Ayashi's POV
In life, we all have mysteries that we wanna solve. Mysteries that are unanswered and mysteries that we just wanna bury behind us.
You know what's more mysterious? It's life. We don't know what life holds, we don't know anything about it but one thing is for sure, life can be taken away from us any time.
In a very young age, my father used to leave bunch of puzzles for me to solve. You see, my father is a detective but just like the other people who served their country, my father died while solving a case about a politician's sudden death.
I can still remember what had happened the day before he was killed. He told me that he already know who is the culprit, the motives, and he already found all the evidences then he suddenly told me that his life is in danger. I don't know what kind of danger he was talking about because I was still very young during that time not until, their enemies end their life.
My mother is the captain of the airforce while my father is a detective, my dad and mom must've known something that the enemies feared.
"Ayashi, you're spacing out again. Kakarating mo lang dito sa Pilipinas pero nagsasalubong na yang dalawang kilay mo." Usal ni Tita Ysabel habang nakatuon ang tingin sa daan, "May problema ba iha?"
Tita Ysabel is the one who raised me when my parents died, my parents must've known that their life is at risk because they left a will. When everything became traumatizing to me, I insisted in going to Japan where my relatives are.
"I'm fine Tita, I'm just trying to remember every single detail of this place." I responded.
"I told you, you can continue your studies in Japan. Our relatives wouldn't hurt you, and you know that yourself."
"I'm just sick of hearing them insulting my parents, my parent's death is something that shouldn't be humiliated about..." I clenched my fist, "...they don't have any rights to do that."
Tinignan ko ang tanawin sa labas, napangiwi agad ako dahil puro gusali at amoy ng mga sasakyan ang nalalanghap at nakikita ko. The sound of the horns outside keeps on lingering in my ears. Traffic is one of the things I hate.
"Naiintindihan naman kita Ayashi, pero sana maintindihan mo rin na iniiwas kita sa mga trahedyang nakita mo noong bata ka pa." Tita Ysabel said that reminded me about it.
If I keep on sulking and do nothing, my parents won't surely like that. I need to find out who is behind their death, and if I finally put all the pieces together—I'll eliminate them myself.
"Thanks for worrying about me Tita but I'll be fine," binigyan ko siya ng seryosong tingin, "I know you treasure dad so much since he is the only brother who treasured and understood you completely. His death should be given justice, and you know in the first place that I wanted the same."
"I'm doing everything in my power, Ayashi." Napasandal si Tita sa driver's seat, “But the case that your father handled is something that even confuses me."
The entire Yamamoto family works for the government. In short, lahat ng kasapi ng pamilya namin ay may posisyon sa gobyerno at sa army. The Yamamoto clan is in every part of the globe who wanted to serve each country, and my Tita Ysabel here is the captain of a secret alliance of the government whose job is to do some dirty work that the government cannot do publicly.
"I'll try to be a helping tool," the car started moving again, "but once I find out the man behind the death of my parents, he will regret what he did."
Your country failed to give you the justice you deserve, I guess I need to give you the justice myself.
Nang makarating na kami sa bagong paaralan na papasukan ko ay biglang huminto ang sasakyan tsaka ko napagdesisyonang lumabas, tinignan ako ni Tita Ysabel—para bang sinusuri niya ang reaksyon ko sa mukha.
"Don't get yourself into trouble Ayashi, okay? You need to keep a very low profile, your brother is well known in this place." When I heard her mentioning my brother, I quickly looked away.
"My brother is useless for me anyways," isinukbit ko ang bag sa balikat ko, "I'll see you later at home Tita."
"Be careful."
If my father is well known for being a good detective back in the day, then my brother is well known of being the chief of police in this area. He is the reason why the legacy of my father is still active up to this day.
I don't even wanna talk about him anymore.
While I was stepping foot on the campus, I can feel the other students looking at me as if I'm some kind of stranger—which I particularly am.
"Pwede ko po ba makita ang ID niyo, ma'am?" Tanong ng guard, kinuha ko ang isang school ID na nakalagay sa bulsa ng palda ko tsaka ko yun ipinakita sa guwardya.
This school is a little fancy, they will quickly assist everything you needed once you transfer. Your school ID, class schedules, uniforms and even lockers are already set, it makes it less hassle for me.
Napansin ko namang agad ibinalik ng guwardya ang ID ko nang masilip niya ang pangalan ko.
My last name will always be something worth fussing about.
"Pasok na po kayo Ms. Yamamoto," once the other students near the gate heard that, I can clearly see the terror in their eyes.
My brother must've left quite an impression to them.
Walang gana akong nagpatuloy sa paglalakad habang sinusubukang hanapin ang classroom ko, the other students that walk passed me is obviously avoiding me.
Habang abala ako sa paglinga-linga sa bawat classroom ay napansin ko ang isang babaeng nakaharap sa locker niya na tila ba namumutla, that's strange. She looked at me before she close her locker.
I can't see no emotion in her eyes but the way her body moves, she seem afraid of something. She walked passed me, I shrugged my shoulders. Akmang magpapatuloy na sana ako sa paglalakad nang may natapakan akong isang bagay. Tinignan ko yun at nangunot ang noo ko nang mapansin kong isa yung susi.
