The Legendary Durga

CHAPTER 15

JINGU (AGNEZKA PATRIARCA) POV

"Makalabas sana kayo ng buhay."

Nang sabihin ng host ang mga katagang 'yon, nagsipasukan ang mga lalaking naka itim, lahat sila may dalang armas. Ilan sa mga natirang kalahok ang biglang napaurong, mostly 'yung mga mahihina. Napansin siguro nila na iba ang mga armadong lalaki na'to kumpara sa mga pinatay na nila. Kung sinuwerte silang manalo kanina, tignan natin kung swertihin pa sila ngayon.

Tumingin si Jun sa'kin, ang mga mata niya nag-aalala. Hindi ko alam kung nag-aalala ba siya na baka patayin ko lahat ng nandito o baka mapahamak ako. I'm not a mind reader so nginitian ko nalang siya, para ma-assure na walang problema at kung ano man ang iniisip niya, tigilan na niya.

Biglang natigil ang tensyon nang may masiglang nagsalita sa loob ng silid. "Hey guys!" It was Tao, getting all of our attenstion, ang mukha niya may malapad na ngiti, malapad pa sa rubber band. Kanina lang seryosong-seryoso ang mukha niya. Ano nanamang gusto nito? "Wala na kayong dapat na gawin, mga tropa ko nalang bahala sa lahat. After all we still need some of you." Nakangiti parin nitong saad, sabay tinuro si Takeo at Shark.

Bakit naman kaya naisipan nilang magpapansin ngayon? Ano pa-hero effect lang? Tingin ba nila kailangan namin ng tulong para patayin ang mga pipitsuging 'to? O baka naman nagmamaktol na ang dalawang killing machine na 'yan dahil sa konti ng napatay nila ngayon?

Sa grupo nila, parang ang dalawang 'to ang pinaka mahilig makipaglaban. Kung si Takeo mahilig maghanap ng malakas na kalaban, si Shark naman gusto lang makipaglaban, mahina man o malakas. Just for the sake of seeing blood, something like that. We always have people like that in this world, people with a little screw loose.

Twisted and just plain psychopathic.

Naglakad na papalapit ang dalawang killing machine. Naglabas ng maliit ng patalim si Takeo, sa dulo nito may mahabang kadena, it seems to be a bugworm. While Shark only pulled out a baseball that was lying in the corner, what simple minded guy. Only shows just how much of a maniac he is.

Tumingin sa direksyon ko si Takeo, blanko ang mukha niya pero matiim ang pagkakatitig niya sa'kin. Anong problema ng ungas na'to? Kanina pa siya tingin ng tingin sa'kin. Don't tell me lolicon ang isang 'to? Mahilig sa bata? Naka pang elementary uniform ako ngayon. 

If not, then does he recognize me? Now, that's bad news.

Napanood niya kung paano ko patumbahin ang mga loko sa university last time, dahil iniwan ako nitong kupal na katabi ko, pero naka disguise ako ngayon. I didn't wear the same fake glasses as what I wear in University. And I made sure to put a little make-up because I know they'll be here, I even added a fake mole for this night.

Tinignan ko si Jun, it doesn't seem like he noticed Takeo looked at me. Am I just overthinking?

Naglakad silang dalawa papalapit sa mga lalaking nakaitim, sabay nilang sinimulan atakihin ang mga bagong dating.

I heard Jun snort, there was an arrogant smirk in his face. "Weaklings." Bulong pa nito.

Well that's the first time I saw him act like that. He's right though, malalaki lang ang katawan ng mga bagong dating, kung ikukumpara sa'min, they're not scary at all. Although if you compare them to normal people, they would be strong. But not to the most of the people here.

May mga fighter na isang tingin mo palang matatakot ka na, 'yung kusa nalang titibok ng mabilis ang puso mo kahit hindi mo pa nakikita ang mukha niya, as long as mapalapit ka sa kanya at maramdaman mo ang aura niya. People like that is what weaklings should avoid, they'll definitely die if they say something that irked that kind of person.

