Chapter 2: Courage

In the end, I got to sit beside Jeremy sa bus habang papunta kami sa museum. It's too awkward to sit beside Gray after what happened. Pero mas pinagsisisihan ko ang pag-upo sa tabi ni Jeremy dahil kanina pa ito nanunukso sa akin. My hands are itching to wrap around his neck and strangle him to death. Maybe I should have sat beside Math and not with any of the boys.

"Uy Bestie", he said and he poked me for the nth time. Mula pa ng makasakay kami ay kanina pa niya ako ginugulo. I tried to escape using earphones but he pulled those from my ears at pilit akong kinakausap.

"Gusto mo bang tamaan?", I asked him. Lately, I've been really violent. At naging biktima na si Jeremy ng pagiging bayolente ko. The other day, he was teasing me that I am jealous with Math and Gray that's why I gave him a good knock over his shoulders. And if he still bothers me today, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na maging bayolente ulit sa kanya.

"Mamamatay ako sa katahimikan. Kausapin mo naman ako", he said with a frown.

Since the day he left the federation of the nerds, his mouth won't stop talking about nonsense things. Ni hindi ko na nga masabi na nerd pala ito dati at inilalayo ang sarili sa mga tao. Looking at him now, no signs that he was once a nerd even a little.

Inis na tinanggal ko ulit ang suot kong earphones. "Fine! What do you want to talk about?" I guess I cannot win against him. Maiinis lamang ako at paniguradong hindi pa rin niya ako tatantanan.

"Anything."

"So what's with anything?", I asked sarcastically. I eyed him with a bored expression ngunit hindi man lamang niya iyon pinansin.

"Hindi nakakatawa Bestie", he said and copied my famous rolling of the eyeballs. And he looks so gay in doing so. Ginagawa lamang niya iyon kapag trip niya ako.

"I have a feeling that something's going to happen today."

"Yep. What's gonna happen is an on-field lecture", I said rolling my eyes.

Jeremy flashed a serious look. "No. I mean something serious."

"Seryoso ang lecture natin." I'm not trying to be funny. I'm just stating what's obvious dahil hindi naman talaga biro ang gagawin naming lecture. Only the first section was sent dahil bali-balitang apat na paaralan ang inimbitahan ng museum.

"No, I mean something really serious. Like a situation kung saan masasangkot tayo", he said. I raised a brow on his statement. He doesn't mean any murder right? And why is he anticipating such thing? Tulad na din ba siya ng iba na crime magnet na ang tingin sa amin?!

"You're not saying that there will be a murder, right? Paalala lang Jeremy, you have no precognition skills so you cannot see the future", labas sa ilong na wika ko sa kanya.

"Not necessarily murder. And I can feel it. You have to trust my gut feel", sagot niya.

"You're not Cooler who got some reliable gut feel."

"Ah basta. We'll see to it later", wika niya.

Pagkatapos ng halos dalawang oras ay narating na rin namin ang malaki at bagong bukas na museum. Just as I thought, hindi lamang kami ang paaralan na inimbitahan ng museum para sa on-field lecture. Apat na malalaking paaralan ang nakikita ko dahil sa suot na uniporme ng iba.

"Special AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

I rolled my eyes when I heard someone shouted Special A. Isang tao lamang ang tumatawag sa akin ng ganoon. At dahil nasa loob kami ng museum ay nag-echo ang boses nito and it caught everyone's attention. Napahinto ang ibang mga estudyante at tumingin kay Khael na tumatakbo patungo sa direksyon ko. I heard Oohs and Aahs around. Maybe they were surprised to see an Athena student calling a Bridle student in public. Bridle and Athena are known as rivals. The rivalry was not set by the school but by the students. Sa katunayan ay ginagawa ng Bridle at Athena ang lahat upang mawala ang rivalry concept na nasa mga tao. One step in doing so is the exchange students thingy kung saan kaming dalawa ni Jeremy ang naging transferee.

