10 Years Ago

The fifteen-year-old released a huge sigh of relief. 'Di niya mapigilang mapangiti dahil nakamit niya na ang kalayaan. Basking in her successful attempt at escaping, Yumi reminisced about the event that pushed her into running away from the luxurious yet controlled life she had lived for years.

It was dinner time at the Kazehaya residence when Yumi received the shock of her life.

"Yumi, you will be meeting your future husband next month," her father announced as he took a sip of water. Walang pagbabago sa expression ng ama niya matapos nitong sabihin iyon. Para bang nakiusap lang ito sa kanyang ipasa ang ulam.

Gulat na napatingin ang magkapatid na Yumi at Yuki sa kanilang ama. Yumi swallowed hard before speaking as calmly as she could. Alam niyang strict ang tatay niya at wala siyang balak na i-trigger pa ito. "What do you mean, Otou-sama?"

"You heard me. Just be on your best behavior. His very conservative family will join us for dinner on the first Sunday of next month." Iyon na ang huling sinabi ng kanilang ama bago ito tumayo mula sa dinner table. There was no point in arguing, the Kazehaya siblings were raised knowing that their father's word was always final.

Yumi turned to look at their mother who was still sipping her tea. "Be an obedient daughter, Yumi." As expected, her mother was a hundred percent in agreement with her father. Yumi held in the sigh she wanted to release. It was hard to mask her disappointment, shock and fear but she kept a straight face and continued eating her dinner.

Mabilis ang takbo ng isip ni Yumi. There was no way in hell that she'd let herself be in an arranged marriage like some possession. She didn't even want to meet the guy she was supposed to marry. Even if this guy happened to be a prince, her feelings for Cas wouldn't fade.

In the time it took to finish her meal, Yumi had already come up with a plan to run away. She will withdraw all her savings from the bank account that she kept a secret from her parents 'cause there's no way she could get the money from her trust fund. It should be enough to survive for a few months in Manila, where commodities were much cheaper than in Tokyo.

She was still hesitant to ask help from Lily, a friend she met in preschool. They were close but Lily and her brother seemed to have a special connection that she cannot keep up with. Lily even called Yuki by his other name—Kendrick, and she was the only one who did that. Siguradong hindi hindi maitatago ni Lily kay Yuki ang plano niya. And Yuki, being the perfect filial son that he is, wouldn't be able to keep the secret from their parents. Yumi wasn't going to take that risk.

Planning came easy to her because she craved freedom. With her limited resources, executing the plan was harder but she was determined to make it work. The hardest thing about running away was that she also had to run away from Cas. Hindi niya na ito pwedeng reply-an pa. Her life was going to be chaotic and she won't be dragging him into it.

So here she was, three weeks later, sitting on the floor, surrounded by large boxes in the cargo hold of a cargo ship bound for Manila.

Yumi managed to sneak out of her school earlier that day. She proceeded to the Port of Tokyo where she stealthily slipped into one of the freight ships bound for the Philippines. 'Di naman siya nahirapan doon, she was familiar with the logistics of the cargo ship business. Her family owned KZ Shipping Co., a multinational freight ship company. She had just illegally boarded a ship that her father owns.

* * *

Nanatili siya sa cargo hold, kasama ng daan-daang kahon. Lumalabas lang siya 'pag gabi para kumuha ng pagkain sa kusina ng barko at gumamit ng banyo. She was lucky that she wasn't caught by anyone but after ten days of only eating at night, she was feeling rather weak when they finally arrived at their destination.

Yumi disembarked the ship on the first night that it was at the Port of Manila while the crew was busy unloading the cargo. As she stretched her arms and felt the cold night breeze on her face in the unfamiliar city, she made a decision to start anew. Yumi didn't belong here. From now on, she'll be Selene. It was weird to use Kendra when her best friend called her brother by a similar name.

"Hi, miss!" Someone called out to her as she walked away from the port.

"Sa'n ka, ganda?"

