Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Six: Dinners & New Companions

-chapter six-

"Feelings does not look good on you, Mad Dog."

Tahimik ang mesang inuupuan namin. Hindi ko binigyan ng pansin ang mga kasama at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Mikhael was also furiously eating his fill. Ang katabi niya ay nakangiti lang habang kumakain. It's the girl he was with earlier - the one with green highlights.

The only person who wasn't eating in our table was the boy beside me. Nanginginig niyang hinahawakan ang kutsara't tinidor. Nakatingin sa malayo ang mga mata niya at parang may bumabadya pang luha.

I sighed. At mukhang isa iyong trigger dahil biglang napatalon si Timid Boy at natatakot na tumingin sa'kin. Do I look like some monster who will gobble him whole?

"I'm sorry po!" sigaw niya sabay yuko.

Mikhael stopped his furious eating and raised a brow. "Napakabully mo talaga ano, witch."

Pumikit ako at ibinaba ang hawak na kubyertos. Huminga ako ng malalim bago binalingan si Timid Boy na mukhang mas lalong nanginig. In the corner of my eye, I could see Mikhael pause his dinner at iniinom na lang ang drinks niya while looking at us, disinterestedly. Mukhang hindi daw interesado pero alam kong nakiki-chismis naman.

"Look," he jumped and I almost rolled my eyes. Bakit ba takot na takot ito sa'kin? "I told you that I won't forgive your next sorry, 'di ba?"

Unti-unting tumaas ang ulo niya at tumingin siya sa'kin na may halong takot, gulat at lungkot. His lower lip trembled and more tears started to form. It feels like talking to a toddler who's on the verge of a loud crying session.

"Woah," Mikhael commented blandly. "May papaiyakin ka naman, annoying woman."

Maka-naman 'to, eh wala pa naman akong napaiyak na ibang tao sa harap niya. Besides, wasn't he looking disinterested earlier? Bakit parang napaka-aktibo niyang magkomento ngayon? The short girl only gave a small chuckle. Another weirdo. Hindi ba nawawala ang ngiti nito sa labi?

"Do you want me to forgive you?" tanong ko.

Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha ni Timid Boy. Sunod-sunod siyang tumango. His hair bounced with the movement, and I caught a mark in his right ear. Time stopped as I look at it. A birthmark? Or is it a scar?

"Gagawin ko po ang lahat!"

"Then, stop being afraid of me and act like a normal person." natigilan siya sa sinabi ko. "I won't hurt you."

Umawang ang labi niya. Ibinaba niya ang tingin at pinulot ang kutsara. "I know..." he said as he started to eat.

I held my hand in front of him, making him glance at it in surprise. Wala na atang ibang emosyon ang batang 'to maliban sa takot, lungkot, at gulat? Or is it proper to call him a kid? Baka naman magkasing-edad lang pala kami nito.

"Well, introductions should be made, right? I'm Serena Raskell. You?"

He blinked once, twice, before finally taking my hand. "A-Akiru... Suzumane."

Naningkit ang mata ko. Japanese? Kaya pala medyo singkit ang mata niya. Kung hindi mo alam ang pangalan niya, you wouldn't think of him as a Japanese or Korean.

But... Japan, huh? The place of our origin. Until now, its borders are closed and visitors are placed under strict requirements and tests. Most of the government lab tests and experiments for ability-users were also conducted there. 

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at inilipat ang tingin sa babaeng nakaupo sa harap ko. She's already looking at me, with the same soft smile in her lips.

"I'm Anastasia Sanders! But you can call me Ana or Annie," bigla niyang hinampas ang likuran ni Mikhael na nasamid. "My cousin can explode from time to time, but please treat him well."