Chapter Twenty-Eight: Catching Up

"YOU'RE not supposed to remember everything now," I remembered this line from so little of what my beautiful stalker had told me before we embarked against our intruders. A line so short yet speaks volumes of who she might be and what she could be.

I just realized, so many of the answers I am seeking were already at my feet for me to see...

Yet... even now, even at the furthest nook of my mind, all I could focus on was the scarred expression on her face. An expression so overly familiar it's impossible to mistake it for anything else. It has been so common to those who were at a knocking edge on Death's door, those who had been caught on an hour so unexpected yet impeccable. A knowing expression that you're doomed. That all hopes are vain and lost. That tragedy was all there was.

I wonder which tragedy was she surrendering to? Ang pagkadiskubre ko na nakasisilip siya sa mundong iniwan ko at paglihim sa 'kin ng mga nasaksihan niya roon o... ang pagkabunyag na may motibong nakakubli sa bawat segundong pinagsamahan naming dalawa?

"Being a stranger means... I do not have enough reason to lie to you."

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko sa ere na animo'y inaabot ang kisameng batid kong hindi ko maaabot habang nakaratay sa malambot na kama. But that's the point of it, isn't it? As long as you nuzzle to where it's comfortable for you, the harder it is to reach what you want most.

Unconsciously, my gaze thinned. Estranghero. Iyon nga ba tayo, Mihrimah? Kahit na ba pinaliwanagan na ko sa naging takbo ng oras, hindi ko pa rin lubos maisip kung ang ilang linggo na pagsasama sa iisang bubong ay dumaan lang sa ilang araw... o 'di kaya'y ilang oras. Ngunit kung tunay na estranghero sa isa't isa, paanong pawang nalilingkisan ng kasinungalingan ang lumabas sa bibig mo na mga salita?

You want me to be 'safe, contented, and free,' you said. Well, I couldn't if the mystery remains. You, yourself is a mystery, Mihri. You told me you'll be giving me answers yet you didn't. You took them, most likely to the place you mentioned to be the one holding the rest of them. And that would mean you'll be there, watching and guarding. If you embody both the mystery and answers, how could I stay still?

Ang sabi mo, mahirap laruin ang mga katagang "paano kung." Paniniwala mo rin na hindi sa lahat ng oras ay kailangang gawing komplikado ang lahat. Puwes, huwag mo kong sisisihin kung susundan ko lang din ang mga payo mong binigay.

I balled my right hand into a fist and squeezed it tighter and tighter until I could imagine the feeling of grasping I so wanted badly.

I am Sean Kyle Brooven Vantress. I don't beg for answers, I find them myself; take them, and wield them.

Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko at saka ito ginamit kasama ng isa pa upang bumangon sa pagkakahiga. Sa pagkakataon na 'yon ay saktong pag-akyat dito ni Sanchez kasama ang isang bandehang naglalaman ng mga kubyertos at almusal.

Muntikan na siyang mapaatras sa pagkakatagpo niya sa 'kin. "You didn't go down after the discussion yesterday morning. Hindi ka rin nagtanghalian o hapunan kagabi. I thought—"

"Thanks, I'll take them, but make more," I told him.

"Pardon me?"

"Make more."

"What?"

"Make more," I repeated, more sincerely, more persistent.

The way his mouth was left hanging the next second was now a doubtless testament to his surprise and confusion altogether. Before he could come up with obviously either silly or incorrect assumptions, I filled him in. Just as I should be.

"We'll be needing more for the trip back to the Vantress Mansion, will we not?"

Skyzzer blinked, and a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes. "You have decided?"

"But first, we have to make a few stops."

"Sean—" His shoulders drooped.

"Inatake at na-ospital kamo si Alexander, tama?" I asked as I sat up properly in his direction.

"Tama."

"Kung nandito ka at si Axel na may karapatang tumayo sa ngalan ng kuya niya, sina Janice at Fiacre ang nagbabantay sa Dela Vega at Cromello, kung ganoon. Tama ulit?"

He nodded, his gaze while observing my every word and move being shadowed by multiple clouds and unshowered ash.

"And yet, Alex and Spade have yet to return from their happily ever after?"

"I know you always like being right, but anong konek nito sa tinatanong ko at sa pagnanais mo na may daanan pa imbes na makauwi na kaagad?" inip na reklamo nito at pumamewang.

I sighed. I can't believe living in peaceful conditions would make me forget that these people and I speak different languages. "Hindi ko kailangan na sabihin mo sa 'kin na tama ko, alam ko nang tama ako. What I'm doing is permitting you to access the same trail of thoughts, and this for sure, is right because I know that it is. Listen to me because that's what your wives would have wanted you to do."

"You dare assume our wives' intentions?" he cocked an eyebrow, fully laying down a challenge.

Oh, I don't assume, Sanchez. I know it. Just because I was exiled doesn't mean I lost my sharpness on schemes. "By any chance, did Fiacre ever mention to you the idea of acting the opposite to throw off the enemy?"

