•••••Hades' POV•••••

All my life has been a living hell. Since before I met Rin and the others, everything was already dark and a mess.

I was born in the underworld. Like my name, I was meant to live forever in the underworld.

I became a changed man because of Rin. She changed me and made me a decent man—with Blade, Maura, and the others. However, nothing is permanent in this world. After Rin's death, their was chaos. It was a chaos that I would never forget in my whole life, and it was a chaos that destroyed everything.

“Hades? Ayos ka lang?” I came back to reality when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.

Maura, Raven, Blade, and Reo-sensei were looking at me. I blinked for a second before answering Maura who looked so worried about me.

“Yes, I'm fine.”

Maura nodded and I heard Raven sighed.

“You weren't with us a few moments ago.” sabi niya.

There's also this girl.

I do not know why I have this strong feeling of connection towards her. Para bang, nakilala ko na siya since before I was born. But that's impossible. Raven can see right through me and I can see right through her.

"I'm fine," I answered with determination para hindi na sila mag-alala pa. "May bigla lang pumasok sa isip ko. Sorry I got lost for a minute."

Somehow, I managed to convince the three. I don't know if I conviced Raven kasi tinitingnan niya ako na para bang binabalatan na niya ako ng buhay sa isipan niya.

"Okay, I'll say it again" sensei spoke at natuon ulit ang atensyon naming lahat sa kanya. "Baka bukas, may panibagong misyon na naman tayo. The Headmaster won't stop looking for the book. We started the 'Book of the Apocalypse' retrieving mission kaya for sure ay bibigyan niya tayo ng isang panibagong misyon na konektado sa libro o kay Miguel." he explained.

Napatango na lang kaming tatlo. We don't know what kind of mission we will soon face, so, we need to prepare ourselves.

Dahil sa usapan naming ito, hindi ko namalayan na hapon na pala. Kinuha ni Reo-sensei yung backpack kung saan nakalagay yung libro at isinabit iyon sa likuran niya.

"Prepare yourselves for tomorrow. Never forget about what I said and be careful always. I'll dismiss you guys early. Pwede pa kayong mag-bonding kayong apat, basta 'wag kayong umuwi ng masyadong gabi na," seryosong bilin niya sa amin. "Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. Class dismiss."

-----

"Finally! Nakalabas na rin tayo!" masayang sambit ni Blade dito sa mall.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. In the end, Blade and Mura decided that we should relax ourselves here in Shimuya Super Malls.

"Why did you bring me along?" Napatingin ako sa gilid ko nang marinig ko ang reklamo ni Raven.

Pero mukhang hindi ata siya narinig nina Blade at Maura kasi masyado silang naging hype ngayon na wala na kami sa school. Masyado kasi kaming kinilabotan sa libro kanina.

"They just want to have some time with you." I answered her question.

To be honest, I don't really like crowded places. I just want to stay at home on my own. But wait, do I even have a home? But if I'm with my team, then it shouldn't be a problem. I'm a changed man. Even if Rin is dead, I don't have to go back to my old self because I still have my friends with me.

"Seriously now, they look like kids!" Nabalik ulit ako sa realidad nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Raven.

Blade and Maura are currently playing games in an arcade. Kitang-kita naming dalawa ni Raven kung paano naglalaro ng basketball ang dalawa. I didn't realize na nandito na pala kami sa isang arcade.

"You're really spacing out," Napatingin ulit ako sa babaeng kasama ko. She walked passed through me to take a seat on a bench behind me. Tinapik niya ang tabi niya dahil siya lang ang nakaupo dito. "Sit."

I sat, but of course, not too close to her. She might feel uncomfortable.

"You're quite transparent, Hades," She looked at me. "Just like my stepbrother."

I blinked maybe thrice. Did she just call me by my first name? Nakakapanibago.

Bigla ko ulit naalala ang pangalan ng stepbrother niya. Ethan Asano. Hindi ko alam pero napaka-familiar ng pangalan na iyon. Maybe I just heard it from the television but something's off.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"My answer depends on the kind of question you're going to ask." bored niyang sagot.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago magsimulang magtanong.

"If you don't mind me asking, bakit naging stepbrother mo si Ethan?" Reluctant ako sa pagtatanong, but somehow, there's something that I want to know. The fun part is, hindi ko alam kung ano iyon.

Nabaling ulit ang tingin niya kay Blade at Maura na masaya pa ring naglalaro sa loob ng arcade.

"Ethan and I are cousins, originally. So, his parents adopted me when I was young." tipid niyang sagot.

"Why are your surnames unalike?" Medjo nagulat naman ako sa sariling tanong. I just ask the same question that Reo-sensei asked.

There was a short silence. I thought she won't answer my question pero nagulat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"I'm using my mother's middle name," she answered with no emotions. "At least, that's what Ethan's parents and Ethan himself told me."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanyang sinabi. "What do you mean? You don't know who your real parents are?" I asked.

I didn't mean to sound harsh, I am just curious.

She shook her head. "Don't have even a slightest clue."

I released a heavy sigh again. "So, we're the same, huh?" I laughed sarcastically to myself. "Hindi ko rin kilala parents ko. I only live with my aunt who also adopted me since I was a baby. Pero nasa ibang bansa siya ngayon kaya ako lang mag-isang nakatira sa apartment namin." I said.

Napasandal na lang ang likuran ko sa bench. This is kinda awkward. Si Blade at Maura lang ang sinabihan ko tungkol sa buhay ko. I never thought I'd say this to Raven.

"Hearing your sarcastic laugh is so outlandish," I barely saw her smirk. "Guess now we're adopted buddies."

Napatawa na lang ako ng mahina. Adoptive buddies, huh? Sounds pretty accurate.

"Oh. My. G. I can't believe this! Is this real, Blade?! Tumatawa ang kaibigan nating si Hades?!" Nakita naming dalawa ni Raven si Blade at Maura na nakatayo sa harapan namin. "Anak ng coco bread, tagal ka na naming 'di nakikitang tumatawa, Hades!" Bakas ang tuwa sa mga salitang binigkas ni Maura. Tumatalon-talon pa siya.

"Oo nga, bro. Congrats!" sabi naman ni Blade at nag-fistbump kami. "Ano ba kasing pinag-uusapan niyo at napatawa ka?" he asked.

"I just asked Raven about her stepbrother. Parehas pala kaming adopted." Napatigil si Maura sa pagtalon.

"I'm sorry to hear that." she said with a sincere voice.

"Don't fucking be. It's not your fault." Gulat na napatingin kami kay Raven kaya tinaasan niya kami ng kilay. "What?"

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I thought her eyes were gonna change. Usually, she feels anger or triggered everytime we hear her cuss.

By the way, hindi lang ako ang nakahinga ng maluwag kundi sina Blade at Maura rin.

"We thought magbabago ang kulay ng mata mo because everytime you curse, galit ka." sabi ni Blade.

Raven rolled her eyes. "I'm not. Chill." she said.

Napatawa naman ng mahina sina Blade at Maura. Biglang may dumaan na dalawang babaeng kasing-edad lang siguro namin. Nakasuot rin ito ng uniform ng ibang school and all of them are carrying a magazine. We were a bit surprised when Raven suddenly called them.

"Hey, show us your magazines," Raven ordered with full of authority in her voice. The two girls exchanged nervous glances first before showing the magazine to us. "Give me the other one."

In just that short sentence, dali-daling binigay ng isang babae ang kanyang magazine kay Raven. After the girl gave the magazine, dali-dali rin niyang hinila yung kasama niya para umalis.

Damn. This girl is scary.

The three of us didn't say a word as Raven examined the magazine closely. Hindi na lang kami nag-comment tungkol sa ginawa niya. We're kinda used to her attitude towards other people. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi kasi ganyan rin ang ibang tao sa akin. Sadyang mas nakakatakot lang talaga si Raven.

"This is today's magazine... That idiot, nasa front page na naman siya." she whispered but despite sa ingay sa loob ng mall ay narinig pa rin namin siya.

"Hindi ka ba proud sa kapatid mo?" tanong ni Blade.

Raven showed the magazine to us. Doon namin nakita ang isang lalaking nakangiti at nakasuot ng isang pormal na damit. Bigla na naman akong makaramdam ng mabigat na aura pagkakita ko sa picture.

A heavy and dangerous aura.

Kung sa picture ko pa lang ay nararamdaman ko na ito, paano na lang kaya kung makikita ko siya sa personal?

Napailing na lang ako. He can't be one of those people.

"I told him not to expose himself too much in the public." Raven said, her voice has a spice of annoyance.

"He's one of the prominent guys in the world. Raven, how did he become the CEO in the Asano Industries at such a young age?" Maura asked out of curiosity.

Blade was the one who answered her. Pinasa raw kaagad kay Ethan ang posisyon nang pumanaw ang mga magulang nila. Blade said that according to Raven, Ethan has the skill and potential to be the new CEO of the company kaya walang pasabing binigay sa kanya ito at the age of sixteen.

Tumatango-tango lang si Maura.

So, I asked Raven. "Bakit ayaw mong ma-expose sa public ang kuya mo?"

Tiningnan niya ako ng masama. "He's one of us, Hades! Someone might kill him while he's busy wasting his time smiling on the goddamn camera and covering fucking magazines!"

He's also an assassin... Like them...

"Awiee si Raisin, napaka-caring mo naman sa kapatid mo!" This time, si Blade naman ang sinamaan niya ng tingin.

"Shut the fuck up, Miyahara." Our eyes widened in surprise when Raven's tone suddenly became so serious as hell. When I looked at her, her eyes have changed colors.

Fuck! She's really mad this time.

Biglang humigpit ang hawak niya sa magazine kaya dali-daling napaluhod si Blade sa harapan niya at siya'y pinakalma. I stood up to help Maura in covering Raven. Walang ibang tao ang dapat makakakita ng sekreto ng kaibigan namin.

"C-Calm down, Raven... Breathe... Inhale... Exhale..." It was obvious in Blade's voice that he was nervous. But he's keeping himself strong.

