Chapitre 6: Chapter 6: The Elites
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The sound of the clock tickling inside the gymnasium was everything that I've heard. Silence embraced in every corner of the room after he throw those words.
I couldn't believe it. Why would he asked me to join his gang out of sudden? And I can sense his voice knows all the mysteries hidden behind this school.
"Join my gang and I will provide some protection for you then you can do whatever you want."
His hot breath lingered through my ears that makes my back shivered. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinikilabutan ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. His voice screams command and finality and I will be dead if I didn't follow his order.
"No." I rejected him, putting my fears aside. I managed to get away from his body then face him.
Hindi siya nagulat sa pagtanggi ko. It seems that he expected me to reject him. Blanko ang kanyang ekspresiyon at hinihintay ang susunod kong sasabihin.
"Why do you want me to join your creepy gang? Do you have an intention to put my life in danger? And what do you want from me? Why are you here?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko.
"You don't have to know my reasons. I just want to keep you safe from any harm. And being with my gang makes your life secured."
Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya. Wala akong makuhang ni isang rason kung bakit niya ginagawa ito sakin. Why did he started to care for me yet he was just a stranger in my life?
"I don't understand your motives. You just proved to me that I shouldn't trust you."
The corner of his lips curved. It looks like he was keeping himself not to smirk on what I said. He put his both hands on the pocket of his pants and leaned closer to me.
"Trust me, Jessie. You don't have to worry about me. I'm just a mere stranger who has given a responsibility to keep your safety into my hands." Bulong niya at tsaka nilagpasan ako.
My breath hitched at his voice. Suddenly I felt secured when he whispered those words. It feels nostalgic, like it was happened a long time ago.
"Building 10. Room #16." Aniya dahilan kung bakit napatingin ako sa kanya.
Sumulyap siya sa akin at nagsalita. "I am giving you a second chance to decide whether if you want to join my gang or not. If you change your mind just meet me there. I am always available at anytime. And lastly..."
Iniwas niya ang tingin niya sa akin. "If you put in some trouble again just call my name and I will be here soon as possible. I know you will doing something reckless again."
Those are his last words before he jumped out from the window. I was shock at his move but it fade away later. And then something inside of me started to feel warm because of his words.
I clutched my chest. Why I am feeling this way like I've met him years ago? Did I really know him?
Confusion started to consumes my thoughts. I can't think straight and my mind was completely filled with many questions against his mysterious identity.
"Damn him!" I uttered a curse when I suddenly remembered what is my real goal in this place.
Inis akong naglakad palabas ng gym. Maybe I can do my investigation on other way. From now on, I should take a rest first before preceeding to my next plan. I bet I couldn't think straight because of that man and now my plan ruined.
I stepped on something that made me stop from handling the doorknob. Napatingin ako roon at nakita ko ang isang lukot na papel. May bahid iyon ng tuyong dugo na hinuha ko ay isang araw ng nandito ito.
Walang pasubali kong kinuha ang lukot na papel. Binuklat ko iyon at nakita kong may nakasulat sa papel.
'You talked too much I bet you want to have some fun.'
-Jack The Ripper
***
TULALA ako buong maghapon. Hindi pumapasok sa isipan ko ang sinasabi ni Mr. Nepomuceno. Wala akong naiintindihan.
My mind was occupied by the message of that crumpled paper. Hindi na iyon naalis sa isipan ko simula kahapon. Buong magdamag akong gising para pag-isipang mabuti ang nilalaman ng sulat na iyon at kung para kanino ang sulat.
Based on my own deductions, it seems like it was for the victim and the letters is written in blood of someone who has relatively close to the culprit. And the message acting like a death threat to the victim.
So it means the culprit killed her because she found out something that will exposed the secret of the culprit. A secret that once it reveals then it is the end of the world for the killer.
At iyon ang dapat kong alamin. Once I found out the secrets of the killer then it might lead me to the truth that I seeking for.
