Class went on and everything seemed to be back on track with V. After the break slash interruption given by the sudden appearance of the new mysterious girl in their class, he suddenly gained his long lost consciousness and began understanding the lessons easily. Well, he's smart though. After a couple of
minutes, the class ended and that time was his time to go to his next class, which, a bit suspiciously, was also Ligaya's next class of the day, and who was now finally sitting beside him. He found it peculiar but decided to not give a notice about it anyway. ~~~~~~~~~~~A hundred miles away from Sinatra, a group of aged women were having a meeting. All of them were having that game face on and were really serious whenever they utter or do something within the circle. "Why did you let her go, Mamang Turiya? How certain are you that she's doing the right thing?" one of the women asked."It is not for us to decide whether or not she's doing the right thing, it was her Datawi (Guardian) who made the treaty," another woman, who's holding a chicken, spoke. Her name was Mamang Turiya."But that world is different from ours. We can never be assured of her safety." Another woman whose name was Makahig asked."She's a grown up young lady with might and intelligence. She is able. Besides, she's not safe here, either. The Malignobons (dwellers of the evil spirits) are searching for her, wanting her to be captured. It's just wise of her to go somewhere those Malignobons won't think she'll go. Also, we should not forget that half of Ligaya's was in that boy. If they are together, as long as Jau hasn't gotten the Vermilion yet, for the most part, Ligaya is safe.""But what if the boy doesn't give Ligaya the other half back? Or worst, doesn't help her find the Vermilion?" The most petite woman in the circle asked, her name was Hulagway."Only the spirits of the time can tell. All we have to do is trust. Besides, the boy doesn't have to give it back, it's his all along," Mamang Turiya said with utmost sincerity and certainty, and the women around her just gave her a worried smile. ~~~~~~~~~~~Classes were already done. Students were now dashing along the corridors to go to wherever places they wanted to be. As for V, he was heading to his car so he could prepare himself for the night's party. But on his way, although he's not the conceited type, he seemed to notice that the new lady in the
school was following him. He had a thought of it earlier because they had the same subjects and schedule, but just ignored it. However, this time, he was really certain that the lady was stalking him and was not even making an effort to hide it. As they reached an area where no bystanders were seen, he planned to ask the girl what she's up to, however, he was interrupted by the sight of none other than Miko Alcantara, who was also approaching his car that was situated beside V's.At first, they tend to not mind each other and went directly inside their cars. It was only when Miko intentionally hit the back of V's car so as to cause a friction that their bloods began to boil erratically. The two of them immediately went out of their cars for a confrontation.
"I'm not in the mood right now," V warned him in a very calm way as they faced each other with furrowed eyebrows."I thought we're not done yet?" challenged Miko. "Not here," V addressed and was still making an effort to be patient."Tss, scared now huh, Jalandoni?" Miko asked; grinning. "You know what, I've heard about your poor and complicated record in this school. One more trouble and you'll be forever erased from this place. So if I were you, keep your fucked up ass away from my sight.""You think I'm scared?!" bellowed Miko. V had just pushed a triggering button."9 PM then, the secluded area near La Primera," V said calmly to end the conversation and went directly to his car.
