Chapter 22
This Is Our Choice
I can't move.
Amidst the throbbing of my chest and my lungs screaming for air, I can't feel anything. Except for the fact that I feel weak lying on a bed.
I remember now.
Noong gabi na nakita ko si Sir Takano na pumatay, natatandaan ko na. I remember the horror of it. How I was supposedly dead by now instead of that... that Eye Hunter.
I can't imagine how it's possible to forget such a thing. But of course, defining impossible would be aimless now. For there are things that I never thought could exist, exists. Like how Miss Yajima wiped traces of my memories away. She was supposed to make me forget about Eye Hunters. About the underground that was hidden from us.
Yet why am I here?
Kung gusto nilang makalimutan ko ang lugar na 'to, bakit nandito ako ngayon?
"What happened?" I ask. Despite my effort to sound normal, my voice still comes out shaky.
"Hinimatay ka," Luna replies, trying to hide the worry on her face. "Noong pauwi na tayo, bigla ka nalang tumigil at napahawak sa ulo mo. You were muttering something, shouting things we couldn't understand. You were obviously in pain and we didn't know what to do. Tinatawag ka namin ni Zairus pero parang hindi mo kami naririnig. Takot na takot ako, Celestine. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa'yo. Kaya tinawagan ni Zairus si Sir Takano. Then you passed out."
Ramdam ko ang takot ni Luna habang nagpapaliwanag siya at hindi ko mapigilang mainis sa sarili ko dahil tinakot ko siya ng sobra dahil sa nangyari sa'kin. This is all my fault. Pero nanatili siyang nasa tabi ko. Hindi pinapakita ang takot sa mukha niya. Pinipigilan ang nangingilid na luha sa mga mata niya. Matapang niya akong sinamahan dito kahit na hindi niya alam ang mga nangyayari. Despite everything, she's brave.
I don't have the right to be weak.
I scan the place as much as my stiff neck can offer. Nasa loob kami ng isang puting kwarto. Not necessarily white, but everything inside is a shade of white with only a blue light in the middle of the wall, horizontally surrounding the entire room. Luna is beside my bed and Sir Takano is sitting across in front of me. That's when I notice I'm missing someone.
"Nasaan si Zairus?" tanong ko.
"Umuwi siya sa bahay niyo," sagot ni Luna. "Ayaw pa nga niyang iwan ka rito pero kailangan niyang umuwi para magdahilan sa Mama mo. Babalik din siya kaya 'wag kang mag-alala."
Hindi na ako nagsalita at napuno ng katahimikan ang kwarto. Sinubukan ko na 'wag nalang pansinin ang tingin ni Sir Takano pero hindi ko na natiis ang kanina pa niyang pagbabantay sa bawat galaw ko.
"Would you care to explain what is happening?" sabi ko at nakita ko ang pag-angat ng tingin ni Sir Takano.
Hindi siya nagsalita. But I know that he's trying to come up with something. This is the first time I see him lost for words.
"I've given you the pleasure of ignorance," I tell him. "We all have. But you can't hide everything. You owe me answers."
Biglang bumukas ang pintuan bago pa man makasagot si Sir Takano at pumasok ang isang babae kasunod ang isa pa na naka-lab coat.
"That's why I told you not to be reckless, Ryuu. Look what you got. A clueless girl seeking answers she thinks could solve everything," sabi ni Miss Yajima at nginitian ako. "How nice to see two of my students here," sarcastic niyang sabi.
Tinignan ko si Luna pero hindi ko nakita ang bakas ng pagkagulat sa mukha niya sa narinig na boses ng adviser namin. Instead, she looks confused.
Lumapit sa akin 'yung babaeng naka-lab coat. Hindi nalalayo ang edad niya sa amin ni Luna pero mas mukha siyang mature kumpara sa amin. Ipinatong niya ang isang kamay sa ulo ko at biglang naging pula ang mga mata niya.
She runs her hand down my body though not pressing and I don't know how she's doing it, but I feel a surge of strength. When she reaches my feet, her eyes turn back to its original color and I feel so much better than before.
I sit up straight, amused by how easily I can move my arms now. And it's all because of—
Holy shit.
Is this really what I think it is?
"H-How?" I ask, still thinking it all over my head. It's not what I think it is, right?
"You already know the answer to your question, dear," Miss Yajima says.
Ability Users.
