Blandon High: The Devil's Heir

Chapter 19: Spend Time

•••••Ethan's POV•••••

"Yo Raven! Kumusta yung test mo?", tanong ko kaagad sa kanya ng makarating siya dito sa bahay.

She told me that they will be having an Assassination Team Exam. I know she would pass the test but I still wanna know how did it go.

I still care for Raven despite being busy.

"Fine." Yun lang?

What should I expect? Ganyan naman kasi ang ugali niya eh. However, sanay na ako kaya no problem nalang sakin.

"Okay. Gusto mo bang sa labas tayo kumain?" Pag-iba ko nalang ng usapan. Tamad lang niya akong tiningnan at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"Why? Nasa labas na ba ang kusina natin ngayon?"

I was shocked when I heard what she said ngunit napatawa rin ako kaagad.

"Seriously Raven? Are you joking? Since when did you learn how to tell a joke?" Natatawang sabi ko.

Like for 12 years na magkasama kami, this is the very first time I heard her joking.

"I'm not." Ramdam ko ang kaseryosohan sa boses niya kaya tumigil na ako sa pagtawa.

Though there's still part of me na gusto paring tumawa but I'm stopping it. Baka magalit pa si Raven.

Mahirap na.

"Idiot. If you wanna laugh then fine. Don't drag me into your stupid plans." She was about to go upstairs when I stopped her.

Damn it Ethan! Wag kana kasing tumawa eh!

"Look I just want to spend time with you. You know I'm always busy with work. So since it's my free time today, pagbigyan mo na ako sa invitation ko sa'yo." I smiled at her. "Please?"

I saw her let out a sigh then looked at me.

"Whatever. But I think I know where we're going."

*****

"I knew it."

Napatawa nalang ako kay Raven. We are standing in front of an Italian restaurant right now. I even saw her pouting. Cute.

I opened the door for her at pumasok naman siya. Pumunta kami kaagad sa table na ni reserve ko.

I pulled the chair for Raven to sit. She looked at me, then sat down.

"Aren't you tired of Italian restaurants?", tanong niya sakin.

Umupo muna ako bago siya sinagot. "I can't help it. I found out na may bagong bukas na Italian restaurant so I wasted no more time and tried it. Who knows na baka mas masarap ang pagkain nila dito kaysa sa mga Italian restaurants na nakainan na natin."

I learned about this online. Trending ang restaurant na ito at maraming tao. This restaurant just opened last week and so far, puro mga good reviews lang ang naririnig at nababasa ko tungkol dito.

"Whatever.", tanging sabi ni Raven at nagsimulang tingnan ang menu which I also did.

Minutes passed before someone came to take our orders. We just ordered Carbonara, Lasagna, Ravioli, Amatriciana Sauce and Fettuccine Alfredo. And for the drinks, both of us ordered the Italian cocktail Americano.

It's our kind of dish everytime we order in an Italian restaurant. Ang lahat ng mga inorder ko ay ang mga favorite naming kainin ni Raven.

Gusto ko pa sanang mag-order kaso lang, sinamaan ako ni Raven kanina ng tingin at pinagalitan. Bakit raw ako mag-oorder ng marami na kaming dalawa lang naman daw ang kumakain.

"So," I broke the silence between us. "Kumusta yung exam mo? You didn't tell me the whole thing." Kahit na alam kong medjo imposible na makakuha ako ng matinong sagot galing sa kanya ay nagtanong parin ako. Who knows, baka naman magbago ang takbo ng isip niya at sagutin ako ng maayos.

She looked at me first then sighed again. "I said it was fine."

"Don't you wanna tell me the whole thing?"

"Well it's a drag."

Ako naman ang napabuntong-hininga this time. A minute passed before I was about to talk to her when she started speaking first.

"I know gusto mong magtanong kung may kaibigan na ba ako Ethan." I met her eyes that were looking at mine directly.

Masarap pakinggan na tawagin niya ako sa pangalan ko.

Napatawa ako. "Then have you already met one?"

We stopped for a moment when our food arrived then the waiter placed it on our table.

"Grazie.", I thanked the waiter.

"It's hard for me to say if they're already a friend to me." I turned back my attention on Raven as we prepared ourselves to eat.

"Why's that?"

"Because no one ever taught me what friendship is."

