dito kasi nasa Korea silang lahat. I am the only one living here in the Philippines.

Dali-dali akong bumababa at agad nagtungo sa kusina. Pagkarating ko doon ay lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko!

"M-Mommy?!" gulat na usal ko.

Lumingon naman si Mommy. Yes, si Mommy! As in mama ko! Of all the people that would possibly go here, she's the least that I expected to come.

"W-What are you doing h-here?" nauutal kong tanong. Hindi pa ako agad nakabawi sa pagkagulat.

"I'm here to visit my house." walang emosyong tugon niya habang ginagala ang paningin sa kabuuan ng bahay. "And of course, to consult my daughter." she went on, though, I sensed sarcasm in her voice.

Her hands were in front, slinging her bag, as she gazed around. Hindi naman kami magkaaway ni Mommy. Sadyang ganyan lang talaga siya.

Cold.

Walang emosyon.

Sarcastic.

Hindi nalang ako sumasagot at tumungo na lamang. Well, I am already used in her attitude.

"So, how's your 'school'?" bigla niyang tanong na may pagdiin pa sa salitang 'school'.

"It's okay, mom. So far, I'm doing good." pormal ko namang sagot. Pero diba sinabi kong sanay na ako? Well, it's a prank. My inner self is trembling.

"Oh? Is that so? Well, good to hear that." wala pa ring emosyong sabi niya. "How about this house?"

"W-What do you mean mom?" my stutters are now audible. Gosh...

"I heard that you brought a company in my house, and you didn't even know them---their personal backgrounds and such things. Do you think it's not dangerous?" pagtutukoy niya sa mga kasama ko sa bahay na kasalukuyang nakuwi na sa kanila.

Hay... buti naman at wala sila dito ngayon. Kung hindi, I don't know what would happen to them.

Ngumiti nalang ako kay mommy. "You know me mom, they cannot hurt me if they'll intend to." may halong diin na sabi ko habang nakangiti pa rin. Yes, my mom is right. I don't know my colleagues. I just invited them somewhere if they could accompany me here. Living alone is boring.

She looked at me in the eye. "Of course I know you, my dear daughter." she scoffed. "Yes, they can't hurt you, but what about the house? You easily bring people that you didn't even know?! Come on, what kind of thinking you have? They can't hurt you but what if you'll wake up one day and this house is already empty? Did that pop up into your brain, my child?" she raised her voice a little bit.

I don't know what to act nor to response. Aside that I don't have the guts, I am this afraid. I understand her point. She's just worried... about the house.

"Let us eat first. I'm hungry" pang-iiba ko ng usapan. I can sense the tension between us kaya ako nalang ang mag-a-adjust.

"Tch." singhal niya saka habang umiiling ng ilang beses.

She agreed with me. We started eating what she has cooked. And I must admit, I missed the taste of her dishes. However, I would tell you that I only have a limited time with my mother ever since I was a kid because of her business.

"What are you really doing here, mom? Of course you didn't come here just to check 'your' house." tanong ko sa kanya. She definitely would not come here by just mere reason.

"We have a meeting. This country is the venue." she said shortly while stuffing a little amount of food in her mouth.

I nodded my head. I knew it. There is this company called, V Company, which was considered as the grandest and most prestigious company all over the world. It has branches all over the countries across the world and my mom was the CEO of the branch in Korea. The main company was located in Japan owned by the richest family in the world, the Villaluz family.

I did not talk after that and just continued to enjoy the breakfast. The foods are delicious, as expected.

"Here,"

My shoulders shrugged my mother suddenly spoke. Agad akong napatingin sa inabot ni mommy. Nagulat naman ako saglit.

And to my surprise, it's milk!

Oh, thank God, my day will not be ended up ruined at all.'

"Thank you, mom." sabi ko sabay ngiti sa kanya. Without any adieu, I grabbed the glass of milk. I did not notice it a while ago. It seems like a magic!

Though she has this attitude that makes you crumple when you sees her, but still I know she has this big heart specially when it comes to me, as her daughter. She's not vocal, but I felt it. Everyone could feel their mother's love.

