Trigger Warning:
This chapter contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing or triggering. Read at your own risks.

Chapter 5: Recollection

Here's what I learned from them, during the time na nagpanggap akong tulog.

1) They did not mention Cronus' location.

2) His son, Zeus is doing some command right now.

3) There were seven reapers named Aries, Artemis, Mnemosyne, Hermes and Poseidon- the other two they did not mention.

4) Poseidon has a thing for this Mnemosyne, which also had a thing for Apollo, but Apollo is currently into the Bellomo's babe, who's into Zeus.

Dizzying, right?

Ah, the Bellomo.

I knew Pi of the Bellomo family. The crazy-ass woman I wished I would never cross paths with. Their family is dealing with drugs, but they're less trouble compared to the Vanders. Not to mention that the root of the rivalry between us and the Vanders are pretty personal between Cronus and the Don.

So back to them, it's such a crazy love pentagon, I do not care at all.

I also learned that 5) Poseidon is a manwhore. Someone who literally fuck everyone with a vagina.

Damn it, no useful information I have heard from them! I also found out that 6) Hermes is such a gossipy boy!

I cannot blame them though. I was just hoping they would spill some important details that could be useful, but I guess that despite Hermes' carefree nature, he's still cautious.

Tuluyan na akong tinangay ng antok dala ng kalasingan.

****

When I woke up, wala na sa paligid si Hermes. Wala na rin ako sa sofa. I was already in bed... with a half-naked man with his back facing me.

WITH.A.HALF-NAKED.MAN!

Napasigaw ako sa gulat, only to realize it was Poseidon. He slightly rolled over at tiningnan ako nang masama.

"You're loud."

Kinusot niya ang mga mata at inignora ang gulat na nakarehistro sa mukha ko. I pulled the blanket, and silently wished he wasn't naked.

Thank goodness, he's not.

"H-huwag mo akong ginugulat nang ganito!" sabi ko at kinalma ang sarili.

He looked at me for a while at tila saglit na nag-isip. "You're acting weird."

"Weird, what?"

Hinarap niya ako. He reclined on the bed, his head supported by his hand. Now that I noticed, he looked so unlike the Poseidon I met before. He was... being playful right now? Noong mga nakaraan ay tila aburido siya at walang emosyon kung kaharap ako. Now this one is different. His posture exuded air of confidence and allure.

Iyon ba ang epekto ng bugbog na napala niya sa mga tauhan ng impostor na Zolotov?

Niyakap ko pa ang kumot sa katawan. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Why did you lie, Star??" tanong niya, as wondering but carefully assessing me.

"Lie...w-what?" At bakit ako nauutal?

"About your relationship with Zolotov."

My heart raced. What is he saying?

"Despite your claim of having a sexual relationship with him, your body language conveys a conflicting message," he said with amusement on his face, like a child saying I gotcha!

I tried to laugh to brush off his claims. "I don't know what you're saying."

Sinubukan kong tumayo mula sa kama ngunit mabilis niya akong napigilan. His strong grip pulled me back to the bed, lying on my back. He scoot to my side, and in a swift movement, he was hovering above me.

"W-what are you doing?" my chest was heavy, and my breathing seemed blocked. Naramdaman kong tila may nanginginig, and realized it was my hand, shaking.

Poseidon's gaze lingered on my face, as if trying to read what could be the truth. The weight of his scrutiny was hard to bear and my mind wandered how long will I be able to hide the truth. Hindi niya inalis ang tingin sa akin. He was watching every corner of my face, looking for any signs of deception. His focus was unwavering, and he's carefully dissecting every flicker of expression.

I can handle this. Alam kong kaya kong lusutan ang sitwasyong ito, but not when he's practically on top of me. Not when I cannot breathe like this. I tried breathing in as hard as I could, but just like the countless times, it doesn't help me calm.

Muli akong napatitig sa mukha niya. The slight crease in his brows hinted his eagerness to unravel the truth. And I do not allow myself to ruin my plan. Not when I come this far. Sinubukan kong salubungin ang bawat tingin niya. I carefully constructed my expression, fully aware of how any small slip could betray the truth I tried to conceal.

But I gave myself away. I cannot fight the wave of haunting memories washing over me, watching him on top of me, with his skin on my own. The memories were unpleasant, and in times like this I always found myself breaking down, looking for a safety place to hide but the ghost of these memories were too scary to shrug off. Every breathe felt strained, as if my lungs were grappling with the burden of my painful recollections. I did all things I could think of as an act of resilience, but it's still hard to get used to it. Hindi ko pa rin kaya, no matter how hard I tried.

He suddenly cupped my checks, and to be honest the warmth of his hand provided comfort. "What are you so afraid of?"

He rolled over, away from me at napabuga ako ng hangin. Unti-unting pumasok ang hangin sa katawan ko, and my strained breathing slowly get back to normal. I sighed so hard na tila ba galing ako sa pagsisid sa malalim na tubig. I rolled away from the bed, at hinayaang mahulog ang katawan sa sahig. Hinahabol ko pa rin ang paghinga, while Poseidon stood up to fetch a glass of water.

Nang makabalik siya ay habol ko pa rin ang hininga. He scoot down on the floor, beside me and gently held my hand to put the glass of water in it.

