TWENTY-SEVEN

THE ROOT OF ALL.

SHE CONTINUED TO HOLD his shirt and hug him for a long time, then lifted her head, wanting to say something but unable to. So she just stared at him, and she felt a little more reserved than usual.

"Bakit, ha? Gwapo ba masyado? Ako lang naman 'to." he grinned, hoping to shift her mood for a bit. Nag-aalala siya kay Minami, dahil 'di pa niya narinig ang babae na umiiyak ng gano'n.

"Ligawan mo na kaya si Ate Ganda, Kuya! 'Di po maging torpe!"

"Gago,"

Ang pintuan ay dahan-dahan na bumukas. Kumaway ang pari sa kanila habang inayos ang kanyang salamin at sinabing, "Aba ngayon ko lang yata nakita na-" saglit na nanlaki ang kanyang mata nang makita ang babae.

"Minami? Is that you?"

"Yes," she replied.

"I see. When you were younger, you and your father would regularly visit here. How is he? What happened to Dr. Tachibana? "

"He died..."

Mapayapa ang kanilang buhay noon, madalas siyang dalhin ng kanyang ama sa laboratoryo at kung anu-ano ang mga kwento ang sinasabi niya kay Minami na 'di pa niya alam kung tungkol saan 'yon.

Where Chaos originated and what her role in the Cosmos is. Minami doesn't care about it; what's more important to her is knowing about the Fates. Ang mga bagay na 'yon lang ang bumabagabag sa kanya. Para iligtas ang kanyang ama.

She walked over to the priest, her eyes filled with confusion, saying, "Wait. How did you know my father?"

Ngumiti ang pari at lumapit kay Saku at ginulo ang kanyang buhok, "Dahil inampon ko ang batang 'to. Sabihin na nating isa siya sa mga taong nagligtas sa buhay ni Saku noon.

"Thank goodness," Minami placed her hands on her chest and smiled at them both, "Kung gano'n, 'di totoo ang ibinibintang sa aking ama. Hindi siya involved sa malpractice na nangyari noon."

"He isn't. Especially since he was the one who gave me the opportunity to live again."

She was always looking for an answer. Did her father die in vain? Talaga bang masama ang ginawa niya noon kaya napili na lang ng kanyang ina ang isang politician upang palitan ang kanyang ama?

Minami didn't understand why some scientist had taken him away and killed him. At Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, nananatiling 'di pa rin malinaw ang lahat. Ang tanging bagay na ginawa niya ay makinig sa mga kuwento ng kanyang ina. Her godly parent, Hebe. The Goddess of Youth.

Bukod pa rito, sinabi sa kanya mismo ng kanyang ina. That the scientist obligated him to secure the magic they used in the Twilight Vale. Is it really necessary to kill him?

That the scientist permitted him to, and the only reason she wanted to get close to the Fates was to find out where her father is. At the very least, tell us where they killed him. Maybe she'll know how to clear his name.

"Which reminds me here. It's one of your father's belongings," the priest explained, handing her an ink bottle. More like ancient ink. Minami gladly takes it and stares at it.

"My father likes to collect some of these. As far as I can tell."

"Kaya naman po," sabi ni Minami at yumuko sa pari at bumuntong-hininga na lang, "Father, 'di ako naniniwala na may pananagutan ang tatay ko sa malpractice na nangyari kung ililigtas lang naman niya ang tatlong magkakapatid na naaksidente sa sunog!"

Marami siyang 'di naiintindihan noong panahon na 'yon. Minami's only ally was her father.

He's the only one who is constantly telling stories about Greek mythology's heroes and legends. Something she'd never understood before. Malalaman niya ang sagot kung alam niya kung saan dinala ng mga scientist ang bangkay ng kanyang ama.

Marami gustong itanong si Minami sa kanyang ama. Kung bakit niya inako ang isang kasalanan na hindi niya ginawa. Bata pa lang siya nakita niya kung paano nakakayanan ng iba na nasa mataas na posisyon baliktarin ang totoong nangyari. 'Di wasto ang hustisya at namulat siya ro'n.

Maraming gustong itanong si Minami sa kanyang ama. Bakit niya inamin na may nagawa siyang kasalanan sa 'di naman niya ginawa.

Noong bata pa siya, nakita niya kung paano mabago ng ibang nasa matataas na posisyon ang totoong nangyari. Hindi patas ang hustisya at doon pa lang namulat siya sa injustice system natin dito sa bansa.

Her will to fight for justice has recently increased. Those scientists may feel like they're the king, but not for very long.

Maghahanap siya mismo ng buong katotohanan upang mabayaran nila ang pagpatay sa tatay niya. Sinara niya ang kamao and her brow wrinkled, and her eyes burned with rage.

Napahawak na lamang siya sa kanyang baywang at tiningnang mabuti ang pari, "Kung gano'n, kung nakita mo ang kumuha sa aking ama, sabihin mo sa kanya na hahanapin ko siya at pagsisisihan niya ang ginawa niya sa aking ama!" Tumulo ang luha niya at halos manginig siya.

"Minami,"

"I'm not afraid of everything. You know me. And I'll do everything I can to stop them, father. That's what I decided."

Saku sighed, and his eyes expressed everything. He placed his hands in his pocket, clenched his jaws, and gulped as he stared at Minami intently. "Do you realize what kind of monster you're dealing with, huh?"

