Sight Of A Falling Sky

"Masakit pa ba?" Tanong sa akin ng isang babaeng nakasuot ng mahabang puting damit, obviously a doctor. I then shook my head as a reply. "Well you're pretty strong, are you?" She smiled habang binabalutan niya ng bandage ang kanan kong braso na hindi ko namalayang natamaan pala kanina ng isang atake ng halimaw.

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko. Madilim parin ang gabi at patuloy parin ang patak ng mahinang ulan, at halos wala ding pinagkaiba ang sitwasyon ngayon sa kanina. There are still two monsters on the loose at hanggang ngayon wala pang nakakaalam kung nasaan ang tamang lokasyon nila. Aljen has been missing as well, and these people has started worrying.

Marami ang dumating, the sound of sirens rang through the whole area, may mga tao din na tinatawag nilang mga 'police' na nagpa-patrol ng lugar. Many bodies were laid unto te ground, patay yata ang iba sa kanila habang ang iba naman at talagang nawalan lang ng malay dahil sa mga natamong sugat.

I still pretty much don't understand anything. A short moment earlier and they just arrived and started surveying the whole place. Sila yata ang backup na tinutukoy ni Ivan kanina pero nahuli sila dahil pagdating palang nila ay tapos na ang lahat. And I can't help but get distracted at the people staring at me although I keep ignoring them, it's not as if I can't hear what they're saying.

Naiintindihan ko din naman sila, bago ako dito at ngayon ang unang pagkakaton na may lumabas na tatlong halimaw, so they are suspicious of me. Hindi yata sila halos makapaniwala na ako ang tumalo sa halimaw at nawalan ng malay si Ivan. They probably think this is some kind of consipiracy at ako talaga ang sumakit kay Ivan.

Well that idea is annoying but it isn't really that bothering, I should just be used to it instead. Kahit saan yata ako pupunta may mga tao talagang ang tingin sa akin ay ubod ng sama, again though not that I can blame them. Fate is playing a game, and I'm the kind of player that doesn't get to quit even if I wanted to. Fate keeps chasing me with ruthless rules and I'm always facing them anyway.

But for once, iniisip ko din minsan kung pwede bang tumakbo na lamang akong tumakbo, but when I do, then I'll be afraid to turn around, scared that no matter how far I run, fate's still behind me, binding me with its games. Who knows when it'll ever stop, but I do know it's not going to end so soon.

And to think maraming tao ang nadamay sa kaguluhang ito. Some were dead, some in critical condition, perhaps there are those who's traumatised. I couldn't help myself but stare unknowingly at these people, each of them feels different kinds of emotions. Sorrow of loosing everything, emptiness of being the only one to live, and anger directed to that monster from before.

It's unfair, I know. The more they feel powerful emotions, the more powerful I become, it makes me appear as someone who loves watching people suffer. Pero ganoon ngaba talaga? Hindi ako naaawa sa kalagayan nila, who am I to even dare? I just...sympathise with their emotions merging into mine.

Pero kaht anong galit nila ay hindi ko magawang magalit mismo sa halimaw kanina na ngayon ay isang batang babae. She became a monster herself because of powerful negative emotions being pushed inside of her, forcing her to be something she isn't. Nakakaramdam lang naman ng galit ang isang tao dahil sa naging salita o aksyon ng iba, they think it's unfair, they think the world is too cruel, they think they're the ones suffering.

Pero hindi nila naiintindihan din ang punto ng kinagagalitan nila. Or rather, perhaps they just don't want to understand at all dahil ayaw nilang mawala ang galit nila. And thus the birth of dark energy. And just now they are blaming that monster for everything? When they're becoming the same themselves? Human emotions are more complicated than I used to think.

"Before anything else," the doctor snapped me out of my thoughts at inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin. "I am Allean. Allean Conozer. Marami ang narinig kong reports tungkol sa'yo, but I think a person who looks with so much care in their eyes to people she doesn't even know, is not a bad person." Hindi ko namalayan na magkahawak na pala ang kamay namin.

"Care? You judge people easily then. I was merely observing." Hindi ko pinakilala pa ang pangalan ko dahil kung marami nga ang narinig niya sa akin mula sa pagcontact kanila kanina ni Ivan, ay alam niya na ang pangalan ko.

"Observing with such gentle pale blue eyes, without pity nor any judgement, you're someone who see a whole picture clearly." Litanya niya kaya napatitig ako sa mga mata niya, now that I'm looking at her she's kinda familiar.

