THIRD PERSON
"HEIZHI VALERIA." One of the founders called her name, and it is Kaija. Prenteng nakaupo ito sa upuan at mababa ang boses na tinawag ang pangalan niya. It is a tone with both threat and indifference.
"Yes?" Fharis asked without giving an attention to the piercing stares around her.
Once again, they conducted a meeting about what has been happening. Si Kaija ang nag-aasikaso ng lahat dahil wala si Hethania, at masyado pang bata ang isa pang founder. Dmitra is nowhere to be seen because she's on vacation, while the whole Gehenna Society was shaken by the brutal killings.
People of their own organization are getting killed, one by one. Those who sinned against her are already paying for the lives that they mercilessly took. That woman's anger knows no bound that it is prepared to commit the most horrendous sin that one can make.
No one must be spared, as she said. No one must be shown mercy. No one will be able to escape her judgment.
"Why won't you be able to attend meetings this week?" Kalmadong tanong sa kan'ya, kaya nagkaroon ng bulungan sa paligid, lalo na't ang pamilya niya ang nadidiin na may kasalanan ng kaliwa't-kanan na pagpatay.
"I knew it. Papatay lang ulit 'yan."
"She's really suspicious."
"Isn't she ashamed of herself?"
Fharis heaved a sigh out of boredom. Walang buhay ang mga mata niya na nakatitig sa kawalan at prenteng nakaupo lang. Hindi siya kakikitaan ng takot. She still managed to execute confidence even in the face of judgment right before her. "I'll have my vacation somewhere in Cebu."
"In the middle of these random killing, you still managed to think of a vacation?" May tono ng irita na tanong sa kan'ya ng isang miyembro kaya natawa siya bahagya. It is a nonchalant chuclkle. "You killed the members!" Giit nito at malakas na hinampas ang mahabang lamesa, pero hindi siya nito natakot.
She almost yawned because she never cared about them. "I told you, give me an evidence. Prove to me that I did it." Matapang na sagot niya at kumislap ang sandaling galit sa mga mata niya nang titigan ang lalaki. "You keep on blabbering. Why are you blaming us?" She asked and raised an eyebrow. Mataray ang itsura at parang isang basura lang ang tinititigan. "Or are you purposedly putting the blame on us?"
Natigilan ang nagtanong nang mapunta sa kan'ya ang tingin ng lahat. Suddenly, they doubt him because of her words. "No! It's not us! She's trying to---"
"Silence." Kaija cut off his sentence and massaged her temple. Sumasakit ang ulo niya dahil mismong mga miyembro ang nag-aaway kahit na dapat silang mag-usap nang mahinahon. "Valeria?" She called her again.
Napairap ito sa hangin. "It's for work. May photoshoot kami sa beach." Simpleng sagot niya at napangisi sa isipan nang maalala si Detrey. She misses her. "My girl will be there. I don't want to be disturbed, of course."
Fharisiana unconsciously bit her lower lip while thinking of Detrey's perfection. Nakalimutan niyang mag-text dito na medyo mal-late siya sa dinner nila ngayong gabi. Napangiwi siya sa isipan dahil wala pa man ay nakikita niya na ang magandang mukha nito na nakasimangot sa kan'ya at kinukwestiyon ang mga ginagawa niya.
Nagtaka ang mga miyembro, maging si Kaija na nagsalubong ang mga kilay. "Your girl?"
Fharisiana smiled a little, trying to suppress herself to grin with the fact that the mere mention of Detrey is driving her crazy. "Yes, why?"
"You mean, the Commander of Lust?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Kaija kaya tumango siya. She heard about the relationship that Fharis has.
"We're not yet together." Pag-amin niya at nag-dekwatro ulit. Kahit na gano'n ay para siyang nababaliw na agad kay Detrey. She wants to own every bit of her. She wants to be selfish. "But I need to spend my time with her."
Hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan ang pag-amin nito sa kan'ya. She can perfectly remember Detrey's confession that made her utterly weak. Hanggang ngayon, kapag naaalala niya, ay para siyang mawawala sa katinuan. There's no way now that she can still let her go. Not now. Not ever. Detrey belongs to Fharisiana.
Nakausap niya rin nang matagal ang ina nito. They had a good talk even if she's a little intimidated because she now know where Detrey got her attitude. Halos parehas sila sa lahat ng bagay. Hindi lang natapos ang usapan nila dahil kailangan ulit nitong umuwi ng Greece. But, they will certainly meet again.
Detrey's mother trusted Fharisiana to take care of her beloved daughter.
"Unbelievable." Natatawang umismid si Kaija dahil sa rason nila at sinuklay ang maiksing buhok pataas. Kumislap sa liwanag ang mga mata nitong kulay tsokolate na may pagkamangha. "Your life is in danger yet you... you still managed to think of spending time with her. Wow."
"Kaija, it's a matter of priorities." She perfectly knows her priority this time. Prenteng sagot ni Fharis. Mapaglaro na ngumiti siya. "Spending my time with her, making time for her... those are included in my priorities."
"Use some honorifics, you insolent woman! You are talking to a Founder!"
"Nah." Kaija shook her head in disagreement. She don't mind being called by her name. "You people should be the one to give some respect to Valeria." Turo niya sa kanilang lahat habang matalim ang titig sa mga mata dahil sila ang kanina pa nagdidiin kay Fharis kahit walang ebidensya na ang pamilya niya ang dahilan ng mga naganap na pagpatay.
"It's okay. No need." Fharisiana shook her head at took a glance at her wrist watch. Nakita niyang late na talaga at maiinis na naman si Detrey na pinaghintay siya. Waiting is not her forte. "Shall we end the meeting now?"
Kaija agreed, looking bored. Nagsi-alisan na ang ibang miyembro hanggang sa silang dalawa na lang ang naiwan sa loob ng meeting room. Maliwanag sa kinatatayuan nila at nakikita ang malawak na siyudad sa pwesto. "You don't need to say that."
"Be careful, Valeria. Everyone is your enemy." Mababa ang tono na paalala nito sa kan'ya at tinapik siya sa balikat habang paalis na rin. "Ah, this is so sick." She added.
Fharis shook her head. Umalis na rin siya ng hotel para magmadali sa pagpunta sa restaurant na sinabi ni Detrey. Nakita niya ang isa pang Founder na paalis. Nagulat na lang siya nang nasa tapat lang ng pinangyarihan ng meeting nila ay nakahalukipkip doon si Detrey habang nakasandal sa kotse!
"Hey, bakit ka nandito?" Gulat na tanong niya at mabilis na yumakap dito para mawala ang pagsasalubong ng mga kilay nito. Magaan na humalik din siya sa pisngi nito pero nakasimangot lang siya.
"I've been waiting. Ang tagal mo." Reklamo nito sa kan'ya at yumakap sa baywang niya. Kusa itong sumiksik sa leeg niya para amuyin siya.
Magsasalita pa sana si Detrey nang may mahuli siyang kamay na akmang hahawakan siya. Iritang nagbaba siya ng tingin at nakita... siya.
"Hello po." Nakangiting bati nito at binawi ang kamay na halos pigain ni Detrey. "I'm Universe. You're a Commander, right?" Magalang na tanong niya.
