the last sky of the earth 51 - knight's scene: conference

BACK AT the mansion, mararamdaman naman ang tensyon sa paligid--lalo na sa loob ng conference room na west wing niyon. For what reason?

Because for the first time since the attack, nagtipon-tipon ang mga importanteng miyembro ng Shrouded Flowers minus the Shinomiya sisters Mari and Kourin. In fact, iyon ang talagang sinamantala ng mga miyembrong dumalo dahil na rin sa isang rason--the issue had something to do with what the princess had truly feared since that night. As for Mari's absence, pinagtuunan nito ng agarang pansin ang isang isyu na may kinalaman pa rin sa pag-atake. But the international actress had to go to Japan for that. May permiso naman nito ang conference na iyon kaya walang problema rito kung magkaroon ng ganoong meeting na kumpleto ang 12 Knights at naroon din ang presensiya ng clan leaders ng Shrouded Flowers.

In addition to that, Daryll and Shingo were also present for a very important reason--it was actually the two of them who asked Mari's permission to organize an important meeting such as that.

"I'm glad I still get to see you again, Daryll," nakangiting bati ni Kenji Azuraya--ang leader ng Azuraya clan--na nakaupo na sa puwestong nakalaan para sa kanya kasama ang kapatid na si Arisa. "Ang akala ko ay tuluyan ka nang nagpahuli sa mga iyon."

ETB Book 2 New Characters

The Four Families

*Shinomiya Clan: The Noble Sky*

JUN NISHIKAWA (Yamada Yuki) - Shiro Nishikawa's younger brother who was in a statis since the attack at the Shinomiya mansion in Kyoto and Yasha Wilford's best friend. He was given the codename "Tellurian Shadow". Since Book 1, he made an appearance at gaya na rin ng sinabi ni Shiro, si Jun ang isa sa mga susi para magbalik ang mga nawawalang alaala ni Yasha. But then it was also discovered that he holds the key to determining Shingo Yanai and Yousuke Raisaki's lineage. Siya ang nagsilbing shadow guardian ni Shingo mula nang maka-recover siya mula sa pagkaka-comatosed niya. Nag-training siya sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ni Takaharu Kousaka nang magawa na niyang maka-recover. Sa kabila ng delikadong daan na tinahak ng kapatid niya, nanatili pa rin siyang tapat sa paglilingkod sa prinsesa ng Shinomiya clan at hindi niya ito kailanman sinisi sa pagkamatay ni Shiro. In the outside world, he is known as a famous professional photographer and would usually work with his best friend.

ETB Book 2 Returning Characters

The Four Families

*Shinomiya Clan: The Noble Sky*

KOURIN SHINOMIYA (Morita Suzuka) - The "Last Sky" and the current (not to mention the youngest) leader of the Shinomiya clan. After the hunt and battle they had with the Dark Rose, she is able to live her life again using her real name, thus revealing to the world about her survival from the Shinomiya mansion attack in Kyoto a few years before. She proceeded to live her life as a normal college student with Seiichi Yasuhara by her side and still good friends with Raiden Wilford even after rejecting his romantic affection to her. But her normal life soon changed upon learning from Raiden that the Yasunaga clan will finally forsake their isolation in order to destroy the Black Thorns — which was another event that was mention in one of Hitoshi Shinomiya's prophecies. Aside from that, she had to do everything to learn the truth about her brother's death upon meeting Yousuke Raisaki — a young and talented swordsman who bears a striking resemblance to her dead brother! Aside from being a talented leader, she is also an expert in swordsmanship and sharpshooting in spite of her young age. Nanami Miyuzaki later helps her in polishing her sword skills while Takaharu Kousaka became her sharpshooting training. She first learned swordsmanship from her dead older brother when she was four years old. At the age of 9, Mari conveyed a unique way of sharpshooting to her that actually aims her target's wrists, ankles, and the side of the neck, no matter how fast the target moves to avoid her bullets in order to easily disable her target's movements.

The Sunday Currently # 23

Yup. And I just realized as I typed this down that today is Sunday. Just great.

Anyway, no mentions of how long has it been since I wrote something like this because honestly speaking, I don't want to know at all. Any updates from me? You could say that there's a lot for me to mention. But I think I'll mention that some other time.

Right now, on to the real Sunday Currently content of this post, shall we?

This Sunday, I'm currently:

Mirui's Hyacinth: Smile At Me - Chapter 11 (Final)

MULI ay sumemplang si Mirui sa pagla-land niya habang isinasagawa ang triple twist na parte ng kanyang routine para sa ice skating competition na sasalihan niya. Kasalukuyan siyang naroon sa ice skating school ng kanyang ina at nagsasanay. Pero paano niya magagawa ng maayos ang routine na ipe-perform kung ganito namang pati ang simpleng triple twist, hindi pa niya magawa ng tama?

Pinilit niyang umayos ng tayo kahit medyo masakit na ang balakang dahil sa ilang ulit na pagkakamali sa landing niya. But this time, instead of continuing to perfect her routine, she felt drained as she crouched in the middle of the skating rink. Hindi na niya alintana ang lamig na nararamdaman. Ang tanging nais lang niyang gawin ay umiyak. Nothing around her seemed to go the way she wanted to anymore. Nahihirapan na siya.

