Simula
The Real Monster
"Your mother tells you that there's no monster under your bed but she didn't tell that sometimes... monster come dressed as the person that claim to love you more than its life."
Simula
Her face looked so emotionless when I first saw her. If she'll smile or laugh, it's like a particular phenomena... rare but beautiful happening.
I stared at her face. I don't know when I will see it again? Or she will even smile again after what happened to her friend... her sister rather.
"Are you listening Trevan?" Laxner asked.
I winced and transfixed my gaze at him. I just shrugged and looked again at Laxur.
"We already know where Xaira and the other Fortnites were," Lenus said. "What we will do?"
"Wala," malamig na sabi ni Laxur.
I looked at her with brows furrowed. She said she wants a payback? And now...
Nilipat ko ang tingin kay Giusteo. Alam kong sobra rin siyang apektado. Pero wala rin 'tong reaksyon.
He supposed to protest for Azea. Baka nga manguna pa siya kung sakali. Lahat sila sa loob ng HA ay takang napatingin sa kaniya.
I remained staring at her.
"Wala munang kikilos," mariing sabi ni Vielle.
"Wala," Laxur repeated coldly and stood powerfully. "Wala... maliban sa akin."
She turned her back and walked away.
"Leuxia!" Atasha shouted, calling her.
But she continued walking.
I immediately got worried when she walked outside. I stood and was about to follow her but Vielle raised her hand, interrupting me.
"Hayaan mo lang siya ngayon," she said without looking at me.
I looked at my cousin and shrugged lazily. I turned to her again.
"I can't," I said and and started walking.
I was worried, especially when I saw her cried. I didn't expect it since I've learned how heartless she is. Maybe her family and friends are exception.
When I got outside the HA, I can't see her Ducati.
"Where the f**k she is?" I whispered.
Agad akong lumingon sa likod nang may maramdamang tao.
It's Magnus with Vielle, Mako, and Giusteo.
"Siguradong pupuntahan noon sila Xaira," Mako shook his head in frustration.
"We will follow her," Vielle remarked.
Nanatiling walang reaksyon si Giusteo. Nakatingin lang siya sa kawalan at mukhang may inaalala. Kahit noong nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan ni Mako.
We are following Vielle's motorcycle to where Xaira and Fortnites are hiding.
We reached a house, not so big. We saw her Ducati there, parked on the side of gate.
"Huwag kayong gagawa ng ingay," ani Vielle. "Mukhang ganoon ang ginawa niya at wala pa silang alam."
We nodded at her. I knew it since the house was silent. If she would attack them immediately, we'll hear some noise and gunshots.
I heard Giusteo frowned heavily. He's holding his gun in rage. I can read it on his eyes.
Tahimik naming pinasok ang bahay na 'yon. We almost thought that there's no people here inside but we saw a Fortnite member. Vielle shot him dead immediately.
She had silencer so she could fire a gun. I can't, for now.
Lahat kami ay napatingin sa bukas na pinto. Tumango kami at pinasok agad iyon.
We saw Laxur standing straight almost at the middle of the room. She didn't look to us but I know she felt it.
Nakaharap sa monitor ang mga pamilyar na miyembro ng Fortnite. Iyon lang ang tanging ilaw kaya medyo madilim sa paligid.
Hindi nila kami napansin, mukhang kanina pa sila tahimik na pinapanood ni Laxur.
"We can contact the boss if ever," Xaira said, talking to the other girl beside her.
"Si Tita Savanna galit na galit," a Caceres said. "But she look satisfied when she heard the news about Azea."
"She lost her daughter," Laxur's racer friend said. "And she got satisfied by just Azea's death? What so special with those Solastas and Levesques?"
Sobrang tahimik ng paligid. Nanonood lang sila ng video sa monitor. Tutok na tutok ang mga mata roon.
A video of Azea's death. On how her motorcycle exploded.
When the last lap of race played when before the bomb occured, Laxur immediately shot the monitor.
