Ire's POV
"Who the hell is she? She can't be her. She's long gone!" galit na saad ni Clay.
"Definitely not. Fiery is dead, but who is that girl? Every physical trait of her screams that she is Fiery", dagdag pa niya.
"She's not Fiery", I said. I felt a pang in my chest as her name passes through my lips. It's been a while since I mentioned her name again.
"But how can she be looks like her?" kunot noong tanong naman ni Adrion.
"We don't know. Maybe that girl is just using her face. To confuse us. How come she entered this school using her face? What does she wants?" tanong naman ni Arius.
"Did Fiery mention someone to you? A sister or a twin?" seryosong tanong naman ni Colton. Whenever Colton is serious about something that just only means one thing. What he is telling made sense or sometimes is the truth.
"No. She never mentioned anyone She's an orphan remember?" sagot ko naman sakanila.
"What if sinadya niyang hindi sabihin? Who would dare enter this school using her face? We just had two situations here. It's either she has a twin sister or it's really her. It's really Fiery" seryoso ulit na saad niya.
"It's impossible" I whispered more to myself than them.
"You guys know it is impossible. We saw her. Fiery died right in front of us" I told them. Hindi ko na alam kung ano bang paniniwalaan ko. No. She's not Fiery. She's not my Fiery. But what if.....she really is?
Aeon's POV
"You guys know it is impossible. We saw her. Fiery died right in front of us" Ire told them. I clenched my fist. Rage clouded through my heart. I am here, hiding behind a tree, di kalayuan sakanila. Sinadya ko talagang hindi umalis muna para marinig ang kanilang pinag uusapan at tama ang naging desisyon ko.
She died right in front of them, of him. Yet he didn't do anything. Isa kang halimaw. You will pay for this. You all will pay for everything. Ngayon, ako naman ang magpapaikot nang mga mundo niyo.
*
After eavesdropping at their conversation naisipan kong pumunta sa training ground which is sa oval lang din ng school. Wala akong klase ng hapon and I am still enraged sa mga impormasyon na nakuha ko. I went to the archery section. I grab some arrow and a bow. I imagined that my targets are those people who made me suffer, who made her suffer, who killed her.
"Nice shot" sabi ng isang tinig sa likuran ko. I turned around at itinutok sakanya ang hawak kong bow and arrow.
"Yes, and a perfect target" I said with a cold tone. Hindi naman siya natinag dahil sa ginawa ko.
"Believe me, I am no perfect target," he said with a grin.
"Oh really?" I said mocking him. Binitawan ko ang hawak ko at iniwan siya. Wala akong panahon makipag usap sakanya. Mas nanaisin ko nalang na magmukmok sa kwarto ko habang nag iisip ng paraan kung pano ko sila pahihirapan. They seemed to have no weaknesses, but no, everyone has their own weaknesses and I know what those or should I say who those are?
Nagsimula na akong maglakad palayo sakanya ng bigla siyang nagsalita na ikinagulat ko.
"I'm sorry," he said. I tensed at his words pero sandali lang. I turned around to look at him. His eyes are sorrowful and remorseful. I raised my brow at him.
"For what?" tanong ko sakanya.
"For everything, for your sister." I nearly gasped at what he said buti nalang napigilan ko ang sarili ko. I know that he is just doing this to catch me. I smirk at his tactics. You can't fool me. I have mastered the art of pretending.
"I don't have a sister. I am an orphan remember?" sagot ko sakanya. Hindi mo ako mahuhuli.
"Stop this Aeon! Your sister wouldn't be happy seeing you like this" he begged. His eyes are dead and lonely whenever she's the topic.
I fake a sigh.
"I am not happy dahil nakalimutan mo na ako. Why Ire? Why didn't you save me? You watched me die right in front of you" I said.
"Stop. Stop pretending!" nagsusumamong saad nito.
"I am not pretending. It's me Ire. It's Fiery. Your Fiery", malungkot kong sabi. His eyes widened as he come closer to me.
"Fiery", puno ng emosyon niyang sabi. I tried hard to swallow the lump through my throat and not to cry. Akmang hahaplusin ko sana ang kanyang buhok nang bigla niyang ibinaba ang kwelyo ng suot kong damit sa right shoulder ko to reveal what he is searching for. My birthmark. It is a circle-shaped like moon and it has a star inside it.
"No" lugmok na lugmok niyang sabi na para bang pinagsakluban siya ng langit at lupa.
"Do you believe me now?" sabi ko sakanya tsaka ko siya tinalikuran. Now, let the game begin.
Ire's POV
No. This is not possible. She's dead. Fiery is dead. My Fiery is dead and I watched her die right in front of me. Wala man lang akong nagawa but what is this? Anong nangyayari? Pano to nangyari? This can't be happening. Hindi to maaari. Aalamin ko lahat. Lahat lahat, pati narin kay Aeon. Hindi pwedeng siya si Fiery dahil matagal na siyang patay. She's planning something and I won't let her ruin Fiery's name. I won't let her stain Fiery's image. There's something about her. Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone sa bulsa ng aking pantalon at hinanap ang pangalan ng pinagkakatiwalaan kong imbestigador.
"Hey, Tam. I need your help. I need your skills" sabi ko saking kausap.
"Hey T. I'm sorry but you can't have my skills but anyways. I'll help you" sagot naman niya. He paused for a moment before answering.
"I need to know everything about a girl named Aeon Hitter Black"
"Woah. A girl? Himala T, ngayon ka lang nagpaimbestiga ng babae. She must be special or dangerous, or both?" biro ni Tam.
