"You have a new mission."
I almost groaned when I heard that. Pinagpahinga lang nila kami ng isang araw tapos meron na naman ngayon.
We're just standing straight with a blank face while listening to our boss. I don't know if he's a good or bad man. Pero wala na akong pake don, mamamatay din naman ako.
"You have to travel time and bring back the late Senator Zenia Falcon." He said that made us shocked. This is our first mission that includes our abilities.
"What?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. Our boss nodded and slightly moved in his swivel chair.
"Yes, since Apollo can travel time and you-Avani can take give lives. You can only do it." Dagdag nya. Tahimik lang si Apollo sa tabi ko habang ako ay hindi makapaniwala.
"You already tried to resurrect someone, don't you?" He slowly asked that made me froze.
"Hindi ka pwedeng mamatay!" Sigaw ko habang hawak ang kamay nya. She just tried to jump from this building! I heard her sobs while trying her best to get out of my grasps. As if I'll let her.
Nasaan na ba si Apollo?!
"Just let me. I'm so tired." She whispered but I shooked my head.
"I'll die if you'll die!" I shouted again. Dumudulas na ang kamay ko sa kanya dahil pasmado ako!
My face glowed when she tried to lift her body up. Iaangat ko na sana sya ng bigla syang kagatin ang kamay ko kaya napabitaw ako. I'm just staring at the dark nowhere where she fell. Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ako nakakilos. I immediately run outside this 25th floor building. Sa sobrang tagal bumukas ng elevator ay tinakbo ko nalang pababa, I used stairs of course.
I was panting when I saw Apollo running too. Nagkasalubong kami at nakita ko pa kung paano nagliwanag ang mukha nya ng makita ako.
"Where-." Hindi nya na natapos ang sasabihin nya dahil iniwan ko na sya doon. Tuloy tuloy lang akong bumaba at ramdam ko naman ang pagsunod nya.
Hinabol ko muna ang hininga ng makababa kami sa lobby bago tumakbo papunta sa likod nitong building. I gasped for air when I saw her body being surrounded by blood. I felt Apollo's presence behind me. I heard him gasped too. Sabay kaming tumakbo papunta sa babae na ngayon ay wala ng buhay.
We both looked at each other, asking if what should we do. I bit my lower lip and turned to the corpse again. She shouldn't die.
"She's not supposed to die, yet." I whispered and walk slowly to her. Naramdaman ko naman ang hawak ni Apollo sa braso ko.
"She died because it's her time. Don't you dare do something inappropriate, woman." Banta nya na inilingan ko. Our boss would kill us if he found out!
"I-I'll resurrect her." I said and tried to touch her cold body. I heard Apollo sighed and let me. Alam nya din namang wala na syang magagawa.
Lumingon ako sa kanya ng may maalala.
'In order to give life, you have to surrender another.'
"I-I need someone." Halos bulong ko ng sabi. He just looked at me coldly-that is the first time that he looked at me that way. Nagdalawang isip tuloy ako. But I don't have any choice.
Tumayo ako at lumakad paalis. Tahimik akong naglakad. Nilabas ko ang baril ko ng makita ang isang babaeng naglalakad sa kalsada. I silently walked to her, nang makalapit ay hinawakan ko sya sa balikat ngunit bago pa sya makalingon ay pinalo ko na sya sa batok gamit ang baril kaya nawalan sya ng malay.
I carried her and brought her with me. Nang makarating ay hindi ko na tinapunan ng tingin si Apollo. I can feel his intense stare at me but I chose to ignore it. Nanginginig kong hiniga ang babaeng walang malay sa tabi ni Hannah-our boss's daughter.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus. My hands are trembling while slowly putting it in their bodies. Nasa gitna nila akong dalawa bago huminga ng malalim.
I just found myself breathing deeply while watching Hannah opened her eyes. Umiwas ako ng tingin at hindi sinasadyang napatingin kay Apollo na dismayadong nakatingin sa akin. I felt my tears flowing so I looked away.
Napatayo ako ng makarinig ng mga putok ng baril. We're tasked to save our boss's daughter in the hands of her kidnappers. But damn, I didn't expect that they are this many!
