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Terra Reincarnated
Chapter 2: Shirowe's Faces
During the opening ceremony almost a year ago, he only threw him a glance and almost called his attention to greet him how he's vacation was. Blue realized he didn't know his name.
"My name is Peter Anyan Shirowe. Please to meet everyone of you."
Blue thought it happens a lot in a person's life. It just so happens he mistaken the new student with someone else and he happened to be in the same class as the new student's.
But now that he knew his name, why did he want to call his attention again? Is it even a coincidence that Shirowe would look at him straight in the eye and smile sadly?
He was probably like that, the one with good looks, smart brains, but generally a weak character. During PE, he even expected Shirowe to be seated by the bleachers, having explained to the teacher his medical situation. Blue was an athlete in PE, especially soccer. He didn't expect Shirowe to not only show up in PE, strong and healthy, but even rival his own skills.
It meant a lot for the new kid to be of match to him, Terra Blue Silverkey. He was popular, well-liked. Blue is the exemption. He thought Shirowe was satisfied by just throwing him sympathetic looks whilst basking in his accomplishment, but he even went so far to talk to him.
Sam and Haji both liked him, especially Sam. It irritated him to no end that they thought he was just a sore loser to treat the new kid unfriendly. Blue couldn't believe that it crossed his mind the first time he saw Shirowe to talk to him.
When Blue flunked in a math test, left his assignment in his favorite subject, and missed the winning goal in soccer, he wanted to let it out to his two friends. Unfortunately for him they were occupied, irking him more. If only they knew how horrible his day was.
It didn't help that Shirowe, a classmate of his and enjoyed looking down at him approached him again while he was ready to snap anyone's neck and none of his friends were around to restrain him.
And Blue did snap, fortunately not anyone's neck. He let his anger out like a child, something that no one would do in front of the tormentor. If only Sam and Haji knew, then this humiliation would have never happened.
Shirowe looked down, nodding.
Blue asked sharply what, what exactly was on his mind.
"I'm sorry," was his answer. "But I just wanted to talk to you. I didn't know your name during the opening ceremony, so I was really glad I was in the same class as yours."
Even still Blue didn't understand the sadness in Shirowe's smile, and why he only showed it to him.
There was a deep self-resentment to see Shirowe fall right in front of his eyes. He barely knew Shirowe's past, didn't know why he acted differently around him. Shirowe was trying to say something, but Blue never understood. He gave off a different feeling and asked Blue a lot of things. Shirowe would try to brighten his day or comfort him. He can be quite persistent, especially since they were still no more than good acquaintances, but Blue appreciated the effort and he thought he should do the same for Shirowe.
"SHIROWE!" Blue cried out, his arm desperately reaching in the split second the gun was shot at Shirowe. Many have taken their eyes away in terror. "They all think he's dead."
"Shirowe!" Blue sobbed, catching him by his arms. They all thought he was dead, but Blue wouldn't believe them, or his thoughts. Shirowe's eyes were closed with a red streak of blood streaming out of his right eye. Blue shuddered at the image of Shirowe, crying even until his death. Blue couldn't even understand why Shirowe would smile at him sadly, and only to him.
The murderer seemed satisfied at the terror he caused.
"Haji, Haji, wait!"
The armed man turned around and his cheek collided with a heavy, brutal fist that knocked his seven-foot body to the ground by a mere student.
"You bastard! You shot my friend!" Hajilee shouted angrily. The terrorists around him mysteriously did nothing. Revenge was inexplicably out of their minds as they stood idly.
Hajilee gritted his teeth furiously and looked like he wanted to say more in his anger. He whirled to where Blue was, putting a hand on his motionless shoulder.
"Blue, come with me. Sam is with me. We'll get Shirowe to the medics." Hajilee shook his friend gently. "Blue, he's not dead, but you need to go! Blue!"
Hajilee can see fresh tears on Blue's cheeks. It despaired him. Blue saw everything right in front of his eyes, but it can't be helped anymore.
