Chapter Eight

TRAINING with Mavvy is pretty brutal.

The man with his very obvious military background taught her kung paanong gagamitin ang mga abilidad niya without suffering too much consequences—such as a headache and nosebleed. Twice, she suffered a nosebleed at may limang minuto siyang incapacitated dahil sa matinding sakit ng ulo.

He taught her how to use her shield—because apparently, she had one—something na hindi niya alam at tinuruan siya nito na i-utilize ang shield niya while tapping on the feelings around her. That way ay hindi siya maaapektuhan ng mga nadarama niya sa paligid niya; leaving her vulnerable for attacks—physically and psychically speaking. 

Tunay siyang nahirapan doon; using two abilities at the same time.

And by the time na nagagamay niya, she found Maverick shoving tissue on her face dahil nagno-nosebleed siya. The man offered a fifteen-minute break ngunit tinanggihan niya. Practicing like this takes her mind off… dark and painful things.

“I’m the mentor at ako ang masusunod. Rest or I will knock you out.” That had been Mavvy’s stern words bago ito tumalikod at nagtungo sa cooler, grab two bottles of icy, cold water at ibinato sa kanya ang isa. 

Tennyson nearly didn’t catch it at muntik na mag-landing sa mukha niya. 

Matapos uminom ay inabot niya ang box ng tissue na nasa lapag at pinunasan ang pawis. The practice area Mavvy had taken her to was well equipped with an air conditioning unit ngunit ipinagtataka niyang matindi ang pagpapawis na nangyayari sa kanya—while Maverick looked refreshed. 

Ten sighed. “Ganito ba talaga kahirap i-master ang ganito?” 

“Usually. Walang madaling bagay sa mundo, Ten. I’ve met people na taon ang ginugugol upang matutuhan nila ang mga bagay na… hindi nila maintindihan.” Mavvy shrugged. “May mga tao rin na mas pinipiling huwag gamitin ang mga abilidad nila kahit pa alam nilang naroon lang iyon—at their disposal—and ready to be utilized.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“I was born with this—I think.” Nagkibit balikat siya dahil maski siya ay hindi tiyak kung talaga nga bang ipinanganak na siyang gayon. “Ipinanganak ka rin bang…?”

 Umiling ito. “No. I was in military training ng magsimula kong madama na… things aren’t normal.”

“How so?”

“There is always a trigger.” Anito bago inabot ang box ng tissue at muling ibinigay sa kanya; ushering her to wipe away her facial sweat na agad naman niyang sinunod. “We were training about bombs and someone rigged the fake bombs. I knew it was a real one dahil mas mabigat siya kumpara sa mga ginagamit namin. During training, the bomb exploded at ang team namin ang pinakamalapit doon. Killed one trainee and mortally wounded three more—isa ako sa tatlong iyon.”

“Oh, my God…”

“Nagising akong nasa ICU na ako. That’s how things became… weird. I can now tell who’s special and who’s not—who’s dangerous and who claims to be.”

Curiously, Tennyson asked, “And? Nasaang category ako?”

Maverick turned to her upang pagmasdan siya and the dark glint in his dark and untrusting eyes told her na hindi niya magugustuhan ang sagot ng binata. “You’re dark, Tennyson—a lunatic. Your mind is filled with dark and evil thoughts na hindi gugustuhin ng ibang tao na marinig; o hindi iisipin ng isang normal na tao. But you’re controlling them all dahil hindi mo gustong maging masama.”

“Oh.”

“Not a bad thing. You’re quite good at it. But you’re much… darker.”

“I supposed that’s the bad thing.” Aniya sa kabila ng ninenerbyos na tawa. Nobody managed to read her as accurately as Mavvy did. “Are my shields down?”

“Your shield is up. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin niyon ay hindi na makakalabas kung ano ang nasa loob. Your shield is there upang protektahan ka sa mga panlabas na attack; not contain the darkness within.”

She was not comforted with his words. Matapos sipatin ni Maverick ang relong pambisig nito ay tumayo na ito and lend out a hand to her. Wala sa loob niyang tinanggap iyon sa kabila ng confusion. “What now?”

