HIDEOUS

CHAPTER 6

"Ano bang i-re-regalo mo sa mga teammates mo Sie? Is it a volleyball related gift? I know someone who sells volleyball related stuffs. We can go to his store now."

Nangunguna si Elyse sa paglalakad sa loob ng mall habang nakasunod sa kanya sina Sieraj at Airo. As Sieraj planned earlier, pumunta sila sa mall para bumili ng regalo para sa mga teammates niya. Pagkatapos nilang magbihis kanina, pumunta agad silang tatlo sa mall. And yes, just the three of them.

Elyse didn't want any of her cousins or her brothers to go with them as she just saw them as a nuisance. Kaya naman silang tatlo lang ang pumunta sa mall para bumili ng mga i-re-regalo ni Sieraj.

"It's okay as long as it's a gift. Wala din naman akong maisip na iregalo sa kanila."

Lumilingon si Sieraj sa loob ng mall. The mall is not as crowded as she thought. Akala niya maraming tao but she was taken aback when they went inside.

"Wala namang pili ang mga 'yon. 'Di ba Sie?"

Sieraj nodded to Airo and asked him. "Bakit ang konti lang ng tao dito Kuya Airo? I thought of it being crowded and all."

Sinagot siya ni Elyse. "This is actually a private mall Sieraj. You need to get a membership to shop inside."

Napahinto si Sieraj sa paglalakad at tumitig kay Elyse. "M-membership?"

"Yep."

"And you have a membership here? How much would you pay to get a membership?"

"I'm not sure. It's been 3 years so I forgot. I can get you one if you want. Kilala ko ang may-ari ng mall na 'to."

Umiiling si Sieraj sa ate niya. "Nah. Hindi ko rin naman magagamit 'yan."

"Oh. Hindi ka mag-ka-college dito Sie? Maganda naman ang mga schools dito."

"I don't know. I still want to play volley with my team but this year is my last so, yeah."

"We have college volleyball here. I mean, you can still play volleyball here even when you're in college. You can continue playing here."

"I'll think about it."

Napa-yes si Elyse sa isip niya. Good thing she didn't decline. She's considering on studying here. Thank God, may volleyball team ang college dito sa Pilipinas.

"Sakay tayo sa escalator. His store is on the 2nd floor."

Sumusunod lang na parang mga tuta sina Sieraj at Airo kay Elyse. It's their first time in this mall kaya hindi nila alam ang mga pasikot-sikot dito sa loob.

"Sie phone mo. Picture tayo," Airo leaned and whispered on Sieraj. Ayaw niyang makarinig si Elyse dahil sure siyang aagawin nito ang phone ni Sieraj.

"Why are you whispering?" He just shook his head to her. Ibinigay ni Sieraj ang phone niya kay Airo.

"Alright. 1, 2, 3, smile."

Both of them take pictures without Elyse knowing. Airo let Sieraj pose while he take picture of her. Feel niyang maging photographer ngayong araw kaya tinodo niya na ang pagkuha ng mga picture ni Sieraj. They just stopped taking pictures when they arrived at the 2nd floor.

They go straight left and then turn right to where the store is. They all entered the store in silence.

"Pili ka Sie. Marami kang mapipili dito. I'll just go and see the store's owner."

Umalis si Elyse at iniwan ang dalawa. Sieraj turned to looked at Airo beside her.

"Baka gusto mong bilhan si Ate Kaori ng gift. My treat," sabi niya at nag-umpisang pumili. Sumunod si Airo sa kanya at tumingin-tingin din.

"Do'n lang ako Sie. Baka may ibang items pa sila do'n," sabi ni Airo at itinuro ang kabilang direksiyon. Tumango lang si Sieraj sa kanya.

I'm not sure what they like. They will all just received my gifts to them without any complaint. I don't even know if they like it or not.

She looked at the keychains infront of her. May mga bola ng volley ang nakalagay, may mga shirt naman, habang ang iba ay may makasulat na 'Haikyuu'. She stared at it before she remembered something. It was a famous Japanese sports anime. It was the main reason why she wanted to play volleyball.

Ever since she saw the anime, she was intrigued about the volleyball. She was just like the character named 'Hinata'. Hindi naman siya parehas nito na maliit kasi may pagka-matangkad din naman siya ng konti. She was like him because ever since she played volley she wants to beat every strong opponents they met, she wants to play with her teammates until the very end. It was like she's on a thrilling adventure everytime she plays.

