Chapter 17: Prelude
Nakangiting umupo si Snow sa tabing upuan nila ni Queen at Hawk.
"Hi Queen, we meet again." Nakangiting sabi ni Snow kay Queen.Ngumiti ito sa kanya.
"Yeah.I'll never expect that you will study here." Nagagalak na sabi sa kanya ni Queen.
"Gusto ko lang dahil nalaman kong dito ka nag-aaral." Sagot nito.
"Haha.Nonsense.Bye the way this is Hawk Fryle, my only friend here in this campus." Turo ni Queen kay Hawk,Napalingon naman ito kay Snow.
"We already know each other." Kaswal na wika ni Snow.
"Really? Kilala niyo and isa't-isa Fyle?!" hindi kapanipaniwalang sambit ni Queen sa katabi niya.Hawk nodded.
"How come?" dagdag ni Queen.
"Remember the resto bar you once visited?"Tumango ang kausap nito.
"Actually I am the owner of that bar. Since Hawk became a regular there, we become close friends." Paliwanag ni Snow.
"Is that so? That is good." Sambit ni Queen.
It is already their breaktime at magkasama silang tatlo.Queen and Snow enjoy talking to each other.Habang si Hawk naman ay tumatango-tango lang .Nagtatanong sa isip niya kung anong pinaplano ni Snow na ang The 12 Prodigies former leader ,Bulls Eye.Hindi niya talaga inaasahan na ito na mismo ang umasisa kung ano na ang nagaganap sa misyon niya.He is aware of that Their Queen doesn't know that Snow Reinhard is Bulls Eye. At mukha wala itong planong ipakilala ang mascara niya kay Anaconda.
Pansin ni Hawk na pasulyap-sulyap na tumingin si Queen kay Stone.Wala din namang pagbabago sa ekspresyon ni Snow.Habang ito ay umiiwas sa tingin ni Snow.
"Nag-aaway ba kayo ng fiancée mo , Queen?" pawalang kahulugang tanong ni Snow.
"Ewan. I don't know why he is acting angry all the time.I know that he is cold but when days pass by he became calm.Pero ngayon hindi ko alam kung palagi nalang siyang nagsusungit.I am really piss because of it!" naiinis na kwento ng dalaga.
"I guess I know why he is acting like that." Dagdag ni Snow.
"Then what is it?" tanong niya.
"Base sa nakikita ko ,We are together with you and not with him." Snow answered.
"At ano naman ang meron kung kasama ko kayong dalawa?"
"You two are already engage. He should be the one here talking with you instead of us." Biglang nagsalita si Hawk na kanina pa nanahimik.Mukhang alam niya na ang binabalak ni Bulls Eye.
"Yeah he's right." Snow then smiled. Habang sinisink-in naman sa utak ni Queen ang ibig sabihin ng dalawa.Then she gets it.
"H-he's j-jealous?!!" she blurted out surprisingly.Ngumiti ng makahulugan si Snow habang kalma lang naman si Hawk.
"N-nagbibiro ba kayo?" nauutal na dagdag niya.
""Hmmm, do you want me to prove it to you, that he is really indeed jealous?" Snow suggested.Napatingin naman si Hawk dito.
"Okay. Then prove it to m----hmmm--" laking gulat nalang ni Queen ng biglang dumapo ang labi ni Snow sa mga labi niya.Snow just suddenly kissed her and she can't believe that she was caught off guard of the 2nd time with him.
Habang ang isa pa nilang kasama na si Hawk ay nagulat sa ginawa ni Snow knowing that this man is Bulls Eye.Nakita ito ni Stone at galit na galit itong tumayo at lumapit sa may table nila.
Bumitiw agad si Snow ng mapansin ito ni Stone. Habang si Queen naman ay hindi makagalaw dahil sa gulat.
"See he is jealous." Bulong ni Snow sa kanya at makahulugang ngumisi.
Doon nalang siya nakabalik sa huwisyo sa ibig sabihin ng lalaki.Agad naman siyang napalingon sa likuran niya.Bago pa siya makalingon ay hinila ni Stone ang braso niya at hinawakan siya nito ng mahigpit Umugong ang bulong-bulungan.Many have seen what just happened pero hindi lang nila ito pinansin at tiyaka kinalakad hanggang sila ay makalabas sa loob ng canteen.
Inis na kinuha ni Queen ang braso niya na nooy mahigpit na hinahawakan ni Stone.
"What's with you?Grabbing me all of a sudden!!" naiinis na tugon ni Queen sa nakatalikod na galit na si Stone.Humarap ito sa kanya na magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay dahil sa galit.
