The Fifth Born

CHAPTER THREE

"WHAT!?" Zyon exclaimed when he heard his mom.

"Anak, pagbigyan mo na. Pansamantala lang naman," Sabi ng ina niya habang naghahain ng agahan.

"Exactly, mom! Pansamantala lang nama siya dito then what's the point of sending her to school?"

"Zyon, you know her situation --"

"That she's ran away from her palace and now she wants to go to school. Really? What's the point of running away if she's just going to expose herself in the first place?"

"The point is, I want to have a normal life as much as possible. And me and your mom decided school is normal." Napalingon ang mag ina sa kanya. She had a nice sleep. 

"Good that you're awake. We have to talk. Us three," Maawtoridad na saad ni Zyon.

"Okay then," Nagkibit balikat lang siya at umupo sa silyang naroon kaharap ni Zyon. Hindi niya masisisi si Zyon kung ganun nalang makareact ito. If ever she's going to school, maabala niya lang ito. She's new to the experience. She doesn't even know how it works.

"First, I am against you going to school."

"I know. You're doing little effort to hide it," Sabi niya habang nahihirapang ginagamitan ng tinidor ang fried chicken.

She saw his brow raised. She really found a new skill during her time away from the palace. That is the skill to annoy Zyon. 

"That's it? It's settled then. You are not---"

"Whatever you say, I'm still going to school."

"What the--"

 Zyon's mom stiffled a laugh. 

"Sinabi ko na. I am going to school whether you like it or not. End of story." She said and bit the piece of chicken, pissing Zyon off. 

"Brilliant." He said sarcastically. She gave her a saccharine smile. He leaned close to her. "Listen here, Princess. If anything happens---"

"Nothing's going to happen to me." She cut him off. Napapikit siya ng mariin.

"Not you. If something's going to happen to me or my mom because we let you stay here, mananagot ka sa'kin."

"I won't be a bother. I promise. And I already told you there won't be any punishments or anything of the sort." Saad niya. Why does he think he'll be punished, anyway?

She has already decided to live her life even for a short while. And she's not going to be stopped by Zyon. 

"Great!" Ngiti ng mama niya sa kanya. Zyon just rolled his eyes and continued eating.

* * *

She was reading the books in the living room that afternoon when Zyon walked by. 

"Buhay mo nga naman." Napalingon siya dito and gave him a questioning look.

"What do you mean?" 

"You'll regret your decision, Princess, trust me. School's not that great," He said and waved a hand habang nakatingin sa mga librong nasa mesa. 

"I haven't regretted my decisions. And it's useless trying to discourage me. I don't care if it's not great. I've made up my mind." 

He just rolled his eyes at her and went out. 

"Where are you going?" Sigaw niya kay Zyon ngunit hindi man lang ito lumingon at patuloy na naglakad. She closed her book and followed him. Malapit na si Zyon sa gate nang maabutan niya ito. 

"And where are you going?" Napataas ang kilay ni Zyon nang makitang sinundan siya ng babae.

"Sa kung saan ka papunta," Ngiti niya. Hindi na ito nakapalag nang buksan niya ang gate at nauna siyang lumabas. 

"What the hell--" rinig niyang mura into and grabbed her arm. 

"I don't want you to go with me. May lakad ako. You stay there. Bantayan mo ang bahay." Utos ni Zyon. She doesn't know but pissing Zyon off is fun. This could become her hobby. 

She motioned her head to the side telling him to look. And there stood Zyon's mom na kakababa lang mula sa taxi. The woman saw them and waved a hand. 

"Now I don't have to guard the house." Ngisi niya as she pulled her arm and continued to walk. 

"You're unbelievable," Zyon mumbled. 

"Yeah. I get that a lot," she grinned. 

"Zy," she called dahilan para mapahinto ito sa paglalakad. 

"Zy?" 

"Zy. Short for Zyon." She said and she could feel Zyon's patience is thinning. Like she thought, pissing him off could be her hobby. 

"What's a school like?" She ran to match his pace. Ang bilis kasi nitong maglakad. 