Lumapit siya sa akin na may malawak na ngiti. These days ay abala siya sa pag-aalo sa akin kahit ilang beses ko ng sinabi sa kanya na hindi ko iyon kailangan. He keeps on sending me messages about being strong. Minsan na rin niya akong dinalaw. What's good with him is that when he comes to visit me ay hindi puro pag-aalo ang ginawa niya. Nagdala siya ng maraming buto ng pakwan at kinain namin lahat ng iyon habang nanunuod ng mga nakakatawang videos. In the end ay halos puti na ang kulay ng mga labi namin dahil sa pinatuyong buto ng pakwan na dala niya.

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"Anong ginagawa mo dito?", pagharang ni Jeremy sa kanya. He meant it as a joke but Khael ignored him at hindi ito pinansin. Sa halip ay diretsong tinungo lamang niya ang direksyon ko at niyakap ako. Nasasanay na rin ako sa pagyakap ni Khael. Ganyan siya palagi. Whenever he sees me, he always hugs me like he didn't see me for a long time.

"Sabi ko na nga ba makikita kita dito", he said nang bitawan ako. May sasabihin pa sana ito ngunit hinugot ng isang matangkad na estudyante ang likurang bahagi ng kanyang uniporme at hinila siya palayo sa amin.

"May lecture at hindi pwedeng basta-basta ka na lang sisigaw at aalis", the guy said bago hinila si Khael. He excused from us at tumango siya kay Gray bilang pagbati. Guess Gray knows him noong sa Athena pa ito nag-aaral.

"I'll be back Special A!", pahabol ni Khael bago sinamaan ng tingin ang lalaki. He waved me goodbye, let out a smile and winked. The girls cried in jealousy at kinilig naman ang iba. Me? I wanna puke on the wink.

Nilingon ko ang mga taga-Athena at hinanap si Zywon. Just like what I expected, he was a little bit far from the group at nakikinig lamang sa kanyang suot na earphones. He got some guys beside him na malamang tropa niya pero hindi siya nakikisali sa usapan ng mga ito. The typical Zywon. For sure kung nasa klase ito ay wala na itong ginawa kundi matulog sa kanyang upuan.

Kanya-kanya na ang simula ng lecture ng bawat paaralan. The things inside the museum are really interesting but the fact na apat na eskwelahan ang nandito ay nakakailang. Magkasunod lamang ang bawat station na hinihintuan namin kaya madalas na nakikita namin ang ibang estudyante. The other schools aside us and Athena are Carson at isang Christian school na hindi kalayuan sa Bridle. 28 lamang ang student count namin dahil may mga nag-absent at hindi sumama. Math keeps on saying "I've seen something like that before" sa bawat station na dinadaanan namin and Jeremy was so annoyed with her. Nanatili namang tahimik si Gray at nagfocus na lamang sa lecturer na nasa harap.

There were nice antique things that has a history. Cutlass of known pirates. Weapons of known soldiers. Antique jars and other collections at iba pa. Nang dumako kami sa isang malaking estante ay namangha kami sa isang golden Buddha statue with golden rings around it and two gold bars. Someone from Bridle raised his arm.

"Totoo po ba ang estatwang iyan?"

The lecturer smiled. "The Buddha statue is a counterfeit. The original is in the Golden Buddha Corporation. Do you have any idea where this gold is from?"

"Yamashita's treasure?", someone shouted.

"Tama. It is said to be from Yamashita's gold. The alleged war loot which was stolen by Japanese forces in southeast Asia during the World war II. Tinago nila ang mga ninakaw sa mga kweba at tunnel ng Pilipinas. That's why there are so many treasure hunter in the world who comes here to find this treasure kahit na sinabi na ng ilang eksperto na hindi totoo ang Yamashita's gold. But we still believe that these gold bars are from Yamashita's treasure."

"Hindi po ba naging mainit na usapin po ang tungkol sa kasong kinakaharap ni Pangulong Marcos dati dahil dito?"