His eyes took a few seconds on a void only he could see until his attention resumed on me with his eyes wide open, horrified. "How did you—"

I slyly grinned at him, knowing full well that I did not have to hear a detailed account of everyone to figure out what was happening on the other side. I still got it, I thought. Mihrimah was easily right on one thing. The world of mysteries and hysterics. The world with these people. It is where I am in my element. It was with them that I could feel solid ground beneath my feet and my hands on whatever I'd like to reach. It is where I felt alive and in control the most, which is ironic because everything in there was nothing but unpredictable and fickle.

⋆⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺⋆

"Oy, nandito na 'yung Grab driver," bulyaw ni Marc mula sa labas.

"Luh, wala po rito 'yung may-ari ng parcel, kuyang delivery," Skyzzer bit back, scrutinizing his fellow former head with his hands on his waist. "Balik na lang po kayo sa hapon, tipong wala na kami rito."

"Hayop ka, ito lang nakita ko sa bahay na 'yan. Pa-plano-plano kasi ng ganito, hindi nag-ready ng sapat na set ng damit para sa 'ting lima, hayst."

Offended, the other swiftly pulled his phone out and took a photo of his comrade in orange carrying a black box resembling the one used by the platform's delivery riders. "Yeah, right. Sabihin mo 'yan sa group chat kapag na-send ko na 'to kung saan may signal."

Abang naiwang nakabukas na lang ang bibig ni Marc.

"Bleh," Sky taunted with his tongue out at saka may ngiting tagumpay na naglakad paparito sa loob ng bahay.

Lukot ang mukha kong pinagmasdan ang pagiging isip-bata ng mga 'to. Edad lang talaga nadadagdagan, 'no? Ever since I met my brother's friends, it always baffles me how was he able to endure living with these idiots when he's a super serious type of person. I mean, even Alex couldn't take her cousin's shenanigans most of the time.

"What?" the devil in question asked habang nagpapagpag ng damit niya.

Thinking it'd be useless to argue over an almost hereditary craziness in their families, I just shook my head to stride across the living room and pick up the string bag I found somewhere in this house.

"Nga pala, baka kulangin tayo gas papauwi kung marami tayong dadaanan. What stops do you have in mind, anyway? You didn't tell us."

"We have to go back at the town square. May kailangan akong kumpirmahin," sagot ko nang abala pa rin sa pagsisigurado kung nandito na ang mga gamit na kakailanganin ko sa biyahe. "I will explain along the way. My guesses, the situation that your wives cannot tell you about entirely, and our game play. We cannot waste time."

Sinukbit ko na ang parehong string sa kanang balikat ko at tinuunan siya. "Naabot man ako ng kaaway dito, believe it or not, we're outside the Underground bubble."

"Bubble?" Dash almost mockingly replied. "Stop with the metaphors, Judge, we're not your duchesses." He then proceeded to walk his way outside with a stupid grin on his face.

Annoyance instantly rolled over me. I don't know what's up with him and his subtle hostility since I woke up, but I can clearly see he was not excited about this trip or the fact that I'm taking charge when a few days ago, I was their damsel in distress.

But one thought reigned over me and it was enough to urge me to march toward him and yank his left shoulder: Jia and the rest of the Council who died for the sake of everyone's peace, including this asshole's, did not deserve disrespect.

"Sean, Dash, tama na." Sa isang iglap, pinagitnaan na kami ni Skyzzer.

Is that good of him? Yes. Will that stop me from whatever my demons told me to do? No.

"What's the matter, Clone-X361? Did the serum Polaris and Zsazsa administer to you already waning? Can't understand a simple metaphor anymore?" ani ko nang pakunwaring pag-aalala sa kalagayan niya.

It may be because he hasn't hear of his very own model code for so many years of living someone else's identity, dahil nang rumehistro sa kaniya kung ano ang tinawag ko sa kaniya, walang bakas ng praktisadong disiplina para ikubli ang pamumutla niya.

When he did not respond, I decided that the timing could not get any better to bring up one of my guesses as to why he's being a bitch with me. "Kung galit ka sa 'kin dahil namatay sila para iligtas ako, puwes 'wag mo sa 'kin ibunton ang sisi---"

"You're not worth their lives! The Clan has been my family. Sila ang rason kung ba't buhay ko ang buhay na 'to kahit hindi orihinal na sa 'kin," biglang putol ni Dash sa 'kin. Sky swiftly extended his arm to close the distance between him and the reaper's, ensuring he wouldn't get any closer to me that quick.

"Are they not mine, too? Those people you call family understood me better than any of you, even better than my own brother! You think I never hated the fact they used their last breath to protect me?" mangha kong tanong sa kaniya dahil hindi ako makapaniwala na pinapalabas niya na ang lakas ng apog ko umastang may kontrol sa sitwasyon porket ako ang nabuhay at hindi sila.

Umismid naman ito't napa-ngisi. "Family? Hindi ba't ginamit mo lang naman sila dahil kailangan sila sa plano?"

"And your mistress, Alexandria, is supposed to go unscathed from that accusation as if she didn't plan that with me? As if she didn't benefit as well from their help? As if the Clan never risked their lives to keep her hidden all this time? As if she never used them like tools, too?"