Luckily, gumana naman ang pagpapakalma niya kay Raven at unti-unting bumalik sa normal ang kanyang mga mata. Her eyes are dazzling but perilous. Nakahinga kami ng maluwag. Dali-dali namang kumuha si Maura ng tubig sa bag niya.

"Here, drink this, Raven. Ubosin mo kung nauuhaw ka." Tinanggap naman niya ang tubig ni Maura.

"T-Thanks, Maura..." she thanked her and started drinking the water.

I noticed the surprised look on Maura's face, but she smiled eventually. Maybe it's because Raven finally called her by her first name.

"Takte, pasenya na, Raven. I never expected na ma-triggered k—"

"No, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Pagod lang siguro ako."

Nagkatinginan kami. With that ay napagdesisyunan naming umuwi na. The three of us knows that Raven's better safe at home. We were about to go home when suddenly, our phone rang simultaneously. Kinuha kaagad namin ang mga cellphones at tiningnan ang message.

From: 09xxxxxxxxx

Good day! This is Reo-sensei. I'm expecting you three that you are at your homes right now. We will be having a new mission tomorrow. I will be the one to tell you the instructions tomorrow since the Headmaster left for a meeting. This mission will prolly your most favorite one, especially for the girls. So, consder yourselves lucky. See you tomorrow!"

"‘This mission will prolly your most favorite one, especially for the girls’? What does this supposed to mean?" Nakakunot ang noo ni Maura habang nakatingin sa cellphone niya.

"Who could be our new target? What kind of a mission would we be having tomorrow?" None of us could give Blade an answer. All of us were clueless. We don't know what will gonna happen tomorrow.

"Mayhap this has something to do with our new mission?" Napatingin kami kay Raven nang pinakita niya sa amin ang isang announcement sa loob ni magazine. The magazine isn't that really good to look at anymore because of Raven's tight grip a few moments ago when her eyes changed. Although, the words printed inside and out are still clear. "All of the girls around seems to have bought today's magazine."

Ngayon lang rin namin na pansin na halos lahat talaga ng babae dito sa mall ay may dalang magazine. They're looking at both Ethan's picture on the front page at sa isang celebrity na nasa middle page ng magazine.

Could it be...?

-----

We immediately covered our ears when we heard Maura's screams.

"Is this real, sensei?! Is this real that we will be guarding a celebrity?!" Napatakip ulit kami sa aming taenga nang bigla na namang tumili si Maura.

Worst, nasa gitna pa talaga siya naming dalawa ni Blade. She always acts like this every time we start talking about a celebrity. Sobrang updated kasi nito sa mga artista.

"Geez, calm down, Maura! Nakakasakit sa taenga ang screams mo." reklamo ni Raven.

"I can't! Sobrang excited ko nang ma-meet ang isa sa mga napakagwapong artista sa buong mundo!"

"Maura, we will be guarding this person kaya please, don't be like that when you see him in person," Bakas sa boses ni sensei ang pag-aalala. "Don't embarass us."

"Don't worry, I'll control myself." Maura grinned.

I doubt that she can control herself.

"Okay, while I'm driving, I'll explain the details," sabi ni sensei habang nakatuon ang atensyon sa daan. We nodded to him. "We will be guarding a very prominent celebrity during his stay here in the Philippines. May concert siyang gaganapin and thousands of people ang dadalo kaya kailangan natin siyang protektahan." he explained.

"Pero, sensei," Blade spoke, hand still covering his ears in case Maura will scream. "Is this celebrity somehow connected to the Manuel? Is he somehow related to the Kurodas?"

Matagal bago nakasagot si sensei sa tanong ni Blade.

"I'm not so sure but," Her voice suddenly became serious. "We shouldn't let our guards down. This celebrity is not just an ordinary celebrity."

I laughed with full of sarcasm deep inside.

Even a prominent celebrity has its own dark secret...

-----

Nang makarating na kami sa isang mamahaling hotel kung saan ang celebrity na babantayan namin ay bigla na lang kaming hinarang sa guard.

Our sensei showed a paper to them that has the logo of our school Blandon High. When the guards saw it, they immediately let us enter.

Pagpasok namin ay bumungad sa amin ang isang napakagandang lobby. Pero walang masyadong tao dito kundi mga guards lang at mga staffs ata na busy sa paghahanda. Everyone, except for us, are wearing big I.Ds.

"Welcome!" Napahinto kami sa gitna at napatingin sa taong biglang nagsalita sa ibabaw namin.

Everyone's eyes are on us now. Above us, there's a guy looking down at us. Nahawak siya sa railing ng terrace habang nakangiti sa amin.

"This place is beautiful, isn't it?" he said. "I rented the whole hotel just for me, my guards, my staffs, and you."

Napatingin ulit ako sa paligid. The staffs are just looking at us normally. Except for the guards.

"I'm Simon Reyes and I'm looking forward to your assistance."

After the celebrity that we are supposed to protect introduced himself, napatakip na lang kami lahat sa aming mga taenga nang tumili ng napakalas si Maura.