She picked some of it without counting how many she gets. Ngumiti siya at lumakad at dahil hindi siya nakatingin sa unahan may nakabangga siya.

"Oh. Gomen'nasai. Gomen'nasai," yumuko siya at humingi ng pasensya sa taong nakabangga niya.

"Oh. You're a Japanese?"

She stopped and looked at the person infront her. Standing before her is a beauty—no. It's a Goddess. Her beauty is that of a Goddess.

"Ah no. I'm not a Japanese but I currently live in Japan. I'm actually a ¼ Spanish, ¼ Filipino, and ½ British."

"Oh. That's why you're fluent in Japanese. Anyway, I saw you smiling at those Haikyuu keychains earlier so I approached you. Are you a fan of anime or do you hate it?"

Sieraj don't know if she'll respond to her because it their first time meeting each other. Her friendliness somehow thought her of one of her teammates.

"I can't call myself a fan or a hater because I'm neither of the both. I'm actually standing between a fan and a hater," she said and put a small smile on her lips.

"Oh. Really? I'm more of a fan," she smiled widely at Sieraj. "Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself to you. Pardon me for being rude. I'm Aviana Kryl Smith. You can call me Kryl or Avi. Nice to meet you," Kryl extended her hands to her.

Sieraj did the same and introduced herself. "I'm Sieraj Ckazh Wilson. You can call me Sie. Nice to meet you too," she smiled and shakes her hand.

"Bakit ang dami mong kinuha na keychains? Para kanino 'yong iba?" Kryl curiously asked her whole she looked at all the keychains she got.

"This is actually for my teammates. Just a good luck gift since we have an upcoming match."

"Are you perhaps a volleyball player?" Kryl excitedly asked her and it seems like stars are coming out of her eyes.

"Yes."

"Oh! My! God! Really? OMG!" Kryl squeals in happiness.

Sieraj awkwardly smiled at her. I didn't know she's a volleyball fan. I should have said that I'm not a part of any sports.

"Ah can I go—" Sieraj was cut off by someone who is calling Kryl.

"Kanina pa kita hinahanap Kryl. Kung saan-saan ka lumulusot," may lumapit sa kanila na lalaki at tumabi kay Kryl.

"Kuya Sean. Volleyball player siya. Oh. Sie meet my brother, Vaughnn Sean Smith. Kuya meet my new found friend, Sieraj Ckazh Wilson."

Sieraj extended her hand to him and greeted him. "Hello. Nice to meet you."

Sean nooded at her and extended his hand for a handshake. Ngumiti si Sieraj sa kanya at binawi ang kamay niya. Lumingon siya kay Kryl.

"Nice meeting you Kryl. I have to go now. Baka hinahanap na ako ng pinsan at kapatid ko."

"Right. I'm sorry for approaching you so suddenly. And nice meeting you too. I hope on meeting you again," Kryl smiled at her.

She waved her hand at her and went to look for her cousin. Nakita niya ang pinsan niya na kasama ang kapatid niya. Inilabas niya ang phone niya. She type a message for her cousin.

To Kuya Airo:

Kuya may napili ka? I already pick keychains as a gift.

—BEEP—

From Kuya Airo:

White and black shirts. Lalagyan ko pa to ng mga ngalan.

Inibulsa ni Sieraj ang cellphone niya at pumunta sa kinaroroonan ng kapatid at pinsan niya.

"How about jerseys Kuya? Instead of shirts, jersey nalang. Tutal volleyball players naman sila."

"How about both? Jersey and shirt."

Napailing nalang si Elyse sa pinsan niya. Pwede namang jersey nalang. Bibili pa ng shirts.

Sumabad si Sieraj sa usapan nila. "Jersey nalang Kuya Airo. I didn't receive my allowance for this month yet."

Lumingon si Airo sa kanya at tumingin sa mga T-shirts na dala niya. After thinking about what she said, he nodded and decided to buy jerseys instead of T-shirts.

"Kung alam ko lang na kay Sieraj ka lang makikinig hindi na sana ako nagsalita," Elyse frowned at him. Ngumiti si Airo na nagpa-inis kay Elyse.

