Kai Brandon
is hectically gazing the starry sky while sitting on one branch of the tallest
narra tree in the middle of a forest only known to him. Only the light of full
moon gives the place dainty.
“He
is been gazing for almost two hours.” I said as I move my horse forward (c4 to d6).
“Unexpected checked.” I smirk with that thought; as if I have ever had an unexpected
move.
“How
can this kid be persistent in tilting his head up without flexing it down? If
only I can read his mind now.” George does know what to do with his king but I
also admire my friend whose been facing a great deal in his business.
“I
seriously cannot do what he’s been doing for hours.” George said as he moved
back his King behind his bishop (f7 to g8) whom I presume ready to attack on
the next move. But let me get you back to Kai.
Kai is just an ordinary 18 year old
boy living in with his parents on the downtown of Plaza Verga near the famous
gazette of St. Patrick Church in Hillson Village, Quezon City Manila. The
forest is actually located 1.5 miles away from their house in Tagaytay Hills.
But it is a dangerous forest wherein he is the only one allowed to cross the
threshold and beast cannot touch him like he has unnatural power to tame them.
How ironic right?
“Even
I cannot understand why of all people, he is being accepted by the nature.” I
said as I move my horse (f5 to e7) ready to attack George’s King again.
Kai has been a nature lover not to
mention that he is also a machine lover. “I cannot fathom why he’s been
fascinated with machines while these things can harm the nature.” I exclaimed.
“Maybe
we should ask him.” George moved his queen on the left side 5 blocks from his
base giving way to check my King.
Kai always want to build cars that
cannot destroy the mother earth. He said one time inside the class, “If I can
be a great dealer of cars and machines, then I might probably eliminate air
pollution and help Mother Nature to retain its magnificent look and locking all
bad odors to the fridge.” All his classmates laugh at him because everyone
knows that can’t be possible and at that time his still 1st year
high school, a boy who doesn’t know life.
Those words remained to Kai’s memory
and already on top of fulfilling it now. Except for that, he always wants to
stop by at the forest and have some star gazing because he has a lot of issues.
“Why do I always feel I’m empty?” it’s been running through his mind for the
past two hours and it seems he cannot find the right answers. “Why am I looking
for a right answer if there’s no such answer for my questions? How complicated
my bored mind is? Keep on asking just to breathe cold air.”
His phone rang that disturbed the
surrounding by the evidence of howling wolves and dropping sounds of the owls.
Kai’s mom Maria is calling and checking when he will get home.
“Mom,” says he “I will not be going
home tonight. I’ve told you that a million times.” He makes sure that he gets
permissions whenever he goes out because he doesn’t like his Mom following him
to wherever he might go.
“I’m just checking if you’re already
at your friend’s house,” she paused a little bit giving Kai a hint that she
might already knew where he really is, “Or you’ll spend the night with
werewolves.”
“There are no werewolves here, only
human owls and three-headed snakes.” He knows his Mom can crack a joke
sometime. “But no, I will be off soon. I’ll be staying at Jonathan’s house.”
Jonathan is his best friend since high school. They have the same interest
that’s why they decided to study on the same university.
“Can you stop going on the forest.
It’s been very dangerous lately there; they found a body of three women there. What
if they found you lingering at the forest while there is another body of
whosoever dead person they’ll find?” Maria is talking about the news that night
that police patrols on that area found three bodies of naked women in the heart
of the forest. Its’ been said that the women might having a bathe at near falls
and they suddenly run off upon hearing the gush of wolves along the forest. But
by inspecting the bodies, there were no scratches of wolves that may indicate
they’ve been attacked by creatures. Instead they’ve found some scars on women
breasts, arms and thighs suspecting that they are raped victims as well as
their faces are burnt giving a hard time to identify who they are.
