•••••Maura's POV•••••

“Look, Maura, can you please stop walking back and forth? Nakakasakit sa mata tingnan.” Nakita ko na napa-facepalm si Reo-sensei dahil sa ginagawa ko.

But despite what sensei said, I'm still walking back and forth. Hindi kasi ako mapakali.

“Don't bother, sensei,” sabi naman ni Hades na nakaupo sa ilalim ng puno. “She's just nervous.”

Napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa at tiningnan sila. Nakatayo lang si Reo-sensei malapit kay Hades sa ilalim ng puno.

“Hindi ba kayo nag-aalala?” tanong ko at lumapit ako sa kanilang dalawa. “Raven and Blade are cats and dogs. Sensei, if hindi sila magkakasundo ay babagsak kami. Hindi namin makukuha ang Assassin License namin.” I looked at Reo-sensei.

Bumuntong-hininga lang siya and his hair is dancing in the wind. Mas lalo siyang gumagwapo 'pag ganun.

“Wala ka bang tiwala kay Blade?” kunot-noong tanong niya sa akin.

“Of course I have! But Raven is a different story and she's hard to control. I just can't stop thinking of the possibility that the two of them may not be in good terms ever again,” Bigla akong napaisip dahil sa sinabi ko. “Just like Blade and Sniper.”

The three of us went silent. Nasa usual meeting spot pa rin kami ngayon—in the garden. Wala talagang mga pumupunta dito kaya napagdesisyonan namin na dito kami magkikita. Hades is eating a burger, hindi ko na lang yun pinansin. He's just being his usual self.

“Anyway, of all the teams here in Blandon High,” Hades suddenly broke the silence between us, burger still in hand. “Why did the Headmaster chose us to retrieve a very special book from the Kuroda's follower?”

Napatahimik ulit kami, especially si sensei. Indeed, why us? Sa dami ng mga mas magaling pa sa amin, I couldn't believe they would choose us 1st rank assassins.

“Sensei, why us? Why us and not The Black Diamonds?” Hades looked at sensei seriously.

I gulped. Sheyte! Nakakatakot ang mga mata niya kapag sumeseryoso siya! Napatingin rin ako kay sensei, hoping to get an answer from him.

The Black Diamonds is Sniper's team—a stand-alone team to be precise dahil wala na silang mentor. Sa ngayon, may tatlong members na lang ang team nila: Their leader Sniper Manigo, the merciless bitch Nickalaine Sagurano, and the silent but dangerous John Padilla. Their team is independent and they stand on their own feet.

Just then, I heard sensei sigh before answering us.

“If you wanna know the answer, just think of the reason why Blade and Raven argued.” Both Hades and me exchanged glances.

My eyes immediately widened in realization. Oo, slow ako. Pero hindi naman ako ganun kahina na hindi ma-gets ang sinabi ni sensei.

“I-Ibig sabihin…” Bigla na lang umihip ang malakas na hangin.

Sensei nodded and said, “With her eyes, only Raven can read the book.” Huminga siya ng malalim at tumingin sa akin. Hindi. Sa likod ko. “Isn't that right, Raven?”

Nanlaki ulit ang mata ko at dali-daling napatingin sa aking likuran. I also felt Hades stood up. Sa likuran ko ay nakita ko si Raven kasama si Blade. Raven's stares and aura are as cold as usual, but I think both of them are in good terms.

“R-Raven! Blade!”

“Yo!” Blade waved to us while Raven just gave us a nod.

I looked at sensei, ngumiti lang ito sa akin. I looked at Hades, tumango lang rin siya sa'kin.

Shemay! Ang slow ko nga!

“Good to see you two,” bati ni sensei sa kanilang dalawa na lumalakad papalapit sa amin. “Good terms?”

Both of them looked at each other. “Sort of.” Raven answered.

Tumango naman si sensei at bahagyang pumalakpak. “Nice. You really are my students. I knew you could do it, Blade.” he said proudly.

Blade chuckled and Raven rolled her eyes that made me smile to myself. Our Raven is now back, and she and Blade are in good terms for now. I don't care if they will act like cats and dogs, as long as we will still be together until the end.

“Good to see you both again.” Hades said with no emotions. But trust me, he feels so happy.

So, I smiled, too. “Same here.”

“A-Anyway…” Tumikhim si Raven. I don't know if it's just me or I think I saw her blush. “About the book, did you hand it over to the Headmaster?” She asked Reo-sensei.

“Not yet.”

“You know I can't read it.” Napansin ko na napatingin-tingin si Blade sa paligid na para bang tinitingnan kung may ibang naririnig sa pinag-uusapan namin.

“Sensei, she can't control her eyes.” Blade said.

Sensei looked at both of them in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Me, Hades, and sensei are clueless. We don't have a single idea what they are talking about.

Both of them exchanged glances again and nodded.

“My eyes are beyond my control. They only change color every time I get angry,” Napahawak siya sa kanyang left eye. Although she's not in pain, she's just feeling it. “I admit, this may sound unreal but my eyes have super powers that even I don't know exactly what.” She placed the hand she used to touch her eye in her skirt pocket.

