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

"Tapos?" Hime asks me. She's currently clinging to my right arm while her head is rested to my shoulder.

I gaze at her, using my eyes.

I heave a sigh and look above. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes. Please tell me." She requests, and along with me, we stare at the sky.

"Okay, then. I'll tell you."

I take a deep breath. As I dig my pasts on my mind, darkness embraces me.

"Because, I'm—"

"Oh. It's nice that you're awake."

A man greeted, as the lights turned on. I saw him, coming here with a devilish smile. I flinched my jaw. Whenever I looked to that face, it made the hell annoyed out of me.

"And, oh. So, you've already met my daughter?"

Automatically, my eyes locked at Akeesha. Her cries became louder as she looked down on the floor. Looking to her face, an expression of guilt drew to her face.

"What the hell are you saying?" I exclaimed to the old man.

That couldn't be.

Frustrated.

My mind was full of complication.

"Oh, again." He said in mocking tone. "How awful that you do not know. She's my daughter, your most loving fake girlfriend."

"Just shut the hell, old man! Stop spitting nonsense! I'm going to kill you when I escaped here!"

"That would be nice." He laughed, full of underestimation. "But you should know how to respect those older than you." As he reached me—where I was sitting—he pointed a gun to my head.

"Dad!" Akeesha shouted and went in between. She quickly removed gun from the old man.

And the most hurtful thing when she called him 'Dad'.

"Dad, please! Let me talk to him first! Please . . ." She pleaded as she disassembled the gun.

The old man sighed and wiped Akeesha's tears. "Fine, my sweetheart, since you did great to make him fall in love with you." And then he left with a victorious smile.

I was completely awake when I heard the old man's words. And it was suffocating.

I couldn't breathe. It was like I was drowning in the waters of lies; lost in the place where false-hope was existing.

I looked back to Akeesha, her head was down.

"Tell me, you're just lying right?" I asked quietly.

I was not deaf, nor numb not to understand it. It was just hard to accept.

I couldn't accept that her father was the Boss of the Black Society.

She cried instead of answering me.

"Tell me!!" I shouted through gritted teeth.

"Yes. I'm his daughter. I'm sorry, Nathan. I'm so sorry . . ."

"Ah . . ." I uttered in low voice. "So it is true that you only used me, huh, Akeesha? Along with your father?"

"Yes." She admitted while preventing herself not to sob hard.

I laughed sarcastically. "Really, huh? Then, why are you crying? You should be rejoicing, Akeesha. You've won."

"I'm not happy, Nathan!" She objected. "I'm crying, because . . . I-I love you."

"Ahahaha!" That made me laugh. "Bullshit, Akeesha! You love me? That's a fucking bullshit! Fuck that love! Fuck all those fucking lies!"

"Please . . . Don't say that, Nathan . . ." She cried, and I could see that she was hurting.

Hurting.

I should be the one who was hurting at this point. "Dry those tears." I said in a cold voice. "Even if you cry in front of me, I would never believe in you. I utterly hate myself, because I fell in love with a wolf."

"Nate . . . I beg you, please believe in me."

"Get the hell out of my sight, Akeesha. Along with your shit-ass lies."

"I can't leave you . . . Nate, have faith in me."

"Oh-ho. 'Faith'? Big word. Why should I have faith in you?"

"Because you love me!" She countered with a determined voice. "And because I love you too."

"Futile. That's a futile reason to believe in you."

"Swear to God. Please believe me!"

"You're such a good liar, Akeesha." I chuckled coldly."Thank you for teaching me not to love again."

"N-No! Nathan . . . P-Please. I wanted to talk to Dad to end this, but—"

"End this, huh?" I cut her. "But did you tell him? No. You never told him. You just have the urges, but you never told him. So, in the beginning up to the last, you're just playing with me, aren't you?"

"Nate . . . Napilitan lang ako . . . I want to make him happy. All his life, he's miserable . . . So I asked him that what he wanted to do in his life. And he wished me to do this."

"Yes, I love you, Akeesha. But, I don't think that will last. I feel nothing now, and I'm better with this." I told her. Right. I just felt nothing. I just wanted to die.

She didn't answer.

A great silence filled this four-cornered room.

"Itatakas kita, Nate. Maghintay ka lang."

"Don't be so ridiculous. You don't have to do that." I answered her, "After what you did, I lost my motivation to live. It's okay for me to die now. So forget about me."

"No, Nate. You still have your family. Remember what you're always telling me? That you love your twin sister so much. So, don't leave her."

Those words struck me. My Hime. I promised her that I would live, so that she wouldn't be sad.

"Trust me. Even just for this last time."

I eyed her again as I kept silent. I could see the sincerity through her eyes.

And she left.

I had been staring on the ground. I didn't know where my thoughts were travelling.

Was this depression, with frustration? Hell. This was hell.

Minutes had passed when she came back again. She went near me as she grabbed her knife and tore all the rope that was refraining me to move.

Right after she was done cutting all the ties, she picked out the key out of her pocket. She unlocked all the handcuffs in just a minute.

She bowed her head, shyly.

I sighed and took her hand. "Let's escape."

