88 GATES-Return of the Fallen

}•15

◎⊙◎

“What are your names?” Duvall asked while reading at the newly released magazine from his company. He’s sitting across Gemini, carefully starting his interrogation. As he crossed his legs, he waited for their reply.

     “We’re Gemini,” Reri responded. Peri was about to intercept but she quickly continued, “I’m Gemi and this is Minī.” Reri thought their previous names wouldn’t suit according to their appearance. Now that they’re already back to their true form, might as well use their original names.

     Duvall allowed the silence to interact but shooed it later. “Where are you from?” he asked, glancing back and forth from his material.

     Gemi knew they really should be interrogated. Someone like them who just popped up from nowhere needed a deep and thorough questioning. She knew that but she guessed she’s already bored though the trial had just started. Well she just had to bare with it. Wait for something that might snatch her full attention.

     “Gemi.”

     She looked at Minī. He was jerking his head on the speaker. Hindi niya namalayang kanina pa siya nakatitig dito. Agad naman siyang napatingin dito.

     “Where is this Zoidion? I couldn’t find it in the World Map.” Duvall was already holding its cellular phone. His facial expression was cold and authoritative.

     Gemi looked at her brother and gave him a brow lift. She didn’t expect him to be telling the Rare Blood that they came from Zoidion. Of course no one would be able to find it either nor belive about it but they had to be careful for further investigations. Hadn’t Minī learned from the Celestial Advent from before?

     “He’s not a Gemini,” she carefully whispered in the air, locking her eyes on his brother’s, spilling the words while her teeth were in a clench. They couldn’t afford to be giving off information about where they came from. The Rare Blood wasn’t a Gemini so there’s no point of telling him. He couldn’t be their Summoner, anyway.

     “Are you con artists?” he intensely asked, then carefully put down the magazine on his side. In less time, he had already called two of his housemaids. “Check everything in the house. Siguraduhin niyong walang nawawalang anumang bagay.” He stood up. Agad namang may pumasok na dalawang lalake na nakasuot ng bughaw na mga uniporme. Ilang sandale pa’y mahigpit na sila nitong hinawakan sa mga braso.

     Agad na kumulo ang dugo ni Gemi. Them, thieves? That wasn’t kind of him. Nagtawag pa siya ng mga kawal niya para arestuhin sila ng kapatid. “How dare you!” sigaw niya sa inis.

     “I’m just checking everything is fine, lady,” Duvall replied, quickly removing his gaze from her. Ilang sandali pa’y kinapkapan na nito ang kapatid.

     “Hindi kami magnanakaw!” Minī exclaimed. Nang matapos siya nitong kapkapan ay agad itong lumapit kay Gemi.

     “You can get nothing from us, hindi kami magnanakaw,” she tried to convince ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan ng binata. In a space of a heartbeat, without her consent, his face landed close on her face. Agad niyang naramdaman ang init mula sa katawan nito. Natigilan siya. Dinig niya ang hanging mula sa ilong nito na para bang isang musika sa kaniyang pandinig. Naaamoy niya rin ang kakaibang pabango ng binata. Wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi ang pakinggan ang sarili na kainin ng katahimikan.

     Ilang saglit lang at tuluyan nang dumapo ang mga kamay nito sa kaniyang likod at baywang. Hinahaplos nito ang bawat kurba nito. Gemi couldn’t speak. Ramdam niya ang panginginit ng kaniyang mga mukha. She could feel her heart pounding fast in her chest. Her breathing was stiffening. She hoped she could get away with the foreign feeling.