The NBI cannot still notify the
parents of the victims because of the burns and they cannot find the women
things. Kai, who also loves adventures, went to the scene only to find out that
the crime happened near his favorite spot of the forest five trees away from
where he is sitting now. He decided to stay and calm a little bit and ask
stupid things.
“Mom I’m fine. It will not be long.
The killers might come back.” He heard his mother shout at his father saying
“Oh good gracious God, Kevin please kick the butt of your son for once. He’s
been looking for killers!” Maria is bursting out now for what Kai has said.
“Mom, chills. I was just joking.”
“Kai please go home,” his father,
Kevin now talking on the phone, “you’re making your mother collapse.” He thought
his father will end the line already but he seems to be whispering over the
phone. “But if you see them tell me right away, then we might kick their ass
first before we get the price.”
“Ok dad, I’ll notify you immediately
but you make sure I get some, harhar.”
His father already hung up and he is sure that his father is busy
hushing Kai’s mother.
“Why is it people kill people? They
are killing their own kind. Why don’t they just give them a peaceful life?” Kai
blatantly shout in the air making a harsh noise around. Kai hoped he’ll find
the answers for it, if there is really an answer.
Back
to the game, George is having again a hard time in eliminating the Criminal’s
defender, the queen. It’s always been like this since he met me. What can I do
if I really love my Queen, right? He moved his bishop green 8 blocks away to
the right.
“How
will you answer him now?” he asked while his gaze still on the board.
“I
don’t exactly discern what to say, but that’s how our time flies. We need to
exterminate people who don’t deserve to have a second chance.” I said as I
moved my queen straight on George base locking his king on the side with
nowhere to run. “Checkmate, my fellow.”
“People
kill people. I like him, thank you for the game Yates.” George lands a hand for
a handshake. “I presume that’s what they still call you.”
“You’re welcome my friend, until you
got back from London.” I tap his shoulder giving a comfort for his lost. “I
will expect a gift from you then.”
“Not
until I defeat you,” smiling with the idea of trouncing me of course, “but I’ll
repeat what I’d asked you a while ago. How long will you go on with the game?”
“I’ll
also repeat my answer to you George. It will go further basing on how long they
will face and fight it.”
“You
sure have a lot of words but I will go now. I hope it will end soon.” George
shakes again my shoulders and walked to go. Before he leave my room, he handed
me a small piece of paper and whispered “She’ll be back soon on the start of
the term with him. Then everything will be complete to end it.” He smiled at me
before totally leaving.
I
watched him disappear and the smiles never left my lips until I went back to my
desk. Kai is now going down from the tree and he seems to be comfortable now,
but he did not notice a shadow behind three trees away from him. I didn’t
expect that the shadow is still in the forest. What a miracle that he did not
do any harm to the poor Kai.
Kai
turned around checking the way and surroundings for any sign of person but
heard a cruel sound on one of the trees yet he ignored it.
“It
must be some of the animals here.” Then he left as the shadow watch him off.
“NO please. Let us go!” a woman is begging the
man with a gun. “Please, I beg you.”
“Killing
all of you will give….. me. Why would I let you go?” the man who have a 45
silencer caliber gun said to the woman who is handling a baby, seems to be a
newly born baby and was struggling on the floor.
Voices
of two women carrying two babies and a man are what she hears with unclear
visions because of the darkness that surrounds the place. But she knew it was
in the same house, yes it was. The voices were not clear yet she knows what’s
happening.
“You
can now have it,” the woman said, “you’ve already killed my husband and his
friend. Just the babies, please, I beg you let them live.”
Another
woman is on the floor holding also a baby and there’s blood around her waist
and hands. “We beg you, let them live.” said the other woman.
“How
can I be sure… that your husbands didn’t have…. their… to your children?” the
man said angrily pointing the gun to the babies.
“They’ve
already….. their…. to you. And yet you came here and kill us all.” There are
two dead bodies of men on the floor with blood gushing around them. “Let them
live, please, we beg you” until the last breath the woman beg but she didn’t
finish what she’s saying when a silent sound killed the woman as well as the
other woman.
“Now only I know the truth and there is no one to
stop me,” the man’s devil laugh surrounds the house as the babies cry, “Let’s
start the game!”
Athena
runs for her breath when she woke up in the middle of the night and sweating a
lot. She has a very dark and strong nightmare which makes her hard to breathe.
She couldn’t believe she had dreamt it again after so long time. Athena has
always dreamt of the same thing when she was a little and keeps on making her
pant. They’ve consulted a psychiatrist already because she almost loss her
consciousness, mind and nearly die.
After
several consultations, the psychiatrist asked him what were those bad dreams
but Athena only said one because it is always been the same bad dream, same
scene and same acts and words from those people. When asked if she could
describe the people in there, she cannot because they have blurred faces.
After
the therapy, she didn’t dream it again not until tonight. Still, the same
scene, acts and words from the people in which she cannot explain why. She
particularly wants to know who they are specially the man with the gun. What
have the family done to him for him to murder them? As she thought for the
answer to that, her father came into her room and offers her some water.
“You
alright baby?” Athena’s father, Kenneth, asked her while supporting the back of
Athena.
“Yes
Dad. Just that I’ve dream it again.” Athena is still looking pale and panting
as she answered her father in between drinking the water. Her father went to
her desk to find for her medications.
“It’s
on my desk drawer Dad.” She pointed the drawer under her desk.
“Yah,
I got it.” Kenneth offers her a small tablet that calms her nerve whenever she has
attacks prescribed by her doctor. “Want to go to the clinic for check-up?”
“No
Dad, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” She handed the glass to her father after
she drinks the drug. “And we are supposed to be in the airport to pick up some
big luggage.”
“We
can drop off first in the clinic then to the airport.” Kenneth still insisted.
“No
Dad I’m really fine. Besides I will not have time, I still have class in the
morning.” Checking her own pulse and breath, she thinks she’s really fine now
but still sweating a lot. “And promise me Dad you won’t tell this to them. But
maybe some other time, I will go to the clinic myself.”
“Make
sure of that, I’ll gonna ask Dr. Rondal if you really went for a check-up.”
“Yes
Dad, I promise.”
“Go
back to sleep then. You have to rest for tomorrow.” Kenneth assisted her
daughter in lying down and stayed in the room until Athena’s sleep.
He
might not know what’s his daughter is suffering but he would protect her from
everything that may happen. Poor Kenneth, he doesn’t know what he’s been
talking about, he doesn’t know that he might face his greatest fear.
“Nightmares.”
Kenneth utters as he shut the door of his daughter’s room. “If only I
could…..I’ll….”
“JESSICA,
make it fast, you’ll be late again!” Jessica’s mother, Rose May, shouted as she
knocked the door of Jessica’s room to make her faster in bathing. “You’ve been
showering for decades!”
“I’ll be done soon Mom, just one
last song!” Jessica answered her back then clearing her voice to sing.
“Oh dear, your father is eating
now!” Rose May left the room already as Jess started to sing.
“I can see it in the stars across the sky, Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams
before, Now I finally realize, You see I've waited all my life for this moment to
arrive, And finally yeah…” Jessica sings
out her soul out through her favorite song ‘I Believe’. This piece makes her
the most sort-after singer in their university.
“I believe in the impossible, If I reach deep within my heart,
Overcome any….” She’s in already but her phone
suddenly stopped and it only indicates that someone texted her. Upon reaching
her phone and see who the hell disturbed her magnificent voi--- Oops, it’s her
most precious best friend.
Enough of the alibis, time to change and
you’ll be late for exams. Athena said within her text that makes Jessica
knot.
“Exam?
What ex…” she paused a while then registration and frustration overcome to her
face, “oh my God, my long exam!” and when she checked the time of her phone,
“aiiissshhhh, 30 minutes for Pete’s sake!” She just left the shower open then
rush to her dressing room to get change with her uniform.