"To be saying that, you're being one youself." She shook her head with a laugh.

"Of course not! Nakakaintindi ako ng tao sa ilang taon ko na sa mga ganito, marami na ang nakita ko, both better and worse. But it doesn't mean I don't judge. You know, these people, naaawa ako sa kanila. Naawa ako sa naging sitwasyon nila at buhay sa puntong nangyari ang bagay na ito sa kanila." Hindi ko makuha ang punto niya kung bakit niya sinasabi sa akin ito but she must be a great observer if she were able to figure out what I'm thinking.

Now that I'm looking at her, may mahaba siyang itim na buhok, pero magulo ito at may malaking bilog na salamin. She has a nice figure pero tinatakpan ito ng mahabang lab coat niya. Despite her glasses though, makikita ko parin ang eyebags sa ialalim ng mga mata niya.

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Making you feel better?" Ngumiti siya sa akon at nilagay ang mga kamay niya sa beywang niya. "Keila, tama ba? Isa akong doktor sa agency namin. Our organization is so large that we are divided into several agencies across the world. Our country is called Philippines, people say we're rich in culture and traditions but...what do you think?" I eyed my surroundings, tall buildings, people everywhere...who knows.

"Is it also your tradition to pick a fight?" Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko. Naalala ko lamg kasi ying mga lalaking naghahanap ng laban sa akin.

"Siguro nga no? Ganoon talaga ang mga pinoy eh, ayaw magpatalo. Nadadala sa mga uso, at masyadong binayayaan ng kalayaan." I frowned. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinabi niya.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Maybe both? Why don't you tell me where you came from, Keila?" I smiled. Ngayon alam ko na ang binabalak niya.

"Trying to get information out of me?"

"Matalino ka nga katulad ng sinabi ni Ivan." Pinatong niya ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng ulo ko, and because I feel emotions what I feel is pity. Kaya naiinis kong kinuha ang kamay niya.

"I hate being pitied the most."

"But you can't help it. Hindi mo kayang kontrolin ang emosyon ng tao, nararamdaman nila ito dahil ito ang nakikita nila, ito ang alam nila, so you can't help it."

Ni hindi niya nga sinabi kung bakit siya naaawa sa kalagayan ko. Hindi pwedeng kontrolin huh? Tama ang lahat ng sinabi niya maliban sa katotohanang iyan. People feel emotions because that's what being a human means. Only themselves can change or feel their own emotions, won't that mean my ability completely surpasses humans' morale laws?

Ah I'm being reminded why I hated my ability in the first place. Ever since the day I was born, I knew I wasn't normal, I knew people would hate me, and I thought that would finally change when I altered my siblings' emotions. Turning them into people who I've always yearned for, people who would accept and love me for who I am.

But I was wrong. Because of  that naive and careless mistake, everything went wrong. Now I know for sure they'd despise me for doing that. Magagalit sila sa akin, kaiinisan nila ako, sinira ko kung ano talaga ang totoong sila para lamang sa sarili kong kaligayahan, and there's a bug possibility that they would no longer look at me with those same gentle and caring eyes.

Ayaw kong mangyari iyon. Natatakot ako. I wouldn't mind the whole world hating me as long as I have my family back from where I left them. Kaya hanggang sa makakaya ng konsensya ko ay gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi magbago ang relasyon ko at ng mga kapatid ko, as well as my best friend. I wonder if that makes me a bad person.

"Sometimes, I can help it." Kumunot ang mga kilay niya nang sinabi ko. Wala silang alam sa ability ko o sa katotohanang isa ako sa mga most wanted criminal sa pinaggalingan ko, it does seem better that way. I don't want them to become more suspicious of my existence in this dimension.

"Allean," pareho kaming napatingin sa lalaking tumawag sa doktor. Medyo matanda na ito na nakasuot ng tuxedo, he walks with great posture as well. Like Ivan, he has gray hair. And as his steps got nearer, Allean's emotions became more and more anxious.

"Dad, it's a surprise you came here yourself." If earlier she admitted it was both, ngayon nararamdaman kong isa na itong insulto. Still, she smiled and greeted the man she referred to as her father.

"Who do you take me for? Nasaan si Ivan?" Agad niyang tanong, at narinig ko ang malalim na hininga ni Allean.

