MISSING
"CONGRATULATIONS, Chief."
"I'm not yet the chief." Tumayo na si Lis at pinagpag ang kaniyang damit.
"Not yet?" sagot ni Cross.
Inalalayan niya itong tumayo at pinaupo sa stool.
"What do you mean 'not yet'?" tanong nito ulit.
"You told me about your reason, I guess I have to tell mine as well," he said and sat down.
Nilingon niya muna si Aster na nakatalikod pa rin sa kanila. Tatawagin na niya sana ito nang marinig ang pagbukas at sara ng pinto.
"Iwan ko muna kayo rito, ah? May kukunin lang ako sa Cell," sabi ni Aryl. Napansin naman niya si Cross. "Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Ano 'yan?" Sabay turo sa leeg at tainga na may marka ng Tarantula.
Imbes na sagutin nito ang tanong, ngumisi si Cross at sinabi, "Aster is sulking. Take him with you."
Kumunot ang noo ni Aryl. Handa na sana siyang dagdagan ang pang-aasar ni Cross pero sumabat si Aster.
"I'll come with you," sabi nito at naunang maglakad. Ni hindi man lang sila nito nilingon.
"Leave the shop to us. Go." He gestured his hand for Aryl to leave.
Kahit na nagtataka, tumango naman si Aryl at umalis na. Sila na lang natira ng Phoenix. Inabot nito ang kaniyang Vege Sal habang hinihintay siyang magsalita.
"The reason why I came here is because of my Dragon Stone," simula niya. Hindi ito sumagot kaya nagtuloy-tuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "Someone stole it the day before my coronation."
"Fucking clumsy. How the hell will it be stolen to you? It's inside your fucking heart."
"I was drunk. I didn't even fully remember what happened that night." Napakamot siya sa kaniyang ulo. "Your brother found out it was stolen by a black magician."
"And did you find out who?"
"Yeah. It's Aryl."
Napaubo si Cross matapos niya iyong sabihin. "Fuck! Aryl stole your stone?"
"Wait," pigil niya. "It's kind of a yes and a no. Ang sabi niya may lalaki raw na nagbigay ng Dragon Stone ko sa kaniya para gumaling siya. She took it and since she doesn't know about protection spells, it's now engraved in her heart."
"Gumaling naman siya?"
"You know about her condition?"
He nodded.
"Well, yeah. That's what she says. She said my stone is the Heart of the Dissolving—what was it again?" Napaisip siya.
"Dissolving Flower?"
"Yes! That's it. You know about that?"
"I think I heard it from Pahima. Anyway, who's this guy who gave her your Dragon Stone?"
Nagkibit-balikat si Lis. "That's what I want to know."
Muli itong napamura sabay lagay ng bowl sa mesa nang may biglang mapagtanto. "If I remember correctly, the conditions to have your stone back . . ."
"Yeah. I know. She agreed to be married to me." Bumuntonghininga siya.
"Fuck! You fucking bastard!" Isang sapok ang natanggap niya kay Cross matapos niyang magsalita. "The fuck are you saying? What about Aster's feelings? And isn't it allowed to marry other genes?"
"Coming from someone who's in a relationship with an A-gene," sagot niya habang napapahimas sa kaniyang ulo. "What do you want me to do then? Kill her? If that happens, I'll be hurting Aster's feeling either way. And besides, we made a deal. I'll help her find his sister in exchange for my Dragon Stone. She's the one who decided to get married with me."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dissolving Flower
PertualanganLisianthus Hibius Crimson, a S-gene, wishes to abolish the treaty that prevents them from communicating with other creatures living in the same country. It's on the day of his coronation that he almost achieve the first step of his dream, but it com...
