Chapter 22: Iskudo
1412 Words
4 Years Later
[Newark, New Jersey- 8:30 am]
Inside the departure area of Newark Liberty International Airport, a tall man wearing an all-black outfit has been patiently waiting for his flight to be called out. He was alone on one of the benches, with busy hands typing a reply to someone.
‘What time will you arrive?’
‘Around 12:30 am, tomorrow.’
‘Really? I’ll go pick you up at 12am, then.’
‘Will you be okay? It would really be late by then. I’ll just take a cab, don’t worry.’
‘Are you crazy? No. I’ll pick you up. You better wait for me.’
After reading that last message, the man can’t help but grin. It’s been four years since he saw this person, and yet he can still visualize what they looked like as they typed that message to him.
“Hot-headed as always.” The man commented as he typed his reply.
“This is the final boarding call for flight 722J bound for Manila, please proceed to Gate 3…”
But he halted midway when he heard an announcement. He quickly double checked his ticket to be sure and it was indeed his flight. He quickly stood and gathered his luggage. He continued typing his reply as he walks slowly towards his boarding gate. He read his message one more time, then sent it with a smile.
‘Geez. All right. See you soon then, Sasaki.’
Was his message.
“1.2.3 kick!”
“1.2.3 kick!”
“Now, duck!”
“All right. That’s enough. Let’s have a quick break, first.” Monty finally announced. And just like an awaited cue, everyone collapsed on the training mat almost at the same time.
“Wah! Finally!” Sapphire exclaimed while lying down.
“We have been doing this routine for years and yet why does it feel like it’s getting harder and harder?” Opal complained in which the others nodded in agreement.
Pearl sat and grabbed her water from the side. “Sir Gilbert had really gotten lucky for just having shooting class ever since. I’m quite envious. We all even have to do both!” She complained as well.
But then, the door flung open and Gilbert went in with Tanya behind him.
“I’m sorry for having to shoot guns everyday then, Pearl.” Gilbert teasingly said that made Pearl pout and laid back down.
“Aaahhh! Whatever! I’m just tired.” Pearl said, giving up the conversation. Everyone chuckled.
“Morty’s lessons are not easy again today.” Tanya announced. She was also one of Morty’s student and she said those words based from an experience earlier. And speaking of Morty, the man just came inside with Sasaki beside him.
“Something’s definitely going on with you two.” Monty commented before Morty could join in the conversation.
“W-what?”
Morty was obviously caught off guard and stuttered. Sasaki’s cheeks went red, too.
“W-we just bumped each other at the elevator, you know.” Sasaki defensively explained, slowly walking away from Monty. However, no one reacted to her statement, making the situation awkward for her even more. When she rolled her eyes, that was when the rest laughed.
“You always give in to the tease Sa.” Ruby told Sasaki.
“I agree.” Tanya seconded, making Sasaki sigh in disbelief. But before she could whine about it, she suddenly remembered the reason why she went down. “Oh! I almost forgot. Haru’s coming back.” She happily announced.
Hearing that, the girls lying on the mat got up and looked at her excitedly. “Really?” Opal asked.
“Yes. And I’ll go pick him up later at midnight. Want to come with me?” Sasaki offered and heard the loudest “of course”, after.
“Iskudo?”
Gilbert asked after Tanya finished announcing her plans a day after they buried Riley. All of them were so worried that their master might isolate herself again in her room but they were wrong. The moment their master woke up the next day, she made them gather and announced something.
“Yes. That’s the name of the organization I wanted to build to seek justice for Riley’s death. Not just hers, but for other victims as well. The term “iskudo” is an old Filipino term that directly translates to “shield”. The very thing I failed to be, for Riley but will promise to be, for others.” Tanya determinedly replied
Everyone around exchanged looks.
“Other victims?” Ruby confusedly asked, shortly after.
“Yes. I did some research together with Monty to find out who is behind Riley’s death and found out something horrible in the process.” Tanya paused. “My suspicion was right. It was indeed Samantha De Dios’ men who killed Riley. I was already enraged after confirming that but it doubled when Monty caught one of her men.” Tanya signaled Monty to explain the details and the man did, briefly.
“That woman is not even human!” Sasaki exclaimed after Monty was finished.
“I’m gonna kill her!”
Sapphire’s firm voice followed. The woman’s fist is clenched hard while her eyes glares at the void space, imagining Samantha’s face. Everyone that sees her, except the Kobayashi siblings, understands this outburst clearly. Because aside from Tanya, Sapphire was the second person that Riley had close to a sister, especially after that incident in the pool.
“You can’t.” Tanya told Sapphire off. “I understand Saph, and I honestly wanted to do the same. Immediately. However, I can’t. I won’t. I want to revenge Riley’s death but I also want justice. Not just for Riley. But also, for Haru. For Sasaki. And for other victims that I can’t save for now.”
“I?” Gilbert asked, slowly noticing the point of this meeting.
Tanya sighed. “Yes, Gilbert. I.”
Tanya gave everyone a look before continuing. “I put a lot of thought on this and finally came up with a decision. However, this decision is dangerous and might cost me my life. Thus, I can’t be selfish and ask you all to stay with me. Because surely, it will endanger your lives too. And I can’t let that happen.”
“What is going on, Miss? We did not discuss this last night.” Morty interrupted but Tanya just raised her right hand to let her finish.
“What I’m saying is, you can resign now and it would be fine for me. Your lives matter to your family. And I am not taking it away from them.”
A long deafening silence came after that. Tanya already prepared herself for this. She also has already prepared everyone’s separation pays and benefits as well as gifts from her. She just can’t let these people go without getting them something. These people were like a family to her after all.
“Well…” It was Gilbert who spoke first. “Then I’m sorry, Miss Tanya.”
“I know Gilbert, and it’s fi-“
“No, Miss.” Gilbert cut Tanya’s words. “I am sorry that I don’t understand your point.”
“Huh?”
“You said that our lives matter to our family?” Gilbert asked.
“Yes.”
“But aren’t you our family, too? You said so, right? That we are a family. Thus, as a family, your life matters to us too. That’s why we have to protect it. All of us.”
After Gilbert finished providing his point, the rest voiced out their agreement to his statement as well. Even Sasaki and Haru agreed to it, too.
Left with no choice and with a grateful heart, Tanya yelled to each of them. “You’re all a bunch of idiots!” Then wiped her tears, after.
- Writer
