Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS36 Part 1

#DDMS36 Part 1

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FEUILLE

Five Years Ago

I TOOK a slow, deep breath . . . gathering all the air and courage that I could store in my chest, to prepare me from what I am about to face.

Beside me in the backseat of the car, is none other than the monster, Zilvane himself. We are currently en route to the Guivellnova Estate. He promised to stay away from Xantiel if I agreed to return to our house.

Only that it isn't my house at all. Bago makarating si Zilvane ay nagpakita muna sa akin si Xildius. Sinabi niya sa akin ang buong katotohanan, at ang aming detalyadong plano.

I learned that my real name is Folie Gustavo, and I'm one of Zilvane's victims. He placed me under deep hypnosis to make me believe that I am his little sister, Feuille Guivellnova.

Ang mga alaalang meron ako ay mga pekeng memorya lamang na tinanim ni Zilvane sa utak ko. Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa natatandaan ang mga alaala ko bilang Folie. Ang sabi sa akin ni Professor ay babalik lamang ito sa akin pagkatapos ng limang taon, na siyang bilang ng taon kung hanggang kailan lamang epektibo ang hypnosis ni Zilvane.

Which means I only have five years to execute our plan—I only have exactly five years before my memory resets and I forget everything again.

"Malalim yata ang iniisip mo?" Tumindig ang mga balahibo ko nang biglang magsalita si Zilvane.

Kalma, Feuille. Kalma. Tandaan mo ang sinabi sa 'yo ni Xildius.

'Hindi niya dapat mapansin na alam mo na ang katotohanan.' The professor's words were still fresh in my head. 'You have to act like you still think he's your brother. That you're still the same old Feuille Guivellnova.'

Zilvane is also a psych expert like the professor. I need to be careful with my reactions and micro-expressions. He could easily read if something is off, so I have to act in the best way that I can.

Pero fuck. Tangina. Hindi ko siya matingnan sa mata . . .

Tuwing maiisip ko ang mga ginawa niya sa mga kawawang biktima, ang mga kung ano-anong pagkalikot sa mukha ng mga inosenteng babae para lamang maging kahawig ng kaniyang kapatid . . . Hindi ko maiwasang matakot sa kaniyang simpleng presensya lamang. Just his mere presence makes my blood curdle in fear.

Sinusubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin sa labas ng bintana.

Tangina . . . wala pa kami sa mansyon ay kinakabahan ako. Nahahalata niya ba?

Fuck, Feuille. Don't even think of it! The more you think about it, the more you'll get nervous. Try to stay focused.

I swallowed a little. I could feel his sharp eyes on me, as if they were needles piercing my skin. Can he see through me? Damn it. Is his gaze following the sweat trickling at the side of my neck? Fuck. I'm going crazy.

Putang ina . . . hindi ako makahinga.

Shit.

Try to breathe, for fuck's sake!

"Feuille?" Zilvane's voice called out. "What did that engineer do to you that dulled your sense of hearing? I asked you a question."

My sharp eyes found his mocking gaze, and I stared back at him. How dare you mention him from your foul mouth. Not my Xantiel.

Nagkaroon ako bigla ng lakas ng loob at bumalik ang tapang ko. Remember why you're doing this, Feuille. You want to protect the one you love. Remember your mission.