Deltha: Avenue of the Esoteric

Chapter 12

Tulips

Like what I am expecting, naging matunog na naman ang pangalan ko mula sa iba pang high class. They keep on wondering what relationship I have with the supreme. Kahit saan ako pumunta, ramdam kong may mga pares ng matang nakasunod sa akin. 

After Garnet knew what actually happened, panay tanong rin siya sa akin. I told her everything and when she sensed that I'm not comfortable with our conversation, hindi na siya nagsalita pa.

Hindi naman sa naiilang ako dahil wala naman talagang namamagitan sa amin. It's just that, President Death has other intentions that I couldn't tell them.

"What's the real score between you two?" pagsulpot ni Vesper sa harapan namin na halatang katatapos lang ng training. "I can't believe you will betray me, my Dasha. Ang sakit ng puso ko. Crush pa naman kita," ramdam kong nag init ang pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

I can't blame him if he's curious too. I was also wondering why the supreme helped me.

"I told you to not bring it back again!"

Kaaga siyang binatukan ni Garnet. They ran along the training field leaving me alone in this bench. Nang maalala ko naman 'yong pagpupulong namin ni President Death ngayon, kaagad kong inihanda ang sarili ko. Ngayon 'yong simula ng araw na nakatakda bilang kanang kamay niya.

While I'm heading the elevator, bumalik sa isipan ko 'yong sinabi ni Garnet. My position was not permanent. There's a possibility that it will change depending on my performances in every mission. Knowing how competent Phaedra is, alam kong hindi niya hahayaan na ganito 'yong mangyari. 

Hindi ako inimikan ni President Death pagkarating ko ng meeting room. I did the same thing too. I just silently followed him to where he is heading. Katulad nang sinabi sa akin ni Headmistress Sonnata, it was part of his routine to visit every training room to monitor all abilities and powers from all classes. 

Halos takpan ko ang mukha ko habang naglalakad katabi niya.

Today, he was very different. Hindi siya nakasuot ng cloak na madalas ko ng nakasanayan. Pero gan'on pa man, mukhang tama nga si Garnet, may nakakatakot na aura si President Death. Ramdam kong wala siya sa wisyo ngayon na parang anytime, mangangain siya ng buhay.

I can't help but stare at him. There was something different with his eyes that I couldn't put into words.

He was writing something in a paper, similar to a professor grading his students' performance. Gusto kong magtanong kung ano ang pwedeng gawin ko pero anytime na nakikita ko 'yong magkasalubong niyang kilay, umuurong ang dila ko. Bigla ko tuloy napaisip kung paano ko siya pilosopong napagsalitaan.

"I don't need you here. Just go back training..." walang ganang tugon niya.

Out of too much curiosity, I wasn't able to stop myself.

Hinawakan ko 'yong kamay niya.

Napatigil tuloy sa pagte-training ang ibang class C nang makita kung ano 'yong ginawa ko. 

Mabilis akong bumitaw at nagmartsa paalis sa harap niya bago pa man niya ako tuluyang mabugahan ng apoy. Hindi naman ako nagsisi sa ginawa ko. I saw something on him and that explains why he was such in bad mood today. 

Habang naglalakad ako pabalik sa training field namin, hindi ko maiwasang maisip kung ano 'yong nakita ko. I don't understand why it keeps bothering me. Knowing myself, alam kong maya't maya ko 'yong maiisip. I will not be able to focus on my training. 

Maya maya, napatigil ako sa pag iisip nang may marinig akong babaeng umiiyak. She was sitting on a bench while the others are focus on their training. Kapag nakita siya ni President Death sa ganitong ayos, paniguradong mas panghihinaan siya ng loob.