"Hindi ko akalaing nagkaroon ako ng fiancée na may lakas loob na maglandi sa harapan ko!!" galit na sigaw nito sa kanya.Bigla namang kumunot ang noo ni Queen sa sinabi nito.And she felt bloods rushing through her dahil she felt insulted.Niwala nga sa bokabularyo niya ang salitang PAG-IBIG.
"D-did you just say the w-word m-mala-landi?!" she can't even believe that this man is calling her that word.It's been long since she felt this kind of hatred since the day they first meet.
"Basta-basta ka nalang nagpapahalik ng ibang lalaki despite that you have a fiancée!!At ang mas masama pa nito ay nasa likod mo lang ako!! Kahit wala man tayong nararamdaman sa isa't-isa, rumespeto ka naman bilang fiancée ko!"
"What the hell?! You are just misunderstanding something??!!" galit na sabi ni Queen.
"Misunderstand?!! Talaga—ARAAY!!.." napaaray bigla si Stone ng sinipa siya ni Queen sa tuhod.
"YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS YOU PUNK!!!" galit na sigaw ni Queen. At inis na inis na napakamot sa kanyang ulo. Inis namang tumingin si Stone sa kanya habang hawak pa nito ang sumasakit na tuhod.
"AKO NAGSESELOS?!!" hindi makapaniwalang turo ni Stone sa sarili.
"Are we going at it again?!Paano mo naman nasabing nagseselos ako?!"
"Just admit it Stone. You already like me.When I heard from Snow that you are jealous I can't even believe it myself.Then he prove it to me when he suddenly kiss me, and there you appear very very angry and then suddenly grab me."
"So ganyan pala ang nangyari? Bakit kailangan ka pang magpahalik sa kanya?!hindi parin humupa ang galit ni Stone.
"I-I don't know that he will do that to me, K-kahit ako nabigla sa ginawa niya."
"Enough with that topic.Nalilito na talaga ako sayo Stone! Why are you acting so angry this past few days?!Did I just did something very wrong ?? Or you are just indeed jealous Stone?" biglang sumeryoso ang itsura ni Queen. At sumeryoso naman ang kausap niya at tumayo ng maayos.
"Gusto mo bang malaman kung bakit ako nagkakaganito?" Tumango lang ito. Huminga ng malalim si Stone at seryosong tumingin kay Queen.
"Gusto kita." Bigla namang napatahimik si Queen sa kanyang narinig.
"I am doubting for it first.Pero sa tingin ko ngayon gusto kita Queen.Nagagalit akong may kasama kang ibang lalaki.And I don't even know why in just a blink of an eye, I became to like you. Kahit na noong una ay matindi ang galit ko sayo dahil sa ibang bagay.But now I am angry because you spend most of your time with other guys instead of me.I am indeed jealous."
Hawk's POV
Ng matapos yong nangyaring esksena sa canteen ay nagyaya si Snow na pumunta dito sa restro bar.
"It seems that you already know what I am planning, Phantom." He said casually and drinks.
"You want to stop their marriage by making Stone to be angry at Queen. By that, Stone will decide to stop marrying Queen then she'll remain as our Queen, your Queen." I answered. I know Bulls Eye. When the day that Anaconda appeared, we all lose except him.
He lose on purpose and make Anaconda as our Queen. And applies the rule that benefits him.The rule which Anaconda is obeying about her not falling in love.But it seems it does not matter now because the day that she will be married, that rule will be nothing and he will lost her Queen.
I don't agree with Bulls Eye.He put down his glass and spoke.
"That's the opposite." I was confused all of a sudden. Did I just misunderstand something?
"What do you mean?"
"Anaconda will be the one to do that." I was more confused.
"I don't understand." .
"Do you remember that there is a counterpart about Anaconda's rule that I implemented? " I tried to recall it. And when I remember that thing, I felt angry all of a sudden.
"The one who will fall in love with the 12 Prodigies Queen will perish. " he stated.
"You want Stone to fall in love with Queen, and once he did, you'll kill him?!!" I angrily said and then he look at me with a serious face.
"We'll kill him." he coldly said and once he became serious I just can't say no.Bulls Eye is no longer human.
Queen's POV
"Gusto kita." Para akong nabingi sa sinabi niya. I was caught off guard and loss of words .Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.I- I can't explain what I am feeling.