A minute or two have past when she bade her goodbye then immediately hopped up with her motorcycle. Yes. Nagmo-motor rin siya. Sa kanya ko natutunang mag-motor. Matapos siyang magsuot ng helmet ay tumalikod ako sa kanya. Aalis na sana ako nang bigla niya akong tawagin.

"Nikolina," Huminto ako sa paglalakad at lumingon sa kaniya. "This time, be careful with your actions." makahulugang sabi niya.

Tumango na lamang ako saka tumalikod ulit. Narinig ko naman ang pag-andar ng makina ng kanyang motor.

Of course, mom, I will.

YUNA AYANNE

WE ARE currently at my Dad's car. Me, my mom, and him.

Earlier this morning, I am surprised to see them both. I am only living with my grandmother here in the Philippines while my parents are in Japan. I almost forgot the reason why they're here, and I am glad to see them again. It's been a year since they went here.

A couple of minutes when my dad stopped the car. Pagkatapos ay bumaba agad kaming tatlo. Habang tinatahak namin ang aming pupuntahan ay biglang bumigat ang loob ko.

Tss. I don't like and I hate this feeling.

I stared at my mother who was just silently walking. I could feel a little bit of anxiousnes.

Tahimik pa rin kaming naglalakad hanggang sa narating namin ang nais naming puntahan at dalhan ng bulaklak.

"It's been a while, my dear..." my mother muttered after she put the flowers beside it. Her tears started to fall from her eyes and my father immediately caressed her back.

Nanatili naman akong tahimik at pinipigilan ang luhang gusto ring lumabas.

"Until now, I could not accept the f-fact t-that you are l-living here..." pagpatuloy niya.

Living here... that's always my mom's term whenever we visited 'her'. By 'her', I am referring to my sister. My sister that we lost few years ago. Yup, we are in a private cemetery kung saan nakalibing ang kapatid ko. Today is her death anniversary. The reason why they are in the Philippines right now. They only come here once or twice a year.

"Hon..." my father softly said. He touched the bridge of his eyeglasses.

"Until now I could not accept that you're gone, Aliyah." humahagulgol na si mommy sa pag-iyak kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang luha ko. "I'm so sorry because I failed to protect you."

Napatingin pa ako kay mommy matapos niyang sabihin iyon at napailing ako ng ilang beses. Agad ko siyang niyakap patalikod.

"N-No, mom, d-don't say that." I told her. My voice starts cracking now.

"No, Ayanne... I am her mother. It's my responsibility to protect her." umiiyak na sabi naman ni mommy.

"Honey. I am her father... Supposedly a f-father should do the p-protection and not the one who's being protected. So please stop blaming yourself. I should be the one whom to be b-blamed--"

No...

"Do you think she will be happy if you two, keep blaming yourselves for her death? She would not. So Please... just stop. Both of you." I cut my daddy's words short. My voice sounded begging. Hindi ko kayang tingnan ang mga magulang kong umiiyak ng ganito at nagbabangayan sa kanilang sarili.

I am hurt. We all are. I just hate the fact that they keep on blaming themselves when there's no other person in this cemetery that's supposed to be blamed but me. Me alone.

Ganito nalang palagi ang kahihinatnan whenever we visited my sister here. It's just the fact that her death was very sudden.

'Sorry, Mom, Dad... that should be me.' After saying those in my thought, a tear fell down through my cheeks.

I'm so sorry, Aliyah.

LEIGHTON WAJEEH

MAG ISA lang ako sa bahay kanina dahil wala si mommy. And because I don't know what to do inside the house, napagpasyahan kong pumunta ng gym.

After how many workouts I have done, I decided to rest first. Luminga-linga pa ako sa paligid habang umiinom ng tubig. Sa tapat ng gym na ito ay may nakikita akong isang restaurant.

Napatingin ako sa aking relos because I could feel my stomach grumbled. And that's when I realized it's already 11 am. That's why, I decided to go to that restaurant to take my lunch.

Pagkarating ko doon sa restaurant ay agad akong naghanap ng pwesto. Hindi masyadong malaki ang restaurant na ito. Sakto lang naman at sapat lang ang espasyo. Nakakita naman agad ako ng pwesto doon sa gilid. Agad kong tinawag ang waiter at nag-order ng makakain.

Ilang sandali lang ay dumating na ang mga in-order kong pagkain. Agad ko naman itong sinunggaban.

