Cogency Duology 2: Venizelos' Turn | Completed ✔

CHAPTER 1

'HER?'

ALTHYS TOKUGAWA

I FINALLY accepted the Tokugawa surname and successfully became a lawyer too, Ceya told me to focus on looking for the person who killed our mother instead of focusing on her.

"Ma'am!Si Mara, nasa labas — she's furious" ani Shiela so I released a small smile

"Let her in" utos ko kaya agad siyang tumango

Sumandal ako sa swivel chair ko, I check the time in my wrist watch while waiting for Mara to enter my office.All this time, I know everything will be successful.Humarang lang talaga sila Therios at Xiera sa daan ko.

As I heard her footsteps, I fixed my posture and so as my look.I want her to be intimidated by me, I didn't change after all — I just stop acting.

"Fuck you!What did you do to me?To us?!" sigaw ni Mara at hinampas ang lamesa ko

I didn't flinched or even blink, i'm too tired to fuck with this woman infront of me.She's just a trash that cannot do a multitask after all.

"What do you mean?" I stood up and walk towards her

She flinched a little that made me smirk, I let my middle finger run through her back and I could see her shiver just by that.

"You.. You ruined everything" she said out of nowhere

"I did ruin everything but isn't that what we are suppose to be doing instead of focusing in some stupid games while we are seniors?" patanong kong sagot na nagpa-bigat sa pag-hinga niya

"What do you mean by that?!You are suppose to be weak and scared!You have the Med 1700 - 1782!" singhal niya kaya natawa ako

I laugh as if I won, well, I do won.

"That was all part of the plan, Mara!It was all part of the plan, being the Dawn Pieces' target?Being weak and dependable to the Altadenian boys?!It was all part of the plan!" I said making everything clear to her

"Yes, you did successfully ruin everything but your parents," natigilan ako sa binanggit niya lalo't nakangiti pa siya "Do you ever wonder kung bakit lolo mo pa din ang namumuno sa Clan niyo noon imbis na tatay mo?"

"What do you know?" hinila ko ang buhok niya pero tumawa lang siya

"Kaya gaga ka ngayon because you don't know what love really feels like!Your parents are dead and a clone raise you!What a clone have?Just clay and wires, no emotions and no feelings just like you!" sigaw niya kaya sinampal ko siya

Ayokong mang-hina sa harap niya ngayon, ipinapalabas niyang clone nalang ang mga magulang ko ngayon at ang totoo kong mga magulang ay patay na.

"My parents tried to kill Alcyone's biological father so your parents sacrifice theirselves para ma-iligtas ang natitirang anak na si Alcyone, noong araw na dumating si Alcyone sa buhay mo — 'yon din ang araw na inilibing ang tunay mong mga magulang at pinalitan ng mga clones na lang.Clones na resulta ng science works ng ama mo, they prepared all of this" now Mara looks sad, hindi na siya tumatawa gaya ng kanina "Nang mamatay ang tunay mong mga magulang ay ipinapatay din ng lolo mo ang mga magulang ko, ang Medici Emperor!So I became the clan empress at a young age, dahil sa sakit kung ano anong laro ang inimbento ko sa Nobles room!"

"You're lying" I whispered

"Let me go already, Rye knows that all this time — he's lying to you since the day you confront his parents" I let go of her hair so she start fixing herself "I may be a loser when it comes to clans, Althys but that doesn't make you a winner"

She left me dumb founded.She has a point and I know Mara won't lie in this kind of situation, I know she's telling the truth but I still wanna know who killed my mother.

Ang papa kong nabubuhay ngayon.. isa nalang 'yong clone?'Yung humaplos sa buhok ko noon sa clinic kasama si Evander, clone nalang 'yon?

All this time.. they're fooling me even though they're already dead.

"A cup of coffee?" napalingon ako sa pinto sa baritonong boses na 'yon

It was Art, wearing an all black tuxedo.He's holding a coffee on his right arm while his left hand is resting on his pocket.

"You change.. a lot" komento ko

He enter my office and sat in the visitor's sofa, inilapag niya sa maliit na mesa ang kapeng hawak niya kanina saka prenteng sumandal sa upuan niya.

His hair is properly styled in a bun, his beard made him look more mature than before and his emotionless eyes is shouting perfection.

"You change a lot too, you're more beautiful than before" aniya

"Thank you" saad ko at umupo sa katapat niyang sofa

I sigh as I recall Mara's words in my mind, they're clear to my ears earlier but now I feel like she used another language to me.A language that I could never understand.

"Long story short, the only family you have now is Ceya and Alcyone" nilingon ko siya at kinunutan ng noo

"Paano mo nalamang buhay si kuya?" I asked

Tumawa lang siya kaya umirap ako, am I hallucinating or kahawig niya talaga si Therios at Gun?

"Your plans worked on them especially to Evander, but not to me" kumunot ang noo ko nang mag-labas siya ng chewing gum at kinain 'yon matapos buksan "I've been observing and I know what the three of you are doing all this time"

"Beside the point, bakit ka kumakain n'yang strawberry flavored na bubble gum?" tanong ko

"I'll answer that in the right time but for now, let's focus on the Dawn Pieces.Remember the time that the results came out?Na walang bishop sa laro natin and I remember your face looking like a dumb founded bunny" he said that with a serious face so I couldn't even laugh "If you are grateful in those days, you'll remember that I saved you from Ceylon's clone and Axis' trap."

"I always wonder why did you do that and.. why are you provoking me by mentioning that I am almost raped" sabi ko at kinuha ang kape sa mesa saka tinikman 'yon

I was shock when I tasted it and it's so sweet just like how I wanted my coffee but I didn't show any emotions to him.

"Kasi alam kong alam mong parte lang 'yon ng laro, mabilis mong napatawad si Ceylon kasi alam mo na 'yung totoo 'di ba?" I stare at him pero nilabanan niya lang ang titig ko "I hope this one answers your other question"

Inilapag niya ang two black cards sa mesa at nagulat ako nang makitang bishop and king pieces ang nasa cards.Why would he accept the other responsibility if he could live his life being the noble room's highest royalty?

"And I am that bad guy" he stood up and showed me the pack of that chewing gum

Natulala nalang ako doon hanggang sa i-bulsa niya muli ang paketeng 'yon, he left me without any words so I just stare at his edible back.He grew up.. hot.