•••••Raven's POV•••••

Run times so fast and it's monday again today. Each of the 1st Rank Assassins had their own places together with their teammates to meet up with their assigned team mentors. Iba't-iba ang mga rendezvous points namin. Magkalayo kami sa isa't isa.

Nandito kami ngayon sa garden. The place is quiet and relaxing. Hinihintay pa namin ang aming team mentor.

Habang naghihintay kami, hindi ko maiwasang isipin ulit ang nangyari nung isang araw. I can't help not to clench my fists.

- Flashback -

“My brother believes that President Sniper's princess is here. But it's impossible since matagal na siyang patay.”

Napatawa ako ng mahina at hinarap siya. Nagulat rin siya sa reaksyon ko. Probably because this is the first time na nakikita niya na nagkaroon ako ng emosyon.

“Oh? Are we in some kind of a horror movie now? Psh. Now I'm scared.”, I said sarcastically.

Nagbuntong-hininga ulit siya.

“I'm serious Ms. Saldoviana. We call her 'princess' because  she isn't just an ordinary assassin. She's a demon from a royal blood. Walang kahit sinuman ang makakatalo sa kanya.” Ramdam ko kung gaano siya ka seryoso ngayon.

Napa-'tsk' nalang ako. Ano bang gusto niyang gawin ko? Besides, ano bang paki ko kung malakas siya? Hindi naman makakatulong itong 'princess' sa buhay ko.

“So? What do you want me to do? Ghost hunting?”, sarkastikong tanong ko ulit.

“No. Simple lang naman ang gusto kong gawin mo.”, sabi niya. “Gusto ko na tulungan mo ako sa oras na kakailanganin kita.”

Bigla akong nakaramdaman ng inis sa sinabi niya. Para bang nagbago ang tingin ko sa paligid dahil sa inis.

“What? This is bullshit! Why should I help you? Hindi ako yung tipo ng tao na pwede mong utusan anytime! And why me? Marami pang iba jan na handang tumulong sa'yo!”, inis na sabi ko.

“Raven you're the only one who can hel---”

“Look, hindi kita matutulongan. I don't fit for that job Sunny Park.” I looked at her directly in the eyes. “Helping isn't my forte. I only kill and destroy.”, sabi ko pa.

Hindi siya umimik. Nakatitig lang siya sa aking mga malalamig na mata. Totoo naman talaga eh. I don't know how to help people. In short, I'm not a fond of doing it. I trust nobody and nobody trusts me.

“Maganda nga ang mga mata mo. You remind me of her.”, sabi niya na nakapagpakunot ng aking noo.

“Who?” Hindi naman siguro yung 'princess' ang tinutukoy niya noh?

Umiling lang siya. “Anyway, that's the point kung bakit ikaw ang napili ko na tumulong sakin. Don't worry, hindi pa naman ako magpapatulong sa'yo ngayon. I'll ask for your help when the time comes and when you're ready.”, sabi niya. She's really goddamn serious for my help.

“I'll ask you again, why should I help you?”, I asked again.

“You must Raven dahil may sagot ako sa mga tanong na nasa isipan mo at alam kong may hinahanap ka dito sa Blandon High.”, she said.

Nagulat ako sa kanyang sinabi. Hindi ako makapagsalita. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin ng seryoso sa kanyang mga mata.

“Hindi man lahat alam ko ngunit, alam kong makakatulong parin itong impormasyon na nalalaman ko sa kung ano man iyang pinaplano mo.”, she added.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi ikuyom ang mga kamao ko. However, I just let it pass. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin.

“Who is this 'princess' anyway? Why do you look so afraid of her?”, pag-iba ko nalang ng usapan.

I'm so curious about her and it's killing me. Plus, kung ipapatuloy pa naming pag-usap yung kondisyon niya kung tutulongan ko siya ay baka maubusan pa ako ng pasensya.

Umiling ulit siya sakin, as a sign na hindi muna niya sasabihin sakin. “I'll tell you once the time comes.”, she said.

Leche! She asked for my help and she wouldn't even tell me who that 'princess' she's talking about!

