TILA nablangko ang utak ko habang nakatitig kay Shaye. Tahimik akong tumalikod at umupo sa may kalakihang bed sa gitnang parte ng kwarto. My hand started to tremble, not because of fear, but anticipation. I have been with Shaye for a month now. I knew from the moment I learned her relations, that she could help me... that I could use her. Pero hindi ko lubos akalain na may isang taong makakapagpatunay sa krimen na ginawa ng hayop na hari nila.I looked up. Her face was filled with confusion. She was staring at me as if trying to figure out what I was thinking. Napakagat ako sa labi ko at tumayo. I walked towards her. "What else do you know about the king?" tanong ko. Bakas sa boses ko ang lamig at panginginig nito. Shaye blinked a couple of times bago bumalik sa reyalidad. "That's the only secret I found out about him."It was enough. Shaye knew about the crime, about the death. Although she wasn't aware that it was me."Hold

"DO you think she's awake?""Yeah, she's listening," boses ng isang lalaki. "Morning, Belacour."Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. What the hell? Anong ginagawa ng mayabang na 'to sa kwarto ko?!I glared at Carwell. He was smirking as he stroke Atya's hair. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa nakangising bata na nakahiga sa hita niya. Nakakadiring tingnan. "Wala ka bang sariling kwarto?""Mayro'n," sagot niya. "I'm only here to tell you that the healer arrived earlier. I've been waiting for you to wake up five minutes ago.""Bakit ba 'di niyo na lang ako ginising? At bakit kailangan mo pang mag-stay rito? Nakakadiri ka," naiinis kong sambit. Nagtinginan sila ni Atya at sabay na nailing. Ano bang trip ng mga 'to?Tumayo ako at mabilis na pumasok sa banyo. Kasing lawak ng isang normal na kwarto ang banyo nila. May bathtub, shower, at sa kabilang gilid ay ang toilet. May dalaw

"WHAT the fuck?" gulat kong bulalas.Tumawa lamang ang hari sa reaksyon ko. Naglakad siya at nilampasan ako saka lumabas na sa silid pero bago iyon ay may pahabol pa siya, "Think about it, my lady. Go back with nothing but disappointment or be my queen and save what needs to be saved." 'Tsaka siya kumindat at tuluyan na akong iniwan. Wala sa isip akong naglakad palabas at hinanap ang anino ni Carwell. Gaya noong iniwan ko siya, ganoon pa rin ang posisyon niya. Naramdaman niya siguro ang presensya ko dahil bigla siyang lumingon. "Failed, yes?"Mukhang inaasahan niya na talaga ang magiging sagot ng hari sa hiling namin. Sobrang misteryoso talaga ng lalaking ito. Wala silang pinagkaiba ni Genesis."It depends on my response," sagot ko. It seemed like he did not expect my answer. Masyado ba siyang kumbinsido na tatanggihan talaga ako ng tuluyan ng hari?"That's new," usal niya. Tumayo siya at kunot-noong tumingin sa 'kin. "What was the deal? Kung hindi ka niya tinanggihan, siguradong m

DAYS passed like it normally does in the academy. It has been a week after our unexpected mission and everything is back to normal now. The majority of the poisoned people were saved, thanks to Mallá. But I'm pretty sure the massive amount of antidotes affected her body, not just her power. For seven days, the academy was silent and all peaceful. Wala akong narinig na kahit anong salita tungkol sa mga nangyari noong nakaraan lang. I supposed the students and faculty staffs were all oriented to not mention even a tiny detail about the incident, which I understand. Mahirap mag-imbestiga kung maraming bibig ang nakikisawsaw.And finally, for the first time, I received my Dim card, where my earnings from my past missions were transferred in to. Boris gave it to me kasi baka raw ay naiinip na ako. If I know, ayaw niya lang na mawalan ako ng interes sa mga gano'ng bagay. Alam ko namang dadating ang araw at aalis na ako sa akademyang 'to. Iyon ay kapag may sapat na akong naipon para suport

"WHERE are we going?" Carwell asked. I looked at his bruised palm before looking in his eyes. "To Boris." "For what?""Well, Mr. Carwell, you need help," sambit ko at binigyan siya ng sarkastikong ngiti. "Kailangan mong magamit ng maayos ang kapangyarihan mo sa lalong madaling panahon dahil makakapatay ka niyan ng wala sa oras, or worst, baka ikamatay mo pa."He grunted. "That's unnecessary. I can train alone."Huminto ako sa paglakad at humarap sa kaniya. "Training alone is useless if you always believe that you're already great, Carwell. Hindi ka mag-i-improve kung sa tingin mo ay magaling ka na. Hindi ka maliligtas ng kayabangan mo."His face darkened. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin pero hindi siya umalma. At dapat lang. Alam niya naman na tama ako kaya wala siyang magagawa.Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at muling naglakad. Tinahak namin ang daan papunta sa opisina ni Boris at hindi maiwasang magsitinginan ang mga estudyante sa gawi namin. But I couldn't care less. Ilang minuto lang ay