Tale 25
Death

Tulad ng sinabi ni Lauren sa gobernador, sya ang tinanghal na top notcher sa National Examination. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na mayroong nakakuha ng perfect score sa exam. Sa sobrang galak ng Presidente ng Ignis, agad nyang inimbitahan ang pamilya ng dalaga bilang pangunahing bisita sa pagdiriwang ng makasaysayang Examination ngayong taon.

"Congratulations Lady Lauren!" bati ng isang bisita

"I knew you could do it!"

"Congratulations!"

"You were always doing your best. No wonder you aced the exams!"

"Congrats! You will surely become a well-respected public official!"

"I heard a lot about your good deeds and your good reputation."

"Lady Lauren is such an angel!"

"Good luck with your career path Lady Lauren! I will always cheer you on!"

Ilang pasasalamat ang ibinigay ni Lauren sa mga bisita.

It was overwhelming. Tila nakalimutan na nila ang mga paninira ni Irish sa kanya.

Marami pang bumati sa kanya. Maging mga kilalang politiko ay nais syang makilala.

Nagpatuloy ang kasiyahan. Ang mga nakatatanda ay puro tungkol sa pulitika ang pinagdidiskusyunan. Habang nagkakasiyahan naman ang mga kabataan na inimbitahan ngayong gabi.

Pinili ni Lauren na manahimik sa isang sulok habang pinapanood ang nagaganap na kasiyahan.

"Is it really okay for me to be here?" Tanong ni Aurio habang umiinom ng wine.

"Of course. You are part of the plan remember?" Nakangiting tugon ni Lauren

"Dahil dyan kaya ako kinakabahan!" Aurio

"Relax." Chill na tugon ni Lauren

"Crap.. My tummy.. CR lang ako." Aurio sabay takbo

Natawa si Lauren. Mukang kinakabahan nga talaga ang binata.

"Tsk. Some people truly love attention." Komento ng isang pamilyar na tinig

Hindi ito pinansin ni Lauren. Ipinagpatuloy lamang nya ang pag-inom ng wine.

"Are you deaf? Im talking to you!" inis na bulyaw ni Irish kay Lauren

"Oh? You're talking to me? I thought you only like to talk about me behind my back?" Inosenteng tugon ni Lauren

"Nonsense! Stop accusing me!" Irish

"Is that all you have to say? Come on. Keep talking. If you keep trying you might say something intelligent." Lauren

"Hmmp! You're only good at insulting other people! I wont forget your comments about my make up! For your information, they're all branded. See, Im using it now? And they all look so natural." Saad ni Irish

"Oh? Bakit di mo I-try kainin yang make up mo? Baka sakaling gumanda din yang kalooban mo?" Lauren

"Why are you so mean?" melodramatic na tanong ni Irish. Trying to act like a victim... Pinagtitinginan na sila ng ibang mga bisita.

"Congratulations on your ability to create a drama out of absolutely nothing." Papuri ni Lauren

"Hmmmp! You were insulting me, how is that nothing? Your opinion were always rude and offensive!" Irish

"I offend you with my opinion? Then you will definitely cry when you hear the things I keep to my self." Casual na tugon ni Lauren

"See? You're so rude!" Irish

"Im not a candy factory. I don't sugarcoat things." Lauren

"You think you're so great just because you aced the National Examination! News flash! It still wont help you get my fiance!" sigaw ni Irish

"Thank you for sharing your very unique point of view." Lauren

"What?" Irish

"You don't get it? It means that NOT EVERYONE IS AS INSECURE as you." Lauren

"What?!" Inis na sigaw ni Irish

"You still don't get it? Im impressed.. I never met such a small mind inside a big head before." Lauren

"B*tch! Soon you'll regret saying everything you said to me!" Irish

"See this face? This is me not caring." Saad ni Lauren saka tinalikuran ang babae

"We're not done talking! Why are you so moody?" inis na sigaw ni Irish

Muli syang hinarap ni Lauren..

"Just because Im moody doesn't mean you're not irritating. Leave me alone." Lauren

"Hmmmp! It's about the rumours, right? You think Im behind it!" Irish

"Stop acting innocent. Besides, Im not really worried about people talking behind my back. They're behind me for a reason." Lauren

"You!" hindi nakatugon si Irish..

"Be honest. You're just envious . You want to be just like me." Saad ni Lauren

"N-no!" Irish

"To be honest, I see myself whenever I look at you." Lauren

"R-really?" Irish

"Yes. A less dashing, less intelligent version of me." Sincere na tugon ni Lauren

"........" Irish

"Irish, if you have a problem with me, don't talk to me. Problem solved." Saad ni Lauren saka sya tinalikuran.

"I said were not done talking!" sigaw nya pa..

Akma na sanang bababa ng hagdanan si Lauren para lumayo sa babae, nilingon nya ito,. "Did you really set aside this special time just to humiliate yourself in public?"

"O-of course not!" Irish

"Really? You're obviously not my match in a battle of wits. Why do you keep talking?" Lauren

"Who said Im not your match?! Masyado ka lang bilib sa sarili mo!" Irish

"Really?" Lauren

"Yes! Try me!" Irish

"Shock me, say something intelligent." Lauren

"Ahm.. Don't hate me cause you're not me!" Irish

Natigilan si Lauren, pinakinggan nyang mabuti ang paligid.. "Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring."

