The Lost Reaper

Chapter Sixteen

"What's it like?"

Lumingon sa akin si Lucca nakataas yung kilay. "Ang ano?"

"The Grounds. What's it like?"

He swallowed the food in his mouth and turned to me. A small smile crept his face.

"Honestly, hindi ko kabisado yung lugar."

Kumunot ang aking noo.

"Why would you bring me there?" puno ng banta yung tono ng boses ko.

"I just felt like it's the safest place for you to hide."

"You felt?"

"I mean, I'm sure that it's the safest place for you to hide," he corrected. "I live there, kung saan malapit sa Ahedres. Alam ko na kung doon tayo magtatago, matutunton tayo. Dito kasi sobrang tibay ng bantay. Kung pupunta man sa Grounds yung mafia, we will be notified."

I'm still so unsure if I am welcome pero tumango nalang ako. Si Lucca nalang ang tanging pagasa ko dito. I could be hardheaded and be killed or to follow him in safety. Ganun lang. Madali naman akong kausap.

"Huwag kang mag-aalala. They will welcome you."

Kumunot ang noo ko at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "Do you read minds?"

Tumawa siya nang mahina.

"I can read your microexpressions," turo niya sa mukha ko. "You may call me a Sherlock enthusiast."

"A detective?"

Tumango siya. "My mother is a detective."

I smiled amusingly. Kaya pala nagustuhan niya yung dala kong libro. It was a coincidence but I got the right book.

"And your Dad?"

"Well..." bahagyang kumunot yung mukha niya. "He's somewhat in the dark side when he was young, well, not him. Yung lolo ko lang pala. He's just naughty and mischievous. Buti nalang nakilala niya si Mommy. She changed his life."

Tumango nalang ako at hindi na nagtanong pa. Curious what his Dad was, I didn't bother to ask deeper.

"We're here."

Nilapag niya yung dala niyang plato sa mesa at tumayo. Sinundan ko siya papunta sa labas. My eyes squinted because of the light pero agad ding nasanay. Bumungad sa akin ang isang napakagandang isla. Napanganga nalang ako.

"Wow," I gasped.

"Lovely, isn't it?"

I nodded while looking at the place. The sand is white. Tall trees were waiving their leaves as if a way to welcome us. I can also see mountains from afar.

"Don't be deceive by it's beauty."

"Huh?"

"You may think that this is a perfect place for a vacation. Hindi mo kilala mga tao dito."

As if on cue, agad dumagsa ang mga tao sa baybayin para salubungin kami. They all formed a battalion with guns and machete on their body. I started to feel panic on the weapons they brought. Hahablutin ko na sana yung baril ko pero pinigilan ako ni Lucca.

"Careful. They are sensitive. Nag-iisa ka lang. Marami sila," he warned me. "Magtago ka muna sa likod ko. Baka magulat mo sila."

Nagdadalawang-isip ako pero hindi ko na tinuloy ang aking binalak. It could be risky. Gaya ng sabi ni Lucca, nagtago nga ako sa likuran niya.

I looked over his shoulder and saw how the people split like the red sea. A woman started walking towards our direction looking so powerful. I squinted my eyes. She got the authority.

"Lucca, you came back!"

Yung seryoso niyang mukha ay biglang napawi at napalitan ng pagkasabik nang makita si Lucca. She opened her arms for a hug but Lucca only shook his head.

"You know I don't do hugs, Diem."

Tumaas ang aking kilay. Ang arte naman ng lalaking 'to. Sobrang protective ba niya sa kanyang personal space?

"You know I like you, right?"

Mas lalong nanlaki ang aking mga mata sa narinig. Seryoso? Sa harap pa talaga ng maraming tao?

"Shameless as usual," iling ni Lucca. "Sadly I don't reciprocate that feeling."

"I know," she smiled seductively. "But I'm getting there."

Tumango lang si Lucca na para bang sinasabing, "Go ahead. Show me what you got."

"Anyway, I've been told na may kasama ka. Sino?"

She peeked over Lucca's shoulder to see me. Doon na umalis si Lucca sa harap ko at magkaharap na nga kami ng babae. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang makita ako.

"It's not possible," gulat niyang sabi.

Hindi ko mawari kung masaya ba siya na makita ako o hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagdating ko pero alam kong gulat na gulat siya.

"It's the August!" sigaw nung isang lalaki mula sa batalyon.

Lahat ng pares ng mga mata ay napunta sa akin. Gaya nung babae, sila rin ay nagulat. Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa inasal nilang lahat.

Isa-isang nagyukuan ang lahat na para bang nagbibigay ng galang. All of them did it except for the woman in front of me.

"Brion, this is Diem," he paused. "Your sister."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Yung gulat sa mukha ng babae ay biglang naglaho at napalitan ng seryosong mukha. She doesn't seem to be happy to see me.

"Why would you introduce me to her?" iling ni Diem. "I'm sure she remembers me."

"She doesn't," iling ni Lucca.

"Stop pranking, Lucca," hinarap niya ako at sinamaan ng tingin. "Don't make me look like a fool, Anna. And for the record, I am not your sister."

She called me Anna. At this point in time, I am a little convince that I am who Lucca said who I am. The way recognition hits on everyone's faces, I knew he wasn't lying. Pero tinanggi ni Diem na kapatid niya ako. Even I can't believe that I'm her sister. She doesn't seem to like me.

"My name is Heather," I raise a brow. "I see that you don't like me. I'm not forcing you to. Huwag kang attitude."

She scoffed.

"Nagbago ka na. Noon hindi mo ako pinapatulan kasi para sa'yo hindi ka bababa sa lebel ko. Look at you now, mukhang hindi mo na kayang pigilan ang sarili."

"Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo. I just don't like people talking shits about me."

I am Heather Miller, the Bishop's reaper. I am taught with class. Ang sabi ni Kenjie sa akin na hindi daw ako magpapaapi. There are a lot of people inside the mafia who abuse their power and belittle people like me, a mere reaper. Itong babae sa harap ko ay pinamukha sa akin na hindi niya ako gusto nang harap-harapan. I don't want to be treated that way.

"Be careful, Heather," irap niya sa pangalan ko. "I don't know what happened to you. Hindi ko alam kung nagka-amnesia ka ba o trip mo lang but in this island, I am the boss. You see them," turo niya sa mga taong hanggang ngayon ay nakayuko pa rin. "They are my reapers and whatever I want, they will do it for me."

I laugh mockingly

"Then explain why are they bowing their heads to me?" I pointed at the battalion who she called her reapers. "Does that mean I hold more power than you?"

I saw how she clenched her fist and gritted her teeth, giving me death glares. I smiled in amusement. It looks like she hates me even more.