Chapter 3

Chapter 03- Poisoned Fire

Akala ko ay matatakot ko siya. Ang inaasahan ko ay nenerbyusin siya, manginginig ang labi and his knees would start to wobble. I was expecting that he will kneel down the ground and beg me for his precious life. But no. I didn't met my expectations. Umiwas yata sa'kin.

Why? Because this emotionless gray-eyed guy infront of me just smirked at me! Like I am not pointing a gun at him. Like this gun is just a water gun.

“Still a weak,” he commented, still smirking.

My eyes widened a bit. “What the?!”

Mas itinutok ko pa ang baril sa kaniya. Muli na namang umangat ang sulok ng kaniyang labi. Na para bang nasisiyahan siya sa nangyayari ngayon.

“Holding a gun doesn't mean you're strong enough,” he uttered.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. “Excuse me?!”

Is he telling me that I am not strong with or without a gun?! This guy…is really getting into my nerves!

“I bet you can't even pull the trigger,” he teased me.

“Oh, yeah? You think so?” I said sarcastically.

He slowly nodded his head. “Uh-huh.”

“Do not uh-huh me!” 

Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa at muling ngumisi.

“You're plain, weak and pathetic. Amateur brat indeed,” pagpapatuloy niya.

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa aking baril. “Y-You bastard! I am not a fucking weak! Not even pathetic! And never an amateur brat!”

He slowly put the glass on the table without cutting his stares on me.

Napalunok ako sa uri ng tingin niya sa akin. Parang tuhod ko pa yata ang mangangatog.

His stares…it was so sharp. Dagdagan pa ng perpekto niyang kilay. Parang hinuhukay ang buong pagkatao ko sa uri ng tingin na iginagawad niya sa akin. Tagos na tagos sa aking kaluluwa.

“Why don't you pull the trigger?” he challenged.

“Shut up!” I shouted in anger.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. “Pull the trigger and let's see,” he commanded.

Nagawa niya pang sumandal sa sandalan. He crossed his arms while remaining his annoying smirk.

Kumulo na naman ang dugo sa tindi ng galit.

A smirk crept on my lips as I pointed my gun at him. “Goodbye then.”

Tumaas lang ang kilay niya sa akin.

I was about to pull the trigger nang bigla siyang tumayo at agad na nawala sa paningin ko. Gumalaw lang ang kurtina na nangangahulugang sa bintana siya dumaan.

Ang bilis niyang tumakbo. Kung papaanong bigla siyang nawala na parang bula sa paningin ko ay hindi ko alam.

Hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin at agad na lumabas. Isang lumang bahay ang pinagdalhan sa'kin nang kung sinumang nagdala sa'kin dito.

Nang tuluyan akong makalabas ng malaking bahay ay tumakbo na ako. Kinapa ko ang bulsa ko kung nando'n pa ba ang cellphone ko. Kaso wala, nalaglag ko yata. Napatingin ako sa tiyan ko. Dumadami na ang dugong nabawas sa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop ng Leviticus ako dinala ng lalaking iyon. Ngunit sa tingin ko ay parte pa rin ito ng Leviticus.

Mabuti na lamang at alam ko na ang pasikot-sikot sa lugar na ito.

“Hija, bakit nag-iisa ka lang? Alam mong delikado ngayon,” puna ng isang matandang lalaki na nakasalubong ko.

Isa siyang Leviticusian base sa tattoo na nasa leeg niya.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang may bandang tiyan ko. Hanggang ngayon ay kumikirot pa rin ito.

Hindi na ako dumaan sa dinadaanan kong shortcut kanina. Baka may nakaabang na naman sa akin doon.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na ako sa bahay namin. Binuksan ko ang gate at agad na pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

Nakita ko si kuya na hindi mapakali sa kinauupuan niya. Paulit-ulit siyang nagd-dial sa phone niya.

“Kuya,” tawag pansin ko sa kaniya.

Tumingin siya sa gawi ko at agad na napatayo. Halos matumba pa ang lamesa sa biglaang pagtayo niya.

