Chapter 05: First Warning

Hirasaya’s POV

Dancing flames coming from the torch welcomed my eyes when I opened it. Nagsilbing liwanag ang apoy nito sa kuwartong kinaroroonan ko dahil lahat ng kurtina ay nakaharang sa bintana.

Anong nangyari? Paulit-ulit ko itong iniisip habang nililibot ang tingin sa kabuoan ng kuwarto. Doble ang laki nito sa mayroon ako sa bahay. May malaking shelf sa kaliwa na katabi lamang ng pinto, kinasisildlan ito ng mga artifacts. Sa kanan naman ay isang study table kung saan nakapatong ang mala-tore sa daming mga paperworks. Lahat ng kagamitan, maging ang pader ay gawa sa yelo.

Teka… kuwarto ‘to ni Kuro ‘a.

Napuno ng sakit ang aking ulo dahil sa libo-libong memorya na nagsisiksikan dito. A blizzard… natatandaan kong na-trap ako sa gitna ng blizzard nang mag-isa dahil sa paghahanap kay Kuro. Tapos, someone was calling my name… then a silhouette…

“Aaahhh!” I screamed in pain. It feels like my head was about to be cut in half.

I heard a crashing sound as the door opened. Iniluwa nito si Kuro na ang mukha ay nababahiran ng pag-aalala. “H-Hirasaya! What’s wrong?”

He rushed into my side and hugged me tight. Mas dumiin ang pagkakahawak ko sa ‘king ulo habang pilit kong inaalala kung ano ang mga sumunod na nangyari. But my memories kept on projecting his androgynous features that was showered in blood… my blood. His cold stares lingering into my soul. And his presence whom I once find comfort, pero ngayon ay tanging takot na lang ang nangingibabaw.

“That mysterious… person who saved me before. Tinangka niya akong patayin,” sabi ko sa pagitan ng malalalim na hininga. That memory alone makes me feel as if I ran a thousand miles.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit, but he told me that I must be killed.” I grabbed Kuro in his jacket and looked straight to his eyes. His face was kind of blurry because of the tears in my eyes.

Nalilito na ako… sino ba talaga ang taong ‘yon?

“Isa-isa lang, pero bago ang lahat ay huminga ka muna ng malalim,” sabi niya sa ‘kin bago ako abutan ng tubig mula sa katabi kong mesa.

I followed him to calm my heart which was already beating fast. Tinanggap ko ang alok niyang tubig at doon ko napansin ang mga piraso ng tela na nakabenda sa bawat braso ko.

Bahagyang humawi ang kurtina dahil sa malamig na simoy ng hangin mula sa labas. Tirik ang araw at walang kahit na ano mang senyales ng nangyaring blizzard. Nagbigay ito sa ‘kin ng pansamantalang ginhawa.

“Ano bang nangyari sa ‘yo ro’n?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.

Pakiramdam ko ay kumulo ang dugo ko sa tanong niya. Siya pa talaga ngayon ang may ganang magsabi n’yan?! Nagtaas siya ng kamay dahil sa masasamang titig ko sa kaniya. Katulad ko pero ay puno rin ng pagtataka ang mukha niya.

“Hindi ba’t ako dapat ang nagtatanong sa ‘yo n’yan? Mag-ha-hunt ang pinunta natin do’n tapos bigla-bigla ka na lang nawawala!”

I didn’t get any response from him, maliban na lang sa unti-unting pagkunot ng noo niya. Kukurap-kurap siyang nakatingin sa ‘kin na siyang habit niya tuwing nag-iisip nang malalim.

“What do you mean na nawala? I was at your back all along. Ikaw itong bigla-bigla na lang na tumakbo palayo habang nagsisigaw ng pangalan ko. I thought you were pranking me, popular ‘yon ngayon ‘di ba.”

“Why would I? Especially when there’s a blizzard?”

He scanned my eyes to check if I’m being serious. I immediately covered his face using my palm. Alam naman niyang nakaka-nerbiyos sa ‘kin pag may nakatitig.

“Sabing oo nga ‘e!” I insisted before telling him the full details. Sinabi ko sa kaniya ang nangyari mula sa bigla niyang pagkawala. Pati na rin ang pag-atake sa ‘kin ng misteryosong tao na siyang minsan ay nagligtas sa ‘kin noon.

“You’re trembling.” Ito lamang ang tangi niyang isinagot.

Tinago ko ang dalawang kamay sa ‘king likuran.

“Nakinig ka ba sa sinabi ko?” pag-iiba ko ng topic.

“Oo naman, and I think you were deceived. Dahil unang-una sa lahat, walang blizzard na nangyari. Here, let me tell you my side of story.”

Pinakinggan ko na lamang siya at isa lang ang masasabi ko, his story and mine doesn’t add up. Sabi niya ay nasa likuran ko lang daw siya at hindi siya umalis. Ngunit sigurado akong hindi ko siya makita noon. Hindi rin daw nagkaroon ng blizzard… kung totoo ang sinasabi niya, ano ang nakita ko noon?

