"Yeah. You really don't like him. You just thought you liked him."

AMELIA LAMARCA'S VIEWPOINT

I looked at the guy who sounded so sure of his statement.

"I like Brother Mir," I said with conviction.

"Isn't it because your mother keeps pushing you to like him?" His words made my eyes widen.

He's right. My mom was always full of praises for Brother Mir.

That's why... I...

I quickly shook my head. In the past, whenever I heard someone questioning my feelings, I never let it slide, not even with my brothers.

Kuya Gillion always warned me that my feelings weren't real.

"You've been brainwashed, Amelia."

"What are you talking about?"

I'm what?

"Someone's conditioning your mind to believe that you like that idiot man. You've been hypnotized by someone of high caliber, my dear sister Amelia."

Why? Why can't I refute what he's saying? What's going on?

I heard him sigh heavily.

"I know this is a lot to take in. While it's still early, I need you to be careful, Amelia. Don't let anyone notice that you're no longer under their control. I'll handle them."

I blinked rapidly, confused, and looked at the stranger in front of me. He was gazing up at the setting sun.

"How can I believe everything you're saying?" I asked seriously, even though I was still confused. There was something about him that made me feel like he was protecting me.

I heard a feminine chuckle.

"How could I not care about my sister?"

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he slowly removed the black veil hiding her face.

There... behind the veil was a stunning beauty.

At that moment, I felt as though I were blinded. She wasn't wearing any remarkable accessories or heavy makeup, yet her face was so stunning that I wondered if she was real...

"Oh god... you!"

"Yeah, nice to meet you, cousin.."

Her smile is so enchantingly beautiful.

Since that day, we became really close. Napangiti ako nang maalala ang mga sandaling kasama ko siya.

"Hm.." napatingin ako sa mapanuring mata ng aking Kuya Gillion.

"You're acting strange, little sister." Seryosong puna nito na kinaiwas ko ng tingin.

"... like you're hiding something, whatever it is be careful." Seryosong sambit nito na kinanguso ko.

"Yeah, yeah.." irap ko at tiningnan ang hawak kong titulo at napangiti hehe.

"Why are you so hellbent to buy that mountain?" Tanong nito, galing kami sa 'Royal Auction' ang isa sa mga pinakakilala at maimpluwensyang auction house sa Martial Society. Sumama ako kay Gillion para talaga dito dahil...

"It's my welcome gift for our cousin!" excited na sambit ko, bago kasi kami maghiwalay ng misteryosang pinsan ko ay lagi ko itong nakikita na napapatingin sa direksyon ng mountain range ng 'Drim Mountain Range'

Kaya naisip ko na iregalo ito sa kanya.

"🎶~" I hummed happily, I hope she would like it!

"Amelia, that mountain has no value." Pag papaalala nito sa akin. He's right, I wonder kung anong meron sa mountain na ito na laging tinitingnan ng kanilang pinsan.

Di ko na pinansin si Gillion at ang naghihinalang mga mata nito sa akin. Huminto ang carriage na sakay kami sa manor namin dito sa Martial Society.

"Welcome back, young master."

"Welcome back, young lady."

Tinanguan namin ang mga ito ngunit napahinto kami nang makita ang kasunod namin.

Ang disciples ng Great Master Allforone, seryoso ang mga mukha nito at sabay sabay na napabuntong hininga.

"What should we do? She really likes that damn mountain! Who the hell would buy that worthless mountain for 50,000 gold coins?!" rinig kong sambit ni Gina, bigla akong napatingin sa hawak ko.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Gillion na kunot ang matang nakatingin sa hawak ko.

"Greetings, Young Master Gillion, Young Lady Amelia." Rinig kong kalmadong bati sa amin ni Young Master Ethan.

"Young Master Ethan, greetings." Magalang at kalmadong bati rin ni Gillion. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Gillion na itikom ang bibig.

Palihim na napabuntong hininga ito.

"I-I'll take my leave!" nagmamadaling tumakbo ako sa silid ko. Now it's confirmed, she really wants this mountain! I'm sure she'll love it!

Naputol ang pagdidiwang ko nang makitang nagriring ang cellphone ko.

