Chapter 5: The Reapers

Inilapag ko ang newspaper sa mesa. Sumasakit na ang mata ko sa kababasa ng mga balita tungkol sa nangyaring assasination sa isang pulitiko. He was a known politician and he was killed by a single sniper shot. No one knows who did it and what is the motive behind but many rumors says it's about the elections.

Kung totoo man iyon, I wonder how people thinks. They really would go into killing others just for power. I don't know why they do it. Nakakainis ngang isipin na nagpapatayan ang mga tao over things that are temporary. In the end, everyone will die, that's for sure but why does people make it as soon as possible?

It's saturday and I'm planning to go home. It's already March at ilang araw na lang ay matatapos na ang skwela. I'm gonna miss school, that's for sure.

Inayos ko na ang kama ko at kinuha ang bag ko. I left my pass slip on the dorm's office and made my way towards Bridle's main gate. I waited for a cab to stop in front of me but there wasn't any. Sa halip ay isang magarang sasakyan ang huminto. Sumungaw ang ulo ng driver mula sa nakabukas na bintana.

"Hey, where to? Want a lift?"

I almost rolled my eyes when I saw the Devil Ryu's face. He wasn't flashing his familiar smirk but he wasn't smiling either.

"No thanks," wika ko at lumingon sa paligid. Uh, Taxi! Nasaan ka nung kailangan kita?!

"Don't expect a cab dahil may strike ang mga drivers ngayon. Haven't you heard about such news?" he asked at nagulat naman ako. Strike?! Kaya pala marami ang umuwi kagabi! Ni hindi ko man lang alam ang tungkol sa sinasabi nitong strike. "Now, sasagutin mo na ba ang tanong ko?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Suko na ako. I have no other choice at nakisakay na lamang. I told him my home address and I asked him to take me there. Pumayag naman siya and I regretted asking him to take me home.

"I'm surprised my future prey is asking me to take her home," wika niya and his gaze was fixed on the road. God, kailan ba niya titigilan ang pagbabanta sa buhay ko?

"Ryu please. Ceasefire muna okay?" naiinis kong wika. As much as possible, I shouldn't throw words at him like the one he's throwing me. Sabi nga nila, pagbinato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay. And as of this moment, tinapay ang binabato ko sa kanya. Kapag ako hindi nakapagtantya, babatuhin ko pa rin siya ng tinapay but this time, it's stuffed with stones.

"Where's your whiteflag? And can I reject your retreat? I always want war," he said at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.

"My suggestion is that you should go wherever na may gyera, that's what you want right?"

Sinulyapan niya ako and he me gave a pokerface. "Ha. ha. ha. Funny," he said sarcastically. He pulled the car towards the nearest gasoline station.

Nagpaalam naman ako sa kanya na gagamit muna ng banyo sa katabing grocery shop.

Paglabas ko ay nakita kong nag-aabot ng pera si Ryu sa babaeng punong-puno ng singsing ang kamay.

"Devil! Halika na." Pumasok ako sa sasakyan niya at iyon din ang ginawa niya. "I don't know na mahilig ka palang magpahula."

"No. The woman approached me and told me a frightening premonition."

A frightening premonition? "About you?" I asked and he nodded at binuhay ang makina.

"Yeah, she said that someone's into my life," wika niya. Napatigil siya saglit at tinanong ako. "Nagmamadali ka ba?"

"Hindi naman. Bakit?" I asked him at saka ko lang napansin ang pagseryoso ng mukha niya.

"Good, because I guess that crazy woman's premonition about me is going to happen," wika niya at napatingin ako sa direksyong tinitingnan niya. I saw 3 guys in black at matamang nakatitig din sila kay Ryu.

"Apollo!!!" one of the guy shouted. He let out his gun at itinutok iyon sa kotse ni Ryu but he was fast. Agad niyang pinaharurot ang kotse at sinubukang sagasaan ang mga lalaki but they were able to moved aside.

"Fasten your seatbelt Amber. We'll gonna fly!" he said at pinatakbo nang mabilis ang kotse.

Napasigaw naman ako nang pinalipad niya ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse! Damn! He's worst than Cooler! Kahit mabilis magpatakbo si Cooler ay maingat ito, unlike this devil! Ilang beses na ba akong nauntog sa bintana?!!

"Careful devil — arrgh!" I shouted nang iniliko niya ang kotse at muli akong nauntog.

"Amber, get that gun on the dashboard!" he said at mas lalong binilisan ang pagpapatakbo.