“Avria! Thank God you're safe!” he beamed.

He hugged me that's why I hugged him back.

Kumalas siya saka ako hinalikan sa pisngi ko. Napapikit ako pero agad rin namang ibinuka ang mga mata ko.

“I called you,” he said. His dark blue eyes were staring at me.

“I lost my phone,” sagot ko.

Kuya inherited his dark blue eyes from my father. And my brown ones, I inherited this from my mom.

Kuya nodded at me. He kissed my forehead twice. Paulit-ulit akong napapikit. He really loves me.

“I was very—shit!” bulalas niya nang makita ang hitsura ko.

Shock registered on his handsome face. His beautiful blue eyes grew wide when he saw my cuts and wounds. His lips parted and his cheeks went red.

It only means one thing. He's surprised.

“W-What happened to you?!” gulat na tanong niya.

I looked at the cuts in my arms. There are long and short cuts. Pero hindi naman siya humahapdi katulad ng kanina.

My problem right now is my stomach. Humapdi na naman.

“I was attacked—”

“What happened, Avria my dear?”

Tumingin ako kay mommy na ngayon ay pababa ng hagdan. She's wearing a silky smooth white long dress. Her hair was on a messy bun and she really looked younger than her age.

“Mom, Zaviterians attacked me,” sumbong ko rito.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. “Uhuh? And then?”

Nang nakalapit na siya sa akin ay hinalikan niya ako sa aking pisngi.

“I was stabbed—”

I heard kuya's soft curses. He even looked at the other direction to avoid my eyes.

“Here in my stomach,” I added. I pointed my stomach with a white bandage.

Mom looked at where I pointed. She bit her lower lip and hugged me.

“Oh gosh, my poor baby.”

I hugged mom back. I heard some curses from my beloved older brother again. He's mad. Is he disappointed?

Madilim ang mukha ni kuya ay parang anumang oras ay papatay na siya.

“Fuck those bastards! How dare them attacked my little sister?! They have to pay—”

“Kuya…”

I held his arms. He looked at me. Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

“It's okay kuya,” nakangiting sabi ko.

He shook his head in disapproval. Nilagay niya sa makinis niyang pisngi ang aking palad.

Muli niyang tiningnan ang may bandang tiyan ko. Umiling siya pero agad ring natigilan.

Kumunot ang noo niya. “Wait, I thought you were stabbed? Then why…??” Makahulugang pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin.

I know. He's referring to the bandages.

I flashed a small smile.

“Oh, don't mind it. I have to fix myself,” I said instead.

I don't wanna talk about that jerk. I hate him. He's really a jerk. Amateur brat, huh?How dare him.

“You really should,” kuya agreed.

Tumingin ako kay mommy na nakatingin lang sa amin. Her arms were crossed.

“Mom? Won't you help me?” tanong ko.

She flashed her sweet smile and tapped my shoulder gently.“You go first, my dear,” she responded.

“I'll help you treat your wounds, little sis,” kuya said.

Tumango ako sa kaniya. Nagtungo ako sa kwarto at nilinisan ang katawan ko. Tinanggal ko ang bandage. Nando'n ang sugat ko ngunit may tahi na ito.

Kahit mahapdi pa at kumikirot ay naligo pa rin ako saka nagbihis. Wearing a white loose t-shirt and a black short shorts paired with a red slippers, I went down to our kitchen. I found kuya and mommy there. They were whispering to each other. Sa lamesa ay nakalagay ang panggamot. But what caught my attention is the piece of paper in the table.

I picked it up and read the header.

West Stavros High 

[Form to fill]

“Huh?” naguguluhang sambit ko.

Bakit meron nito?

“This world is dangerous, baby sis.”

Hindi ko namalayang nasa tabi ko na si kuya at nasa harapan ko naman si mommy. Mom was sipping on her tea.

Pinaupo niya ako sa upuan kaya umupo ako. May hawak siyang bulak na may kung anong kulay berdeng nakatatak. Itinaas niya ang damit ko hanggang tiyan at idinikit ang bulak na hawak niya roon.