"I would rather consider her dangerous than special" sagot ko naman.
"Okay. Sabi mo eh. Give me a week" aniya.
"No. That won't do. I want the information right now" matigas kong sabi.
"Anong right now ka diyan? Hindi mo ba alam kung gano kahirap maghanap ng impormasyon? Hindi mo lang alam kung anong hirap ko no?" reklamo niya.
"Oh really? Ganun ba kahirap umupo at maghack ng computers? I'm sure, for you, that job is just a piece of cake"
"Piece of cake ka diyan. You don't know the risk that I am taking kapag pinapasok ko ang data base ng government or ng isang private institution. I am risking my life here, Bro. Tsaka wag ka ngang magreklamo ni wala ka ngang binabayad sakin eh. Ang yaman yaman mo tapos ang kuripot mo naman" dagdag pa niyang reklamo.
"Come on dude, I know this is your cup of tea, you're the best in it that's the reason why I chose you at alam ko ring hindi ka mahuhuli. Fine, I'll triple the pay of your highest client. And look who's talking when it comes to money. Gago mayaman ka rin no. Mandurugas ka kasi" pangungumbinsi ko sakanya.
"Fine. Just give me an hour" he said then the line went dead. Andami pa niyang sinabi papayag lang din naman pala. Binulsa ko na ang telepono ko at umalis sa oval. Pupuntahan ko muna ang mga kaybigan ko baka kanina pa nila ako hinahanap. Malapit na ako sa pad namin, papasok na sana ako ng may mamataan akong babaeng papunta sa likod ng pad namin, si Aeon. San siya pupunta? Susundan ko na sana siya ng bigla namang nagsidatingan ang mga kaibigan ko.
"Where the hell were you?" galit na sabi ni Clay.
"Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap at hindi ka rin namin macontact. San ka ba galing?" tanong din ni Arius.
"Teka ano bang problema niyo? May nangyari ba?" naguguluhang tanong ko.
"You need to see something" sabi ni Adrion sabay takbo papuntang pad namin. Sumunod naman kaming lahat. Nang makapasok kami kinuha ni Clay ang ipad na nasa ibabaw ng kama niya tsaka ito binuksan at may pinakita sakin more like pinanood sakin.
"Muling binuksan ang kaso ng isang dalagang pinatay mismo sa Empire High University na isang prestihiyosong paaralan. Ang dalagang ito ay nagngangalang Fiery Pummel Black na isa ring estudyante sa nasabing paaralan. Ang nasabing dalaga ay namatay o pinatay tatlong taon na ang nakalilipas at ngayon muli itong binuksan dahil may mga ebidensyang lumilitaw gaya nalang ng isang videong may lalaking nakaluhod sa harap ng bangkay ng nasabing biktima."
Nagulat nalang kaming lahat ng magplay ang isang video. Video kung saan may isang lalaking nakaluhod sa harap ni Fiery ngunit hindi masyadong kita sa video kung sino ito ngunit hindi ako nagkakamali that was me, that was me when I found the cold and lifeless body of Fiery. Ito yung mga panahong may gusto siyang sabihin sakin ngunit huli na ang lahat, nahuli kami ng mga kaibigan ko, nahuli ako.
"at isang voice record na kahinahinala"
Tapos may nagplay na isang voice record. " You guys know it is impossible. We saw her. Fiery died right infront of us". Yan ang narinig namin sa voice record at alam naming lahat kung kanino ang boses na yan. Sakin.
"Mabibigyang linaw na kaya ang kasong ito? Ang lalaki kaya na nasa video at sa voice record ang salarin sa pagpatay sa dalaga?"
"Ah Jinn maaari ba naming malaman kung sino ang muling nagbukas ng kaso at sino ang nagpadala ng mga ebidensiyang yan?"
"Ah ayon sa interview kanina sa Attorney ng biktima ay 'no comment' lang ang sinagot niya ngunit alam naman nating lahat na walang pamilya ang dalaga so mananatiling sikreto kung sino man ang muling nagbukas ng kaso"
"This only means one thing Ire. They are putting the blame on you. Who would do this?" Colton asks frustrated.
"It's her," Clay said. "It's that f*cking girl. What does she want from us? Justice? Revenge? That incident is not our fault" galit na dagdag nito.
"Don't worry. I've had her investigated" sabi ko sakanilang lahat. Ano ba talagang pakay mo Aeon?
Aeon's POV
Hindi na ako nagulat sa napanood ko. Mabilis siyang kumilos. Mabuti nalang at pumayag ang Highest Council na muling buksan ang kaso. I can destroy them once na hindi nila ako napagbigyan. I hold the ace. I am their downfall because I am the ace.
**
Flashback
After my discussion or should I say confrontation with Ire napagpasyahan kong pumunta sa likod ng pad namin, kailangan ko siyang makausap. Hinugot ko ang phone ko sa bulsa ng pants ko at hinanap ko ang pangalan niya. I dialed his number and after three rings sinagot din niya.
"Is it done? Did you receive it T?" tanong ko sa nasa kabilang linya.
"Yeah, already done. Didn't you receive the news?" he asked back.
"I did. Quiet impressive. Thanks T. We're almost there. Makakamit rin natin ang hustisya" sabi ko sakanya.
"Just be careful A. There's a big difference between what you know and what is real" my forehead creased at what he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked skeptically.
"Be careful A" he answered not actually answering my question pero bago ako makapagtanong muli nagsalita uli siya.
"They're having you investigated" he continued.
"Don't worry. I know they would" I smirked more to myself and then ended the call. But they'll find nothing. I already made sure of that.