The Awaken Demon

"Who says I've accepted you as my friend?!" May gigil na sabi ni Freya kay Hobi at marahas na tinanggal ang kamay nitong nakaakbay sa kanya.

Tila nawala ang nararamdaman niyang pagtawag sa kanya ng kalikasan at napalitan iyon ng matinding inis.

"Hey, that hurts!" Anito sa kanya at hinawakan ang nasaktang braso.

"When did you have a little freak of a friend, Hobi?" Narinig niyang wika ni Yoonji na ikinakulo ng kanyang dugo. He's smirking at her. At gustong-gusto niyang burahin iyon gamit ang kanyang kamao.

"Oh, didn't know you have an ashhole for a friend, dude," aniya kay Hobi na pinatutungkulan si Yoonji.

Talksh*t about me and I'll do the same!

Nakita niyang nagtagis ang bagang nito sa sinabi niya. Ngali-ngali siya nitong sapakin ngunit nakikita niyang nagpipigil ito base na rin sa mariing pagkuyom nito sa kamao.

"Hep! Stop it, you two!" Awat ni Hobi na mukhang nararamdaman ang pagpapatayan nila ni Yoonji gamit ang kanilang mga mata. "Do you know each other?"

"I'm leaving!" Aniya at nilagpasan ang mga ito.

She doesn't want to be involved with them. Their recent encounters are enough for her to realize that  it is better to stay away from them. Not that she's afraid. But she knows it will not bring any good to her if she's seen with them.

Just like what's happening now. It seems like everyone around them is too curious to see them together. She can also see some with envious eyes. As if the three men are some Gods need to be worshipped.

"Stop, Weiss!"

Hobi's tone changed that made her to look at him. She sensed his plead the way he called her.

She met his gaze and saw his worried look.

Okay. What did she do to this young man to act like he's some kind of a close friend that will immediately cry if she will leave him?

Nakita niya sa kanyang pheriperals ang masamang tinging ibinabato sa kanya nang mga estudyanteng naroon sa hallway.

Oops. If the V named guy and Yoonji are the 'so-called prince' of Luthier, then, Hobi must be one also. Hindi na nakakapagtaka iyon lalo na't itsura pa lang ni Hobi ay mukhang maraming naghahabol na babae rito. At kung kaibigan pa nito ang dalawang unggoy na iyon ay posibleng totoo nga na isa ito sa mga 'prinsipe' ng eskwelahang iyon.

"What the f*ck, Hobi?" Mura ni Yoonji kay Hobi upang kunin ang atensyon nito. Mukhang hindi ito makapaniwala sa inaakto ng kaibigan.

Hindi niya maiwasang ibaling ang tingin kay V. He still has that bored look in his face. Pero kahit na gan'on ay umaangat pa rin ang kagwapuhan nito.

V is wearing a black shirt partnered with white pants and black converse. There's a silver earring attached to his right earlobe that adds a dangerous charm to his striking aura.

Nagawi ang tingin ni V sa kanya. She wanted to look away pero nahuli na siya nito. Nilakasan niya ang loob at sinalubong ang tingin nito.

He was looking at her as if she is the most uninteresting human being the world. Dumako ang tingin nito kay Hobi at Yoonji na hindi niya napansin na nagbabangayan na pala.

"You shut up or I'll rip off your tongues right in this instant?"

The way V said those word was so emotionless. But she felt that it wasn't an empty threat.

Are they really  friends?

Hindi niya napigilan ang sariling matawa sa ginawa ni Hobi. He made a funny face to V and laughed.

V just gave him a bored look again and walked away. Si Yoonji naman ay sumunod na rito matapos siyang batuhin ng masamang tingin.

"I don't know what happened between you and Yoonji pero sumama ka sa amin, France!" Nakangiting wika ni Hobi sa kanya nang makalapit ito. "Let's have fun!"

Tumawa siya ng pagak. "Can't you see that we're not in good terms?" Tatalikuran na sana niya ito para umalis pero hinawakan siya nito sa braso.

Okay. Why does it seems like the people around her are enjoying from stopping her whenever she wants to leave?

Lumapit pa ng kaunti sa kanya si Hobi at bumulong, "do you know where's the best place to hide, Freya?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. Hinarap niya ito at humalukipkip.

"What are you talking about?"

"If you want to find a safe haven, then, be with us, Freya. Me and my friends can help you. Trust me," seryosong sabi nito sa kanya. Kita niya sa mga mata nito ang sinseridad sa mga katagang sinabi nito.