Napatigil ako ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya. I looked at her and she was just looking at her food.

Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan at mapalunok. "R-Raven---"

"No it's fine." She raised her head and looked at me seriously. However, I could see sadness in her eyes. "There's nothing you can do about it now."

"I-I'm sorry." Iniwas ko ang mga tingin ko sa kanya. I clenched my fists, struggling for control.

Patawarin mo sana ako Raven. Sorry kung hindi ako naging responsable sa iyo.

Naaawa at nakokonsensya ako sa kanya. Gusto kong suntukin ang aking sarili dahil sa pagiging iresponsable ko sa kanya. Kung pwede ko lang sana sabihin sa kanya ang lahat.

"Look at me." I ran out of control of myself and just did what she said. "I know you're blaming yourself and I need you to stop it."

"Pero---"

"Alam kong mas marami ka pang pinagdaanan sakin kahit na ang bata mo pa. But blaming yourself won't change anything." She took a bite of her Lasagna. "But I just wanna tell you na kung ano man yang tinatago mo sakin, malalaman ko rin yan."

She looked at me again but this time, seryoso na ang mga mata niya. Ewan ko ba if nagmamalik-mata lang ba ako basta parang nakita ko ang pagbago ng kulay ng mga mata niya.

Natatakot na ako sa mga posibleng mangyari.

"You're hiding something from me aren't you Ethan?", she asked seriously kaya napalunok ulit ako. I could hear my heart beating.

I took a deep breath first before answering her. I tried to calm myself para hindi na niya ako paghinalaan.

"No. I'm not."

Tiningnan lang niya ako for a minute then shrugged her shoulders. "If you say so." Itinuloy na niya ang pagkain.

Is she still suspecting me? Obvious ba sa kanya na nagsisinungaling ako? Hopefully not.

But I wasn't really ready to eat anymore. It feels like my conscience has drowned me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath again for the nth time. "You trust me right Raven?" I opened my eyes and looked at her seriously.

Bored lang niya akong tiningnan. "You have a reason in everything.", kalmadong sabi niya at nagpatuloy ulit sa pagkain.

Naintindihan ko naman ang gusto niyang sabihin. It means yes. She trusts me. Pero alam kong ayaw lang niyang ipakita iyon.

Tumikhim muna ako bago kumain ulit. "So about this people na parang kaibigan mo na, ayaw mo ba silang ipakilala sakin?", I asked out of curiousity.

"You'll know, soon enough.", she said without looking at me.

Tumango nalang ako. Sanay na ako sa ugali ni Raven. For 12 whole years na magkasama kami ay kilalang-kilala ko na siya.

I trust her.

I trust her so much. Siya na ang nagsilbing pamilya ko after all these years. And I will never ever forgive myself if something bad happens to her. Kayang-kaya ko gawin lahat para sa kanya.

Kahit ang pumatay.

"Hey." I suddenly came back to my senses when I heard Raven's cold voice.

"Y-Yes?"

Narinig ko ang pag-'tsk' niya bago ako sinagot.

"Ang sabi ko, nakakainis yung vice president ng ASC. I was just asking if you know him." (A/N: ASC means Assassin Student Council.)

"A-Ahh yun ba?" She raised her right brow at me.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah I'm fine."

Focus Ethan! Stop thinking about impossible things right now. You promised you won't let anything happen to her pero paano mo iyon magagawa if hindi ka magfofocus?

"Tsk. What an idiot. So? Do you know him?"

Uminom muna ako ng Americano bago ko sinagot ang tanong niya na kanina pa niya tinatanong.

"Kinda. Max Park right? He's the little brother of Sunny Park, the one I hired na itour ka dun sa first day mo sa Blandon High." She rolled her eyes at me. Alam kong inis na inis siya about nun kasi may pa tour-tour pa raw akong nalalaman. Natawa nalang ako. "As far as I know, isa pa siyang 3rd Ranked Assassin. He was about to be promoted as a 4th Ranked Assassin when he rejected the offer. Strange, ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit niya yun ginawa. Moreover, he's also a sleepyhead.", I continued.

Kinilala ko lahat ng mga staffs and officers ng Blandon High kaya nakilala ko si Max. Hindi ko hahayaan si Raven na pumasok sa isang skwelahan na wala akong alam sa mga tao doon.

