Crowned

Chapter 22. The Rehearsal

Procyon, the 8th, smiled as I approach nearer. Her height was intimidating. Nasa likuran naman nito ang magnobyong pillars na sina Achernar at Betelgeuse. Achernar, the 9th, waved his hand at me as I moved closer. 

Tipid namang ngumiti ang nobyo nitong si Betelgeuse, the 10th na nakasuot ng long sleeves para itago sa mga estudyante ang mga braso nitong tadtad ng tattoo. "Hello kid!" usal nito sabay ngisi. 

Bukod kay Astrid, silang tatlo ang masasabi kong pwedeng pagkatiwalaan at mabilis makagaanan ng loob.

Pero bakit sila narito sa school?

Pinadala ba sila ni Sirius para magmatiyag na gaya ng ginagawa ni Vega?

My jaw literally dropped as I stare at them. I knew they're here for the same reason as to why the outcross gathered like a swamp of plague.

I sensed a lot clashing energies from the outcross and urions in the university.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay kong halos natatabingan ng magulo kong buhok. I wrinkled my nose to adjust the lenses of my eyeglasses. Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa tatlong pillars na nakatitig lang din saakin.

"Procy-"

"Regina," she cut me off to save me from the punishment. Bawal na tawagin siya sa kanyang pillar name in public. "She's Akina and her boyfriend Ben." Tukoy nito kina Achernar at Betelgeuse.

Bumuntong-hininga ako saka tumindig. Nagpatuloy ako sa sasabihin ko kanina. "Regina, I know what's going on. Pero bakit ganito karami ang nakamasid na urions sa university?"

Betelgeuse slash Ben chuckled as if he's hearing good news. "Kid, outcross is coming in like a colony of bats and we have to make the ratio proportional. They're here for a reason we can't discuss yet. As simple as that."

"Kiera," bungad naman ni Achernar, naglakad ito palapit saakin at tinangay ng hangin ang alon-alon niyang buhok, "This is for the safety of those uncrowned and crowned urions. We have lived peacefully for years. Ang mga kagaya natin ay normal at malayang nakakasalamuha ang mga ordinaryong tao. Now, that the colony of outcross seem like they have something big coming, hindi natin pwedeng balewalain ang lahat."

"W-what am I supposed to do then? Bakit parang kayong mga pillars lang ang may kailangang gawin? Hindi ba't dapat lahat maging aware sa mga nangyayari so that we could easily prevent the colony from dominating?" angil ko. Halos mapalakas na ang bulong ko dahil sa bugso ng damdamin.

At the back of my mind, I knew it was more than the colony of the outcross. May kinalaman ito sa nangyari nang nakaraang lunar eclipse... and possibly Phelan.

"Kiera, the pillars can handle it. Number one sent four of us here." giit ni Procyon. There was intensity in her words and the whole meaning of the context -that we should stay out of it.

"Vega," I whispered.

"Professor Virginia," she corrected.

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang backdoor ng music hall. The door revealed Phelan and his dashing look. Nakasuot ito ng itim na V-neck shirt at slim fit jeans. Mukha pa rin itong modelo sa itsura.

"Kiera," tawag nito saka nagpalipat-lipat ng tingin kina Procyon, Achernar at Betelgeuse. "Hello po!" magalang nitong bati sa tatlo.

Tumango si Procyon at si Achernar. Ngumisi naman si Betelgeuse pero napansin ko ang sabay na pagkuyom ng mga palad nito. His feet moved into an offensive position as well -left foot forward and his right foot backwards.

They knew him! Of course!

Lumapit saakin ang lalaki. The three pillars moved to give way. Nasa alert phase pa rin ang postura ng tatlo. Nangangahulugang may nararamdaman sila kay Phelan. Hindi ko lang mawari kung ano.