•••••Raven's POV•••••

“It looks like nagustohan mo na ang uniform niyo.” Ethan welcomed me with that statement when I got down from the stairs.

I looked at myself then shrugged. “Not really.”

I don't have a choice but to wear it. I don't plan on disobeying the rules for now. May mga plano pa ako na dapat gawin.

“Bagay naman sa'yo eh. Buti na nga 'yan para naman maging estudyante ka tingnan minsan.” Inis akong napatingin sa kanya.

“What did you say? Iniinsulto mo ba ako?” Ano bang akala niya sakin? Isang matanda kapag hindi naka-uniform? What the hell!

“N-Nothing! Kalimutan mo nalang. Anyway let's eat our brea—”

“No need Ethan.” I just cut him off. “If I were you, I'd talk about that instead of breakfast.”

He looked at me directly. Napabuntong-hininga siya at nagtanong, “May nahanap ka bang impormasyon?”

“A few. Someone told me about the royal bloods.” I noticed kung paano siya natigilan. “You mentioned that to me before. How much do you know about them?”

Napansin ko rin ang paglunok niya. “All I know for sure is they're strong and they isolated themselves from us. Masyado kasing hidden ang identity nila.” sabi niya.

“How about that necklace we got from Angeleeka Buenavista?” tanong ko. Siya kasi ang nag-iimbistiga sa bagay na 'yon.

Umiling siya. “I'm still working on it. Hindi 'yon isang ordinaryong kwintas. There's a strong magic that's protecting it.” Tumango lang ako sa kanyang sinabi.

“Okay. I'll search for more info today. Baka may mahanap ako ngayon lalong-lalo na sa bago kong mentor. Mukha kasing marami siyang alam eh.” sabi ko.

Napakunot naman ang kanyang noo.

“Sino nga ulit mentor mo?”

“Reo Velasquez.” seryosong sagot ko. “I know you know him.”

He nodded. “Kilalang-kilala.”

I closed my eyes then took a deep breath. Hindi lang muna ako magtatanong sa kanya. Besides, everyday ko naman makakasama ang mentor ko. I'll study him on my own. Marami akong tanong para sa kanya.

“You okay? Baka kailangan mong mag-breakfast muna?” Umiling lang ako. “Pero Raven ilang araw ka ng walang tamang ka—”

“I swear I'm totally fine Ethan.” I looked at him seriously.

Nagbuntong-hininga ulit siya.

“Fine. Be careful. 'Wag mong kalimutan na delikado ang plano natin.” paalala niya sakin.

Tumango lang ako. Lumabas na ako sa bahay at sumakay ng taxi papuntang Blandon High. Sinabihan ko na si Ethan at ang driver namin na huwag na akong ihatid.

I leaned my back against the chair. I hope I can successfully find informations today.

-----

“Ayan na ang red velvet cake mo.” bungad na sabi sakin ni Miyahara pagkarating ko dito sa garden kung saan ang meeting spot namin.

I took it from his hand. “Wala man lang kahit ‘Thank You’.” rinig kong reklamo niya.

I just rolled my eyes. He's still not used to it? Well he's a pathetic after all.

“You're getting used to the uniform aren't you Raven? Bagay na bagay sa'yo.” I rolled my eyes again.

Taylor just said the same thing Ethan said to me this morning. Nakakapagod na pakinggan.

“I don't have much of a choice now, do I?” sarkastikong sabi ko nalang.

We waited for an hour hanggang sa dumating na ang mentor namin.

“Good morning sa inyo! Pasensya na kung natagalan ako. May inaasikaso lang.” pagrarason niya.

“Ano po ba ang unang misyon natin sensei?”

“Chill lang Blade.” sabi ni Smith kay Miyahara. I rolled my eyes again.

I will never save his ass if something happens to him for being so hot-headed and reckless.

Napatawa lang ang mentor namin bago sumagot. “Let's go. Malalaman rin ninyo.”

-----

“Seriously? We went all the way here just to find a missing cat?” bored kong tanong.

I saw the disappointment in Miyahara's ugly face.

“This isn't the mission I wanted.” rinig kong bulong niya.

