GAME 4: WESTERN EAGLE

Birds flew from the terrace. My eyes grew wider as horror spread across my body. My throat stung a bit from my sudden screaming. Holding my breath, I stepped closer to the dresser. My knees and hands trembled as I observed the red liquid in the mirror.

My heart pounded as I saw those words again.

"Goddamnit! You make me laugh so hard, Akemi! Until now, you're still the Akemi that I've known!" she said between her laughs. "Freaking timorous lady!"

El Sandra walked out of the bathroom. She was elated with my reaction and teased me for being able to scare me.

I passed my index finger through the mirror and saw my pale face!

Ketchup.

It turns out it's just ketchup, not blood.

I remember it being like this in the past. The only difference was that she used real blood to write the gruesome letters.

SHE IS DEAD. YOU ARE NEXT.

It's been five years, but I still remember those words vividly. And I have to admit, I still felt the same fear when I read it again.

Even so, Aunt Ingrid explained that everything El Sandra had made up. She was bored, so she pranked me! Do I look like a toy for her to repeat now?

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "When did you arrive? Are you with Aunt Ingrid?"

"Just a few hours ago! And yes... Mom is also here."

A month after the party, Tita Ingrid flew to Manila with El Sandra to take care of the LEC. I don't know what the problem was. I didn't even bother to ask because everything was like a whirlwind. All I know is that Engineer Dela Costa left the company without saying goodbye. I don't know what the reason is. But that same month, the Dela Costa family also left the country.

I finished wiping the mirror, and there was already no trace of the red liquid there. I looked at El Sandra in the mirror, who was now sitting on the edge of my bed.

"How's Manila? Is it really better there than here on the island?"

"Absolutely! There are a lot more beautiful places in Manila than here!" She rolled her eyes. "This island is nothing compared to that. And I really don't know what's going on in my mom's mind! Why did she even think of holding the birthday party here!"

From the mirror, it was clear to me what physical changes had happened in El Sandra. She was once a ladylike woman before, but now she is a well-toned woman. A perfect curve of brows for her deep-set brown eyes with long and thick false eyelashes.

She looked bold now in her revealing pencil-cut dress. Even then, she was really fond of dresses. She reminded me of the villain in the movies I watched—bold and elegant. A far cry from the appearance of a provincial like me—simple and with almost no accent on the body.

I heaved a sigh as I looked in the mirror.

Without makeup, El Sandra and I still look alike. Our hair is the same length. By the way, hers is already straightened, while mine is still wavy.

My white T-shirt and tight jeans just fit me. And those, like the ones El Sandra is wearing… don't.

"Birthday? Isn't that still in November? I think it's too early?"

"Well, aside from that, Mom also wants me to continue my schooling here. Unfortunately, I will be transferring to your school this year."

"You mean... Western Eagle?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Yup! I'll spend my last years in business administration at that school. How boring, right?"

"It's good at Western Eagle. You'll enjoy it there as much as when we were at Western Academy," I said, convincing her.

"Well, if we enjoyment we'll be talking here... that's a big, big no, no! I prefer Manila." She stood up and flicked her hair. "I have a lot of friends there. My mom just wants to come back here. If I would... I won't bother myself stepping barefoot here."

I could feel El Sandra's strong dislike for her mother's decision as she folded her arms and rolled her eyes. She still hasn't really changed.

Or I guess... she got worse.

She yawned after her hands ran down her pencil-cut green dress. "Well, I'll go to my roo---oops! To your room. I want to rest now. Goodnight, Akemi," she said, kissing me.

My room?

Yeah.

That's why she's talking to me now. Because I wanted us to be close to each other, I gave my room to her. It's just a room. I still have a guest room. It's not as big as my old room, but it's okay, at least where we both get along now.

"How are you here, Hija?" Aunt Ingrid asked the next day at the table.

It's true that she was with El Sandra last night. I wasn't even confirmed because I didn't leave the room when El Sandra left me.

It was Monday, and we were peacefully eating our breakfast at the dining table. I should have gotten used to the silence when she suddenly spoke.

I looked up at him as I saw, from the corner of my eyes, El Sandra sitting up straight.

"It's okay, Tita Ingrid. Yaya Dores didn't leave me here," I replied sparingly.

"Because that should be their job. How about the course you'll be taking? Isn't that civil engineering? How is it?"

I smiled and wiped the side of my lips with a table napkin before I answered him.

"Excited, yes. I know it's hard, but I can handle it."

I smiled to show that I really liked the course I’d chosen. My gaze shifted to El Sandra, who was busy with her food and showed no interest in the conversation.

"Good to hear that! Do you want that course? It’s not just you're pressured... because your father was once a great engineer back then?"

