August 18, 1938

I'm aware of who killed them.

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I SUPPOSE that Katana Raven will be placed in the twisted events that lead to the principal's office if this is her fate. Her steps were lost in the wind, giving the impression that she was somewhere between darkness and light, with no way back, if one could explain how she really feels. Marami sa iba napapatawag dahil sa mga kalokohang ginagawa nila, tulad ng pambubully or if you purposefully disobey school regulations, but not for her.

Sinadya niyang mangyari lahat ng 'to—ang mag-cutting class at gumawa ng gulo—upang madawit ang unibersidad na 'to sa napakaraming dahilan.

To name a few of her transgressions in schools, she cheated, purposefully failed grades, and broke off the school grounds. She also dated members of every upper class she knew and then broke their hearts.

And for a single reason.

Murder.

The story itself isn't cliche, is it?

Dumating ang dean at humarap sa tatlong lalaki something she recently hooked up with last night at talagang sinadya nilang pumunta sa unibersidad ni Katana upang isumbong siya.

Napahawak na lang sa ulo ang dean ng unibersidad na 'to at tinignan niya ng masama si Katana. She moves as authoritatively as she ought to.

She strolled in silence as though thunder was crashing down and forth, her brows furrowed and her eyes piercing her as if there were no tomorrow. "Katana, ano'ng gulo na naman ang pinasok mo!"

Katana stated, "There's nothing significant to discuss. I'm simply enjoying myself. Their emotional attachment following a one-night encounter is no longer my concern." She then retrieved a few cigarettes, embodying the persona of a rebellious individual, lit one, and exhaled smoke in their direction.

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"Katana! Bawal manigarilyo dito, talagang pinipikon mo'ko bata ka!" bulyaw ni Eunice, ang dean ng unibersidad na 'to.

'Di alam ni Eunice kung ano'ng naging kasalanan niya para bigyan ng isang sutil na estudyanteng katulad niya. She clutched her glasses at minamataan 'to, she's a little annoyed by her attire.

It was unacceptable that she could be so crazy, as seen by her appearance that's characterized by white high-waisted corduroy trousers, a black sweater, chunky flat shoes, manicured nails, multiple earrings, and heavy makeup.

In addition, her long, thin black hair was very bouncy at sumasabay sa hangin at pagbagsak nito, her hazel protuding eyes, steep arch eyebrows, ang kanyang matangos na ilong, mapupulang pisngi at labi at magandang hubog ng katawan.

"Whatever. I set my own rules," Katana responded simply, raising her middle finger.

"Ikaw na bata ka! Wala ka man lang saaabihin—"

"Eunice," pigil ni Katana and she had to pretend that this wasn't a serious situation at the moment, "Wala ng attachment after sex. Wala sa mga rules ko 'yan."

"Ay jusko! Halika nga dito—"

'Kung gusto niyo akong i-expelled sa school na 'to, paki-dalian na lang. In any case, it's what I was searching for.' Isang ngisi ang bumungad kay Katana, alam na alam mo talaga na 'pag gagawa siya ng gulo, wala talaga siyang papalampasin. If she's going to defy anyone, lalahatin niya talaga. No matter how prestigious this school is, she wouldn't care kung ang paraan lang niya para ma-expell ay magpaka-gago, gagawin niya.

"Kailangan niyang pagbayaran ginawa niya sa'min! P–pinagsabay kami ng babaeng 'yan!"

"Oo nga!"

"Hindi kami aalis dito hangga't—"

Putting her hand on her waist, Katana glares at the boys. "Hanggang sa 'di ako ma-expel dito, tama ba?"

Eunice was unsure about what to do because, based on what she had heard, she hailed from an affluent family and was unlikely to do this, especially since she was the Queen of their elite school and renowned as the Prodigy.

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Matalino rin naman siya kung tutuusin, Given that she's among the most attractive journalism students and the best in her class, why is she acting so frantically? May kinalaman ba talaga ang nangyaring trahedya sa kanilang pamilya?

"I sincerely apologize for this, 'di ko talaga inakala na aabot sa ganitong sitwasyon ang batang 'yan. Pa'no niyo ba gusto na maresolba 'to?" Pilit na ngiti ni Eunice sa mga estudyante ng Crayford. "Willing akong makinig sa gusto niyo."

"I-expel niyo! Sapat na kompensasyon na 'yan sa panloloko niya sa'min!"

