•••••Raven's POV•••••

We are currently in a very big, lovely room. It is only good for one person but it's really spacious. There's a bathroom, a huge wardrobe; a mini living room, and dining room; a personal fridge, a vault, and lastly, a princess-sized bed.

This celebrity that we are going to protect is not afraid to spend his money at all.

I sighed as I looked at Reo na paulit-ulit pa rin na napa-facepalm na naging dahilan ng pagpula ng kanyang mukha.

Can't blame him. He must have been so embarrassed.

I sighed as I looked at the girl laying down unconscious on the princess-sized bed. Malakas naman ang AC dito sa loob kaya walang may dalang mga hand fans para bigyan siya ng hangin. Like what happens in the movies kapag may nahimatay.

No one else is here in this luxurious hotel room but us five.

"Anak ng Queso de Bola itong si Maura Hart Taylor! Hindi ko inakala na sa sobrang kilig niya ay hihimatayin siya." I heard him uttered in a corner.

Hades leaned his back against the chair. "I knew she couldn't control herself." he said.

Blade agreed as he stood up, walked towards the fridge and opened it to get some soda.

Maura collapsed after that Simon Reyes introduced himself to us. She just couldn't stop herself when it comes to celebrities. Maura is such a celebrity addict and she brought that addiction to a whole new level. I admit, that celebrity has the looks, but I smell something dangerous about him. I do not feel like he should be protected.

"Raisin," Biglang may malamig na bagay na dumampi sa kanang pisngi ko. "Wanna have some soda?" Blade reached a cold soda to me.

I accepted it. Binuksan na niya ito kaya diretso ko na lang itong ininom.

We all looked at the door when we suddenly heard someone knocked twice. The door slowly opened and Simon Reyes entered the room.

"Sir? Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito? And nasaan ho yung mga staffs niyo?" tanong ni Blade na nakatayo lang rin dito sa gilid ko.

"I told them that I should talk to you alone," He closed the door behind him and looked at all of us. "And please, tawagin niyo na lang ako sa pangalan ko. Let's just drop the formalities."

"Well, isn't that a good thing? Having no formalities is better than pretending to be formal." I whispered but Blade managed to hear it kaya siniko niya ako ng napakahina.

"Please, let us sit down first bago natin pag-usapan lahat." Nagkatinginan muna kaming apat bago lumapit sa sofa.

Is this person really being kind? Or is he just pretending so he could trick us? Who knows.

Our client took the seat in front of us. Reo and Hades are sitting on the sofa while me and Blade are just standing behind them. I asked him why he didn't take a seat, and he just smiled at me as an answer. Typical jerk.

"Sir, bago po ang lahat," panimula ni Reo. "Gusto ko lang humingi ng tawad sa nangyari sa estudyante kong si Maura. She is a super fan of yours that's why she collapsed."

"Don't be, wala kayong dapat ihingi ng tawad. I should be the one apologizing to you because I asked for your help." Simon Reyes said politely.

Even in my peripheral vision, kitang-kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Hades.

"Why are you apologizing, sir?" Dude, didn't he say to drop the formalities?

This time, kumunot naman ang noo ni Simon Reyes. Maybe it's because of the formalities kaya pinaalahanan siya ni Blade.

"Hades, the formalities"

Hades instantly understood what Blade said kaya binawi niya ang kanyang sinabi.

"My apologies. Why are you apologizing, Simon?" Bahagya siyang napatingin sa aming dalawa ni Blade na para bang nagsasabing, 'This is awkward.'

Simon Reyes nodded. I guess he likes it better when we drop the formalities towards him.

"Hindi ko inakalang kayo pala ang ipapadala para magbantay sa akin sa concert ko dito sa Pilipinas. You're just first rank assassins with only one mentor kaya pasensya na talaga." He sounds so apologetic at nag-bow pa siya sa amin.

Tch. Are you even for real? Wala tayo sa Japan, bro.

"Wala po itong problema sa amin, 'di ba, guys?" We nodded to Reo.

Our client raised his head to look at us.

"Sabi rin kasi nang Headmaster namin na since ang team lang namin ang free, kami na lang daw ang magbabantay sa inyo." Reo added.

"Headmaster, huh?" Medjo nagtaka ako nang bigla siyang mapa-isip. Doesn't he know about the Headmaster? I just shrugged off my thoughts. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. He took a deep breath and started talking again. "Not to brag but, for sure alam niyo na kilala ako sa iba't ibang sulok ng mundo. I decided to have my concert here in the Philippines because this is my country. I was born in here, so, I want one of the biggest event in my life to happen in here. I'm famous pero marami rin ang gustong sumira sa akin at sa event na 'to."

We get it. Being famous all around the world is cool. Very, very cool and lucky. However, there are also downsides. If you are famous, insecurities will rise. If you have followers, then you have haters, too.

"Ilan ba ang mga taong dadalo?" Blade asked, hands in his pockets.

"Exactly 100,000 people excluding the VIPs."

Napanganga kaming apat sa narinig. Damn! That is one hell of a crowd! Sobrang dami na nun! Is this guy really for real?