That's what I feel kapag nakikita ko sila Zio Tigre, Nonno, Fratello, Padre (Father), Ryuu, other bosses at mga nakalaban ko na noon.

Now that I remember my Padre, I wonder what that old coot is up to these days. Is he still alive? I've never heard anything from him. Not like it matters, and not like I care anyway.

"That two ain't bad." Biglang komento ni Jun.

"What do you think?"

"Think about what?"

"Bakit nila naisipan maglabas ng mga muscle head dito? Are they trying to intimidate us? For what? They should at least pick strong people." Tinanong ko nalang siya, kasi ayaw ko mag-isip ng dahilan. Siya nalang, tutal matalino siya, sasabog ang utak ko 'pag nag-isip pa'ko.

"What I think is, pumupili sila ng mga kalahok para sa susunod na laro."

"Hmmm. Sabagay, maswerte lang naman 'yung iba dito kaya hindi sila namatay. Naisipan siguro nila na, walang saysay ang pagsali ng mga 'to kung wala din naman silang ibubuga."

Habang nag-uusap kami ni Jun, nagsimula nang maglaro ang dalawang killing machine na si Shark at Takeo. Isa-isa nilang pinabagsak ang mga lalaking nakaitim, na halata namang muscle lang ang meron. Hindi sila nahirapan sa pagpapatumba sa mga ito, not like anybody would have a hard time with those morons.

I watched Takeo as he use his blade, it was beautifully executed. He's good, terrifyingly good. Malinis ang galaw niya, mukhang sanay na sanay. It was just a small blade, but he made it look like a long sword with how long his arms is and how fast his movements are. Na intriga ako ng kaunti, kasi noong seventh birthday ko, bugworm ang niregalo sa'kin ni Nonno. Imagine! Sa murang edad ko, ang regalo ng Nonno ko patalim? Galing no?

Normal Grandfathers would give their Granddaughter either a barbie doll or a cute teddy bear. But no, it just had to be a blade. It wasn't even a toy, it was a real blade that really cuts. So I got mad, because he didn't buy me the big toy car that kids could ride that time. That's why I used the very gift he gave me against him, but of course, I couldn't harm him at all.

Mabilis at malinis ang galaw ni Takeo, para siyang sumasayaw habang winawagayway ang patalim niya. Samantalang si Shark, there's not a trace of elegance in how he moves. It was slow but fatal attack, he's one of those guys that has a abnormal strength that even the people in our world don't have.

Everybody was quiet, all we could hear were the people battling. They're either watching or doing something in their own world. The rest was shaking in fear.

I looked at Tao and Regis, they were talking to each other, not even bothering to check on the two guys they sent to clean up some mess. Then my eyes wandered to the hoody-guy. Na-intriga ako sa pagkatao niya, mabilis siyang kumilos at hindi 'yon normal. He's not just fast, but his way in using swords is not something I can underestimate. I think if I try to fight him, I would have a hard time winning.

Napangiti ako, gusto ko siyang makalaban.

Naramdaman ko na may papalapit sa'kin, I looked at the direction on where its coming from, ligaw na kunai. As usual, Jun protected me, he catched it then threw it back to one of the muscle head. Sinigurado din ni Jun na dadaanan muna ng kunai ang salarin, none other than Takeo. But of course, the man easily dodged the blade and it directly hit one of the muscle heads in the eye.

Nagkatitigan kami ni Takeo, its as if he was waiting for me to do something.

"Sinadya niya." Naiirita na usal ni Jun, kahit blanko ang mukha niya alam ko na naiinis siya sa ginawa ng mokong.

"He's been looking at me for quite a while now. Do you think he recognizes us, or me?" Tanong ko pa.

"He might be, but he's not sure yet. He's still probing. Do you want me to kill him?" He asked then looked at me, with a crooked smile.

"No, not yet. Let's watch what happens first, and I think we'll need this bunch of thugs."

Makalipas ang ilang minuto naubos or rather patay na ang mga muscle head, ilan ang mga wala nang malay at malubhang sugatan to the point na hindi na sila maka kilos. Pumasok ang host at tuwang-tuwa na pumalakpak.

