PHOENIX.

"Freya is gone... Yet she's still not free," Tito Glifford muttered. His heart felt butchered because his love, Tita Freya, was taken away from him.

Gusto kong iiwas ang paningin ko sa kanya ngunit hindi ko magawa. In my world, in my time, in my generation, Tito Glifford is just like Light. No explanation is needed but they are the same.

"You know what I mean, right?" He asked.

I nodded. How can I not understand what he was saying when in fact I trapped Aizelle in the same position as Tita Freya? Isang malungkot na ngiti ang binigay ko kay Tito Glifford. "Once you defeat him, both Freya and Aizelle will be free."

I bitterly smiled, "And I can avenge my queen."

Nang tapikin ko ang balikat ni Tito Glifford ay napagpasyahan kong magpaalam sa kanya, tinungo ko ang kabilang tent kung nasaan sina Sue at Aizelle.

"Phoenix," Aizelle called. I ruffled her hair took a glance at Sue's direction, "Aizen and Sky just left,"

"Saan sila nagpunta?"

"Hahanapin daw sina Ice."

"How about Light?" I asked. Agad siyang napaiwas nang tingin sa akin, hindi ko maiwasan ang mapabuntong hiningi dahil sa nangyayari kay Aizelle ngayon. "Aizelle—"

"Phoenix, please hayaan mo muna ako..." Aizelle whispered. I pursed my lips when a single tear escape from the corner of her eyes, "Don't worry... I'm yours." I wanted to slap my face right now. Nang iwan ako ni Aizelle ay hindi ako nakakibo sa 'king pwesto.

I am deeply in love with Sue... But my love for her will be unfair for Aizelle.

I sat next to Sue's bed, she's really drained from her battle. If Philomena was here and if I just let her join the war, she might have saved both Tita Freya and Sue. I'm such an idiot. "Phoenix..." Nakita ko ang dahan-dahan na pagbukas ni Sue sa mga mata niya.

"Kumusta?" I asked.

She bitterly smiled, "Are you disappointed?"

"No, you did great."

"Pero natalo ako,"

I ruffled her hair, "Dalawa ang kalaban mo." I stated. Nanlumo ako sa kinauupuan ko nang mapansin ko ang unti-unting pamumuo ng mga luha sagilid ng mga mata niya. Umagos ang 'yon na tila isang talon, malakas at mabigat.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She cried, "Please don't leave me just because I'm weak..."

I'm sorry, Aizelle. I'm sorry for being unfair.

Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili, agad kong hinapit ang kaniyang baiwang upang yakapin siya. Sa pagpikit ko sa 'king mga mata ay kasabay nito ang pagdukdok ni Sue sa kanyang mukha sa 'king leeg, patuloy pa rin ang pag agos ng mga luha niya. At kahit anong kapa ko'y tila hindi ko mahanap ang tamang salita upang mapatahan siya.

"Zeus taught me everything... pero binasura ko lang lahat 'yon."

And when our hug parted, I looked at her captivating stormy eyes, down to her rosy lips. "Sue..." Ang bilis nang takbo ng dibdib ko.

And because I am Phoenix Gregory Stanfield, I did it fast and swiftly. Our lips met. She was surprised which made me laugh hysterically. Ang genuine ng reaksyon niya, nakaawang ang bibig niya habang nakatingin sa 'kin.

Balak ko pang umisa ngunit naramdaman ko na may bobong parating.

"Phoenix... I heard Aizelle earlier... Anong ibig niy—"

I was saved by the idiot! "PHOENIX! GISING NA BA SI SUE?!" It was Aizen. Agad na lumapit si Aizen kay Sue dahilan para tumayo ako sa 'king pwesto, he was checking Sue's situation.

"Where is Serena?" I asked Aizen.

"Don't know,"

"Baka tampo, may jowa ka na raw kasi." I teased.

Sinamaan niya ako nang tingin dahilan para matawa ako. Parehas kaming nagulat ni Aizen nang tumayo si Sue at nauna pang lumabas. "Sue's eyes looks hurt," Aizen mumbled. I bit my lower lip and avoided his gaze, sumunod din kami sa labas at nakita pa ang iba naming kasama.

Nakita ko si Sky na nakatingin sa langit, seryoso 'yon, Sky is looking at the sky.

While Aizelle was looking at our direction, as well as Sue. Tatlo na lamang ang kulang sa amin, ang dalawang prinsesa at Light. "Light is with Tita Alexis," Aizen stated.

"Why?" Sky asked.

"I don't know."

"Hanapin na lang natin sila." Aizelle suggested. Nang tumango kaming lahat ay napagdesisyunan namin na luamabas muli sa Achaea.

Katabi ko si Aizelle, parehas namin na pinakikiramdaman ang paligid. Pansin ko rin ang mga lihim na pagtingin ni Sue mula sa tabi ni Sky at nang tuluyan na kaming makalabas ay napagmasdan namin ang malaking pagbabago sa kagubatan na pumapalibot sa minamahal namin na walls.