“This is your first mission after all. May mga misyon pa naman na darating. Chill lang kayo.” sabi ng mentor namin sabay tingin sa picture ng pusa na hahanapin pa namin sa kamay niya.

“Ang dami kayang mga puti na pusa dito.” sabi ni Taylor.

“May name tag ang pusa.” sabi ng mentor namin habang nakatingin pa rin sa picture ng pusa. “Irish ang pangalan.”

Binigyan niya kaming dalawa ni Miyahara ng copy ng picture.

“Let's split up. Blade and Hades, you go on the other side at sa kabila naman kayong dalawa Raven at Maura.” utos niya samin.

“San naman kayo?” tanong ni Smith.

“Didiretso ako ng daan. Maghahanap rin ako.” kalmado naman niyang sagot. “Let's go and let's not waste any more time. Marami pa tayong pusa na hahanapin. Let's meet up again sa bahay ng may-ari ng pusa.”

Split up huh? Well I guess this wouldn't be a problem since pusa lang naman ang hahanapin namin.

“Oh by the way,” Nakuha ulit niya ang atensyon namin nang magsalita siya. “I want you to have these.”

Binigyan niya kaming lahat ng isang color yellow na badge na may letter V as logo. I noticed na may parang ulo ng antenna sa side kaya tiningnan ko 'yon. And I was right, antenna nga.

“Simple lang ang purpose niyan. I made those to be able to communicate with all of you in any distance. That's easy to learn at napakasimple lang kaya alam kong kayang-kaya niyo 'yan.” sabi niya.

“Wala po itong limited range? Astig!” Napa-tss nalang ako dahil kay Miyahara.

Tumango lang ang aming mentor. “I guess that's all. So let's split up.”

Matapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay bigla nalang siyang nawala. As always. We also had our separate ways. Gaya ng utos niya, we split up in finding this annoying cat.

Napagkasunduan rin namin na gagamitin namin ang badge kapag nakita na namin ang pusa. I can still remember the annoying happy face of Miyahara when he received his badge. Tsk.

“Alam mo Raven, may pusa rin ako.” sabi ni Taylor.

Then? As if I care.

I wanted to say that to her but decided not to. At least si Taylor ang kasama ko ngayon at hindi si Miyahara. Psh.

“Meredith pangalan niya.” Napahinto ako sa paglalakad matapos niyang sabihin ang pangalan ng kanyang pusa.

I turned to face her. “M-Meredith?” Tumango siya. “Nice name.” sabi ko.

Ngumiti siya. “I know.” Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

Napatingin ako ulit kay Taylor when I didn't hear something from her. I looked at her and saw her sad face.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” mahina niyang sagot. “Binigay niya sakin ang pangalan na 'Meredith'.”

Napahinto ito sa paglalakad kaya napahinto rin ako. She looked at the ground, can't seem to look at me.

“S-She...” Kita ko ang paglunok niya at naramdaman ko ang kaba sa bawat salita na binibigkas niya. “S-She... A-Ano k-kasi...”

“You know,” I stared at her seriously. “You don't have to force yourself na sabihin sakin. I totally respect your privacy.”

She raised her head and looked at me. Umiling siya.

“Kaibigan ka namin. You have to know.” Ewan ko ba pero, bigla nalang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Everytime I hear the word 'friend' o 'kaibigan' ay hindi ko talaga maiwasang kabahan. It still gives a huge impact on me simula nang makapasok ako sa dati kong paaralan.

“She was our friend. Ako, si Hades at si Blade ang palagi niyang kasama noon. Ang sobrang bait niya at ang sobrang saya namin. Yun nga lang, everything is temporary.” She clenched her fists.

“Where is she right now?” out of the blue na tanong ko.

I don't know why I got curious all of a sudden. It's like, something's going on with me that makes me so curious.

Kita at ramdam ko pa rin ang lungkot niya.

“Patay na siya.” Bigla tuloy akong nagsisi na tanungin siya.

But I didn't know. Besides, I was curious.

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang nag-vibrate ang badge ko sa loob ng aking bulsa. Kinuha ko 'yon at parang ganun din kay Taylor kasi kinuha rin niya ang badge niya.