Teka, naririnig ba ni Ryu ang sinasabi niya? He's asking me to get the gun?! Hampasin ko kaya ito ng matigas na bagay? Uh, on the second thought, hindi na lang pala dahil baka maabutan kami ng mga cockroach-looking goons na iyon.

"Are you out of your mind? Kunin mo kung gusto mo!" I shouted at bigla na lamang nakaingos ng konti ang kotseng humahabol sa amin. They shoot on us at bahagyang napayuko si Ryu nang may tumamang bala sa bintana.

"Fuck! Bilisan mo Amber!"

I had no choice but to follow his order. Agad kong kinuha ang baril at ibinigay iyon sa kanya. Bahagya niyang ibinaba ang bintana and he shoot back. Wala naman akong ginawa kundi magsisigaw. Damn! Kamalasan nga talaga! Kapag nahuli kami, goodbye na sa lahat ng naging bahagi ng buhay ko! Arrrgh! Bakit ba kasi pumayag pa akong makisakay kay Ryu!

Bigla na lamang may isang pulang kotse ang nakipagputukan na rin sa humahabol sa amin. Medyo kumalma si Ryu nang dumating iyon. Could it be one of his allies? Patuloy lang ang putukan nila ng bala hanggang sa napahinto ang itim na kotse na humahabol sa amin. Pinaulanan ito ng bala ng kung sino mang nasa pulang kotse bago iyon iniwan. The car honk nang malagpasan kami at gumanti rin si Ryu. I could not see whoever was inside that car dahil tinted iyon.

"Who was that?" tanong ko kay Ryu.

"Artemis," wika niya at bigla na lang akong napasigaw at umiyak.

"Oh my God, Ryu, you've been hit!" natatarantang wika ko at inalog siya. "You're bleeding!"

He pulled the car on one side. "Hey! Stop it! Malayo yan sa bituka. And why the hell are you crying? I thought you want me dead as much as I want you dead?"

Binatukan ko siya ng malakas. "Idiot! I want to kill you on my own time and own terms," wika ko at pinunasan ang mga luhang naglandas sa pisngi ko.

He chuckled. "You sounded like me. Wag kang umiyak, sinisira ng mukha mo ang araw ko," he said with a smirk.

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. "Let's drop by the nearest hospital," suhestiyon ko ngunit tumanggi ito. Uh, is he planning to waste his blood? Ano, magpapa-donate na naman ito mula kay Cooler gaya ni Gray hanggang sa matuyuan si Cooler at —

Okay. I'm exaggerating. Hindi siya mamamatay sa sugat na iyon. He survived a fatal shot on his side before and I'm sure he will not die over this. Isa pa matagal mamatay ang masamang damo. On his case, mas matagal siyang mamatay dahil isa siyang NAPAKASAMANG damo.

"No need. Ipapagamot ko ito pagbalik ko sa mansion," wika niya.

"And? What are you planning to do now?" I asked him. Kung iniisip niyang ihahatid muna ako bago niya ipagamot iyon, hindi ako papayag.

"I'll drive you home," he said at muling binuhay ang makina.

"No way. Take me to the mansion with you at nang magamot iyang sugat mo. Baka ubos na ang dugo mo pagkahatid mo sa akin," wika ko. Hindi kami friends okay, pero hindi ko naman maatim na maubusan siya ng dugo dahil hinatid niya ako.

Nagtatakang tiningnan niya ako. "You mean, to the Vander mansion?"

"Bakit? May iba pa ba kayong mansion?" I asked. Uh, edi sila na ang mayaman kong meron man.

"Of course. The Morisson's mansion", he said. See? I told you. Rich devils!

"Uh, which is scary mansion among the two?"

Nagtagpo ang kilay niya sa tanong ko. "Both. It's a lion's den. You know what our family business is into so don't expect us to be hospitable to our guests."

"What's in the Morisson Mansion?" tanong ko sa kanya. Iniisip ko ang isang napakalaking bahay na puro baril ang laman and uh, it creeps me out.

"Guys in tuxedo in front of a authorative guy who's expert in guns, ammo and other explosives. That's my dad, Rionessi Morisson," he said at bahagya akong natakot. Ryu is creepy and I can't imagine how creepy is his father.

"How about your mom?"

He flashed a serious face. "Don't have any. She's dead."

"Sorry."

"You don't have to."

I'm glad at hindi na pala ito naapektuhan but I'm sure I have touched some scars of the past because of that question. Bahagyang tumamlay ang paligid sa aming dalawa so I began asking questions again upang mawala ang awkward feeling.

