Soulstone Academy

Chapter Eighteen: Warning

There is nothing more peaceful than eating breakfast at the early morning, where students are still rushing inside the Awanggan, their eyes widening once set on me... because I was wearing all black.

"Kaya naman pala may mga estudyanteng natatakot na pumasok dito."

Nilingon ko ang natatawang si Eva dahil sa sinabi niya. Her hair was fixed in a braid, decorated with white flower things and leaves that looked to be Tamara's work. One hint is that she's still trying to make it prettier, and because the neatness clearly opposes Eva's whole personality. She rolled in the fucking pig pen once to connect more with the animals.

"It's not my fault they are intimidated by a color. I could wear black the whole week but they won't be harmed if I don't want to."

"Alam mo naman ang mga estudyante dito, Raven. Soulbearers hold the Hiraya rules to their very core, and because you're breaking their beliefs, it's an uncomfortable surprise."

Tamara nodded. Magkasama sila at nakaupo siya sa harap ko. "Kahit nga ako'y medyo hindi pa komportable, Raven. As the Academy's protectors, we were taught from early age to strictly apply the forbidden rules."

"So kapag ba nasusugatan kayo, sinasamaan niyo ng tingin ang sugat?" natatawa kong tanong. "Or maybe you guys faint when you see blood? When nighttime comes, do everyone in here-" nilakasan ko talaga ang boses. "-gets nightmares? Gets killed?"

All I received was glares from the students who tolerated my presence. Iling naman ang isinagot ng dalawang kaibigan ko.

"I guess another factor as to why their fear increased is your performance yesterday. Sobrang lakas at talino mo sa laban, Raven, na minsan natuturingan kang halimaw."

I pursed my lips at Eva's statement, thinking it over. Kung academics ang pag-uusapan, masasabi ko na average lang ako. Wala naman kasi akong extraordinary remarks sa mga general subjects. Pero pagdating sa laban... parang ang normal-normal lang.

Every hit, every attack, every calculations that I make in the middle of a fight... they enter my head naturally. Kung sana gano'n rin sa Mathematics, pero hindi. Kaya naman itong si Dong ay gumawa pa ng special proposal para sa'kin.

He only took my dark outfit on one glance and didn't comment on it anymore. Akala ko ay sasabihin niya rin sa'king dumiretso na lang ako sa detention room, kagaya ng ibang guro na nadaanan ko, pero wala siyang karea-reaksiyon.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng office niya at pumasok doon si Helios, I eventually understood his intentions.

"Please don't tell me tutor ko siya." kaagad kong saad bago pa nakaupo ang lalaki.

The room was blazing hot. Dahil sarado siya't hindi ata pamilyar si Dong sa tinatawag na bintana ay mas lalong nagiging mainit ang kwarto. And with Helios sitting in front of me, the heat was putting me in a slight daze.

Hanggang sa bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko.

The way the heat disappeared made me flinch, glancing at him wide-eyed. Ngayong hindi na ako naiinitan, halata naman na siya ang nagiginawan. His sleeve was rolled to his elbow so I could see how his hair rose from the chilling air, although hindi namin nararamdaman ni Dong ang lamig ng kwarto.

The teacher adjusted his glasses before speaking, "Tutor nga, Miss Tempest. Alam kong isa ka sa mga nakababatang kapatid ni Miss Ellis Vanescha, at sinabi niya rin sa'kin na kailangan kitang tulungan sa subject na 'to dahil dito ka mahina. She has expectations of you."

I fought the urge to scoff. Almost everyone naman ata may expectations sa'kin. Iyong mga tao na maging mabait ako, ang pamilya ko na maging responsable at maipagyayabang ako, at ang mga estudyante dito na umayon ako sa gusto nila.