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

I'm here at the corridor, kaka-dismiss lang namin and nagsi-uwian na ang mga classmates ko. Nagpa-iwan ako, dahil ayaw kong lumabas lalo na't umuulan.

It's not that I dislike rains, I actually love rains.

It's just like when raining, I hear the rhythms of requiem. I can hear death, agony, and misery of people who burst their emotions in the dripping sound of the rain. It is my lullaby. My comfort season.

Minutes later when my phone rings. I check the caller ID. It's Kuya Mike.

"Hi." I greet over the phone.

"Hello, Hime." he returns.

"Kuya, ano'ng gusto mo?"

"Nothing much." Kuya Mike replies. "Just . . . I'll be late for today. Pwedeng kang sumabay kay Nathan or hintayin mo na lang ako."

"Uh, I'll just wait for you na lang, Kuya."

"I'll be late for about ninety minutes or more, I guess." he replies in hesistant voice.

"It's okay." I speak in delight. "And what do you mean, 'I guess'?"

"May emergency meeting ako ngayon." Kuya Mike answers as his excuse. "Kung hindi ako makakarating in ninety minutes, I'll call our driver to drive for you."

"Got it." I respond in solace.

"Good. I'm hanging up, sweetheart. Goodbye." He chuckles and I can feel his cool look.

"Yes, goodbye."

And then the call goes off.

Okay. Ano na ang gagawin ko? Umuulan pa naman.

"Rain, rain go away." I sing inside of my mind.

"Come again another day."

Patuloy ko habang sinasalo ang mga patak ng ulan sa aking mga palad.

"Little . . . Miracle," I shrug while pursing my lips. "Wants to play." Then I grin. Childish me. "Rain, rain go away." Now I sing to my lips.

Ang lungkot. Wala nang mga tao rito.

Paalis na ako nang may isang pana ang dumaan sa mismong gilid ng aking mukha. Wala man akong reaksyon sa nangyari, pero nagulat ako. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako nasugatan.

Sinundan ko kung saan nagmula ang pana. Kung ako ang target niya, sana, kanina pa niya ako tinirahan. Pero hindi.

Nakita ko ang archer, at paalis na siya. Nakasuot siya ng maskara at naka-itim na ninja attire. Hindi ako ang target niya.

Tinignan ko kung saan tumarak ang pana, may isang pulang tela kung saan ito nakatusok.

Inalis ko sa pagkatarak into at kinuha ang tela.

"We're always eyeing on you, Dark Arcana."

Ang nakasulat sa tela na may itim na tinta. Only one organization that can threaten me like that.

The Black Society, the mortal nemesis of the White Nation. Similar to white and black, completely opposite since the beginning.

They are not silent killers, kahit sa publiko pumapatay sila. Inosenteng tao man o hindi, they kill with or without reasons.

We, the White Nation, kill to keep our lives alive. We are sacrificing ourselves for justice and good. This is our life, our fate.

And I think, sila ang nagpadala ng black men last time.

How? How did they find me?

"Miss Montero."

Medyo nabigla ako noong may tumawag sa akin. I gaze where the voice comes from.

"Miss Marionne." I instictively call, not aware that she's the one who'll appear here. Plus, I did not feel her presence.

I look down to her shoes, they are two-inch black leather stilletos. Usually, shoes like that creates sound on the floor. But why hers don't?

Mysterious. She is mysterious. It makes me curious to know what is her real identity.

"Bakit nandito ka pa?" She questions me with a calm grin.

"Waiting for my service." I briefly answer her question with a cold voice. "How about you, Miss? Why are you still here?"

"Pauwi na sana ako, Natsumi." She says, still on untroubled posture.

"Ah." I nod, observing her. Honestly, she's too difficult to read.

Behind those cryptic calmness, she is hiding something. It's my first time seeing her like that. Normally, she's only on normal teacher mode.

I stare deeply at her; and the same as her, she is placidly gaping to my eyes.

"Why are you holding an arrow?" She finally says at last, cutting the eye contact. "And what's with that note?" Miss Marionne asks, averting her eyes on the arrow.

I quickly hide the fabric behind me. "This is nothing." I say, hiding the truth.

She goes near me. She's planning something, but I can't move even a single bit. Her cold and calm gazes are making me dumb.

"Let me handle it." She remarks. And in one swift move, she got the note.

I remain emotionless. I have never imagined that she does that without doing anything.

Her gazes are like a posoined venum that will paralyze you in any times she looks in the eyes.

Once she reads the note, her face turns seriously cold.

"They had already found out." Her voice changes, it is no longer calm, it becomes dark and icy.

"What do you mean?" Frowning, I question her.

She grins again, her calmness returns.

"Who really are you?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

She remains grinning. Not an ordinary grin; a peculiar grin. "Come, I'll tell you."

I face her with stillness. "How can I trust you?" I make my voice firm and stern.

"I vow in front of your parents and to the White Nation."

I think that is an enough reason. I sigh, she's part of the White Nation.

"Trust me, Nat." She reassures, smiling.

"Okay, where?" I say silently. I can protect myself, anyway.