"T-That's a lot of people! I never expected it would be so many." Reo said with surprise and our client nodded.

"I also invited some of the CEOs fro-" Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita ng biglang may tumunog na cellphone.

It took me 30 seconds to realize that it was mine. I was focusing too much for me to notice. Kinuha ko ang cellphone na buma-vibrate na pala sa skirt pocket ko.

"I'll take this." Tinuro ko sa kanila ang phone.

They all nodded except for our client who was looking at me seriously. But I just ignored it. Gusto na talaga akong kausapin ng taong tumatawag sa akin kasi hindi talaga siya tumitigil sa pagtawag.

"Be careful, Raven." Reo reminded me and I went out of the room.

Paglabas ko ay ako lang ang mag-isa sa hallway. I walked away from the room I just came from and answered the call.

^Hello, Raven! How are you? Miss na-^

"What do you want?" While walking, I saw a mini living room. It may be small, but it is cozy.

Wala namang ibang tao kaya doon na lang ako nag-stay at umupo sa sofa. Siguro busy yung mga staffs and guards sa pag-aasikaso at pagbabantay sa upcoming concert ni Simon Reyes.

^What's with your tone? Galit ka na naman ba sa'kin?^

"Who wouldn't be angry? You were covering yesterday's magazine!"

^It was just part of the-^

"Don't tell me reasons, Ethan! I already told you not to expose too much in public!" It is okay if I get my voice a bit higher. Wala naman kasing ibang tao dito besides dun sa apat na nag-uusap sa loob ng kwarto.

Moreover, the person who I'm talking to on the other line is being a complete jerk again.

^Raven, I know you're being caring a-^

"I'm just protecting the company that our parents built from dust! We have a lot of competitors and with your age and reputation as the youngest CEO this world has ever have, many people wants to take you down!" I paused for a minute. I need to calm down. I shouldn't let anger control me. "Ethan... Don't be reckless just because you're no ordinary assassin."

I heard him sigh on the other line.

^Raven, I know. Alam mo naman na lahat ng ginagawa ko ay para sa'yo at kay mom and dad. Hinding-hindi ko pababayaan ang kompanya at mas lalong hinding-hindi ko hahayaang mapahamak ang sarili ko,^ I could feel him plastering a smirk on his face. ^And I can't let my little sister down.^

"Dumbass."

^What? Totoo naman talaga, ah! Kamusta ka na nga pala? Matagal-tagal na rin tayong 'di nagkita.^

I suddenly remembered when I got out from the house para pumunta sa Shimuya Super Mall kasama si Blade. It'll stay a secret.

"I'm fine. Everything's doing fine."

^Raven, sorry kung wala na ako masyado sa tabi mo. Busy lang talaga sa kompanya, e.^

"It's okay, I don't miss you at all. It's fine staying in the house without you."

^Ouch, 'di masyadong masakit, ah?^

"Why not? Manhid ka naman, right?"

^Hindi kaya. How about Squishy? Kumusta na siya?^

"Oh, your dog? He died. I burried him 2 days ako."

Nakarinig ako ng basong nabasag sa kabilang linya. Gotcha! He must've been shocked.

^Raven naman, e! Please tell me you're joking! Paano siya namatay? Ano ang cause of de-^

"You're so paranoid. He's doing fine, he's not yet dead." That Ethan. He loves his dog so much.

^Phew. Halos atakihin na ako sa puso!^

"OA much-wait, where the hell are you? Bakit may kakaibang tunog akong naririnig jan?" Napakunot ang noo ko nang may marinig akong kakaiba. It's like as if he's in an airplane.

^Oh, that? Susorpresahin sana kita, e! But it looks like it's already ruined.^

"Meaning?"

^I'm on my way back to the Philippines. So, tell Ate Ann to prepare some-^

"Ethan, I'm not at home."

^What? Why? Where are you?^

"I'm in a hotel with my team. We're on a mission."

^Anong klaseng misyon?^ Nagtaka ako kung bakit bigla na lang naging seryoso ang tono ng pananalita niya.

"May babantayan kaming isang prominent celebrity, who will be having a very huge concert." There was a very long pause on the other line. Tiningnan ko pa nga ang phone ko kung naputol ba yung conversation namin, pero hindi naman. "Ethan, are you still alive in there? Hey!"

^What's the name of the celebrity?^

What's with him? Why did he suddenly become a staid person?

"Simon Reyes. Tell me what's going on, you're acting weird." Tumayo na ako sa pagkakaupo dahil nawawalan na ako ng gana sa convo namin. It's getting weirder.

^Raven, sorry but I gotta go. I'll let you know ASAP 'pag nakarating na ako jan, okay? Be careful and as much as possible, don't go out at night especially when it's eclipse,^ Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanyang sinabi. ^Raven, be careful. I love you.^

Magtatanong pa sana ako nang pinutol na niya ang tawag.

The fuck?! What the hell is wrong with him?!

"Fucking dumbass." I mumbled to myself and put my phone back in my skirt pocket.