"Blue," Hajilee firmly called again with more authority in his tone. "Terra…Jomy!"
Blue's head slightly moved upward but sharply, the same his eyes snapped open. Hajilee's eyes stretched as wide as they can possibly can, then swiftly taking a look at Shirowe, but Shirowe's hand blasted him with a strong blue light. Hajilee flew in air and four tables had to stop him from flying right across the room.
"Haji!" Blue shouted, having caught the mysterious blue light but not entirely understanding what it was, except it blew his friend away.
Shirowe stirred forcibly, putting a hand on Blue's shoulder to help him sit up.
"Shirowe, you're—your eye!"
Shirowe groaned, but forced himself to stand up. Blue protested, but Shirowe didn't stop.
"It's fine," he said. And even at a time like this, he smiled. "It's an artificial eye, anyway."
"What?"
Blue was less concerned of the guns that resumed their position, all pointed to them. Shirowe appeared more alert and embraced Blue tightly and jumped away behind a makeshift barricade of tables and chairs.
"Idiot!" Hajilee screamed. "Don't shoot!"
Blue was trying to crane his neck, to see Hajilee, but Shirowe tugged his arm, telling him that they needed to run immediately. They ran out of the restaurant.
"Wait, Shirowe, how about Haji?" Blue asked anxiously, the two running with athletic speed. The two skidded to a stop when a green wall of light suddenly blocked their way.
"Shirowe, stop!" Hajilee's voice echoed.
Blue didn't know what was going on, but Hajilee was walking toward them with armed men around him. Shirowe was as calm as a tree, strong despite the shot he got on his 'artificial' eye.
Blue couldn't imitate Shirowe. Two of his friends were at two sides and light that can manifest a physical form began to defy the laws of physics.
Who was this….person?
"Look, I'm sorry that they shot you…we shot you…"
"'We'?" Blue muttered, stunned. Hajilee is with them, then?
Hajilee stopped. Blue knew his green eyes were sincere. He didn't want anyone hurt, but what the heck was going on?
"Let me explain, Shirowe. We're like you and Blue is…" Hajilee looked from Shirowe to Blue, who firmly glared. What about him?
"We're not going to hurt out comrades," Hajilee finished. "Thank you for protecting Blue, but there isn't any danger, not to you two, my friends. I promise."
Hajilee stepped a foot forward, but Shirowe grabbed Blue's wrist and moved a foot backward.
Hajilee frowned. "Shirowe, what are you—"
"My name is not Shirowe."
Hajilee's jaw dropped, alike to Blue's. "Shirowe…?"
"My name is not Peter Anyan Shirowe!" he announced boldly. His face looked hard and stoic that his next words felt like nothing. "I'm sorry for lying."
Several mouths dropped, gaping and no words escaped their throats temporarily. It was an effective distraction. Shirowe put Blue's arm around his neck and particles of blue light surrounded them until it turned to an orb. Hajilee looked like he was about to react, but Shirowe had gone ahead, flying upward and shooting through the cement like it was paper. Hajilee and the armed men covered their faces from the shower of stones and throat-choking dusts.
"Damn it!"
Blue knew and felt (very much) his awkward position. Crazy ideas can't help enter his mind, despite the events right now. He was a bit taller than Shirowe, but if he doesn't lock his hands around his neck, then he wouldn't have survived the absurd escape Shirowe pulled off. Moreover they were fifty feet from the ground and Shirowe appeared exhausted.
"Shirowe, that was crazy," Blue managed to say. "What if Haji were a different person to not fall for that?"
Shirowe didn't smile. "I don't know," he answered stiffly.
They had an unruly landing just three buildings from the mall on top of a business building, where people have surely evacuated the place. Shirowe collapsed to the floor, but just as fast he insisted to stand up.
"Hey, Shirowe!" Blue said, slightly frustrated at his persistence. "At least rest—"
"Idiot!" Shirowe retorted, surprising Blue. "They're after you, we have to…"
"Shirowe!" Blue caught him the second time before collapsing. "Why are they after me? And how do you know?"