My eyes slightly widened. I looked at her again. I almost heard her sneer at her question. I know it's because of Daddy and her anger towards him. If it's because of Mommy's death, why does she have to blame Daddy until now?

It was all an accident, like what the news had broadcast before!

"It wasn't about my Daddy. I really, really want to be an engineer," I answered calmly.

I crooked to hold back the emotion building up and avoid the sneer she had on her lips. I breathed deeply. With all respect, I stood up to finish my meal and that spleenful conversation.

"I'm done. I'll go first to take care of my enrollment."

I approached Aunt Ingrid where she was sitting to give her a peck.

"El Sandra, why don't you just go with your cousin? Try to check out Western Eagle. You'll like it there."

I looked at El Sandra. I then saw the irritation pass through her eyes as she rolled them.

"I have my plans for today, Mom. I'd rather stay here than visit that freak school---"

"El Sandra!" Angrily, Aunt Ingrid pointed a finger at her. "That freak school you are saying is the only school here in the Philippines that got number one out of the best universities all over the world?"

I agreed with what Aunt Ingrid said. I smiled at El Sandra, but she only gave me a boring look.

"So you better visit that school today. Stand up! Go with Akemi," Aunt Ingrid said with finality.

"B-But, Mom---"

"Here we go again with your buts, El Sandra! Visit that school or else..." There was a threat in her voice.

El Sandra sighed violently. Her lips protruded as she stood up. She walked briskly and was the first to leave the table.

"Are you okay, El Sandra?" I asked her worriedly.

We were already inside the SUV, and I noticed her silence. She ignored me and just stared at me. I sighed and bit my lip. Maybe this was not the right time to talk to her.

Our whole trip was quiet. I just ignored her too, because I felt that she was not in the mood to talk. I just entertained myself with the scenery that was also quickly disappearing due to the speed of the car.

I felt my phone vibrate inside the shoulder bag in the middle of the ride. I looked at El Sandra. Her face was straight ahead, and she seemed to have her eyes closed. The headphones were also banging on her ears, so I just shrugged my shoulders and took my phone out of the bag.

Three text messages from my friends greeted me.

Rose:

Girl, where are you? We have something to tell you!

Dean:

Are you near Western Eagle? We have good news.

Ren:

You will be at school? I have something to tell you. Text me when you arrive.

After reading those, the last message that bothered me What will Ren say?

Knowing his detective-like mind, I know what he will say makes more sense than the other two.

Last month, he also sent me a strange message. When I asked him, he only gave me one answer.

“Clues! It’s just Trust me, Akemi. I'll find out what really happened that day. "

I was in a wave of thought about what Ren might say when suddenly something cold landed on my arm.

In a mixture of shock and fear, my body trembled. My eyes dropped to the hand that was holding my arm and also quickly raised to the owner of it.

My lips trembled. "I-it's just you, El Sandra," I said.

Excuse me? Are you surprised? " A teasing smirk curled on her lips. "Up to this point, you are scared, Akemi? It's a freaking day, you know! "

El Sandra laughed at my amusement.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. What did El Sandra do to me?

The effect is really different when she is around. I feel like she will do wonders every hour. simply to fill her time!

"Are you all right, Ma'am?" That's Manong Roger.

I opened my eyes when I calmed down. I looked at Manong Roger in the rearview mirror, and I read the worry on his face. I simply put the phone back in my bag and smiled when he turned back.

"Yes, Mr. Roger. It's fine. I was just shocked. "

"Want to visit a doctor one of these days? That's too bad, "El Sandra said with a laugh; the sarcasm is clear.

I just smiled at her and kept my mouth shut so that the conversation wouldn't go on. It's not that I don't want to talk to her. I just don't want her to do something stupid that might give me a heart attack again, even though I don't really have that kind of illness.

"We're here," Manong Roger declared when the car stopped in the school parking lot. He came down and did his job. He gladly opened El Sandra's door for us.

El Sandra came out first, then ran out of patience waiting for me. The day hasn't even started yet, but she seems very tired and wants to go home already.

I just ignored her, shrugged, and got out of the car. As usual, I thanked Manong Roger because El Sandra didn't do that again.

Manong Roger gently closed the door and turned to me with a smile, which also melted immediately when El Sandra confronted him.

"Gosh! Faster, Akemi! I have something to do aside from---"she rolled her eyes"---visiting this old and boring school?

I smiled at her.

In the time I've known El Sandra, I'm used to her acting like this. I can tolerate her antics. even though we haven't been together much in the past few years.

I went ahead and passed her. I ignored her impoliteness. I could feel her heavy footsteps behind me. That made me smile more.

"Akemi, where have you been?! Why are you so---"

Rose was immediately interrupted when she looked behind me.

"El Sandra Concepcion?" As for Dean, her face suddenly turned pale.

