Cosmic Trouble at the Guillen's Rooftop

Chapter 3: War Veterans

I used to be a heroine. The moment I landed in this part of the universe, I thought saving it from evil would be one of my greatest missions in life. Imagine na galing ka sa isang lugar na winasak ng ibang nilalang, and all you wanted was a peaceful life and a new beginning in a harmonious land. Pagkatapos bigla kang pinasabak sa isa pang giyera.

Hindi madaling maging mabuti, especially if you were surrounded by people with bad intentions.

After my retirement as a war veteran, Hidden Sparks became the place I badly wanted to protect. Narito ang buhay ko, ang mga taong masaya akong makasama, ang mga taong ipaglalaban ko talaga nang patayan kung kinakailangan. But the unlucky part of my city life was the truth that we were governed by evil ones wearing the mask of a good and humble servant. And I couldn't be a heroine when the main requirement of being one was to be a government's underdog.

Si Izan lang naman itong tangang pumayag maging ganoon.

We are powerful beings. We are gods. We are immortals. We are invincible. At ang ikinaiinis ko ay ang laging katwiran ni Izan na "Hindi kasi papayag ang city council na gumamit ako ng powers, Chillie."

Bullshit.

As if he hasn't had the ability to wipe the whole Hidden Sparks in just a snap.

I knew that sounded so evil, but threat is a must-have kung nakikipag-deal kami sa mga halimaw ng gobyerno.

I had a peaceful sleep last night kaya hindi rin joke ang sinabi ko kay Izan na aagahan ko ang pagpunta sa city council. The city hall was located in the middle of the city at tanghali na para sa mga taga-Hidden Sparks ang alas-otso ng umaga.

Ang daming tao sa kalsada na papasok sa office, karamihan ay mga naka-formal attire. Nasa gitna rin ang city hall ng kabi-kabilaan at nagtataasang mga building kaya normal na ang view na wala pang alas-siyete ng umaga ay busy na ang kalsada.

May recession pero hindi mukhang nagkaka-recession sa mid-city. Kung tutuusin nga, hindi ko masasabing may recession dahil maganda ang ekonomiya ng Hidden Sparks kung ang pagbabasehan ko ay ang activity sa paligid at hindi ang figures na nasa news. Iniisip ko pa lang na may kinalaman ito sa darating na eleksyon, napapairap na agad ako.

Of course, the government would control the economy para kapag nagbigay sila ng opportunities sa mga tao, iisipin ng mga taga-city na utang na loob nila ang lahat sa mga politiko. Hero Syndrome is really a headache for me. Para kasing tanga, especially dahil alam ko kung ano talaga ang nangyayari.

The front of the city hall was a fully-occupied parking lot. Expensive cars on the left and bikes were neatly locked on the far right end. Baroque ang original architecture ng building pero mukhang ipababago ng mayor bago pa siya bumaba sa puwesto sa susunod na tatlong buwan. Although, maganda ring ipabago kasi nakalulula naman talaga ang qualities ng structure ng city hall. Para akong pumasok sa malaking simbahan na puro naman mga demonyo ang nasa loob.

The front desk was a folder-populated, elliptical wooden table at naabutan ko roon si Amelia na busy sa desktop niya.

"Good morning, Mystic," she greeted in her usual soprano voice. "Second floor."

"Thanks."

Every time na may meeting sa city council, hindi ako pumupunta as Chillie. I needed to be in my villainess mode kasi haharangin ako sa front desk kapag ordinaryong citizen lang ako. And Chillie is way far different from Mystic.

The red cape added an accent to my whole figure aside from my body-fit, spandex-like uniform. My hair became fiery red every time I transformed, and so were my eyes and lips. Red is a hero color pero wala akong pakialam. I love red. May black belt akong suot na may letter M sa buckle. And my face looked like I was ready to slap some stupid ass in front of me at nagre-reflect ang itsura ko sa glass chandelier and glass doors sa hallway.