Kanina kaya ito?
I took it from the floor and was about to call out for the girl I saw earlier when I just suddenly couldn't see that girl anymore. Where is she? I'm sure this key is hers, this is maybe the key of her locker.
"Isasauli ko na lang pag makita ko siya ulit..." mahina kong usal bago ibinulsa ang susi.
I was in immediate relief when I finally found my classroom, sumilip ako sa pinto at nakita ko na nagnename calling na ang guro. Looks like I'm late, so much for a first day.
"Ayashi Vixen Yamamoto?" She called out my name that made the whole class silent. "I'll call this name again, Ayashi Vixen Yamamoto, are you present?"
Ayoko talagang marinig ang Vixen sa pangalan ko. Why did my parents name me like that anyway?
I knocked on the door. "I'm here, I'm late. I’m sorry.”
The teacher smiled.
"It's okay, it is still the first day of school anyway." She uttered in a gentle manner, "You must be Ayashi, come in.”
“Yes, I am.”
“You can take a seat now.”
Nang tuluyan na akong makapasok ay naramdaman ko agad ang mga titig nila na puno ng panghuhusga at katanungan, as if I care what they think about me.
Kaagad ko namang nakita ang isang bakanteng upuan sa likod kaya doon ko napagdesisyonang umupo, and it made me regret it afterwards.
"Pssst!"
I crossed my arms before closing my eyes tight.
"Pssst!"
I just give him the cold shoulder.
"I'm Calvin Johnson, isa akong miyembro ng school publication. I heard you're the little sister of Chief Lancelot, pwede ka bang maging parte ng—"
"Not interested."
He pouted.
"Hindi mo pa nga ako pinapakinggan—"
"Who says I'm willing to listen to you?"
"You don't have to be so blunt." Nakanguso niyang ani pero hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at itinuon na lang ang atensyon sa guro naming nagsasalita sa harapan.
"To all of you who don’t know, my name is Cassandra Ponce. I'm 28 years old and I've been teaching in this school for 5 years already, I'll be your adviser until the end of the school year." She smiled brightly, "I'm expecting that all of you won't put yourself into any kind of trouble, got it?"
"Yes Ma'am Cassandra!!" Maligalig na sagot ng mga estudyante.
Her smile seems familiar to me tho—
—oh I remember, I met her six years ago. She even met my parents before they died, she's maybe 22 at that time and my brother is still 24. She is his girlfriend.
"Students, you need to take it easy since it is still the first day. So loosen up a little." She took a chalk from her table, "Now, maghahire tayo ng new class officers. So yung gustong mag-nominate—"
"AHHH!” A shrieking voice echoed in the hallway that alerted everyone.
Someone yelled, who could it be?
Ayashi's POV Napatingin ako sa lalaking katabi ko na panay ang kulit sa akin kanina, abala siya sa pagkuha ng maliit na notebook at isang ballpen mula sa bag niya. He looks calm. "You know something," natigilan siya nang magsalita ako. "Are you talking to me?" "May ibang tao ka bang nakikita bukod sa ating dalawa?" Inis kong wika na nakapagpanguso sa kanya. Pato ba siya sa past life niya? Panay ang nguso niya eh. "Well, this isn't new to—" napatigil siya nang bigla akong tumayo, namulsa ako tsaka ako nag-umpisang maglakad. "Speak up." "As I was saying, this kind of incidents are normal to the campus. Although chinicheck naman ng mga pulis ang safety measures ng school ay hindi pa rin maiiwasan ang ganitong mga pangyayari." Nagsalubong ang kilay ko, "This school is just prone to accidents." "Just get to the point already..." Nang tuluyan na akong makalabas sa classroom ay bumungad sa akin ang nagkukumpula
Ayashi's POV Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ko nang mahuli ko si Calvin kanina pa panay titig sa akin, tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil doon. "Do you know what you did the other day became the hot topic inside the campus?!" Binalatan ko ang lollipop tsaka ko isinubo yun sa bibig. "Grabe Ayashi, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang ginawa mo yun.” "I'm not here to talk about what I did," I crossed my arms, "ang gusto ko lang marinig ay ang mga impormasyong nakalap mo.” "Sabi ko nga." Luminga-linga siya upang tignan kung may iba pang estudyante sa classroom o wala. "Spill it." "Hindi ko alam kung coincidence lang ba na nakita ko si Linette noong araw na yun, I saw her approached Rhea the first thing in the morning. I heard them talking but it's not really that serious, parang nagpapasalamat si Linette sa mga ginawang mabuti ni Rhea para sa kanya. I feel something is off pero binalewala ko lang. Tapos around 8 ng umaga nakita kong inapproach ni
Ayashi's POVWhen I was young, I was always dependent on my brother. Walang mga araw na hindi ako umaasa sa kanya, I always look up to him like he's the second to the best. Siya yung tinuring kong pangalawang hero sa buhay ko, I treasured my brother so much. Everyone knows that but one day, everyone got confused when I suddenly started condemning my brother.I started hating the man I once called my hero."Are you sure na ikaw na ang magdadala nito sa headquarters ng kapatid mo?" Tita Ysabel asked as she started preparing my brother's dinner, "You're probably still shock about what happened earlier, don't you think it's better for you to call it a day? Ako na lang ang maghahatid nito."When I was still living in Japan, my brother is living in Tita Ysabel's house. I heard that he always comes home whenever he is done with his duty but since when I arrived, he's been avoiding me ever since.It's not like I'm complaining or something