I feel so frustrated! I do not understand that dumbass at all! He even cut off the call just as I was about to ask him something. I hated that!

Pagbalik ko sa kwarto ni Maura ay nadatnan ko silang nag-uusap pa rin. But someone's awake.

"Raven!" Maura was sitting on the bed and waved at me.

"Oh? Aurora's awake. How nice." Ngumiti siya sa sinabi ko despite being sarcastic.

She was about to stand up to come towards me but I signalled her not to.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo? Ba't parang namumula yang mukha mo? Naiinis ka ba? Sino yung tumawag sa'yo?" I looked at Blade who was looking at me with so much worry.

"It was the jerk and he-Hang on, you're still here?" Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Simon Reyes na nakatingin rin pala sa'kin.

He smiled at me, so, I rolled my eyes. Nakita ko kung paano ako sinenyasan ng mentor at team mates ko to be respectful. But like the hell I care. I'm so pissed right now.

"My concert will be tomorrow. Sensei, may I?" Reo nodded. What were they talking about? I missed a lot. "Hades and Maura will be at the back stage guarding me while I perform. Silang dalawa ang magbabantay kung may something unusual ba na nagaganap sa back stage. While you and Blade will be watching with the other VIPs. Yung ibang mga security ko na lang ang bahala sa iba pang parte ng stadium." He looked at me seriously. "Masyadong malaki ang stadium, hindi niyo kakayaning bantayan buong lugar."

I looked at my team mates then looked back at our client.

"That's all?" I asked without any emotions and he nodded.

"That is all. Please, feel free yourselves at home. I have my guards with me, so, 'wag na kayong mag-alala," Tumayo na siya at nagsimulang tumungo sa pintoan para lumabas. "Reo-sensei, Blade, Hades, and Raven, I have already asked the hotel staffs to prepare your rooms. Someone will come here any minute now para ihatid kayo sa inyong mga kwarto."

Everyone thanked him-well, not literally everyone. I did not thank him at all and he knows it.

"Don't mention it," He smiled at us again. For a person who needs to be protected, he indeed knows how to hide real emotions behind smiles. "Good night and sleep well. See you tomorrow!"

We nodded. Paglabas niya sa kwarto ay napabuntong-hininga ako. This is not going to end yet.

"Can't wait for tomorrow's concert!" Tumili na naman si Maura. But this time, mahina na. "Sana walang masamang mangyayari." Napahiga siya sa kama at niyakap ang unan.

"Let's just do our best," Reo stood up and looked at me. "Not in the mood again?"

I saw Maura sat back on the bed, still hugging the pillow. Maybe I'll just tell them. Besides, they already know about Ethan.

"My brother just called."

"Anong sabi? Alam na ba niya na may misyon ka kasama kami?"

"Yes. He said he is on his way back here but I don't know..." Bigla ulit ako nakaramdam ng inis dahil inend ni Ethan yung tawag niya na hindi pa nasasagot ang mga tanong ko.

"What is it that you don't know?" Blade asked.

"He suddenly became staid after I told him about who our client is." Napatingin sina Blade, Hades, at Maura sa isa't isa.

"You told him about our mission?" Reo asked with no emotions. I nodded to him.

"Even if I don't tell him, he still will know it," sabi ko. "That dumbass, binabaan pa talaga ako ng telepono without even answering my questions." Napa-tsk na lang ako.

I really can't understand that jerk sometimes. Nakakairita talaga siya.

"You shouldn't be stressed out so easily. Mahirap na, baka magalit ka pa and your eye color will change." Hades reminded.

"Hades is right, Raven. Baka miss na-miss ka lang talaga ni Ethan." Maura said and I rolled my eyes on her. Nakaka-cringe kasi pakinggan.

Speaking of Ethan, I suddenly remember what he said on the phone, "Raven, sorry but I gotta go. I'll let you know ASAP 'pag nakarating na ako jan, okay? Be careful and as much as possible, don't go out at night especially when it's eclipse." Ano bang meron sa eclipse? It's weird. Why would he warn me about such thing?

Maya-maya ay may kumatok sa pintoan at pumasok ang dalawang babaeng hotel staff.

"Good day, ma'am, sir, handa na po ang mga kwarto niyo." sabi ng babaeng may mahabang buhok.

"Ang bilin ho ni Mr. Reyes ay magpahinga lang raw muna kayo. Enjoy yourselves at malayang-malaya ho kayong gawin kung ano ang gusto niyo." sabi naman ng babaeng may katamtamang taas ng buhok.

We all nodded to what they said.

"Sege na, guys, I'll be fine. Matutulog na siguro ako para may energy ako bukas." sabi ni Maura at humiga ulit sa kama. Nag-usap pa silang tatlo ni Blade at Hades saglit bago nagpaalam. "See you tomorrow, Raven!"

She raised her hand to wave at me using a pillow. Tumango na lang ako at lumakad para lumabas na ng kwarto.

I heard that Reo said something to me but I wasn't able to hear it clearly because just as I was about to exit the room, I caught a glimpse of the calendar hanging on Maura's wall...

January 18, 2020, eclipse.