↭ ♡ ↭

∽ m i r a c l e ' s  p e r s p e c t i v e ∽

It's now 6:45 in the morning. And I am ready for school, just waiting for Kuya Mike.

Nate didn't sleep here, mahimbing daw ang tulog niya kapag katabi niya ako.

Wala masyadong nangyari kahapon. Nag-usap lang kami tungkol sa nakaraan.

I smile on our memories, yet it was a painful one. We are not sociable. It takes a year to trust someone. Nagkahiwalay lang kaming magkakapatid noong nagkaroon kami ng kanya-kanyang mga misyon.

Time check, 6:50 AM. I decide to wait for him at the parking lot. So I go out of the unit and start walking.

As I walk, I can already sense a couple of eyes looking at me. They are like a beast hunting for their prey.

Once I reach the parking lot with the unknown persons gazing intently at me, I felt a person aiming where my position is. And in just a second, the person released the shot.

I bend down and pretend that I brush the dirt on my shoes. In my peripheral view, a digs to the wall. Heh. That is a strong force.

I hear that person growls in frustration. A male voice.

I stand up straight, at isa-isa na silang lumapit sa aking kinakatayuan. Observing my surroundings, I discovered that they are eight and wearing black clothes.

I wear my innocent expression, and then face them. "Sino kayo?" I ask with a blank, candid voice.

The guy in my front smirks, "How are you, Dark?"

My lips curls up mentally. I secretly open my senses. I shall be on full alert. I have no time for letting my guard down.

They are gangsters—sort of lame assassins. Bunch of wussy people.

"What are you talking about?" I say, hiding the mock in my voice. "I'm not . . . Dark."

Well, in Assassination World, my code name is Dark Arcana. Obviously, they know me. Kanino naman kaya nila nalaman?

"Huwag ka ng magpanggap. Kilala ka na namin, Dark Arcana."

I smirk inwardly. "Sigurado ba kayo? Papaanong paraan at dahilan?" Heh. You know me? Then, why're they still fighting me? I'm a woman without a soul when I kill people.

And ayaw ko ng gulo. We're here in the public place for heaven's sake. I roam my eyes around the parking lot. There five to eight CCTV's in this area.

Nakita at narinig ko siyang ngumisi. "Ganito!" And in just a nick of time, he starts to assault me.

I give him a proudful look and gracefully defend his attack by blocking his fist with my forearm. I sense his guard lowers down a bit. But that's an opportunity for me. I surprise him with my passionate punch to his stomach.

He cries in pain as he coughs saliva. He falls to his knees while holding his stomach. Namalipit sa sakit dahil sa sobrang lakas ng aking pagsuntok.

I grab a dagger on my right thigh. I have stuff like these in a purpose—for this kind of situations.

Tinira ko ang isang dagger sa isang lalake, directly to his legs. I quickly run towards him, and hold the dagger that digs completely to his flesh. I twist the dagger first, before I pull it out. Blood immediately gushes down, and then I kick his jaw.

Kumuha ako ulit ng dalawang shurikens at itinira sa dalawa—straight to their sensitive parts, like in their legs and their Achilles tendons.

Five down, three more to go. Sinugod ako ng tatlo ng sabay-sabay. I smirk, enough for them to hear me.

I briskly grab the hand of Guy One, I twist it, and then I elbow him hard between his chests. That causes him to breathe improperly, and he faints instantly. There is a chance he will die.

I pay my attention to the Guy Two, and kick his diaphragm. At naramdaman kong bumaon ang tip ng sapatos ko. Well, he coughs blood for that.

And lastly, the Guy Three.

I eyed him with my pitiful look. Yes, he looks like a pity. "My, my. Do you really know who I am?" I form an evil smirk to my face. He can't answer but to shudder to death. "Heh. Ano kaya ang gagawin ko sa 'yo? You're such a waste, you know that?" I tell him with my chin up, looking down on him. "You better end your pathetic life—or should I say, it's better for me to kill you now."

"Hah! Hindi ako natatakot sa 'yo!" Matapang na sabi niya.

I raise an unsatisfied brow. "Really? You're not afraid to die? How courageous of you." I croon with a boastful tone. "That will make me happy. Seeing you bathing with your own preciously cheap blood."

Now, I can see fear through his eyes. How awful. "What now? Are you going to run like a scaredy-cat, huh?"

He is in panic. He wants to run. But before he can run, a gunshot blows and it is coming to his way. And he's shot in the left side of his chest.