“Practice. Tapos na ang break mo.”

Sinikap niyang huwag ng isipin pa ang mga sinabi nito ang tried her best to focus on training with him. 

—

THE room had been dark.

She stared at the darkness—almost solid and with substance—at tahimik na naglakad sa loob ng silid… until she found the bed—where she lay fast asleep in careless abandon. She’s always been sleeping in careless abandon; uncaring of the danger around her. Ilang beses na niyang ipinakita sa dalaga ang kaya niyang gawin—despite her outward fragility—ngunit hindi nito pinapansin iyon. Instead, she’s keen on focusing on the bright side. 

“I love you, iyon ang mahalaga—nothing can ever change that.” 

Those were her words. Ngunit hindi niya magawang paniwalaan iyon. Hindi nito nakikita ang nakikita niya… hindi naririnig ang mga naririnig niya… hindi nadarama ang mga nadarama niya. She’s a monster trapped in a human shell.

And there are times when she wanted to kill this person more than she wanted to love her. 

Dahan-dahan ang ginawa niyang pagsampa sa kama; the fabric of her long white nightgown brushing against each other at umupo sa harap ng dalaga. She’d always find her sleeping face amusing. She’s pretty—really pretty. Prettier than her. And normal. Wala sa loob niyang hinaplos ang mukha nito gamit ang kaliwang kamay—the hand she rarely uses. 

Because her dominant hand is… occupied. 

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ng daliri niya sa kutsilyong nasa kanang kamay. It was long—and sharp. She liked her knives extra sharp. Unti-unting bumaba ang isang kamay niya sa leeg nito; tracing the beating vein under her white skin… wondering how it would feel kapag sinaksak niya ito sa leeg, right straight on her carotid vein.

Would she scream? Would she look at her in contempt? In betrayal? Would she hate her?

She moaned softly; turning to her—facing her—at ng madama na hindi ito nag-iisa ay alertong nagmulat ng mga mata. Her eyes were quick to focus solely on her bago ito mabilis na umupo. “T-Tinakot mo ako. Ano’ng ginagawa mo dito?” she reached out for the lamp desk and gasped; ang isang mata’y nakatutok sa kamay niyang may hawak na kutsilyo. 

—

“TENNYSON?”

Tennyson blinked. She groaned softly at wala sa loob na sinapo ang ulo… until she realized na wala siya sa sariling silid. She blinked some more bago agad na bumaling sa pinanggagalingan ng tinig na tumatawag sa pangalan niya—and instantly spotted Dianna; her twin.

Automatikong kumunot ang noo niya. “Diana?”

“Tennyson…”

She was still confused… ngunit agad na napalis iyon ng makita niyang may dugo sa braso ang kapatid—and that she was clutching it as though nakadepende dito ang buhay nito. Isang malakas na singhap ang kumawala sa lalamunan niya at agad na tinakbo ang kapatid na nakaupo sa isang sulok—fear very obvious in her wild and big eyes. 

“Diana!” halos pasigaw na sambit niya bago nagmamadaling kinuha ang kumot upang lagyan ng pressure ang sugat ng kapatid; avoiding the blood. She wrapped the screaming wound at nilinga ang kapatid na mahahalata ang matinding takot. “Diana, are you okay?!”

“T-Tennyson… the knife…” anito sa nanginginig na tinig. 

She was confused by her twin’s statement… until cold dread started to engulf her. Blangko ang mga matang nilinga niya ang kamay at automatikong nabitiwan ang kutsilyong hawak. The white nightgown she wore had smears of blood on it maski ang kutsilyong nasa paanan niya.

She stared at Diana in obvious horror. “N-No… Diana—I’m sorry…”

“T-Tennyson, I think mas makakabuting tawagin mo si Papa.” Si Diana sa nanginginig pa ring tinig. At hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang matinding pamumutla nito… until she looked further down and saw blood pooling on her stomach. 