"You!" inis na sigaw ni Irish

"If it was before, I would have believe that deep inside you still want to be friends. But that Lauren is already dead. The me now can see through you." Seryosong saad ni Lauren

"What do you mean?" Irish

"I know what you did, Irish." Lauren

Agad napalunok ng laway si Irish.. A-anong ibig nyang sabihin?

"Irish, your insecurities are showing. You wanted to get rid of me so you hired an assassin, right?" nakangiting tanong ni Lauren

"Ohh? It was Lady Irish?" bulong ng isa sa mga bisita

"She's always causing trouble for Lady Lauren."

"She's too despicable!"

"Is that true? It was you who hired those people?!" tanong ng gobernador ng Bronei.. He's been waiting for this moment.

"...N-no.." Irish

"What? Are you too scared to show your true colors??" Lauren.. Ikinumpas nya ang isa nyang kamay... "Come on, tell us the truth."

"So what if it's true?! I want you out of my life! You keep on bothering my Fiance! He's mine! Lahat na lang ba gusto mong kunin sakin? You're smart, beautiful and everybody loves you! But how about me? I'm just a friend of the great Lady of Virtue! Im tired of living in your shadows!" Irish

"I can see your point, but I still think you're full of bull. What you did is a crime." Lauren

"I don't care!" Sigaw ni Irish

"You're not just insecure. But also selfish." Lauren

"Shut up!!" nanlilisik na sigaw ni Irish.. Itinulak nya ang dalaga dahil sa matinding galit.

Lauren was standing beside the staircase. Because of Irish, she was pushed down. Everyone was shocked when they saw her roll down the stairs.

There's blood.

Agad nagkagulo.

Aurio was just getting back and saw this horrifying sight.

Agad nyang nilapitan si Lauren. Is this still part of the plan? Aurio was terrified. "There's no pulse."

Natauhan si Irish at agad nabalot ng takot matapos makita ang naging resulta ng ginawa nya.

***

Sa isang lumang palasyo na ikinukubli ng makapal na kagubatan matatagpuan ang isang di pangkaraniwang pamilya. Ito ang tahanan ng pamilya Kingston, nababalot sila ng misteryo at maraming mga sikreto.

Sa hardin, makikita ang isang binata na mag-isang umiinom ng tsaa sa lilim ng isang puno.

Mayroon syang itim na buhok at ginintuang mga mata. Si Lance.

"Ikaw na ang magtanong." Saad ni StarWolf na makikita di kalayuan kasama si BloodWolf.

"Ikaw na lang!" BloodWolf

"Bat di ikaw!" StarWolf

"Ikaw na kasi.." BloodWolf

"Fine.. Ako na." StarWolf

Agad silang lumapit.

"Boss.... May itatanong daw si BloodWolf." Saad ni StarWolf kaya napalingon si Lance sa dalawa.

"F*ck!" sa isip ni BloodWolf.. Gusto nyang tadyakan ang kaibigan.

"M-master.. Nag-aalala lang kami. Are you okay?" Tanong ni BloodWolf

"Yes." Tipid na tugon ni Lance

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.. "He's definitely not!" sa isip nila.

"Master, why don't you visit the Mistress? We can take care of the Eagle Alchemy Guild for you." BloodWolf

"Too dangerous. They're demon puppets. I will visit her after we settled this issue." Lance

"Boss, nakaready na nga pala yung hukbo na gagamitin natin laban sa Eagle Alchemy Guild ng Ignis." saad ni StarWolf

"Good." Lance

"We're ready to move anytime, Boss." StarWolf... "Alam namin na di ka na makapaghintay makita si Mistress, Boss! Im so happy for you huhuhu.." sa isip nya

"Master ihahanda na din ba namin yung mga dowry? How many treasure boxes should we prepare? 40? 50? Is 100 enough?" BloodWolf

"Isnt it the wife's family who usually prepare dowry? Hmm? Well, it doesn't really matter.. We should prepare a parade to show it to everyone!" Sang-ayon ni StarWolf

".........is that really necessary?" Tanong ni Lance

"Of course!" sabay na tugon ng dalawa

"If you're going to propose a marriage, you should scare off all your competitors Master!" BloodWolf

Tumango si Lance.. "Okay."

"I cant wait to meet the Mistress!" excited na saad ng dalawa

Napangiti na lang si Lance.. Hindi na din sya makapaghintay.

Bago dumating si Lady Lauren sa buhay ng kanilang Master, hindi ito ngumingiti o tumatawa. Nagbago ang lahat dahil sa kanilang Mistress!

Sa gitna ng kanilang masayang usapan, makikitang nagmamadaling tumatakbo si LoneWolf papalapit sa tatlo.

"Oyy! What's up? Bakit ganyan ang muka mo??" usisa ni BloodWolf

"M-master..."

"May problema ba?" Tanong ni Lance

"Master, you told me to keep an eye for any news regarding the Mistress.." LoneWolf

"M-may nangyari bang hindi maganda?" tanong ni StarWolf

Lumuhod si LoneWolf sa harap ni Lance.. "Master... L-lady Lauren.... Lady Lauren is...."

Nagdilim ang muka ni Lance... "Say it."

"S-she's dead."

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Hey everyone! Today is a Friday the 13th. A lot of people believe that it's jinx. But not me. It's actually a very special day for me because I was born on a Friday the 13th! I think it's really cool, walang basagan ng trip, okay?
Anyway, since it's a special day, I will upload another chapter later. Stay tuned!~