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Chapter eleven

COURAGE

So Azazel is his name. Nakikinig ako dati sa bible lessons ng madre dati sa school so the name rings a bell. Bagay na bagay sa kaniya 'yong pangalang iyon. Maybe his mother knew she'd birth a devil. Wouldn't it be ironic to have Seraphim as his name instead?

"How did you get in here?!" nalolokang tanong ni Barbie.

He let out a chuckle. "Congratulations for successfully opening the door, now you guys have made a huge mess inside this clinic. Paano nalang natin i-eexplain sa kanila kapag nakita nila ang mga 'to?"

"Where did you get all of those books dude?" tanong naman ni Eden habang isa-isang pinupulot ang libro to stack them at a corner.

"I don't know, magic?"

What the hell? He's not answering every question properly! Totoo nga talaga 'yong sinabi kong mas malala siya kay Setsuna.

Ang kalmado ng boses niya, napapapanindig balahibo ko sa totoo lang. I've never been taunted by a voice, especially a guy's. He'd probably calm me down with his voice then stab me the second time I blink my eyes. I should be really careful of him.

The real question is, how did he get in here when Barbie's recitation was just a few minutes ago? I believe it'll take a long time to pile those books. He must have gone here an hour ago.

"What necessary information have you found yet?" I asked. Now we're battling on who blinks first.

"You won't believe me if I tell you so," he answered, successfully avoiding the third question attacked to him. I can't believe this is happening right now.

Lumunok ako ng laway at huminga nang malalim para pigilan ang inis ko. 'Yong galit ko kay Setsuna nandirito pa kaya baka sa kaniya ko mabuhos lahat ng galit ko. I refuse to ask another question. Maghahanap nalang ako ng sarili kong sagot. Pumunta ako sa mga lagayan ng gamot. Maraming aparador dito kaya matagal-tagal din ang paghahanap. Bilisan ko na lang. Thankfully, payapa akong naghahalungkat ng mga medisina.

"Another letter. Over."

The voice belonged to the brother of the devil. Napa-isip tuloy ako kung saang basurahan niya nakuha? Hindi kaya naghalungkat pa siya sa pinaka ilalim ng basurahan na parang pusa tapos mangangamoy siya? Naiimagine ko tuloy.

"What's funny, Prisoner six?" tanong sa akin ni Azazel habang napapansin kong unti-onti na siyang lumalapit sa akin. Lumayo naman ako paunti habang naghahanap pa rin ng anti-depressant pills. Umarte ako na wala siya sa tabi ko. He deserves that kind of treatment. I'd be nice to him if he was nice.

"I took every anti-depressant pills."

Bubuksan ko sana 'yong pangalawa sa panghuli pero napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. I looked at his direction to expect another confession, but we did another no blinking contest. Is this his way of torturing me? Because if yes, it is working. I loathe people who do that. They'd intrigue you then leave you hanging. I am hoping to have a law implemented to legally receive 500 dollars from them every time they do that. If no one's going to make that then I will. And I'll make sure the president by then will sign the paper.

Pinagpatuloy ko na ang paghahanap ko ng gamot as I heave a sigh. Right, baka nagsisinungaling lang siya to distract me. I-coconvince ko nalang na may gusto siya sa akin kaya ako ginugulo niya. Naghahanap din ng mga clues sina Barbie at Eden kaya bakit ako? He knows them better than I do.