However, mga ilang subo ko pa lamang sa pagkain, may hindi inaasahang pangyayari.

BANG!

A loud thud of a gun echoed to the four corners of the restaurant that caused people inside to panic and rattle. Agad akong napatingin sa kung sino ang nagpaputok ng baril na iyon. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ko ang limang katao na may bitbit na baril. Kasali sila sa mga customers dito at itinutok nila ang baril sa amin.

"Walang kikilos nang masama! Hold-up 'to!" one of the five armed men shouted, pointing his gun in our direction.

Sinalakay ako ng kaba. Pinadapa nila kami at itinipon sa isang tabi. Ang isa sa kanila ay pumunta sa cashier para kunin ang mga pera. Ang dalawa naman ay nagbabantay sa pintuan ng restaurant at 'yong natitirang dalawa pa ay ang nagbabantay sa amin. I tried to think of a way to escape this situation, but my mind could not wrap all it up.

"Mamang holdaper. Pakawalan mo na kami hin---" matapang na sabi ng isang babae ngunit napatigil siya no'ng itinutok sa kaniya ang baril.

People begun shouting in fear.

"Manahimik ka! Barilin kita diyan, eh! Tumahimik kayong lahat!" galit na sabi ng isa at pilit na tumahimik ang lahat.

But what happened next was the least we expected to happen.

Ilang sandali ay biglang napatay lahat ng ilaw sa restaurant. The wall of this restaurant is made of black woods and tinted glass window, kaya noong napatay ang ilaw, madilim ang paligid kahit na umaga pa. Biglang nagkagulo ang lahat dahil dito, except sa akin. I don't exactly know why I did not longer feel nervousness.

Though I could hardly see the surroundings, I gazed around. Sinanay ko ang mata ko sa dilim.

"Diyan lang kayo kung gusto n'yong hindi matamaan ng baril!" one of the robber yelled. "Sinong lintek ang pumatay sa ila---"

He was not able to finish his words because just moments have passed, bumukas na muli ang mga ilaw at may naaninag kaming isang taong nakatayo, malapit lang sa pintuan. Just now I realized that the guard was also in our group, unarmed. His gun is no longer in his possession.

Napatitig ang lahat sa taong 'yon. Nakatalikod siya sa amin and I saw a lace tying around his head. May bitbit itong espada. Hindi mo ito mawari kung lalaki ba ito o babae kasi hindi mawari ang built sa kaniyang katawan.

"Leave them or face death. Your choice." kalmadong sabi nito, still he did not turn his back to face the robbers.

Mukhang may voice changer na nakakabit sa kanyang maskara dahil iba ang quality ng kanyang boses. Yup, by the lace around his head, I could say that he's wearing a mask. His voice sounded husky and somewhat robotic.

"Ha! Sinong niloloko mo?! Mag-isa ka lang, lima kami!" natapang na sabi no'ng isang nasa cashier habang sarkastikong tumatawa. He acted like he's the leader of them.

Ilang saglit ay nagsigawan ang mga tao no'ng agad nilang pinaulanan ng bala ang taong 'yon.

Shing!

Shing!

Shing!

I heard the gasps of the people inside when we saw how the masked man managed to deflect all the bullets by just using his sword! My mouth gaped. He moves smoothly. Parang wala lang iyon sa kanya.

He's cool, though he's scary.

Pagkatapos no'n, nakita ko kung paano nagbago ang porma ng kaniyang bibig. Is he grinning? Then, nakita kong may pinisil siya sa kaniyang kamay at biglang namatay yung ilaw.

I slightly chuckled at what I saw. So, that's how he had the lights shut, huh?

Parang hindi napapansin ng lahat na siya ang pumatay ng ilaw kaya nagkagulo na naman sila. Wala na naman kaming makikita, though, I saw little silhouettes. Mayamaya ay nakarinig kami ng mga kalansing ng espada.

"Ugh!"

"Acckk!"

Sa bawat kalansing na iyon ay mga ungol ng pighati ang naririnig namin. The people are shouting, while I was trying very hard to witness such amazing movement of the masked man.

