Chapter 12

He was singing merrily when he noticed that he was walking inside the warp. A chill ran down his spine together with the excitement for the danger that is going to happen. His mouth stretched as he saw the silhouette of a familiar figure.

"Master!" He courtsy in bow. "It was a pleasure to see you here."

"Ah, you've done well, my knight," anger flashed in his eyes in disapproval. "But you almost sabotage my plans," his hand extended to his neck in a flash, barely stopping himself from crushing it entirely. Although taller than him, the psycho was not able to react in time. Yet instead of being afraid of his rage, his smile grew wider.

"That's it, Master! Oh such a reward!"

"Disgusting twisted soul!" He threw him far to the wall of the next building. "I won't let you exist the next time that you crossed the boundaries of my patience."

Although almost unconscious, the psycho just smiled crazily, hungry for more excitement in his torment.

The master raised his hand. Someone brought a golden basin of water. The water is something used to cleanse any miasma coming from his contact with the crazy man as well as seal his nature inside the shell of this human body. He bit his tongue as the pain sizzled from within upon touching the water. He has been doing it for years, yet he's still not used to the pain it gives him whenever he does the cleansing.

His face contorted in irritation. He does not have any patience in dealing with this small fry. Yet, since he cannot move freely, the chess pieces assistance will be needed. All to unseal his body from the depth of the abyss.

He struck the golden bowl. The water it contained easily seeped in the contaminated area, cleansing the ground it was spealt on. The ground slowly grew green sprouts of grasses. However, it's not enough to cleanse the whole area.

"Master, your meeting with all the pieces is at hand. They are waiting for you as we speak."

He turned to his servant. He was shivering in fear for it might be his last minute in existence. Instead, he let him live another day and went on his way. "Call my mole. I need to discusse some things with him."

***

"What's up?"

Ashnah shrieked in surprised when Cale tapped her shoulders.

"Whoa, you're drinking a lot of coffee these days?" he chuckled.

"Cut it out," she snapped, irritated how she's caught offguard.

"`Seems like a bad day, huh?" he probed, watching how she's going to react.

Ashanh sighed, realizing how she's being nonsensical. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking a lot of things."

"Mind sharing what's bothering you?"

Ashnah shook her head. "Nah, it's alright. I can still manage."

"Uh-huh," he said hesistantly. "Just tell me then if you can't take it any longer."

She smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you."

They are in the conference hall where the basic classes are being taught such as how the Gifteds and the Drifters came to be and the discoverings about their abilities along their history.

Right now, they are still waiting for others to come.

"Too early for morning romance," Jin entered the room, his face gloomy and irritated. His hands are on his pockets, eyes boring holes on Cale. His eyes veered to Ashnah. "Arnold won't be happy with you flirting with this playboy."

"Whoa, we're not flirting. It's called casual friendly conversation," Ashnah retorted in her defense.

"Spare me the jealousy, loverboy. You should flirt with your own girl. I'm sure Tyra's waiting eagerly for each of your sweet words," Cale smirked in sarcasm.

"She's not my girl," his eyes glanced at Ashnah then went back to Cale. "She's just someone that I grew up with."

"You promised me marriage, Jin," Tyra butted in in her choleric attitude.

"Any kid in his eight will say so if their life is threaten with a knife on their throat," he said in his usual collected manner.

Tyra waved her hand, dismissing his satement. "Anyways, you still said yes, so we have long been engaged."

Jin sighed in exhasperation. "Tyra, that does not count."

"It does," she insisted. "And you never cared about it so much before. So why care now?"

Jin's eyes briefly found Ashnah who's watching them bicker with each other. His eyes turned back to Tyra.

Tyra caught his brief glance and checked the direction of his eyes. "Is it because of this bitch? You're choosing this unknown person over me?"

"Whoa, watch out your mouth. This girl--"Cale held her hand. Ashnah froze and was about to pull it out but his hold is firm than it seemed"--is not his property, not his bitch. She's with me, okay? Take your dearest Jin with you `cause he's not needed here. And kick your sweet ass with him before I do."

"Wow, we got morning intensity here," said Monette. They realized that others are peeking at the door, watching them closely.

Jin held Tyra's arms and dragged her out with him. They had never seen Jin as furious as he is right now. His face is flushed in anger and his brows were deeply knotted. He looked back when they were on the door frame, his eyes fixed on Cale, "We are not yet done."

***

Jin's jaw tensed as they approached the rooftop of the premises. He had enough of Tyra's attitude.

Guilt was written on Tyra's face when they finally stopped. "I'm sorry, Jin. I didn't mean to get angry."

"Let me make things clear, Tyra. I have been patient with your wiles. I thought you will change in time. I respected you since we grew up together. I have kept my mouth shut and obeyed you and your grandfather since you belong the elite of the org, direct descendants of the elders. One wrong move could be the downfall of the family that I am indebted to. I can only offer you friendship, Tyra. I never once taken the thought of you being my lover, how much more being my wife."

"You had never?"

Jin sighed, his anger dissipating, replaced with guilt. "I never once did, Ty. I'm sorry. I never once thought of you as more than a friend, a sibling or a playmate. You'll always be the headstrong Tyra who other kids looked up to as a strong individual."

"But you can never see me as a woman?"

"I've tried telling you Ty. So many times but you keep ignoring me, you continued to pursue your own will. That is not love. That is obsession. Do not waste your time on me. There are a lot of things that needs to be done. You have a lot of potential but you lack the will to direct it to the right things where it is needed."

Tears fall from her eyes. Jin froze. That is the first time that he saw her tear up. He clenched his palm to stop sympathizing with her. The last thing that she would need right now is his care. She won't be able to get it unless he'll set the walls higher.

"Do you love her?" she said.

"Who are you talking about?" his brows once again furrowed.

"Don't give me the maze question, Jin. I'm talking about Ashnah and no other. You reacted to her like no other."

"What are you talking about?" he said confused.

"Don't you deny it. Your eyes follow her whatever she does. You shielded her and is willing to take blows for her. If that is not love, then what is it?"

Jin froze. Yes, he did those. But only cause he was tasked to do so. 'Right?' Hesitation arose at the back of his mind. He mentally shook his head. "You're wrong. Her safety was a task I must accomplished."

"Really, Jin? You aren't aware of your actions? Then how come you're bothered if it was announced that we are betrothed? That you had a lover? That should not matter to your misson, right?" Tyra's will was breaking as Jin was not able to answer her. 'Answer me, damn it! Tell me that's not true!'

"Jin, Ms. Fina is calling you to her office," a trainee said, interrupting their conversation.

Jin looked at Tyra. She was still holding on the last straw of her hope. At that very moment, he made a resolution. "Yes, I might be in love with her."

Tyra's tears flowed like a dam. She felt her knees weaken.

Jin was about to catch her but caught himself before doing so. She needs to end her obsession. If it requires for him to lie about his feelings in order for her to move on, then he's willing to do it. 'Is it really a lie?' whispered a voice at the back of his mind. He ignored that small voice. Jin turned his back on her and walked away with the trainee.

***

HE reached for the small flower that's struggling to reach upwards. It bloomed as it touched his finger. He smiled with delight for the little one's success.

"My Lord," said a voice.

"So it is time?" he said, more in affirmation than a question.

"Yes, I will soon be back to the soul whom I should have been bound."

"It's going to be hard on her. We can only hope that she's going to choose the path that we laid out of her."

"I'll do my best to fight along with her."

"I know you'll do just right. I've picked you long before and had planned this long ago. Now, it'll just depend on her choice."

"Yes, my Lord," he bowed before taking his leave.

***