"Pinadala siya pabalik sa agency. Hanggang ngayon wala pa siyang malay." The man frowned upon hearing this news.

"Ivan? That is unusual. Take care of him first, he is a priority."

"Priority? May nag-aalaga na sa kaniya, marami pa ang nangangailangan ng tulong ko dito."

"Huwag mo na akong paulitin sa sinabi ko, Allean. He is your brother." The man sighed and finally, his gaze landed on mine. "And who's this beautiful lady?"

"You'll get the reports a bit later anyway, so leave her for the time being." The man smiled.

"If that's what it is, then I shall tend to her later." He nodded at me bago siya tumalikof at umali. Marami ang tumatawag at lumalapit sa kaniya, isa siguro siya sa mga importanteng tao dito.

"Siya ang magaling kong ama, Aldren Conozer. Siya ang presidente ng agency namin kaya masasabi mong lahat ay dapat sumunod sa kaniya."

"You seem displease about the idea." She shook her head with a snort.

"I'm not. I follow him because he is superior than me, at wala akong magagawa dito."

"Mukhang hindi mo siya gusto."

"Iyan ba ang pinapakita ko?" She asked, scratching her head. I can feel emotions after all. Naagaw ng atensyon ko ang isang itim na sasakyan dahil aa malakas na busina nito, inviting Allean's gazes as well, ngumiti siya at tumango dito. Tapos ay bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin. "Umalis na tayo dito. Orders are orders. We're going back to the agency, at habang hindi pa nakikita si Aljen at wala pang malay si Ivan ay ako muna ang bahala sa'yo."

Tumayo ako at sinundan ang mga hakbang niya patungo sa itim na sasakyan. Her footsteps were light and her posture is straight, mahahalata talaga ng lahat na mula siya sa matataas na kategorya ng tao dito, that is we exclude her appearance herself. She doesn't look like a proper lady in her state. May isang lalaki ang bumaba mula dito at inabot kay Allean ang susi nio tsaka din naman umalis.

Binuksan niya ang pintuan ng sasakyan para sa akin, at dahil ito ang unang beses na sumakay ako ng sasakyan, naninibago ako. May mga sasakyan din naman sa mundo kung nasaan ako nanggaling, but a country like Magnus doesn't prefer them. Pumasok ako sa may front seat, at agad niya naman itong isinara. I thought it'd be comfortable for me, pero nagkamali ako. The cold air conditioner swept the whole space around me which makes me shiver, lalo ng nabasa ako ng ulan kanina.

Napansin niya naman ang kalagayan ko nang pumasok na siya at sinimulan ang makina, so I was grateful when she opened the windows at pinatay ang air conditioner. Naalala ko agad ang batang babae mula kanina. She was turned into a momster due to the accumulated negative energy inside her body dala ng mga negative emotions niya.

"You mentioned you are an organization capable of killing those monsters, doesn't that mean you were killing humans all along?" May katahimikan munang pumaibabaw matapos ang tanong ko. The street light on the other side turned red kaya tumigil siya at humarap sa akin.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Kaya nga nagkakagulo ang mga tao sa itaas ngayon. Your existence in our dimensiom has changed everything. Hindi namin alam na mga tao sila. But now that you've mentioned it, it is weird for these monsters to appear all of the sudden one day. How were you able to figure out everything anyway?" I shrugged.

"I just thought of it as strange."

"It really is. Kaya ngayon hindi na alam ng HQ kung ano ang gagawin nila. Just several minutes ago after reading the reports, pinatigil muna nila ang pagpatay sa mga halimaw sa mga agency. So they're detaining them instead."

"Mukhang malaking problema ito sa inyo."

"Naisip din nila na baka may taong gumagawa nito. Sinabi mo kay Ivan ang tungkol sa dark energy, at mabilis siyang umaksyon kaya ngayon nakarating na to sa HQ. They believe there must be a suspect for all of these at baka ito na ang pagkakataon na matapos na ang kaguluhang ito." The light turned green and we once again continued on our way.

"People don't seem to appear like they care though." Bulong ko habang nakitingin sa labas ng bintana.

Patuloy lang kasi sila sa mga ginagawa nila like nothing happened, looking at them, they seem so preoccupied by something else. At hindi talaga ako sanag dito. The air isn't fresh, may halo itong ibang bagay, halos hindi ko na makita ang mga nagpapakitang bituin matapos ang ulan dahil sa nagtataasang buildings. Vehicles are everywhere, pati narin ang mga kakaiba nilang teknolohiya.