"Don't bring my master's name into this," Dash warned me with gritting teeth.

"Huy, ba't ang tagal ninyo--- O, anong meron?" the former tenth head stood at the doorstep, shifting his attention to each of us alternately.

"Sssh, bumalik ka na lang d'on. Ako na bahala rito," Sky nodded to the direction where the car is parked.

As if we needed more audience, Axel descended from the second floor bringing the loots he found to be potentially useful in our trip. Frowning, he sighed frustratingly. "Kung mag-aaway kayo, mag-away na kayo. Hindi 'yung maya't maya may drama." He soon ignored our presence and stepped out of the door.

"What? Already playing?" Marc interrupted, finally crossing the house's threshold. "There's not much of developments going on there. Ikaw ang hinihintay nila para makapagsimula sa pagplano." Huminto ito malapit sa 'min at saka ako tinitigan nang masinsinan.

It's not that he's asking a dumb question. He knew I would never speak of something I could never prove. He knew the risks. Rather than the wind he embodied, a sharp strike of burning iron glazed his pupils. He's pleading for one absolute reason to go berserk over this trip... because apparently, Dash is not the only person who has kept his rage over everything that has happened in a bottle.

That glaze is a signal that Marc's a ticking time bomb and it's up to my smart mouth when to set him off. For a good few seconds, I understood why Renneisme Martin has to take the mantle most of the time. Her man was a hazard. Mhorfell Academy kept him from the outside world. The HEAD kept him in check. Renneisme tamed him.

At dito? What stops this man from finally lashing out?

Great. Now, we're all up and angry. Well, except Axel, surprisingly.

Napapikit ako at napalayo nang bahagya mula sa kanila. I shortly paced around the living room until I realized it was all useless. It's inevitable so, I turned and threw them the cold hard truth.

"Your wives are completely aware you're leaders of your respective groups, yet they did not stop you from leaving your posts. Isn't that strange?" Lumipad ang hinliliit ko sa mga labi ko at napakagat dito. Knowing I had impatient people to feed information to, I didn't let myself get carried away.

"Axel is here, he has the greatest claim to stand in behalf of Alexander's absence. Next to him is Skyzzer. Both of you are here and your wives are there, handling your posts. It's the opposite."

Skyzzer, having heard that keyword for a time, flinched. "Opposite?"

"Alexander who has been trained his whole life was ambushed in his own home. A home that stood formidable for what? Decades? You really believe that?" I snorted, and if only the situation was not as aggravating, I may have given it a laugh. "He wouldn't be the first mafia leader to pull off a trap at his own expense."

"Hindi ba't mas wala siyang kalaban-laban sa paraan na 'yan? He's in comatose," Dash pulled away from his master's reach and fixed the wrinkles over his shirt.

Bago ko pa masagot ang tanong niya, Marc took the pleasure to fill his comrades in. "Because that's what the enemy wants. Give him confidence and let him slip."

"Right," I nodded. "And it's never Alexander's style to do that. He did the first 'opposite,' a signal for all of us to do the same. For starters, your wives took charge."

"Alexandra Dela Vega ran away instead of going to his son," Sky added, tensed.

Dash clicked his tongue. "My mistress and her family did not go back as soon as they received the news."

"Lady Edeline suddenly came back to her family house," Marc joined in.

I extended my other hand toward Llanes at napapitik gawa ng pagkakatumbok niya sa isang mahalagang detalye na 'yon. "Ever wondered why all those four seem to happen in perfect synchronization, especially Edeline coming back and Alexandra fleeing? Opposite when it should be Alexandra staying and Edeline being still in the shadows. They're both agents of the Clan, as well, are they not?"

And as expected, it was Dash who was first to comprehend what I was hinting at.

"Alam nila na sa mismong gabing 'yon mamamatay ang buong Clan of Light," he concluded with horror apparent on his shaking voice. "And... Lady Alexandria might also know this. It was a done deal."

I lowered my head onto the floor, refusing to see how Dash Nawrey began to crumble over the fact. When his fierce orbs trembled and lost the might they had a moment ago, I knew something broke inside him. It was not only about the family who raised him and paved the way for the life he has now. It is also absorbing the reality that as we speak, even before they took a ride to find me, the game has already started.

No one could deny it. I could not deny it and we did not have any time to entertain the idea to do so.

Dahil sa pagtataka namin kung papaaanong hindi pa rin kami tinatawag ni Axel gayong ang huling set ng gamit na ilalagay sa kotse ay yaong dala niya kanina, kapwa tinungo namin ang labas ng bahay at natagpuan na habang tumatagal, humahabol ang oras na nitong lang ay tumigil para sa 'kin.

"Aling Maya? Aling Tere?" nabulalas ko na lang sa hindi inaasahang mga mukha na inakala kong natupok na ng sunog.

Mga mukhang ngayo'y natatabingan na ng mga dekalibreng baril na nakatutok sa 'min.

"Kumusta ka naman, hijo? Paano mo naman nagustuhan ang pekeng bayan na ginawa namin para sa 'yo bilang entablado?"