"Yes and that was then the largest judgment in history that time. A Filipino treasure hunter named Rogelio Roxas is said to have found the treasure but President Marcos learned about his discovery and ordered him to be arrested and beaten. Kinuha din daw umano ni Marcos ang natitirang Buddha. The Golden Buddha Corporation filed a suit against Marcos for the human rights abuse he committed against Roxas. Gaya ng sabi ko kanina, the Buddha in this case is a counterfeit but the gold bars and rings are not. Ayon sa isang treasure hunter, nakita niya ang mga ginto sa isang tunnel na dating inookupa ng mga Hapon noong ikalawang digmaan."

The museum was filled with 'oohs' for amazement habang tinitingnan nila ang dalawang piraso ng gold bars sa paanan ng estatwa. Ganon din ang tatlong malalaking singsing na nasa kamay ng Buddha. Pinagpatuloy ng lecturer ang kanyang lecture. Though some of it were already discussed in the history class, nakakamangha pa ring pakinggan ang mga iyon dahil nakakita kami ng actual gold pieces na sinasabing bahagi ng Yamashita's treasure. When our group moved to the next station ay nagpaiwan ako doon at tiningnang mabuti ang gold bars at singsing na naroon. It was my first time to see real gold bars. Sa mga palabas lamang ako nakakakita ng ganoon but now I am seeing it with my own eyes.

This museum really got some valuable things. May mga still life painting din sila na mula sa mga kilalang expressionist noon. I'm sure such painting costs a fortune. But I guess this gold barnis quite a fortune. I wonder how they were able to acquire such things. Ayon sa munting intriduction tungkol sa museum kanina, the museum was owned by a foreigner at konti lamang ang shares na pag-aari ng Filipino.

Napansin ko ang babaeng nakasuot ng uniporme ng Athena habang nakatingin sa Buddha. The other Athena students already passed this station ngunit nandoon lamang ang babaeng iyon. Her long curly hair was under a cap na natatakpan ang kanyang mukha. She looked around and then from above na kung nasaan ang mga CCTV camera ng estatwa. As far as I can remember, we were instructed not to wear caps inside but the girl seems to forget the rules. Napansin niya ang pagtitig ko sakanya so she smiled sweetly at me. Maganda ang kanyang mukha at bumagay sa kanya ang mahaba at kulot na niyang buhok. She pointed on my back, reminding me na napag-iiwanan na ako ng ibang mga taga-Bridle. I smiled at her, uttered thanks bago ko tinakbo ang distansya papunta sa susunod na station kung nasaan ang mga taga-Bridle.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglilibot sa loob ng museum at nakinig sa iba pang lecture. It was almost five PM when all students are gathered together in the huge hall. Nagkagulo ang mga estudyante dahil nagkadikit-dikit na ang pwesto ng mga paaralan. It's like each student is living the imaginary rivalries between schools.

Pinili kong tumayo sa gilid and take the neutral side, everyone is so childish with their little school wars. Nagpabonggahan ang mga ito ng mga building and some enumerated their school's achievements. Sumandal lamang ako sa isang pillar ng museum at pinanuod ang iba sa kanila.

The moment I leaned on the pillar ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. I anticipated that the text will be from Ryu. Ang huling pag-uusap namin ay nag-iwan ng munting pag-asa sa akin. I sighed as I recalled our last conversation.

*****************

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE?"

Mnemosyne's voice echoed in the four corners of Ryu's room. Masama ang tingin na tinatapon niya sa akin. I considered myself lucky that she only found us in this position kaysa kaninang nakayakap mismo ako kay Ryu. I reminded myself that she claimed that Ryu is for her ONLY and I should never mess with a reaper.

Inilibot nito ang paningin sa paligid ng silid at nakita ang mga nagkalat na basag na mga salamin at kagamitan sa loob ng silid. She also eyed at the gun that Ryu is holding.

"Anong ginawa mo?", she asked Ryu. This time her voice was calm unlike her previous tone the moment she opened the door. For some time, I thought she'd turn into a tiger again when she stared at Ryu's shirt on me pero nanatili siyang kalmado.