Hindi natin alam, baka mga spy yung iba para pagtangkaan ang buhay ni Raven.

"What about him?", I asked while eating my Ravioli.

She took a sip of her Americano. "Nothing. He's just annoying.", sabi niya. Tumango nalang ako. Kahit ang ASC president ay kilala ko rin.

"What about Sniper? Is he bothering you?"

"Not really. He has his own world too. He minds his own business." We both wiped our mouths with the table napkins.

Sa pag-uusap namin, hindi ko namalayan na naubos na pala namin ang aming kinakain.

"But he can be annoying sometimes.", she added.

Tumango ulit ako bago nagsalita muli. "But you still need to be careful around them Raven. Stay away if possible. They're dangerous and there's something about them that I don't like."

Unang kita ko palang sa profile ni Sniper at Max, alam kong hinding-hindi sila isang ordinaryong assassin lang. Although I didn't really check their background profiles pero at least may alam na ako sa mga gagawin at roles nila sa school.

"I know. You don't have to tell me.", sabi naman ni Raven.

"Basta wag ka masyadong magpakita ng lakas mo. Delikado.", pagpapaalala ko. "As much as possible ay yung mga physical skills lang muna ang gagamitin mong proteksyon sa iyong sarili.", dagdag pa niya.

Raven must not show her true abilities recklessly to anyone. Blandon High siya nag-aaral, isang paaralan kung saan limited lang ang maaasahan mo.

"Okay.", tipid niyang sagot.

Binayaran ko na ang lahat na inorder namin at niyaya si Raven na manood ng sine.

"What for?", tanong niya habang sinusuot ang hoodie jacket niya.

Gabi narin kasi kaya pinasuot ko siya ng hoodie jacket. Para narin walang makakakilala sa kanya.

"For fun. You know, sometimes lang natin ginagawa to.", sabi ko.

"Fine. But if wala akong magugustohan na movie, uuwi na tayo."

"Deal.", pagsang-ayon ko naman sa sinabi niya at nagsimula na kaming maglakad.

*****

"Well everything's boring. Puro romance. Tch."

Napatawa nalang ako. Kahit kailan talaga, ang bitter niya.

"What is wrong with being bitter?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

Tumikhim muna ako. Lagot ka Ethan. "Wala naman. Cute mo nga eh."

"Jerk." Napatawa nalang ulit ako sa kanya. "Seriously? What are you laughing at? Aren't you tired of laughing?" Salubong ang kilay niya sa tanong na iyon.

Tumigil na ako sa pagtawa.

"Not really. Napansin ko lang talaga na nagbago ka na. Noon, gusto mong palagi ka lang nasa bahay. Ngayon, pumayag ka na mag-bonding tayo sa labas. I'm so thankful about that Raven. Thank you, kahit papaano ay medjo nagbago ka rin. Medjo na bawas-bawasan rin ang pagiging anti-social mo.", nakangiting sabi ko.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Well it was deeper than mine though.

"N-No p-problem." Aww. Parang nahihiya siya. Hehe. Ang cute.

"Anyways," I put my arm around her. Ayiee ang cute niya. Namumula eh. "Let me buy you a red velvet cake, it's your favorite."

I put my arm away from her when she suddenly hit my stomach. However, it wasn't really painful.

"Whatever Ethan. You're still an idiot.", sabi niya at inunahan ulit akong maglakad.

"H-Hey Raven! Wait up! I'll buy you a cake, gusto mo iyon diba?"

"I'll talk to you kapag nakabili ka na." Tumango nalang ako at bumili na ng cake sa isang known cake shop.

I smiled to myself. Ang sobrang saya ko dahil papaano ay nagbago talaga si Raven. I love her changes. In fact I didn't really expect she'd change.

Maybe the reason why she changed ay dahil dun sa mga kaibigan niya. Hindi ko pa man sila kilala, ngunit nararamdaman ko na sila talaga ang rason kung bakit nagbago si Raven.

"Here's the cake sir.", sabi nung cashier.

I smiled at her and accepted the cake. "Thank you." At lumabas na ako sa cake shop.

I couldn't take off the smile on my face. I'm just so happy not just for myself but for Raven as well.

Sana nga... Sana nga yung mga kaibigan na sinasabi ni Raven ay ang magpapabalik ng kanyang dating ugali.

I miss the old Raven.