•••••Raven's POV•••••

Tahimik lang kami sa loob ng kotse ng mentor namin habang papunta sa nasabing bahay ng target. Nasa front seat ako habang ang tatlo naman ay nasa likod. Honestly, there is something about the headmaster. Something na hindi ko maintindihan; Something na kakaiba; Something very familiar. Napakamisteryoso niya.

Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang bigla kong namalayan na huminto ang sasakyan.

“Nandito na tayo.” I looked outside the car window at narealize na nasa isang subdivision na pala kami. “Nandun ang bahay niya.” He extended his arm to point the house probably five houses away from us.

“Ang tahimik naman dito.” sabi ni Taylor na nasa aking likuran.

“Let's keep our distance. Magbabantay tayo dito hanggang gabi.” Tumango lang kami sa sinabi ng mentor namin.

The place is so quiet and peaceful. Hindi mo talaga maiwasang hindi makatulog.

“You may take a nap. Ako na muna ang magbabantay. Pero bayo yun,” Tumingin siya sa aming lahat. “I will assign you first para alam niyo na kung ano ang gagawin mamaya.”

We didn't answer. We're just listening to him silently and seriously.

Tumingin siya kay Smith at Taylor. “Hades at Maura, kayong dalawa ang sasama sa akin mamaya. We will go near the house.” Binalingan niya ng tingin si Smith. “You are good about this kind of thing kaya bantayan mo si Maura.” Smith just nodded as an answer.

Smith's skills are undoubtedly amazing. Kung gaano siya kagaling makipaglaban ay ganun rin siya kagaling when it comes to spying and investigating.

“Next,” Seryoso siyang tumingin sa akin na nasa tabi niya pagkatapos ay kay Miyahara. “Blade at Raven, kayong dalawa ang magbabantay dito sa loob ng kotse kung sakaling lalabas man ang target sa bahay nang hindi namin napapansin.”

I closed my eyes and clenched my fists. I know Miyahara also feels the same way but what else can we do? Kung gusto talaga namin pumasa ay dapat sundin namin ang aming mentor dahil siya ang may hawak samin.

“Focus your attention to the target. Don't let your pride interfere with our mission. Understood?”

“Yes sensei.” rinig kong sagot ni Miyahara. Tumingin ulit ang mentor namin sa akin na tila hinihintay ang sagot ko.

“Yes.” I just sighed. As if I have a choice.

“Uhmm sensei...” Naagaw ni Taylor ang atensyon namin nang magsalita ito.

“Bakit Maura?”

“A-Ano kasi...If we stay here until night ay paano ho tayo kakain? Wala ho kaming dalang pagkain.”

Napabuntong-hininga ulit ako tapos tinuro ang bag na nasa likod nila. “It's in there.” saad ko.

Agad na tiningnan ito ni Miyahara at Taylor. “It's enough for snacks and dinner. Our mentor bought it for us all.” Tumingin ako sa lalaking nasa gilid ko na seryoso rin palang nakatingin sakin.

“You may now take a nap. Like I said, ako na muna ang magbabantay dito. Just don't forget what I assigned to you.” pagpapaalala nito saamin pagkatapos ay sumandal ito sa driver's seat at binalik ang tingin sa bahay kung nasaan ang target namin.