Mabilis kaming lumapit sa kaniya. Umalingawngaw ang nakakabinging putok ng baril kasabay ang paghulog ng mga bugbog.
Agad na tumayo at lumingon sa likod sila Xaira na gulat ang mga reaksyon. Basag ang screen noon kaya nawala ang video, tanging malulutong na mura nila ang naririnig namin.
They quickly turned on the lights, their eyes widened when they saw Laxur holding a gun.
"Yara," Laxur called her dangerously.
As I can remember aside from Yuno's cousin, it's her racer friend from the junkyard.
I walked nearer towards Laxur. I hold the hem of her hoodie. She didn't bother to look at me but she hold my wrist. Akala ko ay tatanggalin niya ang kamay ko pero nanatili 'yon doon.
Bumaba ang tingin ko roon sandali at napatitig. My lips twitched as I looked up to her again.
"Xaira Caceres," I heard Vielle's voice.
"Bakit kayo narito?" kita ko ang paglunok niya nang tanungin iyon.
"May posibilidad na kayo ang may gawa noon," malamig na sagot ni Vielle. "Hindi ko na kailangan pa magpaliwanag kung bakit."
Mabilis ang paghinga at kabado. Nagkatinginan silang apat sa isa't isa. Si Yara at Xaira lang ang may hawak na baril sa kanila.
We remained silent and let the Solasta and Levesque talked. I stared at Laxur.
I saw Laxur's gaze transfixed to her again.
"Alam ko patay na si Yuno... bakit ka pa narito?" malamig na tanong ni Laxur kay Yara.
"Hayop ka!" sigaw ni Yara sa kaniya habang nakatutok ang baril.
"Hindi ba't matagal kayo nagkahiwalay ng kapatid mo?" Laxur smirked devilishly and held her at gunpoint. "Bakit hindi mo na sundan ngayon sa impyerno?"
Yara looked at her with eyes widened. She probably didn't expect that she knew their secret.
"Paano mo nalaman?!" gigil na tanong ni Yara.
She flinched when Laxur pointed her gun towards her head. Laxur's face distorted in rage, looking at her old racer friend.
"Umalis na kayo rito, Leuxia!" sigaw ni Xaira.
She looked at me for a while before turning again to Laxur. Her brows furrowed, she's observing closely.
"Patas lang tayo Leuxia!" humalakhak si Yara. "Nawalan ka na rin! Patas na tayo."
"Ikaw ba ang may gawa? Base sa pananalita mo," kalmadong tanong ni Vielle kay Yara.
"Hindi, pero ngayong patas na kami-"
"Hindi ako nakikipaglaro sayo kaya kahit kailan ay walang dayaan na naganap," mariing untag ni Laxur. "Wala ring dapat maging patas."
Ngumisi si Yara sa kaniya. Nanginginig ang hawak noon sa baril. Hindi ko masabing dahil sa galit iyon, lalo na't kitang-kita ang takot sa mata niya.
"Dapat lang sa kaniya 'yon! Ikaw ba ay hindi nainggit na lagi siyang nagunguna sa inyo? Dapat hindi na kayo bumalik pa Tria!" pang-aasar ni Yara sa kaniya. "Mabuti nang namatay-"
Laxur didn't let her to continue talking. She immediately shot her dead.
Bumagsak agad ang katawan niya, lalo na't sakto sa noo ang putok ni Laxur.
"Yara!" a Fortnite member shouted.
Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Xaira na biglang humalakhak. Napapailing siyang tumatawa sa harap namin.
Salubong ang kilay ko at humigpit ang hawak kay Laxur.
"Pareho lang kayo ng hinahanap mong tao Leuxia..." humalakhak si Xaira. "Nung may gawa kay Azea."
I turned to Magnus. He shrugged at me.
"What the f**k you are saying?" Laxur glared her to death.
Xaira smirked mockingly. She then laughed loudly again.
Umiling siya na natatawa at dismayadong nakatingin kay Laxur.
"Pinatay ang sariling kaibigan..."
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LIV