Bigla na lang ulit akong napaisip. Raven and Rin are so alike. Though, I don't recall Rin's eyes having super powers. Bigla na lang akong na-speechless. I don't know what to say. I just want to know the whole thing about Raven's eyes.

I stole a quick glance on sensei. Kahit naka-mask siya like he always wears ay napaka-obvious ang pagiging seryoso niya.

“Don't worry, Raven,” All of our attention were diverted to Hades, who is standing right beside me. “We've seen worst in our past. So, nothing is unreal to us anymore.”

I nodded. We've seen worst in our past that involves Rin and our other friend. Even if Raven will tell us that she has a super power as strong as superman, we still won't find it funny. Sa lahat ng mga nangyari sa amin, anything that some people call impossible is just so possible for us.

“Tell us, Raven, please.” Sensei pleaded. So, Raven took a deep breath again.

“T-Teka lang!” I looked at our surroundings. Paano ko kung may naririnig sa amin? “What if someone will hear us here?”

“No one will hear us here, Maura.” Blade smiled.

“I have my senses also. Don't fret.” Raven said with full of confidence.

Hades and sensei also gave me an assuring nod. Hearing what they said made me feel relieved. I trust them. I trust my friends. I trust my sensei. I trust my team. I trust their senses.

“I will tell you my secret if you will tell us everything about the book, too, Reo.” Bored niyang tiningnan si sensei.

But, wait? Did I hear it right? Did she just call our sensei by his first name?

“Consider it done.” sensei answered without hesitation.

Bigla ulit lumakas ang ihip ng hangin sa paligid.

“Like I said, my eyes always change its color every time I get angry. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nangyayari ito but since I woke up, I already had this power. Hindi ko na lang sana iintindihin ito, until one time bigla na lang akong nakakagawa ng mga bagay na hindi ko nagagawa noon with just my normal eyes,” She paused before continuing. “So far, the things that I can do are stuffs like moving things just by looking at it and having a night vision. That's how I was able to see very clearly in the dark during our last mission.” she added.

So, that makes sense. According sa kinuwento sa amin ni Blade noong hinabol silang dalawa ng mga paniki ng target, nagtataka siya kung bakit wala lang kay Raven ang dilim; Na parang kitang-kita niya raw lahat ng mga nangyayari sa dilim. Now it all makes sense. It's because of her night vision.

“Sensei, Raven has explained to me everything on our way here. Hindi niya po kayang basahin ang librong iyon kapag hindi siya nagagalit.” sabi naman ni Blade.

“I understand, Blade. Raven,” Binalingan niya ng tingin si Raven. “Sumasakit ba ang ulo mo kapag nag-iiba ang kulay ng iyong mga mata?”

She nodded. “But Ethan always gives me painkillers.”

I suddenly heard Hades whispered something under his breath. So, I quickly turned to face and ask him.

“Did you say something, Hades?”

“Nothing.” Umiwas siya ng tingin, so, I just shrugged. Parang totoo rin naman yung sinasabi niya. If he has something to tell us ay sasabihan rin naman niya kami kaagad.

“Ethan? Who's Ethan?” tanong ni sensei.

“My cousin and stepbrother. His name is Ethan Asano.”

I was completely astounded because of what she said.

“Ethan Asano from Asano Industries?” Raven nodded to me.

Takte sheyt! Ang yaman pala nila Raven! Galing pala siya sa isa sa pinakamayamang pamilya sa buong mundo. And honestly? Ang swerte niya kasi kapatid niya ang isang napakagwapong lalake na nakita ko sa buong buhay ko.

“I never thought they'd be that rich,” Blade suddenly spoke. “Ganyan rin ang reaksyon ko nang malaman ko na isa palang Asano ang kapatid ni Raven.”

“Then why are you a Saldoviana and not an Asano?” Confirmed. Raven's mysterious life has piqued our sensei's interest.

But, interesting question it is. Bakit Raven Saldoviana ang pangalan ni Raven? Bakit hindi Raven Asano? Ethan is her stepbrother, 'di ba? Then why are their surnames unalike?

Instead of answering our sensei's question, she looked at him with boredom in her eyes again. She spoke without any emotions to sensei. “That is a question that I will not answer. I told you about my eyes' secret because you are our team mentor. However, a question regarding my personal life is certainly out of your concern, Velasquez.”

Takot mode, on! Wala talagang sinasanto itong kaibigan ko kahit ano pang rank ang assassin na kinakausap niya. Jusko, Lord!

“Raven,” Tinapik ni Blade ang braso ni Raven. “First name basis, remember?”

She rolled her eyes, sighed and nodded. Tumikhim si sensei.

“My apologies. I shouldn't have asked you that,” he calmly said. Pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya kaming apat deretso sa mga mata. “The book that we retrieved from Miguel—our target is called Book of the Apocalypse. I don't know if you have heard of this book, but prolly your parents have told you about it.”

Book of the Apocalypse? I'm not sure if dad told me about it but I've heard Eli talking about it when we were kids. Though I never really believed it because as far as I know, no one has ever seen it again after so many years.

