DWS III: The Vixen (UNDER REVISION)

Prologue

I tightly closed my eyes as I felt the pain linger on my back. I stand up straight as I breathe heavier. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagtikbok ng mga sugat sa likod ko at ang paglabas ng dugo mula roon.

"Didn't I tell you to bring home a black belt with you?! Didn't I tell you to train thoroughly?! Answer me!" Napaigtad ako nang maramdaman ang paglatay ng latigo sa likod ko. I bite my lips until they bleed. Mas ayos nang dugo ang tumulo mula sa akin kaysa sa luha.

I cannot cry. I am not allowed to shed even a tear.

"Y-yes, Papa..." I answered.

"Then what is this, Akira?! A brown senior belt, huh?" I hid all the emotions on my face as I felt Papa walk in front of me. Nagbabaga ang mga mata niya na para bang ano mang oras ay aapoy na iyon sa galit. Sinalubong ko ang mga titig niya.

I didn't flinch when he slapped the belt on my face. I didn't blink, even though my face stings in pain. I didn't let him see that my knees were already feeling so weak that in any second, I might fall on the floor.

"You are a disgrace to our legacy, Akira. This is why I don't like to have a daughter. You don't deserve to be an Iwasaki—"

"Mitsui! Stop that, will you?!" Napalingon ako sa likod ni Papa at nakita si Mama na nagmamadaling maglakad papunta sa direksyon namin. She pushed Papa away from me. Lumuhod siya sa harap ko para maging kapantay ko at tinakpan niya ang likod ko gamit ang dala niyang blanket bago ngumiti sa akin.

Agad siyang tumayo at hinarap si Papa. Gone the sweet smile of my mother. She was now furiously looking at Papa. She wasn't afraid of him.

"Can you stop building expectations for our daughter?! She's just 7, for Pete's sake! She was too young for this! I do not even agree on this bullshit training! I want her to have a normal life, Mitsui! Not this! Can't you just be thankful that she was afraid to disappoint you, so she followed your steps? Can't you just appreciate your daughter even for once?!" Mom furiously shouted. She was not even afraid to raise her voice. She was the only one who could shout at my father. No one ever tried to do that to Papa inside this household, except her.

Humarap sa akin si Mama at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Hinila niya ako palabas ng opisina ni Papa at dumiretso kami sa kwarto ko. She locked the door as she pulled me again.

Pinaupo niya ako sa may kama at tinanggal ang blanket na nakatakip sa likod ko. I heard her gasp as she saw the cuts on my back. Nakita ko kung paano nagtubig ang mga mata niya at kung paano niya iyon pinalis agad.

"I-I'm sorry that you need to experience this, my princess..." her voice broke as she said that. Hinarap ko siya at nginitian ng tipid.

"It's okay, Mama. You don't have to be sorry at ayos lang po ako," I said, kahit na kabaliktaran non ang totoong nararamdaman ko. She sighed and caressed my face. I stare back into her eyes, and all I can see is the genuine love and care she has for me.

I moved and buried my face on her chest as I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes. Mama started to caress my hair as she was afraid to hold my back, which is full of blood and cuts.

I need this. I need Mama's hug. Every time that Papa punished me, palaging siyang nandito para iligtas ako. She will always cry whenever she sees that I have a cut, a wound, or even a bruise on my body. Mama loves me so much, and I can feel it. While my Papa? I don't know. I never saw him admire me even once.

Simula noong matuto akong maglakad, hindi na niya ako pinayagang maglibang at maglaro. He enrolled me in a taekwondo and karate class. He never allowed me to play. I never had any toy since before. Ang mga naging laruan ko ay ang mga libro, computer at laptop ko sa kwarto.

After my physical trainings, ay kasunod naman ang training ko para maging hacker at tracker baling araw, katulad niya. Palagi kong inuubos ang oras ko sa pagbabasa ng makakapal na libro para roon. Inuubos ko ang oras ko sa mga trainings all because I am part of the Iwasaki Clan. I need to do all of this for the legacy. I am doing all of this because Papa's position will soon be passed to me, because I am his only child and will absolutely be the last because Mama cannot conceive a child anymore because she's sick.

Even though I don't want to, I am the last Iwasaki to fill my father's position.

"Kung alam ko lang na magiging ganito ang Papa mo, mas pinili ko nalang dapat na sa Pilipinas tumira para magkaroon ka ng normal na buhay," Mama whispered.

Mama is a pure-blooded Filipina of Spanish descent, and papa was half Japanese and half American. I do not know how they met or how Mama ended up marrying my cold-hearted father because they never tell stories, and I never asked. I am not allowed to ask. I should only obey Papa's orders.

I admit it; I am afraid of him. He was ruthless and cruel. I never saw him look at me like Mama does. I know I am still young, but I can see and feel it. Never in my life did I experience him hugging me and comforting me. Never in my life did I hear him say that he was proud of me because my hard work is never enough.

Palagi niyang napapansin ang mga mali ko. Palagi niya akong sinasaktan— physically and emotionally, kapag na-disappoint ko siya. Kung hindi gamit ang latigo niya ay gamit naman ang mga kamay niya at kasama pa ang masasakit niyang salita. Hindi ako pwedeng magreklamo, hindi ako pwedeng umiyak. Hindi ko nga alam kung umiyak ba ako noong isinilang ako. I just realized one day that all my emotions are now void. Only Mama can see my true emotions.

He raised me to follow his steps. He raised me to inherit his position, even though I do not want to. I was born to follow and continue Iwasaki's legacy under their so-called Dark World Society.

"Okay lang po talaga ako, Mama. 'Wag po kayong mag-alala sakin. Mana po kaya ako sa inyo!" sinubukan kong pasiglahin ang boses ko para mapanatag ang loob ni Mama. I heard her heave a sigh. Bumitaw ako ng yakap sa kanya, and gave her my genuine smile that only she could see.

"Of course, Aki. You're my mini-me," she said and pinched my cheek slightly.

"Come and let me bathe you. Gagamutin natin iyang mga sugat mo pagtapos," she said. Hindi na ako nakatanggi at sumama sa kanya papunta sa shower room.

Mama helped me remove my taekwondo clothes. Napangiwi ako nang mahila sa balat ko ang mga nadikit na parte ng damit ko dahil sa natuyong dugo. Hindi nalang ako nagreklamo and let Mama do the cleaning.

Like earlier, I did my best to hide all the pain. The open wound and cuts on my back are aching and throbbing again. It was letal for my small body.

After taking a bath, Mama put cream on it and covered it with gauze bandages. She let me wear a big shirt so it wouldn't stick on my back.

She was currently combing my hair when the door to my room opened. Sabay kaming napatingin doon ni Mama at naabutan ang madilim na mukha ni Papa habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Pack your things, Akira. You will leave this house, and I will bring you to the real training ground so you won't think and believe that everything is just a stupid game."