Jack the Ripper? I know that just was an alias of the culprit. I bet the culprit is a girl and she was using a man's name so that no one could known her identity.
Nasa akin na ang clue sa kung sino ang culprit at sigurado akong isa siya sa mga malalapit na kaibigan ng biktima.
At hindi lang iyon. Siya rin ang may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ng bestfriend ko at miyembro din siya ng White Wolves Group.
I stood up from my chair making me caught the attention of our professor and my classmates.
Nagtaas ng kilay si Professor Nepomuceno sa akin.
"Miss Smith, may problema ba?"
"Sir Nepomuceno, I want to go to the clinic. I'm not feeling well..." I acted like a damsel in distress.
"Sure. If you want a copy of today's discussion just borrow your classmate's notes." Dagdag niya pa at wala na akong pakialam roon.
Umalis na ako sa classroom ko. Dali-dali akong tumakbo patungo sa bulletin board ng campus. Nakapaskil pa rin doon ang recruitment ng iba't ibang gang groups.
Kinuha ko iyong sa White Wolves Group at sa Dark Ravens. Itinago ko ito sa bulsa ng aking palda.
I breathed heavily. Then made up my mind. I hope this decision is successful. I'm sure that if I joined these two gangs made me put closer to the truth. I will going to do something out of this world.
"Hala? Nasaan na ang nakapaskil dito?!" Rinig kong napaiyak pa ang babae sa likuran ko habang naglalakad ako paalis.
"What?! Oo nga! So nakapili na pala sila?"
Hindi na ako nakinig sa mga palahaw ng mga babae sa likuran ko. Hindi pa ako gaanong nakakalayo nang may nakasalubong akong grupo ng mga babae at binangga ako ng isa sa kanila dahilan kung bakit tumapon ang iniinom nitong frappe sa uniform nito.
"Gosh! What did you do?!" The girl squemed like it was the end of the world.
She looked at me a with a glimpse of irritation in her eyes but I can sense that she was acting on it to make me the one who should blame.
"Nothing." I said coldly at nilagpasan sila ngunit hinawakan ako ng isa sa mga kasama nito sa braso.
"Ang yabang mo ah. Bago ka lang dito." Mariing sabi ng babaeng humawak sa braso ko na mukhang coloring book ang mukha.
"Tss.." Napairap ako sa kawalan sanhi kung bakit nainis ang babae at tinulak ako sa lupa.
"Kawawa naman iyong babae."
"Nambubully na naman ba sila? That girl is pathetic."
"Huwag na tayong makiusyuso. Wala na tayong laban sa Death Angels."
Napansin kong nakakaagaw na kami ng atensiyon dito. I looked at the people around me who was gazing at me but then they took off their eyes and walked away because they are afraid to be like me.
I closed my eyes when I feel the coldness of sticky frappe that being poured to me. Nagtawanan ang tatlong babaeng iyon at nag-apir pa sa isa't isa.
Somehow, I felt like crying. It reminds me of my past that I buried in the grave. My painful past where I met Tiffany.
Napayuko ako habang mag-isang naglalakad, iniiwasan ang mga nakakatakot na tingin sa akin ng mga taong nasa paligid ko.
"Here comes the queen. Magpapasikat na naman siya para may maisumbong sa magaling niyang ama."
"Tss. Bakit pa kasi siya nandito? Dapat doon na siya sa lungga niya."
"Feeling famous."
"Sumbungera."
"Cheap."
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa librong dala ko. Nais ko ng mawala sa kinalalagyan ko ngayon para makatakas sa mga panghuhusga nila sa akin. Nais ko ng mawala sa mundong ito.
Aksidente akong napatid sa nakaharang na lubid. Nabitawan ko ang aking mga gamit at ramdam ko ang malamig na tubig na bumuhos sa akin.