I noticed the tiny green light on the upper left of the badge. Umiilaw ito.

I pressed the tiny button under the green light and the antenna popped out.

“Woahh! This badge is cool!” I rolled my eyes when I heard Miyahara's annoying voice again.

“Stop it Blade. Play with that later but for now, let's complete our mission first.” Rinig kong sabi ni Smith sa kabilang linya.

“Bakit? Nakita niyo na ba ang pusa?” tanong ni Taylor.

“Oo. Nandito kami ngayon malapit sa Beika Convenience Store. Punta na kayo dito. Tatawagan na rin namin si sensei.” sagot naman ni Miyahara sa kabilang linya.

“We'll be there.” At inend ko na ang usapan.

Pumunta kami kaagad sa nasabing convenience store at nakita naming dalawa sina Smith at Miyahara na nakatingala sa puno malapit sa convenience store.

“'Yan na ba ang pusa?” tanong ni Taylor.

“Oo. Kita mo ba ang name tag na suot niya?” tinuro ni Miyahara ang name tag ng pusa. “'Irish' ang nakasulat diba?”

Tumango kami.

“So sino ang kukuha?” Nagkatinginan kami dahil sa tanong ni Taylor.

“I'm not really good with animals.” sabi naman ni Smith.

“Ayoko ring kumuha. Nakakatakot kasi ang mga titig ni Irish eh.” I looked at the cat again and I was shocked when the it also looked at me.

Para bang may pumipigil sa akin para kumilos. Ang sobrang sama kasi ng titig niya sakin eh. And not just that... Familiar ang mga titig nito.

“Raisin ayos ka lang ba?”

“Let go of me Miyahara!” Inalis ko kaagad ang kamay niya nang hawakan niya ako.

“Harsh mo naman. Nagtatanong lang naman ang tao eh.” sabi niya. I turned to face him seriously.

“Then keep your goddamn hands off me. Nakakairita ka na kasi eh. You're so annoying. Di mo ba alam 'yon?” I didn't want to argue with him. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nalang akong nagalit sa kanya.

I know hindi big deal iyon pero since I looked that cat in the eye, parang nawalan ako ng control sa sarili ko.

“Annoying? Wow lang. You should be saying that to yourself. Ikaw pa nga 'tong tinatanong kung okay ka lang, tapos ikaw pa 'tong magagalit? Psh. Alam mo Raisin, ang hirap mo talagang intindihin kahit papaano.” I clenched my fists. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko but something's controlling me.

Like, something's making my body move even though I don't want to.

“Tama na Blade.” Tinapik ni Smith ang balikat ni Miyahara.

“Raven kalma lang.” Pagpapakalma naman ni Taylor sakin. “Ang lamig na naman ng kamay mo.”

Napatingin ako sa aking mga kamay. I don't feel any cold. 

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag when I felt na wala na ang parang aura na kumukontrol sakin.

“I will not get that cat.” tipid kong sabi.

Bumuntong-hininga si Smith. “Fine, I will.”

Wala kaming nagawa kundi tumango nalang. Hindi kami nagkapansinan ni Miyahara sa isa't isa hanggang sa makuha ni Smith ang pusa.

The cat's expression came back to normal as well. We also informed our mentor about the cat. Isa pa 'yon, palagi nalang missing in action.

“Naku, salamat at nakita niyo ang pinakamamahal kong pusa. Hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin kapag hindi niyo siya nakita.” masayang sambit ng may-ari ni Irish.

“It's nothing. Maliit na bagay lang naman ho 'yan eh.” sabi naman ni Taylor.

Pinakain kami ng may-ari ng isang carrot cake as our reward. Hindi ako masyadong kumain, I'm still wondering about what happened earlier. The cat seems to be fine right now. Hindi na kakaiba ang feeling ko.

I wonder what that was. Was it just my imagination? No. I'm sure of what I saw. But why did Taylor said I was cold? Nah. Maybe it's because I hadn't got much rest these past few days.

“Congrats sa inyo dahil nagawa ninyo ang first mission niyo.” bati sa amin ng aming mentor nang magkita na kami.