"How about in your room? What's in there?" I asked at saka ko lang na-realize na mali ang tanong ko. Why am I asking about his room? Duh?!

He flashed a wide grin. "I don't take bitches to my room. I do them on the bar, in the bathroom, on the kitchen, on my car, on —"

"Shut up! You're such a manwhore and I'm not interested in your activities with your whores and where you do it. I'm just asking about your room, I'm not saying — uh. That's it," wika ko. Gosh, I can't imagine saying the word.

"You're not saying we're gonna make love? Sorry to disappoint you but I don't make love. I fuck hard," wika niya and that's when I covered my ears with my palm. Arrrrrggh! My ears! My virgin ears! Bweset na Ryu!

"Will you please shut up?!" wika ko at natawa lang ito ng mahina so I changed the topic. "How about in the Vander Mansion?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Uh, just the reapers," sagot niya. Reapers?! Uh, those words gave me chills. They've got bloody hands. They kill mercilessly.

"Where's Cooler?" tanong ko and he smirked. What now? Bawal ba magtanong kung nasaan ito?

"He's abroad with Cronus for some matters. So, which one?" Uh, so he agreed on bringing me to the mafia mansions? Which do I prefer? Pinag-isipan ko iyon ng mabuti and I came up with a choice.

"I think I'd pick the Vander mansion," wika ko. Mas gugustuhin ko pang harapin ang mga reapers kaysa sa sangkatutak na baril at kung anu-ano pang pampasabog.

He let out a sexy smile. "Okay. Time for Snow White to meet the seven reapers," he said at agad na pinatakbo ang sasakyan.

***

Nakarating na kami sa pamilyar na Victorian style mansion. Damn! I pity the mansion! Such beautiful structure shouldn't be a home for monsters like them. Bumaba kami sasakyan at binati ng isang katulong.

Napansin ko ang pulang kotse na tumulong sa amin kanina. So that Artemis is here. Maraming kotse ang naroon nang hinila na ako ni Ryu ay nagpatangay na ako sa kanya.

Noong unang pagkakataon na nakapunta ako rito ay binalot ako ng takot. Ngayon ko lamang ganap na napagtuonang pansin ang bahay. It was really splendid!

"Apollo."

Napatingin ako sa tumawag kay Ryu. He was a guy with a normal body built. Seryoso ang mukha nito at hindi man lamang ngumiti ng sulyapan ako.

"Ares. Where are the reapers?" tanong ni Ryu sa kanya. So this guy's name is Ares? Uh, what do I expect? They used Greek mythology's deities as codenames.

"They're in the terrace. Nasa receiving area naman sina Eros at Hermes. They're like killing each other," wika nito. He glanced at his watch at nagpaalam. "I have a flight to catch. Mauna na ako." Agad itong umalis at ni hindi man lamang ako sinulyapan.

Dinala ako ni Ryu sa isang malawak na receiving area at gaya nga ng sinabi ni Ares, naroon ang dalawang lalaki na tila nagpapatayan. They were brawling with each other at nasa gilid naman si Artemis na tila nagchi-cheer sa mga ito.

The guy with a braided hair lunged violently on the guy with a red hair. Naalala ko tuloy si Marion sa buhok nito. And what's with the guy with the braided hair? I never saw a guy who looks so handsome with their long hair but this one's different. Ngayon lamang ako naka-appreciate ng lalaking lagpas balikat ang buhok.

When they both got up, the redhaired guy did the first move. He punched the guy with a braided hair at agad natumba ang lalaki. He broke the big expensive vase on one side ngunit wala itong pakialam. He kicked the redhaired guy in the gut at ito naman ang natumba. Walang ni isa mang nagsasalita sa kanila. They're just brawling and throwing punches with each other. Ang tanging maririnig doon ay ang ingay ng mga nababasag na bagay at ang sigaw ni Artemis na gaya ng "Watch out Eros!" "Kick him Hermes!" "Look closely!" at kung anu-ano pa ang mga sinisigaw nito. They were so engrossed with what they're doing and the two guy continued brawling on the floor. Nang pumulot ang lalaking may pulang buhok ng isang basag na vase at akmang isasaksak iyon kay braidedhair guy ay tumikhim si Apollo.

They stopped fighting at napatayo ang dalawa. Inalalayan nila ang isa't-isa as if they hadn't just tried to kill each other.

"Apollo."

"Hi couz! Hi Amber!" Artemis said at agad na lumapit sa akin. She kissed my cheeks at umabrisete sa akin. "Hey this is the infamous Amber!"