My eyes follow the owner of the gun.

"Kuya Mike." I mutter.

"Get in the car." He orders and his voice is full of authority, and darn serious.

I quickly climb in the car, while he's calling someone. He talks for about a minute, and then enters in the car.

"I already called the Control Organization, and they're coming. Sila na rin ang bahala sa kanila. And I also talked to Ivan to hack the CCTV's here." He states in a straight face and voice.

I only nod and remain silent.

Ivan is our techie; and at the same time, it is our cousin. Ka-age lang siya ni Kuya Mike.

"Don't go to school, we'll go straightly to my office. These things should end as soon as possible." He says while driving in high pace.

"Fine with me." I answer in small voice. Maybe, he doesn't like what he witnessed in the parking lot. I should have ended that Cowardly Guy. Only if I do not talk to him.

And about the Control Organization, it is build by our parents. Sila na ang bahala sa mga taong nahuli, (like what happened a while ago), at sa mga taong patay na. Sila na rin ang maglilinis sa mga dugo na nagkalat. Whatever. Well, in short, they are the cleaners of our mess.

At hindi dapat ito makita ng mga tao at ng mga media. Malaking issue kung gan'on.

We arrive at the company, and he drags me straightly to his office.

I sit on the sofa while he sits across to where I am settled down.

"Start telling the whole story." His voice is serious. He's like this in times like this. And in short, he's becoming dominantly intimidating.

I take a deep breath. I start talking, explaining, and telling him anything what happened before he came.

"This is a serious thing." he says as he clenches his jaw. "And they know who you really are."

"I know. But how?"

"I don't know also." Kuya Mike sighs in frustration. "I should assign someone to investigate this situation. And they saw your uniform."

"Ah, right. Call the C. Org., if nahuli nila ang walo." I command him. Well, I can also be bossy.

"Hang on." he replies, standing up. Kuya Mike picks his phone from his pocket,
and starts dialing. After a few seconds when he speaks, saying: "What's up?" he says shortly. "Nahuli ba silang lahat . . ? Great. Keep it up. Yes. Oh, I see . . . Yeah. Bye." And then the phone call is off.

"What now?" Tanong ko.

"Nahuli raw silang lahat. Lahat daw sila ay nasaktan ng todo." he smirks, "And it's because of you."

"Tch. They were attacking me and I was just defending." I say in humor and irritation.

"Yeah. And you're still safe . . . for now." He mumbles the last word. "By the way, lilipat ka na sa 'min ni Nate. You're not safe to your own unit."

"Okay," I agreed easily. "I'll get my things later."

"No, it's dangerous!" He interjects. I eyed him in confusion. Why is he so outrageous? "I also asked someone to get your things, so no worries."

I scoff, "You're such a control freak, Kuya."

"Nah, maingat lang ako, Hime." He replies in a cool way.

"Conceited. Parehas kayo ni Nate." I shot back.

He grins, more on smirk. "May ipagmamayabang naman."

"Seriously?" Napatawa na lang ako. "Dapat kayo na lang ni Nate ang naging magka-kambal. Parehas kayo ng sinasabi."

He chuckles while leaning back to the couch. "That runs on our blood, my princess." and says coyly.

"Oo na lang." I tell him in mousy voice.

"Now." Kuya Mike states as he grunts, standing up. "Have a rest here, Hime, and I'm going to work. If you need something, ask my secretary."

"I will." I reply. "You better go."

"Bye." He says and kisses my forehead before he leaves.

Hah . . . I sigh. For sure, mag-aalala si Nate at hindi ako pumasok. I grab my phone for me to call him.

Pero kasi . . .

"Nah, siya na lang ang tumawag kung nag-aalala talaga siya." I mutter to myself. Right. Siya na lang.

Then, my phone rings.

Aha. Speaking of.

~ ♕ ~

∽ n a t h a n ' s  p e r s p e c t i v e ∽

We're here in the corridor with my gang, talking about my twin sister. I mentally smirk. Hime is unbelievable. Binasag niya ang mga bintana ng isang Toyota FT-1 sports car at nakisakay kina Chance. Incredible young lady.

"Bakit hindi pa pumapasok si Natsumi? Kahapon pa siya absent, ah." Sean says out of the blue.

Yeah, I don't know either.

I look at Sean. Concerned about my twin? "Sean." I call him. "Crush mo ba ang Natsumi na iyon?" I ask calmly. I'll kill him if he does.

