Vance's POV

I leaned back against my chair as Mom and Dad sat across Paige and I.

My finger continued to confidently tap on the table even after receving unhappy looks from our parents, while it was my sister who pulled her chair closer and calmly clasped her hands on the table.

Among Mom, Dad, Paige and I, we all waited for one of us to lower his or her guard down and be the first to speak. But after a few seconds of silently glaring at one another, it was clear that not one of us was willing to set his or her ego down on the table and say something.

The four of us were in defense mode, where one is ready to talk back once another one speaks.

Nagpalitan kami ng tingin ni Paige nang mahinuhang hindi sila magsasalita. Gano'n din ang ginawa ng mga magulang namin bilang reaksyon.

"Good morning," bati ni Tita Art pagkapasok niya sa conference room ng dorm namin. Kasama niya si Tito Cal na nakasunod sa kanya.

"Sorry kung late kami." Humagikgik siya. "Pinilit pa kasi ako ni Cal na sumama."

"Morning, Mommy," bati ni Bella pabalik sa kanya nang maupo sila sa tapat nito.

"Ano nga pala yung pag-uusapan natin?" Narinig kong bulong ni Tita Art kay Tito Cal.

Uncle Cal did lean back to whisper something, but his voice was lowered and I was too far away from them to hear it.

"Ah..." Tumango-tango si Tita Art, saka muling humilig papalapit sa kanyang asawa. "Pero okay pa naman si Bella, ah?"

Sa tabi ko, maingay na bumuga ng hangin si Amber. "Ako rin naman, Tita, okay lang din naman ako..."

"Tumahimik ka nga, Sandra," seryosong sabi ni Mrs. Sol na nakaupo sa tapat niya. "Hindi mo ba alam kung ilang gabi akong walang tulog dahil sa inyo?"

"Idagdag niyo pa yung ama niyong huli na nang sabihan ako na umalis kayo ng Academy," dugtong niya na may kasamang matalim na pagsulyap kay Doctor Seht.

"All their vital signs are fine," puna nito habang mahinahong nagbabasa ng mga papeles. "There's nothing wrong with them, aside from Zack's wings that needs to be checked every so often."

"Seht!" pabulong na sigaw ni Tita Thea sa kanya. "Kita mo ba 'yang mga sugat at gasgas nila sa katawan?!"

Napabuntong-hininga si Doc sabay baba ng suot niyang salamin. Pagkatapos, ipiniling niya ang kanyang ulo palingon kay Tita.

"I get to see them almost every week in the clinic, Thea," tugon niya. "I've seen them in worse conditions."

Mahinang natawa si Tita, tila hindi makapaniwala. "Alam mo kung ano yung worse, Seht?" naiinis niyang tanong. "Kung hindi nakabalik 'yang mga 'yan pagkatapos atakihin ang isa sa pinakamalaking facilities ng mga kalaban natin."

"Headquarters ng Asia?" Nagpipigil siyang sumigaw. "Buong Asya? Seht? Alam mo ba kung ilang bansa ang pinaghawakan ng facility na 'yon?!"

"Facility na wala na?" ani Amber.

Mabigat na napasandal si Tita sa kanyang upuan. Nakatingin siya kay Doc nang nanlalaki ang mga mata, na para bang nasa bingit na siya ng matinding kapaguran at handa na siyang sumuko kapag nagkataon na magsalita ulit si Amber.

Dahil dito, sinulyapan ni Doc si Amber na agad napaiwas ng tingin.

Napailing naman si Ash na tahimik lang simula nang makarating kami sa dorm.

I gave Mom and Dad a quick glance, just to see if they still don't plan to talk, before looking at Zack who sat across his mother and father.

Mrs. Prince was radiating red. Her hand was placed on the table and under it, a dagger continued to repeatedly appear and disappear.

Meanwhile, Uncle Chase let out a long sigh and slowly shook his head.

His lips parted to mouth the words, "Wrong move, bro."

Zack widened his eyes intimidatingly and mouthed back, "Tapos na, bro."

"What happened to your wings?" biglang tanong ni Tita Ria kaya sabay silang napatikom ng bibig.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Zack bago sumagot.

"Pinutol nila," aniya.

"And?" Tuluyan na ngang napahawak si Tita sa kutsilyo na palitaw-litaw sa kamay niya.

"Ayon, sinunog ko para bumalik ulit..." dugtong ni Zack.

Kumunot ang noo ni Tita. "And you're not feeling anything unusual? At all?"

Umiling si Zack.

Umangat ang magkabilang kilay ni Tito Chase, na para bang dagliang namangha.

"Bakit?" usisa ni Zack. "Dapat bang may mangyari sa'kin?"

"Nung nawalan kasi ng pakpak yung nanay mo, anak..." Si Tito ang sumagot. "Nag-anyong lolo Ares mo siya bigla-"

"Shut the fuck up, Chase."

"Wala naman akong nararamdamang kakaiba, Ma," ani Zack. "Maliban nalang sa paminsan-minsang pagsakit ng likod ko."

"Pero sa tingin ko..." Komportable siyang sumandal sa kanyang upuan. "Sa kakaaral ko 'to, eh."