Marahas siyang napaatras. Her twin sister had a stab wound on her stomach at nagdurugo ang braso nito—and she was holding what could possibly be a murder weapon. “D-Diana…”

“T-Ten… help me. Ay-Ayoko pang… mamatay—“ at bago pa matapos ng kakambal ang sasabihin ay tuluyan ng bumigay ang katawan nito. Tennyson managed to catch her bago tumama ang ulo nito sa sahig; cradling her unconscious and pale twin sa braso niya. Cold dread and a strong sense of panic engulfed her; the blood-curling screaming building up in her throat.

Isang sigaw ang kumawala sa lalamunan niya habang nakatitig siya sa kakambal niyang duguan at walang malay. 

—

“HOW'S Diana?”

“She’s… fine. Not in a critical condition ngunit madami siyang dugong nawala.” Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Ferdinand Montessa bago inalis ang salamin na suot; nilinga ang asawa na nakaupo sa tabi ni Diana at mahigpit na hawak ang kamay ng anak. 

“And Tennyson?”

“Still shock, Alvin. She… stabbed Diana.”

Maski si Alvin ay napabuntong hininga bago nilinga si Tennyson na nakaupo di-kalayuan sa kanila. Her eyes were wild and as huge as saucers. There was an obvious edge of anxiety on her face—on her blood-stained face. Nakabalot ito ng kumot dahil naka-night gown lang ang dalaga. At maski ang night gown na suot nito ay may mga bahid din ng dugo matapos mahigpit na yakapin ang kakambal.

That’s how they found the Montessa twins sa silid ni Diana.

Walang malay tao ang nakakatanda sa kambal habang si Tennyson ay mahigpit na yakap ang kapatid. It took them several guards upang pakawalan ni Ten ang kapatid upang maisugod sa pinakamalapit na ospital. Their mother had been worried ngunit hindi gustong magpa-sedate. Mrs. Montessa wanted to stay by Diana’s side kaya hinayaan na ito ng asawa. 

As for Tennyson, she hasn’t been allowed inside the room. 

“She will be investigated, Alvin. Attempted murder.” Si Ferdinand muli sa nahahapong tinig. “She’s too young. Ayokong makulong siya.”

“She’s mentally unstable, alam ninyong lahat iyon.” He didn’t want to use that excuse ngunit iyon lang ang nag-iisang paraan upang hindi makulong ang dalaga. “She’s under medication, isn’t she?”

“Adderall for her ADHD. And there’s another one for her OCD—Paroxetine.” Muli nitong nilinga ang dalaga and exhaled once again ng makita ang hitsura nito. “Both relatively strong drugs, Alvin. Para magkaroon siya ng normal na pamumuhay—and now, she still ended up stabbing her twin sister.”

“She can’t hear you say that, Chief.” Si Alvin at ng makita si Tennyson na tumayo upang magtungo sa silid ng kapatid ay agad na tinakbo ito. But he had been moving slow dahil narating agad ng dalaga ang pinto at pinihit iyon pabukas. “Tennyson, no!”

Allison Montessa glanced at the door at ng makita ang bunsong anak ay agad na tumayo. “Get out!”

“M-Mama…”

She didn’t want to do this to Tennyson ngunit hindi iyon ang oras upang makita ang anak—especially not looking like that. Agad niyang binitiwan ang kamay ni Diana upang lapitan si Tennyson at ubod ng lakas ng itinulak ang anak palabas ng silid; barring the door upang hindi ito makapasok.

And she had pushed her youngest so hard na napasadlak ito sa hospital floor. Gulat itong bumaling sa kanya. Allison feels sorry for her daughter ngunit pinigilan niya ang sarili na lapitan ang anak at yakapin. She knew Ten is suffering as well ngunit wala ng mas sasakit pa sa nararamdaman ng isang ina—knowing that two of her child needed medical help.

Ferdinand and Alvin were quick to get in between the two women. Si Alvin ay agad na itinayo si Tennyson habang si Ferdinand ay humarang sa asawa at anak.

“G-Gusto ko lang pong makita si Diana—“

“So you can stab her again?!” Si Allison sa galit na tinig. “It would be best kung didistansya ka muna sa kapatid mo, Tennyson. You did enough damage for the night.”

