•••••Raven's POV•••••

"Raven," I turned to face Maura when we got out of the taxi we were just riding on to get here at the rendezvous point. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I know Sunny, she is a snake and sh—"

"Maura, I am pretty aware of that," The memory of Sunny Park and I talking about helping each other out flashed into my mind. "I hate to admit it, but she is the only person we have."

I do not know what awaits inside this restaurant in front of me now. But hopefully, I can get legit answers. I have also thought of the risks after accepting Sunny's offer. It might be a little risky since I do not know who that 'princess' she was talking about, but it is worth the shot.

"Got any reservations, Ma'am?" The lady at the entranced smiled at the both of us.

"Yes, under the name of Sunny Park." Maura smiled back, too.

"Of course! Right this way, please." The girl gently beckoned to us.

When we went inside the restaurant, it was very extravagant. Not just on the outside, but also on the inside and it was beyond my expectations. All the people inside were wealthy. Everyone can say based on the branded clothes they were wearing and the way they ate have class.

"Nakatingin sila sa'yo, Raven," I immediately understood what she meant when I saw how the people inside looked at me. I understood their stares too well. "Ganda mo talaga, Raven!"

Maura sounded enthusiastic but I just ignored her. I was used to this type of stares but it was still annoying.

We entered in what it looked like a private room, away from so many people.

"Thank you." When Maura thanked the lady, she slightly bowed before leaving and closing the door behind us.

Then, we saw a woman who was also looking at me inside, patiently waiting.

"Ms. Saldoviana," She stood up and gestured for the empty seat across her. "Please, have a seat."

Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan habang nasa likuran ko lang si Maura. Even if she refused to tell me, alam ko na cautious pa rin siya kay Sunny Park and I know she chose to stand up para bantayan ako.

"It's good to have you, Ms. Saldoviana," She smiled at to the both of us. "Your friend told me on the phone that you have something to talk to me about."

"Yes, I do and I think you know what." Medjo nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata na para bang may naalala.

I was pretty confident to talk about these kind of things because I knew right away when I got here that this room was soundproof. Anyone from the outside can not hear what we were talking about.

"You mean... about that offer?" I nodded.

Napahinto muna kami nang may kumatok sa pintoan. Maura opened it at may isang waiter sa labas na may dalang wine at wine glass.

"Ikaw ba ang nag-order nito?" Tumango si Sunny Park sa tanong ni Maura. "Okay, then, I will take these." She took the wine and the glass from the waiter and winked at him before closing the door.

Maura gently placed the wine and glass on the table. Then, she poured the wine onto the glass.

"Maura, may future ka na." Napatawa si Sunny Park sa sinabi ko, pero nag-pout lang si Maura.

"Raven naman, e! 'Wag ka namang ganyan!" She poured a wine for herself and drank it. "Tastes good. No poison."

I just sighed because of what she did.

Sunny Park laughed again. "Ms. Taylor, wala akong planong lasunin ang kaisa-isang taong makakatulong sa akin."

Maura was still cautious and having doubts. "We can't be sure of that. We know what you're capable of, Sunny, kaya mas mabuti nang makasiguro."

After she said that, bumalik siya sa likuran ko para makapag-usap na kaming dalawa ni Sunny Park.

"As I was saying, Ms. Saldoviana, are you referring to that offer we were talking about?" Sunny Park was serious when it comes to that offer.

I nodded. "Unless that offer is expired and long gone."

"Of course it is not expired. It will not get expired." She took a sip of her wine.

"If I help you, you promised you will tell me everything that you know."

"That is correct."

"And you will tell me about that 'princess' whom you want me to take care of."

"P-Princess?" Nagulat si Maura sa sinabi ko.

"Ms. Taylor, alam kong alam mo kung sino ang tinutukoy ko, kasi palagi iyang binabanggit ng presidente ng student council noon." seryosong sabi ni Sunny Park.

I raised a brow at Maura. "You knew?"

"I-I..." She started to shiver.

"Of course she knew," I diverted my attention back to Sunny Park. "It's because the 'princess' was her friend."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko na napatingin ulit kay Maura. She was still shivering and her eyes widened as well.

Noticing her fear and shock, I decided to alter the topic. Besides, this was not what I wanted to know right now.

"As much as I want to know about who this 'princess' is, we can talk about this some other time, Sunny Park."

Sunny took a sip of her wine again. "Are you sure? May oras pa naman ta'yo, e."

"Time has become my enemy now. I need you to answer my questions."

She sighed. "Fine, then. Ask away."

"Maura," Before I could ask questions, I took a glance on Maura who was standing right by my side silently now. "Blade has told me about what happened on that rainy night. I hope you get what I mean."

Maura looked at me with a surprise look on her face again. I could sense that she wanted to say something but she could not.