"That's because they know nothing." Agad akong napatingin sa direksyon niya sa gulat. Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin dun? "About these monsters popping out, walang alam ang normal na tao dito. We make it look like it's some kind of a natural disaster. We also make sure people won't tell anyone about it and alter their memories."

"Alter their memories? How are you able to do that?"

"Artificial magic. We do it to avoid worldwide panic." She paused before turning into another intersection. "But you sure are strange. Paano mo nagawang talunin ang halimaw na iyon kahit na alam mong mahina ang katawan mo dito? Ivan's one of our best agents, at kahit siya ay hindi nakayanan ang halimaw."

"The monster isn't even that close to the real definition of 'strong'."

"Marami ba ang mga ganoon sa mundo niyo?"

"You can find them almost everywhere, kaya normal lang ito."

"Marami ba talaga ang enerhiya doom at halos lahat may mahika?"

"Humans are classified into different categories. Mages. Alchemists. Ability users. At ang may mga maliliit na enerhiya, ang mga Assassins. May mga normal din namang tao, but it's quite uncommon."

"Ang dami pa naming hindi alam sa mga bagay na nangyayari, so your presence is deeply appreciated. May mga taong napunta dito mula mundo niyo but most refuse to cooperate."

"It's only natural they would. Imagine some stranger goes up to meet you and began telling your life is in danger if you won't cooperate." Iyon kasi ang ginawa ni Aljen sa akin, they should be grateful I'm too considerate.

"Tama ka nga naman." She laughed, finally parking her car sa unahan ng isang mataas na building. Naisip ko tuloy kung hanggang saan ang abot nito sa taas. "Let's go, I'll make sure they won't harm you." Of course she would, alam na nila kung gaano ka importante ang presensya ko sa agency nila and they must want my help.

Sabay kaming lumabas mula sa sasakyan at may isa na namang lalaki ang lumapit kay Allean. She gave him the keys as we headed inside the building. Parang bawat sulok ng pader ay gawa sa salamin, may parang maliit din na water fountain pagpasok namin sa entrance. Sa uanahn lang ay may lobby kung saan may tatlong babae ang nakabantay.

I noticed for a fact na marami ang mga tao dito, at lahat ay napatingin sa babaeng kasama ko, pati narin sa akin. They greeted in unison and returned to their original work. Lumapit siya sa may babae sa lobby at napabuntong-hininga muna ito.

"Anong room si Ivan dinala?"

"Ah Doctor Albrecht, nandoon po siya pinasok sa may Hospital Ward, ika-8 po na kwarto." Nagpasalamat si Allean at dumerecho kami sa may elevator.

Katahimikan nalamang ang bumalot sa buong elevator habang pansin ko na pataas kami ng pataas. The floor was already at the 30th one when it suddenly opened, at medyo nahilo ako dun. Pagbukas na pagbukas plang ng elevator ay sumalubong na sa amin ang mga nagsisitakbuhan at maingay na mga taong nakasuot ng mahabang puting coat.

There were doctors and nurses everywhere and it goes without saying na mukhang busy lahat sila that they didn't even hardly notice us. Nagpatuloy lang si Allean sa paglalakad habang ako naman ay hindi mapigilan ang sarili na tumingin sa paligid. May nakabangga sa aking isang babae at hindi ko ito nailagan dahil hindi ko napansin. Hindi ko naman napansin dahil sa dami ng naghahalo-halong emosyon sa paligid ko.

The girl stopped and glared at my direction. My eyebrow lifted. I get it that they're busy pero hindi din naman siya mababangga kung nakatingin din siya sa dinadaanan niya. Allean was already ahead of me, hindi niya napansin na napatigil na pala ako dito.

"You look lost. Bawal dito ang non-personnel ng agency. Get lost." Naiinis niyang wika habang pinupulot ang mga nalalaglag niyang files.

"Are you sure you'd want me to get lost?" I heard her snort as another batch of glares came up to meet my eyes before standing up once again.

"Unless you're someone important, I could careless about your situation of being here. This is a private property, and also unless you're a battle agent, bawal ang kung sino man dito." Tinulak niya ako paalis sa pwesto ko at nilampasan lang ako.