Nanginginig ang kamay na ininom ko ang tubig, with a little drop spilling due to my shaking. I was grateful for the water, dahil medyo kumalma ako. Tahimik lamang na nagmasid si Poseidon, he watched me calmed down for what felt like eternity. Nang mapagtantong medyo bumuti na ang pakiramdam ko ay inayos niya ang kumot na nakatalukbong sa akin.

"What happened, Star?" tanong niya, sa gentle na boses.

But I know that. I heard countless voices asking that using such tone but I refuse to talk to them.

"Don't go all therapist on me," I told him in between my heavy breathing.

He stayed still, probably trying to respect the wall I immediately built.

"You seriously need help," komento niya.

"I don't."

He stared harder. "There's no harm in talking. I promise there will be no judgment."

There was something in his eyes. Curiousity, I could tell but there was also that genuine concern. Pero alam kong katulad ko rin siya. We're both cunning, and we have something to ptotect. His concern? It could be his acting, and I must not fall into his trap.

"W-what happened there?" Pag-iiba ko sa usapan. "Did you really meet Tristan?"

Sumandal siya, sa komportableng posisyon but that position was making me uncomfortable since it gave me a better view of his well-sculpted torso.

"I did."

Oh, I hate him, why don't he say more.

"And?" I asked.

Muli siyang tumitig sa akin. "I shouldn't have put you in this mess."

Kung ibang pagkakataon ay baka nanlambot na ako. He truly sounded concern. "In case you forgot, I put myself into this mess. I have to get back to him for cheating! I do not tolerate-"

"Do you even have any idea how serious this mess is?" tanong niya. Well, he is really serious too.

"H-ha?"

"Your petty revenge will just get in the way," wika niya. "If I were you, forget it and move on with your life. This is bigger than you think. And now, I have to keep you safe. Zolotov knew you are working with me-"

"Bigger like how bigger?" I asked.

He sighed, probably with no intention of answering my question. "He left you a message though."

My breathing almost stopped. "A-ano?"

He lookee away. "I don't want to say it. It's not worth it."

He tried to roll away ngunit mabilis na napigilan ko siya. I clung unto him at pinilit siya. "What is it?"

Napatingin siya sa kamay kong nakahawak sa katawan niya. On his well-sculpted chest. Napalunok ako. His tan skin complemented my pale complexion very well. I cleared my throat at dahan-dahang bumitiw sa kanya. "W-what did he say?"

Poseidon stared at me. Unti-unting bumaba ang tingin niya sa labi ko. Then he swallowed hard before looking away.

"Go to hell," he said at mabilis na tumayo, sabay iwas ng tingin sa akin.

"H-ha?"

"That's what he said," wika niya at mabilis na lumabas ng silid, slamming the door without looking back.

Poseidon was upset. Iyon ay dahil pinilit ko siyang sabihin ang mensahe ni Tristan- ng fake Tristan. Well, he sounded good saying the curse word so I do not regret it.

Ngunit bigla na lamang akong inatake ng kaba. Damn it, how many times do I have to feel this way? Those words... those are Zolotov's exact word every time we met. No matter what situation, no matter who I am with, the real Zolotov would refuse to talk to me and just tells me to go to hell.

Does that mean Poseidon really meet the real Zolotov there?! Ngunit paano nangyari? Naguguluhan na ako.

Napahawak ako sa ulo at sinabunotan ang sariling buhok. I know I was playing a dangerous game from the very start but why is it going the different way?

Klaro ang misyon ko. And that's to make the Vander mafia fall. Klaro pa rin sa isip ko ang pag-uusap namin ng Capo, ilang taon na ang nakalilipas.

"You think you can do it?"

Younger me slowly nodded. "I can do it."

"Good girl. I know you can. At palagi mong isipin na espesyal ka. You will be the salvation of us. Tandaan mo ang lahat ng mukha sa Vander Mafia. Sooner or later, younger faces will soon emerge as their reapers dahil iyon ang kaugalian nila. These reapers will soon retire at may papalit na mga mas bata, mas malakas. It's your mission to let their strongest reaper fall, and eventually that will lead to the fall of Vander Mafia too."

I nodded at the old man at muling tiningnan ang larawan na nasa harap ko. Halos kabisado ko na lahat ng sinasabi ng Capo tungkol sa Vander Mafia, ngunit paulit-ulit pa rin niyang sinasabi iyon.

When I grow up, these faces will change. They will be replaced but still, I have to kill the strongest reaper. I will be their salvation. And I always thought I was special, dahil iyon ang palaging sinasabi ng Capo.

"You understand that, right?"

I nodded.

"I wish you will not grow up, but unfortunately, you will. You will, because you will make the Vander Mafia fall, right?" A rough, calloused hand ran through my cheek. The hand smelt like cigarette and ammunition.

Muli akong tumango.

"You are very special."

Again, I nodded. Tango lamang ang sagot ko sa kanyang mga sinasabi na paulit-ulit.

"Good."

The Capos hand slipped from my cheek towards under my skirt. I bit my inner cheeks, preventing a cry.

"Do not grow up too fast. Making the Vander Mafia fall can wait."

Again, I nodded as I watched him removed the holsters of gun from his side, followed by his belt and pants.

At gaya ng mga sinasabi niya na paulit-ulit, ganoon din ang mga nangyayari na paulit-ulit.

Paulit-ulit.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs