Ventruoso Market

[Luna Raven Tempest]

"I challenge you to a duel Lucifer!" Iritado akong tumingin kay Spade. Why is this guy so fucking annoying?

"You should stop dude." Sambit ng mga kaibigan niya. "Better listen on your comrades Young Master Spade Livicious." Ngisi ko sa kanya.

"You ruined my image."

"It's your fault." Dahil una sa lahat, hindi ako ang bobong nag-ayang makipag-away. Recess na rin naman kaya wala pang professor ang pumapasok sa klase.

Kinuyom niya ang kamao niya bago niya ako sinugod. He's not giving up isn't he? "Lu, stop fighting on your room." Kasabay nito ang pagtulak ko kay Spade dahilan para bumagsak ito sa sahig. Apollo's approach is very right in time. I guess he saved my ass from killing this kiddo.

"Try harder Young Spade." Mapang-asar kong sambit tsaka umalis sa room. He's not even worth of my time.

"You look tired Lu." Sambit naman sakin ni Myst na ngayon ay binigay sakin ang isang inumin. "Who wouldn't? That Spade is a goddamn pain in the ass." Sinara ko ang bote pagkatapos kong uminom.

"Want to dispose him?" Wala naba silang alam na paraan? Killing someone is easy for them but not for the victim's family.

Dadating at dadating ang araw at maghihiganti sila ng biglaan. "Let him be. He's not worth of our time."

"About yesterday," Napatingin naman ako kay Apollo. "All of my connections are gone. All forces of police are spying on my house. They think that our manor is a fool." Dahil ba gusto parin niyang matuklasan kung anong mayro'n sa pamilihan?

"I suggest you and Myst should stop coming in my mansion for a while dahil kapag natunugan nila kayo ay tiyak kong may gagawin silang hindi kaaya-aya." Sino naman ang tinatakot nila?

I was once a scaredy little kid back then, but my soul is stronger now. I can watch them die easily without vomiting. They're just a mere human what else can they do?

"After school," Sambit ko na ikinatango nilang dalawa. "Hindi ka sasama Apollo." Kumunot naman ang noo niya. "Ayoko ng pasakit. At ayoko ng madaming tao."

"I see." Hindi naman na siya nagreklamo at nagpunta na kami sa cafeteria kung saan wala nang kahit isang bakante. "Just order some food." Bagot kong sambit.

"Ladies, Is this seat taken?" Magalang na sambit ko bago ngumiti sa kanila. I guess they're cheerleaders because of their uniform.

"No! You can sit here. Ilan ba kayo?" Pinakita ko naman ang tatlong daliri ko. Ngumiti sila kaya umupo na kaming dalawa. Sinenyasan ko si Apollo na ngayon ay napabuntong hininga.

"So– You guys have a girlfriend?"

"None/None." Sambit naming dalawa ni Myst na ikinatingin nila sa isa't-isa. "That's nice then, our friend here, they're both singles so, wanna hang-out sometimes?"

"Sure/No." Magkasalungat naming sambit ni Myst kaya nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. "What did I told you Lady Luna?" Bulong sakin ni Myst.

"A fling will work." Ngisi ko sa kanya na ikinairita naman ng mukha niya. Hindina siya nagsalita at nakabalik nadin si Apollo.

"Just call me anytime Miss." Ngiti ko sabay kindat. Kumunot ang noo ni Myst kaya mas lalo akong natawa sa loob-loob ko. He's a playboy so why can't I?

I just looked at the innocent girl who eats her food silently. She's that single girl. Ang pinagkaiba lang nilang dalawang kasama niya ay ang pagiging friendly. This girl looks like an outcast.

Apollo just sips his drinks as he looks at me.

What did this guy wants from me? What's with the stare? "Lucifer!" Here comes the annoying little shit.

"Stop picking on him Spade! Such a loser." Inakbayan ko naman ang babae bago ako ngumisi kay Spade. Kumunot lang ang noo niya at asar na umalis para bumili ng pagkain.

"We should really dispose him." Inosenteng sambit ni Myst. "Stop being a devil at once." Natatawa ko namang sambit sa kanya.