Nagtawanan ang lahat. Kumuyom ang kamao ko. Gusto ko man silang labanan ngunit hindi puwede. Hindi ko kayang patayin ang bawat isa sa kanila. Hindi dapat. Ayokong matulad sa aking mga magulang na walang ibang ginawa kundi ang makipagbasag-ulo.
Wala akong nagawa kundi ang umiyak habang sila ay nagtatawanan at binabato ako ng kung ano-anong mga masasakit na salita.
"Hoy! Anong ginagawa niyo?!"
Isang boses ang nagpatigil sa kanila sa kanilang ginagawa. Hindi ko man lang tinapunan ng tingin ang batang iyon na kaedad ko at ipinukol lamang ang aking mga mata sa lupa.
Lumapit ang babaeng iyon sa akin at iniharang ang kanyang sarili.
"Magsitigil na nga kayo kung ayaw niyong mawala sa paaralang ito. Hindi na nakakatawa ang mga ginagawa niyo. Kung gusto niyong maglaro, doon kayo sa playground!" Walang hingang sigaw niya.
Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa niya pero nagsialisan ang mga batang nambubully sa akin. Ngayon, katahimikan na ang bumabalot sa lugar na ito. Isang nakakabinging katahimikan at pakiramdam ko ay ligtas na ako.
"Geez. Ang tigas ng mga ulo ng mga batang iyon, akala nila ang gagaling nila." Humarap ang babae sa akin.
"Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ng babae at dinaluhan ako.
Tumango ako at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya.
"Good to hear that. Why are you alone? Where are your friends?"
"I don't have any." Tipid kong tugon at hindi na nag-abalang tingnan siya.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hinila patayo tsaka niya ako niyakap ng mahigpit.
"I'm Tiffany and from now on, you will never be alone. I'm your friend now and I'll swear I will protect you from danger."
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Friends?"
"Yep. Friends." She smiled.
I frozed on what she said. I can see in her innocent eyes the real scenery of happiness. I can sense her willingness to be my friend and the courage to fight for me.
A warm air embraced my heart and tears started to flow from my eyes.
Crying, I hugged her tightly and uttered this words.
"I promise that I will become stronger in order to protect you too, Tiffany.."
I opened my eyes as I remembered that I said those words. Then I saw the faces of evils in front of me. They are laughing on what they did to me.
Slowly, I stand up from lying in the cold ground. I didn't mind the stickiness of my body and faced them.
Nagtaas ng kilay ang babaeng nakabangga ko.
"Oh? Lumalaban na ka na ngayon ah? Mukhang-"
Hindi na natapos ang sasabihin ng babaeng iyon ng bigla ko siyang sinampal nang malakas. Napasubsob ito sa lupa at nabitawan nito ang dala niyang bag.
Gulat na gulat ang dalawa nitong kasama sa ginawa ko. Pansin ko ang panginginig ng kanilang mga binti ngunit agad din iyon nawala at napalitan ng inis ang kanilang mga mata.
"Anong ginawa mo?!" Gigil na gigil na dinuro ako ng babae at dinaluhan naman ng isa ang bagsak nitong kasama.
"I slapped her." I stated the obvious.
Tila iyon ang naging mitsa kung bakit mas lalo pa siyang mairita sa akin.
"I'm asking you a question!"
"And I'm just giving you an answer."
"You! Bitch!" She said and she get a knife on her sling bag then attacked me while holding it.
I smirked on what I saw. How pathetic is she while trying to be stronger.
I quickly dodged her moves. She gasped on what she saw and lost her cool that's why I have a chance to pull her wrist and twist it.
She screamed in pain causing her to let go of her knife. Bumagsak iyon sa lupa kasabay din ng pagbagsak niya.
Napatingin ako sa isa pa niyang kasama. Gulat na gulat itong napatingin sa akin at nakitaan ko ng takot ang kanyang mata.
Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at nagsalita. "Take them to the clinic and tell them that they don't need to hurt anyone in order to prove their strength and lastly.."
I glanced at them once again and I can see how pathetic they are. I shooked my head and took off my gazed from them.