Minami couldn't provide an answer at this point. Because she wasn't sure what to say to him either. But he should understand that those jerks are playing with their fate. And, knowing that they are the enemy to look out for, he cannot allow Minami to sacrifice herself for this.

"Even so..."

"They are monsters, Minami. Monsters. Also, they may reach you at any time."

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

SAKU MAINTAINED HIS expressionless eyes. He appeared to be correcting her. He stared at her long enough to read everything about her. Everything about her: how she looks, how she speaks, what she does.

But she couldn't see it either, or she barely noticed his presence at all. Minami kept silent and forced her way inside to have serene thoughts. She wants to handle this in a straightforward way.

At alam niyang ginagawa niya ang mga bagay na 'to para maprotektahan siya. Sa nakikita niya sa lalaking 'to, parang 'di niya nagustuhan ang desisyon niya ngayon. Parang gusto siyang pigilan ni Saku because she's trying to find out everything she can about the scientist.

As she has always stated, she's neither a damsel in distress nor a princess. Her options will be entirely up to her. And she's capable of saving herself.

"Gusto ko pa rin hanapin ang katotohanan."

"I knew you would say that. Ang tigas ng ulo mo, 'no?"

"What!? Did you really call me here to insult me, or were you just trying to make me feel better? So, which is it!?"

Mukhang natuwa ang pari ng makitang may kausap siyang iba ngayon. 'Di niya pa 'to nagagawa dati, and he views himself as someone who should be watchful of others around him.

Kaya naman ngumiti siya kay Minami at nagpasalamat, "Salamat, iha."

"Uh, po?"

"For making him happy. Ngayon ko lang nakita na ngumiti si Saku ng ganyan. Dahil 'yan sa'yo. O paano, pasok na tayo sa loob. Baka 'di ka pa kumakain?"

"Nakakahiya po..."

"Nahiya pa! Eh sa'kin din naman bagsak mo." Saku muttered something that made Minami flush for a few moments.

Kotori spent some time alone in her room, listening to metal music and preparing for her tests. I'm hoping she'll be able to pass her future college course, nursing. She is concerned about what will happen to Minami because she has not left her house like this before. She knew something was going on between her and her family.

She took out her phone and texted her via her message. She has been concerned for Minami's well-being, you see.

Minami Raniyah Tachibana
Status: offline

Kotori typing...

Hi, cous!

Are you OK? Have you had dinner? If not, I'll prepare for you when you arrive home, okay?

Sakto! Narinig ko na aalis daw ang kuya mo at si papa mo. Maybe we should chat. On the other hand, if you choose, we can vm my parents and inform them about your future plans. For sure matutuwa sila na pupunta ka ng med school.

And you know...

You can count on me, too. Siguro sanay ka na maging matapang and you're probably thinking you don't need help. And sometimes you seem distant, which makes me feel awful because you have to handle things on your own.

Minami...

Nandito pa rin ako.

Nandito pa ako para sa'yo. :)

last seen by you by 5 seconds ago

She told herself several times not to worry, but she couldn't shake the sense that her uncle could push Minami away like she was a pawn or something.
She peered at the phone, hoping for Minami's response, but there was no answer.

She carefully turned off her phone and began walking towards her bed, until she noticed how the bottles were breaking. It turns that Masaki was throwing them.

"That damn kid!" Sigaw na lang nito and he vented all of his rage over breaking stuff.

Kotori isn't as calm as Minami. Napapikit na lang siya at sinarado ang kamao niya. She wasn't stupid enough to not notice na sa tuwing nalalasing ang kuya niya ay laging bugbog sarado niya si Minami. Minamaltrato niya 'to!

Kotori gripped on her curtains at nang itapak niya ang paa niya, ay tumingin si Masaki sa kanya at tinignan niya 'to ng masama na tingin. Iba ang itsura niya sa tuwing nagpapakita siya ng pekeng mga ngiti niya as though those are sincere intentions.

Masaki rubbed his hands, grinned at her, and clicked his tongue. "Kotori. Bakit gising ka pa? Bukas na ang pag-apply mo sa Central University, 'di' ba?"

"Why do you hate my cousin so much? What has she done to you?"

Kotori stepped ahead, despite her concerns that she might be butting in kaya naman importanteng malaman niya ang totoo, kung bakit wala silang pakialam kay Minami.

Palagi niyang nararamdaman na magsisinungaling ang iba sa kanya, lalo na ang pamilya ni Minami.

"Kuya Masaki, please tell me the truth! Hindi 'yung nararamdaman na nagsisinungaling kayong lahat sa 'kin!" sigaw ni Kotori

Masaki's long brown hair flew through the air as the wind gusted. His blue eyes flashed brightly as the moonlight pushed into him.

Kotori had never seen anyone as attractive as the Tachibana family. They are fairly popular among Romanians, however.

They are one of the most well-known scientists, having found the magic that allows the Oracle to exist. Masaki's expression indicated that this was not something she was used to.

He was angry.

And it scared her.

Ginulo na lang ni Masaki ang buhok niya at ngumisi na lamang 'to sa kanya and he kicked the garbage and then glaring at her.

"Gusto mo bang malaman ang katotohanan? Ang buhay namin ni Papa ay nasira ng babaeng 'yon! Dahil sa bastardang 'yon!" Huminga siya ng malalim and he clicked his tongue.

"Ang sakit na nararamdaman ko noong iwan kami ni Mama dahil sa babaeng 'yon ay higit pa sa kung ano ang nararamdaman niya!"