Royal Synergy: Battle of Apollo

XXIV. Line of Order

Chapter Twenty-Four

I WOKE UP on the wrong side of the bed. Sweats were like bullets dripping on my whole body while I'm chasing my breath. My heartbeats were still pumping whimsically. It's the same nightmare again, the day I lost Vera. The day my stupidity ate the best out of me.

I roamed my eyes to know where am I. That's when I remembered what happened yesterday. Napabangon kaagad ako para hanapin si 48— Vera's clone successfully created by the Queen of Death herself.

My breathing and anxiety attacks were starting to calm when I saw her in the kitchen. Cooking our breakfast. I saw two cups of coffee on the table, a pair of spoon and fork, and plates.

"Sana marunong tayong magdamit, ano? Kaya ba, Sir?" Napabalik ang tingin ko kay 48 na kasalukuyang naglalakad palapit sa lamesa holding on her left hand a plate full of scrambled eggs and on her right hand was the ladle.

Doon ko lang na-realize that I'm only wearing nothing but my tight boxers.

"May galit 'eh, gusto 'yatang humabol na maprito." Dugtong pa nito na siyang nagpatakip ng mga kamay ko sa aking harapan.

I hissed silently as I've had my morning wood and clearly seen by Vera's clone. Not that I'm not proud of it, nakakahiya lang dahil kahit papaano'y babae pa rin ito. Not really a human but still has a logic of a woman. I rushed back into the room and fixed myself.

"Titingnan mo lang ba ako, Sir? o kakain ka?" napapitlag ako when 48 looked at me with her bored look while munching her food.

"I'm n-not staring," I denied while looking on my plate. Fuck! Ba't ba hindi ko mapigilang hindi siya tingnan? I didn't notice that I'm only looking at her for a minute straight.

"Sabi ng pagong," rinig kong bulong nito pero nakakasiguro ako na pang-uuyam iyon.

"By the way, Sir" napatingin ako sa kanya nang kunin nito ang atensyon ko. "You have to call me Vera from now on."

Mariin kong ibinagsak ang hawak kong mga kubyertos at tiningnan siya ng malamig. Halata ang pagkagulat nito dahil sa paglaki nang bahagya ng mata nito.

"You are not her,"

"I know,"

"Then, stop it."

"Why would I? It's the most convenient way—"

"You will never be her so drop it, 48."

"I don't want to be her."

"Then don't tell me what to call you."

"Will you just listen to me first?!"

"Just drop the topic, you are here to help me to—"

"Exactly the point, Mr. Montreal. I am helping you and it would be better if you'll at least try to address me as Vera."

"No, you don't get the point, 48. You don't call the shots here. I am. Now, for sure that the Privus attacked the Villareal Mansion. We will go back there—"

"That's a terrible idea, Evo."

"You don't expect me to leave those people behind."

"I know,"

"Then, that's it, we'll go back there—"

"I said no!" nagulat ako when she banged the table with her two hands creating a crack on both sides. "I have access to their system remember? They've already escaped because the Queen helped them too. She sacrificed herself and be kidnapped by them to give the rest an ample time to escape."