Chapter 15: I'll Watch Over Her

Today was Mirlo’s death anniversary. I actually forgot it, but I still visited her grave.

“Mister, did someone come here just a minute ago?” I was shocked to see a bouquet of fresh flowers when I got there. Knowing that our family already hate my sister, no one would really visit her.

“Umm.” He was thinking.

“Yeah, I think I saw one. I remember! A girl came to visit the grave.” It must be Jen.

“That time I was thinking it was Jen but that never really proved anything.

Time passed by, it was our last year in high school.

***

It’s the first day of class.

“Mr. Kyuen, could you please answer the question?” I was totally spacing out.

“Ah, sorry ma’am.” I did answer the question. The teacher seemed shocked about it.

“Haha, Jairo’s really a genius!”

“Did you study too while you’re still an assassin?” Nee-chee asked.

“Yeah.” It’s not a big deal.

***

“Jairo, I was thinking that maybe you should have another partner.” Hashimaru said.

“I don’t want anyone aside from her!” I was against it.

“Hashimaru, please reconsider.” Nitsuji suggested.

“That topic was a taboo, Hashimaru!” Nee-chee added.

A day after that...

“Hey, I’m Jennifer Gonzales. I’m the substitute partner for Jenivive Genesis. You can call me Jen too.”  Damn Hashimaru! He’s not listening! And on the top of that, her nickname’s Jen too. I’ll kill that old man!

“Didn’t we already talk about this one, Hashimaru?” I was seething in anger.

“Yeah, but you need to have someone on your back too.” He said.

Jen was only the real reason why I became a human again. Without her, I'm just a pathetic assassin.

***

“Guarding the artifact again?” Nee-chee said.

“This brings memories.” Shy said.

“Yeah. When I see this place, I remember Jen’s wish to save you all.” Shinsui said.

“She was sparkling inside this place.” It was then that Shy wept.

“Eh?” She’s wiping off her tears.

“Sorry, guys. I just remembered Jen.” She must have missed her so much.

I touched the crystal.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect her.” I said.

I apologized to Dylan.

“Waa!” Jennifer shouted.

“What? What?” Nee-chee exclaimed.

“I was caught!” Someone was holding her. How the hell did she get captured so easily?!

“Jennifer was caught!” Ken said.

“Tsk.” Nitsuji seemed not pleased about it.

“You’re the agents? Huh, piece of cake!” They’re looking down on us.

“Bunch of kids! If you don’t want your friend’s head to blow up, let yourself be captured.” They used Jennifer as a hostage!

“Now, now. What’re we gonna do, bro?” Nee-chee asked Nitsuji.

“Listen to them, don’t fight back. Jennifer’s in danger.” Like hell I would do that!

“What are you guys trying to do with the artifact?” I asked them.

“Haha, we’re hunters! That crystal will pay us a good price! We’ll wreck that money up!” They said.

It was then that one of them used a paralyzing smoke bomb.

“Damn.” We all got paralyzed.

“I... I can’t move.” Shinsui said.

“Everyone.” Nitsuji tried to reach up to us.

“You animals!” I couldn’t move too.

We all fell on the ground.

“Now, how do we kill you all?” They said.

“Haha, leave them. They can’t move already.” They laughed at us. “Let’s get the crystal and we’re out of here,” they added. 

It was then that they tried to use a very large axe to destroy the crystal but the axe couldn’t penetrate the crystal. Fools!

“You can’t destroy that thing.” I said.

“What?” They seemed aggravated because of what I said. I couldn’t blame them.

“What did you say, you brat?” One man pulled my hair.

“You better off not touching the crystal with your filthy hands!” I exclaimed.

“Jairo, don’t make them mad!” Nitsuji exclaimed while trying to lift his body.

“Damn, I can’t still move!” Ken said.

“Uhgg.” Ace reacted.

It was then that they tossed me towards the crystal.

“Tch, this job’s pointless! We couldn’t even scratch that wall!” One man said.

“We’ve gotta use the moon mist.” The other man suggested.

“But that’s—!” They then left off a steam. A really poisonous steam.