If I'm not mistaken, that's what they call themselves. A person who has exceptional ability. Pero paano? I didn't think having an eye ability can make you heal people. Yes, they have extraordinary abilities, pero ang pagkakaalam ko ay hindi dapat ito nakakaapekto sa ibang tao.
Kaven has enhanced vision. Zairus remembers everything. Drake can read minds. Ione can see the past and future. Those are abilities that only they can apply to themselves. Only they can use. Their abilities cannot affect others. Kaven can't enlarge objects. Zairus can't share what he remembers to another person other than by telling them. Drake can't change anyone's thoughts. Ione can't change the past nor the future.
Sila lang ang pwedeng makinabang sa eye ability nila. Pero 'yung babaeng nagpalakas sa'kin, clearly she healed me. Ibig sabihin ba... marami pang posibleng kakayahan ang ibang Ability Users?
I was lost in thought nang bumukas ulit ang pintuan at si TS naman ang dumating, kasama si Zairus. Agad na lumapit sa'kin si Zairus at niyakap ako.
"Thank goodness, you're all right," he whispers as I place my hand on his back.
"I'm fine now," I say and he releases me from his embrace.
"What happened?" he asks, placing his hands on my shoulders, looking at me intently. But I know he's actually asking everyone in the room.
"This is going to be a long night," Miss Y comments. I can hear her smile while saying, "and a long bedtime story."
"What bedtime story?" I ask.
"The rest are on their way. They'll be here in a minute," TS says while looking at her watch, ignoring my question.
"I asked what story?" I repeat with more force than I intend to.
Sawa na ako sa mga sikreto nila. I want answers and I deserve it.
Then, finally, he speaks in a tone so low that I'll easily miss if I weren't paying attention to him.
"The truth," Sir Takano says.
•—⊶◈⊷—•
"The moment I open this door and you step out of it, remember that there is no turning back," sabi ni Sir Takano sa aming tatlo nila Luna at Zairus nang umalis na si Miss Yajima at TS.
I made up my mind before that I won't go back home 'til I get the answers I seek. But hearing Sir Takano speak so seriously made me nervous all of a sudden. And now I'm contemplating whether what I'm about to do is still the right thing to do.
"Outside this door, you can have the answer to your questions," he continues. "However, knowledge comes with a price. And no matter what it is, you will have to pay. Now I'm going to ask one last time," he stops and looks at each one of us before continuing. "Are you willing to pay the price?"
Natahimik ang buong kwarto at nanatili kaming tatlo na walang masabi.
"I am," I say.
Wala na akong magagawa. I was already involved in their world the moment I became Number Six. I can't turn my back now.
But Luna.
I can't let her get involved in such a cruel world. Ayokong masira ang buhay ni Luna. Ayokong madamay siya sa mga nangyayari. Ayoko siyang mapahamak. It's my fault Luna got involved. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko 'pag may nangyaring masama sa kanya.
"Zairus?" tawag ni Sir Takano.
Tumingin sa akin si Zairus bago siya sumagot. "Yes."
Tinignan ko si Sir Takano. Hoping he would understand what I'm trying to say.
Don't involve Luna.
Pero tinignan niya lang ako na para bang wala siyang magagawa.
"It's her decision," sabi ni Sir Takano.
"Tama si Sir Takano, Celestine," sabi ni Luna. "It's my decision. And I want to know. I want to know how to protect you."
"Pero Luna—"
"I know what you're thinking, Celestine. Don't blame yourself. Alam kong sinisisi mo ang sarili mo kung bakit ako nasangkot sa kaguluhang 'to. But it isn't your fault. It's my choice."
Yes, it's your choice. Pero...
"Luna..." I know I can't change her decision. Pero...
"I'll be fine," sabi niya ng nakangiti. "Besides, hindi mo naman ako pababayaan, 'di ba?"
Tumango ako kahit na alam kong hindi naman ako nakikita ni Luna.
"Sir Takano," tawag ni Luna, "please, lead us to the entrance," sabi niya ng nakangiti.
Sir Takano smiles back, "Then prepare yourselves."
Binuksan ni Sir Takano ang pintuan. Malapit na. Malapit ko nang malaman ang sagot sa mga katanungan ko. Ang sabi ni Sir ay nasa labas ng pintuan ang mga sagot. Pero...
"It's another room," sabi ni Zairus at ramdam kong medyo nainis siya, "and it's empty. This is what you want us to prepare for? An empty room?"