Calling...
Mom

"...." Nakita ko na maraming misscalls galing dito.

Pinigilan kong mapabuntong hininga at sinagot ang tawag nito.

"Yes, Mom? Sorry I forgot my phone, yes I'm with Kuya Gillion. You mean Brother Mir? No...Mom, we don't know where he is..."

Nang maputol na ang tawag ay nakaramdam ako ng pananakit ng ulo at iritableng pakiramdam. I don't know why I'm feeling frustrated. Pabagsak na umupo ako sa kama at nakitang nakakalat sa floor ang titulo ng Drim Mountain Range.

Narinig ko muli na tumunog ang phone ko, hindi ko na sana ito papansin pa ngunit napagtanto ko na iba ang ringtone.

"Alarm?"

Pagbukas ko ay may mga alarm na nakaset.

2 PM - Get the teabag in your pouch, drink that daily every 2 PM. Sleep and place near you the scented bag I've prepared. Don't ask and be stubborn. - Ophelia Lamarca.

"Ha. Really, so bossy my cousin."

Sinunod ko ang payo nito, nagtatakang tiningnan ako ni Kuya Gillion nang makita na nagtitimpla ako ng tea.

"Little Fifth must have gave that to you, Young Lady Amelia." Rinig kong komento ng isang boses babae sa likod ko, nakita kong nakadungaw saken si Lady Gina.

"Miss Gina."

"Ew, just call me Gina." She said while smiling.

"Oh! You're right, ibang aroma ang binigay ng aming Junior para sayo, young lady." -Rodney

Namalayan ko nalang na nasa ko na mga martial brother and sister ng pinsan.

"We don't know where he gets these tea from but... it works like a miracle!"

"What do you mean, Young Master Rodney?"

"Ha! Just call us by our names, pwede mo kaming tawaging 'Brother' or 'Sister'." Nakangiting sambit ng isa pang martial brother ng aming pinsan.

"They are right, you're friends with Fifth, call us comfortably." Bahagyang natigilan ako dahil sa malapit na boses mula sa likuran ko, lumingon ako at...

Uminit ang pisngi ko nang tumambad malapit sa akin ang makisig na mukha ni...

"Um, yes B-Brother Ethan." Hindi ko alam kung guni guni ko lang dahil parang namumula ang tainga niya...

"Wow." -Gina

"Hm.." -Jeff

"?"-Rodney

Hindi ko na napansin ang makahulugang tinginan nila dahil bigla akong nakaramdam ng matinding antok.

"Gina, accompany her to her room." Rinig kong utos ni Brother Ethan.

"Pfft! Alright!"

"Thanks, Sister Gina. I don't know why I'm suddenly sleepy..."

"Be careful, Gina." Rinig ko muling boses ni Brother Ethan, bat ang cute niya?

"Yeah, yeah." Natatawang sagot ni sister Gina.

Nang makahiga ako ay di ko na maidilat ang mga mata ko sa antok pero naririnig ko parin ang boses ni sister Gina.

"Oh, she gave you a scented pouch too?"

"Um she said...keep it near...while I'm slee...ping."

Nang maamoy malapit sa akin ang scented pouch ay parang magic na nawala ang tense sa buong katawan ko at hinila ng antok.

Nagising ako dahil sa naririnig kong ingay sa labas, pagtingin ko sa orasan ay nakitang 2:30 am?

"What did you say? Say it again, Conradd! M-My daughter, where is she!" rinig kong alarmang boses ni Uncle.

Wait? What happened to cousin?

Napabangon ako ng mabilis at nakitang tulad ko ay nagising. Nakita ko sa Uncle na mabilis ang lakad sa hallway, balisa ito at ramdam namin ang madilim na aura nito.

Biglang napahinto si Uncle, at napasabunot sa ulo.

This is the first time I saw the Clan Master, my Uncle so distracted, frustrated and restless.

Nakita namin si Great Master Allforone na may sinabi sa Clan Master at dahil doon ay unti unting kumalma ang ekspresyon nito.

"Kuya Gillion?"

"Stay here for the time being Amelia, I will assign someone who will bring you in our estate. I will accompany the Clan Master."

