Chapter Text
Breathing rather heavily, body aching for a release to be free of pain, eyes glowing in golden yellow—only hoping for this to end. She looked at her bloody and shaking hand, radiating with a yellowish-orange aura as if reflecting the sun’s color.
Everything felt dense, humid, and hot. She looked in front of her—there stood Chie, sinisterly smiling at her. She had her hands raised at her as flames slowly erupted from it.
The burning ball of fire grew big enough with the intent to kill Maloi.
She should feel fear, anxiety, and anger. Yet, she felt numb from all of the pain as she heard her friends struggle.
“Chie… Tama na, ‘wag sila, p-please…”
“HAHAHAHA! Do you still think being kind while begging will get you anything after mong agawin sa akin lahat at si Colet? Hindi! If I can’t have her, mamatay na lang kayo!”
As if on cue, Chie released the massive ball of fire towards Maloi with one purpose—to kill her.
“Maloi!”
Maloi turned to look at a woman with enchanting and glowing green eyes, Colet, yelled out of fear, fast approaching the sun of her life—blocking and protecting her. Everything went by like a blur for the group of friends as they witnessed their protector as blazing hot flames engulfed her. She tried reducing the impact by raising the ground as a barrier between them and the ball of fire but it was nout enough—her strong and petite body could only take much.
“Ate Colet!! Fuck!”
“Sandali, hindi ko na kaya. Patulong muna, Ate Aiah, kailangan ko silang puntahan do'n!”
“Staks, Jo, bilis! Ialis n'yo na rin muna sina Shee dito!"
"Hindi! Hindi ako pwedeng umalis!"
Maloi’s friends’ screams are rather loud as they fight with all their might, punches after punches, doing their best to defend themselves from the sudden ambush. And yet… Everything is still a blur for her, it is too quiet in her mind, as she catches Colet’s still-breathing but heavily injured and burned body.
She heard a loud snicker from afar, a far too sinister laugh—almost too ecstatic with the thought of finally ruining the life of Mary Loi Yves Ricalde.
“C-Col… No… No… No!!”
“Gumising ka, Col! You promised me. You can’t leave me like this, Love, please!!”
Everything became quiet, too quiet for her liking.
She cried out as clutched onto her lover’s injured and hot body. She bit her lower lip. For the first time in her life, she felt angry as her heart pounded so loudly that she wanted to melt the world in intense heat. Her eyes glowed golden yellow intensely, almost reflecting the intensity of her emotions. She wanted to avenge her lover, to make Chie pay for hurting her lover, to suffer for everything. She felt her surroundings warm up, her hair standing up probably due to the colliding electromagnetic fields that she was producing. She felt footsteps and numerous different but very familiar body heat from behind, it was not difficult for her to know that it was their friends. The crying woman looked up, greeted by Stacey's and Jhoanna’s worried and tired faces—still breathing heavily, bruised, wounded, and bloodied. The shock was evident on their faces, feeling the temperature changes in their surrounding. Who wouldn't be shocked when their Colet is lying unconscious and covered with burns on the ground and Maloi, a commoner, sporting golden yellow irises?
'She's... A Charmer..?'
“S-Staku… Jho… Si C-Col…”
“Oo, Ate. I know. We’ll save her. For now, we have to get out of here.”, Jhoanna assured her childhood best friend in the gentlest voice that she can assert to calm her down. She noticed the increase in temperature as soon as she walked toward the kneeling woman beside her lover.
Maloi, assured that everything would be alright, looked around just to see that the culprits of this incident were no longer to be found. Probably, already satisfied with what they’d caused—no one knows. No wonder it had been too quiet. Stacey started whispering on her own as her irises turned light pink and started caressing her unconscious friend's forehead to reduce the progressing effects of the impact from earlier before nodding back to the rest as if telling them that that'd do for the meantime.
She went back to focus on her friends—Mikha slowly, but surely, carrying Colet securely with the help of her ability to reduce the weight to carry her with ease, irises red as if she's a vampire. Some of them were guiding her, while the others were acting as the lookouts; Sheena, standing near Maloi and holding on to her necklace to see another possible ambush.
Upon seeing these actions of her friends, “Let’s go, Ate Mal. Staks needs to tend to Ate Colet’s injuries immediately na sa quarters namin. If not, we’ll have to bring her to the closest hospital kahit ayaw n’ya.”, Mikha stated with urgency as she turned away to run for her car while Aiah, Stacey, and Jhoanna followed suit—leaving Gwen and Sheena to assist their other Ate.
Maloi tried to stand up to follow them. However, her legs felt so numb, her body felt heavy. It reminded her of how drained she’d become after the misfortunate and unprecedented battle. Her breathing started to become heavier as time passed.
“Ate Mal, are you okay? Halika na...”, Sheena asked her before kneeling to assist her. She’s starting to feel far too worried for her very optimistic yet mysterious Ate.
Maloi nodded but clutched onto Sheena’s shoulders so that it almost ripped off the hems of her clothes. Gwen saw another approaching sign of a possible panic attack and unconsciousness.
“Ate Maloi, calm down. Breathe, please.”
“G-Gwen… Ang sakit… Hindi p-pwede ngayon… Colet needs me..!”, Maloi, out of breath, clutched onto her hurting chest.
“Gwen! Shee! Bilisan n’yo na d’yan! Humihina na tibok ng puso ni Colet, we have to go!”
“Oo, we’re coming, wait! Ate Maloi is strugg—"
Before Sheena can finish what she’s saying, she feels how Maloi's grip on her shoulder unloosens, who’s now slowly leaning down very quickly. Shocked and couldn’t process anything as she watched her Ate fall onto the ground unconscious.
“Ate!!”
“Tangina! Jho, si Ate Mal, nawalan na rin ng malay! Tulong!”
“Ate Maloi, wake up!!”
“Maloi, hang on, we’re getting there”
“Bilisan n’yo!”
“’Wag kang pumikit, Loi! Gumising k—“
…
…
…
…
…
“Loi, gising na! We’re getting late na soon!”
Napabalikwas ito mula sa kama n’ya, her head is throbbing so much. Jhoanna looks at her panting best friend.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah… Just had a bad dream. Parang totoo… Someone… A girl got hurt dahil sa akin and I just… I don’t know what to do.”
Just thinking back at what her dreams showed her. Napapikit na lamang si Maloi, trying to remember what unfolded right in front of her eyes and a glimpse of glowing green eyes flashed through. She became confused as her heart grew anxious and hurt, she clenched her fists. And oh?
What’s this? Yearning… Why am I feeling like this?
“Hey, it’s okay. Panaginip lang ‘yan, walang mangyayaring masama, okay?”, Jhoannna hugged Maloi to calm and reassure her safety as the latter nodded on her shoulder.
“Mag-ready ka na, anong oras na rin. We can’t be late on the first day of your class. May mga ipapakilala rin ako sa'yo mamaya.”
Tumingin si Maloi sa kan'yang kapaligiran at nakita nito ang pamilyar na itsura ng kan'yang kwartong puno ng kan'yang artwork. Makikita rin sa isang gilid ang kan'yang piano keyboard at ang kan'yang paboritong gitara. Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Jhoanna at agad na tumango na lamang at tuluyang tumayo mula sa kama n’ya para tumungo sa banyo upang maggayak while Jhoanna went down to greet her best friend’s mother, Maggie Ricalde, who’s preparing breakfast for the both of them.
Pagkatapos mag-ayos ay agad rin itong bumaba papuntang kusina at doon n'ya nakita ang kan'yang best friend at ina na masayang nag-uusap habang hinihintay s'ya bago kumain ng agahan—agad naman s'yang napansin ng mga ito.
"Tita, ayan na pala si Loi."
"Anak, halika na't kumain na tayo."
Without any hesitations, she sat next to Jhoanna. They ate silently together. This has been a very comfortable routine for the three individuals. Hindi na bago para sa mag-ina ang madalas na pagdalaw at pagsabay ni Jhoanna dahil mga bata pa lamang sila ay madalas na silang magkasama—madalas silang masabihan na kambal tuko. However, despite their nickname among peers, family, and long-lasting friendship, they are still very much different with how they view the world.
Maloi, despite her strong personality, had always been so gentle, kind, and forgiving which made her an immediate target for bullies and those who think they're above her. She'd always choose to see the good in people, a charmer or not, bully or not. While Jhoanna... Well—
Jhoanna is very strong and straightforward individual, naging tagapagtanggol ni Maloi sa lahat ng nambu-bully sa kan'ya sa kadahilanang isa lamang s'yang "commoner" o walang abilidad. Halos wala nang pinipili ang isang 'to at talagang haharapin n'ya ang lahat. Bakit naman s'ya matatakot? S'ya ang natatanging anak at naturingang magiging tagapag-mana ng Robles. Their family are known to be one of the strongest clans out there, rather, they are ranked as the 4th strongest. They are commonly known to yield the ability called, Hydromancy. Sa madaling salita, sila ay may abilidad na kumontrol ng kahit anong anyo ng tubig. Usually, their abilities are only limited to manipulate bodies of water within range upon body contact, but that's where Jhoanna Christine Robles became different from the others—she can control bodies of water without body contact and within eye sight. Kung gugustuhin n'ya, with a lot of gusto and practice, she might even summon the rain at will.
"Jho, sina Staks at Shee ba? Papunta na ba sila dito?"
"Ah, yes po, Tita. They're on their way na. Nangungulit na nga po si Shee sa group chat namin at ang bagal raw magpatakbo ng sasakyan. Alam mo naman po 'yun, sugapa sa luto mo. Kulang na lang, dito na tumira.", agad namang napatawa ang mag-tita sa sinabi nito.
"Ikaw talaga, kung hindi si Princess, si Bunso naman ang madalas mong awayin. Hay nako, buti nga't hindi naririndi sa in'yo 'tong si Lucky ko."
Maloi couldn't help but to roll her eyes upon hearing her mother's words. Nakita naman ito ng kan'yang nakababatang kaibigan kaya agad itong tinawanan.
"Anong hindi, Tita?! Baka nga kung may ability 'yan ngayon, kanina n'ya pa ako tinarget. Huhuhu. Tsaka... Napakadaldal po n'yang anak n'yo noh! Nakakarindi rin ang isang 'yan eh. So, quits lang kam—", hindi na n'ya natapos ang kan'yang pagda-drama nito nang makaramdam s'ya ng malakas na kurot sa kan'yang tagiliran.
"Aray ko naman, beh!?"
Bago pa makapagsalita ng kung ano si Maloi ay tumunog ang doorbell ng kanilang tinirhan, hudyat na dumating na ang dalawa pang mahal na manhal n'yang asungot sa buhay n'ya—nandito na pala sila Staks at Sheena.
None of the individuals had to stand up to open the door for them as the two of them just rushed in excitedly without any care. Wala pang ano-ano ay naririndi na si Maloi, pero kahit ganoon, she's still very much thankful sa presence ng kan'yang mga kaibigan kaya naman napatawa na lamang ito sa kanila.
"TITA, GOOD MORNING! ANO PONG ULAM TODAY?!
"'Wag ka ngang sumigaw! Hindi na nahiya 'tong si Sheena eh... By the way, OO NGA PO. PAKAIN PO, TITA!", both Stacey and Sheena walked straight towards the remaining seats—Stacy sat down beside Jhoanna and gave her a quick peck on her right cheek that earned a subtle blue from the latter.
"Good morning, Bb. Asim natin ngayong umaga ah?", Stacy stated with a very teasing remark that made her lover's eyebrows meet. As a response, conscious that she does smell off, she picked the collar of her shirt towards her nose and smelled herself. "Hindi naman ah? Kahit amuyin mo pa kili-kili ko. Ang sabihin mo, miss mo lang ako!"
"Ay, ayaw ko, baka magkasakit pa ako.", this earned a grumble from Jhoanna pero deep inside ay kilig na kilig na s'ya.
It is not surprising for them, especially for Maloi and her mom, that her best friend is gay. Jhoanna had been so open about her attraction and feelings for Stacey in 9th grade, with now being in their 2nd year in College. Never nang nawala sa mga bibig ng kan'yang best friend ang pangalan ni Stacey ever since when they first met at the field of their High School Campus during a football tournament, Jhoanna was immediately enchanted by the other's glinting pink eyes every time she'd display her abilities to aid their injured athlete players.
Stacey is literally everywhere as a student-assistant medic personnel in their school clinic due to her ability to heal those in need. Every day, she'd practice and utilize her abilities, not only to help but to expand her capabilities. Perhaps, this is the reason why she took up Nursing for her Bachelor's at Blooms' University; a university that helps Charmers train their abilities and knowledge (to prepare them for the outside world) to the maximum of their abilities.
"Ayan na naman po sila sa umagang kay harot nila!"
"Aga-aga! Sigaw kayo nang sigaw. Magsipirmi na nga kayo r'yan.", saad ni Maloi na as if naririndi na s'ya nang tuluyan sa mga kaibigan pero tinawanan na lamang s'ya ng mga ito, kaya ang tanging nagawa n'ya na lamang ay ngumiti pabalik habang pinapanood silang kumain.
"Ate Mal, are you excited na ba? Magiging schoolmates na tayo! Hihihi.", Sheena's voice is laced with nothing but excitement for the future she'd seen with her friends as schoolmates. She hugged her Ate with comfort and warmth.
"'Wag n'yo akong iiwan do'n ah? Baka may mang-away sa akin."
"Ano ka ba, Ate? Kaming bahala sa'yo do'n! Biceps pa lang ni Ate Jho, baka nasakal na 'yang mga 'yan. Tsaka, ando'n din naman si Ate Aiah, she's literally everywhere, Ate."
Just a smile from Sheena was enough to ease Maloi's growing anxiety that she couldn't help but to smile back. Favoritisms among friends or family are something that Maloi doesn't like to do nor display. She loves and cares fairly. However, if people were to ask her, or even their group of friends (despite Jhoanna and Stacey being lovers), they'd answer with pride, love, and affection that their youngest, Sheena Mae Catacutan, will always be their favorite baby.
Unlike her Ates, she is a bit more timid but accepting than the rest of them. You could say that if someone's looking for a person who has the typical characteristics of the youngest child, you can rest assured that this kid is your person.
But... Don't let her cuteness fool you. Her timid and jolly personality is not something that naturally occurred to her, it is a result of her certainty and assurance from her ability to see the future. She'd seen that no matter what, they'd always be right by her side to protect her, to shower her with affection, and to love her.
Ever since she was just a kid, she was honed by her family of fortune tellers. Back when she was just 9 years old, she could already see 30 seconds in the future with the help of her necklace; a talisman. Now that she has grown older, her ability expanded to seeing an hour, a week, or a month before anything in the future— this, of course, depends on the status of her mental, emotional, and physical state. Her talisman may help boost ability, however, energy must be preserved.
"Loi, tapos na ba kayo? Tara na? Naghihintay na rin si Ate Aiah do'n.", Jhoanna asked as she stood from her chair. Sinundan naman s'ya ng dalawa pa nilang kaibigan. Bago pa tumayo si Maloi ay agad nang nagsalita upang tawagin s'ya ng kan'yang ina na ngayo'y iniimis ang kanilang pinagkainan. Tumigil ito at tumitig sa kan'yang anak na medyo nag-aalala at natatakot, pero tinawag n'ya ulit ito. Medyo natagalan s'ya bago n'ya sabihin ang kan'yang nais sabihin.