Nagulat naman ang dalawang lalaki sa sinabi ni Artemis. Why what's wrong with my name?

The guy with a redhair smiled sexily. "Hi, Amber. My name's Eros and I'm pleased to meet you." Lumapit siya sa akin at inabot ang kamay ko. He was about to kiss my hand nang bigla na lamang iyong hilahin ni Ryu.

"You shouldn't do that if you want to live a longer life. Zeus will surely wants you dead if you do it. So as the other young Vander," wika ni Ryu. Uh, anong ibig niyang sabihin? And as of the other young Vander, does he mean Gray?

"And so as from the other Vander here," Artemis said in a low voice at bahagyang sinulyapan si Ryu. The latter gave her a dagger stare at umastang parang wala lamang si Artemis. At ano naman ang ibig sabihin niyon?

"Oh, I see. I'll be triple dead by then," wika ni Eros at ngumiti sa akin. The guy with the braided hair stepped forward at ito naman ang nagpakilala.

"I'm Hermes and I finally know the potential reaper," he said. "I wonder what are your skills." Inilahad niya ang kanyang palad at tinanggap ko naman iyon.

"I don't have any," matipid kong sagot sa kanya. God, they're reapers? Why do they look so young?

"Let's go to the terrace and let's meet the other reapers," Artemis said at hinila ako. Sumunod naman si Ryu sa amin at nakarating kami sa terrace kung saan naroon ang isang lalaki at babaeng naglalaro ng chess.

"Hi everyone! I would like you to meet Amber!" masiglang wika ni Artemis. I wonder where she got her energy as if she hadn't just shoot guns on the way here.

Tumayo ang babae at tumakbo palapit sa akin. He had a pearl white skin and a highlighted hair. Napakaganda nito and her fair complexion tells me that she's very fragile ngunit isa pala itong reaper.

"Hi! Now I know who's the girl Zeus is rooting for. I'm Mnemosyne!" she said and she kissed me on the cheek. Lumapit siya kay Ryu at napansin ang sugatang balikat nito. "What happened Babe?" she asked worriedly.

Babe? Ito ba ang girlfriend ni Ryu? Not bad. She's equally beautiful as Marion but I pity her. Ryu's a jerk and a manwhore. That devil will just surely break her heart.

Nagulat ako nang iniwas ni Ryu ang balikat niya. "Shut up Mnemosyne. And stop calling me babe. I told you, I don't like you. My bitches are better than you."

Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ko si Ryu. See?! He just broke a beautiful lady's heart. Para lamang nitong sinabi na ayaw nito sa ulam. He said it without hesitation. The girl just pouted at hindi pinansin si Ryu.

Lumapit naman sa akin ang lalaking kalaro nito ng chess. Goodness! Why does these reapers doesn't look like they can kill a fly?! Not to mention that they're both goodlooking! Bakit sa mga palabas ang papangit ng mga reapers at assasins?!

"Pleased to meet you The Great Archer. My name's Hades", wika niya at inilahad ang palad. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at bahagyang ngumiti.

"Great Archer?" Mnemosyne asked.

"It's her skill. She's 100% accurate on every hit," paliwanag ni Artemis. Uh, looks like they really did a thorough research about me. "By the way where's Poseidon?"

Ilang beses ko na bang narinig ang pangalang Poseidon but I never had the chance to see him. Narinig ko dati si Ryu sa ospital ni Dra. Tyra saying such name.

"Probably he's gone manwhoring again," Hades said. "It's his specialty, right?"

"I thought my specialty is stealth assault."

"Poseidon!"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita mula sa likuran ko and I was surprised to see who it was.

RED.

Yep. The red saint.

The guy whom I mistaken as a taxi driver.

The guy who hates cussing in his car.

The guy who helped me solved a case in the hospital.

"Red?" hindi makapaniwalang wika ko. He's a mafia reaper? Like seriously?!

"Hi Amber. It's nice to see you again," wika niya at saka lamang ako nakahuma sa pagkagulat ko.

"You knew him Amber?" tanong ni Ryu and I slowly nodded. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala. I thought he's just an ordinary college student na nakila ko.

"Apollo, you have a wound. Kailangan mong magamot," wika ni Mnemosyne but Ryu shook his head.

"I can manage," wika nito at hinila ako. "Let's go Amber."

Hindi na ako nakapagpaalam sa kanila dahil bigla na lamang akong hinila ni Ryu. He brought me in a room full of computers.

