♡ Author's POV ♡
"Can't you please just release me?" naiinis na pahayag ni Raven sa kasama niyang babae. Her name is Felicity. Many students are aware of her existence that's why she is the target of everyone. Walang araw at segundo na hindi siya inatake ng mga estudyante. She's been alone for months. She didn't have friends even though she tried many times to save other's lives. Kahit anong kabutihan ang ipakita niya, para sa lahat isang pagkakamali na napunta siya sa building na 'yon. For everyone, her existence must be destroyed once and for all because she is a serious threat to everyone. And for them, threats must be eliminated.
Nakasandal ito sa pader habang nakakibit-balikat at nakayuko. Her eyes were shut at kahit anong pagsasalita at pakiusap ang gawin ni Sean, parang hindi niya naririnig. After that day when she met Sean Raven, hindi na niya pinakawalan ito and it's almost two days when he was help captive by Felicity. Nakaupo siya sa sulok at nakatali ang dalawang kamay sa likuran niya making him unable to make a single move.
I can't believe this girl. Wala naman akong ginagawa sa kanya, ayaw niya pa akong pakawalan. And look? A Viper like me has been held captive by an unknown girl? This is absurd! A viper like me?! Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sa sarili niya at nag-iinit na ang pisngi nito dahil sa inis.
"Hey, get this thing off!" sigaw niya kay Feli but she was like she didn't even hear his loud voice, "Bakit ba ayaw mo pa akong pakawalan? I can't waste my time here!" dagdag pa niya. Slowly, Feli's eyes were shut open directing it on Sean's eyes, "Can't you just shut up, you assh*le!" natawa na lang si Sean sa naging reaksyon nito.
Dba nga dapat ako itong mainis dahil basta-basta na lang niya akong tinali dito kahit wala naman akong ginagawa?
"Why would I shut my mouth up? I didn't even do anything to you, yet tinali mo pa ako dito."
"You deserve that." Feli said to him. It's been almost two days ng itali niya si Sean and she has a reason kung bakit niya 'to ginawa. Two days na rin niyang binibigyan ng pagkain si Sean at dahil ayaw niyang tanggalin ang tali nito sa kamay, thinking that he might escape from her, she had no choice kundi ang subuan si Sean para lang makakain ito.
Nagsalubong na lang ang kilay ni Raven dahil sa pagtataka, he was totally confused, "What? What did I do to deserve this? How is that even possible- hey!!" sigaw nito ng biglang lumabas si Feli at isinara ang pinto.
"F*ck! I need to get out of here!" pinilit niyang tignan ang likuran niya para makita ang kamay niyang nakatali. For two days, sinusubukan niyang tanggalin ang tali sa kamay without letting Feli notice him pero sadyang mahigpit ang pagkakatali sa kanya kaya hindi niya magawang makatakas.
I need to get out bago pa siya makabalik. He said to himself habang nagmamadali.
He must not waste time dahil kailangan na niyang hanapin ang dalawang taong dapat niyang hanapin. That was the main reason kung bakit siya umalis sa building na pinanggalingan niya. Using both of his hands, sinubukan niyang tanggalin ang tali sa kamay niya pero hindi niya pa rin magawa. He thought that it was a good time to escape since umalis si Feli. Tinignan niya ang buong paligid to find a way how to escape. Nasa isang bakanteng laboratory sila pero ni isang gamit, wala siyang makita except for one thing kung saan madalas umupo si Feli. Only one chair. He saw his viper's knife lying there so he forced himself to stand up kahit nahihirapan siya. But just before he was able to stand up, biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya napatingin siya doon.
D*mn! Bakit masyado siyang mabilis na nakabalik?
He saw her holding a plastic bag na parang may laman. He immediately knew what was inside that plastic bag because for two days, laging may dala-dalang ganito si Feli sa tuwing binabalikan niya si Sean. Napatingin si Feli sa direksyon niya at inihagis sa upuan ang dala niyang plastic bag, "Aren't you hungry?" tanong niya kay Sean but she doesn't seem so interested.
"Of course I am. Ano bang tingin mo sa akin? Dalawang araw na akong nakatali dito."
"Excuse me, did you forget na sa dalawang araw na 'yon, sinusubuan kita kahit na sukang-suka ako sa ginagawa ko para lang hindi ka mamatay sa gutom?!" she felt so disgusted talking and thinking about what she did. Pasalamat talaga 'tong lalaki na 'to, naaawa pa ako sa kanya. She said.
