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Chapter 18: Downtown

Chapter 18: Downtown

"Don't do anything unnecessary unless provoked."

Huling wika ni Sir Nathan bago kami pinakawalan sa academy.

It's just five in the morning and we're now heading to the downtown. We are wearing our cloaks. Sobrang tahimik ng mga kasama ko. I wonder if it is because it's too early or they are just too serious about this mission.

Kinakabahan ako pero hindi ko maiwasan na ma excite. This will be my first time visiting the downtown. Ano kaya ang naghihintay sa amin doon?

"Hop in." Utos ni Dean.

Dalawang sasakyan ang nasa harap ko. Nasa loob na ng sasakyan ang mga kasama ko. Magkakasama sina Caroline, Ethan and Arianne sa isang kotse plus the driver, and that left me with Niall and Dean. I guess I have no choice.

Nauna na akong pumasok sa back seat kaya sumunod na din ang dalawa. Akala ko ay si Dean ang uupo sa harap kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag, but I was wrong.

He is sitting beside me! What the heck?

"Any problems?" Tanong niya.

Umiling ako. "Nothing."

Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin dahil umandar na ang sasakyan. Naagaw ang atensyon ko doon.

"Can I open the window?" Nahihiyang tanong ko.

Tumikhim si Dean. "Don't. The breeze is cold in the morning, you might catch a cold."

Oh. Alam kong walang ibig sabihin iyon para sa kanya pero hindi ko naiwasan ang pamulahan ng pisngi. What is happening to you, Mia?

Niall caught my eyes in the mirror kaya nag iwas ako ng paningin. Did he just caught me blushing?

"Do you already know the basics of the downtown, Mia?"

Niall broke the silence inside the car. Nilingon ko ang front seat kung saan siya nakaupo.

"Basics? What are those?" Takang tanong ko. Ano pa ba ang kailangan kong malaman?

"Don't tell me you still don't know?" Baling sa akin ni Dean. He sounds sarcastic, like he's telling me that I'm so stupid just because I don't know. "Yet, you still came? Tss."

I felt offended. His words really need filters.

"Brief her, Adams." Maikling asik niya at ipinikit ulit ang mga mata.

"Our main goal this mission is to go the Downtown, Central to be specific." Sabi niya.

"Central? May iba pa bang lugar bukod sa Downtown?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Tss, stupid." Dean mumbled. Akala niya naman hindi maririnig eh! Jerk!

"Let me finish, okay?" Masungit na sabi ni Niall.

Umirap ako. Mali na ba ang magtanong ngayon?

"Downtown Central is where most of specials live, more like a city. Then there's East, unlike Central, East is a remote village. Only natives live there. South til West are known for coasts and beaches." He said.

Wow! So there are also beaches here? And hear I am, thinking that this place is only about the academy not knowing that there are also different places outside! Just wow!

"Where's North?" Tanong ko ulit. Napansin ko kasing wala siyang binanggit na North.

"The academy, obviously." He rolled his eyes.

Akala ko pa naman ay makakasundo ko na si Niall, pero malabo pa rin. What's his problem really?

Nag antay ako sa susunod niyang sabihin.

"What?" He asked while raising his brow.

"Is that all?" Tanong ko rin sa kanya.

He laughed sarcastically. "Do I look like a book? If you want to know more, then read. I just provided you the basics."

Tss, suplado. You heard him Mia, right? Magbasa ka kasi ng libro! Tatandaan ko na talaga na magbabasa ako ng libro pagkabalik namin sa academy.

Dumaan ang sasakyan sa isang mataas na gate. Are we here already?

Salungat sa matatas na mga puno na nadaanan namin kanina, puro kabahayan naman ang nadadaanan namin ngayon. Is this the Central?

Maya maya pa ay nadaanan namin ang isang fountain where crystal waters are flowing. Pabilog iyon kaya napakagandang tingnan.

"We're here." Saad nila kaya natigil ako sa pagtingi tingin sa paligid.

Pagbaba ko ng sasakyan ay kompleto na silang lima. Nasa harap kami ngayon ng isang bahay, more like a mansion.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Headquarters." Maikling tugon ni Arianne.

"Rest for 30 minutes. We'll be leaving after." Saad ni Dean at pumasok na.

Kinindatan ako ni Carol ng napatingin ako sa kanya. "Tara na."

Dinala ako ni Carol sa isang kwarto. Katulad ito ng kwarto namin sa dorms na may tatlong kama din.

"Rest, Mia. We don't know what awaits us outside. It's better to be prepared."

Kinabahan ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Muntik nang nawala sa isip ko ang dahilan kung bakit kami narito ngayon.

This mission is probably risky. The fact that the Headmaster himself is the one who told us about this is really something already.

You're right, Carol. Better be prepared.

***