I suddenly felt like my blood was already boiling in anger the moment I turned around and watched as she slowly ran through the crowded corridor. Kung sa mundong nasaan ako nanggaling ay kinatatakutan at hinahabol ako, dito naman parang wala lang. I don't know if I should be happy about that but I certainly don't feel like being so right now.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko sa tabi ng katawan ko, unti-uting nabuo ang isang espada sa ibabaw ng kamay ko. But I immediately stopped when something tightly gripped my shoulder. Nang lumingon ako ay nakita ko si Allean na kumukunot ang noo sa ginagawa ko.

"Don't bother. Pagpasensyahan mo na. Most people in here are researchers, kaya busy talaga ang karamihan halos sa lahat ng oras. Time is valuable in this Research Ward."

"Akala ko ba nasa Hospital Ward tayo pupunta?" She smiled.

"That ward is on the floor above us, pupunta muna ako ngayon sa opisina."

I stopped summoning my sword at sumunod sa kaniya. Hindi tumagal ay nasa unahan narin kami ng pintuan niya at nasa itaas ay may pangalan niya talagang nakalagay. The door has a face recognition system kaya ilang segundo lang matapos niyang tumayo sa harapan nito ay agad din naman itong bumukas.

Bumungad sa akin ang magulong gamit niyang nakahandusay lang sa kung saan, medyo madilim din at ang daming papel ang nakakalat. The books on the bookshelves upon the wall were all disarranged, at nakabukas ang mga drawers at cabinets niya. Scratching her head, she sighed as if she only remembered that she should have cleaned everything before walking out of this room.

Naalala ko ang dorm room back at the Academy. Ganito din palagi kagulo ang paligid that I had to force Andrea and Iyana to clean with me until late at night only for them to leave a mess the next day. I used to find that memory a bit heartwarming pero hindi ko alam kung bakit aa tuwing naaalala ko ang mga nakaraan namin ay mas sumisikip ang dibdib ko, and I don't like it.

"I'm sorry about the mess." Parang hurdles lang ang tinatalunan niyang patong-patong na files. "You'll get used to it." Nakatawa niyang wika.

"I don't think I'll prefer that." I replied as she walked towards a huge screen na nasa pader. The screen was so huge that when she touched it ay bugla itong umilaw at may lumabas na hologram na keyboard sa unahan niya.

"Ha! Being used to it isn't always a matter of preference of anyway." May punto din naman siya sa sinabi niya.

Lumapit ako sa kung saan siya at medyo napapikit dahil sa liwanag ng screen, especially that it's dark in here. Wala ba siyang planong magpailaw? Ang dami niyang tinype sa keyboard niya without even looking that it's amazing how she's able to look at many sections of the screen without ever atopping her fingers. Seryoso ang mukha niya ngayon, as if she's looking for something. She then frowned and stopped.

"Ah I knew it." Bulong niyang hindi nakawala sa pandinig ko. "The Seer System was almost hacked!"

"Seer System?" Why does this world has so many complicated terms anyway? It sounds so bad pero nakangiti siya ngayon.

"It's a system I designed three years ago which is now being used by the organization to easily track down monsters as well as the sensing that dark energu thingy. Mas madali ang lahat dahil sa Seer System or S System because like an actual seer, we are able to find everything not usually seen by the naked eyes."

"And you're saying it was almost hacked."

"Exactly!"

"At bakit tuwang-tuwa ka pa?"

"Hindi ko naiintindihan Keila! It only proves how majestic my system is na kahit ano man ang gagawin ng kalaban ay hindi nila makukuha ang ginawa ko sa akin. This is like the 47th time na sinubukan nila itong e-bypass. Brute force? Heh don't make me laugh. Even...." may kung ano-ano pa siyang sinabi na hindi na ako nakinig dito dahil wala akong maintindihan.

To spare myself from not listening to how she confidently expressed her pride as the designer of a 'majestic' system, lumayo-layo ako sa kaniya habang siya ay nakapikit ang mata, explaining such a complicated thing. Umupo ako sa may isang swivel chair sa dulo sa tabi ng isang glass table.

May mga files na nakalagay sa ibabaw. Opening each of them, marami ang mga detalyeng nakasulat sa ibang lenguwahe. May larawan din ng mga hindi ko kilalang tao, some have red marks while some have black. I don't even recognize this language. Until I saw a hooded man na walang makikitang mukha dahil nakatakip ito. The picture has a black circle mark at mahahabang detalye.