"She heard you," I whispered to Aizelle. She was shocked because of what I've said, she was about to say something when we saw Light running in our direction.

Kinakabahan siya habang pilit na binubuhat ang dalawang babae sa bisig niya, mabilis siyang tinulungan nina Sky at Aizen. He was holding Tita Alexis together with Madam Stone, "What happened?" I asked.

He looks befuddled, "I... I'm sorry..." he said. Naguguluhan siyang pinikit ang mga mata niya dahilan para maguluhan din kami.

A hoard of wisp suddenly came at kinuha nila ang katawan nina Tita Alexis at Madam Stone, nagtatakha pa rin kaming nanonood kay Light dahil hindi niya pa rin sinasagot ang tanong ko.

I nudge Aizelle as her cue to ask him, she glared at me and tapped Light's shoulder, "Light—" I pursed my lips when Light suddenly hugged Aizelle. She awkwardly laughed, pilit niyang inaalis ang yakap ni Light sa kanya ngunit tila naestatwa siya nang marinig niya ang mahinang paghikbi ni Light.

Umiwas kaming lahat nang tingin habang inaalo ni Aizelle si Light. This is bad for Aizelle. "Light!" She shouted.

"It's my fault, Ate Alexis and Madam Stone... dapat ayos sila kung hindi lang ako umalis—"

"They are here, idiot. Nailigtas mo sila."

Light kept quiet. Sa gitna ng katahimikan, lahat kami ay muling napatingin sa direksyon ni Light sa isang lakas na lagapak. Gulat ang mga mata namin habang nakatingin si Serena kay Light na nag aalab ang mga mata kasabay nito ang pagdating ni Ice mula sa loob ng Achaea, hinigit niya palayo si Serena kay Light na gulat habang hawak ang kaniyang mapulang pisnge.

"SERENA!" Ice yelled at the top of her lungs. She was squinting her eyes to Serena, wala naman itong pakielam sa kanya dahil masama pa rin ang tingin na pinupukol nito kay Light.

"THIS IS WAR! ALL OF THE UNEXPECTED THINGS CAN FUCKING HAPPEN HERE! Son of Athena? Really? For Pete's sake, you look so pathetic right now, Mr. Kagami." Serena jeered. Nagulat ako nang bumaling ang tingin niya kay Aizelle, "And you, Aizelle, instead of slapping him the truth—"

"Serena," I warned. I know that Serena is serious right now especially that her tongue isn't twisted but she might cross Aizelle's line.

She glared at me while the others were watching us carefully. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema ni Serena dahil simula nang bumalik siya, may nararamdaman na akong kakaiba sa kanya.

"Serena, stop acting like a brat." Ice seriously said. She languidly looking at her best friend who was now looking back at her, "Stop throwing tantrums—"

With eyes widened we all run away from the two princesses, the air became dense along with the sudden chills in the surrounding. The two of them were attracting too much attention; Hoards of Ogres, Titans, and Cyclopes were marching towards their direction yet they were scarier than the enemies.

I don't when or how Light came back to reality but we were suddenly covered with the ground, it was a cube-shaped ground that was covering us in all directions. And was made by Light's Intelectix.

"I want to see it," Aizen pouted.

Light let out a sigh and made a hole, hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi mapangiwi habang pinapanood ang dalawang babae. The sky was covered with black and pink pearls while the forest was covered with a thick wall of ice.

Kitang-kita ko kung gaano sila kaseryoso sa ginagawa nila dahil hindi nila pinapansin ang mga kalaban na pumapalibot na sa kanila. The pearls began to plummet, the thick wall of ice transformed and became ice spikes and began to soar the air.

They were both agile, they can dodge both of their skills. Dahilan upang matamaan ang mga kalaban na pumapalibot sa kanila, mabilis kong siniko si Light nang manlaki ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa isang ice spike na papunta sa direksyon namin.

"CLOSE IT! CLOSE IT!" We shouted.

Ilang beses akong napakurap dahil kakaunti na lang at didikit na sa noo ko ang spike ni Ice. A loud explosion suddenly emerges outside, Light uncast his Intelectix, and the cube disappeared.

I wryly smiled when I saw Serena laughing as if they didn't almost kill each other while hugging Ice. "You're nadadaan naman pala with a simple talk." She's back.

Nakita ko ang pag ngiwi ng mga kasama ko, hindi rin nila maintindihan 'yong matinong usapan na tinutukoy ni Serena. Ice just nodded at her.

Nang bumaling sa amin si Serena ay agad siyang tumungo sa direksyon ni Light, "I'm humihingi ng sorry."

"No, it's okay, Serena. And thank you,"

"Why are you nagpapasalamat?"

Light smiled, "Dahil naging mahina ako."

"It's ayos lang. And Aizelle, I'm sorry rin."

"It's fine, Serena," Aizelle mumbled.

A cunning smile suddenly appeared in Serena's face, "Hear me out, I have a grand pasabog."

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