“What’s
with the rush, little princess?” her Dad, Caesar said while sticking the steak
in his mouth.
“Good
morning Dad.” Jessica kissed the cheeks of her father as she picked her pack
lunch and snack, her favorite egg sandwich. “I’ll be late for my exam Dad. I
need to go first now. Bye, see you later.”
“I’ve
told you to hurry up a while ago.” Rose May said as her daughter kissed her
cheeks. “You’re still like a high school student!”
“Mom
I’m not a 3rd year high school anymore, I’m a 3rd year
college already and reminder that in college,” she paused a bit while grabbing
a bit of steak and chew it while she continue to talk, “we are free not to
attend our class or be late, but because I had a long exam that’s why I need to
go.”
Jessica
grabbed her bag on the table while waving her hand in going outside, “See you
later everyone!” Jessica drives her own Ferrari car in going to school. Well
you can say that she’s a spoiled brat because of the wealth of her family but
she’s also an independent woman. When she reached 18 years old, she began to
make money by using her own talent by doing some gigs in their place and even
in the university.
She
was also offered a scholarship in Berkelee Music School in United States but
turned it down because she wanted to finish first her first choice and dream.
That is to become an accountant and for her to open her own bank. What a dream
right? But once again we are in a free country, dream all the dreams you want.
You might discover also that behind those skinny legs, porcelain-like face and
skin, beautiful wave style of hair, brat-like features and trigonometric mind
lays a tennis genius. Sure you’re shock right?
It’s
her second ultimate passion after singing of course. Jessica began playing
tennis when she was 6 and as what reported by her parents; she disappeared in
the middle of the crowd while they were watching the fiesta in their town. Only
to found out that she is watching a tennis game in a nearby tennis court then a
player handed down the rocket to Jessica and she started to swing it.
‘Tennis
Goddess’ as what the crowd called her because of her stunning looks and
fair-porcelain skin. You might think how she can maintain those features even
if she is extremely exposed to sun every time she has a game. Almost games in
tennis are located in an outdoor court. Well ask her if you really want to know
the secret if ever she will give it though.
The
truth is that, every after a game, Jessica goes to their private spa to relax
and relieve the stress. She is very conscious of her looks and always want to
be pretty but as what her best friend told her, its’ on Jessica’s nature, that
the cell of her body responsible in producing more melanin that gives her
natural fair-porcelain skin color even without the care of spa.
But
despite of being called ‘Tennis Goddess’ and gains a lot of attention, there’s
only one person who she cannot beat in any form. And I’m talking about her own
best friend, Athena which in fact is called ‘the Ultimate Tennis Genius’ as
evidence of her over-the-top-more-than-professional-tennis-players killer
techniques which she gain from watching Prince of Tennis, an anime series in
which, for Jessica, only imagination can make them possible and true. And this
is the main reason why they become best friends, their similarities when it
comes to sports, but always banging on each other’s head because of their
differences when it comes to personality and love.
Jessica
passed through the lane of going to their college building when she spotted
Athena walking on the catwalk.
“Bes,
what will you do after stupid class?” Jess asked her while driving slowly so
that Athena would not run to keep her on track.
“Be
going to the airport, why’d you asked?” Athena answered with a disappointed
looked and smirked ridiculously ‘cause most probably, Jess forgot again that
big buses will be coming home.
Well,
through enough for Jess to see that disappointment on Athena’s looks, she just
said, “Well then, be coming at your building after my exam. See ya’ later!”
“God
bless for your exam!” Athena gave a smiling face without any disappointment
already. “Thanks Bes! Bye!” Jess drove fast to catch up her exam because for
Pete’s sake, she’s 10 minutes late.
Dear,
you shouldn’t talk to your best friend, poor Jessica.