"Zairus," seryosong sabi ni Sir Takano, "you're the brightest one. You should've come up with a more interesting conclusion than that."
"I thought we're going to find answers but you're giving us more problem to solve."
"This room," Sir Takano says in an intimidating voice, "is empty. There are no doors, no windows. Yet two of your teachers came inside passing through this room. You even passed through this door yourself, Zairus. How?"
I see his point.
The door Sir Takano opened leads to an empty room. If it's empty, with neither doors nor windows, then Miss Yajima, TS, Zairus, and the girl with a lab coat can't possibly pass through. Unless...
"They didn't pass through this room," Sir Takano says, "because this empty room is not where the door we passed through leads."
"Are you saying..." I trail, finding the right word. But I already figured what Sir Takano meant. I just can't believe it.
"Yes," Sir Takano says as if he's reading my mind. "Teleportation is real."
May inilabas na kung anong device si Sir na bilog ang hugis at kakaiba sa lahat ng gadget na nakita ko.
"Grab each other's hand and don't let go," sabi ni Sir at hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Luna. Hinawakan naman ni Luna ang kamay ni Zairus. Then, Sir Takano held my free hand. "Take a deep breath. You're going to need it."
But before I could even breathe, my chest starts to constrict, and I really couldn't breathe. I feel like my lungs are being crushed.
Then I see myself in front of me.
"Where—" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil bigla nalang akong sumuka.
I feel so bad I couldn't stop myself from throwing up. Good thing there's a sink in front of me. Saka ko narealize na repleksyon ko lang pala sa salamin ang nakita ko kanina. I use the mouthwash I found beside the faucet and help myself get cleansed.
Medyo nahihilo pa ako kaya hindi ko agad napansin na hindi lang pala ako ang nasuka sa pagteleport. Nakita ko si Riley at Lucienne sa kaliwa ko. Agad kong hinanap si Luna at nakitang nasa kanan ko lang pala siya. Like the rest of them, she's vomiting too. I ran my hand up her back and tries to soothe her. Nakita ko si Sir Takano na papunta sa direksyon namin ni Luna na may dalang dalawang baso ng tubig. Inabot niya sa'kin pareho at ininom ko ang isa.
"Don't worry. It's normal to throw up until you get used to it."
Umayos na si Luna at inabot ko sa kanya ang baso ng tubig.
"Thanks," sabi niya.
"Okay ka na ba?" tanong ko.
"Oo, medyo nahihilo lang."
Teleportation, huh?
Now that I think of it, did Daimon used a teleportation device too? But I didn't feel uneasy when I was with him. I didn't throw up or anything.
Minsan iniisip ko kung panaginip lang ba lahat ng nangyari habang kasama ko si Daimon. If I was just imagining things. If he was just someone my mind fabricated. But whenever I think of him saving my life once, I can't help but wonder when I'll meet him again. And if I do meet him again, I'll be sure to ask him how he knows so much about me, and why the hell did he just suddenly appear and disappear in my life. That's a question that can't be answered here because I'm the only one who knows of his existence.
Or am I?
I look around and see everyone. Teacher Sparks must have teleported the others here a while before us. Everyone is starting to get accustomed to the foreign atmosphere. I'm guessing this place was built for newcomers like us. May nakahanda na kasing sink para sa mga magsusuka at may mga towel, toothbrush, at mouth wash din. Fancy.
They already expected newcomers to throw up.
Mukhang matitibay talaga ang sikmura ng mga lalake dahil nahilo lang sila at hindi nagsuka gaya namin.
Nahagip ng mata ko si Julien na nasa isang sulok at mukhang alalang-alala siya kay Kaoru na nakaupo sa isang tabi. Mukha namang okay si Kaoru kaya bakit nag-aalala si Julien? Dahil ba sa pagteteleport? Sobrang sama ba ng pakiramdam ni Kaoru, hindi niya lang pinapahalata?
I'm about to head toward Kaoru's direction when Sir Takano asks if we're all ready to go.
"The way I see it, everyone's good to go," he says. "Follow me."
Sir Takano leads us to a series of concourse. We encounter a lot of, how can I describe them? Workers? Employees? And they all greet Sir Takano with respect. One thing is for sure. We are not the only ones in this huge building and clearly, Sir Takano is in charge of something here.
