Pandora's Academy: Blood & Splendor

Pandora 15: A Dangerous Flame

ASEL JULES CARSON

"Hey, stop spacing out. Kanina ka pa," sita sa akin ni Leo. Napakurap nalang ako at tumango habang nakatingin sa may bintana. No matter how many times I tell myself na mag-focus sa kailangan kong gawin, hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Mula pa noon, ang dami ko nang naisip na mga pagkakataon na magkikita kami ni Creed. Pero ni isang beses, hindi sumagi sa isipan ko na sa ganito kaming paraan magkikita.

Will she recognize me? Will she remember me? What words will come out of her mouth the moment she sees me?

A lot of questions are running inside my head right now, even though I know that they won't matter at all. I'm going to kill Creed, and the least that I want to happen is to be attached to my victim. I'm here as an assassin, not as the kid who cherished my bestfriend many years ago.

Pero bakit ang bigat sa pakiramdam? Bakit parang ang hirap? I can't shake off this feeling. It keeps bugging my soul, penetrating the walls that I built to protect myself. Pakiramdam ko, sa pangalawang pagkakataon, maaring madurog ako muli.

"Isn't this the right time to tell me what's going on, Jules?" tanong sa akin ni Leo habang pinapatay ang makina ng sasakyan. Naramdaman ko ang mga titig niya mula sa gilid ko. Bumuntong hininga ako at umiling.

"It's nothing, Leo."

"Jules, gusto lang kitang paalalahanan," aniya. "Hindi mo ko kaibigan at mas lalong hindi mo ko pamilya. I'm speaking right now as your master because you are my apprentice, and I cannot afford you to mess up this mission. You understand?"

"Yes."

"Tell me what's going on before I make you."

I sighed and finally faced her. Tila maliliit na ilaw sa dilim ang berdeng mga mata ni Leo.

"Creed was my...best friend," I almost choked on the last word. "We were not in good terms the last time I saw her and..." I pursed my lips and told her the truth. "...and sometimes, I dream of seeing her once again and mending our friendship. But I guess..."

I shrugged my shoulders and met her gaze. "That's impossible now, isn't it?"

"Jules..." Dumaan sa mga mata ni Leo ang awa niya sa kalagayan ko pero mabilis ding napalitan 'yon ng seryosong tingin. "Mula nung maging apprentice kita, buong akala ko manhid ka. Buong akala ko wala ka lang talagang pakielam at mas gusto mong mag-isa. We lived for months together, and our relationship is strictly for work alone. Not that I'm aiming for more, but hearing this now, I guess my image of you was wrong. You're not as simple as I thought you are."

"I don't know what I should feel when you put it that way," kunot noo kong tugon.

"You have so many layers, Jules. Swerte na nga sigurong maituturing na nag-open ka sa akin ngayon."

Napairap ako. "You used your master card on me. What do you expect me to do?"

I heard her laugh, but it also faded quickly. "You're not the same person anymore, Jules. Whatever happened between you and Creed many years ago, it shouldn't hinder you today. This is your mission and there's no valid outcome except accomplishing it successfully."

"I know," sagot ko kaagad at binuksan na ang pinto ng sasakyan. Sinuot ko muna ang maskara ko bago harapin muli si Leo. "Don't worry. I won't disappoint you. As you said, I have so many layers to spare."

Nakita kong umangat ang sulok ng labi ni Leo at tinanguan ako. "Make me proud, Jules."

***

Inayos ko ang pagkakaayos ng suot kong coat at dumiretso na sa may entrance ng Murry's Towers. Isa 'yong malaking building na pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ni Creed. As ironic as it sounds, her family is influential because they produce the best forces for justice and police work, however, behind closed doors, their riches are also tainted by their corrupted transactions. Cloak and Dagger, as others said.