Immortal City

Chapter 14

"Pero nabitin talaga ako," kumunot ang noo ni Kaoru habang ipinagpatuloy ang sasabihin niya. "Sayang kasi. Dapat pinatagal mo man lang, Kaven! Sayang ang effort ko."

"Teka guys," pagistorbo ni Riley. "Ngayon palang kasi nagsi-sink in sa utak ko ang nangyayari. Ibig sabihin, 'yung awayan niyo ni Teacher Sparks ay peke?"

"Yup," nakangiting sabi ni Kaoru. "Ang totoo kasi niyan, balak ko talagang magalit ng totoo kay TS dahil nga ang dami pa niyang hindi sinasabi sa atin. Pero noong pauwi na tayo, sinabi sa'kin ni TS 'yung plano niya. Mukhang masaya kaya pumayag ako."

"Para saan ba 'to? Bakit kailangan niyo pang gawin 'yon?" tanong ni Julien. Sasagot na sana si TS pero inunahan siya ni Kaoru.

"Sabi kasi ni TS naiinggit daw siya kay Lucienne kasi may shooting siya. Kaya ayon." At binatukan siya ni Teacher Sparks.

"Think out of the box, Kaoru!" she says. "Well, the reason for all this is to know your response. Gusto kong malaman kung sino ang maglalakas-loob na umapila dahil marami pa akong hindi naipaliwanag. Gusto kong malaman kung may aayaw na ba dahil sa mga nangyari kanina sa Opening Ceremony. I want to know whether you'll speak for what you feel or remain silent like what most of you did. I want to know if my assumptions on your responses are right.

"But by performing this set-up," she explains, "I found out a lot more than I anticipated, like Kaven's response for example. No offense, but honestly, I didn't think Kaven would figure it out that's why it surprised me. Isa sa mga tingin kong mangyayari ay si Zairus ang unang makakaalam na isa lang palabas ang nangyayari. Tama ako doon. Tama rin ang hula ko na alam na ni Ione ang mangyayari dahil sa eye ability niyang traveling eyes which allows her to sneak into the future. Gusto ko rin malaman kung kaya ba talagang pigilan ni Drake ang sarili niya na basahin ang isipan namin ni Kaoru. At ngayon alam ko nang walang self-control si Drake.

"But the main reason behind all of this is to know which one of you would stand up for what they feel. There's no need for a weakling in Division's Competition."

I don't know what to say. I can't explain how amazed I feel. Sa isang palabas lang na 'yon, ang rami na palang experiment na nagawa. But I also feel ashamed because I'm one of those who didn't speak of what they feel.

"I know you're all eager to know everything about Division's Competition," TS says. "But since I'm in charge, I like to do things in my own way. I believe in the old saying experience is the best teacher. So basically, I'm not going to elaborate things. The only thing I'll tell you now is what Dylan Wright from Easton said. How cheating works in Di Com.

"Cheating in this game is different," she continues. "And by different, I mean a lot. Sinabi ni Dylan na hindi na natin kailangan problemahin ang pandaraya na pwede nilang gawin sa atin. Ang sinabi niya ay isang pang-iinsulto. Dahil ang dinaraya lang ay ang mga nasa rank ten and above. It means that those schools pose a threat that's why some are making their move to lessen their chances of winning. Ibig sabihin, hindi tayo threat sa paningin nila. Hindi sila natatakot sa atin dahil sa tingin nila ay hindi natin sila kayang talunin.

"We're not a big deal to them," she scoffs. "That's why our school is safe. Because defining cheating in Di Com's vocabulary means the academy's safety. Ibang klaseng pandaraya ang nagaganap dahil dito mo ipapakita kung gaano kalakas ang school mo. You have to be the greatest predator and by doing that, you have to destroy your opponent's home. I'm sure may idea na kayo kung anong klaseng pandaraya ang nangyayari. Nameless Organization, you have to protect the students of Immortal City."

•—⊶◈⊷—•

"For example, the destruction of St. Therese's library last 2011 where thirteen people were injured and three people died. Another example is what happened to Black Rook Academy these past few years where their new building collapsed causing the death of three students and two teachers. Forty-six people were injured. If the chosen twelve in the school didn't make a move, we are talking hundreds of people buried under the building."

"Gano'n kalala?" tanong ko kay Rina. I'm currently lying on my bed—talking to Rina mentally.

"Yes, Number 06. Ganoong klaseng pandaraya ang nagaganap sa Division's Competition."

"Pero bakit naman gano'n? Paano naman makakatulong 'yon sa laban?"

"Basically, kapag maraming problema ang school, marami ring aayaw na doon mag-aral. Kapag wala nang mag-aaral, wala na ring silbi ang isang school. It also adds to the psychological pressure the chosen twelve will experience."

"Kailangan pala talaga namin maging alerto kahit pa walang tyansa na dayain kami."

"Yes, Number Si—"

May kumatok sa pintuan ko kaya biglang naputol ang pakikipag-usap ko kay Rina.

"Celestine, matutulog ka na ba?" tanong ni Kuya Zairus mula sa kabilang dako ng pintuan.

"Hindi pa naman, Kuya. Saglit, bubuksan ko 'yung pinto," sigaw ko at tumayo na ako para pagbuksan si Kuya ng pintuan.

Isang lalakeng may hawak na tray na may nakapatong na baso ng gatas at plato ng cookies ang nasa harapan ko ngayon.

"Ano 'to?" Strange. He doesn't usually show up late at night just to give me a glass of...

"Milk?" sabi pa niya na parang naguguluhan kung ano bang dapat niyang isagot.

Pinapasok ko si Kuya at umupo kami sa kama ko. Ipinatong naman niya ang tray na dala niya sa nightstand ko.

"Thanks," sabi ko kahit medyo nalilito pa rin ako kung para saan 'to.

Kaunting katahimikan ang naganap bago magsalita si Kuya Zairus.

"Celestine... I have to tell you something," seryosong sabi ni Kuya.

Bakit gano'n? Bigla akong kinabahan. Pakiramdam ko may sasabihin siya na napaka-importante at kung ano man ang sasabihin niya, tingin ko magiging malaki ang epekto sa'kin.

"I'm not your..." he trails, "I'm not—this is... damn it! Never mind."

At bigla nalang siyang umalis.

Teka, anong nangyari?