With that, natawa na lang si Raven, "As if namang nagustuhan ko rin 'yon. I nearly vomited because of what you did and remember that this is all your fault. Kung hindi mo ako tinali dito, you didn't have to do such thing. P*athetic!" two days, two days na rin nilang iniinis ang isa't isa. Sean at first, didn't try to eat dahil naiirita siya kay Feli but his stomach couldn't respond according to his will, he had no choice kundi ang kumain na rin. Habang sinusubuan siya ni Feli, they couldn't help but to look at each other disgustingly. That moment was really distasteful for the both of them. Kung hindi lang nakatali si Sean, surely they would have to fight each other again for no reason.
"Then you should be thankful dahil may awa pa akong natitira sa'yo."
"Then let me ask you, should I be thankful dahil tinali mo ako dito when I didn't even do anything to you?" he asked in confusion. Diretso lang silang nakatingin sa isa't isa, no one dared to blink an eye. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Finally, Sean Raven let out a sighed at napayuko siya. He looked directly at Feli's eyes and they were seemed familiar to him. Nakita na niya ang mga matang 'yon date pero hindi niya alam kung paano at saan. Does she resemble someone I know? Sean asked.
"Could you please release me? To be honest, I cannot waste any time. Hindi talaga ako sa building na 'to, I am from another building. I came here to find someone." while saying that, he was hoping that he could change Felicity's mind in order for her to release him. To his expectations, Feli's eyes who were looking at him fiercely became different, his eyes met her soft eyes and she looks so worried when she heard him say that.
"Y-your from another building?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya kaya tumango si Sean, "Yup, I'm from building 003. The highest supreme territory building."
"Then why are you here?" Feli seemed to look so interested tungkol sa sinabi ni Sean. Suddenly, her cold voice became soft.
"I came here to find someone."
"A friend?" tanong niya kaya tumango ulit ito, "Yeah."
"So please, pakawalan mo na ako." his eyes were pleading. They were directly looking at each other. She felt her heart fluttering for the first time kaya agad siyang umiwas sa titigan nilang dalawa. Why is he looking at me like that? She asked irritatedly.
"I didn't want to release you because I've been everyone's target." even if she didn't want to face him, she knew that she had to. It's the only way for her to decide if she will release him or not...by reading his expression through his eyes. She didn't want to feel her heart fluttering again but she actually felt it again as she looked at his eyes, "I thought you were like them. Na kahit anong kabutihan ang ipakita ko, they would still plan to kill me in the end." she said and he could feel her sadness and loneliness through her eyes.
"I don't care if you are everyone's target. I did not come here to kill or to pick a fight with anyone." pahayag pa ni Sean. He really need to change her mind as soon as possible because he really wasn't planning to kill her.
"Everyone knows me, right?" Feli's eyes became so glassy as if she would shed tears anytime but because of her bravery, she forced herself to hide her true feelings.
"We are all aware about you, but it's not like I'll do the same to you, I mean to kill you. I'd never do that." this time, hindi niya magawang makatingin kay Feli. Yes they are all aware because of those rumors about her but he didn't seem to take interest about those rumors. So, what's the use of killing her? He asked.
"Can I really trust you?" tanong niya kay Sean.
"I know it's hard to believe me, but killing you didn't even cross my mind, Felicity. Trust me." his eyes were full of sincerity. He's really not like them, this man is different. He somehow caught my attention. I'm really crazy for doing this. She said as she couldn't believe herself for doing this.
"Fine. I'll release you." Sean couldn't help himself but to feel so happy towards hearing such words from the girl who held him captive for two days. Lumapit siya sa likuran ni Sean at tinanggal ang tali nito sa kamay using Sean Raven's viper knife. After that, inalalayan niya si Sean para makatayo ito as he felt his feet's numbness for not being able to move for two days. When he was finally able to stand up, he looked at her with a smile, "Thanks for trusting me, Feli." when she saw Sean Raven's smile, bigla siyang umiwas sa tingin nito at lumayo sa kanya.
"So what's your plan?" tanong niya kay Sean kaya napaisip si Sean.
"Hahanapin ko sila as soon as possible. We really need them." dahil sa naging sagot niya, nagsalubong na lang ang kilay ni Feli at nagkibit-balikat, "And what makes you think na dito mo sila mahahanap sa building na 'to?"