"Anak, Lucky... 'Yung habilin ko sa'yo ha? Update me once na makarating kayo. Mag-ingat.", sabay na pagkasabi n'yang ito, her mother's eyes turning golden brown at nanumbalik sa normal nitong kulay. Natahimik na lang ito bilang sagot, she didn't know what to say nor how to act, but she just nodded at her mom and sent her a flying kiss before standing up from her seat and walking towards their sala, to their door.
The remaining friends were left rather speechless by the quick exchange between the mother and the daughter—confusion is written in their faces. It had been a mystery for them what the Ricalde's could do and what they had in store as Charmers. No one knows and yet they still remained amongst the ones at the top of the food chain. Although, they are very much aware that most of the Ricalde's yield the power that relates to vector and time manipulation, they never really get to see it firsthand. So, they have no idea of the significance of having connections to a family that can alter matters of the universe. However, they are still confused as to why they chose to enroll their oldest daughter in Blooms' University. As much as they feel excited with the thought of finally being schoolmates after being home-schooled for almost 5 years, they can't help but worry for her.
Maloi's friends have a lot of questions in their minds. After all, why would they go through such lengths just to enroll her in Bloom University?
No, if given the choice, Maloi's family will not let any harm face their precious oldest daughter— The heir of the Ricalde's despite being known to be charmless, nor will they subject her to such circumstances. It was their Ate Maloi's persistence and doing. They, especially Jhoanna, witnessed how their Ate basically kneeled and begged her father to let her study in a university where great danger lies. They tried reasoning out but when they saw the glint of determination and will, they know it's already too late to persuade her.
The heir, herself, knows the dangers of her decision holds. She's not dumb. In fact, she can easily out-wit an experienced charmer with how her brain works. She, out of all people, knows that placing a charmless commoner in a charmer's den is like giving free food to a pack of wolves.
It's only 8:00am, pero kapansin-pansin ang mataas na tirik ng araw. Kadahilanang para bugnutin si Stacey, being the most kikay and princess of the group, at tumingin sa kan'yang girlfriend habang naglalakad patungo sa sasakyan n'ya. Isa-isa silang sumakay pero bago sumunod si Maloi, it is quite evident that she is enjoying the "heat". She stared directly at the sky, at the glowing sun. She should feel the pain of being in direct contact with its heat but all she felt is comfort. She felt a strong connection towards it, it was as if the sun was communicating with her, asking her to tell it what to do. She only smiled—eyes turning and sparkling briefly in golden yellow.
Mas matatagalan pa sana s'ya sa pagtingin sa kalangitan nang maalimpungatan ito nang marinig n'ya ang boses ni Jhoanna, dahilan para bumalik sa orihinal na kulay ang kan'yang mga mata.
"Anong tinitingin-tingin mo?", nakatingin na unsad ni Jhoanna kay Stacey.
"Paulan ka naman, Bb."
"Wow ha, kala mo madali. Daan na lang tayo sa drive-thru later to buy ice cream before class."
"Shet, parang iinit nang malala today! May dance training pa man din kami. Huhuhu. Bilisan mo na sumakay, Ate!"
"Don't worry. Tiisin n'yo na lang muna, the weather will be better later."
"Luh. Paano mo nasabi?", tanong ni Sheena bago maging kulay lila ang mga mata n'ya to see the next few hours of their day.
"Feeling ko lang."
"Weird mo talaga, Ate Mal, pero true. Gosh.", pagsang-ayon nito sa kan'yang Ate.
In the eyes of many, even her family, she is just a mere commoner who yields no ability. They'd always live in fear of losing her in the hands of vicious charmers who wanted to get hold of the powers of a Ricalde, but that's where they're wrong. Only Mary Loi Yves Ricalde knows the dangerous gravity of the ability that she holds and yields.