"HOW long will I stay here?" We are in the middle of a quiet afternoon meal when I asked that question.

No one responded.

Hindi ko alam kung nagsesenyasan ba ang mga ito or nagpapalitan ng mensahe gamit ang mata. I don't know. Iyon ang isang bagay na ayaw ko sa kapansanan kong ito.

"Just eat." Rinig kong sagot ni Anabelle sa akin. The way she answered my question has still a glint of rage towards me.

"I need an answer." I demanded. I asked a question, there should be a concrete and relevant answer.

"You're not going anywhere." Rinig kong tugon mula sa nagmamay-ari ng baritonong boses na iyon. Agad na pinamulahan ang aking mukha nang muli kong maalala ang naging kapangahasan ko kay Alastair.

Fuck. Inuna landi at nagpatupok ka sa init, Asia Graham. Now, feel the unending awkwardness from him.

I gulped and just scooped another spoonful of rice. Bago ko sinubo iyon ay muli akong nagwika. You shouldn't feel anything this way, Asia. Act as if nothing happened.

"The class will start anytime soon. I passed your test, so I need to go there on time." I explained the situation just in any case that he's not aware of the upcoming class.

Narinig kong tumikhim sina Aarav at Oliver. Not sure what's that for.

"Just eat, Asia." He said authoritatively but I'm the I'm too stubborn enough to follow.

"Answer me." I said with the same tone he used.

I heard another bunch of gasped from this four people and I want to roll my eyes for being clueless what's that for. Now what?

"For once, Anastasia Kriselle Graham, follow what you are told. Just eat or I'll do the same of what you did to make you stop from talking!"

Natutop ko ang aking bibig sa haba-- no, sa pinakamahabang pangungusap na lumabas sa bibig ng binata. Even Aarav, Dasha, Ana and Oliver was really shocked from his mild outburst.

Pinamulahan rin ako ng mukha sa huling parteng sinabi nito. Hahalikan niya rin ako? Shet! Go lang!

After his long speech, he stood up and started walking out from the dining, leaving the five of us too stunned from what they have heard.

"How did you do that?" Rinig kong tanong ni Dasha sa kanya. Takang taka ang tono nito samantalang ako naman ay nairita na sa parehas na tanong ng mga ito sa akin. Ana asked me the same.

"Can someone please tell me what's wrong defying his authoritative words?! If you don't want to do what you are told then refused. Is that even too hard to accomplish folks?"

"Alam mo kasi, blindy." Anas ni Aarav tapos ay naramdaman kong tumayo ito at umupo sa aking tabi. He even put his arm on mine.

Aba feeling close.

"No one ever dared to refuse any orders coming from him." Dugtong nito. "Even us. We can't."

"Why is that?" I asked with confusion.

"Because his words are powerful." Ana simply answered my question with a bored tone on it.

Paniguradong umirap ito. Naku, pigilan niyo ako't madudukutan ko ito ng ngala ngala ng wala sa oras.

"Is that an expression or literal?" I asked again.

Aarav, Dasha and Oliver answered the question all at once. "Literal."

My forehead ceased from what I've heard.

Ano iyon? His words are magical? Is that it?

"Let's put it this way, you stupid blind. He can control people by his words. Compulsion, have you heard about it? One order from him, and that person will oblige with or without the permission of the person." Iritadong wika ni Anabelle.

Sasampalin ko na ito ng chandelier, sinasabi ko sa inyo.

"Oh, sorry, idiotic bitch. I just couldn't believe it since even myself haven't experienced the magical prowess of your future boss." I replied sarcastically.

"That's why we are asking how." Ani Oliver.

"I don't even know." I immediately uttered.

He has this kind of... thing? May ganoon ba? All I know naririnig ko lang iyon sa mga kwento patungkol sa bampira. They have that kind of ability? And so was he?

Sabagay, my curse is real and so as what am I hearing from them. Pero paano nangyari iyon? No normal person can actually do that.

"Is he someone has a blood of you know... of a witch or vampire that's why he has that?" I asked them cluelessly and you know... incredulously.

Imposible namang naapektuhan siya ng Apollo na siyang sumpa ko. I'm still doing great of keeping the curse inside my body so there shouldn't be other way for him to be affected by the stone.

"He call it his curse." Si Oliver ang sumagot. "He started having it when he was still eight years old. Not inherited or what. Even him doesn't want to share anything about it."

"Then how did you know that he has this... unbelievable capability?" I asked again.

"Childhood friend sila ni Anabelle." Aarav answered.

Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay at hindi ko napigilang mag-react ng kakaiba.

"What's with your reaction, stupid?" Anabelle asked me with irritation.

Mabilis naman akong umiling iling dito. "Wala naman. Childhood friend pala kayo." Tanong ko rito and I somehow emphasized a word and grinned mentally.

Friend lang pala. Makaasta kasi minsan daig pa syota. Sampalin ko ito ng tabla.

"Are you trying to imply on something?!" Nako heto na, nagsisimula nang tumaas ang boses ng bruha.

Mas umiling ako muli at may kasama pang kamay iyan.

"Wala. Wala. I was just amazed how long you've known him. Don't imagine things that are unnecessary."

"You bitch." Anito at tangkang susugod na ito sa akin ngunit mabilis na napigilan ni Aarav ang dalaga.

"Hey, hey, hey. Chill there."

I just continued eating my food and didn't bother to ask again about Alastair.

I already told them I do not know. Let's leave it that way. Sila nang bahala tumuklas sa kung bakit nga hindi ako naaapektuhan sa mga utos ng boss nila.

"It's also hard for him too, you know." Bahagyang napagawi ang aking atensyon sa sinabi ni Oliver. "He's not treating that as a gift. Para rin iyong disability para sa kanya. May mga panahon kasi na sobrang short-tempered si Alas at hindi niya napipigilan ang sariling pumatay ng tao gamit ang kakayahan na iyon. Pati kung minsan inosenteng tao na walang ginagawang masama ay nadadamay niya dahil sa mga salita niya. His words are really powerful you know... literally."

"That's why he's not talking that much." I finally conluded why he is quiet sometimes-- no, hindi sometimes. Palagi!

"And that's why we are really amazed that when it comes to you, he's a bit... loquacious." Dugtong naman ni Aarav. "I mean, his sentences are now reaching his world records and that was really a blah for us."

I heard tsk from someone who's for sure insecure here. Ano ka ngayon, Anabelle. Special ako sa childhood friend mo punyeta ka! Manahimik ka dyan.

"They're both weird. That's why I don't like the both them. Abnormal organs." Rinig ko namang anas ni Dasha na tila nanumbalik na mula pagkabalisa sa aking ginawa kagabi.

"Dasha! I'm eating!" Maarteng sigaw ni Anabelle rito.

Ang arte kingina.

"I didn't even say something eww-y." Pagtanggol ni Dasha sa sarili nito and panigurado umirap iyan.

Parehas maarte. Pag-untugin ko 'to.

"Not sure what's happening but at least he's somehow okay than before, don't you think?" I was talking to the guys but someone reacted.

"Assumera." Bulong ni Anabelle na narinig ng matalas kong pandinig.

"Kausap ka?" Mataray kong tanong rito. Huwag sumabat kapag hindi ikaw ang kausap. Itusok ko iyang tinidor sa dila mo 'eh.

"Aba't--" agad na pinatigil ni Aarav ang mahaderang babae bago pa ito magsalita.

"Okay na okay na. Let's finish this. We'll be leaving anytime soon so let's make this fast."

Natuon ang aking atensyon sa sinabi ng binata.

"Kasama ako diyan sa sinasabi mong we'll-be-leaving-anytime-soon mo hindi ba?" Tanong ko rito pero pinahalata ko sa tono ko ang subukan mong sumagot ng mali at sasampalin kita ng bagang ni Anabelle.

"Hey, I'm not sure, Asia. Ask Alastair." Tugon nito sa akin.

"You're not going anywhere. That's what he said." Anabelle said and I can really sense her mocking tone.

The reason why I'm asking is because I want to escape from Alastair. I'm not so sure anymore if what will happen if I'll stay beside him. His presence and his existence himself is very alluring and too much handle. Baka ma-rape ko na iyan sa susunod, jusko!

At saka nang mawala na sa landas ko't presensiya ang anino nitong si Anabelle. Magmula nang makilala ko ito'y tumataas na ang alta-presyon ko.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Papansin lang iyan. Sapukin ko pa iyan ng maso.

"Kumain ka. Daming sinasabi." Tugon ko rito na nagpatangis ng inis ni Anabelle.

"Bruha ka talaga!" Naiinis na wika nito sa akin pero hindi ito makalapit para sabunutan ako dahil mabilis na kumilos si Aarav para pigilan ito.

I mocked her by showing my tongue and grinned.

Umalis na ako sa dining table para pumayapa na ang buhay ng kontrabida sa bahay na ito at ako'y nagtungo sa labas upang makalanghap ng simoy ng dagat.

I soon as I felt the sand on my feet, I couldn't help but to smile like a kid. Even Chizo's seems happy as he's continously wagging his tails at me. I played with my dog near the seashore. I also tried to go futher as I want to feel the presence of the seawater and it's refreshing effect. I giggled like a child when the cold and refreshing water from the sea touched my feet.

It's been ages since the last time I've been in a beach. Bata pa yata ako no'n nung huli kong punta sa ganitong lugar.

Natigil ako sa paglalaro sa tubig kasama ni Chizo nang maramdaman kong may nagmamasid sa akin. I inhaled deeply to check how far is that person to me.

Naamoy ko lamang ang amoy ng dagat at ang isang pamilyar na pabango na lagi kong naaamoy kapag nandiyan siya. At agad akong pinamulahan nang mapagtanto ko kung sino iyon.

"Alastair..." bulong ko na tila narinig nito.

"Sentito la mia presenza." You felt my presence. "Stupefacente." Amazing.

Hindi na muli ako nakagalaw dahil sa mga sinabi ng binata. Chizo is no longer beside me and he's barking and running towards the guy who's making me feel so uncomfortable.

Itong asong ito. Minsan hindi ko alam kung gusto pa ako o hindi e.

"Why did you stop playing? Go on." Anas nito sa akin na bahagyang nagpabusangot sa akin. Naramdaman kong naupo ito sa buhanginan at tila nilaro laro si Chizo.

Bipolar din ito 'eh. Kanina lang galit at nag-walk-out ta's ngayon, there's a glint of cockiness in his voice when he said that.

Instead of playing again, I walked towards him. Sinundan ko ang mahinang atungal ni Chizo. When I've reached the both of them, I sat down beside them.

Hindi ako nagsalita at tahimik ko lamang pinakinggan ang ingay gawa ng alon ng dagat. The wind is blowing moderately which making me feel relax.

Ilang minuto ang nagdaan ay narinig ko si Alastair na nagwika.

"We'll be leaving in fifteen minutes." Anito at wala nang dinugtong.

Hindi ako nagtanong o nagsalita man lang. I didn't even dare to ask or clarify if he is now setting me free or what. Bahala siya diyan. Hindi niya ako madalas pansinin 'di ba?

"Did you hear me?" He asked me and somehow I heard an irritation in his voice.

K.

"I said we'll be leaving." Medyo tumaas na ang tono ng boses nito na dahilan upang tumawa ako sa loob-loob ko.

Hah! Taste your own medicine, asshole.

"Are you ignoring me?" He madly asked me. At halata na talagang nagalit ko ito.

Bahagya kong iginawi ang aking ulo sa kanya at nagwika. "Would you answer my follow-up questions just because you told me that we'll be leaving? Or would it be better to ask, are you going to say something to this respond of mine either?"

Hindi ito nakaimik sa aking tinuran. Serves him right. I know that he's scared of talking too much and I highly understood the reason why. Pero gosh, hindi tamang lagi nalang siyang gano'n. He should be aware the importance of talking back.

"See? No response again coming from you. So, don't expect that I'll do the same. I'm a blind person, Alastair. The least thing that I don't want to happen is to be clouded by nothingness again."

