The Senses

Chapter 31

Xavier

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa loob ng hotel rooms namin. Magkasama kami ni Zero habang magkasama naman si Seine at Serene. Nasa kabilang room naman si Marcus. Bilin niya sa amin na huwag kaming aalis ng mag-isa. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit magkakasama kami sa isang hotel room. Mahirap na, baka may mangyari na hindi maganda.

Naririnig ko pa rin ang pagkanta ni Zero habang nasa loob siya ng shower. Hays, kahit pinto, hindi kayang pigilan ang boses niya. Nakahiga ako ngayon sa kama at may iniisip. May bumabagabag kasi sa akin.

Mukhang matatatagalan pa naman si Zero kaya lumabas muna ako ng room at pumunta sa isang bintana kung saan makikita ang ilaw ng mga buildings mula sa labas.

I got my phone out and called Azazel. After just a few rings, he answered.

"Xavier, napatawag ka?"

"May itatanong lang sana ako. May bumabagabag kasi sa isipan ko."

"Sure, anong tanong mo."

"Bakit mo ninakaw ang libro ng Taste?" Hindi siya agad nakasagot sa tanong ko kaya nagpatuloy ako. "Hindi mo naman kailangan na kunin ang libro dahil alam ng Erebos na si Flora ang Sense of Smell at ang pangalan ng tatay niya ang nasa loob ng libro. Ibig sabihin, walang koneksyon iyon sa iyo. Walang merit ang pagnanakaw sa libro."

"Xav..." His voice trailed off. "May hindi pa ako sinasabi sa inyo."

"I suggest you tell the truth now."

He took a few seconds before answering. "Truth to be told, everything that you said was right. Wala naman talaga akong plano na nakawin ang libro pero may nangyaring hindi inaasahan."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Someone blackmailed me, Xav."

My blood run cold at what he just said. "What did you say?!"

"May ibang tao na alam na ako ang Sense of Smell. Isang araw, may nagtext sa akin na dapat kunin ko ang libro dahil kung hindi, malalaman ng Erebos na ako ang Sense of Smell. Akala ko noong una, si Pandora ang may gawa nito pero itinanggi niya na may kinalaman siya."

"That means... other than her, someone knew you were the Sense of Smell. It's also safe to assume that this person knows your history with Flora."

"That's right, Xav. Sasabihin ko sana sa inyo pero masyado tayong naging abala dahil kay Pandora."

I was right. What I suspected was right. "Thanks, Zel. Be safe in Granville."

"You too."

He cut the call and I remained at the window, staring at the space below. My suspicions were right. The only reason why we managed to know why Azazel was the Sense of Smell was because he stole the book which ignited my suspicions.

This wasn't the first case of a third party. The greeting card that was sent to Seine. The call that Serene got so she went to the clinic. The blackmailing of Azazel. They were all connected. Someone was perfectly manipulating us so that all of us would meet and discover who the Senses were. Someone was out there who knew us all and it wasn't Erebos.

The question is who? Only one answer popped into my mind...

Uncle...

That was still in my mind when I entered the room. I found Zero was out of the shower and was buttoning up his long sleeves. He smiled when he saw me.

"Xav, saan ka pumunta?"

"Just... a call."

Naramdaman niya siguro na may iniisip ako. "Parang may bumabagabag sa isip mo."