As much as she wants to believe him, she already has her impressions with those two boys. Don't blame her. She already experienced it first hand.

Tumawa siyang muli. "You don't know what you are saying, Hobi," aniya at tuluyan ng tinalikuran ito. Mabuti na lang na sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi na siya nito pinigilang umalis.

---

Lunch break. She was sitting alone in the corner of the cafeteria while devouring her favorite choc-o and baked mac when she noticed the silent squeals and giggles of the girls near her table.

Nakita niya sa kanyang pheriperals ang paglapit sa kanya ng isang babae. She's pretty pero medyo kapos sa height. She has a short hair that reached just above her shoulders. She looks like a doll in her pink dress.

The girl has this worried look as she stands on her side. Bumuntong hininga muna ito bago magsalita.

"H-hi!" Bati nito na tila ba nahihiya. "A-ano, my friends would like to know your name."

Tiningnan niya lang ito at kapagkuwa'y itinuloy ang pagkain. She felt that the girl felt embarrassed because of the cold treatment she gave to her. Nilingon nito ang mga kaibigan na sinasabi nito at umiling.

Nakita niya na sumenyas ang isa sa mga 'kaibigan' nito. It was a sign of threat. Na tila ba kung hindi nito makukuha ang pangalan niya ay may hindi magandang mangyayari rito.

Nakita niya na napalunok ang babae at nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

"I-I'm sorry...but can you help me on this one?" Pabulong na wika nito sa kanya at nakita niyang nangingilid na ang mga luha nito.

She sighed in frustration.

"If you do not want to get bullied, show them that you're stronger than them," she said with annoyed face.

Ayaw na ayaw niya talagang nakakasalamuha ang mga taong walang confidence sa sarili. That's the reason why there are bullies. They targeting people who do not have confidence in their selves and hitting their weak spot.

Tumayo siya. Pasalamat na lang ito at busog na siya kaya nakaisip siyang gumawa ng kabutihan.

Ngumiti siya na ikinagulat ng babae. Matapos ay inakbayan niya ito at iginiya papalapit sa mesa ng mga 'kaibigan' nito.

The girl is still in shock na hinayaan na lang siya nitong bitbitin niya ito.

She smiled sweetly nang marating niya ang pwesto ng mga kaibigan nito. They are all in awe. Maybe because of her sweet smile. Or maybe because she's still holding their 'so-called friend'.

"If you have something to ask, get your ass up and come to me. Don't be a brainless brats using someone just to get what you want," she said changing her expression into dangerous one. "Mess with her and you'll see hell."

Natigagal ang mga ito sa sinabi niya. Inalis niya na ang pagkakaakbay niya sa babae at nginitian ito. Matapos niyon ay tumalikod na siya paalis.

Palabas na siya ng cafeteria nang makita niya si Chan. Hinarang siya nito.

"I apologize for not showing up on your first day, France. I got busy---"

"Save your explanation, Chan. I don't need it," aniya. "Isa pa, I don't really care."

Nilagpasan niya na ito. She heard him called her name but she didn't bother to look back. Pagkalabas niya ng cafeteria ay napagdesisyunan niyang mag-skip ng klase. She's thinking of going outside the school premises. Iyon nga lang, problema niya ay paano siya makakarating sa main gate? It's ten kilometers away, goodness gracious!

Naglakad-lakad siya sa vicinity ng school. Well, it's still amazes her whenever she sees the school premises. It shouts luxury. Napadako siya sa parking area ng school. She wowed when she saw expensive cars and motor bikes.

Okay. She should stop drooling while swooning over on those ferrari, buggati and lamborghini cars.

Nadako ang tingin niya sa kanang bahagi ng parking area. She saw a bike leaning on railing.

Tila may umilaw na bumbilya sa utak niya at napangisi.

Mabilis siyang lumapit sa bike. Hindi naka-lock iyon kaya naman mas lalong lumapad ang kanyang ngiti. Nagpalinga-linga muna siya bago kinuha ang bike.

Kung kanino ka man, pahiram muna. Ibabalik ko rin mamaya.

Sumakay roon at pinaandar iyon. Mabagal muna ang pagpapatakbo niya upang tingnan kung merong school staff o teacher sa paligid. Nang marating niya na ang main road ay mabilis niyang pinaandar iyon.

