The Alpha Goddess

XI: Field Trip Gone Wrong [i]

Zuki's Point of View

Nakatingin lamang ako sa labas ng bus. Habang ang aking tenga ay nakaalerto. I could felt their eyes on me. There are four demigods, and one satyr. The rest are full of monsters. The street was busy. Full of different kinds of vehicles.

Kasama ko sina Fuego at Erin sa iisang bus. At ang isang demigod na may teal green eyes. Katabi naman nito ang satyr na kinikilala niyang kaibigan. As far as I can remember, his name is Hanzel Mark Sarsozo.

At pinaghihinalaang anak ito ni Hermes basi sa hitsura niya.

We managed to gather information, thanks to Erin's invisibility and enhanced thievery. Kami ang naatasan sa Nangka National High School. Sina Blei, Blaze, Nkri, and Dash ay sa St. Francis Academy since tatlo raw ang nandoon.

Lady Heshiena, Mavros, Chry and Ace are the reinforcements.

In case something's gone wrong.

"You look so glum, pre," the satyr named Jan Paul commented.

Rinig na rinig ko sila dahil nasa second to the last row ako nakaupo. Good thing, wala akong katabi. Muli akong napatingin sa labas. The sun was glistening so beautifully. The clouds were looks so fluffy I could sleep on it.

Mayumi . . . where are you? A sudden thought came across my mind. Nagpakawala ako ng mahinang pagbuntonghininga. Inalis ko na ang aking tingin sa labas, at muling iginala ang aking mata sa loob ng bus.

The minotaur is at the side of the bus's door. There are quite a few of empousai. Right behind the driver's seat, may nakaupong matandang babae. The remaining passengers are men. They're probably monsters, or just an ordinary mortals.

"Napanaginipan ko na naman ang lalaking 'yon," rinig kong sagot ni Hanzel.

Napatingin ako sa kinaroroonan nila. Our eyes met. Jan Paul nodded at me, so was I, and immediately turned his attention back to Hanzel.

"You mean, the guy who's appearing in your dreams for three years?" kinompirma niya ito. "The guy who had the same teal green eyes as you?" pahabol niya pang tanong.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw him nodded as a response. Damn. That's been like forever. Imagine, there's that same guy who appeared in your dreams for three years. That would drive me insane! I would be asking and wondering why.

So far, the monsters remained on their seats.

But their eyes were constantly moving, as if monitoring our every move. Sina Hanzel at Jan Paul naman ay may pinagtatawanan. Nakatingin sila pareho sa screen ng cellphone na hawak-hawak ni Hanzel. Habang ako naman ay nanatiling nakaalerto. Maging sina Erin at Fuego.

Rinig ko ang pagkabagsak ng cellphone ni Hanzel sa sahig ng bus nang biglang nag-preno ang driver. Naiinis itong lumabas. Sumilip ako sa bintana. Napansin kong malapit ng magkabanggaan ang dalawang magkasalubong na bus.

Marahil ay ito 'yong bus kung nasaan ang grupo nina Blei, Blaze, Nkri, at Dash.

Iginala ko ang aking paningin para alamin kung nasaan kami. On the left side of the road, may kapansin-pansin na ancestral home. May maliit na eskenita na pinagigitnaan nila ng isang maliit na car wash business.

Sa right side naman, kung saan doon nakaupo sina Hanzel, Jan Paul, Erin, at Fuego, ay may daan papasok ng eskenita. Base sa bus namin ay papaliko ito roon. Ang hula ko'y doon ang punta ng field trip na ito.

"Ano ba'ng nangyayari?" Rinig kong tanong ng matandang nakaupo sa likuran ng upuan ng driver. Marahil ay isa ito sa guro na mukhang papa-retire na. "We don't have time. Baka ma-late tayo sa ating destinasyon," komento niya.