I saw them on the first floor of the main building. They were in the long line of enrollees at the counter.

"It's you!"

Rose and Dean quickly left the line and aggressively ran towards us. The two of them crowded El Sandra, who looked at them in surprise.

"You're the famous Stanley University cheerleader, aren't you?" Dean couldn't get enough of what she had to say.

"The Queen B!" said Rose.

Those in the line looked to our side, wondering what the two were doing. El Sandra tilted her head and looked at me with a proud scream in her bold brown eyes. She seemed to be bragging.

I just smiled.

El Sandra is a cheerleader, according to what I heard from Dean. I do not know that. How do I know?

When in Manila, El Sandra and I did not have good communication. She doesn't say anything either. No, she doesn't really say anything about her. Yes, we talk, but mostly just to ask for a favor from me.

"Yes, it's me! How did you know? "

I remained standing on the sideline and watched my friends marvel at El Sandra. I still don't know much about my cousin. And that is very sad.

"You're so popular on the internet!" said Rose.

Dean nodded. "Yes, especially on the Stanley U website. You are very popular there. Is Steven your boyfriend? Gosh! I have a crush on him! "

I turned my back on them because I couldn't relate to what the three of them were talking about. I'll just take care of my enrollment so we can go home early. I left the three, who were obviously enjoying their topic. I've joined the line and tiredly glanced at my friends and my cousin.

"Akemi..." a manly voice called out in a low and careful manner.

I turned to see where the voice was coming from. I then saw Ren walking cautiously towards me. He looked around. I left the line and approached him.

"How are you? We haven't seen each other for a month, huh!

I'm fine. I have something to tell you, but...

He looked around before bringing his mouth to my ear.

"'Not here. Can we talk away from many people?'

With my narrowed eyes, I stared curiously at him and foreheaded. My eyes blinked as I stared at his face.

His hooded gray eyes screamed seriousness and concern.He seems to be very cautious about the information he has gathered.

My heart pounded thinking about what it was. Needless to say, I was very nervous.

"I-I'm with El Sandra..."

He was stunned. His eyes rolled, and he pulled me out of the line. He took me to a corner away from the people there.

"We need to talk..." his voice was apprehensive.

"We're talking now, Ren---"

"With no one. Akemi is far away. With no one else to hear. "

"Is what you say so important for us to go further?" I asked, confused.

"It's very important, Akemi."

"Tell me now, then!" My voice rose.

He hushed me. With caution, his eyes scanned the entire surrounding area again. "We'll talk. But not here, Akemi. Come with me, please? "

"Tell me first, what is that for?"

I searched his eyes. When we met, he immediately brought his face closer to mine to whisper the words that stopped me.

"It's about engineer and architect Lee's death. It's all about your parents' accident. "

My eyes immediately welled up and warmed to tears. His warm breath caressing my neck added shivers to my spine. A strange fear came alive in my feelings.

With a shaking hand, I pushed him.

Ren's eyes got wider.

Through the tears, I could see that he was serious about what he said.

"W-What did you say?" I asked angrily.

"Come with me---"

Ren didn't even finish what he had to say when a punch landed on his jaw.

On the strength of that, he sat down on the pavement.

"Ren!"

I quickly attended to him and angrily looked at the one who punched him. Before I could shout at him, I froze. I swallowed when I recognized the man standing in front of us.

His raging, deep-hooded brown eyes bore down on me.

Like...

You accuse me of something illegal.

Something that I've done is forbidden.

"What is happening here, Akemi---oh my gosh!" El Sandra exclaimed. "Ren!"

I turned to El Sandra.

She quickly ran to us to tend to Ren as well. "Are you okay? "What happened?" she asked worriedly.

Ren replied, but it was obvious that he was hurt when he sat down again as he stood up.

When El Sandra screamed, she got the attention of the students in line, so they quickly ran closer to where we were.

"Why did you punch him, Ryu?"

I turned to Ryu, who was still standing there. He looks at us, especially me.

I shook my head in disbelief. Why did he do that?

He did not answer El Sandra. He trudged towards us, clenching his jaw and fists. When he got close to where I was kneeling, he quickly took my arm and stood me up.

"Ryu!" El Sandra threatened him.

"Ryu, what is this all about?" Ren was about to stand up, but Ryu immediately pointed at him, so he froze.

"This is none of your business, stupid!" he screamed at Ren. He then turned around.

He quickly pushed me out of that place. I tried to get out of his grip on my arm, but he was too strong. Instead of being far away, I was even closer to him. So, I stopped pushing him. I could feel the pain in my arm because he was holding it so tightly.

"R-Ryu, what the hell! I'm in pain!”

After five years, he comes back like this?

Without communication and saying goodbye?

Without texts and calls?

Then is he the one who's angry?

How dare you, Ryu Dela Costa!