The Assassins

Chapter 2

***
"Hey there, Ginger! Long time no see."

He was standing right next to my bed while starring at me as if something strange has happened. I never knew I'll be able to bastard again.

"W-why are you h-here?" Wala pang isang segundo na sa harapan ko na siya kaagad. Hindi lang basta harapan kundi sa harapan na ng mukha ko. Nang dahil sa gulat, agad ko siyang naitulak. I instantly saw the pain in eyes.

"I'm asking you, why are you here?"
Instead of answering, he was playfully grinning at me. Damn, this bastard vampire is teasing me.

"I know that look, Ginger. Don't you miss me? Ang tagal ko din kitang hindi nakita. How I missed the good old days." He said while trying to get up.

"Ano bang ginagawa mo rito? Goodness Gerald, wala sila Philippe dito."

He was just starring at me. Naalala ko, he used to be my favorite partner when Philippe used to train us. Hindi pa rin magbabago iyon, even though my brothers hated him so much.

"Nasaan ba yung mga kapatid mo? Mukhang nakalimutan niyang may atraso siya sa akin." Tanong niya sa akin. He move closer to me. This guy is really teasing me.

"Why would I tell you?" I was about to move away, pero naunahan niya ako. He instantly grabbed my hand and moved his face closer to mine. Agad ko namang siyang itinulak pa palayo sa akin. This motherfucker. Alam niya talaga kung paano ako inisin.

"Sabihin mo na lang kung nasaan yung mga kapatid mo. I don't want to hurt you. You know I can't." I can see the sincerity in his eyes. The last time I saw him like this when he was begging me to believe him that he didn't attacked Philippe. Why are you doing this to me, Gerald?

I was about to hex him when suddenly someone came into my room. "Cosette, I'm-- Gerald?" Before I knew it, Kierra was right in front of us with a very confused look.

Agad namang hinarangan ni Kierra ang buong katawan ko habang siya naman ang nakaharap kay Gerald.

"You son of a bitch. Umalis ka na bago pa kita mapatay." Agad namang naglaho si Gerald ng parang bula sa harapan namin.  sa bintana kung naroon pa ang bakas ni Gerald.

"Are you okay?" I turned to Kierra and smiled. I'm that smile assured that I am okay.

***

"And then I just saw my crystals moved. Out of nowhere, nakita ko na lang siya na nakatayo right next to my bed." Sabi ko habang kinukwento ko ang buong pangyayari kay Kierra. An hour has passed when Gerald came to 'visit' me. At naisipan na lang namin na ikain na lang ang stress na naidulot niya.

"Good thing nakarating ako agad. You were trying to hex him, right?" I nodded in response.

"Hindi mo kayang gawin yon. Siya pa rin naman kahit may Harold ka na." Muntik ko nang mabuga yung tubig na ininom ko. Kahit kailan talaga itong si Kierra. Basta kapag alam niyang totoo, hindi niya palalagpasin, sasabihin at sasabihin niya.

"Goodness Kierra. You don't have to bring it up. It's been fifty years Kierra, fifty years. Besides, I'm happy now with Harold." Binigyan na lamang niya ako ng makahulugang ngiti.

Matapos kaming kumain, naghanda na kami ni Kierra ng mga gagamitin namin para sa spell na gagawin namin. Kierra was also a witch. A very powerful witch. Just like me, may kakaiba rin siyang katangian. My mind can't be read by any vampires, while Kierra can see the future. Malaking advantage iyon sa Council namin, specially ngayong nakakaramdam kami na magakakaroon na naman ng alitan dahil kay Wilfag.

Habang hinahanda niya ang mga gagamitin namin, dumungaw muna  ako sa may bintana. I can't stop thinking about what happened earlier. He said he didn't want to hurt me. I can't stop my heart from beating so fast, and now I don't know how to act like everything's okay. Curse that despicable vampire for doing this to me.

"Hey. We need to send this message to your brothers as soon as possible. Hindi dapat tayo nagsasayang ng oras." I looked at Kierra and all the things we need are ready. I held her hands as we began chanting.

Makalipas ang mahigit dalawang minuto, nawala na ang papel na harapan namin.

"The paper didn't burn." We both looked at each other. Someone's trying to plot on my brothers.

"We have to warn them right now. Let's do the apparition spell. Buhay ni Philippe-- nila Philippe ang nakataya!" She glares at me after I chuckled. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakita kong ganito si Kierra. She really likes my brother, but she won't admit it. Sana all diba?

As I collected the items that'll be needed in doing the apparition spell, napansin ko na may nakasabit sa paanan ng kama ko kung saan doon nakatayo si Gerald kanina. I didn't expect that he will still return this to me. It's been years, Gerald.

March 1954

"I want you to keep," dahan dahan niyang kinuha ang bagay na sa kanyang likuran, "this. This will be a reminder that no matter what happens, I'll always be your number supporter."

Halos hindi ako makakibo dahil sa binigay niya. It was a heart shaped locket. I smiled at him. "Thank you, Gerald. Thank you for making me feel special."

November 1970

"Please Cosette, listen to me. I didn't attacked him, okay? Aksidente lang yung nangyari. Xandra was able to control me, at hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagagawa yon." He was down on his knees, begging me to believe him. Don't you dare play tricks on me, Gerald.

"She was able to control you while she's unconscious? Are you trying to be funny?" Singhal ko sakaniya. He was still on his knees still begging, crying. Why? Why can't I resist you?

"C-cosette please, I'm b-begging you. Hindi ko kayang mawalay sayo-- sainyo." Lumuhod ako para magpantay kami. When I lifted his face, his eyes were swollen because of crying.

"Please, I love you."

***