"Narinig mo naman siguro ang sinabi niya, 'di ba? Hindi pa niya na-receive ang allowance niya ngayong buwan. Ayoko namang ipilit."

Elyse snorted at him. "Sie punta tayo ng salon after nito. Papagupit ako tapos style na din. How about you Sie? My treat."

"Ako? I want a haircut," Airo raised his hand and looked at Elyse with pleading eyes. She nodded at him while sighing.

"Maybe I'll let them cut a little bit of my hair."

"Okay. Let's go to the counter. Ikaw Kuya Airo? Jersey lang, 'di ba? I'll order online just give me the names. Ipapagawa ko sa kakilala ko."

"Ang dami mo naman 'atang kakilala. Baka malaman ko na may boyfriend ka diyan sa 'kakilala' mo ah. Ang dami mo pa naman na pina-iyak noon."

Lumingon si Elyse kay Airo at nanlalaki ang matang tumingin sa kanya. "Sinong nagsabi sa'yo niyan? Wala naman akong pina-iyak ah. As far as I can remember ako 'yong umiyak. Ako ang nabiktima."

"Yeah, sure," walang pakialam na sabi ni Airo sa kanya. She scoffed in disbelief while paying the cashier.

Lumapit si Sieraj sa counter at binayaran ang mga keychains na kinuha niya. Hindi niya pinakinggan ang bangayan ng dalawa at dumiretso sa labas pagkatapos niyang bayaran ang binili niya.

She looked around and decided to wandered inside the mall. Since gusto niyang maglibot ng tahimik hindi na niya tinawag ang dalawa at naglibot mag-isa.

Nagsimulang maglakad si Sieraj at napapansin niyang mabibilang lang ang mga tao na nasa loob. She wandered around and a certain store piqued her interest. She went inside the store and — viola! The smell of books. Matagal-tagal na rin siyang hindi nakapasok at nakaamoy ng libro. The last time she visited a bookstore was when she's exhausted dahil sa sunod-sunod na laban nila. Kaya napag-desisyonan niyang bumisita at magbasa na rin para pampatanggal stress.

She smiled and wandered inside the store. Namimili siya ng mga libro at habang namimili siya ay nakita niyang may mga naka-display na comic books. She hesitated for a minute before she went to the comic section. Ayaw man niyang gumastos ng malaki ngayong araw pero pagdating sa libro ay wala siyang magagawa. It was like the books are tempting her whenever she sees one.

Habang namimili siya ay naramdaman niyang parang may nakatingin sa kanya kaya lumingon-lingon siya sa paligid niya. Strange. Ako lang at ang cashier na nasa counter ang nandito. Is what she thought.

She shrugged and continued on choosing books. She went on shopping books not knowing that a man stood beside her. Kaya paglingon niya ay napatalon siya ng konti.

"I'm sorry," she bowed then proceeded to the counter. Binayaran niya ang mga napili niyang libro at pagkatapos ay lumabas.

Tatlong shopping bags ang dala niya dahil medyo napadami ang pagbili niya. Medyo lang naman. She decided on calling her cousin. She dialed Airo's number and after three rings he picked up.

'Where have you been Sieraj? Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap. Nawala ka nalang bigla. Asan ka ba ha?'

She sighed as she answered him. "Nandito ako sa labas ng bookstore. Where are you Kuya? Ako na lang ang pupunta kung nasaan kayo."

'We're at a restaurant inside the mall. May ipapadala akong tao d'yan. Just wait for him there. You hear me? 'Wag kang umalis sa kinatatayuan mo. Ang tigas pa naman ng ulo mo.'

"Ikaw na lang ang pumunta dito Kuya."

'Nah. Tinatamad ako. Don't worry. Maaasahan naman 'yon. Just wait there.'

"But—" hindi na natapos ni Sieraj ang sasabihin niya dahil tinapos na ni Airo ang tawag. She stared at her phone for a while before she closed her eyes and decided to wait for this 'someone'.

Wala siyang ibang magagawa kundi ang maghintay. Patay siya kay Kuya Airo niya kung aalis siya. I shouldn't have come here by myself. She just sighed at what she thought.

Tumingin-tingin siya sa paligid niya. Airo didn't told her on what the person he sent was wearing. She tapped her foot on the ground because of nervousness. Kung bakit pa naman kasi siya umalis. Ayan tuloy, nagsisisi siya.