We started to run as she led the way. There were some persons who was attacking, and I could still manage to defeat them.

Fortunately, I still had my strength.

Based on her, we were nearly heading to the rooftop. She also contacted the White Nation to go here in this place.

"What a great view, right?"

A man talked behind that caused us to stop on our tracks.

"Oh, no. It's Dad." She gasped she went in front of me.

"Come here, my daughter." Akeesha's father ordered. "Stay away from that man."

"No, Dad! Please, let us go." She answered back to her father.

"Don't tell me, Akeesha, that you have feelings for that man?"

"Yes,"

"I thought you understand what we talked about when I gave you the mission, Akeesha." Her father stated. "No falling in love, just pure work."

"I'm so sorry, Dad. I did all my best to defy the gravity, but I still fell." Akeesha confessed. "I love him, to the point I became a disappointment for you, Dad."

"You betrayed your father in exchange for love to that bastard? Come to your senses, Akeesha! You believe in love? There's no such thing like that. That 'thing' simply doesn't exist."

"Huwag mo akong ihantulad sa iyo, Dad. I'm not . . . like you. I have my own life, I'm not your puppet."

"Sinusuway mo ba ako, Akeesha?" The Boss said while clenching his jaw.

"Dad, ayaw kong suwayin ka, but you're forcing me."

"Don't lose my patience, Akeesha. I'm warning you, come over here. Don't defend that man, he's an enemy."

I sighed. Maybe, we were destined to be like this. Our love was a taboo.

"Akeesha," I called her and held her shoulder. "Please, huwag ka nang makialam dito. Umalis ka na."

"I told you! I can't leave you here!"

"No, pumunta ka na sa ama mo." I opposed, "I'll deal with this."

"No. Please, let me pay for my mistakes. Para mapatawad mo ako."

I groaned in mind. I didn't have to say anything that was why I pulled her hand and started running away.

We could hear nothing but the horrifying sounds of gunfires and endless curses of her father's letting out.

We managed to escape to the rooftop and locked the door. We sat automatically on the floor. I was so tired, and I couldn't run an another mile.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, panting. "Are you hurt?"

"N-No. Maghintay ka lang. Darating na ang mga iyon." She said breathlessly.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly, "You're not fine."

Umiling siya at ngumiti siya nang mahina. Lalong bumigat ang mga panghinga niya, namumutla siya, at pinagpapawisan.

"Akeesha, what is it?"

"N-Nothi—" She didn't continue what she was saying as she coughed blood.

God, no.

Her body was falling, and I quickly caught her as I placed her to my arms.

My hands were shaking and almost losing my strength as I wiped the blood to her mouth. My eyes stung. I couldn't speak.

I searched for her wound and found out that she had a shot below her ribs. And it hit her vital organs. She was breathing heavily as her blood flowed endlessly.

My head started spinning. I blinked my eyes, because in any minute, I would faint.

I inhaled sharply and held her face. "Akeesha, please hold on." I smiled slightly.

A big joke.

As much I wanted to put it in my mind that this was only a pure joke, there was no place on this earth that you could escaped the harsh reality.

She shook her head and a tear slipped from her eye.

"You can't leave me like this." I could help but to cry. Seeing her dying because of me, I wanted to die along with her.

"I want your forgiveness, Nate." She said in a breathless whisper.

"Don't. Wala kang kasalanan . . . We're both victims here."

Drops of waters were escaping nonstop from my eyes. I couldn't control them.

Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn this world!

She reached for my cheeks. Oh, how I love to be in her touches. How I prayed to stay with her more.

I held her hand and squeezed it lightly. "Can you live for me?"

"How I wish be with you longer . . . but I can't. Haha." She chuckled weakly, "I'm sorry, Nathan . . . Please believe me when I say that . . . I love you, Nate . . . I really do."

I cried as I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to me. "I love you, too, Akeesha. You know that! And I'm sorry if I acted like an ass a while ago."

She chuckled again. "I understand, you were just mad."

"Akeesha, stay with me."

"Nate, I don't deserve you, but I love you. . . That's the irony." With her voice, I could sense that she was giving in to the death. "Find better than me, Nate. Continue to live."

"Akeesha, tell me! How can I supposed to live after this thing, huh?"

"There are many reasons to live, Nate, don't let your eyes shut."

That was her last words. Slowly and slowly, her heart beats were fading away. While her beats started to fail, I was slowly dying.

My eyes couldn't stop crying.

It was an unbearable pain. I couldn't breathe properly. My chest hurts so much and my whole body was becoming numb. It was a sweet torture. I wanted to die. I didn't want to feel the pang of the llreality's wrath.

What an unfair world. I chuckled as I cried.

I loved you Akeesha, your memories would forever be mine. It'd be also my sweet nightmares. You left me like this, and you still wanted me to live.

Sure, I would play fair to this world. For you, I would try.

I heard the chopper came. I stood up where I was and took a final look to her sweet face. She died happily. You were so unfair, Akeesha.

I ran to the chopper and I heard her father's painful yearns. I knew, I knew how it hurt. You were not only the one who was suffering.