She grins again, and without a word, she starts walking. I only follow her where she goes and we stop at the lockers' area.

"What now, Miss?" I ask. I do not know if Rina Marionne is her real name.

She breathes out first. "As you think, I'm a member of White Nation that your father rules."

I nod. "Yes, you're right." and tell her. "I presume, you know about me."

"Of course, Lady." Her response while removing her eye glasses.

"Tell me everything."

"Surely." She answers back with a simple bow. "I know the basic information about you. Like, you are the secret twin sister of Nathan."

"Yeah. And?"

"You are the younger sister of Mikhail. Your real name is Hime Miracle Natsumi Twain, the only daughter of Niel and Quinn Twain." She states in summary. Of course, basic information about me. Meh. She really knows about me. "Let me ask you, Natsumi." She adds while tilting her head and smiles warmly.

"What's it?" I inquire in quite bemuse.

"Do you still remember me?"

I knit my brows to her question.

Who is she? When is the last time we met? Not in this school. Certainly, she's a reaper. If she's a member, I will indeed recognize her. But, no. She's nothing but a stranger.

I decide to observe her more. Maybe, I'll familiarize her. I start to her hair, to the shape of her face, the roundness and color of her eyes, her lips that are supple with her cherry blossom-colored petals, her pointed and little nose, her hair that flawlessly shiny in light brown . . . and her . . . calm voice.

"Let me braid your hair, Nat."

A memory flashes in my head. I remember the lady that usually braiding my hair when I was a child.

"Yes, Ate!"

I recall my response that time.

This lady in front of me is . . . "Ate Bea." I whisper.

Ate Bea smiles brightly. "I'm glad you still know me, Nat." Beaming, she goes near me to give me a light pat to my hair.

I puff my cheeks and pout. "I do. Ikaw lang pala iyan."

She's Ate Bea. Beatrix Ashtria Kaguya. She is Kuya Mike's childhood best friend. Pumunta si Ate Bea sa America, nag-migrate sila ng pamilya niya. Additionally, ang Mom niya at ang Mom ko ay mag-best friend.

Sabay rin silang nag-train ni Kuya Mike bilang reaper. Ate Bea and Kuya Mike were both eleven that time. She also treated me like a little sister. She even protected me whenever Kuya Mike is making fun of me.

"Does my older brother know that you're here?" I question.

"Yes. Actually, siya pa nga ang sumundo sa akin noon sa airport." She says, flushing.

I stifle a laugh with a mocking tone. "Bagay naman kayo ni Kuya. In denial lang kayo."

"Ah. Eh . . . Hindi!" She defends. "Best friends lang kami ng Kuya mo . . . Haha." She chuckles with a touch of sadness.

"Okay lang 'yan, Ate." I comfort as I place a hand to her one shoulder. "Gusto ka rin ni Kuya."

"Huwag ka ngang magbiro."

"Do you think I'm joking?" I retort while lifting an eyebrow.

"Oo." She says sheepishly.

"Maiba naman, ano'ng alam mo tungkol sa Black Society?"

"Ah, right. Ang mga humahabol sa iyo."

"Mm. Were you informed that I'm going to live here?"

"Yes. Kaya umuwi rin ako." Sagot niya.

"Eh? Para sa akin?"

"Another yes." She tells me and wears her glasses again. "Inutusan kasi ako ng Kuya mo na bossy at control freak."

"Ah. Alam ko na, pinapabantay niya ba ako sa 'yo?" I ask again while giving her a small smile.

"Bingo." She utters and bangs me with her hand forms like a gun. "Nagpalit ako ng identity at nagturo rito, dahil ito ang misyon na bigay ng Kuya Mike mo—ang bantayan ka."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." I continuously click my tongue while shaking my head. "Para akong nagka-babysitter, Ate."

She giggles and gives me fast hug from behind. "Tanungin mo kasi si Mike."

"Bakit ka naman pumayag?" I shot back.

"Na-miss kasi kita, Nat-chan!"

I grin at her. "Oo na. Na-miss ko rin kita."

"Now you know."

"Yeah." I boringly tell her as I look to my wrist watch, it is 4:25 PM.

"Bakit wala pa ang Kuya mo?" Tanong niya habang naglalakad kami.

"Bakit? Miss mo na siya?" I counter with a teasing smile.

Her face blushes in a pale shades of pink. "A-Ah . . . hindi, hindi!" and waves her hands beside her head.

"You're blushing, Ate."

"'Wag ka kasing manukso!"

One thing a like about Ate Bea ay napaka-mayumi ng boses niya.

"So, totoo? Natutukso ka, dahil tinutukso kitang gusto mo si Kuya. So, totoo nga."

"Ah? Medyo magulo."

I face palm. "Never mind." I snap in low tone.

Habang naglalakad, napansin kong tumila na ang ulan.

"Ano raw?" I hear her mutters to herself. "Natutukso ako dahil tinutukso niya ako sa kuya niya?"

"In short, you like him." I directly tell her. I like her for Kuya Mike. It's the right time for Kuya Mike to have a marriage life.

"How can you be so sure of that?"

I grin at her, hiding the mystic to my smile. "You're becoming transparent whenever I'm saying his name. And your eyes don't lie."

