Against the God: End of the Gifteds (HIATUS)

37

[Xilah]

The atmosphere is not really what I've expected... but there's nothing I can do about it.

There's no time to grief now... is what I always say to myself.

Hindi pwedeng... magpakita ng maaring maging kahinaan ngayon. Dahil sigurado ako, hindi ito ang huling beses na mangyayari 'to.

Death... is normal.

"Tsk, bakit kailangan kasama ka pa?" Rinig kong bulong ng katabi ko. Alam kong sinadya niyang iparinig 'yon sa 'kin.

Napaismid ako at napasimangot.

"I can do this easily by myself," dagdag pa niya.

I winced, gave him a cold look. "Shut up, ungrateful punk. You should be glad I'm coming," sagot ko.

Yadiel might be this academy's number one, and the Generation of Prodigies' number 2, but for me, he's still a kid.

They're all kids— my relatives.

This generation's number 1 and 2, are just my little boys.

Isang ismid ang sinagot niya sa 'kin na kinangisi ko. We're walking at the empty hallway right now, on our way to our respective rooms that are given to us by the Principal.

Some of our belongings are there, that is why we're going to get it and get ready for departure.

We're going to move... right now.

"Hey, 15 minutes, let's meet at the lobby," ani ko.

Hindi ako sinagot ni Yadiel, bagkus ay dinaan niya lang ako bago mauna sa silid niya. He's acting like that, but he'll still do what I say anyways. I smirked as I walk towards my room.

Maaga pa rito sa academy, hindi pa umaangat ang araw. Pero bago ako pumasok dito, may araw na sa labas. That means, it's almost afternoon right now.

Nang makapasok ako sa silid, agad kong nakita ang nakahanda para sa akin na nakalatag sa kama. I can't help but to smirk and chuckle, seeing it. It feels so nostalgic.

I never thought that I'll wear this again, and use these weapons.

"God, I thought that they never wanted to see this side of me again?" bulong ko sa sarili.

This is awakening the beast who's asleep for a long... long time.

This is a side I cast aside a long time ago, and here I am, embracing it again.

I took off my clothes, my long sleeves polo with a corset. Along with my pants and boots. Pumasok ako sa private restroom ko para kumuha ng isang towel at binasa ito.

I glanced at myself in the mirror, watching my... innocent face, a perfect appearance for a teacher.

I showed a grin, for a moment, I saw my brother's face in front of me.

Yeah... we really are, siblings.

Gamit ang basang towel, mariin kong pinunasan ang katawan ko. Dahan-dahan, sumama sa towel ang makapal na make up na gamit-gamit ko. I wiped my whole body, slowly revealing my tattoos.

From my back, up to my collar bones. Different kinds of tattoos with different meanings.

But for me, the most meaningful and significant one is... 

A rose, cut in half.

I gently touched it, remembering something... for some, it's something you won't understand. It's just a half rose after all...

But for me... it carries something more deep.

Nawalan ng buhay ang mga mata ko, nang kusang may pumasok sa isip ko. Dahil do'n, mabilis kong tinuon sa iba ang atensyon ko. Umalis ako sa harap ng salamin para kunin ang damit na nakahanda para sa akin.

Sa harap ng mahaba at malaking salamin sa silid ko ito sinuot. This is what I used to wear before... when I was still a student, and a hitman.

Natatawa ako kapag pinapaalala ko 'yon sa sarili ko. Hindi hamak na isa nga akong sakit sa ulo na Portugal. Isang Portugal na laging nakawala, hindi nila maturu-turuan.

Unlike other suits, I don't wear any for defense at all. Because I believe, it's unnecessary. Instead, I wore a black bra top, with black fitted pants. It shows my slightly toned body, full of tattoos. I wore boots with high heels, and pushed back my long red hair with gel.

Kinuha ko ang mahaba at medyo makapal na tela na kasama sa nakalatag sa kama. Inikot-ikot ko ito sa magkabilang kamay ko. Mahigpit at makapal.

With a grin on my face, I wore of course, my only weapon.

A cestus.

A kind of glove made of leather, with spikes and blades. It also has a symbol of a flower— Aphrodite's symbol of love.

How ironic... when I'm full of hatred myself.

Binukas sara ko ang mga kamay ko. Nakapaninibago.

It's almost been a decade, I guess? Since the last time I went to the battle field. The last time... I became serious, not as an ordinary gifted nor teacher, but... a fucking menace.

I heaved a sigh before looking at myself in the mirror once again.

"You'll definitely laugh at your sister when you see her in this appearance again... Cross," I said to myself.

"I mean... you're certainly, my younger brother. It runs through our blood... we're all the same... but..."

Bumaba ang tingin ko. Hindi ko na naituloy ang gusto kong sabihin. Bago tuluyang magbago muli ang ekspresyon ko, tuluyan na 'kong umalis sa silid.

Sigurado akong wala pang 15 minutes nang pumunta ako sa lobby, pero nandoon na kaagad ang lalaking makakasama ko sa misyon. Yadiel still has the cold and dark look in his eyes. Wearing nothing but his bandages up to his neck and black pants with a pair of boots.

Hair pushed back like mine, just with yellow strands.

What a rare sight, seeing two Portugals' in a mission together.

He glanced at my appearance with a poker face, still, there's a hint of surprised.

"Seeing you in that appearance, will make anyone question that you're teacher," malamig niyang ani.

Kumurba ang labi ko sa isang ngisi. "That's why we need to finish this fast. My student's can't see me in this state."

"Huh... you don't want them to know that the great teacher Xilah, who always has a light expression and jolly personality, is a actually a maniac?"

Napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya. "Hey punk, watch your mouth." I looked at him dead in the eye. "Do you want to see, 'this' maniac?"

Napaiwas si Yadiel ng tingin at napaismid. "Tsk, I can really do this job on my own. The old man is just over reacting." Nagsimula kaming maglakad papalabas ng lobby.

"I know, but this will make it faster... and our victory, is a hundred percent sure, now you're with me."

Napunta ang tingin naming dalawa sa pintuan na unti-unting bumukas, tuluyang sumalubong sa amin ang labas ng academy.

I showed a grin. "Now let's go, and get that Joker and student back."

CHAPTER 37
Retrieving Joker Arc