VISION:Unraveling

- 1 -

Hindi ko ito ginusto.

"Mio!" Huminto ako sa paglalakad at napalingon sa tumawag sa akin na malamang sa malamang ay si Zalora Hawkin or Zaza for short - my lone friend, the goddess.

Why goddess? She's the most powerful female Whim. She has the authority. She is gorgeous. She has a nice smooth straight blonde hair and bangs almost covering her eyes, she's tall and she has that face every girl would love to have.

Tumatakbo na siya ngayon palapit sakin. Nginitian ko siya bilang tugon.

"Ano? Kumusta ka na? Ok ka na ba?" tanong niya sa akin nang maabutan niya ako. She must be referring to my physical damages such as bruises, scratches, wounds and the likes na natamo ko last week sa mga nandiskita sa akin.

Sabay na kaming naglalakad ngayon papasok sa Sapphire Academy - ang top 1 school para sa katulad naming mga Whims - higher peculiar beings.

Yes. We are neither humans or aliens. We are just --- should I say bizarre? We possess super abilities humans don't. We may be extremely out of mediocrity but our existence are recognized by the entire race of mankind.

"Oo naman! Ako pa ba?" masaya kong tugon.

Hindi pa ako ok. Kahit kailan hindi ako magiging ok.

Tumingin siya sakin ng nag-aalala. Punong-puno ng pag-aalala ang kulay dilaw niyang mata.

How fortunate of me having such a genuine friend.

She left out a sigh before giving me an apparent uncertain smile. "I'm really sorry I wasn't able to protect you last we---"

"I'm definitely fine Zaza!" I beamed to console her. Knowing her, she's probably blaming herself right now to what had happened to me. "Atsaka, sanay na 'ko. Wala namang araw na hindi ako pinagtitripan nung hindi pa kita kaibigan" pagpapatuloy ko habang nakatingin lang sa harap at patuloy sa paglalakad.

I was almost everyday oppressed by haughty Whims just because of my status.

I turned back after I felt absence of Zaza's company. She's now a meter away from me.

I raised my right brow wondering why she halted.

She seems suppressing her tears. Napakababaw talaga neto. Naiiyak nanaman.

"I will protect you from now on Mio. I promise." She flashed an undoubted determination on her every word and on her face. It was like swearing solemnly that she will be my shield and defense forever. "As long as I'm around you, consider yourself redeemed."

It is too good to be true but I'll hold on to that pledge because I know my best friend very well and I believe her words.

I smiled at her. "Alright! But never stress yourself with being my fortress 'cause I can surely take care of myself" I told her playfully.

Bumalik ang sigla sa mukha niya. Atleast nabawasan ang guilt na nararamdaman niya kahit na hindi naman dapat niya nararamdaman yon dahil hindi naman niya ako kargo at wala siyang kasalanan.

I don't understand how someone noble like her have befriended someone as low as me.

xxx

After class, I went home straight. Buti nalang wala akong nakasalubong o nakabanggaang mga bully na Whims. I don't want to involve Zaza sa mga nananakit sakin lalo na't kani-kanina lang nangako siya sa akin na poprotektahan niya ako.

I shouldn't be a bother. Si Zaza ang pinakamalakas na babaeng Whim sa Academy. Sa ranking ng school, siya ang pangalawa. She has to maintain her gained respect from Whims. Going against them, especially the mid-high and high level ones for my safety can lose it.

I absentmindedly threw myself into the couch on Seven's living room. Since birth nakatira na ako dito sa bahay ni Seven - tito kong imbentor, pinsan ni mama na apat na taon lang ang tanda sa akin. By the way, I'm 18.

I closed my eyes.

"I will protect you from now on Mio. I promise."

This somehow comforts me.

Napakunot ang noo ko ng makaramdam ng medyo mainit na hangin sa mukha ko.

I opened my eyes and screamed like it's doomsday.

"Aaaaaahhhh!!!"

"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

But his scream dominated mine. Parang mas nagulat pa siya sa akin.

"What the heck was that?!" tanong niya sa akin na nanatiling naka-full volume ang boses.

Inirapan ko siya. "Lower your voice Seven." Hindi ako sanay na tawagin siyang tito dahil bata pa naman siya kaya tinatawag ko siya sa first name niya. He sat on the chair across the couch. "Ikaw ang dapat tanungin. Anong ginagawa mo at halos idikit mo na ang mukha mo sa mukha ko?" inis na tanong ko.

He composed himself. "Well, it's very unusual for you to sleep in the couch that's why I tried to check kung ikaw ba talaga yan."

"I wasn't sleeping."

"Oh... So napping?"

We eyed each other for about 10 seconds then burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAA!!!"

Looking at Seven's state, siguradong maghapon nanaman siya sa kanyang lab underground at gumawa ng mga imbensiyon niya na ayon sa kanya "Have surpassed a thousand year of this generation's existence".

He's wearing a large lab coat completely hiding his muscular body, his brown hair is messy which is now similar to Einstein's, his hands have dark stains, sweat is evident all over his crooked nose, and his smell sucks.

"So, working on another invention huh?" I plainly said, trying to start a conversation I'll be ending immediately--- for sure.

He smiled, excitement is plastered on his handsome face. "Yup! I just discovered something that might help you sa mga nambubully sayong Whims. I call this Ability-Suppressing Watch. This will ta ta ta ta ta ta ta blah blah..."

Agad akong tumayo sa couch, kinuha ang bag ko at umakyat na papunta sa kuwarto ko sa second floor. Hindi ko na inintindi pa ang mga sumunod na sinabi ni Seven dahil alam kong sasabihin niya lahat lahat ng bagay tungkol sa imbensyon niya kahit pa hindi ko na maintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi niya.

But... I kind of got interested sa pangalan ng imbensyon niya.

"Don't forget to drink your medicine!" he shouted.

I'll wait for that "Ability-Suppressing Watch". Might really help.