He gave her a sideward glance and he let out a sigh. Napapadalas na ang pagbuntong hininga into. 

"A school is where you sit, o kung gusto mo, matulog while an annoying bald old man is saying something in the front and then tatawagin ka to ask you nonsense questions or punish you. It's either of the two." he said nonchalantly and she can feel him still scaring him off. But too bad, it won't work. It made her even more hyped up. 

"And?" She didn't mean to sound so excited. 

"Then you have your classmates. You eat. And then you go home. That's it." Humikab pa ito habang patuloy na naglalakad. 

"You're still trying to scare me off, Zy. It won't work. I'm still going to school." 

He stopped walking and faced her.

"I'm not trying to scare you off. Those are facts, Princess." 

"Stop calling me Princess. I have a new name now," she said proudly and the man just groaned and continued walking. 

"Of course you do," 

"You can call me Lisa from now on," She said as she walked faster to keep up with his pace. 

"Whatever," he replied. She can't help but grin. She realized Zyon's a good guy. Despite how he despise the idea of her living in his house, he didn't try to report her whereabouts. And she really appreciate it. 

Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad and she continued asking him questions out of curiosity but mainly to piss him off. 

"You know what? You're unbelievably annoying. Stop asking questions, will you?" 

"Syota mo, Zyon?" Napalingon silang dalawa sa nagsalita. She heard Zyon mutter a curse. Limang lalake na may kanya kanyang hawak na kahoy. She doesn't know who they are but judging from their creepy grins, she has an idea now. 

"F*ck. Hey, freak. Get out of here." Zyon muttered. But her focus is on the three men. 

"What the hell are you smirking at?" bulong nito sa kanya. 

"There's no way I'll leave," She said and she could feel Zyon is so close to strangling her.

"Damn it, Sam. Umalis ka na rito. I'll buy you enough time," he said with urgency. 

"No. This is unfair. Is it because I'm a girl? I can handle this. I did this last night. I can do it again." 

"Fuck." She saw Zyon frustratedly combed his hair.  Tiningnan niya ang lalakeng di kalayuan sa kanila. Nakangisi ito habang nakatingin sa kanila. 

"Listen. At the count of three, we run." napatingin siya rito. Is he serious? 

"Isa."

"Zy what--"

"Dalawa."

"Hey! I said--"

"Run!" Hindi na siya nakapalag dahil hila hila na siya ni Zyon habang tumatakbo. Nakasunod sa kanila ang limang lalake. 

"We can handle them!" Sigaw niya kay Zyon habang hila-hila siya into. 

"We can't." Tumingin naman si Zyon sa kanya. Bruises are still visible on his face dahil sa nangyari kagabi. May band aid pa sa gilid ng labi at sa kilay niya. And some of his fingers are bandage wrapped. Napakagat siya sa kanyang labi.

Mas binilisan pa niya ang takbo. Naiinis siya sa sarili niya. Bakit niya pa ininsist na makipag away sa sampung lalake na iyon without even looking at Zyon's condition? And Zyon even planned on staying just to buy her time to escape. Damn. Paulit ulit siyang nagmumura sa isipan nang bila siyang hatakin ni Zyon sa isang sulok. Hingal na hingal siya habang nakatayo roon at pinakiramdaman ang paligid.

They heard colorful curses from the men chasing after them. 

"May araw rin sa'tin yang Zyon na yan." Saad naman ng isa hanggang sa napagpasyahan na nitong umalis.

Nakahinga siya ng maluwag at napaupo. Tiningnan niya si Zyon na nakatingala at hingal na hingal. Nakapikit ito. 

"Zy. I'm sorry," Napayuko siya. How could she be so selfish? 

"For what?" Ramdam niyang nakatingin sa kanya ang lalake.

"For being so stubborn back there,"

"Nah." Naramdaman niyang umupo ang lalake kaharap niya. She lifted her head.

"Can you stand?" Tanong ng lalake.

"Y-yeah." Agad naman siyang tumayo.

"Let's go. Umuwi na tayo."

And together they walked home in silence.

* * *