Napayuko na lang si Eunice sa mga sinabi ng lalaki. Is she really incapable of doing that? She's among this school's exceptional students.

"Kung 'di niyo kaya 'yan ibigay then do you want to give our parents a call then? Kilala niyo naman na may hawak sila ng buong mafia sa lugar namin, 'di'ba?"

Mas lalong pinagpawisan si Eunice sa mga sinabi ng mga lalaking 'to; talagang sakit sa ulo ang ibinigay ni Katana sa kanya.

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Eunice needed to decide. Ayaw isuko nito si Katana, ngunit wala siyang magagawa sa puntong 'to. Masyadong mapanganib ang mga anak ng mafia sa Crayford Elite School, at ang mga gulo na dahil sa ginawa ni Katana ay tiyak na masisira ang imahe ng unibersidad.

Kaya umupo si Eunice at saka niya tinignan si Katana, she truly doesn't want her to leave pero sa sitwasyon niya ngayon, mukhang wala na rin siyang ibang pagpilian pa.

"I'll have to expel you, Katana," Eunice informed her after she inhaled deeply and turned to face Katana. "You truly can't be forgiven for what you did. You're fortunate enough to simply need to be expelled from this school."

With a big smile on her face, she waved her hand at the lads and made a face while staring down at them for the final time. She can't get away with being a bitch, can she? It was something Katana would expect to have, and she won this game. Of course, the males snarled at her and clinched their teeth. Since she's well-informed.

As Katana approached the boys, she gripped their shirts and grinned. "H'wag niyo akong tinatakot. I'm a yakuza's daughter; you identify yourselves as a mafia, yet you're attracted to someone like me?"

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Mas lalo nilang 'di nagustuhan ang mga pinagagawa ni Katana.

"Sino'ng tinakot mo!?" they shouted.

Itinaas naman ni Katana ang kamay niya sabay ngisi, "Actually, none. And just so you know, I couldn't even enjoy spending the night with fools like you. What an experience, and I'm practically laughing."

"Katana!" Bulyaw ni Eunice at sinara niya ang kamao niya, she was defeated, and she was adamant about staying at this school. What the devil is going on?

She wants this, isn't it? For Eunice to kick her out? Don't you think this is what she labored for? Naglakad siya sa palabas at samu't saring bulungan ang naririnig. Wala naman talaga siyang pake, like though it's the first time na naging laman siya ng talk show.

Lumapit siya sa isang table and afterward, she grabbed for the telephone and dialed a number at itinaas niya ang telepono at inilagay sa tenga. The phone was an old-fashioned European Dilwe Retro Vintage Antique Telephone. She taps her foot while gazing at the students who are making disparaging remarks to her in whispers.

[Katana? What's wrong?]

"Look, Sonora. H'wag ka mabibigla however, I was expelled." Sagot na lang ni Katana at nagtitili na lang sa kabilang linya si Sonora and she hissed, "Ang ingay mo naman, tangina!"

[Kasi naman bes, ang bait-bait mo tapos ma-expel ka lang!?]

"Wow, dami ko nang naging fubu at lalaki, bait ha?" Ngisi ni Katana at hinawakan ang labi niya.

[Bitch! HAHAHAHA! So, napatawag ka dahil sa slot ng Averton?]

What an amazing mind reader!

At school, Katana never made any friends. Her wealth or prestige, as well as the fact that she's the daughter of a yakuza, would even make them want to be close to her. She therefore found it quite difficult to communicate her sentiments. She would frequently be found in a big library, which serves as a haven for her.

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It's true that books can transport you to a world you have never experienced before; the sound of pages turning, the texture of paper beneath her fingertips, and the ink splashes were all like melodies whenever she wrote in her books. In every story, her heart bursts with joy where she and the literature are present, and every chapter felt like a thrill.

It would be accurate to say that Katana almost lived at the library. Of course she is. Spending time reading books is what she would like kaysa makipag-plastikan sa ibang tao. She can tell that nearly half of the people are really terrible, which is why she recognized who she would prefer to stay away from when they had an X on their faces. Sonora, however, isn't. She was one of the nicest persons she could confide in.

You remember, when she was accused of stealing in a market and nearly broke several of the gangs' bones? Sonora was the only one who stuck up for her. She has never viewed her as a troublemaker and is prepared to discredit any elite schools para lang mailigtas ang kanyang kaibigan. Sonora was her sole family and the one who had always been there for her when everyone else had abandoned her. And she couldn't possibly want anything as long as she had Sonora.