"I'm just trying to give her a little demonstration", Ryu answered. "You can now leave."

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Mnemosyne saglit na tila ba hindi ito makapaniwala na pinapalabas na siya ni Ryu. I felt sad for this gorgeous creature; she doesn't deserve such treatment from this devil here beside me. pero mukhang sanay na siya sa ganoong ugali ni Ryu.

"Hindi ba mapanganib ang ginagawa mo? Bakit mo naman... Oh my God, don't tell me you're agreeing on her request?", she asked with wide eyes.

Ryu tossed the gun on the bed at naupo na rin. He opened his drawer at naglabas ng isa pang baril at hindi man lamang sumulyap kay Mnemosyne.

"Do not question me Mnemosyne."

"Pero Ryu..."

"Close the door", he said. This time ay naging seryoso na ang mukha ni Mnemosyne. She gave me a glare bago muling bumaling kay Ryu.

"Look, I am not questioning you, desisyon mo kung kukunin mo siya bilang reaper. But you know the procedures. She has to undergo-"

"I know. You don't have to remind me. Now leave."

Mnemosyne sighed bago siya lumabas ng kwarto. She threw so many deadly glares at me that I lost count of it. Nang tuluyan na nitong maisara ang pinto ay bumuntong-hininga si Ryu at hinarap ako.

"Now tell me if you still want what you are asking for?"

After I realized how powerful a gun is ay mas lalo lamang akong nauhaw sa paghawak niyon at ituon sa taong gusto kong barilin. I'm doing this tooth to tooth and eye to eye. He killed Dad using a gun; I will give him the same fate.

"I've never been this sure in my whole life."

"Very well then. Gusto ko lamang ipaalala saiyo ang isang bagay. If you have the guts to do something, then you'd better be prepared to face the consequences. I know you are only amazed by how this little thing works. It's fatal. But as long as there's no one holding this thing, this can't kill anyone", wika niya. Seryosong-seryoso ang mukha nito.

Hindi ko alam kung masyado lang malalim ang sinabi nito o sadyang mas pinili lamang ng utak ko na wag intindihin iyon. I asked him to elaborate what he meant.

"Simple as it is Amber. The gun is not the powerful one but the holder."

"Does it need any initiation before holding one?", I asked. I meant it as a dry joke but I guess I wasn't in the right place and right time to joke. And oh, he's not the right person to tell jokes to. Well, Ryu is not the man who loves jokes that much. Sa tingin ko nga ay kapag nagpractical joke ka dito, you can expect a good beating from him or he will got you killed.

"No initiation. Just the courage. Do you think you have the courage?"

Kinapa ko ang sarili ko at tinanong. Do I really have the courage to take someone's life? A part of me said that I cannot do it but the other half says it is for Dad. I should not be afraid to take life when it is for Dad dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanila, Dad should have been alive by now and I am not the monster that I am today.

"What would my life be if I have no courage to do it?"

He looked at me with a blank stare. Mahirap basahin ang iniisip ng isang Ryu Vander Morisson. Or maybe that's what the Vander's are good at. They always have the mask that hides what they really feel. And no one has enough strength to rip that mask. And I wish I was able to do it.

"I'll contact you as soon as you can cool your mind. You have to rest first", he said. I know he already dismissed me ngunit nasa puso ko pa rin ang munting pag-asa na pagbibigyan niya ako sa hinihingi ko.

"But you will contact me right?"

"I will."

I let out an assured sigh bago nagpasalamat sa kanya at lumabas sa silid niya. Iyon din ang panahon na muli kong tinanong ang sarili ko. Do I really have the courage? I know what happened had weakened me. Dad is all I've got and losing him is like losing my all. I do not know what is happening now. I don't know what will happen to me in the future. And I cannot wait for the challenges and other possibilities to be offered by this moment. I need to look for possibilities and decide whether to accept them. All I need is the courage. Courage to do it and hope to justify Dad's death even if I have to put the justice in my own bare hands.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs