UNANG KABANATA

THE PROPHECY.

REBEL HURRIED over to her before things got out of hand. As if having too much time on one's hands was already enough. Isa lang naman talaga ang laman ng isipan niya ngayon. He must make every effort to persuade the woman. Even though he doesn't know her, she was undoubtedly not a human.

There must be some sort of warning why all of this is occurring, given that the precognition was smart enough to bother him for years. He looks at the woman with the gorgeous curly orange hair as he takes a few steps back. Rebel's only response was a growl, and he clenched his jaw and hissed at the corrupted souls.

"We're out of time here. Kaya kung ako sa 'yo, sabihin mo na ang tunay na pakay niyo! And please don't you ever irritate me ever again!" Nang matapos niya ang kailangan niyang sabihin, nagbulungan ang mga 'to at nagtaas naman siya ng kilay at sinamaan ng tingin ang mga corrupted souls.

Pero dahil mukha silang mga grim reaper, imposibleng malaman kung ano talaga ang ginagawa nila.

He's concerned because these monsters like making him look foolish. They will arrive out of nowhere and then disappear. They appear to be observing him. What's so important about that?

It's always like this.

Their only concern is whether or not he is Apolaki's son. They seemed to have known who he was whenever that Rebel was in danger. At this point, that is the least of his issues.

You're going to anticipate him breaking some regulations now, since he's a natural bad boy, isn't he?

He merely raised his eyebrows in the belief that these corrupted souls are simply too dim-witted to believe that he is merely a human being that they cannot simply murder. I'm afraid he isn't.

᪥𖣔᪥𖣔

Serissa could only give him a glare, "Sino ka ba talaga? You're not an intern at feeling ko rin naman, 'di ka naman Comparative Literature student. I take it you can see those? They are corrupted souls." Lumapit naman 'yung babae and her curiosity grew even more.

More of his issues now arise. Parang sunod-sunod na lang yata ang mga problema niya. He refuses to give in pero wala na siyang iba pang pagpipilian. 

Wala na ring dahilan pa para magtago pa siya. Being aware of the presence of those corrupted souls maaring may madamay pa dito. He is certain of it. He let out a sigh. Running away is no longer useful.

"I'm Rebel." Huminga 'to ng malalim, "I'm Apolaki's son."

The girl moved her hands fast at nagtuturo naman 'to sa kanya. She seems excited for someone who has been dealing with corrupted souls, don't you? She was even hopping from her position, which Rebel couldn't understand.

"What took you so long? And what was that, huh? Why did you have to test me earlier? Are you playing tricks on me? You mean you're the one I have to protect? We're going to meet today." Bigla na lang siya tinarayan ni Serissa. 

First, he had to make sure of something. whether or not he can rely on her to keep him safe. Sa katunayan, 'di niya 'to inaasahan. Sa kabila ng katotohanan na ito'y isang panaginip para sa kanya, 'di inaasahan ni Rebel na sila'y makikita ngayong araw. He was breathing deeply as he clenched his hood, walked closer to her, and trapped her against the wall.

Rebel commanded, "Tell me your name." He's not looking everywhere; he's staring at her extremely closely.

Obviously, hindi 'yon na gustuhan ni Serissa. No. He didn't like how he was controlling her. Mukhang 'di pa alam ni Rebel kung sino ang kalaban niya. Dahil dito, sisiguraduhin niya na makilala niya 'to.

Ang buong katawan ni Serissa ay halos palibutan ng kumikinang ginto sa ilang sandali. After her eyes sparkled into a dazzling green emerald, the vines hurried over to her hair, the wild flowers smashed the windows, and the tree branches swept past her before rapidly blooming.

"Are you attempting to order the daughter of Idiyanale? Gago ka ba? Who do you think you are!?"Sigaw niya.

᪥𖣔᪥𖣔

She seems to have turned into the threat herself. It will be fascinating to find out who's goddess or god turned out to be her parent. Ngayon na nagkita na silang pareho, sinamaan niya na lang 'to ng tingin at nginisian.

Since they'll be spending more time together, he might as well put her to the test for a bit.

Rebel flashed his smile, annoying her, and smirked at her. "Ikaw may kailangan sa 'kin, 'di 'ba?"

"F–fine! I'm Serissa and I'm Idiyanale's daughter."Irap niya kay Rebel.

"Now, we're talking."

'Di talaga mapakali si Serissa nang kaharap niya ang lalaking 'to. As if wala siyang choice kundi harapin ang problemang kinakaharap niya ngayon. Is this how becoming a protector is supposed to be? You're joking her, right?