*Clap*Clap*

"Good job!!! Especially kayong dalawa." Lumapit ang host kay Takeo at Shark, kinindatan pa silang dalawa. "Congratulation on passing the second round, lahat ng natirang buhay dito ay pasok." Pumalakpak nanaman ang host at malanding nginitian si Regis at Tao. Confirmed, bakla 'tong gagong 'to. "Sweeties, I'll see you all after five days, well then bye-bee! Muah!"

Pag-alis ng host, sunod-sunod na din ang pag-alis ng ibang mga kalahok. Ganoon din ang Four Devas, pero bago pa sila tuluyang umalis, Takeo was still staring at me. Nakakairita na 'tong ungas na'to!

Umalis narin kami ni Jun, pumunta sa kung saan naka park ang sasakyan at umarangkada na pauwi. Pagsakay na pagsakay ko sa sasakyan, biglang nanghina ako. I sighed, I feel so worn-out. I told Jun to buy me water, since I felt thirsty. So dumaan muna kami sa 7-11, I didn't go out, nasa sasakyan lang ako.

Nakasulyap lang ako sa may bintana, tinitignan ang paligid. Maraming tao ang mabagal na naglalakad. Bakit ang bagal kumilos ng mga tao dito? Kahit gabi na madami paring tao ang pagala-gala sa madumi at mapollusyong kalye ng Maynila.

Then I saw something.

Napadiretso ang upo ko sa sasakyan, parang nawala bigla ang pagod na nararamdaman ko kanina. Ngayon buhay na buhay ang kaluluwa ko. Nanaman, muli nanaman akong nakakita ng pamilyar na anino. But this time its a different person. That silhouette, I'll never forget it. Medyo pula at mahaba ang buhok, hindi katangkaran at malalim ang mga mata.

The person who killed the most important person in my life!

Agaran kong binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan, ni hindi ko na nga sinara. Dali-dali akong tumakbo para habulin ang bastardo na pumatay kay Fratello. I ran as fast as I could, trying to catch that man. Natatanaw ko ang likod niya, malayo siya, but not too far that I can't make it. Nagmamadali akong tumakbo, pero masyadong masikip ang daan dahil maraming tao. Napahinto ako nang huminto din sa paglalakad ang lalaking 'yon. There was still people walking around, but they feel all blurred out, all I could clearly see was that man's back at me.

Bumilis ang takbo ng puso ko at naghabol ako ng hininga. Pakiramdam ko tumakbo ako ng napaka habang marathon.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa direksyon ko.

It was him!

I got paralyzed by his gaze, my hands started quivering at the sight of him. It's him! Ang lalaking matagal ko nang hinahanap, for the past five years! F*cking five years! I had dedicated my everything into finding him. The man who took my Fratello. The man I've been wanting to kill.

That hair raising eyes, it's no doubt him. He's here! He's in front of me.

Nanginig ang buo kong katawan, hindi ako nakagalaw, hindi din ako nakapagsalita. I wanted to shout but I couldn't. Ni hindi ako makahinga, pero ang puso ko parang armalite kung tumibok. Everything started flashing back in my head, the ship, the rain, the blood and my Fratello's smile.

Stop! Stop! Stop! I've got no time to be remembering the d*mn past!

It was too late nang bumalik sa hulas ang isip ko, he was no longer there. Kahit anino niya hindi ko na mahagilap. Napaluhod ako sa matigas na semento, but I didn't feel a thing. Hindi ko maigalaw ang katawan ko at lubha akong nanghina. Nawala ang buong enerhiya ko sa katawan. I couldn't control myself. Pakiramdam ko isa akong puppet na naputulan ng string.

Ramdam ko ang pagtulo ng dugo mula sa palad at bibig ko. Matinding nakabaon ang kuko ko dahil sa pagkakakuom at hindi ko napansin na kinakagat ko na pala ang ibabang labi ko.

What am I doing?!

"Jingu?!" I heard someone yell, that was my fake name. But the voice seemed so far away, so far away. "Jingu!"