ATHENA'S working on her report in one
of the cottage-like study area in her college alone. Her classmates already bid farewells because,
luckily, their teachers have an urgent meeting so the classes are hold up. She
decided to stay however to kill time because it’s still early to go to the
airport and she still needs to wait for his Dad. One more thing to expect is
Jessica, which became her best friend since 4th grade.
Athena
doesn’t actually know why she became close to Jessica when they have a match in
tennis. Well I’ve told you already that they are both sports addicts so no
shock already.
In
4th grade during district schools intramurals, for the first time
Jessica lost in a tennis game against Athena and that’s the reason why she
watch out for Athena after the game at the ladies locker room. Jessica was not
really please at the result back then and she confronted Athena what she has
done during the game.
“What
did you do? You thick headed four-eyed glass short pathetic girl?” She
blatantly sprouted a tennis ball at Athena’s face out of anger. And continued
to shout at her saying “You’re dirty little tricks, your freak movements, ugly
backhands, and scanty two left foot twist running around the ground, what have
you done to defeat me?”
Athena
cried with this because no one have ever shouted on her even her parents, well
at least we know that it will be the second least thing parents would to their
children. All the opponents that she defeated before accepted their defeats and
even gave her high praises and acknowledgement. But with Jessica, she seems to
be hard in facing the defeat and for the first time in her peaceful life,
Athena was called a ‘pathetic girl’ by another girl that she does not know.
Organizers
as well as their respective coaches, teachers and lovable parents came to halt
Jessica’s behavior and stop her from scratching Athena’s face. “You stop it
Jess, you should know how to become a sportsman.” Jessica’s coach looks at her
terribly and then faces her parents to assist their child out. After that, the
coach turned to Athena and have apologetic smile as well terrified look to all
the people in that place. “I’m really sorry for the behavior of Ms. Alba. It’s
her first time to lose that’s why she’s having a delirium and being hysterical.
Ms. Lacambra I do hope you’ll be good on your next matches and this thing won’t
bother or distract you from your games. I’m sorry again.” He passed out quietly
without having a glanced back.
At
this point, she never saw Jessica at the following days, until they crossed path
in front of Jessica’s school accidentally. “Oops, sorry!” Athena apologizes
because she bumped Jessica’s shoulder that led to the pouring of Athena’s
coffee on Jessica’s uniform.
“YOU----!”
Jessica looked up only to find out that the girl she called pathetic after
their match was also the girl who bumped and poured the coffee on her uniform. “Not
you again!”
“I’m
really sorry. I don’t mean it.” Athena’s already blushing and starting to cry
already while wiping Jessica’s uniform.
“Hey,
stop it, you’ll just make it worst. You’re too clumsy. Try looking at the front
and not at the back!” Jessica’s temper is not really controllable which give
her problems. But when she saw Athena’s face crying, she immediately diverts
the situation.
“You’re
not just pathetic and clumsy; you’re also a silhouette of flooding rivers with
bleeding nose.” Athena laughs only to make her snob more and offered Jessica a
hand to their house.
“Why
don’t you come to our place to dry this out, it’s my fault so it’s my
responsibility. And don’t call me pathetic anymore!” Athena said as they walk
down the street going to their house and there, right at that moment where it
all started all the riots of their lives begins. And of course, I cannot tell
you everything here because the pointed heel is coming now.
“What
are you doing Bes?!” Jessica barely whispers it so that everyone in the college
ground would hear it.
“Don’t
exaggerate it Bes, you’re not in your college.” Athena’s miens at Jessica and
nods at all people who looks at them.
“As
if I care. ‘Bout what you said a while ago, who will you gonna pick up in the
airport?”
“Some
big dunkin donuts from the US. Don’t worry you’ll gonna meet them soon.” I
jumped when I received a message from him.
Update: Preparing to land in the most
beautiful place on earth. Be there soon, princess.
“Who is it?”
Jessica is now concerning at what Athena is doing a while ago before she came.