Ayashi's POV"So she was killed because there is a problem in her heart? You got to be kidding me." I put my phone on my desk as I heaved a sigh.Binabasa ko kasi ngayon ang autopsy report pero wala pa rin akong makuhang matinong sagot, siguradong-sigurado ako na lumalabas ang dugo niya sa katawan mula sa bibig niya. It's not just a simple complication in the heart. She might have drink something.Tinignan ko muli ang pangalawang e-mail ni Lancelot na naglalaman ng mga detalye sa isang kasong katulad ng kay Linette."She died the same way, and they didn't widen the investigation."These cops will be the end of me. Kulang na kulang yung mga detalye sa kaso, pinaresulta lang nila na cardiac arrest ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng babae.I quickly turned my phone off when I felt someone's presence in front of me, nag-angat ako ng tingin at nginitian ang lalaking nasa harap ko."Are you still going to keep this up after what
Third Person's POVIt was already 8 in the morning, maraming estudyante ang nagsimulang magdatingan. Kaitlyn Ortega, Linette's bestfriend, walked down the hallway. Her mind is in chaos and she may not admit it, but she is definitely troubled.Dumiretso siya sa locker niya upang kunin ang librong gagamitin niya para sa unang klase niya sa umaga, pagkabukas niya sa locker ay bumulaga sa kanya ang larawan nila ni Linette habang may nakasulat na "bestfriends forever" nanginig ang kamay niya nang mapagtantong dugo ang ginamit bilang tinta.Behind that photo, there is a voice recorder that suddenly played."Kaitlyn, why didn't you help me?" She trembled even more when she heard a familiar sob, "Why didn't you help your bestfriend?""N-No...""I thought we're bestfriends for life, we’re still best buddies right? If so, would that mean..." Kaitlyn heard a giggle, "...if I die, you die too?" Then, the recording stopped.Kaitlyn dropped h
Ayashi's POVI scratched my nape before I carry my bag with me, Calvin approached me the sooner the bell rang. Hawak-hawak niya ang bag niya habang nangungulangot pa.Calvin okay ka sana, medyo dugyot ka lang."Don't slid your finger on your nose in public, mangulangot ka kapag walang tao sa paligid." Inis kong panininghal sa kanya, "Wala ka talagang hiya ano?"Ngumuso siya."Alam mo Ayashi—""Hindi ko alam at wala akong balak alamin.""You're just so mean to me.""I'm not mean, I prefer the word honest, gets mo?""Ewan ko sa'yo."We went outside the classroom, I don't want to approach Kaitlyn this morning but I really have this weird part of me that would do such things I never plan on doing."So Ayashi—""Ehehem, nakakalimutan mo yung title ko." Umirap at ngumuso si Calvin."Master Ayashi," pagtawag nito sa akin, "natapos mo na ba yung kaso ni Linette? May resulta na ba? Pwede ko
Ayashi's POV"So guys, I want you to meet Ayashi." Pagpapakilala ni Calvin sa akin sa dalawang kababaihan na nakatayo sa harapan naming dalawa."Hello Ayashi, I'm Fiona Banao, nice to meet you. I've heard a lot of rumors about you." A lady with plain black hair said."More like bad rumors you say," siniko naman siya ng babaeng nagngangalang Fiona."Don't be rude.""Fine, fine." She rolled her eyes, "I'm Phoebe Stone Valliant and by the way, it's not nice meeting you."I looked at her from head to toe."Don't worry, the feeling is mutual." Bahagya kong pinitik ang band aid na nasa noo niya, "It's not nice meeting people who is quickly hurt by something that can be easily avoided.""Are you purposefully making fun of me?" Bakas ang inis sa tono niya."No," I smirked, "that's just how the way I speak." Pumagitna naman agad sa amin si Calvin.Fiona laughed awkwardly."So yeah, welcome to the school publication.
Ayashi's POV"Ayashi, you good? Bakit nandiyan ka sa kitchen sink?" Calvin asked."Nothing." I smiled, "I was about to get Fiona a glass of water but it seems like she's fine now.""Balik na tayo sa office.""Sure.""Comeback again," Atashia waved her hands at us. The door was finally locked again before it got replaced by a plain white wall. Calvin is still accompanying Fiona since she's still feeling dizzy."Punta lang muna kami sa clinic, Phoebe. I'll message you guys later. Fiona will get better, I hope.""I told you, I'm Fiona and I'm fine.""That still doesn't makes sense, now shoo, bring that sick girl to the infirmary."Calvin and Fiona left the office just a few seconds after the student council president showed up unannounced. Giovanni looked at Phoebe as he started talking, he didn't seem to notice me."Did you happen to know where Kaitlyn Ortega is?" He asked politely, kinunotan siya ng noo ni Phoebe.