"I am doubting for it first.Pero sa tingin ko ngayon gusto kita Queen.Nagagalit akong may kasama kang ibang lalaki.And I don't even know why in just a blink of an eye, I became to like you. Kahit na noong una ay matindi ang galit ko sayo dahil sa ibang bagay.But now I am angry because you spend most of your time with other guys instead of me." He paused and looked at me seriously. Habang ako ay mas napapako sa tinatatayuan.
"I-I am indeed jealous." He added.
"I- I see, s-so you l-like m-me.." nauutal na sambit ko.I'm still surprise..
Inayos ko muna ang sarili.
"I-is that a confession?" Hindi siya sumagot.Then he was about to say a word but I cut him off. I just don't want to hear him answer.
"Ikinalulungkot kong sabihin na salungat ang nararamdaman ko sa nararamdaman mo."
At tinalikuran siya may hindi maipintang reaksyon sa mukha.
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Nandito ako ngayon saming mansyon. At mabuti wala pa dito si Papa, talagang tatanungin ako non kung bakit ako nandidito.Pilit nagflaflashback sa isipan ko yung sinasabi ni Stone sakin kanina..I am just starting to like him at hindi na iyon lalala pa.
Pansin ko ang daming nangyari ngayong araw nato. Speaking of what Snow did to me. Hindi ko talaga inaasahan ang bagay nayun. I just can't feel angry with Snow. It is my fault that I lost my guard.
Alam ko namang maraming nagkakagusto sakin at nagkataon lang na ngayon lang naapektuhan yung Stone nayun sa ganda ko.Baka ngayon niya lang na realize na he is very lucky to have me and now he is feeling possessive. Maybe that's it. Ano bang pinag-iisip ko.
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"Anong nangyari diyan? Bakit yan naglalasing?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Ell. Kasama niya ngayon si Frost. Kakadating lang ni Ell sa isang bar dahil tinawagan siya nito ni Frost na nagyaya daw uminom ni Stone.Naalerto naman bigla ang kaibigan niya dahil alam ni Ell na hindi nito ugaling uminom.He will drink when he is having some problems.
"Ewan ko ba kay Stone. Bigla niya nalang akong kinalakad dito.Tinawagan ko sina Payne at Eros, ayun mukhang busy at buti sumagot ka.May lakad pa kasi ako.Ikaw muna bahala dito." Tugon ni Frost sa kanya tapos tumapik ito sa likuran niya at dali-daling umalis.Tumabi siya kay Stone na ngayon ay nilulolong ang sarili sa alak.
"Ano na naman ngayon ang problema Stone?" tanong niya dito.Umorder din siya ng drinks pero light lang baka malasing din siya pang panigurado lang.Hindi siya nito sinagot.Tumingin siya sa may desk nito at mukhang ilang shots na ang nainom.At wala na ito sa sariling-isip dahil sa pagkalasing.Pagkatapos lumagok nito ng isang shot ay ibinaba nito ang baso at galit na tiningnan si Ell na ikikunot ng noo niya.
"SHEeeee-- DUMPS ME-ee!!T-That Q-u-ueen, WhHHHy—did she d—dump me." Lasing na sambit nito.Mas kumunot naman ang noo ni Ell.Nalilito siya sa pinagsasabi ng kaibigan niya.Why does his friend saying that Queen dumps him when they are a couple in the first place.
"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo Stone? Di ba magfiancee naman kayong dalawa. Are you saying that you confessed to her again?"natatawang sambit niya.
"No not at a---all!! I—and Q—ueen are just arrangeeed in the first place—(sinok)
it just that I became to l-likee her buut—sshe d-don't like me baaaack!!" nabigla naman siya sa sinabi ng kaibigan.
But Ell seemed to understand what his friend is feeling now.Hindi niya na muna tatanungin ito kung bakit hindi nito sinabi about sa arrange thing.Ang nasa isipan niya ngayon ay paano cocomfortahin ang kaibigan niyang broken hearted.He thinks that his friend needed an advice.
"Palagi kabang nagagalit sa kanya?" tanong niya dito.
"Who's not going to be angry when she is together with someone and not with her fiancée." Mukang maayos-ayos na tugon nito.Bigla naman siyang napangiti. It is the first time he saw his friend jealous.
"Maybe she doesn't like you yet because you are always angry with her." Bigla naman tumingin ng seryoso ang kaibigan niya sa kanya.
"You should be kind and gentle with her." Nabigla nalang si Ell ng bigla itong nakatulog.And he forgot to ask about him and Chill.
