Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Fire to Cover the Ash

"Thank you." Meredith said. "However, hinayaan na lang namin 'yon. We can turn a blind eye. Kaya naman ang tanging hiniling namin ay umalis muna sila, it should be our right after being violated, right?"

May nag-aalinlangang tumango mula sa side ng council at marami naman ang sumuporta mula kay Meredith.

"Oh tapos? Ano connect no'n sa nangyari kay Antonio?"

Natigilan ang lahat nang magtanong si Kahel. Bored na bored ang mukha nito. Umirap siya dahil sa atensiyon na nakuha at humalumbaba.

"Sige, bumalik na kayo sa boring na discussion." lumapit siya sa'kin at bumulong. "Wala akong maintindihan."

So you disrupted the meeting?

"Anong gagawin ko?" maldita kong tanong. "Wala akong dog food. Matulog ka na lang."

"Tch."

"It's not about the connection, Serena's partner, it's my reason and answer for Dale's question." ani Meredith na matalim ang boses. "As Serena said, Antonio is very short-tempered, comparable to her partner-"

"Please stop talking about my dog if you don't wanna get bitten." peke akong ngumiti at ini-ruffle ang buhok ni Kahel. "He might look pretty handsome but he can snarl real good."

Meredith cleared her throat. "Anyway, with Antonio's attitude, it was inevitable that he would attack Grace. Ngunit hindi pa siya no'n nakakahawak sa dalaga at bigla na lamang siyang natumba. Nang lumapit si Shaina sa kaniya ay patay na siya. No one in our group could have done that, dahil air ang ability ni Shaina, cloning ang kay Jeremy at sa akin ay See-through. Ang mas nakakapagtaka ay hindi na namin maalala pagkatapos no'n ang nangyari."

The teachers looked at Jeremy and Shaina who were mentioned in Meredith's story. Tumango ang dalawa bilang pagsang-ayon.

"Wala na po talaga kaming matandaan."

Muling tumahimik ang silid habang nagdidiscuss ang mga guro tungkol sa account ni Meredith. It is believable. Umayon din ang mga sinabi niya sa ibang parte ng teorya ko.

"What ability does Grace have?" tanong ni Miss Abi.

Yuri answered, "Possession, Miss."

Nagsimula ang bulongan. It connects to Meredith's story. Napabaling naman ako kay Kahel nang tapikin niya ako.

"Ano naman kung 'yon ang ability niya?"

I sighed. "She can enter someone's mind and control it. Since nakatalikod si Antonio, pwedeng Grace possessed the guy to stab himself. Hindi kataka-taka kung may dalang kutsilyo si pet."

Kumunot ang noo ni Kahel. "Pero hindi naman 'yon ang nangyari 'di ba?"

I gave him a blank stare. Kahel muttered an 'ah' and looked away, nodding to himself.

"Hm." the Headmaster hummed. "Grace's ability can apply to Meredith's story. What says you, Grace Salvallon?"

Oh. So this meeting to discuss Antonio's murder has no evidences aside from the victim's body and the facts. Ang silid na ito ay talagang dapat mapuno ng tamang istorya na may kasamang ebidensiya. If nothing is presented, the story that best fits the crime is followed.

Lahat ay napatingin kay Grace. Kalmado lamang siyang tumayo at humarap sa mga tao.

"Yes, Headmaster. Meredith lied about the truth. I will now tell you what really happened back there."

"Do entertain us."

"May naobserba si Keian na secret door sa meeting room nina Meredith. Yuri permitted the inspection. Kaming dalawa ni Lizzie ang pumunta doon. Bumaba nga si Meredith at nakita niya ako. For some reason, she looked angry that time. Nang malaman niya ang ginagawa ko, inutusan niya sina Jeremy na patayin ako."