Chapter Three: Unexpected Touch

Class went on and everything seemed to be back on track with V. After the break slash interruption given by the sudden appearance of the new mysterious girl in their class, he suddenly gained his long lost consciousness and began understanding the lessons easily. Well, he's smart though. After a couple of 

minutes, the class ended and that time was his time to go to his next class, which, a bit suspiciously, was also Ligaya's next class of the day, and who was now finally sitting beside him. He found it peculiar but decided to not give a notice about it anyway. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

A hundred miles away from Sinatra, a group of aged women were having a meeting. All of them were having that game face on and were really serious whenever they utter or do something within the circle. 

"Why did you let her go, Mamang Turiya? How certain are you that she's doing the right thing?" one of the women asked.

"It is not for us to decide whether or not she's doing the right thing, it was her Datawi (Guardian) who made the treaty," another woman, who's holding a chicken, spoke. Her name was Mamang Turiya.

"But that world is different from ours. We can never be assured of her safety." Another woman whose name was Makahig asked.

"She's a grown up young lady with might and intelligence. She is able. Besides, she's not safe here, either. The Malignobons (dwellers of the evil spirits) are searching for her, wanting her to be captured. It's just wise of her to go somewhere those Malignobons won't think she'll go. Also, we should not forget that half of Ligaya's was in that boy. If they are together, as long as Jau hasn't gotten the Vermilion yet, for the most part, Ligaya is safe."

"But what if the boy doesn't give Ligaya the other half back? Or worst, doesn't help her find the Vermilion?" The most petite woman in the circle asked, her name was Hulagway.

"Only the spirits of the time can tell. All we have to do is trust. Besides, the boy doesn't have to give it back, it's his all along," Mamang Turiya said with utmost sincerity and certainty, and the women around her just gave her a worried smile. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Classes were already done. Students were now dashing along the corridors to go to wherever places they wanted to be. As for V, he was heading to his car so he could prepare himself for the night's party. But on his way, although he's not the conceited type, he seemed to notice that the new lady in the 

school was following him. He had a thought of it earlier because they had the same subjects and schedule, but just ignored it. However, this time, he was really certain that the lady was stalking him and was not even making an effort to hide it. As they reached an area where no bystanders were seen, he planned to ask the girl what she's up to, however, he was interrupted by the sight of none other than Miko Alcantara, who was also approaching his car that was situated beside V's.

At first, they tend to not mind each other and went directly inside their cars. It was only when Miko intentionally hit the back of V's car so as to cause a friction that their bloods began to boil erratically. The two of them immediately went out of their cars for a confrontation.

"I'm not in the mood right now," V warned him in a very calm way as they faced each other with furrowed eyebrows.

"I thought we're not done yet?" challenged Miko. 

"Not here," V addressed and was still making an effort to be patient.

"Tss, scared now huh, Jalandoni?" Miko asked; grinning. 

"You know what, I've heard about your poor and complicated record in this school. One more trouble and you'll be forever erased from this place. So if I were you, keep your fucked up ass away from my sight."

"You think I'm scared?!" bellowed Miko. V had just pushed a triggering button.

"9 PM then, the secluded area near La Primera," V said calmly to end the conversation and went directly to his car.

It was only when he's already few meters away from the school premises that he remembered Ligaya, the new lady, was following him awhile ago. Where had she possibly gone to? Nevertheless, it was not his business anyway.

~~~~

9 PM had finally approached and V was currently heading into the secluded area that he and Miko agreed upon earlier. Once and for all, he wanted stupid things and grudges with the likes of Miko Alcantara to be over. However, he was mistaken when he decided to go there alone. He thought that they're to deal the matter man-to-man. But Miko was with the Salamanders, the city's gang, who had failed to defeat V the last time. They were planning to gang up on him.

"Tss, worthless gits," V whispered to himself as he was facing more than ten people, who certainly were having grudges on him. 

"Seems like your outnumbered now, Jalandoni. Tsk tsk, what a sight!" Shouted Miko and then started to laugh.

"Say whatever you want." 

All of them were now positioning themselves; ready to fight. A bald man started to attack him and the rest followed. But V seemed to be an expert. He was outnumbered, but the gits were still having a hard time attacking him. Punches and kicks were matched perfectly with his keen eye and expertise in both Judo and Taekwondo. It was a tough fight, indeed, however, there really was strength in numbers. Miko was desperate enough to use dirty tricks on V that he drew from his pocket a dagger and started pacing toward V's direction. Since V was busy dodging, punching, and kicking some asses, he overlooked the thing that was about to happen. Until it was too late for him to notice Miko, who struck the dagger into him.

Everything happened so quickly. He felt dizzy and pained. When Miko was about to strike another punch on his face, he wasn't able to dodge it anymore. He was already down on his knees. Luckily for him the police car's siren was now approaching their way. Upon realizing the presence of the cops, Miko and his Salamander friends ran as quickly as they could away from the area, leaving V, who was bleeding to death, alone. The policemen who seemed to be full of the pressure to held the gang captive, did not even realize that someone was agonizing to death. V tried so hard to make a sound or to make something for him to get noticed, but nobody was there. He closed his eyes, thinking how on earth could that friction between him and Miko led to this kind of thing. Above anything else, he felt so stupid and weak. He couldn't even move a muscle. He felt so angry with himself for not seeing it coming and worst, maybe for dying a worthless death. His thoughts wandered in so many things, especially those

could-have-beens. What would happen to the things he had planned for? The things he had worked so hard for to achieve? Everything seemed to be pointless at the moment. How pathetic, he thought. And just when everything turned blurr and uncertain, a presence that he, in a million universe, would never have expected, appeared before his very eyes. Lying there, weak and defeated, he thought it was just an illusion or something that soon-to-be dead ones would witness. But if it was a pathway to death, he thought, why did it feel so comforting that he thought his life depended on it? On her very touch? 'But why was she here?' He thought to himself. The new girl in school, Ligaya, was there beside him for his rescue. She was on her knees while looking at his face and started touching it. It felt weird and cold, very cold, for him. But it seemed to be healing all the cuts and bruises his body had. He tried to move his arm to assure himself that he wasn't 

dreaming, for everything was so foggy, but he was stopped by her when she touched his arm while saying, "You have to rest." 

He did not want to obey but he felt so numb that he couldn't move anymore. Left without any strength to motion, he just braced himself with all the might that was left in him and whispered, "who...exactly...are you?" and after doing so, everything turned into darkness.