EPIC

Capitulum 010

This chapter is dedicated to @Hannah Mae Palmera

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"Ang akala ko ba nandito lang siya para sa kaso? That rich kid should really stop this all 'transferee' act."

Habang naglalakad sila sa hallway, mahina namang natawa ang kanyang kasama. Naythan had his hands behind his head as he leisurely walked beside her. Isang makakalokong ngiti sa mga labi nito. "Grabe ka naman kay Damien! Kaka-transfer lang last week, pinapalayas mo na agad. Chill ka lang, Nem!"

Inayos ni Nemesis ang strap ng kanyang bag. "Anong chill? Aren't you even a bit suspicious why he wants to meet us at the oval? Plot twist, mamamatay-tao pala talaga siya!"

Paano na lang kung...

"Hay! Ayan ka na naman, eh. Look, it's just a harmless meet-up, okay? Malay mo naman ililibre niya lang pala tayo! Hehe."

She rolled her eyes at his suggestion. Sabay angat nito ng isang maliit na card. "Saan ka naman nakakita ng manlilibre na magpapadala pa ng invitation na naka-print pa sa scented paper?"

Naythan was about to say something, but quickly closed his mouth. Wala siyang naisip na witty remark sa sinabi ng kanyang best friend. Nagkibit na lang ito ng balikat, "Damien's a rich bastard. What can we expect? Medyo nagtataka nga ako kung bakit hindi na lang 1000-peso bill ang ginamit niyang papel."

Nemesis couldn't agree more.

For half an hour, the walked in silence. Walang-imik na pinanood ni Nemeis ang iba pang mga estudyante ng Eastwood Central University. Abala sila sa kani-kanilang buhay at para bang hindi sila naaapektuhan ng mga misteryong bumabalot sa kanilang bayan. It surprises her how other people are fine with this normal lifestyle.

Mangilan-ngilan lang talaga ang nabibigyan ng pribilehiyong makaranas ng mga kababalaghan.

She was thankful that she's one of the lucky ones, despite how dangerous it had been.

'Pero sandali lang kasi ang buhay ng mga tao. That's why we should never hesitate to take risks. Dahil kapag nasa bingit ka na ng kamatayan, you'll only regret the things you didn't do,' she thought.

Maya-maya pa, nagtanong na si Naythan.

"Kamusta na nga pala sina Cristy?"

Matapos nilang matalo ang amalanhig noong Friday, Nemesis still kept in touch with her over the weekend through Facebook. Alam naman niyang tapos na ang "kaso", but it only felt right to check up on her. Lalo na dahil sa nangyari sa pamilya nila.

"She said she couldn't go to school today. Inaayos na rin daw niya ang pag-file ng LOA. Baka rin daw dumalaw sila sa probinsya nila. Mr. Malvar wanted her to meet and spend time with their relatives, even for a while," Nemesis said.

Sinabi rin sa kanya ni Cristy ang plano nilang ilipat ang libingan ng kanyang mga tiyuhin sa sementeryo kung saan inilibing ang kanilang mga magulang. As terrifying as the amalanhig case was, hindi pa rin nila tuluyang maitatakwil ang nakaraan.

They were still a family...

Hanggang kamatayan.

Nang marating na nila ang malawak na field, agad nilang natanaw si Damien. His luxury branded clothes and shades stood out as he sat by the few benches that were scattered in the area.

Pero hindi ito mag-isa.

Sandali silang nagkatinginan ni Naythan.

Mukhang wala rin itong ideya kung anong nangyayari.

Nang makarating na sila sa kinaroroonan ng tatlo, agad na nagtanong si Nemesis.

"So, what is this meeting about?"