"We're being surrounded." Apollo said immediately went near us. Binuhat nya si Hannah na nanghihina pa bago hinawakan ang kamay ko at tumakbo. Pinasok nya sa kotse ang katawan ni Hannah kaya pumasok na din ako bago nya mabilis na pinaandar ang kotse.
Nasa high way na kami ng makita na maraming kotse ang nakasunod sa amin. I felt the car's speed doubled. Liko lang kami ng liko hanggang sa huminto sa isang abandonadong bahay.
"Are we safe here?" Tanong ko sa kanya. He answered without looking at me.
"No."
And with that, bigla nyang niliko ang kotse at doon ko lang nakita ang marami pang kotse na nakasunod sa amin. We're cornered.
"Just give us the kid and we'll let you live!" Sigaw ng isa sa kanila. Napatingin naman ako kay Apollo na mahigpit ang hawak sa manibela.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng bigla nyang paandarin ang kotse at sinalubong ang kotse ng kalaban. Hinarang ko ang kamay ko sa harapan ng marinig ang pagkabasag ng salamin ng kotseng sinasakyan namin. I heard a lot of gunshots.
Apollo turned to me and sighed.
"This is the fate, Avabelle. No matter how many times you change it, it would still happened." I heard Apollo whispered bago sumabog ang sinasakyan namin kasabay ng pagbagsak ng luha ko.
True enough, pagkagising ko mula sa mahabang pagkakatulog sa hospital ay nabalitaan ko nalang na tapos ng iburol ang anak ng boss namin. She died because of 13 gunshots and severe injuries. She's dead on arrival.
"Answer me. You already tried to resurrect someone, don't you?" Our boss seriously asked again that made me bring back to the reality.I gulped while staring at his eyes. Gusto kong maiyak dahil kapag naaalala ko ang nangyari. Mas lalo ko lamang sinusumpa ang sarili ko dahil dalawang buhay ang inagaw ko."Don't asked her that kind of question." Apollo interfered as he hold my hand and pulled me to the table in front of our boss. Kinuha nya ang folder don kung saan nakalagay ang mission namin bago ako hinatak at lumabas. Hawak nya lang ang kamay ko hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.Binitawan nya iyon ng makapasok kami. Tahimik syang dumiretso sa sala na sinundan ko naman. I sat in front of him and watch him open the envelope."Mission given to Apollo Ka
He keeps on rubbing my back while I'm busy vomiting."Isusuka mo na ba ang internal organs mo?" Tanong nya dahil hindi pa din ako tumitigil.Tangina, ano ba yon?"Hindi na ako papasok don!" Angal ko na nagpatawa sa kanya."Okay. Iwan kana dito sa taong 1967." I froze at his words and slowly turned to him unbelievably."What is that look? We already discussed that we'll visit her birthdate first." He said and fix my hair. Napatango tango naman ako pero hindi pa din makapaniwala. Hindi pa ako buhay sa panahon na to!I excitedly run and tried to find people but he stopped me."They can't see you with
"Alam mo minsan hindi ko gusto ang mga naiisip mo." Sabi ko habang inaayos ang gamit. I can't believe na magaaral na naman ako!"Sigurado ka?" Tanong nya pa at tamad na kinuha ang bag nya."Oo! Lalo na ngayon!" Irap ko at binitbit ang bag. He chuckled and started walking to the door."Paano kung naiisip ko na pakasalan ka? Hindi mo pa din gusto?" I froze on my spot at his words. A-ano daw?"Hoy gago kaba?!" I shouted and followed him palabas. Paasa!-------Nang makarating kami sa school kung saan magaaral si Zenia, kinuha namin ang schedule na kaparehas ng kanya kaya magkaklase kami sa buong sem. Nakasunod lang ako kay Apollo na pinagtitinginan ng mga babae dahil malamang! Ang pogi nya kaya palagi.Lalo na ngayon! I groaned and sumabay sa ka