Nagbuntong-hininga muna siya bago sinagot ang tanong ni Feli, "Actually, one of our friend is already here. He's like our younger brother and because he became the target of everyone, our leader had no choice but to save him kaya...he asked for the help of the council para ilipat siya dito and to save our younger brother. But unfortunately, hindi sila nakabalik." she could finally see sadness in his eyes as he said those words.
"Kaya pumunta ka dito with the help of the council? To find them?"
Tumango si Sean at ngumiti, "Absolutely."
"You said that he became everyone's target? How is that even possible? I am the only target of everyone here in Death building at wala ng iba pa- "
"Wait!" Sean Raven snapped when he heard her say that, "What was that again? Death building?" nagtaka na lang si Feli dahil sa inasal nito, "Yes, Death building. Is there something wrong about that?"
"I was supposed to be in Curse building. So, are you telling me...t-that this is Death building?" Sean asked in disbelief.
"What's the point of lying? Kung saan ka nakatayo ngayon, this is Death building. The other one there is Curse building." sabay turo nito sa bintana kaya napatingin doon si Sean at may nakitang building na malayo sa building na kinatatayuan niya, "Seriously?!" napaharap ito kay Feli with his eyes widened in disbelief again.
"Ano bang problema?"
"I asked the council na dalhin ako sa Curse building, not here!" he shouted.
"You were deceived." natigilan si Raven habang nakatingin kay Feli, "W-what do you mean?" her eyes were so confident when she said those words. Evidently, she knew the council so well even though she didn't get to meet one of them yet.
"If you asked them na dalhin ka sa Curse building pero sa maling building ka napunta, then it wasn't an accident. It was undeniably intentional." she said.
"But why would they do such thing?" Raven was trying hard to keep himself calm when in fact, his face almost turned red because of anger. It was like he would be consumed by frustation anytime.
"H-hindi ko alam pero siguradong may plano sila kaya dinala ka dito." she felt guilty thinking that they really planned this for her. He might be their trap for her, but for what?
"Do you know something about it?" tanong ni Raven expecting that she might have an answer so she felt uncomfortable towards him kaya umiling siya, "N-no. I don't know anything." she wasn't able to look at him directly dahil baka nga tama ang hinala niya. They might brought him to the wrong building in order for her to use him.
Napatingin na lang si Sean sa ibang direksyon at nagbuntong-hininga forcefully trying himself to keep calm. He knows na walang magandang kalalabasan ang nararamdaman niyang galit so he looked at her again, "What am I supposed to do now?" tanong nito. He looks so dissappointed that time. What's the point of coming here kung wala naman pala dito ang mga hinahanap ko? He asked.
Tinalikuran siya ni Feli at kinuha nito ang hawak niyang plastic bag kanina. Nakita ni Sean na may kinuha siya doon at biglang inihagis sa kanya na nasalo naman niya, "May hinahanap rin ako, but just like you wala siya dito." saad nito. Napatingin si Sean sa inihagis sa kanya ni Feli at nakita niyang pagkain ito. Tinignan niya ulit ang kasama niya na naglakad papalapit sa bintana habang may hawak rin na tinapay na katulad nang inihagis niya kay Sean. Binuksan niya ang bintana at nanlaki na lang ang mata ni Sean nang umakyat si Feli doon, "Hey! What are you doing?"
That girl looked at him at bigla siyang umupo doon, "Relax. I wanna see the view outside." saad nito na nag-umpisa na ring kumain at humarap sa harapan niya. She started to eat calmly so Sean couldn't help but to smile. This girl is really different. He said. Lumapit na rin siya doon at umupo sa tabi ni Feli kaya't sumalubong sa kanila ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. He looked at her while she was still peacefully eating at nakatingin sa kalangitan. His heart started to flutter habang nakatingin siya sa mga mata nito together with her short brown hair na sumasabay rin sa simoy ng hangin.
But just like her, he looked at the view above as the stars were shining brightly than the lights present within the campus, "Sinong hinahanap mo?" he asked at nag-umpisa na rin siyang kumain kaya napatingin sa kanya si Feli and she smiled a bit, "That was the first time someone asked me that question." saad nito na ipinagtaka ni Sean kaya nagkatinginan silang dalawa, "Ha? Bakit naman?" mapait na ngumiti si Feli at tumingin sa harapan niya, "Because everytime I would say that, walang naniniwala sa akin. They will always say na sinungaling ako. Although I know the real reason kung bakit nila nasasabi 'yon, it still hurts..." her eyes slowly letting out the tears but she forced to hide it at tinignan si Raven, "Na walang nakikinig sa'yo." she said. He knew exactly that the girl beside him is not just a typical girl, she's so brave.
