74 Banal na Tagalikha (1/2)
As Scarlet pulled back her head from the kiss, Daniel's eyes brightened up. Though it was still muddled from confusion of the sudden events.
”Why-Why would you do that?” Daniel rapidly blinked his eyes, smacking his lips as he slowly placed a finger on it. ”Why did you kiss me?”
”I-I…” Scarlet was speechless as her only reason for kissing Daniel was that Hayden told her. Well, that was a lie. It was more of a spur of a thing due to being flummoxed. Reddening, Scarlet quietly mumbled, ”Hayden told me to do so…”
”That guy…” Daniel whispered under his breath. Hayden has always been unpredictable… ”Did-did he really?”
A few seconds of awkward eye contact tailed this event, with the atmosphere among the two people increasing in romantic tension. Soon, Daniel moved his hands to stroke Scarlet's face and pulled her in.
With that, the two made out. For real this time. Half a minute later, the two pulled back and smiled. Daniel wore a grin and was the one to speak first, ”Remind me to thank Hayden later.”
Scarlet nodded, relieved that Daniel was partly back to his previous self. That was when Sophia's voice rang out, ”You guys finally done making out?”
Focusing their attention to Zeke and Scarlet, the Daniel froze. Meanwhile, Scarlet shooting straight up and orienting herself to face Zeke and Scarlet.
Zeke had a smile on his face whilst Sophia's countenance was calm as usual. Zeke talked teasingly, ”Oh, love. Such a wonderful thing.”
”Shut up.” Daniel and Scarlet simultaneously replied. The two then looked at each other prior to chuckling.
”So, you okay now?” Zeke walked to Daniel's side. ”What did Hayden tell you?”
”The usual indecipherable wisdom sayings he gives me.” Daniel snorted, yet, from his tone and his gaze, it was evident that he was grateful for Hayden's 'indecipherable wisdom sayings.'
Also, it was easy to say that Hayden's words helped return Daniel's sensibility to him. Zeke and Sophia had to admit that it was nothing short of a miracle taking into account Hayden's social skills.
”What happened back there in Paraiso anyways?” Zeke was curious of Daniel's struggle back in Paraiso.
Retelling everything, Daniel's dejected look returned. He told every detail with him skipping over the unimportant ones, such as how he killed Butcher. Daniel's story concluded after 10 minutes. It was clearly extremely summarized.
”She undressed you?” Scarlet's countenance became complex, not knowing what to feel at all. ”And you kissed her?”
”I was mind-controlled…” Daniel gloomily spoke under the watchful gaze of Scarlet. ”That was why I was saying sorry…”
”Calm down.” Sophia placed her hand on Scarlet's back, activating her Ability to let Scarlet think with clarity and without the influence of her intense emotions. Sophia whispered in Scarlet's ears, ”It's not his fault, remember that.”
”Yeah…” Daniel was depressed. Not only because he was guilty, he was also guilty that he kind of enjoyed embracing that sensual body. Regardless, he wasn't a stupid man that would mindlessly voice this out, to a woman no less. That would be an act of pure suicide.
”Thanks for understanding...”
At that moment, the door opened, with Anthony, Juan Tamad, the Zamboanga Branch Director, Apolaki (Gerald), and Rose walking in. Rose had a soft smile as she said, ”How are you feeling, Daniel? You feeling better?”
”Yes…” At the sudden barging in of five uninvited guests, Daniel didn't really know what to articulate. ”Umm…”
”Oh, how rude of me.” Rose bowed slightly. ”I am Rose Kapayapaan, the founder of Puting Araw and the first seat of the Walong Sinag ng Araw.”
The second the four youths heard Rose's words, they were immediately astounded. This astonishment was displayed by their agape expression, apart from Sophia of course. After all, Rose was akin to a myth amongst them lower-ranked Puting Araw members.
A second later, sitting up straight, Daniel's countenance darkened. He was worried what the business of the considered-epitome-of-power in the world of wielders of the Philippines have with him.
”Don't worry, Daniel,” Anthony walked forward. ”We just have a few questions and you're free to go. We're given to understand that you weren't in control of your body during your rampage in the Camp General Basilio Navarro.”
