Power Within II: Bound by a Promise(Under revision)

VIII: CONCERNED

Ilang minuto pa ang dumaan bago ko nagawang makatayo. I took a quick dip in the pool before heading downstairs. Masyadong tahimik. My eyes roamed, there was no sign of the maid. I ignored the idea of looking for her and just went straight to my car.

"K, kailan ka pa nagka-fiancée," salubong sa 'kin ni Gerard sa school garden. Nakakaloko na naman ang ngiti niya. "Why were you hiding that fact?"

"What are you even talking about?" iritado kong tanong.

"Don't deny it. Athena told me."

Nangunot ang noo ko. I don't have any clue to what they're talking about, but somehow some memories from last night came back to me. Particularly when I was in the car.

"She said a girl wearing funny looking clothes drove you off, saying she's your fiancée."

Athena saw the girl with the strange robe.

"Kung wala ka pang balak na ipakilala siya sa 'kin ngayon, I can wait," dugtong niya habang sumusulyap sa suot na relo. "For now, sumama ka muna sa 'kin. I 'll show you something interesting." Agad niya 'kong inakbayan at inakay sa kung saang pasilyo ng kung anong palapag. Inginuso niya ang dalawang estudyanteng nasa kabilang building. Nakatayo ang mga 'to tapat ng isang pinto. "They're holding a bucket each. Of what? We're about to see.”

"You brought me here for this? I'm leaving." Akmang aalisin ko na ang braso niya sa balikat ko nang nagsalita siya uli.

"Nand'yan na 'yong hinihintay natin." Tukoy niya na sa babaeng palabas ng pintuan kung saan nakaabang ang dalawang estudyante.

Napilitan na 'kong panoorin na lang kung ano ang mangyayari. Sa loob ng ilang segundo, magkasunod na naibuhos ng dalawa ang laman ng timbang hawak nila sa babaeng pahakbang na sa hamba. The first bucket was filled with white paint followed by chicken feathers. The girl now looks like a scruffy chicken. Nagtawanan ang lahat ng nakakita at mga nakaabang sa nangyari.

"I still don't get the reason why you brought me here," dismayado kong anas kasunod nang pagtabig sa kamay ni Gerard na naka akbay pa rin sa 'kin.

"Now, the question is, do you know who's the chicken girl?" Makahulugan niya 'kong tinitigan.

"Why should I bother knowing who she is?"

He's taking this nonsense really too far.

"Kasi, siya ang sumasalo sa lahat ng kasalanan ng Se7en sa mga estudyante rito." Napilitan akong sundan ng tingin ang babaeng naglalakad na palayo habang nababalutan ng balahibo ng manok. “See for yourself.” He pushed me forward.

Ayoko sanang gawin ang sinabi niya pero kusang naglakad ang mga paa ko. Kusang humakbang ang mga 'yon pasunod sa babaeng pinagtatawanan ng lahat.

I already have an idea who the chicken girl is, what bothers me is the fact that I am interested.

Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa marating niya ang school gym. Kahit sa loob ng changeroom. Dali-dali siyang pumasok sa kanugnog na shower room. Nanatili lang ako sa pinto n'yon.

“Shet na malagkit. Para silang mga elementary student.” I heard her talking to herself. “Kalma, Adria. Kal—”

Dahil sa narinig, bigla akong napaalis sa pagkakasandal. Gumawa 'yon ng mahinang ingay.

“S-sino'ng nand'yan?” tanong nito. “Sisigaw ako ng rape!”

"Animals aren't allowed inside the school premises, so why is a chicken taking a shower here?" sagot ko nang hindi umaalis sa kinalalagyan.

“S-ser Khaos?” Sa tono ng boses niya parang hindi siya makapaniwala na ako ang kausap. “N-nakita n'yo ba 'yong nangyari kanina?”

"I can get rid of those students if you beg me.” Huli na nang maisip ko ang nasabi. This is none of my business, but here I am involving myself.

"H-hindi na ho kailangan. Salamat na lang ho."

“Suit yourself.” Dinugtungan ko agad ang sinabi. "You metioned the name Adria a while ago, somehow—”

"Ha? Wala ho akong binabanggit na pangalan, ser," putol niya.

My brows furrowed. “Don't lie!”

There was a long pause when the door suddenly opened, revealing the maid with only a towel covering her body. Despite, that she stood unfazed. Wala siyang pakialam sa ayos niya.

“Hindi ho ako nagsisinungaling,” seryoso at direkta niyang sagot. Her words are brimming with conviction, not avoiding eye contact.

“Did you see who took me home?”

Hindi siya natinag sa tigas ng ekspresyon ko. “Wala ho akong nakita.” Nanatiling buo ang boses niya.

I know she's lying and yet her eyes are telling me to believe her.

Ako na ang pumutol sa titigan namin. Tinalikuran ko siya ng wala nang sinasabi at naglakad na palabas.

It was strange that I struck a conversation with her on my own. I shouldn't have gone and did Gerard's bidding.

“Ser, parang may iba ho sa inyo.” In an instant, she's back to her normal way of talking. It's as if she weren't the girl who had the spunk to face me head on a few minutes ago.

“What you think is none of my concern,” I answered as I shut the door close.

The way I'm acting right now is bothering. Out of a sudden I became too concerned with her, along with the strange girl in robe and the one in my dreams.