Minutes of waiting, Sieraj noticed someone approaching her. The man is wearing a black turtled neck shirt and a black ripped jeans paired with a black shoes. He is also wearing sunglasses and his hair is disheveled. Parang siyang ginahasa ng dahil sa buhok niya.

Inilabas niya ang phone niya at nag-send ng message sa pinsan niya.

To Kuya Airo:

Is he wearing an all black outfit? Bakit feel ko pupunta siya sa lamay? His hair is also disheveled. Parang ginahasa Kuya.

From Kuya Airo:

Don't mind his appearance.

Inibulsa niya pagkatapos ang cellphone niya at tumingin sa lalaking papalapit sa kanya.

"Konnichiwa. I am Ashiro Ken Yamamoto. Nice to meet you, Miss Wilson. Young master Airo told me to escort you to the restaurant they are in," the man smiled at her which made her frowned a little. She smiled back at him. "Let me escort you, Miss Sieraj. Please follow me."

Nagsimulang maglakad si Ashiro kaya sumunod siya sa kanya. She put a distance between them. Walang salita na sumunod si Sieraj sa kanya hanggang sa nakarating sila sa restaurant.

•~•~•~•~•

"Sieraj told me that she has some trust issues. Ikaw na lang sana ang pumunta ni Sieraj, Kuya Airo,"

Tumingin si Airo kay Elyse pagkatapos niyang tawagan si Sieraj. "She need some exposure from other people, Sari. Palagi nalang 'yang takot sa tao."

"Still."

Tumahimik si Airo at tumingin lang sa labas. Ayaw niyang makipag-argumento kay Elyse dahil alam niyang hindi ito magpapatalo. So the best thing to do is to stay silent.

"Postpone mo muna ang pagpunta mo ng salon Sari. May nabili na namang libro si Sieraj kaya alam kong excited na 'yong magbasa."

"Magpapagupit din siya, 'di ba? Isa pa, ayokong i-postpone ang pagpunta ko sa salon. Ang tagal ko nang nagplano na bumisita sa salon pero hindi ko magawa dahil busy ako. Kaya no."

Again, tumahimik nalang si Airo dahil nga ayaw talagang magpatalo ni Elyse. They waited for Sieraj to arrived and when they spotted her Elyse waved at her. Sieraj smiled and waved back at her. Nagmamadaling pumunta si Sieraj sa table nila at umupo.

"Let's go to the salon. Now. I wanna read the books I've bought." Sieraj excitedly said at them.

Elyse smiled and immediately stand up. Airo has no choice but to stand up too since he also need haircut. While they waited for Airo to come back because he needs to go to the restroom, Sieraj felt a chill on her neck. She touched her neck and looked outside the restaurant. There's no suspicious person outside.

"Okay ka lang, Sie? What happened?" nagtatakang tanong ni Elyse kay Sieraj.

Umiiling si Sieraj sa kanya. "It's nothing," she smiled at her sister and glanced once more outside.

•~•~•~•~•

Shit. That was close. Patay ako kay Sieraj kung nakita niya ako. Sabi pa naman ni Kuya Kael na sundan ko sila ng palihim.

Kinakabahan si Harvey sa pagsusunod ng mga pinsan niya. Kung bakit pa kasi siya ang napiling sumunod sa kanila.

Bakit ba ako natalo sa jack-en-poy kanina? Palagi nalang akong natatalo.

Harvey sent a message to his cousins on their own gc.

Harvey Vynn Enríquez: Palabas sila sa restaurant. I think they're going to the salon after. Nag-pa-plano 'yon si Ate Elyse na bumisita.

Elijah Kael Wilson: Keep following them. May sinama ba si Airo sa isa sa kanila?

Harvey Vynn Enríquez: Yep. I think it's Ashiro.

Akihito Ry Hajjar: Japanese, eh? Just let them be Kael. Maaasahan naman 'yang si Airo. And knowing that one of them is with them, I'm sure they're safe.

Kleighton Yuriel Enríquez: Just let him be, Aki. Knowing na ang dalawa nating prinsesa ang lumabas he'll be very overprotective.

Harvey Vynn Enríquez: They're on the move. Chat you later.

Sumunod si Harvey sa kanila at nag-iingat siyang hindi madiskubre ng mga pinsan niya.