Napansin kong lumapit si Brother Ethan sa master nito at napansin kong napatingin ito sa akin.

"Don't worry, Young Master Gillion, we will stay here with the lady."

Tila nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Gillion.

"Thank you, young master Ethan."

"Wait, Brother... What happened to our cousin?" pigil ko sa kamay nito nang aalis na sana ito.

"According to Conradd she's been kidnapped."

"W-Where?"

"In our country, The States."

Eh? She's still here in the Martial Society though? Why would she be in The States?

What are you scheming this time cousin? Naiiling na sambit ko sa isip ko.

***

ONE MONTH LATER...

TINA'S VIEWPOINT
[Friend of Ophelia in school, one of the girls who was kidnapped.]

Isang buwan na ang nakakaraan mula ng makidnap kami ng mga kaibigan ko at dalhin sa ship, nakauwi kami ng ligtas at...

Binuklat ko ang maliit na note na nakita kong nakasiksik sa...underwear ko -__-

Nakita ko ang sulat na ito nung nasa ship pa kami. Walang hiyang babae yon, sa panty ko talaga nilagay?

Tina, Desery, Mae.
If you read this letter it means you are lucky you survive. Once you get yourselves out of here. Go and report I'm kidnapped. I can't explain, I trust you will do me this favor in exchange of saving you guys. I have something to do. See you again next time ;)

PS. Use this plate number NDN******

I shared the note with Desery and Mae, kahit na hindi namin alam kung bakit kailangan itong gawin ni Ophelia ay ginawa namin ang gusto nito mangyari.

She risked her life to save us. We don't know her circumstances pero nararamdaman namin na may dahilan siya at babalik siya sa amin ng ligtas.

As soon as we reported her being kidnapped in the police station, an hour later while we are giving testimonies that we have planned beforehand ay nakita naming tila nagkaroon ng komosyon dahil sa pagdating ng isang lalake.

"Young Master Conradd!" Magalang na bati ng lahat dito.

There, we saw a very handsome man standing with authority, his dark obsidian eyes suddenly locked in our direction.

"Whoaa." Di ko mapigilang bulaslas, naramdaman ko ang kurot ni Mae at Desery sa magkabilang gilid ko.

"Get a hold of yourself, Tina." Rinig kong warning ni Mae

"Oh! Right, sorry...he's just so hot." Mahinang usal ko.

"He is heading this way.." bulong ni Desery na kinalunok namin.

"I am Conradd Zivilla, a Knight of Lamarca Clan." Pagbibigay galang nito sa pamamagitan ng paglagay ng kanang kamay sa dibdib ang pagyuko ng konti. Isang seremonyas na ginagawa ng isang 'Knight'

Sa tanang buhay namin di namin inakala na dadating ang panahon na mararanasan namin ang makatanggap ng pagbati at galang ng isang 'Knight' na ginaagawa lamang ng mga ito para sa mga nobles na pinagsisilbihan nila.

"I won't beat around the bush, did you report that this young lady is kidnapped?" nanlaki ang mga mata namin ng makita ang isang picture .

Nagkatinginan kami nina Desery at Mae. Kinakabahan man ay pinaliwanag ko kung paaano ito 'kuno' nakidnap. We made sure that the place we use as alibi have no cctv.

"Young Master we are now tracking the plate number."

Hindi nagtagal ay nakita namin si Teacher Rose na namumutlang pinuntahan din kami.

"Are you guys okay? Nasaan si Ophelia?"

"Teacher..."

Tahimik na nakaupo kaming tatlo sa police station.

"Why is a Knight looking for Ophelia?" di ko mapigilang tanong.

At nasagot ang tanong namin nang makalipas muli ang isang oras ay may marinig kaming malakas na ingay. Napatayo kaming tatlo nang makita sa glass window ang isang helicopter, at bumaba roon ang isang pigura.

"That! Isn't that the Clan Master of Lamarca Clan?!" singhap namin! What's happening! Oh God, Ophelia!

Nakita namin na mabilis na pinaalibutan ito ng maraming Knights sa pangunguna ni...

"Conradd."

"Greetings to the Clan Master and to the Respected Great Master Allforone, please come this way." Magalang na bati nito.