"You like clinging on girls too much?" Tanong ni Apollo habang nakatingin samin ng inaakbayan ko. "Why can't I? If she didn't like it she can always slap me. Right?" I said as I get her chin.

Nakita ko ang pamumula sa mukha niya na ikinatayo ni Myst. "I'm sorry for my younger brother's attitude ladies." Hinigit niya mula sa likod ang polong suot ko kaya napatayo na ako ng di oras.

"Nice meeting you Ladies." Kindat ko na ikinatingin sakin ni Myst. "A'ight I surrender." Natatawa kong sambit.

Tumayo nadin si Apollo at binigay sakinang chicken sandwich. "Stop messing with women, Luna. You're also a girl." Binuksan ko na ang bigay niya tsaka ito kinain.

"I'm a Young Master, Apollo." Alam na rin ni Myst ang bagay na iyon. Even if I'm a woman, I have no choice but to act like I'm a man.

Or else I might get caught by the government. I'll be the center of hate in this city.

"See you after class, Lucifer." Pinasa ko naman sa kanila ang kalat ko bago tuluyang pumasok sa room. Hindi narin naman nagtagal at bumalik narin si Spade.

Hindi kami nagkibuan at tanging katahimikan lang ang namuo sa klase. Nagbukas nalang ako ng lollipop para mawala nang kaunti ang pagkabagot ko.

If Apollo's theory is right about Ventruoso's market, ibig sabihin lang no'n ay may natatanggap din ang gobyerno sa pagcover sa mga taong nagtatrabaho sa pamilihan.

At kapag nabunyag na ang lahat, they'll pretend to be an innocent assholes in netizens. At dahil hindi mulat ang mga tao sa ginagawa nila ay patuloy silang maniniwala sa gawa ng gobyerno.

That's the blind people for yah.

Professor enters as the class started immediately. Walang sinasayang sa bawat pagpatak ng oras. Since I've studied for a long time, aaminin kong mabilis lang akong nakakasabay sa topic.

The reason why I'm going to a school is to gain more allies. That's all.

"Mr. Contalejo will be your student leader for the upcoming party later on along with the President in this room." Tumayo naman ako bago yumuko. It's not that hard. It's just a party but they seems so happy about it.

"That's it. Class dismissed." Sumunod naman ang pinakahuling asignatura para sa araw na ito at bukas ay wala nanaman akong klase. That's the new generation for you.

Napaunat na ako at napag-isipang matulog sa susunod na asignatura. Now that I mentioned it, I heard that Ventruoso from before. It's somehow familiar but I already forgot about it.

As my eyes began to close, all of my memories... began to shattered.

"Lady Luna," Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata ko sa isang boses. At nang makita ko na si Myst ay napabuntong hininga ako bago tumayo.

I didn't know that class ended already.

"I'm worried that you're gone so I checked you out." I was planning to sleep more pero pwede ko na yo'ng gawin pag-uwi.

"We need to check that market isn't it?" Tumango naman siya. Nag-unat muna ako ng kamay at napag-isipang bumaba.

"Where's Apollo?"

"Missed him already?"

"Stop spouting nonsense Myst. I just don't want him to come." After all, We're involved in his matter. To prevent of being a suspicious folks, hindi na niya kailangang sumama.

Agad naman na rin kaming nakarating sa sinasabing market. Sa unang tingin ay aakalain mong normal ang lugar kung saan may nagtitinda ng laman.

But to be honest this place really stinks. All I can ever smell is the blood–

"We're keeping an eye of Parasites's manor." Napatago naman kami ni Myst sa gilid.

"Wala nang makakaalam ng trabaho boss." You forgot about Contalejo Manor young men. You're overestimating yourselves.

"Seems like Apollo is correct." Sabay higab ko. "Lucifer?–" Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig ni Spade. Anong ginagawa ng lalaking ito dito?

"If you talk any single word, I'll kill you." Binitawan ko ang bibig niya at inayos ang uniporme ko. "Talk about nonsense and I'll get your tongue cut."

Pagkaalis namin ay ramdam ko ang tingin sakin ni Myst. "What's with the mercy Lady Luna?" Napangisi naman ako.

"You can't kill a witness. After all–"

"I can used him as a bait." And that's what we called, Being smart.