I frowned at the sight of it. Pamilyar ito, it made me remember the man I saw earlier. It was 'him', sigurado ako at hindi nagkakamaling siya iyon. Ang tanong ko lang ay bakit siya nandito? Isn't it funny? The fact that we met here of all places at biglan nalang siya ulit nawala. That guy has a weird fetish of disappearing all the time.

My chest is tightening. I feel nauseous. The moment I laid my eyes on those tarnished brown eyes, it feels like everything inside of me turned upside down. Is it my fault for leaving him behind? Is it my fault for making myself forget? Do I still have a lingering attachment towards him? I don't know, and I won't know unless I meet him again.

Napunta ang tingin ko sa pintuan na biglang bumukas. Pumasok dito si Ivan na seryoso ang mukha, wala siyang suot na damit da ibabaw dahil may bandage na nakaplibot sa tiyan niya. Noticing his presence, Allean finally stopped talking about her system and crossed her arms looking at him.

"Step bro! Mabuti naman at medyo maayos na ang kalagayan mo." Masaya niyang bati. She made it sound so sarcastic pero alam ko namang masaya nga talaga siya.

"Ano ang ginagawa mo dito?"

"Tracking my brother, of course." She turned back to her keyboard and began working on her fingers.

"I thought you'd still be back there. Pero mabuti narin ito, kailangan kitang makausap."

"If it's about your reports, nabasa na ito ng HQ kanina pa and right now as we speak, they're gathering more intels and executing proper orders so as you can see, everyone is super busy."

"I can't accept the fact that I've been killing humans all along! There has to be something wrong. Allean, won't tou investigate this?"

"It's your own reports, at ito din ang reports ng mga backups na huli nang dumating. Don't tell me you don't believe it."

"I only report what I see, but I don't have to believe it. Allean seryoso ako, may mali sa mga nangyayari. How could those monsters be humans? Why? Since when?" Hindi sa kaniya humarap ang step sister niya at patuloy lang sa ginagawa nito while Ivan was walking in circles.

"So you're feeling guilty?" I'm surpised. Ang bilis nga ni Allean makaintindi ng isang tao. "Gusto mo lang sabihin ko sayo na may mali nga at hindi ito totoo to spare yourself from feeling guilty."

"Is that wrong?"

"You mean is it wrong not to accept a fact? Siguro nga, siguro hindi."

"I'm being a coward, I know that. But I need, no, I want to know for sure."

"You're being a child, Ivan. You're rational and mature in front of everyone else pero nagiging ganito ka lang sa akin. You should know I'm not always there to help you with your own troubles."

"I'm sorry. Pero ayaw kong maniwala na mga tao nga ang pinapatay ng mga battle agents katulad ko all these years. Something is wrong. How come that monster only returned back into being a human matapos itong hawakan ng ilang minuto ng babaeng iyon?" An eyebrow of mine lifted. He's suspicious, of course he is. He'a too engrossed in his thoights na hindi niya ako napapansin dito sa tabi, ang dilim din naman kasi.

"What if everything was deliberately planned for all of these to happen? Is that what you're telling me?" Natawa si Allean dito. Bakit ba parang halos lahat nalang ay nakakatawa sa kaniya? "Posible nga. But I choose to trust that girl."

"Huh? She's from another dimension. Nakalimutan mo na ba ang ginawa ng mga katulad niya kay Mom?"

"It's 'our' mother. Amin. Not yours, and will never be. And so what? It's not that she did it herself. You should loosen up more Ivan, you're personality is becoming unsightly."

"Loosen up? You should start being cautious Allean, hindi mo alam kung ano ang mangyayari sayo sa mga panahong ito. At the end of the day, we only end up trusting each other."

"Always, hah right. And it's becoming suffocating, don't you think? How the three of us always end up going through each others' necks but still trust each other kahit hindi naman natin ito gusto." She said it playfully but the latter knew she was being serious. There was that certain silence bwfore Ivan sigehd.

"Basta pag-isipan mo ang mga sinabi ko. I'll give Dad a piece of my mind and make him investigate this and everything about that girl."

"Yeah, just like you always do. Running to Dad when there's trouble you can't handle." Sigurado akong narinig ito ni Ivan pero hinayaan niya lang ito as the door finally closed, leaving no trace of him inside this room.

