5
The thing about crowns and daggers
Kleya
Cosima is like a cage and I'm the wild bird held captive behind its bars—that's how I felt on my first few days under Cosima's survivor protection program.
I hated the fact that we aren't allowed to go outside the gates, all we could do was hangout in the garden and imagine what's beyond the walls. I hated how we're not allowed to lean or look out against windows. I hated their rules. But perhaps the worst part about Cosima is the fact that there's no internet connection for us to use, not even the slightest signal for our phones to work. We are literally cut off from the outside world if not for the cabled TV and daily newspapers they provide us.
We have our phones and gadgets with us but what's the use if we couldn't even use it for communicating or going online? We couldn't even install applications or new games, so guess who had no choice but to play Plants vs. Zombies over and over again? Obviously, me.
If only I had known I would be trapped in this place, I would've uninstalled this game and downloaded more offline games and apps!
However, with all the bad things aside, I kinda liked Cosima and the classes they require us to attend. Morning classes begin at 8 and end at exactly 12—our classes during these times are mostly academic and we have the freedom to choose which subjects to take. But when the clock strikes 3, our afternoon classes a.k.a the fun, begins. Every afternoon is our P.E classes pero iba ang P.E namin sa karaniwang P.E classes, yes we still have sports, health and music, pero meron din kaming self-defense classes. I love self-defense classes because during this time, I have the freedom to punch anyone without being judged or called evil.
Yup, medyo weird parin kasi literal kaming may sariling mundo, tv at newspapers lang ang nagsisilbi naming paraan para maging aware sa mga nangyayari sa labas pero solve na ako sa self-defense classes namin.
Hindi gaya ng normal na college at university, wala kaming eksaktong kurso o kahit 1st-4th year na mga divisions, nahahati lang kami base sa kung ano kami—wretched ba o crowned. Marami-rami rin kaming andito sa cosima, humigit-kumulang 70 rin daw kami kaya mabibilang pa lamang ang mga kilala ko. Apat lang din ang mga instructors namin at kabilang sa kanila si Lauren, samantalang si Python naman ay hindi namin mahagilap, lagi sigurong busy sa buhay.
Mahirap sa umpisa pero nasanay na ako sa takbo ng buhay dito sa Cosima. Nagulat nga ako nang namalayan kong mag-iisang buwan na ako rito. Hindi ko parin kasundo ang lahat at lagi parin akong napapaaway lalo na pag nagkikita kami ni Tasha at ng di matanggal-tanggal niyang flower crown, ewan ko ba sa kanya at walang kadala-dala sa paghahanap ng gulo
Every day in Cosima is a test of patience for me, but I have to admit, I'm starting to like this place. And despite of all my complains and doubts, I think Lauren was right, for once I'm finally living a normal life.
With all these people who are as wretched as me, I no longer feel like an outcast.
For the first time in my life, I finally feel like I belong somewhere.
I've always felt strange being among with the people who didn't went through what I did and now that I'm finally along with the wretched ones like me, I feel normal.
"Anong araw ngayon?" tanong ko kay Vivian nang bumangon ako mula sa kama at nadatnan siyang nakadapa sa sahig at nakahalumbaba habang nagsusulat sa diary niya, may pa-swing swing pa siya sa mga paa niya na para bang enjoy na enjoy siya sa ginagawa. Adik talaga.
Isinara niya ang kanyang diary at lumingon sa akin. "Friday!" masigla niyang tugon.
"Yes!" napasuntok ako sa ere dahil sa tuwa.
"Anong meron?" natatawang sambit ni Vivian.
"Friday is bacon day!" sigaw ko at agad na kumuha ng damit at towel mula sa cabinet ko nang makaligo na.
"Kleya, there's always bacon in the menu every day," paalala niya.
"But mas madami ang bacon pag Friday tapos honey-cured pa!" giit ko naman.
"And how the hell did you know that?" natatawang tanong ni Vivian kaya napangiwi na lamang ako.
"A girl knows her bacon, Vivian!" taas-noo kong pagmamalaki saka lumabas na patungo sa shared bathroom naming mga babae. Never, under any circumstances, doubt my bacon feels.
***
Napabuntong-hininga ako at napatitig sa apat na sulok ng combat training room. Kahit ilang linggo na akong labas-pasok dito upang magsanay, naninibago parin ako lalo pa't napapaliburan ng salamin ang buong silid. It's literally a big room with mirrors for walls! Kahit ang kisame ay gawa sa salamin, ang sahig lang ang hindi. Nakakahilo ng konti ang kwartong 'to.
"Find your sparring partner!" Anunsyo ni Lauren sabay palakpak ng mabilis kaya agad akong napalingon kay Vivian.
"Ayoko nga!" Mabilis na umiling-iling si Vivian habang nakangiwi. Isang beses ko lang naman natamaan ang mukha nang unang beses kaming naging magka-partner! Ba't ba ang arte niya!
"Punk?" siya na lamang ang niyaya ko pero hindi siya sumagot, halatang nagbingi-bingihan ang loko. Kung sino-sino ang niyaya ko; yung iba tumatanggi kasi may partner na, yung iba naman nagbibingi-bingihan. Oh bullspit. Ba't ba kasi hindi magkahalo ang crowns at daggers sa combat training? 'yan tuloy wala si Tasha my bestfriend na ang sarap ingudngod sa toilet.
"Noodles," lumapit sa akin si Miller at tumango na para bang nanghahamon. Come to think of it, we've never sparred before.
"Don't be mad if I wreck that handsome face of yours," ngumisi ako sabay suot ng headgear at gloves ko.
"Naga-gwapuhan ka pala sa akin?" ngumisi rin siya at sinuot ang protective gear niya. I would normally be pissed at cocky guys like him, but I'm cool with miller. Medyo maangas siya at may pagka loko-loko pero nilalagay niya naman sa lugar.
