Valkyrie Wings Book 1: CHRONICLES OF A FALLEN

Chapter Eleven

Dismissed na ang huling klase ni Andrea sa araw na iyon. Bago siya umuwi ay dumaan muna siya sa restroom upang mag-ayos. Naabutan niyang palabas na ang apat na estudyanteng nasa harapan ng salamin kaya sinolo niya na ito.

She saw Kim's reflection in the mirror, approaching the restroom. Andrea smiled. "What's up?" Ang pangungumusta ni Andrea pagpasok ni Kim sa restroom habang nakaharap siya sa salamin at naglalagay ng chapstick sa sariling mga labi.

Kim slowly closed the door behind her and secretly pushed the lock on the knob. "Pauwi ka na ba?" She asked in a cold manner.

Laking pagtataka ni Andrea ang ibang tono sa pananalita ng kaniyang kaibigan. At nang hinarap siya ni Kim ay seryoso itong nakatingin sa kaniya. Not the jolly Kim who was always smiling. Dahan-dahang isinauli ni Andrea ang chapstick sa loob ng kaniyang bag. "Are you okay?" Ang tanong niya kay Kim nang nakaharap sa salamin.

"I'm not, obviously."

"What's wrong?"

Inilabas ni Kim mula sa kaniyang bulsa ang litratong kaniyang napulot at ipinakita ito kay Andrea. "Ipaliwanag mo 'to sa'kin."

Hinarap ni Andrea si Kim at dahan-dahang kinuha ang litratong hawak nito. Saglit niyang tiningnan ang litrato at ibinalik ito sa kaibigan. "'Di ba nga edited 'yan? Jason said it himself."

"I may not be smart. But I'm not stupid, Andrea," ang wika ni Kim habang hawak ang litrato na kaniyang ipinakita. "I study Physics. We study optics, lasers, microscopes, telescopes, AND cameras. I know that this is NOT edited. Did Kara do something to me? I don't feel like myself!"

Napalunok si Andrea. Naglalaban ang desisyon niya kung sasabihin niya ba kay Kim o hindi. Iniwasan niya ang tingin ng matalik niyang kaibigan.

"Answer me!" Kim said in a shivering tone of anger.

"Kara's... Kara's not human. She's a Valkyrie, with special abilities. And yes... she did something to you," ang mangiyak-ngiyak na wika ni Andrea. "She... uhh... she suppressed your fears, your sadness... your grief. At kung hindi niya 'yon gagawin, your excessive fear will put you in a state of coma and you'll die. At ayaw kong mangyari 'yon. I don't want to lose my best friend. I'm so sorry, Kim," at tuluyan na ngang humagulgol si Andrea. She turned around and faced the mirror, tore a few pieces of toilet paper and wiped her tears.

Kim felt a sting in her head. She did not know how to react. She wanted to cry for days but there were no tears. She felt severe headaches and strong heart palpitations. She threw flower vases and glass plates at the dorm's garden, tore her notebooks and scrapbooks just to expel her emotions.

Tiningnan niya ang hawak niyang litrato, then she looked back at Andrea. Lumapit siya sa lababong katapat ng salamin, binuksan niya ang gripo at itinapon doon ang litrato.

Napahinto sa pag-iyak si Andrea. "Kim?" Aniya nang may pagtataka.

"I know you're protecting Kara's identity," kinuha ni Kim ang basang litrato, pinagpupunit ito, at itinapon sa basurahan. "You can trust me with that."

Andrea smiled a little. "Thank you, Kim," at nang yayakapin na niya si Kim ay bigla siyang hinawi ng mga kamay nito.

"No. I'm still mad at you for keeping this to me the whole time. You just don't know what I've been through these past few days," ang galit na wika ni Kim.

"I'm sorry ⸺"

"Enough saying sorry," Kim interrupted. At sa galit niya ay hindi niya napigilang sipain ng malakas ang trash can na ikinatapon ng mga laman nito. Andrea's shoulders jumped to her own surprise. "Don't talk to me," ang pahabol ni Kim. She then walked out of the restroom, leaving Andrea burst into tears.