"...they shouldn't messed up with some troublesome girl or else hell will be their home." I said coldly before walking away from them.
I heard some people whispering about me. I rolled my eyes then keep on walking but I stop when I heard some claps somewhere.
I glanced over that direction and I saw a group of men clapping their hands, amazed on what I did.
The people on my surrounding stopped on talking and got shocked on what they have seen.
"Bakit nandito ang mga kasama sa 'Elites'?"
"The two rival gangs are here? For real?"
"Kyaah. They are really handsome!"
"What are they doing here?"
I smirked on top of my head as I looked at them one by one. Kumindat pa sa akin iyong si Kai at seryoso akong tiningnan nung Jungmyeon na iyon at umiling sa akin.
I've noticed that they are not even complete yet. Kris Wu is missing. I wonder where did that guy go?
But that's not the problem here. Atleast I don't have to waste my time in finding them. My prey is now in front of me.
"Finally, I found all of you..." I smirked and then grabbed the recruitment papers on my pocket.
I tear it off in front of them and continued.
"..I want to join your groups.."
Umandar ang bulungan sa aking paligid. Madami ang hindi makapaniwala at nagulat sa aking sinabi. May iilan rin namang nagtataka sa akin.
"Gusto niyang sumali sa dalawang grupo? Is she for real?! Hindi puwede iyon!"
"Nababaliw na ba siya? It should be only one group that you should join. Having a two parties can't be accepted by the student council."
"I can't believe this girl! As if naman papayagan siya ng The Elites na sumali sa kanilang gangs diba?"
I took no notice of what they are saying. This is not part of my plan but in order to reach my goals, I should keep myself with my enemies. I must swallowed up my pride to make my plan successful.
I looked upon them. Manghang napatingin sa akin ang ilan sa kanila. I saw Kai's eyes twinkled at my words but I ignored it then throw my gazed to a familiar man beside Junmyeon and I caught him looking to me intensely, examining every part of me like a predator waiting for his prey to come over him.
He is the man who warned me when the "gym incident" happened. Who is he, again? Sehun?
He looked away when he noticed that I caught him looking to me. I blinked. What was that?
"Joining two gangs? That's impossible..." Nagsalita ang pinakamatangkad na lalaki sa kanila na siyang umagaw ng aking atensyon. The guy beside Kai.
Maputi din ito. Bilugan ang mata. Magulo ang buhok. Agaw pansin ang dalawang tenga nito. Mapupula ang kanyang labi.
"I agree with Chanyeol..." The other guy butted in. I looked at him and I noticed he is the one whose wearing a bracelet, a pink bracelet which caught me off guard.
Really? Pink for a guy like him? No wonder why he has a baby-like face that makes someone to think of his age.
"Oh! It was the first time you've agree with our rivals, Luhan. I can't believe it. And stop wearing color pink! It doesn't add to your masculinity." The guy with him said.
He is tall just like Chanyeol yet he is looked like a lost panda in the world of hunks. He got an eyebag on his eyes but it fits the delinquent aura he have been showed.
Nang mapansin nito na nakatingin ako sa kanya ay ngumiti ito sakin at inilahad ang kanyang kamay sa akin.
"Hi, pretty girl. Nice to meet you. I'm Huang Zi Tao or simply call me Tao. I'm come from China and-- Aww! That's hurt, Xiu." Bahagya siyang siniko ng singkit na lalaki sa tabi niya.
Mas maliit ito kumpara sa kanya but I admit that he is adorably cute. If I was just like the other girls, I will surely pinch his cheeks and hug him like a stuff toy.
"It's Xiumin, not Xiu! And stop flirting in front of me, it's gross." The guy said, irritated then he crossed his arms as he looked at me.
"Asus! You are just being jealous. I'm sure that this girl is one of your type." Hirit pa nung Tao at agad lumayo sa kanya bago pa man siya ambang sasapakin.