I leaned on the passenger's seat as well. I'm also looking at our target's house. I looked at it for a minute until my eyelids became suddenly heavy. It was then until I slowly fell into the darkness.

~~~~~

Where am I? Why is everything so dark? I don't hear anything except the sound of my own heart beating. I looked around but I only see the darkness. I'm breathing heavily and I don't know what to do.

Then a sudden light stole my attention. Confused, I walked towards it. Nang malapitan ko ito ay nakita ko ang aking sarili na nakatayo sa labas ng isang bahay.

Teka, bahay 'yan ng target namin.

My eyes widened in surprise when I realized that I can't talk. Hindi ko alam ngunit binalewala ko lang muna 'yon dahil mas nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa aking sarili na nakatayo sa bahay ng target.

Nakita ko kung paano ako lumakad nang dahan-dahan papunta sa bahay. The door suddenly opened on its own then I saw how I entered.

Wala akong magawa kundi ang manood lang. Madilim ang bahay at walang kahit isang ilaw na makikita. I don't even know kung paano pa ako nakakita ng maayos. Naglakad-lakad ako sa loob ng madilim na bahay hanggang sa nakarinig ako ng boses.

“Well, well, well. I didn't know I had an appointment with someone.”

Nakapokus na ngayon ang atensyon ko sa isang pigura na nasa likuran kung saan nakatayo rin ang pigura ko. Nakita ko kung paano lumingon ang aking pigura sa nagsalita.

“Anong maitutulong ko sa iyo hija?” tanong nito.

No matter how hard I wish to see the target ay hindi ko pa rin ito makita ng maayos. Pero base sa boses nito ay lalaki siya. Hindi naman matanda ang kanyang tinig pero parang matanda na ito kung magsalita.

He's all black with a hood. Para siya yung nasa Lord of the Rings na si Sauron. My figure still didn't say a word.

I don't understand this. Is this the future I'm seeing?

I was surprised when I suddenly felt pain on my head. Napaupo ako sa sahig at napahawak sa aking ulo. What's happening? Bakit sumasakit ang ulo ko?

I felt a presence in front of me but I couldn't bring myself to take a look who it is.

“Raven.”

I slowly raised my head at kahit masakit pa ang ulo ko ay pilit ko pa ring buksan ang aking mga mata para tingnan kung sino ang nagsalita.

Laking gulat ko nang makita ko yung lalaking nakikita ko na kinakausap ang aking pigura sa aking harapan.

“They will see it.”

Gumising ako habang hingal na hingal. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Sino ang they na sinasabi niya? What will they see? Kinakabahan ako.

“Ayos ka lang?” Napatingin ako sa lalaking nasa gilid ko.

“Y-Yeah.” I tried to calm my breathing. It was just a dream Raven. Wake up!

“You were dreaming Raven. Gigisingin na sana kita eh kasi nagsisimula na ang misyon. What were you dreaming?”

“Never mind that. What's important is,” I looked at the road. “Have you seen anything unusual?”

“Wala naman. Hindi mo pa naman masyadong na miss lahat. Kakasimula palang namin.” sabi ni Miyahara. We stayed silent after that.

I'm looking at the silent road. The lights on the street and from the houses are the only source of light in this subdivision. It's so quiet.

“A-Ano kasi...” I can sense how Miyahara wanted to have a conversation but he's hesitating. “Gusto ko na hindi muna tayo mag-away ngayon. Gusto ko just for now ay ituring mo akong kaibigan.”

“You're my slave.”

“Alam ko. Kaya sinasabi ko ito sa'yo dahil ayokong ma-dissapont satin ang mentor natin at ang headmaster. The headmaster entrusted this mission to us. And Reo-sensei assigned the two of us to guard the house from the distance.” I looked at him. He also did the same to me. He's so serious. “I don't want to fail this mission.”

I returned my attention on the road. Napapikit ako sa aking mga mata. “Why?”

Even without looking at him, I noticed how he looked at me in confusion. “What do you mean ‘Why’? Of course gusto kong maging successful ang misyon na ito kasi isang S Rank mission ito at gaya ng sabi ko, I don't wa—”

“Do not fool a bird Miyahara.” This time, I seriously locked my eyes with his. “Especially me.”

I noticed he clenched his fists holding the stirring wheel. “You are so terrible at lying.” saad ko.

This time, siya naman ang tumingin sa daan. No. Not on the road. Kundi sa bahay kung nasaan ang target namin nagtatago.