Stone's POV
Nagising ako sa sinag ng araw.Inikot ko ang paningin ko at pansin kong hindi ito ang kwarto ko. Bigla akong napabangon ng may nakita akong isang babae na nakatalikod na naghahaing ng hapagkainan.Napatakip ako sa ulo ko dahil sa sakit.And I remember that I drink last night and I tried to remember what happened after I take a shot together with Frost. Bigla kong chineck ang katawan ko kung may sinusuot pa ba ako at napahinga naman ako ng malalim dahil ganun parin ang suot ko kagabi.
"Wag kang mag-alala hindi kita ginalaw." Saad ng matangkad at magandang babae .She seems half british and half Filipino.She looks decent and innocent. Tumingin ako sa hapagkainan at tatlong pinggan ang nakalagay dito.Mukhang nandito ako sa bahay ni Frost and this girl is her girlfriend.
"Is this Frost house?" tanong ko sa kanya.Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito si Ell na may dalang paperbag.Biglang lumapit sa kanya ang babaeng kausap ko at yinakap ito.
"Sorry if I take longer moo.Gising na ba si St--" kumunot lang ang noo ko ng tumingin siya sakin.Ngumisi lang siya. Hindi ko alam na may GF pala to si Ell.
"Yes.He is awake now." Sagot ng gf niya at bumitiw. Inilagay ni Ell ang kamay niya sa beywang nito.
"Stone, this is my girlfriend Jellie Nobe." Introduce niya dito. Gumanti ako ng ngiti ng nginitian ako nito.
"Let's eat. Gutom nako." Yaya ni Ell.
Naghilamos muna ko bago ako pumunta sa table. And there I saw how sweet Ell with his girl.Bigla namang sumakit ang ulo ko.It seems the hang-over is still there.Napansin naman ito ni Ell ng makaupo ako.Inabot niya sakin yung paperbag na dala niya.
"For hang-over. Inumin mo para mawala na yang sakit sa ulo mo."
"Thanks bro."
"Tinawagan ako ni Frost kagabi at sinundo kita. Dito nalang kita dinala sa condo ko baka may problema kayo ng fiancée mo."
"Tssk.." I quietly hissed. Hindi naman ako nagtapat sa kanya. I just said I like her. Pero mukha naman akong tangang sabihin kung nasaktan ako.I did drink because I want to forget the embarrassment of how does Ezekkiel Stone Garcia got dumped. It is maybe what happened.
"Papasok kaba ngayon?" bigla akong nabalik saking ulirat ng tanungin ako ni Ell.
"Oo." Walang ganang tugon ko.
"I gotta go moo. I have to catch up my flight." Dagdag ng gf ni Ell. Hindi ko namalayang tapos na pala siyang kumain.The girl give Ell a passionate kiss.
"Take care." Sabi ni Ell.
"Bye Stone and nice to meet you." I nodded and then she left.
"Hindi ko alam na may gf ka pala."
"Yeah. Kadadating lang niya last week after nong engagement mo.Nagbabakasyon lang siya dito ng one week tapos aalis din siya kaagad." Sabi niya pagkatapos uminom ng gatas.
"A ganun ba. LDR pala kayo."
"Yeah.But enough muna sa lovelife ko.Bakit hindi mo sinabing arrange-marriage lang pala kayo ni Queen.Nagdududa na talaga ako nung naging gf mo siya kaagad."Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi ni Ell pano niya nalaman.Sabagay wala naman akong dapat ipagtago.
"Ayaw ko lang sabihin.Paano mo nalaman?" Kuryusong tanong ko.Kumunot naman ang noo ko ng bigla siyang humalakhak.
"Hahahaha...Grabe Stone -blah-blah-blah"
"May She just dump me pang nalalaman. Hahaha" hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko.Napahawak ako sa noo.
"Sinabi ko ba ang mga iyon?"
"Yeah.Ako sayo Stone. Maging mabait ka sa kanya.You should be kind and gentle so that she will like you."
"Maging mabait?!" Ako maging mabait sa kanya.Hindi!
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JAPAN-Prodigium Lair (The 12 Prodigies Headquarters)
"Shadow!We need Anaconda right now! The other gang knows that she is not here and now they are planning to take over the thrown." Nagmamaktol na sambit ni Black Panther.
"No need. I will go just tell Phantom about it.Did you beat Shangrilla's gang leader." tanong ni Shadow.
"I already did." biglang dumating si Pink Panther.
++++++++++++++++++++++To Be Continued+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A/N:
Don't forget the CVS rule. Comment,Vote and Share. Adieus mga Nightingales. See you in the next chap.