I'm just staring at nowhere the moment we got home. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano kami nakauwi dahil tulala lang ako buong araw. I heard Apollo laughed but I didn't even move an inch."Hey." he said and I felt his warm palm on my cheeks and softly caressing it. I sobbed and almost cry that made him chuckled."Nasa Law School ang trauma!" Sigaw ko na ikinatawa nya na naman."You'll survive this, I know." Tatango tangong sabi nya na inilingan ko."No, please! Magda drop out na'ko!" ngawa ko sa kanya na inilingan nya at hinatak ako papunta sa kusina para kumain. Nag order nalang sya ng fast food dahil pagod din daw sya para magluto.Seryoso lang akong kumakain dahil iniisip ko yung mga nangyari kanina. Napalabas lang naman ako ng room sa first period palang dahil hindi ko nasagot ang tanong ng prof namin. Syempre! Anong alam ko sa mga
Tuloy tuloy lang kaming pumasok sa klase ni Atty. Salasa. It's our choice if late kami or what. They don't care as long as they will teach in exchange of their payment.Napalingon ako kay Apollo na kausap si Zenia ngayon na parang may tinanong. Tumango tango naman sya habang nagpapaliwanag si Zenia at ngumiti. My brows furrowed. Did I just saw Zenia the witch blushed?"Calisto, Avabelle Shivani." My attention turn on our prof who's now roaming his eyes finding who's that girl. Dahan dahan akong tumayo at taas noong tumingin sa kanya. I'm not shy anymore, I studied. Duh?He smirked before leaning on the table in front. Naghahamon syang tumingin sa akin na nilabanan ko naman. I'm not afraid of death, and he thinks I'll be afraid of him? Huh, asa."Can you now answer my question yesterday before you drop out?" he said that made some of my classmates laugh
I'm patiently waiting for the only man in my life to go home dahil hanggang ngayon ay wala pa sya. Kanina kasi, nag announce sa gc namin na hindi daw makakapasok si Attorney Laura, ang prof namin sa tax kaya maaga kaming umuwi. Well I don't know sa iba, like Apollo.It's already nine in the evening but he's still not home. I'm not worried because I know he can handle himself. Bakit pa nga ba ako naghihintay? Para tuloy akong asawa na naghihintay sa asawa. I giggled at the thought.Another hour had passed and I began to yawn because of tiredness. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako sa sofa kakahintay sa kanya. I just opened my eyes when I felt him caressed my cheek."Why did you slept here?" He whispered softly. Bumangon ako at tinignan sya mula ulo hanggang paa. Ganoon pa din naman ang suot nya, walang nagbago."Saan ka galing?" I asked instead of answering his question.
"Keep your books, we have an oral recit--." Atty. Salasa was cutted when the door swung opened. I smirked because he really hates being interrupted. Nawala lang ang ngisi na yon ng makita ko ang pumasok. "Good morning." A tall man entered, wala syang dala na kahit ano at dire diretso lang na pumasok. Tumaas ang kilay ko ng mag angat sya ng tingin at nakita nya ako. He started walking now to my direction, umupo sya sa tabi ko at dumukdok sa lamesa. He's not familiar so I think he's a transferee. Bakit late na sya nag enroll? "As I was saying, we will have an oral recit so be ready." Atty. Salasa said ang started calling names. Hindi naman ako natatakot na matawag dahil wala naman talaga akong pake sa grades. Kaylangan lang namin pumasa para masundan si Zenia sa kung saan saan sa future. "This is so boring." Rinig kong bulong ng katabi ko pero hindi ko na lang pinansin dahil sanay naman akong h
"Miss!" I heard someone shouted kaya napalingon ako. Tapos na ang classes namin for this day and I'm already exhausted. Gusto ko nalang matulog agad.I rolled my eyes when I saw Xander running to me. I raised my brows like asking what he want."I don't know what will I buy. Can you help me--.""No." I cutted him and immediately shooked my head. He pouted and even stomped his feet! What the heck?"Isip bata ka." Sabi ko at inirapan sya. Mas lalo lamang humaba ang nguso nya at basta basta nalang akong hinatak papunta sa mall.Dumiretso sya sa National Book Store at tamad naman akong sumunod. Minsan talaga susubukan kong patayin tong hayop na to e."Tara bilis." Sabi nya habang may hawak na basket. Nanguha sya ng bag at basta basta nalang nanguha ng maraming ballpen at papel. Like what I did, basta nalang sya kumuha ng mga libro. I immediately stopped him and tr