The two other guys laughed at them. The one have messy hair while the other have a clean cut. They are both have the same complexion and their eyes is twinkling when they smiled. They are both tall and gorgeous.
When they saw me, they smiled at me and the messy-haired guy came forward at me. He held my hand and plant a soft kiss on the back of my palm.
"My name is Kim Jongdae or simply call me Chen and this is Lay." He introduced the other guy who is with him and Lay just nodded at me. Then Chen continued to speak after letting go of my hand.
"If you want to join a gang just join the Dark Ravens and leave the White Wolves Group. I'm sure that our gang is suited for your skills."
"We saw your fight earlier, Miss Beautiful. And it moves my heart. You are incredibly amazing!" Tao remarked and hold my hands.
I just nodded at them at binawi ang kamay mula kay Tao. I was going to speak when the other guy interrupted.
"It must be a disgrace for a pretty girl like you to be in that group." He walked in between me and Tao, making Tao to be away from me.
"Tss. You are really rude, Baekhyun. That girl is ours not yours!" Reklamo pa nito at ambang susugurin ang lalaki pero naawat siya ng kanyang mga kasama.
Umingay ang buong paligid dahil sa narinig mula sa bibig ng kanilang sinasambang Elites. Madami ang hindi makapaniwala na pinag-aagawan ako ng dalawang elite gangs, which is a good help from me so that I can really start my plan with no sweat.
Tinapunan ako ng tingin ni Baekhyun habang nakapamewang. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago ito nagtanong.
"Why do you want to join two gangs?"
"I just want to be an extraordinary from others." I simply said.
His eyebrows knitted in confusion. He was about to speak when another man butted in! Oh, hell. Kelan pa ba ito matatapos?
"You shouldn't be harsh on that girl, Baekhyun. You should asked her more manly." The most shortest but a good looking guy said.
He has a pair of big eyes and a thick eyebrows. His hair is brown and arranged it in messy way that could suit his aura.
"I don't want to pretend like a gentleman, Kyungsoo." Baekhyun rolled his eyes.
Kyungsoo chuckled and face me. "Sorry about this guy. It was just like an old habit of him that's why he is acting like a gay."
I didn't response on what he said. I don't want to waste my saliva in talking to some nonsense things. All I want is to talk with my goddamn proposal that will persuade them to agree with me.
"But if you really want a gang that badly, you should join us."
"Hey! I told you, she's already in our gang!" Chen said.
"No. She is with us." Kyungsoo's tone is marked with finality and seriousness as he throws a dagger look on Chen.
And that made the two gangs to put in the rivalry again. I shooked my head as I looked at them, busy in arguing with each others in order to make their whims to be granted. I mentally rolled my eyes at them, never wanting them to stop.
Tss. So immature!
But then, the argument has stopped when someone held my hand. I looked at him and I was shocked to see it was Junmyeon.
He pulled me away from them and the crowd gave him a way in order to make us passed.
Dinala niya ako sa isang secluded place ng campus. Kaagad kong binawi ang kamay ko nang mapansin kong kanina pa niya ito hawak-hawak.
Napatingin ito sa akin at tumikhim nang mapagtanto ang ginawa. Inayos nito ang kanyang buhok at nag-iwas ng tingin.
I raised my eyebrow at him then crossed my arms. In a middle of silence, I started to start a conversation.
"Why did you brought me here?" I roamed my eyes all over the place. It seems like it was an old building use for some hideouts.
"Let's talk about something." He said in a baritone voice.
"What is it?"
He eyed me with his serious gaze. "What are you planning? Why did you want to join the two elite gangs?"
"For justice, obviously." Tipid kong sagot, mocking him with answer. I'm still doubting him for being involved with Tifanny's death, not just him but all of them.
Based on their family backgrounds, there is a high possibility that they might be involved in the killings happened in this school. That's why in order to get closer to the truth I must keep my friends and enemies closer.
He frowned with my answer. "Don't mock me. I know that this is not about her death, there is something else, Jessie."