"Indeed. And Sonora, there's something you have to do for me."

[Regarding your expulsion?]

"Yes. Will you please cover it up for me? Kailangan kong makapasok sa Averton anumang paraan. Sa ginawa nila sa magulang ko, h'wag nilang isipin sila lang ang pwedeng maglaro ng ganito."Katana said, holding onto the telephone at unti-unti, sumama ang mga tingin niya. Wala siyang pwedeng gawin para sa hustisya.

[Naturally. I'll take care of it for you, alam mong mas mahal kita instead of the foolish regulations here! Tell me, then, when you plan to transfer, hmm?]

Huminga na lang ng malalim si Katana, "As quickly as possible."

[All right, I understand. Let me handle that.]

Binaba na ni Katana ang telepono at kinuha ang mga gamit niya. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad at napansin ang kalangitan. The sky was thick and gray, with thunders that seemed to be crashing into each other. It appeared to be growing darker already. Darkness like this indicates that something's concealed. And you're aware of what it means? Now is the moment to unravel her mystery. It's not just the time she plays around. May iba pang dahilan kung bakit ginagawa ni Katana ang lahat ng 'to.

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Kung ilalagay lang din niya ang sarili sa peligro, she's very skilled at that, you know.

Dali-dali siyang lumabas ng unibersidad at napansin niya ang marangyang karera ng sasakyan at ang mga bandilang lumilipad doon. Ito'y kayumanggi ang tela, along with books, there are feathers and ink. It was probably from the Averton School of Arts.

"Tch," inis na saad niya, at napansin niyang papalapit na ang isang motor. Kaya naman hinila niya ang lalaki doon at siya na ang sumakay. Pinaarangkada niya 'to nang mabilis at sinundan ang mga kotseng 'yon.

It's not just cars, either. These children must be elites, because those are 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K sport Cabrioleta A. Gaya ng nangyari dati, bigla silang sumulpot dito at bigla na lang nawawala ng parang bula. Ang lugar ng Rubbermoor ay isang misteryosong lugar kung sa'n 'di gaanong tinitirahan ng mga tao dito. Nobody would even dare to stay in such a place because alam ng mga tao na maaring mawala sila rito. At alam mo kung bakit?

The reason for this is that once nakipagsagupaan sila sa mga elite students sa Averton School of Arts alam na alam nilang tapos na ang kanilang buhay. Ito'y isang pagkakamali na 'di nila dapat gawin.

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Pero iba si Katana. No rules apply to her. Kahit sino, kaya niyang bangaineven the supposedly affluent Averton students of whom they took such pride. Kaya siya nandito ngayon, para magkaalaman kung sino'ng matitirang buhay sa kanilang lahat. Well, if you're already discussing danger, she's already encountered one. At that point, her parents were murdered. Agad niyang pinarada ang motor and she began to walk rapidly, barely putting a foot on the ground, and with each step, the air could be heard whispering as though they were caught in one of her tricks.

Napansin ni Katana ang mga estudyanteng bumababa sa kanilang mga sasakyan at pagdating niya sa bakod ay hinawakan niya 'to at pinandilatan sila ng mata.

Nobody could describe her current feelings. She gave them ominous glares while holding her fist and clicking her tongue. The students, however, maintained their stance and didn't appear to mind her at all. She gave them a fierce look and seemed prepared for a brawl.

"Why is she looking at me?"

"It appears to be a commoner."

"Right."

Kinuha naman ni Katana ang bato, saka siya yumuko saglit at pinagbabato sila, na ikinagulat ng mga estudyante 'yon. She feels as though she's burning inside, and all she wants is to make them pay; she doesn't want anything else in order to obtain the justice she's entitled to. She closed her eyes, knowing that someone at this university had murdered her parents, and her anger had taken over her entire being.

'Pinatay ninyo ang mga magulang ko!'

The winds began to howl and her heartbeats became faster, as though the world had been digested to her wrath. You could see how much she has been crying and how much anger is flowing inside of her. To gain admission to this school, she changed her image, and her vengeance has only just begun.

Sigurado siyang dito sa unibersidad na 'to namatay ang mga magulang niya and she will stop at nothing to find them!