It took her a while before she reached the main gate. Huminto siya at nagtago isang malapad na puno. Ngayon ang problema naman niya ay paano siya makakalabas doon. It's still school hours kaya naman sigurado siyang hindi siya papalabasin ng mga guard ng gate.

Napakamot siya ng ulo. Bakit hindi niya naisip iyon kanina? Really. Isa sa mga disadvantage kapag sinusunod ang kagustuhan without even thinking of the consequences.

After how many minutes, bumukas ang main gate. Isang kotse ang papasok. Kumislap ang mga mata niya.

She pedalled hard. Sinabayan niya ang pagpasok ng kotse na iyon ng paglabas niya.

Narinig niya ang sunod-sunod na pito na ginawa ng mga guard nang makita siya.

She just smiled back and didn't bothered to look  back.

Nang makalayo na siya ay inilabas niya ang kanyang phone. She checked on the places where she can stay to kill boredom.

She saw that there's a mall that is 15 minutes away from her location. She pedalled again. Pinagpapawisan na siya but she didn't mind.

She was passing by on a road with trees side by side when she suddenly stopped. Something caught her attention.

She saw five men in motor bikes circling something...rather, someone.

She doesn't want to get involved but the man in the center looks familiar....

"V?" She murmured to herself.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. V's expression is so dark that even her who is still meters away from them is getting chills.

Nakita niyang sinugod ng mga ito si V. Bumaba si V sa motor nito at dinepensahan ang sarili.

She can see how skillful V is when it comes to fighting.

His literally flying when he released those powerful kicks to the man who's approaching him.

But hell, when she saw the other man gets a dagger in his pocket, hindi na siya nagdalawang isip na lumapit. She pedalled the bike hard and hit that man!

Mukhang hindi inaasahan ni V ang kanyang presensya dahil nakita niya ang bahagyang pagkunot ng noo nito nang makita siya.

Sa totoo lang ay pwede naman siyang hindi makialam sa mga ito. Isa pa, V is someone who doesn't deserve her help pero lintik na konsensyang niyan! It just kicked in without her giving time to think.

What's today that I've been really helpful to others? Am I going to die? She secretly laughed at herself.

Umalis siya sa pagkakasakay sa bike at nakisali na rin sa gulo.

Someone grabbed her but she immediately held his hand and in a second, he's already lying on the floor, sleeping as she targeted the veins that will bring him to neverland.

"Go away, novice. You're not needed here!" V said to him in annoyed voice. They are now on each other's back. "I do not want to see a baby crying for his life!"

"Really? I thought you were already crying when you were surrounded by these bunch of ugly people!" She snapped.

Aba't! Tinulungan na nga ay nagagawa pa nitong magbitaw nang nakakairitang  salita!

Sinugod niya ang kaharap. Dito niya ibinunton ang inis na nararamdaman niya kay V. She punched him hard in the face and do a round house kick. He immediately fell on the floor.

Now, they are left with one enemy. She can sense his fear. He step back a bit as V approached him.

"Who asked you to do this?" V asked the man in menacing tone.

Umiling-iling ang lalaki. V immediately grabbed his collar.

V's expression is darker now. It's as if just one wrong move, then, that man will immediately see satan.

He's really a devil!

Binitiwan niya ang lalaki. He punched him hard in the stomach. After that, he kicked him there again.

Namilipit ang lalaki sa sakit habang nakasadlak sa lupa.

He hit him again. On the same spot. Over and over again.

Shit! Is he going to kill him?

She's so stunned that she cannot move.

She's seeing a real devil. V's expression is back on it's bored look as he continuously hitting the man.

Inipon niya ang lakas ng loob na meron siya at mabilis na lumapit kay V.

"Hey, devil, stop! You're killing him!" She shouted and stopped him by grabbing his hand.

She met his gaze. It was a blank stare but made her shiver.

"S-stop! I...I do not want to get in jail because...because the police may think that we're in connivance!"

Shit! Did I just stutter? Pero masisisi niyo ba siya? Just trying to meet V's stare is making her knees tremble.

Napalunok siya. She's about to say something again when he saw someone immediately approaching V with a knife on his hand.

Her reflexes kicked in. In one swift move, V is already in her back while her...

The guy stabbed her in the stomach. Napaluhod siya sa sakit habang sapo ang parte ng tiyan niyang duguan dahil sa saksak. Everything went blur to her.

All she remembered was V's comforting warmth as he held her on his arms...

***