Ang nagmatch lang sa kuwento naming ay ‘yong inatake ako. Although the person who did it was different from both of our story. Sigurado akong kasing-edad lang naming ‘yong lalaki na umatake sa ‘kin. Malinaw ko nang natatandaang ito ang lalaking nagligtas sa ‘kin noon nang tangayin ako ng dagat dito sa Rozenhart.

“I am telling you, the one who attacked you was a member of the elders. He was wearing their organization’s crest which is tower-shaped!” muling sabi ni Kuro. I never heard him speak on an angry tone. “Sumosobra na sila!” dagdag pa niya.

Our description of the perpetrator doesn’t match at all. His description was of a man who’s in the same age or even older than my Father. The right side of his neck up to his cheek was frozen. Tapos suot daw nito sa caribou jacket niya ang crest ng mga elders which is a tower-shaped crystal.

“The gift of illusion exists, siguro ay ito ang ginamit niya sa ‘yo kaya’t iba ang nakita mo.”

Hindi ko magawang makasagot at napatitig na lang sa kaniya. Kuro has been acting weird these days… and he wouldn’t tell me what’s going on. Can I really trust him? But then, bakit naman siya magsisinungaling sa ‘kin?

“I-I don’t know…”

My body still aches but I decided to get-off the bed. Hinarangan ako ni Kuro but I shoved him to the side. I just want to go home and take it all in.

“W-woy! ‘Wag ka munang uuwi!” Tumakbo si Kuro patungo sa pinto.

“Takot ka mapagalitan nila Papa ‘no?”

“Isa na rin ‘yon, hehe. Pero mas concern ako sa kalagayan mo! Ang layo kaya ng bahay sa inyo.”

Isang katok ang nagpatigil sa ‘ming pagbabangayan. Saglit na nawalan ng focus si Kuro kaya agad ko iyong kinuha bilang oportunidad na makalabas. Sinipa ko ang pinto at umusok sa espasyo sa baba ng kamay niyang nakaharang.

Tumakbo ako palayo sa kaniya sa kabila nang pananakit ng buong katawan. Geez, paniguradong mahahabol ako ng isang ‘yon nang wala sa oras.

I did the honor of opening the door… and an unexpected guest welcomed me.

“Oh, wow… sa wakas ay nachambahan din kita.”

Everess?! Anong ginagawa niya rito?

I looked back at Kuro who’s now scratching the back of his head. He wasn’t surprised at all. Para siyang bata na nakangiti kasi may nagawang mali sa Nanay niya.

“Naks, Everess! Napabisita ka na naman! Ahahaha!”

I gave him a confused look. Napabisita? So, this is not the first time she visited his house?

“Kuro, anong ibig sabihin nito?” bulong ko sa kaniya pagkalapit. I always do my best to avoid her pero mahuhuli lang din pala ako.

“I just visited your house at ilang araw ka na raw hindi umuuwi roon. Now I know why,” sabi niya. Her eyes were fixated on the cloth bandages that was covering my arms. “Seems like you had a fight with trouble again,” dagdag pa niya.

“Everess you’re mistaken, haha! She may look like Hirasaya, pero hindi ‘yan si Hirasaya. She is Eldi, my sister. Haha!” Sumingit sa pagitan namin si Kuro. He’s keeping me out of her sight.

“The last time I checked, you’re an orphan at nag-iisa ka lang na anak.”

“Ahm, long lost sister na tinangay ng dagat patungo rito? Kaka-discover ko lang din, hehe.”

Halos matampal ko na lang ang noo sa sinabi niya. That was the dumbest cover-up I’ve ever heard.

“What do you want with me?” I stepped forward and faced her. I doubt na magagawa kong paalisin ang isang ‘to nang ganun-gano’n lang. Gusto ko na lang itong matapos.

“You’re always following her, why?” sabi naman ni Kuro, his eyes were fixated on the tower-shaped crest on her chest.

“I’ll explain, pero papasukin niyo muna kaya ako? People are looking.”

It’s true. Her presence at our doorstep already caused quite a commotion. Pinagtitinginan na kami ng ilan sa mga tao. I could even hear some whispering how the Everess was here. And she’s visiting the likes of us who was literally a nobody. I’m starting not to care anymore.

Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya.

“Sure, because I have some questions for you too.” Seryoso siyang tinignan ni Kuro bago papasukin. He closed the door after.

“Hmm… what an empty home you got here,” komento niya habang nililibot ang tingin.

“Narito ka lang ba para magbigay ng commentary sa bahay ni Kuro? Because we’re sure that it was not the thing we asked you for.” Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang lakas ng loob ko. Like, she could freeze us at any moment. I should be scared, pero mas nangingibabaw ngayon ang kagustuhan kong malaman ang sagot.

“Alright! Alright!” She sat on the couch and leaned on it even when no one gave her permission to do. Feeling at home lang.

“It’s about your father, Hirasaya. I’m sure you already have a clue that something is going on with him.”