I was about to stand up and leave him here but I was stunned when he grabbed my arm and pulled me back on the sand.

"Don't leave." I'm waiting for your apology asshole and we'll be okay. "Just sit here beside me. We still have few minutes before we go."

And no apology words from him. Great!

I deeply sighed and just went along with his demand. I sat down again but it's too awkward compare a while ago.

Naaalala ko na naman kasi iyong ginawa kong kapangasahan sa kanya. Jusko, Asia. Magpigil ka kahit kaunti!

"Did they tell you the reason why I'm not talking that much?" He asked me out of nowhere. "Di sicuro hanno fatto." For sure they did.

"And I didn't expect that you have that kind of ability. You know, it's out of this world." And so are you, Asia? Tsk.

"I'm a monster, shortly speaking." I sensed something about the way he said those words. Iyong tipong he said that with a glint of loneliness.

Sabi ni Oliver, he has this ability when he was a kid. Hindi raw nito mapigilan ang hindi makasakit ng iba nang dahil sa bagay na iyon kung kaya't mas pinili nitong huwag na lamang madalas magsalita. He's words are powerful indeed. I witnessed that myself.

I didn't ask anything more. Kahit na parang okay itong magbukas ng saloobin sa akin ay hindi ako nakakasiguro na ligtas ang buhay ko.

He's the future Mafia Boss of his clan. They have this Code of Silence as they call it. No one should ever leave their group without getting killed because of the information that a certain person have. And not that I'm scared about it, it's just that, if I can stay away from problems that would be better rathan than getting involve.

I love my freedom. And no one should ever take it away from me. I live for myself. And I will die leaving it as ease.

"We should--" I was shocked when we heard a bunch of guns spitting towards us.

Parehas kaming napamura ni Alastair at mabilis na kumilos at umalis sa dalampasigan. Alastair guided me while I'm holding my dog in my arms. Mas binilisan pa namin ang pagtakbo nang maramdaman ko na palapit na nang palapit ang mga bala sa amin.

Who the hell was that?!

Nagtago kami sa likod ng puno ng buko sa 'di kalayuan. Mabilis akong yinakap ng mahigpit ni Alastair upang hindi kami madaplisan dahil hindi ganoong kalapad ang katawan ng buko.

Nang matapos ang putukan, bahagya kaming nakiramdam ng binata. The gunman is loading another set of ammo and it's our chance to run.

"Run." Alastair advised and we did it right away. "This way!" He said while we are still running.

"Cazzo!" Shit. Daing nito at agad ko naamoy ang dugo sa binata. We stopped in a nearby Nipa Hut.

"Are you okay?" I worriedly asked. I even tried to touch his wound and Alastair whined in pain.

Nadaplisan ito sa braso.

"Aarav, Oliver! L'isola è sotto attacco. Trovare immediatamente i motoscafi!" The Island is under attack. Find the speedboats immediately!

Utos nito sa kabilang linya.

I tore a piece of cloth from my dress and I immediately tried to tie it on Alastair's wound. But the man pushed my hands back as if he doesn't need it.

"Let my hands go and let me tie this to you." I said while gritting.

"I'm fine." He replied.

"And you're bleeding as fuck." I interjected and tried to tie it again. However, the most stubborn person I've ever known stopped me again.

"Let me--" I was stopped from talking when he said something unbelievable.

"Why did you tear a piece of your dress?! Your legs are showing vividly!"

I gasped and gawked from his reason why he doesn't me to put a temporary bandage. Like seriously?!

"Then feel free to take a view you arse! It's more important to put something on your wound. And don't be stubborn, Alastair, or I'll put this in your mouth for you to stop talking and I'll tear again another piece of my dress just to make your wound stop from bleeding." I hissed.

Jusko, binabaril na kami rito nagawa pang pansinin ang hita ko. Kainish 'to, parang timang.

He let me put the cloth on his wound and didn't say anything. He guided my hands where's his wounded arm and I was kinda shocked that he really has bulky muscles. Gosh, ang sharap!