Shirowe panted, completely paler than usual. "He'll explain," he muttered vaguely.
"He?"
Shirowe's face look like it was in utter stress. His eyebrows were frowning that his forehead would create new creases at this rate. Blue had never seen Shirowe like this.
"Shut up," Shirowe sighed quietly. Blue frowned, confused. That was a late reaction.
"Shirowe, Blue!"
Blue heard footsteps landing. He turned his neck, completely alarmed. He wasn't a superhuman being, but he felt no presence at all, as if Hajilee just appeared into thin air.
"Haji…"
Hajilee decided to take things slowly. He came alone. Though he was unarmed, Blue had seen enough to be convinced he had power and a secretive intention. At the same time, this was Hajilee, the one who wouldn't lie to them…at least he hope so.
"Blue, Shirowe," he said slowly, nodding to them both. "Just calm down, okay? Please, I don't want anyone to get hurt."
"Then what about the bombing?" Blue asked, finding it reasonable to see to it that Hajilee prove to be worth the trust first.
"No one was hurt. I used my psionic abilities."
"Psionic abilities?"
"You have it, too, Blue. Just like Shirowe, though I didn't expect it…"
Blue doubted he had something he didn't know, but he decided not to question that for now. "What if I do?"
"You don't understand. It's because it's you."
"You're right. I really don't understand. It must have been nice to cause all that chaos and confuse me."
"I'm sorry."
"You are?"
"Yes."
There was silence between the two. Hajilee wasn't lying. The question is if this was Hajilee's agenda alone or something even bigger…
"Is Shirowe okay?"
"He's…pretty grouchy."
They chuckled for a few seconds and smiles faded for a while. Hajilee scrutinized Shirowe's face. He had never felt anything from Shirowe, but now, he was like a box suddenly open for the world and all the contents just began spilling out.
Shirowe opened his left, uninjured eye. Blue seemed glad, but Hajilee was darkly hoping he remained unconscious. Shirowe was going to fight back.
"Wait, Shirowe-"
But this Shirowe was different. Both Blue and Hajilee immediately noticed.
Or maybe this was the real Shirowe?
"So there is something you're not very good at?" he said haughtily, raising an arm glowing in blue arm, pointed like a gun at Hajilee. "Me? I'm a natural, of course."
Blue's eyes widened, realizing Shirowe, whatever state he was in, was going to fight Hajilee and kill him. "Shirowe, STOP—"
Blue ducked his head behind his arms. A brilliant beam of blue light shot through the air. He felt resistance on the other side, causing turbulence in the wind. Shirowe clicked his tongue, expressing disappointment. When it quelled down, Blue looked over and saw Hajilee, burning in green light, collapsing to his knees.
"Hm? I don't remember you…who are you?"
"He's Haji, Shirowe, our friend!" Blue growled, finding strength to stand in between the two sides. Hajilee have only showed patience to gain their trust, but Shirowe was going out of the line. "Shirowe, what the hell are you doing?"
Blue thought he knocked some senses on Shirowe. His smile vanished and he glowered deeply in resentment.
"Why are you defending him?"
"I won't let you two kill each other."
Shirowe didn't appear pleased. "If you're ideal like that, it could kill you."
"Shirowe, you're the one acting strange and suspicious…" To begin with was the artificial eye.
Shirowe smiled haughtily once more. "He wasn't bluffing, you know. I really am not Peter Anyan Shirowe. That person doesn't exist."
Hajilee stood unsteadily. The smiling fool just confirmed something to him that he shouldn't hesitate any longer. On the roof there only stood a single friend for him, not two.
"Blue, forgive me for this!"
"Haji—?"
For the second time, Shirowe's smile vanished. Hajilee grabbed Blue's wrist and began teleporting. Before the green light enveloped them both, Blue heard Shirowe calling him two names that wasn't his: Peter and Jomy.