"I have questions I wanted to ask Sunny Park but I have a feeling that it might touch your painful memory a bit. Are you sure you still want to stay and listen?" Blade told me everything on the other day about what happened to their friend. I can somehow connect myself to their feelings now at hindi madali ang matandaan ang isang napakasakit na alaala.

"Of course, Raven," She gave me a weak smile. "I trust you but I don't trust this woman with us, kaya hindi kita iiwan dito na mag-isa."

This time, it was me who took a sip from my wine.

I smiled on the inside because of what she said. After what happened between Ethan and I, napagaan ni Maura ang feelings
S ko.

"I'm quite jealous about your friendship, Ms. Saldoviana." Sunny Park said with a spice of sarcasm in her voice.

"I think what you were trying to say is we should get to the point now, right?" She shrugged her shoulders then chuckled.

"What do you want to know, Ms. Saldoviana?"

"A person very dear to me died twelve years ago. She was impeccable and was the only person who accepted me despite of having a wicked life," Sunny Park went serious. "She was killed by a person from Blandon High."

"From Blandon High?" Tumango ako sa kanya. "At twelve years na ang nakaraan?"

"Yes, though, I do not know if that person was a girl or boy. It was blurry and I was so preoccupied by my friend. Ang tanging natatandaan ko lang ay may logo ng Blandon High ang kanyang damit." I said. To be honest, I still dwelt on it. Nasasaktan pa rin ako every time naaalala ko yung nangyari.

"Twelve years, huh? Then I'm afraid I can't help you with that. Hindi pa ako nagtatrabaho sa Blandon High that time and my stupid brother was studying in the U.S," She leaned her back against the chair. "Pero parang imposible naman ata 'yon, Ms. Saldoviana."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "What do you mean?"

Maura and I exchanged glances when we both asked in unison.

"Wait, hindi niyo alam?" Napakunot rin ang kanyang noo.

"Hindi naman siguro kami magtatanong kung alam namin, 'di ba?" Sunny Park raised a brow at Maura.

"Ms. Taylor, kung ako sa'yo, umupo ka na lang instead na ibubuka mo 'yang bibig mo na nonsense rin naman lahat ng mga lumalabas jan."

"Anong sabi mo—"

"Maura," Pinigilan ni Maura ang kanyang galit dahil sa akin. She was still glaring at Sunny Park at kulang na lang ay sasakalin na niya ito. "Sit down. We do not have much time for this."

"I know that. Pero—"

"Just sit down."

Wala siyang nagawa kundi tumango na lang at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. Though, she was still irtitated.

Our table was not really meant for only two people. Sunny Park just wanted to tease Maura. Maura, on the other hand, would choose to remain standing and guard me.

"Sunny Park, stop teasing her."

"Okay, okay!" Tumawa siya na kinaiinisan na naman ni Maura. But because of me, she chose to remain silent. "Anyway, as I was saying, imposible 'yang sinasabi mo, Ms. Saldoviana, dahil hindi pa isang assassin school ang Blandon High at that time."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kanyang sinabi. Saglit pa kaming nagkatinginan ni Maura na nagulat rin.

"Hindi pa isang assassin school? How is that even possible?" tanong ko.

"As you all know, the school is divided into two—for normal and assassin students. Since mga assassin tayo, we have been isolated to keep ourselves away from the civilians. Siguro mga eight years old pa lang kayo no'ng binili ang Blandon High ng isang napakayamang assassin at napag-desisyunang ihati ang eskwelahan sa dalawa," She paused to fill her glass with wine. She took a sip first before speaking again. "To put it simply, the new Blandon High was literally born ten years ago. If you're saying that the person who killed your friend was from our school, then you're totally mistaken."

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa kanyang sinasabi. It can not be! Sigurado ako sa nakita ko na may logo ng Blandon High ang suot ng taong pumatay sa kaibigan ko.

"T-Teka lang! There must be a misunderstanding here." Both Sunny and I diverted our attentions to Maura when she suddenly spoke.

"You better say something with sense, Ms. Taylor."

"Sunny, you must be lying. Hindi ito sinabi ng mga magulang ko sa amin ng kapatid ko."

"Aba, malay ko ba kung bakit hindi kayo sinabihan ng mga magulang ninyo."

"But, Sunny Park, did you not say it was bought by a rich assassin or something?"

"You kids... You really don't know anything," She sighed and took a sip of her wine again. "Yes, it was, Ms. Saldoviana. Blandon High was not really as you think it is right now. Bago ang eskwelahang 'yon, may nauna pa."

"May nauna pa?"

Tumango siya.

"It was named 'Aine Var High'. Isa siyang sikat na assassin school noon, number one on the ranks with Abeyara University following it."

Deep inside ay napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. So, Abeyara is still the second even before Blandon High was born.