"This is your room here?" I asked and he nodded. Pumasok siya sa banyo at kumuha ng first aid kit. The room was very big gaya ng kwartong unang pinagdalhan sa akin dito. I sat on the bed at iginala ang pangin sa paligid.

Nang makalabas ito ng banyo ay may dala na itong box. Inilapag niya iyon sa harapan ko at hinubad ang suot na damit at umupo sa kama katabi ko.

"Why are you stripping?" I asked him and he gave me a smirk.

"Treat my wound."

"Ayoko nga! Anong akala mo sa akin, doktor? Isa pa, ako ba ang may gawa niyan?"

He gave me his stare na yung tipong matatakot ka. "Just do it. Ikaw naman ang dahilan nito."

"Stop pointing fingers! Ikaw ang nagpumilit na ihatid ako."

"It's for formality. You should have said no."

"I did pero pinilit mo ako. Isa pa ikaw ang nagpa-gasolina doon!"

"And you used the comfort room!"

"Ikaw ang nagpahula!"

"I didn't! Ako ang nilapitan ng manghuhula!"

Argh! Walang patutunguhan ang pagtatalo namin kaya pumayag na akong gamutin ang tama nito. Kinuha ko ang laman ng first aid na nasa box at sinimulang gamutin ang sugat niya tutal daplis lang naman iyon.

"Kilala mo pala si Poseidon," he said at bahagya akong napaangat ng tingin sa kanya. I prevented myself from pulling the bedsheet and cover it over his body to keep myself from glancing on his displayed abs. Sheyt lang! It wasn't too bulgy but it's not fatty either. Just enough.

"Yeah, I met him on a case," wika ko at napatango ito. "Hey, he said, he's a stealth assasin. What does it mean?"

"That's his special skill. He moved in a quiet and clever way and assasinate someone without anyone noticing him," wika niya.

"Sounds like the assasin of the politician na laman ng balita ngayon," komento ko.

"Yeah, he did it. That politician is actually a drug lord." What the hell?! Red killed that man? Oh! I really can't believe it.

"Uh, I can't imagine. You kill people as if you're just killing some flies. How does it felt to kill?" I asked him and he looked at me  with a smirk.

"I don't know. I haven't kill one. I'm not a reaper," wika niya. Hindi pa siya nakakapatay gaya ni Cooler? I don't know why but I believed him. "I want you to be my first blood."

I rolled my eyes. Eto na naman siya! Argh! Nakakainis!

"Hey careful!" he said nang diniinan ko ang bulak sa sugat niya.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagtanong ulit. "How about the others? What are their skills?"

"Why are you interested in them? You want to consider joining them?" tanong niya.

"Sounds like a good idea ngunit napakarami na ng pitong reapers kaya no thanks," wika ko sa kanya with a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

"Marami? They're just the descendants of the previous reapers. They're the fourth generation. Vander mafia is a big one and seven reapers are not enough. As of their skills, Artemis is an accurate shooter even in a moving vehicle. Not to mention that she's also a devil when it comes to driving. Hermes is a martial arts master, name every move, he's excellent. Eros? He's a jerk," wika niya.

I frowned at him. "So as you."

"He's a jerk but he's excellent with all types of guns as long as it's in a short ranged. The opposite of Ares who's more accurate on a long-ranged distances. Mnemosyne is the pathfinder. She always gets ahead of the others because of her amazing speed. And Hades, he's the sharpshooter when it comes to guns. He's also the reaper inventor. He's good in making explosive devices even with limited resources as long as may enough na main ingredient," Ryu said. I was putting a bandage on his arm at mahinang tinapik iyon.

"Done. And those reapers? They're amazing but still so villainy!" wika ko.

Bigla na lamang kaming nakarinig ng malakas na kalabog and the door swung open at iniluwa niyon ang nagpupuyos ng galit na mukha ni Gray. On his back was Mnemosyne, Eros, Artemis, and Hermes. Hades and Poseidon were nowhere to be found.

Lumapit siya sa amin at masamang tiningnan si Ryu. He pulled me from the bed where I was sitting at marahas na tinago ako sa kanyang likuran. He gave Ryu a punch on the face. What the hell!

"That's for bringing Amber into danger," he said at muling hinila ako palabas ng kwarto. The reapers gave us way at walang nagsalita sa kanila ni isa man. 

Nang nilingon ko sila ay nakita kong tumayo si Ryu mula sa kama. He wiped the blood on the side of his lips at lumapit kay Eros.

"See? This is what I told you," wika niya kay Eros at tinanaw kami habang pababa ng hagdan.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.