“I-I didn’t know na sinaksak ko siya—God, hindi ko alam ang nangyari, Mama! Please, paniwalaan mo ako. Papa, please!”

Ferdinand looked conflicted for a moment bago niyuko ang asawa. Allison had been shaking and her eyes were filled with unshed tears na alam niyang para sa dalawang anak. Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Ferdinand bago nilinga si Alvin. “Alvin, I think it would be… best kung iuuwi mo muna si Tennyson.”

“P-Pero Papa—“

“Ten, sweetheart, listen to me, please.” Si Ferdinand at hindi na pinatapos pa ang balak nitong sabihin. “We will talk tomorrow. You may visit Diana oras na gising na siya.”

Alvin wasted no time dragging Tennyson away from her family. He knew the woman is vulnerable. She was mentally broadcasting. Any psychic who would be near them would see and hear kung ano-ano ang mga emosyon at damdaming nadarama ng dalaga. He wrapped her tightly with the comforter bago binuhat ito at nagtungo sa emergency stairs upang hindi na niya idaan pa ito sa maraming tao. He didn’t want to scare the staff with Tennyson looking as though she had killed someone—kahit pa iyon ang muntik ng mangyari sa mansion ng mga Montessa.

Ng makarating sila sa basement parking lot ay agad niyang isinakay sa kotse ang dalaga; securing her tightly with the seatbelt bago siya pumasok ng sasakyan. He wasn’t going to bring her to her own house dahil dadalhin niya ito sa flat niya. She will be… safer there. Ng makarating sila sa condo niya ay hinila niya ito patungo sa private elevator; pushing the button to his floor at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ni Tennyson.

She was shaking. And cold. 

“I-I think gising na si Diana. I-I should—“

Alvin didn’t allow Tennyson to speak anymore. Marahas niyang hinablot ang magkabilang braso ng dalaga at niyugyog ito. The woman is clearly in a daze and shock. “Tennyson, snap out of it! Makinig ka sa boses ko!”

Tennyson blinked at bago pa mahulaan ni Alvin ang susunod na reaction nito ay mahigpit niyang niyakap ang dalaga. He’d always had a weakness with women and their tears but Tennyson is different. This is the first time na tila ba may humihiwa sa puso niya habang nakatitig siya dito habang umiiyak ito. 

“Ssh…” he says bago hinimas ang ulo nito; allowing the comforter to slide off her lalo at silang dalawa lang ang nasa elevator. “Ssh, it’s fine.”

“I-I killed her, Alvin. I stabbed Diana! At hindi ko maalala kung kailan ko ginawa iyon.” Iniangat ni Tennyson ang kamay nito at ipinakita sa kanya; Diana’s blood soiling her pale hands at ang iba ay sumuot sa ilalim ng kuko nito. “God, I killed my twin…!”

“You didn’t. Buhay pa siya.” Muli ay hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ng dalaga at niyugyog ito; gently this time. “Calm down, Tennyson—“

“I should go to jail. Ire-report ko ang sarili ko. T-That way, hindi na ako makakapanakit ng ibang tao—“

“Calm down, Tennyson! Walang may balak na magsampa ng kaso sa iyo. Your father will make sure na aksidente lang ang kakalabasan ng lahat. So, hold your shit together.” Muli ay niyakap niya ang dalaga upang kalmahin ito.

Ng makarating sila sa floor niya at muli niyang hinila ito patungo sa condo niya.

Alvin slid the card to the niche at pinaunang papasukin si Tennyson sa silid. Their mental connection was very much open—at least, to Tennyson’s side—at ng maisara niya ang pintuan; leaving them to nothing but her thoughts ay marahas siyang napamura bago agad na hinila ang dalaga. 

He didn’t know what he was thinking ngunit alam niyang kailangan siya ni Tennyson—and that he feels exactly the same thing. At na kahit hindi ito magsalita, probably fuelled by the pressure of the situation, Alvin knew exactly what she was thinking. Tennyson was momentarily stumped bagaman hindi pinigilan ang binata. “A-Alvin—“

“Ssh…” Anito habang naglalandas ang labi nito sa noo niya, pababa sa pisngi niya hanggang sa leeg niya. Tennyson shivered in pleasure and delight ngunit sinubukan niya pa ring labanan ang sensasyong binubuhay na naman sa kanya ng binata. Alvin’s hands went down to her buttocks and molded them in his hands, guiding her against his erection. 