It was only when he's already few meters away from the school premises that he remembered Ligaya, the new lady, was following him awhile ago. Where had she possibly gone to? Nevertheless, it was not his business anyway.~~~~9 PM had finally approached and V was currently heading into the secluded area that he and Miko agreed upon earlier. Once and for all, he wanted stupid things and grudges with the likes of Miko Alcantara to be over. However, he was mistaken when he decided to go there alone. He thought that they're to deal the matter man-to-man. But Miko was with the Salamanders, the city's gang, who had failed to defeat V the last time. They were planning to gang up on him."Tss, worthless gits," V whispered to himself as he was facing more than ten people, who certainly were having grudges on him. "Seems like your outnumbered now, Jalandoni. Tsk tsk, what a sight!" Shouted Miko and then started to laugh."Say whatever you want." All of them were now positioning themselves; ready to fight. A bald man started to attack him and the rest followed. But V seemed to be an expert. He was outnumbered, but the gits were still having a hard time attacking him. Punches and kicks were matched perfectly with his keen eye and expertise in both Judo and Taekwondo. It was a tough fight, indeed, however, there really was strength in numbers. Miko was desperate enough to use dirty tricks on V that he drew from his pocket a dagger and started pacing toward V's direction. Since V was busy dodging, punching, and kicking some asses, he overlooked the thing that was about to happen. Until it was too late for him to notice Miko, who struck the dagger into him.Everything happened so quickly. He felt dizzy and pained. When Miko was about to strike another punch on his face, he wasn't able to dodge it anymore. He was already down on his knees. Luckily for him the police car's siren was now approaching their way. Upon realizing the presence of the cops, Miko and his Salamander friends ran as quickly as they could away from the area, leaving V, who was bleeding to death, alone. The policemen who seemed to be full of the pressure to held the gang captive, did not even realize that someone was agonizing to death. V tried so hard to make a sound or to make something for him to get noticed, but nobody was there. He closed his eyes, thinking how on earth could that friction between him and Miko led to this kind of thing. Above anything else, he felt so stupid and weak. He couldn't even move a muscle. He felt so angry with himself for not seeing it coming and worst, maybe for dying a worthless death. His thoughts wandered in so many things, especially those
could-have-beens. What would happen to the things he had planned for? The things he had worked so hard for to achieve? Everything seemed to be pointless at the moment. How pathetic, he thought. And just when everything turned blurr and uncertain, a presence that he, in a million universe, would never have expected, appeared before his very eyes. Lying there, weak and defeated, he thought it was just an illusion or something that soon-to-be dead ones would witness. But if it was a pathway to death, he thought, why did it feel so comforting that he thought his life depended on it? On her very touch? 'But why was she here?' He thought to himself. The new girl in school, Ligaya, was there beside him for his rescue. She was on her knees while looking at his face and started touching it. It felt weird and cold, very cold, for him. But it seemed to be healing all the cuts and bruises his body had. He tried to move his arm to assure himself that he wasn't dreaming, for everything was so foggy, but he was stopped by her when she touched his arm while saying, "You have to rest."He did not want to obey but he felt so numb that he couldn't move anymore. Left without any strength to motion, he just braced himself with all the might that was left in him and whispered, "who...exactly...are you?" and after doing so, everything turned into darkness.
Still feeling some ache throughout his body, V tended to savour the feeling of being rested on his bed for another hour. However, he was met by the sudden realization about how on the face of the fucking earth did he get on his bed when all he remembered was he was somewhere near La Primera the nightbefore and was attacked by his enemies and caused him to bleed so much? He immediately opened his eyes to reassure himself that he was really in his room and as he did so, his eyes were met by the presence of his friend Marco who was examining him. He immediately got into his senses for he was shocked to see his friend's face so close to his, and hurried to get off his bed, away from Marco."What the hell was tha-..ugghhhh!" V attempted to confront his friend's weird examination but got interrupted by the pain on his belly."V! V, are you alright, dude?" Marco hurried to V but V just raised his free hand to let Marco know that it's fine and that he d
Surpried was merely just an understatement. Those three words were, in no doubt, astoundingly shocking. But just when V thought that that was it, Ligaya continued to speak the more shocking part of her statement."My guardian asked for you. . .to be bound to me when the day comes that no one in our bloodline will bealive anymore except me." She uttered those words with utmost sincerity and the two boys in front of her; Marco, who was facing her and V, who was facing his back on her, were both taken aback. "I am not asking you to marry me and I am not expecting you to like this idea either, because to tell you frankly, I don'tlike it as much as you do. Lucky for us, a relative of mine was still alive. . .But I'm afraid things wouldn't go the way I planned them to be, and I still have not found the Vermilion which can defy the evil dwellers and can grant wishes yet. An information has been delivered to us that it is located in your world, that's why I a