It was all around us. Everyone was coughing up blood.

“Everyone, don’t inhale the mist!” Nitsuji ordered.

“You know that’s impossible.” Ace said.

“This is it. We’re going to die, guys!” Nee-chee exclaimed.

“Stop it, Nee-chee! It’s not funny!” It was then that the crystal started to melt.

“Dy... Dylan.” I tried to reach the crystal.

“Haha! This is it! Money!” They’re wearing gas masked so they’re not affected of the poison gas.

The whole mountain started to shake.

“The physical and the spiritual world are going to collide!” Shinsui exclaimed.

“The artifact...” Nitsuji said.

“We were asked to protect it.” He added.

Crap! Crap! Crap! Why can’t I move?! I couldn’t protect her back then and now this? I’m worthless!

It was then that a very strong whirlwind started to ran rampant inside the whole cave. The poison mist vanished in an instant.

“I was thinking of cleaning the whole cave.” It’s—!

Jen’s voice.

We all looked up and found her near the entrance.

“To think that I could also see rats here, maybe I really should clean up!” Her eyes were greener than emeralds.

It was then that the hunters plummeted one by one.

“I can’t breathe.” They said.

How come that they can’t breathe?

“Jen.” Shy was crying all over.

“She really is alive after all.” Ken wept too.

“Jen!” Ace was also crying.

“You guys, how come that you were beaten by these thugs?” She asked.

Jen helped everyone.

“I was worried about the artifact, so I came to look.” She then touched the melted crystal and it shined.

“What are you doing? You could’ve let the world be destroyed.” She was smiling as she was talking to the crystal. I knew that it was Dylan but her smile that time, it’s my first time seeing her smile like that.

It was then that the crystal returned to normal.

We could already move.

“Jen!” Shy hugged her.

“Thank goodness!” Ken and Ace went to hug her too.

“Jen’s back! Jen’s back, Jairo!” Nee-chee kept shoving me.

“Yeah, I know.” I was totally dumbstruck. To think that she’s already standing before me. I am so glad that she’s safe.

I was so happy.

“Hey! Let us go!” The hunters started to yell.

“Shut up, you worthless rats! I’ll pulverize you to crumbs!” Jen, the lion, shouted.

“Let’s stay silent.” The hunters, the rats, behaved.

“Waaa! It’s really her!” Nee-chee exclaimed.

She then smiled at me.

“It’s been a long time, Jairo.” She said.

“Sorry for leaving just like that.” She added.

“Reminds me, Jen. How come that you didn’t even contact us about your whereabouts?” Nitsuji asked.

“A girl needs time and space.” She replied.

“Yeah, but for one year?!” Shinsui said.

“Shun said that you’re dead too.” He added.

“Yeah, I asked him to do that.” She said.

Shiru, you liar! I’ll savage you someday!

“So, you want to quit being an agent too?” Nitsuji asked her.

“Actually, I was thinking of quitting but after what happened today. I mean, seeing Shy, Ken, and Ace coughing up blood just like that. I just can’t trust you guys!” She's bragging. How dare she!

“She’s scorning us!” Nee-chee and Shinsui exclaimed.

***

“Jen! So you came back!” Hashimaru said.

“So, who the hell is this?” Jen pointed to Jennifer.

“Hi, I’m Jennifer Gonzales. Your substitute.” Can’t she shut her mouth?

“Hashimaru...” Yep, she’s angry.

She just smiled there. She's going to kill him.

“It’s not like that, Jen—!” As Hashimaru was about to explain.

“I’m out of here!”  She decided to go.

I don’t know if she’s going to go back but I saw her smiling back there.

I believe that she will.

Hashimaru took care of Jen’s enrollment. She’s attending the class like nothing happened. Our classmates didn’t even ask about Jen’s disappearance too.

“Jairo...” She called me.

“Your sister’s incredible.” She said.

I don’t know how she met my sister but it felt like she really loved her too.

“Your brother too.” I said to her.

She then smiled at me.

I love her smile.

It reminds me of them. The only ones who really love me.

Mirlo... Dylan...

This time, I’ll definitely protect her, so please watch over us.