THE PHOENIX'S WEAKNESS

THE warm rays of the setting sun hit Lis' face. Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang mukha habang hinihintay ang dalawa na makalabas ng tindahan. Dala-dala niya ang kahon ng berry sa isang kamay at pasimple ring kumakain.

Looking at the numbers on his wrist, it was still 5:45 P.M. Maaga silang nagsara dahil naubos lahat ng mga bulaklak nila kanina dahil sa isang customer. Binili lahat ito ni Hime, ang sabi ni Aryl sikretarya raw 'yon ni Mayor Cortez. Kaarawan daw kasi ng anak nito at magkakaroon daw ng selebrasyon sa Aena Tower.

"Sino ang anak ni Mayor Cortez?" tanong niya nang makalabas ang dalawa.

Aryl eyed at him. "Usisero ka talaga, 'no?"

"Nagtatanong lang, e. Bawal ko bang malaman?"

Naglakad na sila papunta sa Cell nina Cross at Pahima sa pangunguna ni Aster. Lumingon si Aster sa gawi niyang kumakain ng berry.

"Can I have one?" tanong nito. Inabot naman niya ang kahon sa kaibigan. Tumabi ito sa kaniya at kumuha ng isa.

"Oo, bawal kasi pati ako 'di ko rin alam kung sino," sagot ni Aryl, na nasa kaliwang bahagi.

"Sigurado ba kayong maglalakad lang tayo? Medyo malayo-layo ang Cell nila," sabi ni Aster at kumuha pa ulit ng isa.

"Siya naman may pakana nito." Turo ni Aryl sa kaniya.

"Okay lang 'yan. Hindi naman tayo nagmamadali, e. Ang ganda kaya maglakad sa mga ganitong oras," sagot niya habang binibilang ang mga natitirang berries.

Binaling niya ang atensyon sa mapayapang kalangitan na unti-unting napipintahan ng kahel.

Noong nasa Mythria pa lang siya, palagi siyang naglalakad sa hardin ng mansyon nila para lang makita ang mukhang umaapoy na kalangitan. There was a hint of tenderness from the clouds that he couldn't refuse to look at. Sa tagal na niyang nabubuhay, mahigit sa isang libo na rin niyang nakikita ang paglubog ng araw, ngunit hindi pa rin siya nagsasawa.

He preferred the setting sun than the rising one.

Iba ang payapang nararamdaman niya sa tuwing natatamaan ang kaniyang balat sa liwanag ng lumulubog na araw. It was as if comforting him, reminding him to rest.

"We're here."

Madilim na ang paligid nang makarating sila. Mahigit tatlumpong minuto silang naglakad bago makarating sa Cell nina Pahima at Cross. Nabubukod ito sa ibang Cell at nasa paanan pa ng bundok. Napaangat ang tingin ni Lis sa nakalululang taas ng bundok. Ang taas pala talaga ng tinalunan nila no'ng nakaraang linggo.

Nilingon niya ang dalawa na nasa likuran. Naghihintay lang si Aster sa kaniyang senyas habang si Aryl naman ay hawak-hawak na nito ang malaking palakol. Her black, double-headed axe. Ngayon niya lang napansin na may nakaungkat pa lang mga diyamante sa dalawang magkasalungat na blade. Kulay itim kaya hindi halata.

"It seems you two are ready." He turned to look at the lone Cell. Inabot niya ang nakasabit na Rosas sa kaniyang tainga. Palihim siyang naghulog ng mga alikabok na galing sa buhay ng rosas na sinipsip ng kaniyang mga daliri.

Hindi pa siya nakakakatok lumabas na kaagad ang nakabusangot na mukha ni Cross.

"Hi!" He waved at his dear friend and rival.

"Let's not do it here," sagot nito. Mabilis na nagliyab ang dalawa nitong kamao, nakahandang labanan siya.

Napangisi naman siya. It had been a while since he last tasted his fists that he couldn't help but wonder, how much did he improve for the past two years? The curiosity was strong on his mind, and the urge to test their strength from one another just kept on coming. He was overwhelmed with excitement. He might get lost in thoughts and ended up fighting Cross if he wouldn't shove this feeling away fast.

"Maybe next time. I'm not here to fight with you," he said, regret resonated from his voice.

"Ha! Ikaw? Hindi makikipaglaban sa akin?" Lumapit ito sa kaniya. Face almost touching each other, he looked at him straight in the eye. "Master, are you trying to be a coward now?"

A hint of annoyance tweaked his nerve. He didn't like the way he was calling him master. Idagdag pa ang mapanuya nitong tingin na lalong nagpakulo ng dugo niya. Cross knew well how to piss him off.