"Aine Var High. Diyan nag-aral parents ko noon, Raven." Maura said to me.

"I figured. Our parents graduated in there, too. Aine Var High was a very successful assassin school until something happened that became the reason why it was closed," Sunny leaned closer towards us. "A few years after Aine Var High was closed, a school was built for normal children and people."

Nakuha namin kaagad ang ipinahiwatig ni Sunny.

"Then, gaya ng sinabi ko, binili ng isang mayamang assassin ang eskwelahan na iyon ten years ago at pinangalan sa pangalan ng eskwelahan natin ngayon." She released a heavy breath after explaining.

Maura and I both went silent for a moment. Obviously, we were trying to formulate questions in our minds.

"Pero bakit hindi na lang isang assassin school ang ginawa nung bumili ng Blandon High?" They both looked at me. "I mean, if that assassin really wanted to build an assassin school, then why did they decide to divide the school into two instead? If you think about it, most monsters like us do not usually care about civilians. So, why?"

Sunny released an exhausted sigh for the third time and leaned her back against the chair again.

"Beats me," she simply answered.

"Raven," I turned to face Maura. "Do you really trust what this girl is saying?" Tinuro niya si Sunny Park habang sinasabi iyon.

"Ms. Taylor, kung wala kang tiwala sa sina—"

"I do," She diverted her attention to me and she was a bit surprised. I then turned to Maura. "She is not lying, Maura. I can see through her eyes."

Maura looked like she wanted to say something but she did not.

"I don't trust you," She glared at Sunny Park. "But I trust Raven."

I was thankful to Maura deep inside because of that. It was my time to sigh after hearing about Blandon High's so-called history.

"So," I leaned closer and clasped my hands. "What do you want me to do with your brother in exchange for all this?"

She looked at me straight in the eyes then burst into laughter. Maura was irritated and I just remained myself calm.

"So far, ayos pa ang kapatid ko kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala. But, Ms. Saldoviana, ang dapat mong itanong sa akin ay 'yang mga natitirang katanungan sa isipan mo," Tinuro niya ang ulo ko. "Sigurado ka ba talaga na wala ka nang iba pang itatanong sa akin at satisfied ka na sa lahat ng nalalaman mo ngayon?"

"I do not think that I am completely wrong, Sunny Park. And no, I am still not satisfied. Sigurado ako sa nakita ko at malalaman ko rin ang totoo kung bakit ang taong hinahanap ko ay nakasuot ng logo ng Blandon High. I have committed my entire life for this and I just can not hold back." I said with full of conviction in my voice.

Everyone in the room knew how much I meant those words and I was aware that they believed it.

"If that's what you think, then it's up to you. Siguraduhin mo lang, Ms. Saldoviana, na tama pa ang daan na tinatapakan mo." she reminded me.

"I have one last question," I pressed my lips. I was quite unsure if I was going to ask her this, but she was my only chance right now. "Do you know a person named Kazen?"

Napapikit ang aking mga mata at naramdaman ko rin ang pagkagulat ni Maura nang biglang nabitawan ni Sunny Park ang wine glass na lalagyan niya sana ng wine. Her hands were trembling and she was shocked. I could see fear in her eyes.

"S-Saan... Saan mo n-narinig ang pangalan na 'yan?" I knew she was just trying herself not to stutter. However, no matter what she do, it was so obvious.

"From my brother. Ethan was talking to him on the phone and called him master." Nagulat na naman ako nang bigla siyang tumayo na ngayon ay nakasuot na talaga ng isang takot na ekpresyon.

"T-That person is..." I saw her clenching her fists. "I'm sorry, Ms. Saldoviana, pero kailangan ko nang bumalik sa Blandon High."

She walked towards the door, still shivering. Maura and I looked at each other again. Sunny Park stopped for a moment after she slightly opened the door.

"No need to worry for the payment. Binayaran ko na ang wine at ang place. Thank you for the time." Matapos nun ay sinara na niya ulit ang pinto at nawala na siya sa paningin namin ni Maura.

"She was hiding something, Raven."

"Yeah, I know that," I was surprised when I noticed that Maura's hands were trembling, too. "Maura, your hands are shaking. Are you okay?"

"Oh, this?" Pinakita niya sa akin ang kanyang kamay at tinago iyon sa pockets niya. "To be honest, hindi ko alam. Bigla lang akong kinabahan nung marinig ko ang pangalan na binaggit mo. Pamilyar kasi sa akin, e."

She sighed and gave me a weak smile.

"Anyway, what should we do now?"

As much as I tried to ignore Maura's shivering hands, I could not do it. Kaya sinabihan ko siya na umuwi na lang kami para magpahinga. She agreed to what I said and booked a taxi immediately.

Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang matutuklasan ko if I continue heading down this road. But hopefully the people who were on my side right now will never get hurt.