Napasinghap siya doon. But there was something else in her mind right now. “B-Bathroom.”

“Of course.” 

Hindi na niya natapos ang iba pang balak niyang sasabihin dahil nasiil na siya ng halik ng binata; quickly forcing his tongue inside her mouth and tasted her savagely; biting and nipping her lips in sensual provocation. Alvin was quick to discard her blood-stained clothes bago siya madaling nabuhat; carrying her towards the bathroom kung saan muntik pa siyang mapasigaw ng madama niya ang malamig na pagbagsak ng tubig sa mukha niya. Alvin grabbed her hands at ipinulupot iyon sa batok nito bago siya iniatras sa dingding ng shower area. Bahagya pa siyang napaungol dahil tumama ang likod niya sa pader.

Alvin chuckled against her lips while kissing her senseless. “Sorry, sweetheart. You awaken the beast inside me. I’m certainly crazy about you.” muntik pa siyang mapatili ng biglang umangat ang mga paa niya sa sahig. She quickly wrapped her legs around his hips, shivering at the rough sensations when her most sensitive part brushed against the rough fabric of his jeans. Alvin pressed himself against her, grounding his hips on hers that made her shiver deliriously. 

“A-Alvin…”

“Take me, sweetheart.”

His fingers slid down inside her wetness. She arched herself against him at pakiramdam niya’y mababaliw siya sa ginagawa ng binata sa kanya. Now she was certain he was good at what he was doing. Hindi na siya magtataka kung hindi ito basta-bastang pinapakawalan ng mga babaeng naghahangad dito. Alvin quickly unzipped his jeans. He was so hard to the point of pain at hindi niya alam kung matatagalan pa niya na hindi maangkin itong muli; that when he roughly thrust his full and thick rock-hard arousal into Tennyson, he swore savagely amidst kissing her. He would come undone in seconds at tanging ito lang ang nakakagawa niyon sa kanya.

Si Tennyson ay hindi mapigilan na hindi mapasinghap. She snapped her eyes open at tumitig sa binata na nakatingin din sa kanya; dark, honey eyes lidded with raw passion and desire… and something else deeper. Alvin rocked into her, pushing himself further and into the hilt, filling her with nothing but his flesh at pilit na itinatatak sa kanya ang buong pagkatao nito. Bahagya lang siyang napapangiwi dahil sa bahagyang kirot na nararamdaman niya. But everything else is perfect. And they fit together so perfectly na kung sakaling iglap ding matatapos ang sandaling iyon ay hindi niya tiyak kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya.

“T-The consequence…” aniya; sinikap na paglinawin ang nanlalabo niyang utak. She wanted to tell him about the deadly consequences of their physical union ngunit hindi niya magawang masambit ang mga tamang salita.

And as if Alvin understood her, he simply said, “To hell with the consequences. I want you now, Ten…”

Alvin continued pounding against her, filling her thickly with him and almost surrendering into the strong urge to consume all of her to make sure people would know she was his—only his. He renewed the love bites he placed on Tennyson two days ago; biting and nipping and sucking on every part of her skin. At kahit saan dumapo ang bibig niya sa katawan ng dalaga ay tinitiyak niyang minamarkahan niya ito upang matiyak na hindi makakalimutan ng katawang iyon ang katawan niya.

And he would mark her so hard she wouldn’t be able to forget all of him easily. He rocked harder and faster into her that when he came in a flash, Alvin wasn’t certain kung gugustuhin pa niyang pakawalan si Tennyson. He buried himself in her so deeply he wasn’t sure anymore if it was the other way around—na siya ang minarkahan ni Tennyson. 

“I can’t get enough… Ten.” He whispered against her ear, still thrusting himself in her na tila ba hindi pa sapat sa binata ang malalim na koneksyon nilang dalawa. “Can’t get enough—not enough, darling.”