My heart started to beat faster. Kung tutuusin, she’s connected with the elders kaya may ideya siya tungkol dito. And judging from her grim tone, I already have a hunch that it’s not good news.

“The elders had a meeting and they were considering to remove your father’s position as one of them.”

Nag-si-sink in pa lang sa ‘kin ang sinabi niya nang bigla na lamang siyang sugurin ni Kuro. He tried to freeze her feet but Everess was quick enough to jump away from the couch.

“And I’m guessing that the elders sent you to harm Hirasaya as her father’s punishment,” diin ni Kuro.

“What the ef are you saying, Bro?!”

“Kuro, stop.” Hinarang ko ang braso sa harap niya bago lumapit kay Everess.

“Hirasaya, hindi mo pa rin ba na-ge-gets? The elders tried to kill you and maybe it has a connection on why they’re trying to remove your father’s position!”

Is it?

Umiling ako sa sinabi ni Kuro. I know he’s just worried, pero sigurado akong walang kinalaman si Everess dito. Considering her skills, ‘e ‘di sana ay pinabagsak na niya kami pagkabukas pa lamang naming ng pinto. It won’t be an issue to other people, anyway. But the fact that she’s not fighting back after Kuro’s attack, plus she even gave us a warning, I think that’s already evidence that she doesn’t have anything to do with them.

Kung mayro’n mang isang bagay na sigurado ako kay Everess, it will be the fact na wala siyang kinakampihan. She does anything as she pleases.

“B-Bakit nila gustong alisin si Papa?”

“You still can’t get the clue, don’t you? It was all because of you, Hirasaya. Hindi nila nagustuhan ang katotohanang kaya mo nang patumbahin ang mga nang-aapi sa ‘yo. And they’re punishing your father because they believe that he’s teaching you to harm others.”

Suminghal ako, harm others? Baliw ba sila? I never initiated a fight. Sila lagi ang nangungunang saktan ako at pinagtatanggol ko lang naman ang sarili. Kapag ako ang sinasaktan ay daig pa nila ang bulag sa hindi pagpansin nito. What a f*cking world we live in.

If there’s something that Papa taught me, it was to stand-up for myself. Wala namang masamang ipagtanggol ang sarili, hindi ba? Then why am I being punished for it?

“The elders are boring as ef. They consider you as a threat so they wanted you gone. At para magawa ito, aalisin muna nila ang posisyon ng Papa mo,” Everess said.

Kaya ako hindi magawang galawin ng mga elders ay dahil sa posisyon ni Papa. Kaya mayro’ng posibilidad ang sinasabi niya. Pero bakit ay kailangan pang madamay rito ni Papa? I know how much he loves his position at kung gaano karaming sakripisyo ang ginawa niya para makamit ito.

I can’t imagine how he could possibly lose it just because the elders wanted to… na wala man lang sapat na rason.

“Wala kang kinalaman sa pag-atakeng naganap kay Hirasaya?” sabi ni Kuro.

All their voices started to sound like a murmur as my focus fades away. I was slowly being filled with guilt. Hindi ko makakayang maalis si Papa sa posisyon niya nang dahil sa ‘kin.

“Iceberg to Hirasaya? Iceberg to Hirasaya?”

Nabalik na lang ako sa realidad nang tinapik ako ni Everess sa balikat.

“Hoy! Alam mong nag-da-drama ‘yong tao ‘e!” sabi sa kaniya ni Kuro but Everess just sticked out her tongue.

“Just the ef up. This is for her anyway,” saad ni Everess bago ako kaharapin.

“This guy matches up Kuro’s description of who attacked you. He’s part of the elders. Siya ba ang nakita mong umatake sa ‘yo?” Everess gave me her camera where a picture of the elders was displayed.

Itinuro niya ‘yong lalaking nasa pinakagilid ng picture and it indeed matched up Kuro’s description of whom he saw… but not mine.

But I’m still hesitant if I could trust her for this kind of information. Ang tagal ko rin sigurong naging lutang kung kaya’t mukhang pinagkakatiwalaan na siya ni Kuro.

“His name is Tandang Eliseo, he has the gift of making illusions habang snow shurikens naman ang signature weapon niya,” sabi ni Everess.

If that’s true, then it only matches-up Kuro’s story.

“May Tanda talaga sa pangalan niya? Haha! Dinagdag mo lang siguro,” si Kuro.

My mind was still occupied about my father so I just nodded even if it’s not true.

“Then it only means that our hypothesis is true, the elders wanted you gone. Be careful of them.”

What she says has some hints of truth. However, ano pa man ang sabihin nila ay mas lalo lang akong nalilito. Kung totoo mang itong Eliseo na ito ang nag-atake sa ‘kin, then how come he knows about my savior’s face? Connected ba sila?

Pero sa ngayon, mas gusto ko na lamang munang kalimutan ang nangyari sa ‘kin. I just want to focus on helping my father. He doesn’t deserve all of this.

But how can a nobody like me oppose the elders who holds so much power?