"Hatid ka na namin."

Though she didn't understand most of what they said, Selene knew that those three unkempt men were catcalling her. She rarely experienced this type of harassment in Tokyo but every time she did, she made sure that those stupid perverts who dared to disrespect her learned their lesson. Ang iba siguro sa mga iyon, wala nang chance magkaanak. Pero ngayong wala siya sa home turf niya, kailangan niyang manatiling kalmado. She continued to walk, ignoring them.

"Ang taray mo naman, Ms. Beautiful," one of them said. All of the three creepy guys were now walking beside her. Binilisan ng dalagita ang lakad niya pero nag-adjust din ng pace 'yong tatlo.

"Smile ka naman diyan!" hirit ng isa.

Doon tuluyang naubos ang pasensya ni Selene. Bigla siyang humintong maglakad at humarap ang mga sumusunod sa kanya. Doble pa ang inis niya dahil sa gutom. "Stop following me, I'm not interested."

"Foreigner ata ang isang 'to eh," nakangising sabi ng pinakamatangkad sa tatlong lalaki. "Play wid us por a while, miss. I can't English but let's hab a good time," dagdag nito, sabay hawak sa kaliwang braso ni Selene.

That was a big mistake. In a matter of seconds, the teenager was able to grab his arm and twist it behind his back. "I said, leave me alone," Selene reiterated with a threatening tone as the man groaned in pain. Humakbang palayo sa gulat ang dalawa pang kasama nito.

"Okay, okay! I will leave you na. Let me go," the guy pleaded. She let go of his arm and pushed him towards his companions. Inirapan niya ang tatlo bago tumalikod. They were glaring at her but she ignored them.

Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad at naghanap ng makakainan. Kakaliko lang ni si Selene sa isang maliit na eskinita nang biglang may humablot sa kanyang mga braso. Malakas ang humawak sa kanya kaya hindi siya agad na nakawala. Lilingon na sana siya para tingnan kung sino ito nang takpan naman ang kanyang bibig at ilong ng isang panyong may kakaibang amoy. Then everything went black.

* * *

Selene woke up in a dingy room, lying on a cold concrete floor with her hands tied behind her. Her legs were free though, so she was able to sit up.

"So you're awake now, Kazehaya-san," said a low sardonic voice from behind her. She struggled a bit but she was able to turn her body towards the voice. A thin man with slicked back hair and a stubble, was sitting on a tattered leather armchair with his legs crossed.

He didn't look at her but instead continued to examine the passport he was holding. "You sneaky little girl, entering this country without going through the proper immigration process," he continued with a grin.

'Di tulad ng mga nang-harass sa kanya sa port, walang accent ang lalaking ito at dire-diretso ang pagsasalita sa Ingles. "Should I turn you over to the authorities?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Selene sa banta ng lalaki.

"You'd probably get jailed and deported if that happens, right?" he teased, seeing how threatened she was.

"L-let me go! That's none of your business." She tried to say it fiercely but her voice was shaking.

"You're a runaway aren't you? You have nowhere to go anyway and based on my subordinates' story, you are pretty strong for a girl your age. I am currently in need of a Japanese translator for a business deal. How about you work for me until that deal is done and I'll return all your belongings including your passport?"

"And if I refuse?" she asked, glaring at him.

"You will be turned over to the authorities immediately. It's not like you have a choice here, my dear." He smirked.

This man was obviously shady as hell but he was right. Wala nga naman siyang choice. "Fine, how long do I have to work for you and how can I be sure that you'll return my stuff?"

"Well, you can't be sure but as I said, you don't have a choice. But don't worry, as a businessman, I am a man of my word," he replied. "As for the duration of your service, my Japanese client will arrive three months from now. And because I'm a generous employer, you can stay here until my business deal is sealed."

"Fine, you better hold up with your end of the deal, Mr—" Selene paused as she realized that she had no idea what his name was.

"You can call me Jack Spade," he said.

"Okay, Jack Spade, I agree to work for you. How about you untie me now?"

"Perfect!" Jack Spade exclaimed. Pumalakpak nang tatlong beses si Jack Spade at may dalawang lalaking pumasok sa kuwarto. Agad na nakilala ni Selene ang mga ito, sila 'yong mga bastos na kasama no'ng lalaking pinilipit niya kanina. Malamang, ang tatlong 'yon ang dumakip sa kanya para makaganti.

"Dalhin n'yo na 'yan sa kwarto ng mga Heart, may bakante pang kama do'n," utos ni Jack Spade sa mga alagad nito. "And by the way, we shouldn't use your real name now that you work for me. From now on, you are Two Diamond."

* * *

Over the next three months, Selene stayed in an old shabby building in Ermita where Jack Spade's subordinates lived. Jack Spade's trade quickly became clear to her. She was right about him, his businesses were not just shady, they were downright illegal.

Jack Spade was a member of a crime syndicate known as The Deck. Their organizational structure and code names were based on playing cards. Tinatawag nilang Ace Spade ang pinaka-boss nila at ang suit at number sa code name ng isang miyembro ay nakabase sa line of business kung saan ito naka-assign.

Clubs were part of the gambling business, Hearts were part of the prostitution business and Diamonds were those who are in the smuggling business. Spades were the handlers who managed the underlings. Selene, as Two Diamond, was at the bottom of the hierarchy of the smuggling branch. Ang lahat ng miyembro ay nilalagyan ng tattoo na naaayon sa illegal business kung saan sila sangkot. Selene had been forced to get a small diamond tattoo right below her nape.

Malayo man sa marangyang buhay na kinalakihan niya ang sitwasyon ni Selene ngayon, disente naman ang naging tirahan niya at nakakakain naman siya nang maayos. The Japanese client, known to them as Hiroto, was a smuggler of antiques and expensive jewelry and The Deck was planning to sell his products in the black market.

Naging trabaho rin ni Selene ang mag-translate sa tuwing tumatawag si Hiroto kay Jack Spade kaya alam niya ang mga balak nila. Though she desperately wanted to report all the illegal activities that she had witnessed, doing so would make her the enemy of an organized crime group. That would further complicate her already complicated situation, not to mention endanger her life. Sa ngayon, patuloy lang siyang nag-iipon ng impormasyon na pwede niyang gamitin laban sa mga sindikato sa tamang panahon.

Sa tatlong buwang nanirahan siya sa lungga ni Jack Spade, naging kaibigan niya rin ang ilang miyembro ng The Deck. Ang karamihan sa kanila, mga galing sa mahihirap na pamilya at sadyang nangangailangan lang talaga.

Selene became close to the girl she shared a room with, Irene, who was also known as Two Heart. She was sold to the syndicate as a means of repayment for her father's debt. Ito rin ang nagtuturo kay Selene ng Tagalog at ang matiyagang nag-tra-translate tuwing may hindi siya naiintindihan kahit hirap din itong mag-English.

* * *

The day of Hiroto's arrival finally came. Before the illegal trade for the rare antiques and jewelry, Jack Spade decided to show their foreign guest some hospitality by bringing him to a club. Gusto nilang aliwin ang Hapon para ganahan itong makipag-business sa kanila.

Jack Spade reserved a private room for them but since the club will be hosting a costume party that night, they had to be in costumes too. Extra layer na rin siguro iyon ng pagtatago dahil ilegal nga ang ginagawa nila.

Inis na inis Selene dahil napilitan siyang magsuot ng costume ni Sailor Moon, complete with wig and contact lenses. She came with Jack Spade who was dressed as James Bond and Two Heart who was dressed as Wonder Woman. They were also with a few of Jack Spade's bodyguards who were dressed as Men In Black agents.

Nauna ang mga miyembro ng The Deck sa club at habang hinihintay nila si Hiroto, Jack Spade bought them drinks. Selene took a sip of the dark red liquid and her face scrunched up in distaste. First time niyang makainom ng wine. She hated the taste but she finished it anyway, not wanting to get picked on by Jack Spade for being wuss.

Hiroto and his crew arrived dressed as ninjas. The Japanese antiques smuggler looked like he was in his early forties and he barely reached 5'5". His face was purely deadpan, as if he had no interest in whatever they were about to do and was dying a slow death due to boredom. Selene translated for them but he also had a translator with him because, of course, the Japanese smuggler didn't trust Jack Spade either.

They discussed the details of the planned smuggling for only twenty minutes yet Selene had a very uncomfortable feeling in her stomach as she relayed the details to her boss. Knowing that she was part of an illegal transaction was draining her energy and gnawing at her conscience. Pero hindi pa pala 'yon ang pinakamalalang parte ng translation job niya.

Before the conversation ended, Jack Spade asked her to present a gift to their client. Her dearest friend, Two Heart, will be entertaining the client in a not-so-wholesome manner and she couldn't do anything about it. For a very brief moment, Hiroto showed a malicious grin as Selene told him about his gift from the syndicate.

Lumabas silang lahat ng kwarto maliban sa kliyente at kay Two Heart. Dumiretso si Selene sa restroom at doon tuluyang bumuhos ang kanyang mga luha. It broke her heart to not be able to help her friend at all.

Limang minuto pa lang siyang umiiyak sa banyo nang biglang pumasok si Irene. "Selene! Listen to me. You have to... ano nga ba 'yong tumakas? Uhm, ano, run away!" Two Heart said in an urgent tone.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Selene asked, surprised and confused.

"The Japanese guy, ikaw ang gusto niya."

"Gusto? You mean he likes me?"

"Yes, yes! He wants virgin Sailor Moon daw," Irene said, panicking. "Jack Spade is still getting drinks from the bar. Leave now! Use the fire escape para 'di ka niya makita. Go up to the rooftop and stay there for at least thirty minutes. I will tell them that you went down."

"How about you? They'll know you helped me. Can't you just come with me?" Selene was confused but she knew that her friend was making a huge sacrifice for her and she was scared for her too.

"No, I have to stay. Marami pa akong utang, they will hurt my family if I go. Kaya please, umalis ka na," Irene pleaded. She took Selene's hand, pulled her out of the restroom and brought her to the fire escape.

"I will come back for you and we will take them down. I will miss you, maraming salamat." Selene wasn't able to hold back more tears as she hugged the older girl.

Irene gently pulled away. "Tahan na. Iyo na 'to, it's all I have. Sorry, 'di mo na makukuha ang passport at pera mo kay Jack Spade," she said as she slipped a one thousand peso bill in Selene hand. "Mag-ingat ka."

"I can't accept this!" Selene said, trying to return the money.

"You need it more right now. Let's just say it's utang. You can pay me back when we meet again," Irene replied as she urged her to leave.

Selene weakly waved goodbye and proceeded to run up the stairs while wiping away her tears. After going up ten floors, narating niya na rin, sa wakas, ang rooftop. Binuksan niya ang pinto at sinalubong siya ng maulap na gabi, malamig na hangin, at isang tagpong lubos niyang ikinagulat. A guy was in the process of climbing the railing.

Biglang nakalimutan ni Selene ang bagay na iniiyakan niya at ang pagod sa pag-akyat ng sampung palapag. By instinct, tumakbo lang siya palapit sa lalaki. "Hey, hey! Get down from there!" she yelled as she pulled the guy's cape as hard as she could.

Napigilan niya naman itong tumalon ngunit sa lakas ng paghila niya sa kapa nito, sa kanya nahulog ang lalaki. Pareho silang tumayo at nakita ni Selene na naka-costume din ang lalaking pinigilan niyang magpakamatay. He was wearing a full-dress tailcoat, a red-lined cape and a white mask.

Of course, Selene recognized the costume and she was pretty annoyed because it was Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon's useless love interest.