But he wouldn't bite this time. Not this time.

Tinakpan ni Lis ang inis niya gamit ang isang napakatamis na ngiti. "I brought you a gift." Tinaas niya hanggang dibdib ang dalang kahon para mapansin ni Cross. Binuksan niya ito upang ibalandara ang mga berry sa kaibigan. "Isn't this your favorite?"

Napababa ang tingin nito, pansin niya ang pag-angat ng balikat ni Cross. Ginalaw niya ang mga kamay papunta sa kaliwa, sa kanan at pati sa itaas. Just as he expected, Cross followed the movement of the box like he had been hypnotized. Gusto niyang matawa sa pagmumukha nitong natatakam ngunit pinipigilan ang sarili.

"I bought this for you." Kumuha siya ng isa at inilahad ito.

Kaagad namang napataas ang kamay ni Cross at aabutin na sana ngunit bigla itong natauhan.

Lumunok ito sabay iling. "Stop playing with me! What are you trying to do, huh?"

"Wala naman. Just wanted to talk to your beloved woman. If you'll allow me, I'll let you have all of this," he proposed while playing the berry on his hand.

"That's never gonna happen."

Lis was kind of surprised about the fact that Cross didn't protest about him saying she was Cross' woman.

"Then, you having these berries will never going to happen either." Binalik niya ang berry sa loob ng kahon at isinara. Hinagis niya pataas na mabilis din namang sinalo ng kaniyang butler na nasa himpapawid.

Kita niya ang panlulumo sa mukha nito habang nakatingin sa kahon na hawak-hawak ni Aster. Ilang beses na rin itong napalunok at napakamot sa ulo dahil hindi ito mapakali. Iba talaga ang epekto ng berry sa isang Phoenix. The more they resist, the more they feel terrible.

Kahit umayaw ito ng ilang beses, alam ni Lis na hindi rin ito makahihindi sa huli. He did this trick a lot of times already and not even once he failed.

And today would be a win as well. He was sure of that.

Still looking at the Phoenix, he gestured his hand for Aster to leave. "You can have it all, Aster."

Nagsimula nang lumipad palayo si Aster dahilan para mas dumoble pa ang pagkataranta ni Cross.

"W-wait!" sigaw nito na mabilis ring napapikit na para bang pinagsisihan ang ginawa.

Napangiti ng tagumpay si Lis. "So? Is that a yes?"

"State your business first."

"Not telling." Teasing him, he waved at Aster and Aryl who were now leaving and eating the berries together.

"Damn it! I said wait!" Napahilamos ito sa mukha dahil sa inis.

Siniko niya ang dibdib nito. "Aster has a crush on that woman and vice versa so don't interrupt them. They're having a moment, you know."

Gulat namang napabalik ang tingin ni Cross sa kaniya. "Aster has a crush? That emotionless asshole?"

"I would love to chat with you about our friend's lovelife, but I think you need to prioritize your berries first," bulong niya habang 'di pa rin inaalis ang mapanuksong ngiti.

"I will surely be going to kill you some day, you damn Crimson!" nangangalaiting sigaw nito at dinuro siya. "Whatever you're planning don't you dare lay a finger on her nor even think of hurting her."

As expected, it was a yes. Ano kaya magiging reaksyon ni Pahima kapag nalaman nitong pinagpalit siya sa isang kahon ng berry? Madilim siyang napangisi sa naisip. Hindi niya talaga kakalimutang sabihin 'to kay Pahima mamaya.

"What the fuck are you smiling for? Answer me!"

Napabalik siya sa diwa nang umalingawgaw sa tainga niya ang sigaw ni Cross.

"For Dragon's sake! Don't shout! Oo. I promise. Hindi ko siya sasaktan."

Ilang segundo rin siya nitong tinitigan na para bang binabalaan siya.

He gestured his hand. "Aren't you going to leave? They're getting away with your precious berries."

"Don't lose my trust," bakas sa boses nito ang sinseridad. Mariin nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang balikat. Natunaw kaagad ang tela sa balikat niya dahil sa nagliliyab nitong kamay. Bago pa nga lang gumaling ang pagkakapaso niya no'ng nakaraang linggo tapos may bago na naman. At sa balikat pa talaga.

"You know me. I never break my promise," walang halong biro na bitaw niya.

Naglakad na ito paalis para sundan ang dalawa pero bigla itong tumigil at nagsalita.

"One more thing."

Lumingon naman siya. "Hmm?"

"Fuck you and your annoying face!" malutong na mura nito bago tuluyang umalis at hinabol ang dalawa.