"Well, yeah." He admits while shrugging. "Bakit, Nate? Bawal ba ang magka-crush sa kanya? Cute siya, eh."

Fair point. She's pretty, strong, and cute. Those are the reasons why I'm very protective about her safety. As well as the reason why I came home early and finished my job at Korea that instant.

"Oo nga pala," Justine says, pertaining me. "Bakit hindi ka rin pumasok kahapon?"

I groan in my mind. "Well, uh, we visited our old house."

"We? Marami kayo?" Yaehl asks after Justine.

"Yes, we were three."

"Ano'ng ginawa ninyo?" Kieffer joins in the interrogation session.

"Ang dami ninyong tanong." I tell in snappish manner. That's a secret. A private part of me.

"Ito naman ang sungit." Kieffer mumbles while his lips are jutted up. Tch.

Later that conversation, my heart starts to beat abnormally. Parang may mali. My inner feelings are uneasy. Just like, there's something wrong is happening. And Hime is the first person who comes to my mind.

"Ano'ng problema, Pinuno?" It is Yaehl who notices me first.

"Nothing." I say, "Don't mind me." and dismiss the topic blankly. Yaehl just shrugs his shoulder, he doesn't want to inquire anymore.

Don't think bad. Everything is fine. I calm myself before I go insane.

Minutes have passed and my heart becomes easy. What's happening to my twin? I inhale and let the air out. I decide to call Hime.

"Pardon me, guys, but I need to call someone." I tell them in a serious tone.

They stare impassively at me. With their looks, they are asking 'why' and 'who'.

"Oh! Sige lang." It is Sean who breaks their silence awkwardly.

"Thanks." I murmur and leave right away. Noong malayo na ako sa kanila, I grab my phone and dial Hime's number.

"Hi." She greets first when the phone call is on.

"Hime." I reply.

"What's up, bruh?"

"I just wanted to know, na, bakit wala ka pa sa school." I try my voice to be calm and cool. I'll be a laughingstock if Hime finds out that I'm worried about her. She's telling me that Worried Nathan is an unattractive sight, especially to her.

Most of the time, Hime is a bully.

"Something came up. And I'm sorry, I can't go to school today." She answers.

"Today? Why?"

"I can't tell you now. Just see you at the manor."

"What do you mean manor? Lumipat ka na? Why?"

She hisses, "I've said, something came up and I can't tell you now. And I don't want to tell you over the phone, let me tell you personally."

"Fine, fine. I understand." I say in low voice. She wins. "Just be safe, okay? Kinutuban ako ng masama kanina. Pero guniguni ko lang iyon siguro. Don't mind me."

"You're so sweet, Nate. Haha!" Hime laughs on the other side. "Also, it's so gay!" I have just said it. "I'll gonna hang up now. Bye! I love you, Nate! With hearts!"

She just says in cheerful tone and immediately hangs the call.

That makes me laugh. "I love you too, twin sis." I mumble to myself.

Later that day, the bell rings, and classes will start in a minute. I go back where my gang is. Nadatnan ko silang hinihintay ako.

"Come! It's our first subject." I invite them and they follow me.

Since Chance is close friend to me, siya na ang nilapitan ko. Inakbayan ko siya at bumulong sa kanya. "I called Natsumi. She said that she won't make it today. She's sick."

I lie, just to tease him.

"Why are you telling me that?" he replies in grouchy voice. "As if I care." and whispers the last sentence.

Well, honestly, I'm bit offended when he said that. "I just said, so that you know." I answer, shrugging my shoulders. 'As if I care,' pala, ha? Let's see.

"Tch."

Whatever.

Eventually, the whole day goes smooth. Hime's friends are wondering why she's absent again.

I glance at Chance. We became friends since fourth grade. I decide to make friend with him, because Chance was a victim of bullying on his childhood. Chance was a soft kid when he was young.

I couldn't stand seeing a person who bullied a person who was weaker than that person. So I meddled in the middle of the fight. I saved him from all the bullies.

And then out of the blue, he appeared, asking me to teach him how to be strong. I accepted it and taught him all the things I had learned from the Mafia.

Nauna ko siyang nakilala kaysa sa apat. Ngunit hindi niya pa ako lubusang kilala. He only knows that I'm a reaper. And as for my family, he knows nothing.

I sigh, I know someday, he'll figure everything by himself.

↭ ♡ ↭