”On top of that,” Gerald was the one to speak this time around. ”As the mission is from our own Ghost Unit division, and that this accident is unforeseen, we clear you of any blame for everything that has occurred.”
”Given that,” Rose continued for Gerald. ”As one of the most gifted individuals in our Puting Araw, we would have compensated you if not for the fact that your mind-controlled rampage is the root of the downfall of the Zamboanga branch of Puting Araw.”
”Okay, with that out of the way,” Gerald talked again. ”What happened during the mission? Was our Ghost Unit division's intel wrong?”
”Um…” Daniel was speechless as he had too much to process. They were all talking so fast. Shaking his head to wake himself up, Daniel replied, ”There's nothing wrong with the intel of the Ghost Unit division… It was my fault as I haven't seen through the façade of that Butcher and the fact that it was actually a trap…”
Narrating the events that transpired the night of Daniel's and Zeke's mission for another time, Daniel unwaveringly blamed himself for the blunder of the mission. ”I express my contrite as if I would have escaped sooner the instant I saw that black portal, all of these wouldn't have happened.”
”So it was all a conspiracy…” Gerald heaved a sigh of relief. This cleaned the name of the Ghost Unit division.
”Well, at least Crimson Enchantress is dead.” Juan Tamad laughed carelessly.
”Really?” Daniel narrowed his eyes, surprise filling his heart. ”Who was it that killed Crimson Enchantress? Was it the white fox-masked man?”
”Yeah.” Juan Tamad answered casually. ”It was quite surprising that a Level 2 wielder can kill a Level 3 wielder. Brutally as well, Crimson Enchantress was killed in a brutal manner such that her head exploded into pieces. What's more alarming is that when I and my faithful companion showed up…”
Much to the annoyance of the Zamboanga Branch Director, Juan Tamad attempted to wrap around his arms to her shoulders. Used to Juan Tamad's antics, the Branch Director simply ducked and shifted sideways, not allowing Juan Tamad to touch even a single strand of her hair.
”That never gets old.” Juan Tamad tittered. ”Anyways, when the two of us showed up, eleven more wielders, in colorful traditional clothes, if I'm not wrong, from Korea, and was wearing varying animal masks. Those wielders are all Level 3 and Level 4 wielders.”
”Huh?” Hearing this for the first time, Daniel was confused.
”I'm not done.” Juan Tamad became solemn. ”That's not what's truly surprising. What's really flabbergasting and confounding is that those eleven wielders seemed to treat that Level 2 wielder to be their de facto leader, standing behind him. This is backed by the fact that when my companion here verbalized with a hint of condescension that a Level 2 wielder can't plausibly kill a Level 3 wielder, one of the women wanted to charge at her but was stopped by the man. that Level 2 wielder apparently calls himself White Fox.”
This time, Daniel was totally perplexed. 'That happened? Isn't that 'White Fox' Hayden? Level 3 and Level 4 wielders…? So it really isn't him…'
”All of you will not tell this to anyone.” When Juan Tamad finished, Rose spoke. ”Even to Hayden as he is not present. By the way, where's Hayden?”
”Oh, he just left subsequent to saying a few words to me.” Daniel responded politely.
”Okay,” Rose nodded. ”Good day to you four younglings. As for you, Sophia, go report to Anthony of your mission in Zamboanga once you finish in here.”
”Yes, ma'am.” Sophia serenely agreed. ”I would meet you later, Sir Anthony.”
Anthony nodded to express his recognition of this. ”We won't bother you now. Daniel, you recuperate here and ready yourself for the return to your school. As for your parents… They were quite worried of your disappearance. As there was no other possible way out of it, we've opted to modify your mother and father's memories to you getting their permission for a several-day vacation that you were invited with your tutoring student. It's standard protocol, and we assure you that there was no further tampering of memories. In accordance, we've sent a few people to acquire clothes from the closet in your room along with a bag. You should acquire it prior to your release. You know where to get it. We've also taken the initiative to create altered images sent to your Identity Number's data storages. The rest is up to you.”
”Thank you very much.” Daniel was full of gratitude, except for the part where his parents' memories were changed. The act of changing memories has and will always be a moral gray area for any ethics. Therefore, Daniel was conflicted with that.