I went to chopper and left the place.

"The end."

I ended the flashback.

"Ah. I understand, kaya gustong maghiganti ng Black Society? Dahil akala niya, pinatay mo siya?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I'm sorry Hime. Nadamay ka pa sa gulong ito."

They are always chasing Hime. Why not with me? I am sure there's only one reason. The Black Society wants us to experience how painful to lose someone that is precious in life.

"Nah. Don't be. Kasalanan ng Black Society 'yun." She says coolly. "And besides, we're family, right?"

"Right, my princess." I tell her and wrap an arm to her while we're lying on the green grounds.

She places her head below my shoulders as she grabs my free hand, then she plays my fingers with hers.

Natsumi is sweet in her own ways. Swerte si Chance kung naging sila. Hahaha! No way, akin lang kambal ko.

By the way, we're here in a cemetery, it's Akeesha's Death Anniversary.

Actually, kahapon pa. Kung
kahapon ako dadalaw, baka makasabay ko pa ang ama niya.

"Komusta nga pala kayo ni Chance?"

"You know, I hate that question."

I chuckle. "Why?"

"Lagi iyan ang tinatanong ninyo. Si Kuya Mike, Ate Bea, pati na si Dad and Mom alam na. Sasali ka pa ba?"

"Mom and Dad knows?"

"Yeah. Kuya Mike told them." She pouts. "He's a traitor."

"Eh? Bakit away mong ipaalam kina Dad?" I ask. "And in any way, do you like him?"

"Hmm . . ." She hums, pursing her lips. "I like him . . . as a friend. He's caring, and sometimes, he can be so sweet. I can prove that."

"How?"

"Hmm. Hindi ko lang naikwento noon, kasi, kinuha nina Moni-clown and friends 'yung P.E. uniform ko." She starts talking. "Pinapunta nila ako sa pool area. Then tinulak nila ako."

"What? Why you didn't tell me?"

She smirks."Hindi ka man nagtatanong."

"Tsk. Never mind. Tapos n'on?"

"Chance came, hindi ko na lang alam kung ano ang nangyari kina Monique. He gave me a towel and let me use his private room."

That bastard. He's saying nothing to me, but he's already making moves secretly! I will kill him next time.

But he helped my twin sister . . . I will kill him the next time after next time.

And about the horror house thingy. The last time that Hime fell on a 'magical' hole, it was the plan of Monique together with her friends.

They set her up and then ka-blaaaam! Everything went fucked up.

Those girls are total bitches.

So, Chance and I talked to the principal—which is Chance's elder sister—to punish them.

Their punishment was one month being cleaner of every restrooms of the university.

Hime have an extreme fright from rats, cockroaches, lizards, frogs, and spiders since she was a little girl. Those creatures can make her cry. Since childhood, she's already like that. She keeps on telling me that they look so creepy and disgusting, that's why she hates them. And don't wonder if she fainted that time.

"Wala na ba, Hime?"

"He also protected me from street gangs, noong namili kami ng gamit para sa Acquaintance Party." She says in boring tone, but she's flattered though. "Gan'on pala siya makipaglaban. He was . . . awesome, indeed. He has the same style of you in fighting."

"Yeah. Because I was the one who taught him." I simply answer her question.

"Heh? Really? But why?"

Then, I tell her the reason, that he wants to be strong and to protect his love ones.

"May alam ka ba sa past ni Chance?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Kasi, tinanong ko bakit siya masungit. Ayaw niyang sagutin. I could sense na may nangyari in the past kaya nagkagan'on siya."

"You're right. His mother was murdered when he was turning nine year old."

Napahiwalay sa akin si Hime dahil sa pagkabigla. "Why does his mother murdered?"

"I don't know. Hindi ko pa alam kung alam na niya ang rason bakit pinatay ang Mom niya, pati na kung sino ang pumatay."

"He was just innocent that time."

"Kaya nag-aral siya ng iba't-ibang klasing physical combats, paghawak ng mga armas." I state, smelling Hime's hair. "And because I'm a great teacher, magaling din ang student."

"Conceited." She returns, chuckling. "Does he know that you're part of a Mafia?"

"Yes. Sa lahat ng Cold Warriors. Siya lang ang nakakaalam."

"Does he know also that we're twin?"

"Of course not. Alam niya lang na si Kuya Mike lang ang kapatid ko."

She sighs as a relief. "Ah. Mabuti naman."

After many minutes passed, I decided to take Hime home.

"Hime, let's go home."

"Okay." She responds as we compose ourselves.

I look above the cotton-like clouds.

"I wish you're still alive." I whisper on my mind.

Suddenly, Hime clings to my arm. "Huwag ka ngang mag-senti, Nate. It doesn't suit you."

I force a grin.

I hope that will be easy.

We start to walk together as we reach my car. Hime lets me drive the car and we head home safely.

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Hi, my lovelies!~ I'm just going to promote something. Haha. Have you heard of the One Ok Rock? They're actually well-known, internationally. Most of their songs are English mixed of Japanese. And I used one of their songs. Feel free to listen, because I think this song is somehow connected to this chapter. <3