"I had a brother, but years ago since nawala siya. We thought that he died in an accident but..." she was still hesitating kung sasabihin niya ba ang totoo o hindi so she looked at her hands and played with it, "But before Mrs. Lim died, sinabi niya sa akin..." with that, she started to shed tears, "T-that my brother is still alive at ipinatapon siya dito." pinunasan niya ang mga luha niya and forced herself to smile. We need to accept the fact that there are people who choose to hide their true feelings but sometimes we just can't, especially if it really hurts to the core.
"For what reason?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sean kaya umiling si Feli, "I don't know. That's why I came here intentionally to find him and find out the truth." at dahil sa naging sagot niya, hindi maiwasang magulat ni Sean, "Wait! What?! Tell me na dinala ka rin nila dito."
"No." muling umiling si Feli, "I came here intentionally...to find my brother. I know he needs my help."
"Why did you do that?! Alam mo ba kung gaano kadelikado? Lahat kami gusto ng makalabas, pero ikaw..." hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Raven.
"Wala ng estudyante sa Heaven's Ward High, remember just before the high wall closed itself once again, ipinasok na lahat ng estudyante dito? I had the chance to escape but I didn't because I promised to my dad na hahanapin ko ang kuya ko."
"So it's not true na anak ka ni Mr. Wilford at ipinadala ka niya dito?"
Feli laughed in disbelief and shook her head, "That's not true. May nagkalat sa balitang 'yan although it was just a fake news, maraming naniwala dahil sa galit nila kay Mr. Wilford. In order to take revenge, they all plan to kill me and my brother because of that fake news thinking that Mr. Wilford is our father."
"Pero sino namang magkakalat ng ganung balita?"
"I don't know. One thing is for sure, that person knows kung nasaan ang kuya ko ngayon."
"What's the name of your brother again?" tanong ni Raven. Undeniably, he didn't pay much attention noong naging usapan ang magkapatid sa building nila.
"Xyrone Grover."
"Did he know na hinahanap mo siya?"
Napaisip na lang si Feli nang itanong 'yon ni Sean, "Matagal siyang nawala sa amin. Hindi namin alam kung natatandaan niya pa ba kami. He must have grown up sa ibang pamilya. If ever he doesn't remember, I'll make him remember."
"Kung ganon paano mo siya hahanapin?"
"The moment I see him, I will feel his presence. He was so protective of me when we were still young. He has this aura na kapag lumapit siya sa'yo o malapit ka sa kanya, you would feel protected. He always treated me as his princess." except from what she said, she was still thinking of one thing na makakapagpatunay sa isang taong hinahanap niya.
"What are you planning to do kapag nahanap mo na siya?" nagkatitigan silang dalawa ni Sean as if she was thinking about it and then she smiled.
"To do the escape plan." saad niya na ipinagtaka ni Sean, "What?"
"I need to find my brother as soon as possible just before that special someone they are talking about enter this school. Kailangan sa pagtakas, mabilis ang galaw ng lahat. One wrong move, lahat tayo mamamatay. Before my father had let me enter this place. He warned me na bukod sa hahanapin ko ang kuya ko, I need to make sure that everybody will escape."
"Wait?! So alam mo kung anong meron sa lugar na 'to bago ka pa man pumasok?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Sean.
"Of course. Mr. Wilford didn't know pero bago pa man ako pumasok dito, nasabihan ko na si dad na may mga estudyanteng nakakulong dito."
"And who's your dad?" naguguluhang tanong ni Raven at the same time, he was shocked to hear as hope is finally coming.
"General Auberon Fernando Voughan. He's my father. They are just waiting for their patient to wake up. One student made it out of this place alive and she is the only one who can help us to escape."
"M-may nakalabas?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya, "Yup, I don't know her but I think you do." Sean Raven completely became frozen in his place as he heard the name of their one and only hope, "Her name is Nashielle Von Doren."
To be continued...
Sorry po guys if I can't even make a proper greeting right now. I'm really having a hard time not in writing but some personal issues. Sorry for updating late. Hope you understand. I'm currently trying my best to cope up with my situation right now but don't worry because the story won't be affected. The show must go on. Thank you for waiting.