The Girl on Gray | Soshiki Series 1

Chapter 13

Today’s Christmas. Children are singing on the streets, greeting each other and smiling, people running in the streets with snow falling to their coats and elderly and adults enjoying their coffee and fruit cakes near the fireplace.

Habang ako? Naiinggit. How I wish that Mom is still here. We would watch some movies while eating popcorn tapos magbabake. Then, we will go to Lola’s place and celebrate Christmas there with full smiles.

Napangiti nalang ako while looking outside the window. I never felt so sad in my life. So paranoid and isolated. I can’t even talk just like before ako pumunta rito. I was so open and free. Now, everythings turned around. Melody and Janella aren’t the same in my eyes.

Will I cut my ties with them? Sasaraduhin ko ba ang tenga ko sa explanation nila? But they’re here kasi prinoprotektahan nila ako.. Is’nt it unfair kung hindi ko papakinggang side nila despite the fact na they’re my shield.

They’re my shields. But are they my friends? Nope. Nope. Nope. Don’t put yourself on a place with conclusions. The best thing to do is to ask them.

“Girl may pogi ba diyan sa bintana?” Janella asked me. Yes. Kinaumagahan nang incident, bumalik na siya sa pagiging baliw niya sa pogi.

“Wala. sira”, sagot ko. Her face became gloomy matapos kong sumagot.

“Sorry na… nababadtrip lang talaga ako kapag may namamatay na pogi” she held my head and hugged me. Nakatayo siya while ako nakaupo.

“It’s okay… Just bigyan mo nalang ako ng explanation, baka kapag nangyari yun, lahat ng trust issues ko sainyo mawala” I gave her a weak smile.

“Mamaya” she said and left me. “Tara na miss conyo, where going to kain na” biro niya sa akin.

I just rolled my eyes at sumunod sa kaniya. Pagkarating ko ng dining table nagulat ako because there’s two people I missed so much.

“Tita Charlota!” I ran to her and hugged her tightly. “I miss you”, I whispered to her.

“I miss you too”, she replied. Pagkatapos bumitaw sa yakap ay bumaling ako kay Charles.

He looked mature and better in just a span of a year. He’s wearing a coat na kaparehas sa isang Korean actor. He still has his hair down and a deceiving aura.

“Let’s eat!”, aya ni Janella.

Katabi ko ngayon si Janella at  katapat si Melody. We’re five in the table. Si Tita Charlota ay nakaupo sa short side nung table just beside me and Melody.

We have a variety of food to eat. There’s the fruitcake, soup, bread and pasta. They look delicious. I wonder kung pano ito naluto ni Melody.

“So Melody”, tawag ni Tita Charlota kay Melody.

“Are you the one who cooked all of this?” tanong niya.

“Yes po” Melody replied.

“You can speak Tagalog?” Tita Charlota asked again.

Melody nodded. “Actually, we all in this table can speak tagalog”, dagdag ni Melody.

“Yes po, we can usap in tagalog po here” singit ni Janella. I know na ako ang pinapakinggan ni Janella. Di pa nga kami bati inaaway na naman niya ako.

“So, you three are schoolmates?" pagbabago ni Tita Charlota ng usapan.
We three nodded in response. Tita Charlota threw us questions about how we are nung lumipat ako rito sa States, kung kamusta naman kami and such.

After dinner ended, nakipagkuwentuhan sina Janella at Melody kay Tita Charlota. Si Charles naman,  on the corner of the kitchen and using his phone.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya para malinawan ako sa nangyayari.

“Charles” pagtawag ko sa kaniya.
He looked at me, turned off his gadget and spoke. .

“You need an explanation, don’t you?” tanong niya.

How can he read my mind?

“Tara sa labas, it’s quite public dito. Mommy don’t know about anything”, he said.

I followed him until we reached a bench just near a tree.

“Here” inabot niya ang isang mini pocket heater. Kinuha ko ito and used it.

“So… anong nangyayari?” tanong ko.

“Janella and Melody are on a mission para protektahan ka habang wala ako. Our duty ay iwasan ang kahit anong panganib na maidudulot ng pangalan mo sa Business world” panimula niya.

“Matagal mo nang kilala sila?”, I asked.

“They’ve been training before ako makapasok sa organization”, he explained.

“What organization?”, tanong ko.

“Soshiki” he said. “We protect those businesses na in danger from evil businessmen. Also, we sabotage those business na gumagawa ng evil deeds.” He added.

“Ibig mong sabihin, I’m in danger?”, I asked him.

“Not for now. Tinapos na na’min ang businessman na sumubok pumatay sa’yo”, he said calmly.

Silence covers the area for a few seconds.
They really are protecting me for my worth. Everything’s clarified now. The gunshots. Their skills on combat. Their calmness. Their sharp eyes and thinking and their talents.

However, I can’t just be a princess forever. I need to learn to be a knight. I need to learn how to protect myself too. Kasi kung mawala sila, how can I live. How can I also protect those people na mahalaga sa akin pagdating ng panahon.

I looked at him and firmly said. “I need to be a part of Soshiki”.

He looks at me with her brows colliding. “Why? Alam mo naman dibang delikado yun?”

“It’s just that I can’t always rely on you all protecting me. I also need to protect myself” I reasoned out.

“But being part of that organization can be the reason of your death!” pasigaw na bigkas ni Charles.

He’s never been this mad.

“I’m not afraid to die after all, I don’t have anyone to loose for anyways” bigkas ko nang mahina.

He took some deep breaths and returned to sit.

“Di na talaga kita mapipigilan ano?” he asked

“Sige, bukas sasama ka sa akin sa headquarters na’min dito sa States. You’ll start your training. Be ready, kailangan mong kumain ng marami” he commanded.

“Thank you” I said while smiling.

Few minutes has passed at nakaupo lang kami rito sa bench admiring the peace and silence.

“You think Janella and Melody treat me as their friend?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Janella and Melody chose their friends wisely. Sa nakikita ko, they treat you as their friend. Kasi usually after their mission, umaalis agad sila. Both of them have short patience. That’s the thing they're common” he said.

I just smiled dahil narinig ko iyon. And I’m glad about it.