08 — Julien Ruiz
Female
"Kakayanin mo bang manalo, Julien?" tanong ni Riley, Number Eleven.
"'Wag kang mag-alala," sabi ko sa kanya dahil mukhang mas kinakabahan pa siya para sa'kin. "Kahit na sa inyo lang gagana ang eye ability ko, kaya ko makipaglaban. Hindi ko hahayaang ako ang ikatalo ng Nameless Organization."
"Oo nga, Riles!" nakangiting sabat ni Kaoru. "Sanay yata sa bugbugan 'yang si Julien. Diba, diba?"
Tinignan ko si Kaoru ng matagal hanggang sa mawala ang ngiti sa labi niya.
"Kaoru, let's talk."
Tumayo na ako at lumabas palayo sa holding area. Hindi ko na kailangan lumingon dahil alam kong nakasunod si Kaoru. Nang makahanap ako ng lugar kung saan walang tao ay agad ko siyang hinarap.
"Answer me honestly, Kaoru," I say. "What have you done with Celestine?"
"It's nothing, Julien," he says, trying to avoid the topic, but he can't faze me.
Nakatanim pa rin ang mga mata ko sa kanya hanggang sa sagutin niya ako ng maayos.
"Really . . ." he sighs, half smiling. "I'm fine so don't worry about me."
Don't worry?
If only he can see what I can see in him, he wouldn't be saying that!
"And what made you think it's you I'm worried about?" I ask.
"Because you care about me?" biro niya. "Because we've been friends for as long as I can remember?"
I sigh.
"You can deceive everyone, Kaoru. You can even deceive yourself. But you can never deceive me."
He looks down, painting a sad smile on his face. "I know," he says. "That's what made me think it's me you're worried about."
I smile back.
"From Immortal City, Number Eight."
I'm Number Eight — Julien Ruiz.
Eye Ability: Ending eyes.
"I can stop their eye ability."
BINABASA MO ANG
Immortal City
Science FictionThey are special. They are different. They are chosen. They are, but not her. Celestine Demafelix was chosen, but she wasn't special. Different? Yes, because she is the only one who can't do what they can. She can't see the future. She can't make he...