"Why would I tell you, anyway? I told you I don't trust anyone else."
"And that might be the reason why you will gonna put yourself in danger!" His tone raised, annoyed by my stupid acts.
"I told you I don't value my life as much."
"So that's why you will doing this? Sticking into us in able to get closer to the truth? I must remind you on something. We are not the one who killed Tifanny nor the Dark Ravens and we didn't know who killed her why she got killed so please stop joining gangs." He even held my shoulders.
"Do you think I will believe in you? Can you please explain what is the killings all about? And can you explain what is this?!" May inilabas ako sa aking bulsa at ipinakita ko iyon sa kanya.
Alam kong may alam siya sa mga nangyayari dito bukod kay Kris. Isa siya sa mga alas ko para makalapit sa katotohanan.
Kinuha niya ang pirasong papel na hawak ko. Iyon 'yung papel na nakita ko sa gym. At alam kong isa sa mga ka-miyembro niya si "Jack the Ripper."
Binasa niya iyon. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay napatingin siya sa akin. Gulat at pagtataka ang nangibabaw sa mga mata niya.
"I found that in the crime scene. And based on my observation, the culprit behind those gym accident is one of your co-members."
"So that's the reason why you want to join my gang? To get close to the culprit? Then why are you joining my rival gang?"
"If my speculations is correct, the culprit might hiding behind the shadows. She will use the higher authority to protect herself and that was supposed to be the student council but then I already asked Yuri about the names of the student council officers and none of them are girls. Then I suspected it that was the two elite gangs, either White Wolves Group or the Dark Ravens." I said with holding back.
"Why did you think that she was a girl?" He asked.
"It's because of the handwriting and of course the nickname that she have been used. Mostly, girls have the finest and good handwriting than the boys and she might be using the man's name to hide her real identity from the cops, to make them believe on something that is reverse on the truth."
He was amazed on my deductions. He said nothing against it. He kept himself in silence as he was thinking about something.
Muli akong nagpatuloy para sabihin sa kanya ang tunay na sadya ko. "So I have a proposal to the both of you.."
"What is it?"
"Please let me join your gang and if you let me, you can do what you want from me except from stopping me on what I planning."
"Both? Then you will..." Namilog ang mga mata niya nang may napagtanto.
"What an interesting proposal, stubborn girl." Isang boses ang nagsalita mula sa likuran ni Junmyeon.
Napalingon si Junmyeon sa lalaking kanina pang nakikinig at nagmamasid sa amin.
I rolled my eyes at him when I saw his devilish smirk that pisses me off. Sometimes, I want to erased his lips so that he can't be able to smirk like that again!
"Tss. It's bad for a man to eavesdrop on our talk, Kris Wu." I said while crossing my arms.
"What the?! Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Iritadong bulyaw sa kanya ni Junmyeon.
"I am here to make amends with my girl." He replied cooly.
"Shut up. I am not your girl." Inirapan ko ulit siya.
"Not now but once if I accept your proposal I can make you to be my girl." He grinned but it doesn't bother me.
Mas lalong nairita si Jungmyeon sa nadinig. Kumuyom ang mga kamao nito at umigting ang panga habang pinapatay sa tingin ang lalaki.
"Don't you dare, bastard!" Bulyaw sa kanya ni Junmyeon.
"Well if you accept her proposal then it's hard for me to make hit on her so I suggest that don't accept it."
"Okay." Lumingon ito sakin. "I'll accept your proposal.."
Walang magawa si Junmyeon kundi ang tanggapin ang offer ko. I don't know why is he upset on what Kris said but it seems like Kris was helping me out from persuading him.
Tumango ako. "Then, it's settled. I am now officially a member of the two elite gangs and I will need your hands to help me in my case whether you like it or not."
I looked at that arrogant guy then he winked at me while wearing a smirk. I smiled at him mentally.
He might be the most arrogant guy that I ever met but he was a good help for me.
You are really something, Kris Wu.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone