15: White Mask 3

So her name was Emerald Hans.

Serafina was sure na iisang pamilya lamang sa buong Grey City ang may apelyido na Hans. She wondered kung kaano ano ba ni General Hans ang dalagang iniuwi ng anak niya. Sa pagkakaalam kasi niya ay iisa lang ang anak nito at lalaki iyon.

She didn't ask Sebastian anymore. She knew the temperament of that lad. But she still intended to have someone investigate this lady on her behalf.

"What do you plan to do with her?"

"Ihahatid ko din siya sa kanila ngayon. It will be a huge mess if she's found missing by her family."

"With her condition? Fresh pa ang tahi niya. Baka mapasama siya."

"I'll take care of her, don't worry." Then Sebastian looked at her mother. "Lend me some of your ointments and medicines."

"You don't have to ask. I will give her as much as she needed." Tumayo si Serafina mula sa pagkakaupo niya sa tabi ng dalaga saka nagpunta sa may cabinet.

Nagsalin siya ng ointment sa isang maliit na bote. Ganun din ng gamot sa maliit na box. She wrote a letter bago iyon inabot sa anak niya.

"Be sure to be gentle with her."

"You overly concern yourself towards her  Ma."

"And who else will be concerned to her well being other than me? You? Impossible! Son, I know you're an unfeeling lad."

"Tch."

"I am going to sleep now. Be back as soon as you bring her home."

Yun lang at lumabas na si Serafina sa kwarto.

Napahinga naman ng malalim si Sebastian. His mother was really a pain sometimes.

Napailing na lang siya saka ibinalik sa bag ni Emy ang mga gamit niya isa isa. Inilagay din niya doon yung ointment at gamot na ibinigay ng Mama niya sa kanya.

Then his hand fell on the White Mask.

Again, his brows creased. Why did this mask look so familiar? He shrugged and put it inside the bag too.

But the moment the mask left his eyes, saka naman siya may naalala.

It was during his second year in Level Two. A year before he decided to pursue becoming the President of Supreme Student Group.

He could remember that time na maraming beses na umatake ang Black Council sa Grey Academy. Dumating pa sa point na hanggang sa labas ay nakakaabot na sila, attacking even the civilians.

And then suddenly, they stopped. Rumor said na may nakaputi raw na maskara ang lumalabas kapag sumusugod ang Black Council. For several times, that White Masked person stopped the Black Council members from harming others.

At first, nainis sila dahil sa pangangailam nito. Mas nilalaan nila ang pag-atake. That's why umabot sila hanggang sa labas ng campus. But they were no match with that White Masked person and so they ended up lying low instead.

Of course, hindi naman basta basta maniniwala sa rumor si Sebastian. But he had seen that White Masked person himself. He was almost ambushed by the Black Council members at that time. But that person helped him escaped them.

Dali daling kinuha ulit ni Sebastian ang maskara mula sa bag ni Emy and looked it. Now that he remembered that day, he could really tell na ito nga yung maskara na suot ng taong yun.

Napatingin siya kay Emy na mahimbing pa rin na natutulog sa kama.

"Are you that White Masked person?"

***

Emy woke up feeling as if her body was being pressed down by a boulder. Sobrang sakit at sobrang bigat.

She started by opening her eyes. Then moving her fingers one by one. Soon enough, nakisama na rin ang katawan niya sa kanya. Though it was still painful.

She sat on bed at doon niya lang narealize kung nasaan siya. She was in her room. Somehow, she managed going home last night though she had no idea how.

Then she noticed the dress she was wearing. Agad na nangunot ang noo niya.

She forced herself to stand and walk towards the mirror.

Doon siya inabutan nila Lia at Veronica. The two of them were dismissed by Emy while feeling terrible last night. Why not? They knew she was doing something dangerous by herself and yet they couldn't do anything against her decision.

She even threatened them na kapag sinundan siya ay ilelet go sila nito bilang maidservants niya. Kaya naman bagabag silang nagbalik sa kwarto nila saka doon magdamag na nangamba para sa dalaga.

Nang sumilip na ang araw ay saka pa lamang nila dali daling pinuntahan si Emy. At eto nga ang binungadan nila.

Their Miss was standing in front of the mirror.

"Miss..."