Ngayong kaharap niya ang lalaking 'to, wala siyang ideya kung anong klaseng gulo ang pagdadaanan niya, sana mali ang iniisip niya.

By punching those corrupted souls earlier, this guy isn't even thinking about how he can take them all himself. If anyone's a fool here, it might be Rebel. It's surprising that she would take in a mischievous like him. That's dumb.

Rebel leaned closer to her and placed his right hand in his pocket, saying, "If you want me to trust you, gusto kong protektahan mo'ko with the fight tonight. As my manager, you'll be there at doon mo gagawin ang misyon mo."

"What?" Serissa asked.

"Keep me safe from those corrupted souls you saw before." Rebel grinned.

Serissa gave him a look that make him piss him. She continously rolling her eyes because she didn't want to agree with this. Her brows furrowed and she gave him a fake smile looking how much annoyed she is to this situation.

Just how many worst men that she had to keep with, huh? She took a deep breath and she slapped his hand away. 

"Is this your true nature? Ayoko ng inuutusan ako. At higit sa lahat, ayoko ng pinagmumukha mo akong tanga, Apolaki's son. We're not friends so I am not gonna call your name. Is that clear!? "Irap niya kay Rebel ng paulit-ulit.

That reaction made Rebel see her more interesting more than anything else. She's a bit different from her mother from what he can see. Rebel didn't like much books especially history but he used to read about Idiyanale and the other gods. Dahil hinahanap niya kung sino'ng magiging protektor niya.

᯽_____᯽𖣔⁂_____𖣔

BASED ON his knowledge, Idiyanale is the goddess of labor and good deeds. In some accounts, as pre-colonial Tagalog deities had fluid genders, she was also known as a female deity of animal husbandry, and a male deity of agriculture. She is also regarded as a deity of craftsmanship.

While other goddesses may represent aspects such as love, beauty, or fertility, Idiyanale's focus on labor and the importance of positive actions sets her apart.

Natives used to call for her guidance in order to make their works successful. If a person does not call her name, the work being conducted may not be finished in time, not finished properly, or not finished at all. She is friends with the mischievous Bibit and medicine deity Lingga.  

As the goddess of work and good actions, she embodies principles of productivity, dedication, and moral righteousness. Exploring her various attributes and functions in indigenous beliefs provides insight into her importance within Filipino society and the moral compass she represents.

Naturally, he would provide evidence in ways that he's aware of. To achieve his goals, he will even reach out to dangerous people. He was exercising caution. He has no idea who the enemy is out there.

At may dahilan kung bakit parang wala siyang tiwala kay Serissa ngayon. Gusto niyang malaman kung sino ang kanyang protektor. At gusto niyang kumpirmahin ang propesiya na 'yon.

From the moment of his birth, alam niyang nasa piligro siya mula nang iwan siya ni Apolaki, kaya't hinahanda niya ang sarili niyang makipaglaban. And that seems a little crazy, doesn't it? To lure himself in order to capture them. Nor did he have any options. Ito lang talaga ang paraan niya, at wala siyang balak na magtago.

"Hm?"Rebel lifted his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes at him and whispered "Tch."

'Di nagdalawang-isip si Serissa at itinaas na lang ang daliri niya at tinuro siya. Sobrang pula lang ng mukha niya. Her face was scarlet from the irritation that was written all over it. She was humiliated and appeared to be too naive to play this game.

Serissa held onto her blouse at saka niya inangat ang kanyang ulo, "You villain!"

Serissa turned around and hurriedly fled from him. There are booming taps from heels. Bilang karagdagan, napakahirap para sa kanya na maglakad doon. Napahilamos na lang ni Rebel ang kanyang mukha sa mga nakikita niya. Galileo appeared to have a strategy after glancing at Rebel just as he was ready to go.

᪥𖣔᪥𖣔

"Pang-ilang babae na ba 'yang nirereject mo, ha?"He asked and he shrugged at tawang-tawa siya sa ginawa ni Rebel do'n sa babae.

"Hindi ko siya nireject. Feeling mo. Let us go; or else, I will be late for my fight!" Rebel growled at him, and he immediately tugged him along.

He doesn't know what type of notions he's having, but he knows he's toying with him. Does Galileo have a life?

Rebel then flew to Los Angeles. He extended his arms and placed his baggage on his back. Itinaas niya ang kanyang hood  at mabilis na kinuha ang kanyang maskara at isinuot 'yon.

Napag-alaman niyang may problema ang mga empleyadong sumasalungat kay Serissa. She wasn't thinking at all! Para 'di na lumaki ang gulo, agad lumapit si Rebel at pumagitna sa kanilang dalawa, "What's going on here?" he asked.

