Training
Mabilis lumipas ang mga araw simula n'ong pumunta sila sa London upang makapagtraining ng martial arts at iba pang kakailanganin nilang training sa paparating na labanan. Gayunpaman, hindi naman nahirapan si Gavin na turuan ang Golden Knight Sparrow dahil may mga karanasan na rin ito sa pakikipaglaban. They probably spent their childhood years improving their skills so now, they will surely use it for something they were preparing themselves for. Gideon ordered him to improve their skills more than before.
They spent hours, days, and weeks. After they finish mixing martial training, they proceed in the shooting range. This time, they will use guns. Naunang sumalang si Zavie. Pinapanood siya ng mga kasama niya. She puts eye and ear protection before she starts. She takes a deep breath as she prepares herself. She keeps her finger off the trigger until her sights are on the target.
Nakatutok ang kanyang atensyon sa pinakatarget board. Agad napanganga ang lahat ng sunud-sunod na nagpaputok ng baril si Zavie at lahat iyon ay bullseye. Halatang bihasa na ito sa paggamit ng baril. Pagkatapos, sunud-sunod ng sumalang ang ilang miyembro ng Golden Knight Sparrow. Gavin was amazed but deep inside, he had to be careful from something he didn't even expect. Biglang sumulpot si Gideon na kanina pa pala nagmamasid sa kanila.
"That's great. Y'all proved to me that I will have no trouble teaching you more when it comes to shooting range. I see it clearly that you mastered your skills from the very start. Now, listen. Since we have 2 weeks left before this training ends, we'll spend more days from the previous training to this shooting range. Upang mas maipakita niyo pa sa akin ang galing niyo. We only had a few months before the battle. So we had to make sure that we're mastered in these training that you take. For now, take a rest then tomorrow, we're gonna continue this." Mahabang speech nito na nagpangiti naman sa kanila. Tumango-tango silang lahat bilang pagsang-ayon tsaka lumabas na ng shooting ground.
Lumipas pa ang ilang araw, inanunsyo ni Gideon sa Golden Knight Sparrow ang pagtatapos ng training nila. Sobrang napabilib ito dahil sa kakayahan nila. Ngayon, alam na niyang wala na siyang dapat ipag-alala sapagkat handa na ang mga ito at naging mabilis lamang ang dapat na mahabang proseso ng training ng mga ito.
"Golden Knight Sparrow, I want to thank y'all for spending your days here for the training. Hindi ninyo ako binigo. Another thing that I wanna say, Ms. Zavanya. You make us amazed by your skills. I wanna know when you started to improve it?" anito saka bumaling ang atensyon kay Zavie.
"Since I was 8 years old, Mr. Gideon. My dad trained me as well as the twins ever since then. Sinigurado po niyang kakayanin namin ang aming mga sarili lalo na sa kapahamakan," ngiting paliwanag nito sa matanda.
"Well then. You make them proud of you. Hindi nga nagkamali ang apo ko sa pagpili sa'yo. Kaya ngayon, I granted you to be the new empress of Golden Knight Sparrow. Will you accept it?" Natigilan siya sa narinig. Subalit agad siyang tinanguan ng mga kasama lalo na ng kanyang asawa. Napangiti siya. "I will be honored, Mr. Gideon," saad niya. Agad na nagpalakpakan ang lahat. She didn't need a crown to be called a empress. She, herself proved it.
Samantala, palihim na napayukom ang kamao ng isa sa mga nanonood sa kanila. Alam na niyang mas kinakailangan pa maghanda ng mga tauhan ng kanyang tito. Dahil mas malakas na ang pwersa ng kalaban nila. Hindi lamang iyon. Kitang-kita ng kanyang mga mata kung gaano kalakas makipaglaban ang mga tauhan ni Gideon. Doon siya agad naalarma. Siguradong talo na kaagad sila. Bihasa na ito sa lahat kaya paano pa nila matatalo ang mga ito kung mga ordinaryong tao ang kinuha ng kanyang tito para sa pakikipaglaban? Marahil ilang taon ang kinakailangan upang maging bihasa rin.
Dumating na ang araw ng muling pagbalik nila sa Pilipinas. Nag-iimpake na sila para sa flight nila ng nagpaalam si Allison saglit kay Zavie na pupunta lang ng comfort room. Tumango na lang ito bago siya lumabas ng kwarto nila.
Habang papunta siya doon, palagpas na sana siya sa isang kwarto, hindi niya alam kung kanino nung may narinig siya na lalaki na may kausap sa telepono. She secretly hide behind the door and carefully listen to them.