Napailing na lang siya. Ang pangit talaga ng tabas ng dila ng kaibigan niya. Walang sinuman ang nangahas na murahin siya simula pagkabata hanggang paglaki bukod kay Cross. Pasalamat talaga ang bugnutin na iyon dahil magkaibigan sila. Kung hindi, matagal na niya itong binitay patiwarik sa pinakatuktok ng kanilang mansiyon.

"Alpas! Give me my fucking berries!" narinig niya pang sigaw nito.

Napatawa na lang siya nang mahina at kumatok sa nakabukas nang pinto. Naghintay muna siya ng ilang segundo pero walang sumagot. Kumatok ulit siya pero wala pa rin talaga. He tried again but this time he put force on it.

"Sandali!" It was the brown magician's voice, Pahima.

Gulo-gulo ang buhok nitong sinalubong siya habang kinukusot pa ang mga mata. Mukhang kagigising lang nito.

"Hi!" bati niya, ang mga kamay sa likuran.

Ilang beses pa bago siya namukhaan ng babae. "L-lis, right? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to bargain," sagot niya dahilan para mapakunot ang noo nito. "By the way, thanks for taking care of my dearest friend for the past two years. I can see that you two are very close," he added, hinting her about his purpose.

Napahigpit naman ang hawak nito sa busol. "W-what are you trying to say?"

"First of all, will you let me in? And then we can talk."

"Bakit hindi mo na lang ako d-diretsuhin?" Kahit na nanginginig, nagawa pa rin siya nitong tingnan sa mata.

She was braver than he thought.

"Do you know that Cross is not an A-gene?"

She nodded.

For a moment, he was surprised but not entirely. He had the guess that Cross had told her about his identity.

"I guess I don't have to hide my identity either. I am—"

"You're an S-gene, too. Croissant already told me."

"I'm a Dragon. I'm his master. I'm the next ruler of our district." Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay natigilan ang babae. Napatakip ito sa nakaawang na labi.

"Hindi ba ito sinabi ni Cross sa 'yo?" Umakto rin siyang nagulat. "Hmm. Let's see. What else did he never tell you?" Playfully, he smirked at the woman. "I doubt he mentioned his death sentence to you, no?"

Nabuo ang kalituhan sa mga mata ng babae kasabay ang mga luhang nangigilid. "D-death sentence? Anong death sentence? Bakit may death sentence siya? Narito ka ba para patayin siya?"

"I'm not here to kill him. At least not yet. It will depend on your answer, miss."

Kaagad itong sumagot. "Please, if there's something I can do, tell me. Please, don't kill him." Hahawakan sana nito ang kamay niya pero umiwas siya.

"I haven't laid out my condition, yet you'll do anything just for him?" His eyebrows arched. "Ano ba si Cross para sa 'yo?"

"He is . . ." Napayuko naman ito at mahinang nagsalita, "He's all that I have."

Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapangisi at pilit na sinuot ang seryosong mukha. "I see." Tumikhim muna siya bago nagsalita ulit. "Well, I'll get straight to the point. I want you to tell me what you know about the Shadows. In exchange, I'll pardon Croissant's death sentence. If you say otherwise, you know what will happen."

Napaangat ang tingin nito. Kaagad na nabalot ng takot ang buo nitong ekspresyon. He couldn't distinguish where does the fear came from. Was it from Cross' death sentence? Or was it from the Shadows?

Umiwas ito ng tingin, huminga nang malalim upang pakalmahin ang sarili sa panginginig. Pansin niya ang peklat nito sa bandang ibaba ng pisngi dahilan para tumaas pa ang kuryosidad niya sa babae.

"What happened to you?" he blurted out without thinking, but it was so low that the woman failed to hear his voice. A quite relief. He was curious about her, but he wasn't here to know about her life. And he didn't have enough time. Malakas ang kutob niya na pabalik na si Cross.

"T-the Shadows, they are . . ." Nanginginig ang boses nito at hindi makatingin nang diretso sa kaniya. "Just stay away from them."

"You don't have to answer right away. Although I'm quite in a hurry, I can give you time. Maybe a day or two," sabi niya. "Oh, and don't tell Cross about this. Don't tell him that you know about his death sentence."

Tumango naman ito bilang sagot, napahinga nang maluwag sa sinabi niya.

"Then, I'll get going. Good night."

Tumalikod na siya. Madilim ang mukha niya habang naglalakad paalis. Hindi mawala-wala sa isip niya ang takot na takot na mukha ng babae habang pilit na nagsasalita tungkol sa mga Shadow.

Ano bang mayroon sa kanila? What did they do to her to make her feel that way? What was really happening in this place?