Agad umiwas ng tingin si Tito at marahang napakamot ng kanyang labi upang pigilan ang isang namumuong ngiti.

"Chase, did you hear that?" tanong ni Mrs. Prince.

Mabilis na tumango-tango si Tito.

"Your son thinks it's funny to lose his wings."

Umiling si Tito.

"This is not something to joke about, Zacharille."

Tumango ulit si Tito.

"Pero Ma, totoo naman talagang dati pa sumasakit yung likod ko-"

"Just-" Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Mrs. Prince sa dagger na nasa kamay niya. "Just for once, Zack, shut your mouth, will you?"

Zack shifted on his seat and looked back at her with squinted eyes. 

It seemed as if he was daring his mother to throw the dagger at him when he replied, "Paano ako makakasagot sa tanong mo kung ayaw mo 'kong pagsalitain?"

"Woah, okay-" Pinigilan ni Tito ang kamay ng asawa niyang nagtangkang gumalaw. "Paano kung pagsalitain nalang natin si Trev na kanina pa nakatingin sa'tin?"

He was right.

On the other end of the table, Uncle Trev stood quietly with arms crossed against his chest.

"My apologies," aniya. "Do the Princes need some time off this meeting?"

"Wag na 'tol," sagot ni Tito Chase. "Maawa ka."

Beside Paige, Grey and Henri sat next to each other, across Reign and her mother.

"Yesterday, late in the evening," Uncle Trev finally spoke. "One of the huntsmen's biggest facilities, specifically their headquarters in Asia, was destroyed by the Alphas, a couple of representatives from the Beta and Gamma Class and some allies."

"Wait..." mahinang sambit ni Reign. "What?"

"Let me finish, Reign." Her father said, and continued. "Because of this, we were able to infiltrate and gather information, as well as know their name."

"We allowed you to step into the field, Omegas," paalala niya sa'min. "It was the least we could do for you, with the condition that you don't stray from your original mission, which is only to destroy the remaining facilities of every continent."

"We assigned one continent to each one of you, but you decided that it was not enough, and breached our agreement," dagdag niya. "You were not satisified of the favor we have given you, and sought to do more, knowing the risks."

"You used our resources," aniya. "Hacked into our accounts to gather information, and left your stations without leaving a message."

"And I don't need to elaborate everything that you've done wrong, do I? You know what you have done." Tinignan niya kami nang nakakunot ang noo. "You planned everything and decided to act on it."

"I'll go straight to your consequences," he said and began to enumerate what awaited us.

"The Alphas, as well as other students are expected to return from the field today," pagbibigay-alam niya. "We all agreed to give them the credit of what you did and no, you do not have a say in this matter."

"The attack on the facility was planned. It was suggested by one of the founders, coordinated by their men and some students," he added. "Students that were certainly not you, for you remained in the CAP's headquarters while the attack happened."

"A lie, a cover, to help you avoid being sent to the council and receive the worst of punishments," aniya. "Are there any objections?"

Walang ni isa sa'min ang sumagot.

"For this cover, three of the founders gave their word to the authorities, so I expect you not to breach the trust of your parents who have risked their own relationship with the Academy to protect you."

Guilt slowly seeped inside me as my eyes drifted down to the table. Paige and I exchanged looks before glancing at Mom who silently let out a defeated sigh.

"Second, your allowances just got cut in half."

"Ano?!" biglang sabat ni Amber.

"Tito naman!" napaangal na rin si Zack.

Uncle Trev didn't bother to address their reactions and proceeded to induce more suffering.

"You are expected to pay for this semester's utility bills, as well."

"But, Dad-" Grey didn't get the chance to talk when his father turned to him with a cold hard glare.

"Tsk." He clicked his tongue before leaning back to his chair.

"One last gesture of disobedience, Gabriel, and I will see to it that you will be living in the Academy for the rest of your life."

Grey snickered, and before his father could summon thunder, his mother called out with a soothing voice.

"Trev..." Aunt Cesia slowly shook her head.

Uncle Trev took in a deep breath and upon letting it all out, whispered, "Gods..."

"'Yon lang ba?" tanong ni Reign.

"Nakulangan ka, Reign?" ani Amber.

"Aside from the punishments you're going to receive from the counselor, Reign," Her father calmly answered. "I believe that would be all."

The stern expression on his face didn't change when all the lights in the conference room suddenly turned off and a projected screen appeared behind him.

"Now..." With a satisfied tone, he announced, "Let's talk about the Orion Organization."

Nagtinginan kaming Omegas sa isa't isa, halatang nagtataka.

Aren't we at least banned to access information from the enemy because we broke the rules?

Napatigil ako.

But we were still the ones who managed to obtain it...

"Because of your extreme stubborness and unruly methods, you were able to provide us the following information..."

Nilingon ko si Mama na may inilabas na folders mula sa ilalim ng mesa. Inabot niya ang kalahati nito kay Paige na agad namigay ng tig-iisang folder sa'kin at mga katabi namin.

"Nice." Narinig kong puna ni Zack nang matanggap ang copy niya.

"Wag kayong magkamali ng akala," seryosong sabi ni Tita Thea. "Galit pa rin kami sa ginawa ninyo."