"Tito, Gideon finally crowned her. What's our next plan?" his voice sounds very familiar. Don't get me wrong, I think...it's him? Takang saad niya sa sarili.
"Just do what I told you so. I'll do the rest. Make sure you know exactly where they lived then I'll make a plan after that," she heard the person on the other line.
It must be Cleo Amazon. If I'm not mistaken, I know that voice as well. Someone's gonna betray us, I'm sure of it.
Maya-maya pa'y, narinig niya ang pagbaba nito ng telepono at akmang lalabas ng kwarto kaya't nagmamadali siyang nagtago. He checked if someone was around.
What should I do now? I don't know if I should tell Rhazer what I've just heard lately. The time for the battle won't take long. Anytime, it'll begin. Gosh.
Narinig niya ang pagsara ng pintuan at paglabas nito mula sa kwarto na iyon. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Mabuti na lang hindi siya napansin nito. Pagkatapos niyang manggaling sa comfort room, balisa siyang bumalik sa kwarto kung nasaan si Zavie. Napansin nito siguro iyon kaya nagtataka siyang tinanong nito.
"Hailey. What's the matter? May nangyari ba? You looked bothered. Tell me," she worriedly asked her. Umiling siya bilang tugon habang pinapakalma niya ang kanyang sarili.
"No, no. I'm fine, Ate. It's just that...nevermind. Anyway, where's the others?" Pag-iiba niya ng usapan.
"Nag-iimpake na rin sila. Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"
"Surely, Ate," I reassured her and smiled a bit.
********
Nasa private jet na sila sa airport para ihatid pabalik sa pilipinas. Tahimik lang siyang nasa tabi ni Rhazer at nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Naramdaman niyang lumingon ito sa gawi niya habang nakakunot ang noo.
"Hailey. Are you alright? Kanina ka pa tahimik." Pilit siyang ngumiti dito.
"I'm just exhausted," pagsisinungaling niya. She knows she shouldn't hide what she just figured out lately but she's frightened if she tells this to them. Paniguradong hindi siya nila ito paniniwalaan and worst, mabibigla sila at posibleng magsimula na ang huling labanan.
"Wanna lay down here?" he offered as he tapped his shoulder. Umiling siya.
"Uhm...no. I just wanna enjoy the view," pagtanggi niya.
********
Lumipas ang ilang oras, lumapag na ang private jet na sinakyan nila sa airport. Saktong paglabas nila, naghihintay ang inutusan ni Stefan na sunduin sila. Subalit, siya na mismo ang tumanggi na sumabay pa sila sa kanila.
"Mauna na kayo, ate. Magtataxi na lang kami ni Rhazer." Nagtataka silang tumingin sa kanya..
"Are you sure? You can join the ride with us. Ihahatid na lang namin kayo," pag-offer sa kanila ni Stefan. Agad siyang umiling bilang tugon.
"It's alright, Voss. You should guys go. Take care on your way home," she smiled at them.
"Okay. Mag-iingat din kayong dalawa," pagpapaalam nito habang pinauna na niyang pasakayin si Zavie sa loob ng kotse. Before they left, she gave her a confused glance but she reassured her sister a sweet smile. As they left, Rhazer confronted her with a question.
"What was that, Hailey?" She just looked at him and sighed.
"I'll tell you when we get home." She started to walk and hail a taxi. Tahimik lang ang byahe nila pabalik sa mansyon niya. He didn't bother to ask again while on their way home. She thinks he gets why she's acting like this. He knew there was something wrong.
Pagkarating nila sa mansyon, he started to ask me. She just stayed silent as he followed her to her bedroom.
"Now, tell me. What's bothering you lately?" She gave him a heavy sigh before she answered him.
"I witnessed something lately before we left London. I know you probably won't believe it but...there's a traitor. I couldn't tell you who it might be because I'm not even sure who it was," she stated. A confused look written on his face.
"A traitor? Saan? Sa grupo natin?" takang-tanong nito. Umiling siya.
"No. But it was one of Gideon's. I'm afraid that any time soon, the battle between them and us will start. And it kept on bothering me so I refused to join them on a ride home. I'm sorry, I know I should've told you about it earlier but I'm frightened if Voss knows. Maaaring kumilos na ang taong iyon, kung sino man ang traydor na 'yon. Si Ate Zavie lang naman ang palagi kong inaalala," paliwanag niya dito. He gave her a reassuring hug and that made her calm her nerves down.
"We'll figure out who's that traitor, hmm? Now, take a rest. Everything will be fine," he assured me before he left my bedroom.
I'm sure it was him. That man...Gideon shouldn't have trusted that guy just because he saved him that day as well as he has no idea that he's a traitor and can destroy everything he started.