Hindi nalang ako sumagot sa kanya. Mas lalo pang madagdagan ang mga iniisip ko.

“Let's keep this between us Ms. Saldoviana. Pakiusap 'wag mo 'tong sabihin kahit sino lalong-lalo na sa kapatid ko. Mas lalo lang siyang magagalit sakin.” I just nodded to her. “I'll expect for your help. Wala ng iba pang makakatulong sakin.”

She turned her back on me. “Sege. I gotta go now. Thanks for the time. Paalam.” Matapos nun ay bigla nalang siyang nawala. Like she always do.

I guess Max is wrong about his sister. His sister cares about him so much. I can see it in her eyes. Whatever happened between the both of them, I'm sure there must be a reason. There's always a reason in everything.

Tumalikod na rin ako at patuloy na hinakbang ang mga paa para makaalis sa lugar na 'to.

- End of Flashback -

“Raven?”

“Goddamit!”

“Ahh!”

I came back to my senses and realized who it was when I heard Taylor's scream.

“Woah Raven! It's us!” Napatingin ako kay Miyahara na pinipigilan ang aking kamay na may patalim na nakatutok kay Smith habang si Taylor ay nasa likuran niya.

“R-Raven? Si M-Maura ito.”, sabi ni Taylor na kita mo sa mukha ang takot.

“Anong problema mo? Gusto mo bang patayin si Maura? Buti nalang nahawakan ko ang kamay mo at naitago kaagad ni Hades si Maura sa kanyang likuran.” I can see the confusion in Miyahara's face while talking.

He loosened the grip on my hand kaya binaba ko na ito at binalik ang patalim sa lalagyan ko na nasa aking kanang hita.

Napatingin ako kay Taylor na nanginginig parin sa takot. Malalim na napabuga nalang ako ng hangin.

“Next time, don't try to surprise or talk to me when I'm thinking of something. Sa ginawa mo Taylor, para kang isang wild animal na biglang susugod once they see their prey.”, pag-e-explain ko. “I was trained to this kaya sa susunod na gagawin mo ulit ang biglaang pag-usap sakin, I'm not gonna say sorry if I hurt you.”, I added.

Mabilis na napatango naman siya sa aking sinabi. “I-I just want to g-give you this sandwhich.”, nanginginig paring sabi niya habang inaabot sakin ang sandwhich.

I just sighed again and took it from her hand. I don't want to hurt innocent people. I should probably set aside these thoughts for now. Masyado na kasi akong maraming iniisip.

I sat on the grass under the tree. This place is indeed relaxing. But how can I relax if that conversation I had with Sunny Park keeps on bugging me? Urgh! This is ridiculous! I've became a part of their problem now. How am I supposed to help her if I don't even have a single clue about that princess? This is driving me crazy!

“Hey.” Napatingin ako sa aking gilid ng biglang may magsalita. “Ang lalim ng iniisip mo. You okay?”, tanong niya.

I just sighed again. Guess I can't do anything for now but to sigh.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Not really.”, sabi ko.

Tumabi naman ng upo sakin si Smith. We both looked at Miyahara and Taylor playing catch.

“It's funny how Maura's mood suddenly changes. Look at her, playing and smiling with Blade like she wasn't afraid of you a few minutes ago.”, he said. I totally agree with him. “They invited you to play with them by the way.” Napalingon ako sa kanya dahil sa kanyang sinabi.

“They did?”

He nodded. “Masyado kasing marami 'yang iniisip mo kaya hindi mo masyadong napagtuonan ng pansin ang imbitasyon nila.”, sabi niya.

Well in fact, hindi ko napansin na naglalaro na pala sila. Not until Smith started talking to me that is.

I closed my eyes at napasandal sa puno. I massaged my nose bridge, doing the best I can to calm myself. I need to relax; to concentrate.

“Ano bang problema mo?”, tanong niya.

I answered him while keeping my eyes closed. “Trust me, you don't wanna know.”

Narinig ko ang pagbuga niya ng hangin.

“You know, sa dami ng mga iniisip mo, you should rest a bit. Kailangan mo ng pahinga.” I opened my eyes and looked at Smith na nakatingin rin pala sakin.