“Pero, akala ko po ba ay hindi iyon totoo? As far as I know, no one has ever seen it for so many years.” I said and sensei nodded.

“Definitely, because the book is hidden here in Blandon High at the Special Library for so many years.”

Ang Special Library ay isang archive kung saan matatagpuan mo ang iba't ibang klaseng mga impormasyon including various dark secrets and magics. All of the things that they put in there are purely ancient but dangeous. It's forbidden to anyone even the Headmaster. Isa na sa nilagay doon ay ang Book of the Apocalypse. Kung ako ang pasasabihin, ang librong iyon ang pinakanakakatakot at pinakadelikado sa lahat. In fact, wala raw nakakaalam kung ano ang nandun sa librong iyon. The things that are written in the book are arduous to read and fathom at all, according to some people.

“The book is considered as the most perilous and creepiest thing that was ever hidden in the Special Library. Walang nakakaalam kung ano ang nasa loob nito dahil sabi nila, kung ikaw ay isang ordinaryong nilalang lang ay wala kang kahit isang makikita kundi…” He paused for a minute. “Ang iyong kamatayan.”

Napalunok ako nang wala sa oras. Bigla na lang tumindig ang balahibo ko sa braso.

“And the Headmaster wants us to know what's inside it?” tanong ni Hades.

“Mayhap,” sensei shrugged.

I can tell that he really doesn't know. Sinusunod lang niya ang utos ng nakakataas.

“Sensei, hindi po natin alam kung ano ang nasa Book of the Apocalypse. Sigurado ho ba kayo na gagamitin natin ang mga mata ni Raven para lang doon sa libro?” tanong naman ni Blade.

“Blade has a point, sensei,” It was Hades. “We shouldn't be too reckless.”

We all care about Raven kaya sakto ang point nila na hindi dapat kami magpadalos-dalos. But something has been bugging me for a while now.

“Guys, hindi ba kayo nagtataka? How did the Headmaster know about Raven's secret? Hindi niyo ba naalala ang sinabi niya sa atin noon sa office niya?” Napaisip silang lahat sa sinabi ko.

Napaka-fresh pa rin sa memory ko ang sinabi niya sa amin that time.

“Kayo ang napili ko dahil kayo lang ang nararapat sa misyon na ito.”

“Anong ibig niyo pong sabihin?” nagugulohan kong tanong sa Headmaster.

Tumingin siya kay Raven at alam kong kahit nakasuot siya ng maskara ay nakangisi siya.

“You will find out.”

“I still remember how he looked at Raven. Kahit nakasuot siya ng maskara ay alam ko na nakangisi siya,” Seryoso kong tiningnan si Raven na hatang nag-iisip rin nang malalim. “I think he knows something about you, Raven.”

Bigla namang nagtanong si sensei. “Raven, may iba bang nakakaalam ng sekreto mo?”

She shook her head. “No one. Only Ethan, you guys, and…” She stopped mid-sentence kaya hindi ko maiwasang kabahan.

“And?”

Napalunok ako nang may makita ko na may bahid ng pagkagulat ang walang emosyon na mukha ni Raven.

“Our target knew about my secret… He knew something that we didn't know, I'm sure of it! Ethan sealed my most personal information kaya hindi ito basta-bastang lumalabas.” She said, but still has no sign of fear in her voice.

“But the question is, paano niya iyon nalaman?”

“Good question, Hades,” Hinawakan ni sensei ang kanyang backpack at nilagay ito sa ground. We surrounded it. “Walang dapat pang ibang makakaalam na tanging ikaw lang ang may kakayahang basahin ito, Raven.”

We all nodded. Of course, hindi namin ipagkakalat sa iba ang sekreto ng kaibigan namin.

“Kilala ko ang Headmaster, he's still unsure tungkol jan sa kakayahan mo kaya,” Tinuro niya ang kanyang bag na pinalibutan namin. “As much as possible, we'll keep this book to ourselves.”

Again. Nagulat na naman ako. But this time, kami na talagang apat.

“Sigurado ka, sensei? Hindi niyo po ba sinabi sa Headmaster na nakuha natin ang libro?”

“Hindi dahil kapag sinabi natin sa kanya na nakuha natin ang libro, tiyak na hindi na niya tatantanan si Raven.”

Nabaling ang atensyon namin lahat kay Raven at tinaasan niya kami ng kilay.

“Don't give me that look,” She felt disgusted because of the stares she received from us. “Filing a false S Rank mission report to the Headmaster is absolutely against the rules. You'll face the consequence once he learns about this, Reo.”

Mas lalong tinaasan ng kilay si sensei nang bigla na lang itong tumawa. Gasssh! Bakit ba ang sobrang hot pakinggan ng mga tawa ni sensei?

“You are my students,” Kahit nakamaskara siya ay kitang-kita namin ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha. “And you are my biggest responsibility.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Dammit, January 6 is waving. I hate going back but I have to. Sadly, BHTDH's update will be delayed again. But don't worry, I will update once I'll really have the time. Until then, may we become dauntless this 2020. Be red, stay unique, my UniqueKorns! Daisuki. ❣❣

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