[Seven-Minute Semblance] GODSFORRENT & FIMBULWINTER

Chapter 3 - The Legendary Library Meeting

She tilted her head a bit. "Nagpapaalila? Ganyan na ba kababa ang tingin mo sa sarili mo, Ed?"

Wow, way to rub it on my face.

I groaned and slammed my forehead on the book in front of me. "No! Dude! Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi kaiisip sa lintik na tissue paper na 'yan!"

"Kalma, Ed, kalma! Bakit ka ba kasi nag-iisip ng tissue paper? Kulang ka ba ng tissue paper sa dorm? May isang roll pa ako—"

"No, thank you, I have my own groceries covered." I buried my face on the book. "Ang iniisip ko ay ang nakasulat sa tissue paper, Mace, ang nakasulat sa tissue paper."

"Anong nakasulat?" She inched closer and leant over to see the tissue papers aligned and arranged neatly in front of me. Her eyes widened for a bit, then she knitted her eyebrows. "Ancient scripts?"

"Runes to be exact," I said. "The script used in Scandinavia back then. Norse myths and folklore were written in those."

"Myths and folklore? So, 'yong literature nila?"

"Uh-huh. Ang pinag-iisipan ko ay kung kanino 'yan nanggaling."

"Sabi mo literature ng Norse 'yan, bakit hindi ka magtanong sa Literature Club?"

Napabangon ako. "Literature Club! Thanks, Mace!" Tumayo ako at binitbit ang bag ko. "Pupunta lang ako sandali sa Literature Club!"

Nagulat si Macey pero ngumiti lang siya sa 'kin at tumango. "Bawal kang pumasok sa uni ngayon, Ed."

Napasimangot ako at napaupong muli. "Oo nga pala. Tch. Bibisitahin ko na lang ang website."

Sumakto sa pagsandal ko ang paglapit ni Kuya PolSci. Tinitigan n'ya muna ang relo n'ya bago s'ya nagtanong sa 'kin ng, "What time is it?"

I replied flatly with, "Time for your morning show, drama queen."

He smirked with a tiny scoff and turned to Macey instead. "Hi," he smiled, "what time is it?"

Tinitigan lang din muna s'ya ni Macey bago s'ya sinagot ni Macey ng, "7:30."

He gave her a slight nod before he turned his attention back on his wristwatch again and left. Nagkatinginan kami ni Macey.

"7:15 pa lang," I told her.

"Nag-panic ako." She blinked.

"Reasonable." I shrugged, and rearranged the tissue papers in front of me, trying to make out some sense.

"Whoa," a familiar voice gasped above our heads. Si Kuya Psyche. May bitbit s'yang isang shelf ng libro. Nerd. Inilapag n'ya ang lahat ng bitbit n'ya sa tabi ng kastilyo ko. "Tissue paper ng KFC!" he exclaimed and took the seat beside mine.

"Hi." I glanced at him and at the tower of books that seemed to be a threat to my little hardbound castle.

He took out three similar tissue papers and laid them beside mine. His was written in Latin Alphabet—also known as Roman script, the script we're using in this modern era—and in all caps.

GOD OF ADOBO. GOD OF LECHON. GOD OF LIEMPO.

"Ang pangit ng sulat," I commented silently. Sana hindi narinig ni Kuya Psyche, dahil naglabas pa s'ya ng isa pang notebook (na mukhang sa kanya), at nakita kong mas pangit ang sulat n'ya.

"Iniisip ko kung anong sunod kong gagawin," sabi ni Kuya Psyche habang binubuklat ang notebook n'ya. (Habang tumatagal, nawawala ang respeto ko sa sulat n'ya.) "Nakuha ko na 'yung unang sagot, which is Freyr, at pagkatapos, hindi ko na alam kung anong pinatutunguhan ko."