Pagkatapos no'n ay biglang bumukas ang ilaw at nakatambad na sa amin 'yong apat na robbers na nakahandusay na sa sahig, duguan at mukhang wala na itong buhay. Nakita ko namang nagbago ang reaksiyon ng leader nila. Bakas na sa mukha nito ang kaba at takot. Akmang tatakbo na sana siya ngunit hinarang siya ng taong 'yon gamit ang kanyang hawak na espada.

"Where do you think you're going?" the masked man sarcastically muttered.

Huhugutin na sana ng robber ang kanyang baril ngunit tinusok bigla ang kanyang kamay gamit ang espada.

"Arrayyyyy!!" the robber shouted in pain. Blood starts to flow out of his hand.

"Tsk tsk tsk, masamang tumakas, alam mo ba 'yon?" the masked man said, titling his head towards the robber. "Clean this up---or if I may say it in tagalog, linisin mo ang kalat ninyo dito at pagkatapos ay dalhin mo ang sarili mo sa pulis. Babantayan ko lahat ng mga galaw mo at kapag 'di mo ito sinunod..." the masked man paused in a thrilled way while pointing his sword. "Isusunod kita sa kanila." pagpapatuloy nito sabay kindat. A kind of wink that you would not wish to see.

He's so calm, but he's scary. Just don't mind the pronoun that I used. I assume that he's a man.

Pagkatapos niya sa holdaper ay tumingin siya sa amin. "All of you..." He pointed at us. Natinag naman ang lahat. "I'll count one to ten, if I see a single face of you in this restaurant---except for this useless guard here, I am not done with you---I'll make sure it's the end of your life. One, two, three..." hindi pa ito tapos magbilang nang agad na kaming nakaalis lahat sa loob.

Pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makalabas ng pintuan, nagkatitigan muna kaming dalawa ng ilang segundo.

At sa puntong iyon ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba. Parang biglang naninigas at nawawalan ng lakas ang katawan ko. Agad naman siyang umiwas ng tingin at tumalikod sa akin.

No'ng bumalik na ang lakas ko ay umalis na lamang ako sa lugar na iyon at umuwi. Pumasok ako sa bahay nang lutang at humiga sa kama na parang wala sa sarili.

Hindi mawala sa isip ko no'ng panahong nagtama ang paningin namin ng taong 'yon. Biglang sumagi sa isipan ko ang taong pumatay sa daddy ko...

Nakatakip ang mukha at kita lang ang mata...

That eyes...

'Son, y-you better hide first!' Dad suddenly affirmed while stuttering. Seeing him like that, he is obviously acting nervous. Bigla naman akong nagtaka sa inasta at sinabi niya. Hence, I looked at him with a confused face.

'Why, dad?'

'Listen... just follow what I've said. Just hide, okay?' Dad lowered his height to level with mine and touched me on my face as he looked me in the eye. And at that moment, I could hear his heart pounding and his breath seemingly in race. 'Listening and following orders are two of the rules to become a good detective. Understood? Now, go. Hide!'

With those signs, I couldn't help but be nervous, as well. Though confused, I immediately hid myself inside the big cabinet that was just near the dining table. Nagtago ako na parang tutang natatakot, nanginginig, naluluha, at walang kasiguraduhan kung anong panganib ang paparating.

Habang nasa loob ako ng cabinet, sumilip ako sa maliit na butas para makita kung ano ang nangyayari.

After a while, a man suddenly appeared. Isang tao na nakasuot ng itim na maskara at tanging ang mata niya lang ang makikita. I don't know what was happening and I could feel my heart pounding so fast.

Sa pamamagitan ng maliit na butas, I saw dad was about to hit the masked man with a wooden bat but the latter managed to avoid it. Pero bigla akong napatakip ng aking bibig noong nakita kong may hinugot ang isang tao sa kaniyang bulsa,

and then...

BANG!

A deafening loud sound of the black device echoes around the corners of our house.

My lips began to tremble and a sting bell rings inside of my head. My mom's not here dahil may business meeting siyang dinaluhan. I shouted for help. I yelled in shock and fear. Pero walang lumalabas na boses mula sa aking bibig. Tila'y natakot na rin ito sa aking nakita at piniling manahimik na lamang.

A memory suddenly flashed in my mind. I remember those eyes...

Hindi ko alam kung tama ang hinala ko. Pero lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

This can't be...

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