Ganito ba talaga kalaki ang epekto ng mga sinabi ni Theron sa kanya? Kahit hanggang sa training ay naaalala pa rin niya ito. Sumasagi kasi sa isipan niya ang panahong nag-ice skating silang dalawa ng binata noon. She remembered his warm hands firmly gripping hers as he held on as if his life depended on her. Kahit madalas itong madulas dahil hindi nito maibalanse ang katawan sa ibabaw ng rink, naroon pa rin ang kasiyahan sa kanyang puso dahil nakasama niya itong gawin ang isang bagay na mahal na mahal niya bukod sa musika.

But she would never have that kind of moment with him again. Mukhang malabo na talaga. At mukhang wala na rin siyang dapat asahan.

Mother's Day Thought

So tomorrow, it's going to be Mother's Day here. And perhaps, all over the world. I know. Most of us will definitely do something to make that day special to our beloved mothers. In my case, I could only offer words of love and comfort as things these past months didn't go so well for all of us. Most especially for her.

I don't know if they will be enough. But I could still hope it will help. No matter how hard it is for me right now, it will always be my mom whom I'm going to run to when things would get worse. But it didn't come to that point just yet.

Mirui's Hyacinth: Smile At Me - Chapter 10

PAGPASOK na pagpasok ni Theron sa kuwarto niya nang makauwi na siya sa mansyon ng mga Monterossa ay galit na inihagis niya ang mga gamit na dala. Pinagsisipa niya ang dingding at sinuntok din iyon nang hindi pa siya makuntento. Wala na siyang pakialam sa sakit na nararamdaman dahil mas nangingibabaw ang sakit sa kanyang puso.

Sa lahat ng katangahang nagawa sa buong buhay niya, ito na yata ang isang bagay na wala nang kapatawaran. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nasabi niya ang mga salitang iyn kay Mirui. Of all people na pasasakitan niya nang ganoon, bakit ang babaeng mahal pa niya?

"I'm sorry, Mirui... I'm so sorry..." umiiyak at puno ng pait na bulong niya habang patuloy sa pagsuntok sa dingding. Mayamaya pa ay nanghihinang napasandal siya roon at tila nauupos na kandilang napaupo sa sahig.

Hindi lang naman niya gustong masira ang relasyong inilihim ng dalaga sa kanya kay Lexus. Kaya niya nagawa iyon. Isa pa, binalaan na siya ng ina ni Mirui. Pero alam niyang nangsisinungaling lang siya kapag itinanggi niyang tama ang ginawa niyang pagtataboy sa dalaga.

Mirui's Hyacinth: Smile At Me - Chapter 9

HINDI mapunit ang ngiting nakapaskil sa mga labi ni Theron habang kasalukuyang nagpapatugtog ng gitara sa silid niya. Ilang araw na rin siyang ganoon at talaga namang nakakapanibago, lalo na sa mga kasamahan niya sa Falcon Knights. Bagaman ilang beses na siyang kinukulit ng mga ito, lalo na nina Selwyn at Errol, hindi siya nagsasabi ng kahit ano.

Ano naman kasi ang sasabihin niya sa mga ito? Maging siya ay hindi maipaliwanag sa sarili ang kasiyahang lumulukob sa kanya hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon. Who would've thought he would come close to being with Mirui like that? Nararamdaman pa rin niya ang init at lambot ng palad nito dahil sa ginawa nitong paghawak sa kamay niya noong isang araw.

It was just a simple gesture, but the effect it gave to his heart was colossal. Hindi nga niya alam kung paano pa nagawang umakto nang normal sa harap ng dalaga sa kabila niyon. Hindi rin niya alam kung bakit ganoon ang epekto ng pagdadaop ng mga palad nila sa kanya. Hindi naman iyon ang unang pagkakataong nangyari ang bagay na iyon.

Maybe because Theron could feel that there was something different with the way Mirui held his hand at the time. It was as if... she was trying to convey something to him. At least, iyon ang pakiramdam niya. Ipinagpatuloy na lang niya ang pagtugtog ng gitara nang hindi magawang hanapan ng paliwanag ang pakiramdam niyang iyon.

...and I just started doing it...

Okay. You might be wondering what the heck am I talking about it. But hey, that's why I'm writing this now, right?

Right.

As I typed these words down, I'm watching reaction videos about Marcelito Pomoy's version of "The Prayer" featured live on Wish 107.5 Bus. Honestly, watching most of them were hilarious and enjoyable. And then there's the episodes of Hana Nochi Hare.

Mirui's Hyacinth: Smile At Me - Chapter 8

"IT'S RARE to see you up here practicing."

Natigil sa pagtugtog ng gitara si Mirui nang marinig iyon. Kasabay niyon ay ang awtomatikong pagbilis ng tibok ng kanyang puso nang malingunan kung sino iyon. Naroon siya sa rooftop ng building ng College of Arts para mag-unwind sa pamamagitan ng pagtugtog ng gitara.

"Kailangan ko rin naman ng change of atmosphere, 'no? Masama ba 'yon?" Kapagkuwan ay napayuko siya nang hindi niya magawang tagalan ang tinging iginagawad ni Theron sa kanya.

Naramdaman pa niya ang pag-upo nito sa tabi niya. Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman niya na may ipinandong na naman ito sa kanya. Nang tingnan niya iyon ay nakita niya ang varsity jacket nito, dahilan upang mapatingin naman siya sa binata.