"Great Master Allforone! W-WHAT!" Singhap muli namin

May ginawa bang krimen ang kaibigan namin? Oh my Gosh!

Natagpuan nalang namin na nakaupo sa harapan namin ang isang Clan Master of Lamarca Clan at ng isang Great Master.

"B-By any chance may nagawa po bang krimen ang kaibigan namin?"

"There seems to be a misunderstanding, kahit na po maloko ang kaibigan namin hindi siya gagawa ng masama."

"Or did she offend you po? Oh my! Please forgive her!"

"Ophelia is a very pitiful child, hindi gagawa ng masama ito." Dagdag din ni Teacher Rose sa paliwanag namin.

"Hm.. As much as I would love to listen about your tales of my child. I have to find her. Ophelia is my long lost daughter."

0___0

"I, the Clan Master of Lamarca Clan will never forget this gratitude for the rest of my life."

Laking gulat namin nang tumayo ito at yumuko sa amin.

A n-noble bowed to us?! Not just any NOBLE! A Clan Master! The Head of Lamarca Clan!!!

***

Simula non ay nagsimula ang imbestigasyon. Marami kaming katanungan sa kaibigan naming naglaho ng parang bula.

Gaya ng saan niya nalaman ang tungkol plate number na sinulat niya sa note? Nang imbestigahan iyon ay natuklasan na may krimen na nagaganap na talagang kumikidnap ng mga magagandang babae, isa ang plate number ng kotseng iyon sa mga gamit ng mga kriminal. Mabilis ang naging aksyon ng otoridad at ng Lamarca Clan ngunit bigo parin silang mahanap ang kaibigan namin.

"..."

Where the hell are you, Ophelia?

Napabuntong hininga ako at kasabay ko na lumabas sina Desery at Mae dahil uwian na, nakita namin ang nakaabang na kotse sa labas. Simula ng araw na makilala namin ang tunay na pamilya ng kaibigan naming si Ophelia ay lagi kaming hatid sundo ng magarang kotse ng mga ito, in the guise of our protection.

Pasimpleng tiningnan ko ang taong nakaupo sa tabi ng driver seat.

The famous Knight of Lamarca Clan, paminsan minsan ay sumasama ito sa pagsundo sa amin. I know he's suspicious of us, seryoso at malamig parati ang mga mata nito.

Kahit na pinagsususpetsyahan kami nito ay ramdam parin namin na maingat ang pakikitungo nito sa amin.

"I've heard it wasn't long ago that you became friends with our young lady." Biglang sambit nito, nagkatinginan kaming tatlo ni Desery at Mae.

It's true.

"That's true. Ophelia is hard to approach in the past and she's always gloomy." Sambit ni Mae

"Yeah, she's always late, napapagalitan sa classes because of her heartless adoptive parents and siblings. We always want to hang out with her kaya lang parati siyang laging nagmamadali umuwi sa kanila noon. I'm glad, nakawala na siya sa adoptive parents niya." Tila pagbabalik tanaw ni Desery na kinatango ko rin.

"When she leave their home, she changed so much." Sambit ko rin.

"Change, how?" kuryosong tanong muli nito.

Well, he's going to be her Knight so...

"Hm, she became even more a stunning beauty. Dati laging luma o sira ang uniform, bags at gamit nito ngayon naging maayos na, dati hindi namin siya makausap ng maayos dahil mahiyain siya.." I trailed my thoughts "...though she's still hard to approach like she built a wall, but we still approach her relentlessly hehe." I tilted my head and laugh.

"She's indifferent and lazy, but she's a kind of person that will do anything those she considered important to her." Sambit ko muli na mabilis na sinang ayunan ni Desery and Mae.

"You're right! Aw, I miss her so much." Bulaslas ni Mae ng malungkot.

"Me too."

"Me three."

Hindi na muling nagsalita pa ang Knight ng Lamarca Clan hanggang sa maihatid kami.

At nang kinagabihan ng araw na 'yon ay napuno ang balita sa telebisyon, radyo, at social media tungkol sa..

[The Returned Long Lost Daughter of Lamarca Clan]