“May kasalanan ang mga Kuroda sa amin. Dahil mataas ang antas nila sa buhay at ang sobrang lakas nila ay wala na silang pakialam sa kung sino o ilan man ang napatay nila.” Mas hinigpitan pa niya ang kapit sa stirring wheel. “Hinding-hindi ko sila mapapatawad.”

At this point, alam kong nagsasabi siya ng totoo. I didn't know na ang laki pala ng galit niya sa mga Kuroda.

“Whatever they did to you Miyahara, I will stay out of it. Alam ko namang hindi niyo rin ako mapagkakatiwalaan.” Tumingin na rin ako sa bahay ng target namin.

Wala pa rin kaming nakikitang something unusual so far.

“Hindi naman sa ganun Ra—”

“No.” I cut him off. “Wala naman akong paki whether you trust me or not. I just don't want to know other people's secrets. Just not my thing.”

He didn't say anything. Our awkward feeling is much heavier than the silence in the area. I can say na maayos lang sina Smith, Taylor at mentor namin kasi wala akong naramdaman na kakaibang aura.

I closed my eyes. I'm confident since I can still feel if there's something unusual.

“You're so mysterious.” Even though I heard what he said, I didn't waste my energy to open my eyes and look at him. “Sino ka ba talaga Raven?”

Hindi ko pa rin siya nilingon.

“Why are you so cold?”

Hindi ko pa rin siya pinansin.

“Bakit parang ayaw mo sa mga tao?”

If only I had my earphones with me. Pero wala eh.

“Bakit napaka-anti social mo?”

Nagugutom tuloy ako. What if I get some foods at the back? Nah.

“Hindi mo ba talaga bubuksan 'yang mga mata mo at tingnan ako?”

Why is he so annoying? Tanong siya nang tanong. Nakakairita.

“You know Raven, it always makes me wonder why you look so familiar to me.”

With that ay minulat ko na ang aking mga mata. Pero hindi ko pa rin siya nilingon.

“I don't have the slightest idea why your aura looks so familiar to me.” aniya.

“Same. It's so irritating in fact. I don't know why the jerks at school including you always say that I look so familiar to them.” sabi ko kay Miyahara.

Himala talaga at hindi kami nagtatalo ngayon. Probably because our minds are too occupied to accomplish this mission.

“Pero alam mo kung ano ang mas pamilyar sakin?” I felt his gaze on me. “'Yang mga mata mo.”

I deeply sighed. “What about them?”

“May kakilala kami noon na ganyan rin kaganda ang mga mata.” Naramdaman ko ang pag-alis ng mga tingin niya sakin at tumingin ulit sa bahay. “Those dazzling eyes of hers made me drowned so deep in the world.”

“Really?” This time, ako naman ang tumingin sa kanya. “You like her?”

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at gulat na tumingin sakin. “A-Ano? Hindi ah!” pagdedeny niya.

“Your cheeks are turning red.”

“Hindi nga eh!”

“Edi hindi. It's simple. 'Di mo naman kailangan ma-triggered.” He's so defensive. Tch.

“Ikaw nga itong parang na triggered eh.” sabi niya. Tumingin ulit ako sa bahay. Palipat-lipat lang talaga mga tingin namin.

“This person must be special to you. I can say base from the way you talk.” I brought back the topic again.

“Yeah.” Tumawa siya. “Nagkakasundo talaga tayo ngayon ah. I mean, hindi pa tayo nag-aaway.”

I rolled my eyes. “Want us to fight?”

“Nah. Pass muna ako sa ngayon Raven. I'm so determined to accomplish this mission.” sabi ni Miyahara. His mood is so light today.

But there is a question in my head. I didn't hesitate to ask him that question.

“If you really want to accomplish this mission, why did you agree to our mentor's order when he said the two of us will stay here and watch the house from a distance?” Ngayon ko lang namalayan na kumakain pala siya ng chips. But even so, pinagpatuloy ko pa rin ang tanong ko. “If you really want to accomplish this mission, you should've insisted our mentor to be at Taylor and Smith's job right now. And watch the house closer.”

He extended his hand to hand over the chips to me. “Want some?”

Tinanggap ko ito at kumain. I'm so starving.

“It's because I trust them Raisin. Maura and Hades are both my friends. Pinili sila ni sensei kasi mas nababagay ang kakayahan nila sa mga bagay na ganun kaysa sa atin.” Naramdaman ko ang pagiging determinado niya sa kanyang mga sinasabi. “I know Blandon High isn't a good place for trusting. But not all are traitors. Trustworthy people can be seen in their eyes. Pero kahit hindi man ako tumingin sa mga mata nila ay malakas talaga ang pakiramdam ko na dapat ko silang pagkatiwalaan.”

“It'll lead you to your downfall.” saad ko habang kumakain pa rin ng chips.

“Downfall?”

