Royal Synergy: Battle of Apollo

XXI. Whip

Chapter Twenty-One

"OH MY GOD, buhay nga k-kayong dalawa." Hindi na napigilan pa ni Eliza na sugurin ng yakap si Xyrene nang makita ito. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pag-iyak dahil sa tuwang malaman na buhay pa ang kaibigan.

Tinanguan ko si Andrei— ang asawa nito, upang ilayo muna ang asawa kay Scheduler.

"Hon, come here, you'll have a good talk later." Anyaya ni Andrei Gardner sa asawa na nagpupunas naman ng luha. Tumango tango ito at bumalik sa pwesto katabi ko.

"You called us." Wika ni Jake nang bigyan ko ito ng tango.

"Yeah, and you brought... uninvited?" tanong ni Premiere habang ang mga mata nito'y nakatitig sa lupa.

She's not using her Lenses, that's for sure. 'Di ko alam kung okay lang rito na narito sina Eliza at Andrei but these two pushed me na isama sila rito. Nahuli na nila akong patagong naghahanap kay Xyrene and I let them without the Royalties' approval dahil alam ko kung gaano na ka-miss at nangungulila si Eliza sa kaibigan.

"We're here for Xyrene." Tugon ni Andrei na tila 'di nagustuhan ang pagkadisgusto ng tono ni Asia nang wikain niya ang mga 'yon.

"I know, I only asked the Guardians to be here though."

"A-Ako ang n-nangulit kay Akihiro... Q-Queen. H-Huwag mo s'yang parusahan." Eliza might have felt aura Asia's emitting. She's intimidated.

"He will only be punished if he wasn't able to erase all the tracks of having you both." Pakunswelong tugon ni Asia... half okay that I tagged them along.

Yumukod ako at nilagay ang kamao sa aking kaliwang dibdib bilang pagbibigay galang. "I'll take full responsibility, Premiere."

"Good, shall we go inside?" anyaya nito na siyang nagpabuntung-hininga kay Eliza at Andrei.

"I told you not to bring them." May gigil na bulong sa'kin ni Thea habang papasok kami sa loob.

"You're safe from being tortured, don't worry." Iyon lamang ang winika ko at nagpatuloy na sa pagpasaok.

We are at awe upon seeing the interior of their Café Assassins. So, dito sila nagtatrabaho sa umaga? Bilang waitress, cook at cashier? I can't imagine Xyrene doing these kinds of stuff though.

"What do you need?" tanong sa'min ni Virus habang nakangiti sa'min. "Any food preference?"

"I-I'm okay," anas ni Eliza na 'di pa rin mapigilan ang 'di ma-intimidate. Kakaiba naman kasi talaga ang presensya nilang tatlo. It was like they will eat you alive if they're true monsters.

"If I were you guys, order anything that you want hangga't mabait pa ang diwa niyan." May mapang-asar na ngising binitawan ni Xyrene na siyang kinaikot ng mata ni Vera.

We ordered just like what Xyrene said. We're also famished because the place that they used to hide was not easy to travel to. We're all tired too but Premiere calling us is way too important than rest.

The awkward silence while we are all eating was deafening. Wala ni isang nagsasalita habang nakain ngunit nang matapos ay naglakas loob na si Jake at nagtanong.

"Hindi n'yo kami ipapatawag kung wala kayong ipapagawa sa'min. Tell us your plan." Jake's seriousness suits the role to ask first.

"The Clairvoyant has been chosen."

A few words but it made us all gasped from Xyrene's straightforward answer, because we are all aware kung ano ang tinutukoy nito.

"Y-You mean..." it was Thea who asked for clarification. Bakas sa mukha nito ang isang takot na 'di ko pa nakikita sa kanya.