"Come here, you two."

Agad naman silang lumapit.

"Look at this dress. Have you seen this one in my dresser before?" Tanong ng dalaga sa kanila.

Agad naman nilang sinuri ng tingin ang damit nito. Saka sila nagtinginan na dalawa. The dress their Miss was wearing was not hers.

"What do you think?"

"No, Miss... We have never seen it in your dresser before." Sagot ni Veronica.

"I thought so too."

Samantha's hands started untying the dress. But because of her injuries, she had a hard time doing so.

"Help me remove my clothes."

Agad namang kumilos ang dalawa.

Actually, napakuyom na lang ng kamao niya si Lia. She saw that hurt expression on her Miss' face nang subukan nitong hubarin ang damit niya. She was certain that her Miss was badly injured.

And she confirmed it ng mahubaran na nilang tuluyan si Emy. There were several wound plasters mga braso, hita at paa niya. But the most alerting was that bandage on her waist and right foot.

"Remove them."

Lia hesitated for a moment kaya naman si Veronica na ang nagtanggal nung nasa may paa ni Emy. Lumapit na rin si Lia at saka inalis yung nasa bewang niya.

Parehas na napasinghap sila Lia at Veronica nang makita nila ang sugat ni Emy sa likuran ganun din ang namamaga niyang paa.

"I bet I look messed up."

"Miss, this is..." Lia looked painfully at her.

"It was my choice doing the task last night alone. So you can be assured na handa ako na masasaktan nga ako at magtatamo ng injuries. However, what I didn't expect was waking up here in different clothes and perfectly tended wounds."

Then Emy looked at them.

"You see, I passed out last night. Hindi ko alam kung saan. But after getting hit by an arrow on my back, my body started feeling burned and I got disoriented. Makailang beses akong bumagsak and that caused me to have scratches on my body at the same time, sprained my foot. I blacked out because of the pain. And that's the last thing I remember. I can't recall kung sino ang nakakita sa akin at gumamot ng mga sugat ko."

She was in deep thoughts for a moment.

"What do you think I should do? There are thousands of possibilities, but I can't squeeze my brain for any ideas."

"Miss, I think you should just let it go for now. Ang mahalaga ay nakauwi ka ng maayos. Isa pa, that person who saved you might not be a bad person. After all, ginamot ka niya at saka iniuwi pa. We have to be at least be thankful for that person."

Napatango na lang si Emy sa sinabi ni Lia. Mukhang wala din naman pati siyang choice. Kahit pa isipin niya ng isipin ang nangyari, wala ding silbi.

"Fine. I need to get dressed now though. Also, my wounds need to be cleaned."

Lia and Veronica immediately moved to assist their Miss. It was the least they could do for her.

***

Nang makapagbihis na si Emy ay saka pa lang niyang naalala ang bag niya.

Nakita niya iyong nakapatong sa mesa katabi ng chessboard niya. She opened it ang took out its content.

"Take these blades and chemicals to somewhere safe. I might need them again some other time."

Agad namang kinuha iyon ni Lia.

Sinunod na inilabas ni Emy ay ang maskara pero bukod doon ay may nakapa pa siyang ibang laman ng bag niya.

Napakunot ang noo niya. What else could she have here?

Agad niya iyong dinukot at nilabas mula doon. It was a vial and a small box. There was also a letter attached there.

'The bottle's content is an ointment. Use it to your wounds so they won't leave permanent marks. As for the small box, it contains medicines. Drink them and the pain on your body will be cured within two days.

-S'

S? Who could it be? Sure siyang nanggaling ang mga ito mula sa nagligtas sa kanya kagabi. But she was unsure what to make out of it.

"Can you check these, Lia?"

Inabot naman agad ng maidservant niya ang bote at box.

"Miss, these are for wounds and body pain. These kind of medicines and ointments can't just be easily acquired though. I believe these are with higher grades."

"I see. Is it safe for me to take and use these?"

"Indeed."

Dahil sa sinabi ni Lia ay napanatag siya. Mukha ngang hindi naman masamang tao ang nagligtas sa kanya kagabi. That person even gave her rare medicines.

She asked Veronica to help her put ointment on her wounds. Si Lia naman ay lumabas upang kumuha ng pagkain at maiinom niya.

***