CLAIRE'S POVMarahan kong idinilat ang aking mga mata at inilibot ang tingin sa buong kwarto. I'm in this hospital room again, should I call this my resting place starting from now on? Napapadalas ako rito, siguradong sa susunod na paggising ko ay narito na naman ako.Sinubukan kong bumangon at naupo sa kama, napadako kaagad ang paningin ko sa couch nang mapansin ko pa ang lalaking nakaupo ro'n. May hawak siyang libro na nahaharangan ang kaniyang mukha kaya hindi ko malaman kung sino siya. I know it couldn't be my brother but someone who appreciates the book, that would be him. Bigla nalang n'yang ibinaba ang hawak n'yang libro at hindi sinasadyang magkatitigan kami nang tumingin siya sa direksyon ko. Kaagad kong iniiwas ang tingin ko nang makilala ko siya, tama nga ang hinala ko. It's Drish! Sa sobrang kaba ko, bigla nalang tumibok nang mabilis 'yong puso ko. Hindi ako mapakali ngayong s'ya lang ang kasama ko rito sa loob ng kwarto. Naiilang ako sa kaniya sa totoo lang. Gusto kong m
CLAIRE'S POV"Sigurado ka bang dito mo 'yon nawala? We've been searching for it for three hours now," Elaine said in a complaint. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa paghahanap.Sinamahan niya ako na bumalik sa training ground para muling hanapin 'yong kwintas ko pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin namin nakikita. I'm certain this is where I lost it while I was running around the track but we couldn't find it anywhere. Could it be that someone else picked it up? "Maybe someone has already picked it up, what should we do? Hindi 'yon pwedeng mapunta sa iba," muling imik ni El na may pag-aalala. I don't know why but she's probably worried about something."Let's go, we might find it on our way back," I replied and immediately turned my back. Tumabi siya sa akin at sinabayan ako sa paglalakad palabas ng central training ground. Hindi pa kami nakararating ng gate ay natanaw ko mula sa hindi kalayuan si Abby kasama ang tatlo niyang miyembro. Napatigil kami sa paglalakad nang mapan
XIAN'S POV"You've been absentminded for a while, what's going on?" I heard Clyde's worried voice when I was about to get inside the headmaster's place. Huminto ako saglit malapit sa pintuan at nakita si Clyde na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa couch habang katabi si Elaine. "Nag-aalala lang ako para kay Claire, that was the first time she badly cried on my shoulder. It must've been painful for her," Elaine responded and expressed a worried frown. "Claire is tougher than you think she is, she will be fine so don't worry too much about her," Clyde uttered to comfort her. "Alam ko naman 'yon pero hindi ko parin maiwasan ang mag-alala. She has been through enough hardships, Claire doesn't deserve anymore of that. Just thinking about it really breaks my heart, why does she have to suffer all of this?" Elaine expressed in a dejected manner. Napabuntong-hininga pa siya at malungkot na ngumiti nang yakapin siya ni Clyde. I guess they're now seeing each other and settled their problem just like Ja
CLAIRE'S POVKinaumagahan, maaga akong nagising para maghanda sa pag-eensayo. Apat na linggo pa ang natitira bilang paghahanda sa gaganaping tournament. Hindi ko alam kung magiging sapat na ba 'yon para ihanda ang sarili ko. I can't afford to waste my time on some useless thoughts.Naisipan ko munang mag-stretching ng ilang minuto kung saan ay isasama ko na sa daily routine ko magmula ngayon bago mag-ensayo. This is the second day of my training and I don't have an idea what Xian planned on doing this time. Pero kung ano man ang ipagagawa niya, siguradong hindi 'yon madali. Kaagad na akong kumilos para mag-ayos ng sarili ko. After taking a shower, I put on my sportswear and wear my sneakers before going outside my room. Dumaretso ako ng kusina kung saan nadatnan ko si Elaine na katatapos lang maghanda ng almusal sa lamesa. "Good morning!" masaya niyang pagbati na nginitian ko naman. Sabay kaming naupo sa harapan ng hapagkainan at nagsimulang kumain ng almusal. Hindi ko na naisipan pa