"Am I that obvious?" She mumbles. I look to her face, she is blushing.

I got my victorious smile to my face. "Come. Let's go to the main gate." I ignore her question. I'm certainly sure that she knows it herself. "Kuya Mike have an emergency meeting that's why he will be late."

"Oh, okay." she nods twice. "Sabihin mo na lang sa Kuya mo ang nangyari, Miracle?"

"Yes, Ate." Payag ko at saktong papunta na kami sa main gate, nakita namin sila.

"Oh." Ate Bea maliciously utters. "Chance is there." She whispers to my ear, returning the teasing.

"Yeah." I reply without enthusiasm.

"You know, you two have a chemistry." Now, she's the one who's kidding me.

"We're not." I retort in cranky voice.

"Look at Chance," she continues jeering. "He's eyeing you like a wild eagle."

"Jeez." I sense a sharpness to my nape. "You're making me shivers, Ate."

"Don't be such a hard-hearted, Miracle. I know the reason why your father threw you here." Meh. She uses the word 'threw'. Yes, Dad kicks me out of Japan to find the 'life' he meant. "I'd been in denial stage, Nat. That's why I know." So umamin ka rin. Heh.

"Yeah, you know." I simply say.

When we reach the place, Ate Bea greets them. "Oh, guys. Nandito pa kayo."

"Obviously." I whisper to myself.

"Oh, Nat. Bakit mo kasama si Miss Marionne?" Nate questions while smirking.

"Nakasalubong ko." I answer grumpily and hear Nate makes an ahhh sound while nodding.

"Nathan, hatid mo na si Natsumi. Mukhang hindi darating ang sundo niya." Ate Bea prompts.

Nathan's smirk broadens as he goes to my direction. "Sure, Miss." He concedes and wraps an arm to my shoulders. "Come, Hime. Let me take you home." Nate announces while chuckling, giving Chance a nasty look.

"Don't call me 'Hime'." I hiss quietly while clenching my jaw. Heh. Playing a game with her, huh?

"Okay. Natsumi, let me take you home!" He repeats with a sarcasm in his tone.

"Shut up." I roll my eyes and remove his hand on my shoulders.

I march silently to Nate's car, exactly, he unlocks the car by using the sensor keys.

I enter the car and sit at the passenger seat. The moment I sit, I have already slump my face to my palm.

Gee.

I irritatedly look outside. Nate has his victorious grin while walking to his car. And Chance is only coldly staring.

As for his aura, it's full of ice. I sigh. This has gotten nuts, and I can't face this.

Nate finally climbs inside and sits on the driver's seat.

"That is a big issue, Nathan." I lazily say and he starts driving.

"Oh, yeah?" His smirk resounds around the car. "Let them think about us, Hime. And they do not know that we're siblings."

I just shake my head while snorting. "You're a pain, Nate."

Tumawa naman siya. "I know, okay?" He answers. "Bakit wala pala si Kuya?"

"Meeting."

"Oh, okay."

Then, everything goes silent. Siguro, bored ako at inaantok. While Nathan, I guess, he's tired of talking. Heh, heh.

"By the way," I open the new conversation. "Do you know something?" And ask.

"About what?"

"About Miss Marionne." I tell him specifically.

"Ah. Yes. She's Ate Bea." He responds in full of innocence.

I instantly face palm. "And you're not telling me?"

"You're not asking, Hime." He coolly replies.

Gee. I automatically drop my head to the window.

I click my tongue as compose myself.

"Kuya Mike is in love with her."

I hastily face him surprisingly, "Eh?! What?—I mean, really?" I blurt out.

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

"He talked to me." He answers. His voice changed too. It is so shallow. He's in emotional pain.

Awkward, I suppose. Maybe, Nate doesn't like this discussion.

"Good. And he never discussed it to me."

"Man to man talk, Hime." Nate says.

"Of course. Why don't he tell her?"

"He tried. But his tongue is tied whenever he's trying."

"Oh. It's obvious that Ate Bea like him too." I tell him while leaning my head back to the headrest. I yawn. I want to sleep already.

"That's the thing, Hime." Nate's voice raises as if he's in the state of argument. "Kuya Mike loves her, she only likes him. Just think of it, if Kuya Mike confess, will she going accept him? What if her feelings for him are just for friends?"

"Oh." I'm shut.

"There's a difference between like and love." He adds. "A lot of differences."

I blink how many times. I don't know. I have never been there. "Does it? Tell me the difference, Nate."

"Yes, it is. And I want you to know it by yourself."

Eh? How cliff-hanging.

"You're being deep, Nathan. And you know because you'd been there, too." Err. This is awkward. Talking about the pasts, is what Nathan really hates.

"Of course, I know. And I don't want to talk about it, Hime." He says coldly as he stops the car exactly at the mansion.

Hindi ko napansin na nandito na kami. Just because we're talking to serious love talks.

He gets off out of the car silently. I sigh and follow him.

Poor Nathan, he's still hurting up to now. I feel sorry for him. He fell in love with someone, but the world didn't allow their relationship.

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me to me: why do i hate this story lol