Heartfilia's Premises

Chapter 10

Louise had been trying to find holes with me since earlier this day. I knew how bad she wanted to know what really happened to me and what is up with me now. Sino nga ba naman ang hindi magtataka. Just yesterday I was so eager to solve the puzzle while now, I do not feel like being part of any of this anymore.

"Leigh, there is a vacant there. Doon tayo," ani Louise at itinuro ang pang-dalawahang table sa bahaging dulo nitong restau.

Tahimik ko lang siyang sinundan habang pareho naming bitbit ang mga order namin. Dahil hindi naman nagkakalayo ang schedule namin ay sabay na kaming natapos sa pag-aaral para sa UNATEX. Ngunit ang totoo niyan ay hindi ko talaga alam kung nakuha ko nga ba ang lahat ng mga pinag-aralan namin kanina.

Diverting one's self to other things just to avoid what one had been seeking for was never easy. Tila kalahating bahagi na ng pagkatao ko ang kaugnay ng mga katanungan tungkol dito sa Heartfilia Academy and even with the Heartfilias themselves.

But I seriously need to set this aside. Hindi biro ang nangyari kanina. It concerned about my life for pete's sake!

"Just tell me when you are ready. I am here to listen," saad ni Louise ilang sandali lamang matapos kaming makaupo.

Tipid ko na lamang siyang nginitian. I had to admit that I was dying to see her earlier this morning to clarify things out, but after what happened? I no longer know. Alam kong binabantayan pa rin ako ng grupo nina Kylan. Kung sila nga ang Imperium, hindi malabong mayroon silang mata at tenga na pakalat-kalat sa loob ng campus.

"Louise," saad ko at bigla naman siyang napatingin, hinihintay ang mga susunod kong sasabihin, "Uh... nothing. Sorry."

Ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa kinakain ko. I know that Louise still have her eyes on me. Kung pwede lang na umalis ako rito ay aalis na talaga ako. Another realization is creeping into me.

Ano ang kaugnayan ng sinasabi nilang Imperium sa mga Heartfilia?

"Hey. Pwede ba kaming makiupo?" naagaw ni Axel ang atensyon ko. He was with Justine.

Alam kong halata sa ekspresyon ko ang pag-aalangan but it was Louise who made the decision. Hinila ni Axel ang kalapit na table at idinugtong ito sa amin.

"Dito ka rin namin unang nakausap Leigh," ani Justine na  nasa tabi ni Louise at tinanguan ko na lamang ito.

"Look Aleighna, stop bothering yourself too much. You are safe here. Nagkaintindihan na sila sa meeting kanina. Kylan and his company can no longer set their foot here or something worse will happen. Nazaire was fired up and-"

"Axel," I cut him in between, "Just stop. I no longer want to hear a thing about it."

Agad namang humingi ng pasensya si Axel dahil dito. I maybe uncomfortable with them but I am not mad. Ayaw ko lang talaga na pag-usapan pa ang kung anumang pupwedeng magsindi ng apoy sa mga tanong ko, gayung hindi pa ito lubusang nawawala.

"Anyway Aleighna, as an SCB, I hope for you to still enjoy your stay here. Sana mawala na rin sa isip mo ang mga nangyari at pwede mo kaming takbuhan anytime," Justine assured me and I thank him, them, for that.

"Can I break the awkward atmosphere and ask where Nazaire is?" singit ni Louise sa amin.

"Nasa atrium extension. Nagpapahangin. Alam mo naman yang pi-," agad na napatigil si Axel na siyang dahilang ng pagtuon ng atensyon ko rito, "Alam mo naman yang presidente natin," patuloy niya ngunit pakiramdam ko ay may kakaiba sa kanyang sinabi.

I secretly shook my head because of that thought. I cannot open a hole that will lead me to somewhere this time.

"Siya nga pala, how is his arm?" tanong ko sa kanila nang maalala ang sugat ni Nazaire na dala ng daplis ng bala mula kay Kylan.