“Ano ba ang mapapala mo sa pagtitiwala sa iba? Sa kanila?  Our time now is different Miyahara. The only person you can trust is yourself. Because in the end, yourself is the only one you can be trusted.” I formed the plastic of the chips into a ball in my fist. Mamaya ko nalang ito itatapon.

“That's where you're wrong Raisin. Kahit gaano pa kadilim ang isang tao o ang panahon ngayon, there is and will always be a light in them.” I knew it. Opposite talaga ang ideas namin sa isa't isa.

“Light? What do you know about li—” Gulat na napatingin ako kay Miyahara nang may mapagtanto ako.

“Bakit?” Alam kong nagugulohan siya sa reaksyon ko pero...Don't tell me.

“Miyahara tell me! What did our mentor say before they went out of the car? Nung tulog pa ako?”

Nagugulohan man ay sinagot pa rin niya ang tanong ko. “Sabi niya ay kapag lalagpas ng thirty minutes ay papasukin na nila ang bahay.” May kinuha siya sa kanyang bulsa. “Do you remember this badge? They will inform us through this. Hindi raw tayo aalis dito kapag hindi niya sinabi.”

I looked at my wrist watch. Shit! It's already passed thirty minutes. I also looked at the house at wala pa ring nagbabago.

“Miyahara listen,” Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang magkabila niyang braso. He surprisingly looked at me but like the hell I care. Masyado itong delikado para sa amin. “We have to go there. Now.”

“P-Pero Raisin—”

“Just move Miyahara!” I opened the door at lalabas na sana ako when he suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Sandali! Hindi kita maiintindihan!” I seriously looked at him.

“If you want to know what's happening and if you want to accomplish this mission, bitawan mo ang kamay ko at sumunod ka sakin.” Kalmado ngunit, malamig na sambit ko sa kanya.

He let go of my hand. After he let me go, I quickly ran as fast as I can. Damn it! Kinakabahan ako!

Pagkarating ko sa harap ng bahay ay natulala muna ako. Wala na rin silang tatlo. Miyahara hasn't caught up with me yet. Tch. Ang bagal. I went inside the house first. The time is running and I must not waste it.

Pagkapasok ko sa loob ng bahay ay napakadilm nito at walang kahit isang ilaw na makikita. Just then I realized that I had seen this scenario before. I've been here.

Sa panaginip ko.

Naglakad-lakad ako sa loob ng madilim na bahay hanggang sa nakarinig ako ng boses.

“Well, well, well. I didn't know I had an appointment with someone.” saad ng isang tinig sa aking likuran.

Lumingon ako. I don't know if it was my imagination but I think nakita ko kung paano siya nagulat. “Where are they?” I was referring to my mentor, Taylor at si Smith. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan sila

“This house seems small when you look at it on the outside. Pero napakalaki nito 'pag nasa loob ka na. Naligaw na siguro sila ngayon.” sabi niya. Tama siya. May mahika ang bahay na ito and it's treacherous. “Anong maitutulong ko sa iyo hija?” biglaang tanong nito.

I don't know but, even though it's dark, I can see the target very well. Pero base sa boses nito ay lalaki siya. Hindi naman matanda ang kanyang tinig pero parang matanda na ito kung magsalita.

“You can't fool me. Alam kong nagtatrabaho ka para sa mga Kuroda.” He's all black with a hood. Para talaga siya yung nasa Lord of the Rings na si Sauron.

He laughed. “Hindi ka isang ordinaryong assassin. Estudyante ka sa Blandon High and unlike the students they sent to capture me, kakaiba ka.”

I was surprised when I suddenly felt pain on my head. Bigla akong napaupo sa sahig at napahawak sa aking ulo. Kinabahan ako.

This is exactly what happened to my dream.

I felt a presence in front of me but I couldn't bring myself to take a look who it is.

“Raven.” I slowly raised my head at kahit masakit pa ang ulo ko ay pilit ko pa ring buksan ang aking mga mata para tingnan kung sino ang nagsalita. Nabigla ako nang nakalapit na siya sakin. “They will see it.”

“D-Damn y-you! W-What did you d-do?!”

I could barely see the smirk on his face.

“Nag-iiba na ang kulay ng mga mata mo.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Here's the update my dear UniqueKorns!! This is the longest chap. I've wrote so far, I think. Anyway, sana nagustohan niyo UniqueKorns. I also have an announcement for you all:

Expect an update this 04-19 and together, we will celebrate Blandon High: The Devil's Heir's birthday.

Enjoy and Happy Reading UniqueKorns!! 😘😘 Stay unique.