“Oo. Pinakain nga kami ng may-ari eh as a reward. Mahal na mahal niya talaga ang pusa.” sabi ni Miyahara. “The cake was delicious. San ka ba galing sensei? Sayang hindi mo natikman.”

Tumawa ito ng mahina. “May inaasikaso lang ako.”

“As always.” bulong ko.

Tumikhim siya para kunin ang aming atensyon. “Binabati ko kayo dahil nagawa ninyo ang inyong unang misyon. Ngunit, hindi ibig sabihin na nakapasa na kayo sa aking pagsubok.” All of us were silent. We were just listening at walang may balak na magsalita samin. “I received a report galing sa headmaster ng Blandon High na may panibagong S Rank mission na dumating.”

Headmaster? I never really heard of him or her. No one really talks about him or her in fact.

“And Team 7-A is the one who is assigned to that mission.” Parang nanalo ng lotto si Miyahara nang marinig 'yon.

He's so happy. “Yes! Sa wakas S-class mission na rin tayo!” masiglang sabi niya.

Masaya silang tatlo, except for me. Kahit kailan naman talaga, I never really felt I belong in any thing or in any one. I have myself and that's all that matters. Sarili ko lang ang maaasahan ko in the end.

I looked at our mentor when I noticed he whispered something. Though I just shrugged it off. Baka imagination ko na naman 'yon.

Sana... Sana magtatagumpay kami sa aming bagong misyon and to my plan as well.

-----

“Oh Raven!” Binati kaagad ako ni Ethan pagdating ko sa bahay. “Kamusta misyon niyo? Successful ba?”

I rolled my eyes on him. Hindi ko nalang sinabi sa kanya tungkol sa away namin ni Miyahara at about dun sa pusa. For sure he'll ask me many questions again. “Yeah. Why wouldn't it be okay? It was just an E Rank mission.” Tamad ko siyang tiningnan.

“Well,” He turned off the T.V at tumingin ulit sakin. “Ayaw mo bang ikwento sa Kuya mo?”

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “‘Kuya’? Seriously, where's that coming from?” Tumawa siya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. “May napanood kasi akong movie where ang nakakatandang kapatid na lalaki ng babae ay ang sobrang caring sa kanya. So maybe I thought na—”

“Hell no Ethan. It's disgusting.” I didn't let him finish his statement. I don't like it.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong niyakap. My heart skipped a beat. Plus, he's taller than me. We look like a couple.

“Raven,” he whispered my name. “Gusto ko lang malaman mo na kahit kailan, hinding-hindi kita iiwan. Pangako 'yan.”

Dammit. Get away from me Ethan.

I wanted to say that to him but I'm speechless. Wala akong masabi. Walang lumalabas na salita sa bibig ko.

“Kahit magalit ka man sakin, nandito lang ako palagi sa iyong tabi.” Kumalas siya sa pagkayakap sakin but I was even more shocked by the next thing he did.

Hinalikan niya ako sa aking noo.

“I used to do that to you when we were kids. You're my younger sister and will always be.” I could see the worry in his eyes and he's not lying at all. “Good night.” He winked and then left me in the living room, dumbfounded.

Shocked. Shocked. Shocked.

Seriously? What was that just now? Hindi ko naman siguro imagination 'yon noh?

I decided to take the stairs and go to my room. I still can't believe it. This is the first time na halikan niya ulit ako sa noo since we were kids. Ngayon lang niya ulit 'yon ginawa sakin.

I immediately closed the door in my room when I got in and flopped down onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling.

I admit, I miss the old times.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Update is finally hereeeee! Finalmente! Hope you enjoy this chap despite of the typos and other errors. AhaHa! Until now, I'm not really feeling well. Additionally, I've been busy working on with my poetry and lots of stuffs lately. Plus, I'm a night owl and I prefer updating during the night. If you have the time, you're free to check out my profile to see my new published poetry book entitled: “My Mind's Jailbird.” That's all. I love you so so much to my readers and to those who are patiently waiting for the update. See you on the next chapter!

Ps.

Happy Valentine's Day!
All of us needs love. Maybe not from our crush or bf/gf but from our families and friends who are always there for us. We don't need to be bitter at all times.