The Fifth Order

14 | The Forum

Trigger Warning!
A scene may depict and showcase an act of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised!

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Chapter 14: The Forum

"KUMUSTA KA NA?" salubong ko kay Sev nang marating nila ni Mav ang maliit na harding nasa likurang bahagi ng ahensiya. Mav was pushing the guy, who was in a wheelchair, towards our direction. My lips twitched in realization. Chase was the first person in that wheelchair last night, followed by me after Ace had to put me aside a while ago, and then Sev.

Sana'y wala ng susunod sa aming tatlo.

He let out a chuckle. "Wala lang 'yon, Zai. Ayos na ayos na ang mga muscles ko! Kung p'wede nga'y tatayo pa ako rito—aray! Sabi ko nga mananahimik na." Sumimangot ito nang paluin siya ni Mav sa braso.

"Ang yabang-yabang nito gayong ang tigas naman ng ulo. Hindi mo kinakain ang mga niluluto ko magmula pa kagabi!" Mav rolled her eyes but still gently placed Sev beside the picnic mat that both Sie and I had prepared.

"Ayon ba? Sorry, babe. Kakainin ko na 'yon mamaya." Nakalolokong ngumisi ang lalake at sinimulang asarin ang babae. For the record, I actually thought that these two were in a romantic relationship based on how they treat and call each other.

"Kadiri." Sie winced while looking at Mav and Sev. "Get a room, you two!"

"Anong masamang hangin na naman ang nagpapa-stress sa 'yo, mahal?" Chase suddenly appeared behind her. Inakbayan nito ang babae na mabilis namang tinanggal ng huli.

"Mahalin mo'ng mukha mo! Huwag mo akong sinusubukan, Chase. Wala ako sa mood," ani Sie at inagaw mula sa lalake ang dala-dala nitong mga chips. Hindi iyon pinansin ng huli, bagkus ay binalingan ako't ginulo ang aking buhok. I frowned and shooed his hand away.

My eyes then diverted to Ace, who sat beside me and offered a glass of wine.

"Thanks," I uttered, and took the glass from him.

Tonight would be the last moment where we could talk and act as if we were normal teenagers. After seeing what the Ebon had accomplished using the power of the Space Stone, we made the decision to put a permanent end to this battle before it could even start.

Nangangamba rin kasi kaming baka ang Power Stone na naman ang kanilang isusunod, kaya kinakailangan na naming kumilos hangga't maaga pa.

"So, pa'no na 'yan, guys?" panimula ni Mav at isa-isa kaming tiningnan. "Hindi natin alam ang kahihinatnan ng isa't isa bukas o sa makalawa, kaya ito lang ang sasabihin ko . . . huwag kayong mamamatay—"

"Hep, hep, hep! 'Wag ka namang mag-drama kaagad. Ang ganda ng gabi tapos sisirain mo lang," komento ni Sev sabay inisang lagok ang kaniyang wine.

Mav sighed. "Totoo rin naman. I couldn't deny my attachment to this family and the reality that every one of you already had a place in my heart, even though the rest of us here were strangers to each other. Kaya nga'y huwag kayong mamamata—ano ba?! Kanina ka pa, ah?!"

"Sabing hindi kasi p'wedeng mag-drama ngayon. Chill ka muna, babe. Hindi rin naman kita hahayaang mawala sa aki—"

"Uh, stop? You're making me cringe, guys," Sie interrupted as her face clearly showed disgust. "Ang mabuti pa, mag-introduce ourselves muna tayo. Mav's right. We've been through a lot, pero wala man lang tayong kaalam-alam sa totoong pangalan ng isa't isa. This is our time to get to know each other more. At least, this is what we can do before we part ways."

We nodded in unison. Ngayon ko nga lang din napagtantong tanging agency codenames lang nila ang alam ko. Chase and Ace were exceptions, though. Thanks to Mav, who provided me some background information about the latter back at our trip to Cebu.