"What's this crazy woman here saying about being your manager? Sigurado ka bang manager mo siya or nangugulo lang siya–"

His hand was smacked away by Serissa, "Kilalanin mo kung sino 'yung kalaban mo."She employed her magical plant abilities while glaring at them at nagbuga ng malakas ng hangin and there are numerous flora strewn across this area.

The vines swiftly follow from her foot and pick in speed as they approach her hands.

This is the ability of Esotoric Plant Manipulation. She has an esoteric side of the plants with special properties and a mystical nature to it. With mastery, the wielder could use the esoteric flora for a variety of magical effects.

Nagulat naman ang mga bouncer and Serissa scowled at them as some vines swatted them away along with the wind, "Sa susunod, h'wag niyo akong uutusan. Ayoko sa lahat 'yung kinokontrol ako. I don't listen to strangers!"

What the heck is she doing?

᪥𖣔᪥𖣔

Rebel bit his lip and closed his eyes. And he glances at the bouncer and smiled at them warmly. She wasn't really thinking at all, wasn't she? He didn't care how many people are around here at kaagad niyang hinaltak si Serissa papunta sa kwarto niya. He clicked his tongue and pinned her in the wall, "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Sila ang nauna–"

"You're a Demigod! A Half God! Ano bang pinag-iisip mo and you revealed your abilities like that!?"

"What? Ikaw naman ang nagpapunta sa'kin, right? So, what?"

"And why wouldn't I be so worried? There are eyes everywhere Serissa? Do you even understand how dangerous it is? You could have been killed!" Sigaw ni Rebel

For her sake, he needs to protect her too. For now. He had no choice. She's too careless. Who even told her to use her powers like that?

Seriously.

It seems like Serissa doesn't even like it at all. Kinuyom na lang niya ang kamao niya at tinignan ang lalaki nang sama. Sino ba siya para utusan siya ng gano'n? At kung bakit siya pa rin galit dito?

Hindi ba't siya ang nagdala sa kanya dito, at 'di niya alam kung gaano kahirap sa kanya ang kumuha ng ticket makita lamang ang kanyang walang kwentang niyang pagmumukha!

"You don't know me, Son of Apolaki, 'di mo alam kung ano ang kaya kong gawin bilang protektor mo. Kaya kung ako sa'yo, be sure to stay put, princess, because I'm going to break some corrupted souls tonight before you look down on me." She balled her fist and gritted her teeth at umirap na lang siya at umurong ng saglit bago pumorma ng suntok.

'Di makapaniwala si Rebel sa mga inaasta niya. Mali ang iniisip niya. Hindi naman niya 'to minamaliit. He closes his eyes, clicks his tongue, and swiftly looks away, "You don't get it at all."

"What are you saying—"

Agad initsa ni Rebel kay Serissa ang mga rubber shoes niya because he can't handle watching her in those heels. God, this woman is a problem.

"What is that?" Tanong niya at inangat niya 'to. It was a Red Adidas rubber shoes.

"Tanggalin mo na yang heels mo.I can't take seeing how troubled you're walking in those heels. I'm not going to take no for an answer, Idiyanale's daughter," Rebel said, looking away.

Napahawak na lang siya sa mukha niya sa sobrang pula ng mukha nito. He just wants to help, so why is it so difficult for him to be honest? It's not like he's flirting with her, okay?

Tiningnan pa ni Serissa ng mabuti ang sapatos and she simply pouted. It's too huge for her. Wala rin naman siyang choice dahil kanina pa siya hinihintay ni Rebel, kaya sinuot na lang niya 'to. She grabbed her bag with her, and some of the girls flocked around him, irritating her already. This fueled her rage even further.

"Pa-sign po!"

"Ang gwapo niyo po sa personal!"

"Single ka pa ba?"

Rebel moved his hand at saka niya inakbayan si Serissa. "Actually girls, no. I have a girlfriend here, at ang baby ko, selos na selos na. Don't worry babe, ipapanalo ko 'yung laban sa 'yo."

᪥𖣔᪥𖣔

"Ano kamo!?" Sigaw na lang ni Serissa.

"Ah–eh, be happy po!"

"Ginagago mo ba ako?" Ang mukha ni Serissa ay pulang-pula na. Even so, she was tense enough para yugyugin ang jacket ni Rebel, at sa kasamaang palad, nabuksan niya ang zipper nito nang 'di sinasadya and now showing off his muscular body.

He showed off his flamboyant nature by flashing his smile at hers. He was getting a little excited since he thought he might be crushing on her. His smiles caused Serissa's face to shift, and she became even more annoyed. The impostor!

She has no idea what he has been thinking.