“Give
me that. And it is just the donut who texted me that they’ll be landing
already.” Athena said as she grabbed the papers that Jessica is scanning and
packed it up already. “And I need to go now because Dad will be here anytime
soon.”
“I
thought you will tell me something?” Jessica said with knotted looks.
“I’ll
tell you tomorrow. You’re Mom already arranged a dinner for us.”
“Hey,
how come I didn’t know that?!” Jessica exclaimed as they walk away from the
college and waited for Athena’s father.
“Well
he just said it to Dad and Dad told me this morning. You know our families are
kinda friends already because of you.” Athena said as she checked her phone
with a message from his Dad; Be there at
5 minutes.
“Why me? What
did I do?” Jessica asked with puzzled tongue.
“Well
if it’s not because of your hysterical drama when you lost against me in 4th
grade, then we will not be best friends and our families will not tie down!”
She exclaimed at Jessica as if the latter already forgot everything as
evidently seen in her blank stares.
“Uh-Oh!
Of course, but that’s partly my fault. If you don’t spill your coffee on my
uniform before, then I might not be talking to you right now!” Jessica exclaimed
back at Athena but diverted the talk before any worse case scenarios will be
revealed about their lives. “What do you really want to tell me? Come on, I
will not let you go to sleep if you won’t tell me now!”
Athena
thinks first before telling it to her because she knows her best friend well.
“Just that I need to go to the White House again.”
“Hey,
what happened? Don’t tell me…”
Athena
nods because she knows that Jessica already knew what she’s talking about.
“You’re joking. I thought it was already settled?” Jessica said with a shocked
face as well as a concerned look towards her best friend.
“Don’t
be so hysterical again Bes. Just that it pumped again on my walky talky dream.
Nothing to worry about.” She knows that this will not help Jessica not to worry
at all.
“If
there’s nothing to worry, why’d you need to go there?” Jessica stated as she
began being agitated again. She, Jessica won’t let it happened again to her
best friend. She once witness what happened to Athena when she began of
dreaming about it until Athena cannot resist it anymore and almost lost her
consciousness.
“Dad
suggested it so to shut him up, I said I’ll be going by myself maybe tomorrow.”
“I’ll
come with you. Just text me, or no better call me so I’ll pick you up
immediately.”
“Really
Jess no worries. Just….” Athena wasn’t able to continue what she’s saying
because her father already arrived.
“Ready
to go baby? And hi Jessica.” Her father waved and smiled to Jessica upon seeing
her sitting next to Athena.
“Hi
Tito. Be careful in driving.”
“You
don’t want to come?” Kenneth asked Jessica as if she’s really a part of the
family. Well she is really a part of the family, as a matter of fact.
“No
Tito. I’ll just welcome them tomorrow. I heard that Mom will throw a dinner for
them.”
“Yeah she told me yesterday. Well then we’ll go ahead.”
“Bye
Bes.” Athena kissed the cheeks of Jessica and bid farewells.
AT the airport, the flight from Las
Vegas, Nevada, USA already landed just in time in Ninoy Aquino International
Airport. Athena is very excited in seeing again the two people that she misses
so much. They waited there ‘til 5 minutes before getting to see them.
A
man who is most likely to be a very handsome guy dressed in the new fashioned
trend in airport fashions wearing a sunglasses (where’s the sun dude?!), a
blue-light green striped colored scarf, white T-shirt paired with black denim
skinny jeans and Jeremy Scott 2NE1 inspired winged rubber shoes (JSx2NE1). He
really looks hot even with that scarf except for the hair which I think is flip
back and forth to compensate with the hot weather of the Phillippines even if
it’s wet season.
Yes
they have already arrived, the two people who will complete everything. The people
whom I’m really expecting to ground in the level of their existence since
they have left the country. Now everything will be fulfilled.
Athena,
with her brother Darius Cleo will now be in the game as well as Jessica and Kai
Brandon. Only one is missing, one who will complete all the souls of these
people.