CLAIRE'S POVMabilis na lumipas ang mga araw hanggang sa dumaan ang halos tatlong linggo na hindi ko na namamalayan. Wala akong ginawa kundi ang mag-ensayo, ang sundin lahat ng inuutos ni Xian. Naging rutina ko na ang paggising ng maaga para maghanda, mag-ensayo hanggang hapon at pahinga naman sa gabi. I have no choice but to get used to it, kahit na pakiramdam ko ay susuko na ang aking katawan dahil sa pagod. "How's your training with Xian?" Elaine asked before drinking a glass of water. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa harapan ng hapagkainan at katatapos lang mag-almusal. "Wala namang bago, he's strict as usual and he always annoys me every time I lose against him," seryoso kong sagot na ikinatawa naman niya. Ano namang nakatatawa sa sinabi ko?That Xian really gets on my nerves almost every day. He won't let me stay more than ten steps away from him, he won't take his eyes off of me, and he sometimes acts as if he cares about me. Hindi ako komportable sa tuwing magtatama ang aming mga mata
CLAIRE'S POVLumipas pa ang dalawang araw na wala akong pahinga sa pag-eensayo. Ito na ang huling linggo ng pagsasanay at bilang na ang mga natitirang araw para sa gaganaping tournament at sa pagtutuos namin ni Abby. I still have a week to prepare myself. Until then, I will fight and win against my opponent.It's already afternoon and after I've taken a rest from performing the tire training, Xian told me to follow him but he didn't tell me where we were going. Until I noticed that we were heading to the academy's central training ground.Tahimik ko lang siyang sinundan hanggang sa dumaretso kami papasok ng building at umakyat sa ikalawang palapag. This is the seven-story building located at the center of the field and I have no idea why we are here. There are two staircases on both ends of the building, probably for its entrance and exit route. Napansin ko rin na bawat palapag ay may mga bakanteng kwarto na hindi ko alam kung para saan. "This is where the gangster's tournament is hel
CLAIRE'S POV"This will be our last duel, don't hold back and give all your strength to defeat me," Xian challenged and stood in a combatting position. Kasalukuyan kaming magkaharap at nakatayo sa loob ng boxing ring. Habang nakatingin sa isa't isa ay bahagya akong naghanda sa pag-opensa. This is the last day and will be the last part of our training, our last sparring and this time I'll make sure to pay him back! He looked directly into my eyes and initiated the first attacks. His movements are quick as usual but I tried to keep up my defense. Until I made the counterattack and threw an elbow strike which he failed to ward off. Sandali siyang napaatras at malawak pang napangisi sa akin bago muling pumosisyon. He almost diverted my attention when he smirked but I instantly threw punches at him. I alternately made a cross blow and hook then switched to an uppercut with full force. I hit his chin and abruptly struck a kick to his stomach."You sure know how to hold a grudge," he comme
CLAIRE'S POVDapit-hapon na nang matapos kaming maghanda ni Elaine para sa nalalapit na paligsahan mamayang alas siyete ng gabi. We are wearing our group's attire, black jeans with a white shirt and a black leather jacket, fitted with combat boots. We also have a dagger weapon holder around our thigh, just in case.Elaine also made me wear contact lenses so that it won't cause a problem for me when I engage in a fight. I was irritated at first but later on, it made me feel comfortable since it helps me see perfectly clearly. "Xian..." rinig kong sambit ni Elaine nang buksan niya ang pinto ng aming dorm."Where's my wife?" bungad nitong tanong dahilan para mapatayo ako at nagmamadaling lumabas ng kwarto. Kaagad kong nakita si Xian sa harapan ng pintuan."Wife?" nagtataka namang balik na tanong ni El sa kaniya. Nilingon na lang ako ni El na may nanghihinalang titig saka dahan-dahang ngumisi. "You're dating?" nakataas ang dalawang kilay niyang pag-uusisa. Nag-aalinlangan akong sumagot k