Napatawa ako ng mahina. Like Sunny Park, he was surprised as well. “There's no more time to rest Smith. Every minute counts.”, sabi ko naman.

“That's accurate. Although, trusting others isn't really that bad Raven. Kailangan mong magtiwala sa isang tao o makipagkaibigan upang ikaw ay pagkatiwalaan rin nila at maging mabuti rin sa'yo.” Wow! Since when did he became so... well since when did he became so good at giving useful tips in life?

“Is it really necessary to trust people and have friends Smith?”, hindi ko rin maiwasang magtanong.

Is trust really necessary? Are friends really necessary? What can it do for you? Is it true that friends can be made as an inspiration and motivation in life?

“Yes it is. Friends and trust are one of the greatest, most important factor in life. Sila ang tutulong sa'yo kapag may kailangan ka. Sila rin ang masasandalan mo kapag ika'y malungkot. They can do a lot of things in your life Raven. All you have to do is treasure every moment with them because nothing's much better than the memories you had with each other.”, sabi niya habang nakatingin kay Miyahara and Taylor na naglalaro parin. Napansin ko rin ang pagkurba ng labi niya.

I gotta say, namangha ako kay Smith. I didn't know he has words of wisdom and emotion hidden in his sleeves.

Napatawa ulit ako ng mahina. “Mas sanay ako na seryoso ka always and dude, your Tagalog sucks you know that? Humaba na rin ang mga salitang binibigkas mo. What's more, I didn't know na nagkakaroon ka rin pala ng emosyon minsan.”, pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

Tumawa lang siya ng mahina. "Same goes for you. Humahaba na rin ang mga sinasabi mo. Nag-improve ka rin naman kahit papaano." Napailing nalang ako. “You're also showing us your emotions Raven. Let's consider it fair.", he added.

Well, kahit papaano ay nabawas-bawasan rin yung iniisip ko at gumagaan rin ang aking pakiramdam.

So I built up all my strength and asked him a question. “How did you meet them?” I was referring to both Miyahara and Taylor.

“We've be---” He wasn't able to finish what he was going to say when someone stepped into the garden.

Smith and I stood up and headed for Miyahara and Taylor. Napatingin kami sa isa't isa.

“Magandang umaga sa inyong apat. Pasensya na at natagalan ako. May importante pa kasi akong inaasikaso.”, he said habang nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon sa libro na binabasa.

Umupo kami ni Taylor sa bench dito sa garden habang si Miyahara naman at Smith ay nakatayo sa likuran namin. He instructed us to sit down but the guys insisted to just stand up.

“Great, an hour late.”, walang emosyong sabi ko.

Parang hindi lang niya narinig ang sinabi ko because he didn't care at all. I raised my brow at him.

Is he really our assigned team mentor?

Napakunot ang noo ko when he closed his book loudly. Seriously? What's with him?

“I'm Reo Velasquez sensei. Tawagin niyo nalang akong 'sensei'.”, he introduced himself.

Tumango lang naman kaming apat.

“Cool! May mission na po ba tayo?”, said the jerkest person I've ever know.

“Tsk. Hot headed.”, I whispered.

Looks like he didn't hear it which is a good thing. Wala akong ganang makipag-away sa kanya.

“Sa ngayon wala pa.”, sabi niya. “Magpakilala muna kayo sakin. Mahaba rin ang panahon na magkakasama tayo so we definitely need to know each other.” Everyone nodded to him except for me though.

Introducing na naman! Kainis!

But seriously, he doesn't look like a mentor to me. Para lang siyang isang estudyante na walang pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid.

Feeling ko madadagdagan na naman itong mga iniisip ko.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Here's another vacay update! 👌👌 Hope you liked it. 👍👍 But seriously, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa ending ng chappy na 'to. Lol. 😹😹

More importantly, gommenasai because I still haven't posted the edited parts yet. Ang sobrang busy ko kasi jusko! 😥😥 However, I'll post it asap kapag hindi na ako busy okie? Not maybe now but soon. 😁😁

Happy Reading! 😘😘
Happy Holidays! 🎄🎄🎅🎅