Umiling iling ako para mag-focus sa ginagawa. Nakakawala talaga minsan ng katinuan ang mga ganitong ka-yummy na tao. And fuck! Babarilin ko na itong si Claude dahil nahahawaan na niya ako ng kalaswaan niya!

Once we are done, we immediately watch out the gunmen. I tried sensing their presence with the help of the ground however...

"Vibrations can't pass through with the sand. It's no help." Alastair said that made myself pissed. He's right. The sand is too crushed for the sonic waves to travel to my sense of touch.

"C'mon." Alastair uttered and he started pulling me.

We run and stop to a certain place for us not be found out by those gunmen.

"Who are they?" I asked him.

"One of the enemies of Aldeguer Mafia. Now that the class will be starting, they're trying to eliminate the top students of Vexigo." He replied right away.

I disregarded the fact that he's answering my questions and I kept on asking. "Why?"

"Our position in the school is equivalent to the position in Mafia, Bella Cieco." He initially answered. "Being placed as Capodecina or Captain of Aldeguer Mafia is a big thing for them. It shows power. And we are experiencing this kind of treatment every semester."

"How old are you?" Hindi ko napigilan iyon ang itanong. I know I could have the information later but I just can't help myself from asking it directly.

Mukhang ang babata pa kasi nila para maranasan ang ganitong treatment. You're just studying and yet your lives are at stake.

"That's for you to find out, Bella Cieco." I rolled my eyes mentally and yeah, of course, as expected.

"I was just asking because it seems like you never had a peaceful even just for a day or two. Its unfair."

Alastair hugged me again as the a bullet almost hit us both. We hid in a wall and then he answered my opinion.

And ang sharap ng yakap mo po. Hihi

"Being an Assassin and a Mafia member is way different. As a Mafia member, there's a lot restrictions that you shouldn't do. But as for you, you are just doing what you are told. Kill them, in any way you want. You still have your freedom. Unlike us."

Jusko, I really feel so special. From the day I've encountered this man, he's a type of person who wouldn't share any sentimental things to other person. He seems too distant even with his colleagues. I don't want to assume but the way he's answering me now and compare it of how he treats them explains a lot for me.

Sige, asa pa Asia!

I didn't respond nor said something about him comparing the lives of a Mafia member and an Assassin. I've never experienced it before. I mean, I've never been acquainted with Mafia family due to their unfairly giving justice of those person who accidentally involved themselves.

"The cave of the island is still okay and not yet had been found, Boss." A radio frequency voice message reached my sense of hearing. I think it's Oliver.

"Noted." Tugon ni Alastair at naramdaman ko na lamang na inagaw sa akin nito si Chizo. "I'll bring your dog. C'mon, move."

Iba rin ang koya niyo. Hawak niya sa kabila si Chizo tapos hawak naman niya ako sa braso sa kabila. Ang lakash lakash niya po.

When I felt the ground is now solid, that's the time I sensed the distance of the gunmen to them.

"They're 50 meters away from us, Alastair." I informed him. "And their moving too fast."

"I know." He replied as if he doesn't need to be informed.

'Eh 'di okay!

Halos hindi na kaming magkadaugaga sa pagtakbo at pagtago. I swear, makokonyatan ko iyang may pakulo ng putukan.

"We're almost there." Alastair informed me.

Oo, and I'm drained already.

Natigilan ako nang may mapansing kakaiba sa aming tinatahak. Huli ko nang nasabihan ang binata that I felt a dozen of men right ahead of us.

We immediately stopped and I heard him cursed. "Cazzo!" Shit.

We changed course and we are heading to the cliff.

Ano, Alastair? Tatalon tayo? Umayos ka!

We stopped when we are really at the edge of the cliff.

"Nowhere to go?" Tanong ng lalaking paniguradong leader ng mga gunmen na ito.

Hinahabol ko ang aking hininga habang pinakikinggan sila. Alastair, as usual, didn't answer the question. However, I was shocked from what he did and said.

"We have, coglione." Moron.

Then he hugged me from the back together with Chizo and he made us all fall on the cliff.