Gods, mumhang ang gulo din ng mga relasyon nila dito. It's like everywhere I go, palagi nalang may ganitong problema. But is is indeed strange, they hate each other yet they still put their trusts on each other, nakakaramdma ako ng mga emosyon nila, ganoon ang pakikitungo nila but they care in least expressive ways.

"You were listening, right Keila Willar?" Nagulat ako nang tinawag niya ng buong pangalan ko at naghahanda nang ilabas ang weapons ko.

"Where and how did you know my name?"

"You know Julius Chrone?"

"The Spirit Keeper."

"So totoo ngang nakapunta ka narin sa mundo nila. You're something else huh?" She strectched out her arms. "Three years ago, I came across a different anomaly in space, and found out about Spirit Land. Wala akong masyadong alam sa mundong iyon, but I am friends with Julius."

"How is that even possible?"

"It is possible. Pilit naming binuksan ang space, and that was the reason we were able to talk to wach other whenever we want! Few months ago he mentioned a girl who defeated another Spirit Keeper with the name of Keila Willar. He told me everything is fated, you and I will meet. And now you're here! Ang galing lang diba? Hindi ko talaga inaasahan ito." Ngumiti siya sa akin at bumalik sa pagta-type. Honestly naguguluhan parin ako.

"He told you that few months ago?"

"Yes! Spirit Keepers are able to see fragments of the future, and it's up to them to connect them. But ever since that time, hindi na namin muling nakausap ang isa't isa, like the anomaly itself has served its purpose or something. I don't believe in fate, but I do know everything is already predestined to the way it should be."

"Hindi ka normal na tao, to be able to contact a Keeper like Julius."

"Of course I'm not! Ako kaya si Dr. Allean Albrecht, the Chief Director of Research and Medical Department! Ganoon ako kagaling—"

"I'm serious." She stopped and drank from a bottle of cold water na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng cabinet sa tabi niya.

"And I guess I wasn't. Yore right, hindi nga ako normal na tao."

"Then what are y—" my question was cut short by the defeaning sound of the alarm ringing through everywhere in this damn building. May mga pulang liwanag pa na lumalabas sa ibabaw ng bawat sulok ng ceiling.

"Emergency." Mabilis siuang umaksyon at may ginawa na naman sa screen, at habang lumalakad ako ay mas lalong sumeryoso ang mukha niya. "A monster has appeared above the city. I already sent the info to every battle agents available, but for it to appear near the building..." she bit her nails, thinking. Lumaki ang mata niya at zinoom-in ang screen. Above the monster, may isang hooded man ang nakasakay dito.

I immediately recognized the man and without any second thoughts, mabilsi akong kumaripas ng takbo palabas ng opisina niya. Nagsitakbuhan ang mga tao sa paligid ko pababa ng building na nagsisikipan na sila sa elevator. I saw Allean catching my pace behind me, peor dahil sa mga dumadaang tao ay natatagalan siya.

A loud shrieking sound silenced everyone, at lahat ay napatingin sa malalaking glass transparent window ilang metro malayo sa kung saan kaming lahat. It was a huge monster, at pagkakita palang nun ay nagsigawan na ang lahat at nagtulakan. Nakita ko si Ivan na nakabihis na habang nakatingin lang sa bintana. Walang ginawa ang halimaw as if waiting for something.

"Ivan!" Tawag ni Allean sa kapatid niya.

"Most battle agents are stuck in their own floors dahil sa nagpa-panic na mga tao dito sa buong building. That includes me." Naiinis niyang salita.

"Ivan, mukahng tama ka nga. Looks like someone is deliberately planning everything. May taong nakasakay sa ibabaw ng halimaw na iyan." Sabi ni Allean habang tinuturo ang umiingay at lumilipad na halimaw sa itaas, sa labas ng bintana.

"Argh we're stuck. It'll be all over kung papatumbahin nila ang building. We can't save too many people at once."

"Then why not go through that?" Tanong ko sabay turo sa labas. Ngayon lang ni Ivan napansin ang presensya ko so he tensed.

"You...forget that idea. Nasa 30th floor tayo ngayon, jumping from that height is suicide—" I quickly summoned my scythe and ran towards the glass window. "H-hey ano ba!?"

"You can watch." I replied as I feel his annoyance.

My weapon immediately made contact with the transparent glass wall at agad itong nabasag, without hesitation, I watched my own body jump out from that same window.

Looking at my surroundings, it almost felt like the sky was falling with me.

And it was a beautiful sight.