Back at the subdivision where V was living, everything still felt weird. Ligaya remained in the kitchen, doing her stuff while V discussed matters with Marco in his bedroom."To be honest, dude, I think you've gone crazy," started Marco who was now playing with a tennis ball while sitting on a couch at the corner of V's room. Tet V was silent, and Marco could tell that he was contemplating about everything."So, did you really mean it? Are you sure you're letting a stranger stay in your house for a month?" Marco added."What else can I do? I've already said it. Besides, she saved my life. Not the saving thing she was saying seven years ago, but the saving that she did last night. She saved me and without her, I could have been a cold corpse right now. It's the least I can do. And mind you, letting her in does not necessarily mean I believe what she said. You know me, idiot.""That's the spirit, dude!" he was about to give a high five to him but V di
On the other side of the world, where the evil dwellers had settled, a man whose name was Hudlao was looking furiously at his subordinates, as if they were a bunch of useless trashes."Idiots! What do you mean it vanished? Are you trying to make a fool out of me?" he shouted to them with all his might. He even produced some force that knocked all of his subordinates out."We are very sorry, our Greatest. But we really tried our best to locate her zest. It's just that, some strange force was meddling and distracting us. And now, the sign has already vanished." A grotesque-looking man, who seemed to be the leader of their team explained everything to Hudlao. Hoping against hope that his master would somehow understood them. His name was Iko."I don't need your explaination, Iko. I need you to find that stupid girl as soon as possible!"However sincere and accurate the explanation was, it was still pointless for
It was 8:35 when V woke up again to prepare for school. He's already late but he seemed relaxed while getting out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. But the serenity was immediately cut short when Ligaya's presence showed up before his eyes."What the fuck?!"He was so shocked. Never in his entire existence did he encounter something like this. Still wearing her usual facial expression, Ligaya was standing while leaning on his bedroom's doorframe, arms crossing like a boss."We're late," she said matter of factly."So?!" V couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't make himself comfortable with a lady's presence while he was half-naked, and so he tried to cover his naked torso with the towel that he had used earlier to dry his hair off. On the other hand, Ligaya did not answer and just stared blankly at him, not intimidated at all."Okay, look, I..I don't have to explain my
Later that day, after the incident that happened between Ligaya and V's friends, the boys were now having their conversation about it."You should have seen her face earlier. Jeez, it's like she is already plotting some murder scenes in her mind." Benjie said at once while applying what seemed like holy water on his arms like a lotion. The same thing was done by the others as well. They were all totally frightened and disgusted."She's haunting, dude. I can't believe you let her stay in your house while you're wounded. With that look of hers, I wouldn't be surprised if she had hurt you," Dan commented."What are you talking about? As if she could match my strength and combat skil--...wait, you knew?" V couldn't believe his ears. He was really surprised that Marco betrayed him on their deal to not tell anyone about Ligaya in his house. But it seemed like he's already late."Fine. As if I have a choice. That bastard reallt couldn't keep things for himse
For two heart-stopping subjects, Ligaya had undoubtedly proven her skills not just in engineering problems but also in all other subjects that they were all enrolled in for the semester. Even without her knowing it, this amazing act of hers plus her mysterious personality gained her respect from everyone in her batch, including their professors, especially that in that particular batch of aspiring builders and fixers, she was the only female and that she was undeniably really good. Even V and his friends were aware about that. Although, it still was not enough for them to be comfortable with her. They were still careful not to be too close to her physically and were still bringing with them the holy water which they actually went the trouble to fetch, just to be safe from Ligaya. At least, that was what they believed in.After all their subjects for that day were done, Ligaya immediately went home as V went to somewhere she did not know or care about.~~~~Very far
As he went downstairs, with the meal in his hand, he saw Ligaya sitting by the dining table while drinking something. He argued with his thoughts at first but decided to just do it, to just approach her. For a moment they were silent, but then Ligaya began to speak."I found out the value of everything I had thrown away. Don't worry, I will pay you-""Stop it...I am not angry about the food. I am angry about the idea of disrespect that you showed me. Touching my belongings without my permission is an invasion of privacy. And wasting food is also grave sin. But of course, I know how...uninformed you are about some things in this world. So, let's just forget about what happened." He meant it. Though he couldn't deny his annoyance, which was still obvious on his face."I wasn't aware."V now moved. He noticed the weight of the meal that he's carrying, thus he moved toward the table, placed those on it, sat down, and began to talk agai