“You shouldn't go out and walk around knowing that we have enemies out there,” kuya added.

Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

Napapitlag ako nang makaramdam ng hapdi. He gave me an apologetic look.

“And?” Kunot-noong tanong ko.

“We should send you to a training school.” Diretsong sabi ni mommy.

“West Stavros High, isn't it?” tanong ko.

Patuloy sa paggamot si kuya sa sugat ko. Minsan ay tinatampal ko ang kamay niya kapag nadidiinan niya ang sugat ko.

Kuya's brows furrowed. “How did you know?”

“It's written here.” I waved the paper in my hands.

He nodded his head slightly and looked at our beautiful mother.

“I'll arrange everything,” kuya said to mommy.

Nilagay niya ang bulak sa lamesa at kumuha ng iba pang kagamitan na magagamit sa paggamot ng sugat.

Mom smiled at him, “Sounds good, Akiro.”

Natapos rin si kuya Akiro sa paggamot ng mga sugat ko.

“We have the highest technology. That's why I am sure that your wound will heal in an instant. Give it two hours,” he said.

Tumango na lang ako at nagpaalam na magpapahinga na.

Kinabukasan ay nakahanda na ang lahat. Mga gamit, damit at iba pang bagay na kakailanganin ko sa loob ng training school. Isang maleta at isang black handybag lamang ang dala ko. Ang sugat sa aking tiyan ay humilom na rin. Tama nga si kuya. Ngunit may naiwang pelat doon. Ewan ko pero nagform siya into a circle. Mukhang birthmark tuloy.

“I'll miss you, mom.” I hugged mom tightly as I can.

She hugged me back. ”I love you, my sweetheart.”

She flashed her sweet smile again that's why I did the same. I kissed her cheeks and waved my hands. She waved her hands too.

Si kuya ang maghahatid sa akin sa training school. Pumasok ako sa loob ng puti niyang kotse. Pinaandar niya naman agad ito.

“Are you ready, Avria?” tanong ni kuya.

Papunta na kami ngayon sa sinasabi niyang school. I hope I'll learn a lot of things.

Kuya had finished his training era at a very young age. Twenty-one to be exact. The training school required the students to finish the training era in seven years. Kuya was fourteen years old when his training era started.

Masters said that kuya is skilled enough to send him to different wars. Pero mas kadalasan siyang pinapadala sa katapusan ng December na kung kailan nagaganap  ang City War.

I think I said that twice.

Nagaganap ang City War sa katapusan ng Disyembre. Naitatag ang City War bilang patunay kung kaninong lugar ang mas karapat-dapat na mamuno sa siyudad. At dahil hayok ang mga tao sa posisyon, sumang-ayon sila.

“Always ready, kuya,” I responded.

He chuckled that made my heart melt. I really love his chuckles. Next to dad.

Oh dad. I miss you.

Dad left us when I was just seven years old. He was sent to the other place for his mission but he never came back. I know he's still alive and breathing. And I know that someday…he will come back. And we will welcome him with our warm hugs, huge smiles and sweet laughs.

“Where are we going again, kuya?” I asked kuya.

He smiled. I don't know but I saw his dark blue eyes twinkled.

“To the wonderful training school, baby,” he replied.

Ngumiwi ako sa kaniya. Kung makapagsalita siya ay parang na-inlove—shit! Now I remember, kuya has his first love! The girl is gorgeous with a beautiful gray as smoke eyes.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa harapan namin. Medyo malayo-layo pala ang school sa bahay namin.

Nang makarating kami sa harapan ng malaking gate ay agad akong humanga. Bumaba ako at nakangangang pinagmasdan ang malaking gate.

“Goodluck sis,” dinig kong sambit ni kuya.

Tumango ako sa kaniya at muling tiningnan ang kulay puting gate na may malalaking pulang letra sa gitna nito.

WEST STAVROS HIGH

Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. Well, Hello there, West Stavros High.