We're all quietly following him until Cenon breaks the uninterrupted silence.
"Sir," she calls, "if you won't mind me asking, where exactly are we?"
But Sir Takano doesn't give any response. He doesn't even turn around to look at Cenon. But after a while, bigla nalang tumigil si Sir Takano at lahat kami ay napatigil din sa paglalakad. Nobody says a thing and I wonder why they all look amused. Pumunta ako sa kaliwang dulo kung saan walang nakaharang sa'kin. And there I see what everybody's been gaping at.
A cityscape.
"Everyone," Sir Takano says, finally facing us, "this is Immortal City." He gestures toward the glass wall where we can see the view of the city.
"It's beautiful," I hear Lucienne whisper.
It certainly is. I wish Luna can see this sight.
Pero nasaang lugar kami? Sa Manila? Quezon? Where exactly are we?
"This place is not on the map," biglang sabi ni Sir Takano, "if that's what you want to ask. Now follow me and I'll start explaining things."
He leads us to a room with a wide circular table in the center, both too wide for us. We all take a seat. Sa kaliwa ko si Luna at sa kanan ko naman si Ione. Si Sir Takano lang ang tanging nakatayo at nakaharap sa aming lahat.
"All of you must be very excited," he says in a sarcastic yet serious tone.
I don't know if he's trying to make a joke, trying to lighten up the mood, or just trying to piss us off. I'm guessing it's the latter.
"Marami pa kayong tanong na hindi nasasagot," he says, all serious now. "And you all expect an answer tonight. But let me tell you this. Answering your questions would only bring another set of questions. Once I make everything clear, I'll let you all decide if you still want to be a part of Nameless Organization.
"All of you, except Luna, have something in common. Not just crappy eye abilities. What is that?" he rhetorically asks, "June 6, 2006. Brings back unpleasant memories, doesn't it?"
June 6, 2006
Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang araw na 'yon. The day of the car accident. The day Zairus and I almost got killed.
But how? Paano naman malalaman ni Sir Takano ang tungkol sa araw na 'yon.
He said something in common.
Then that means...
Everyone.
Everyone experienced the same thing?
"A near death situation," Sir Takano continues, "that's what most of you have in common. Even me. But why is it relevant?" he pauses when no one dared to speak. "Because that's the reason why you have eye abilities. And the reason why you're alive is because you have eye abilities."
"Does that mean—are you saying this eye ability is what keeping us alive?" tanong ni Cenon.
"Exactly," sagot ni Sir Takano.
"Impossible," I hear Riley mutter. "That's not true. How is that even possible?"
"I lied," Sir Takano says. "We lied. And we can keep on lying. It's up to you whether you'll believe something or not. We're living in a cruel world. You have to be just as cruel in order to survive. When your teacher, Sparks, said that we don't know where eye ability came from, she lied."
"Why?" I ask.
"In order to protect all of you. She lied and kept a lot of things to herself because she was hoping she can spare you all from this chaos. So, everyone do me a favor and please be good to your teacher.
"Going back," he continues, "our knowledge about the origin of eye abilities is still vague. But this, I'm sure of. People who experience a near death situation receives an eye ability."
"If that's the case, bakit may mga namamatay pa rin?" tanong ni Van.
"They only receive an eye ability if it's June 6. The year doesn't matter."
"Why June 6?" tanong naman ni Xaniel.
"That," Sir Takano says, "I cannot answer. It's not because I don't want to, it's just that we still don't know why."
"Sir," tawag ni Luna, "muntikan na rin po kayong mamatay?"
Sir Takano smiles. "Yes. June 6, 2006, the same date as them. Some of the previous chosen twelve of Immortal City almost died that day."
"Some?" Julien asks.
"The rest died."
"I thought people who experience a near death situation receives an eye ability and in return it serves as their source of life?"
"That's true. That's why it has to be a near death situation. Meaning, there's still a chance you can live. Pero kapag wala ka nang tyansa na mabuhay pa, then that's already death."
Kung gano'n, mayroon pa ring mga tao na namamatay kapag June 6. Hindi lahat nabibigyan ng eye ability.
"Eye abilities are what keep us alive," Sir Takano explains. "Therefore, we cannot die of old age."
"Then are we immortal?" Ione asks.
"No. An eye ability needs a living host to occupy. It stays within you as long as you are alive. Since it is also what's keeping you alive, you cannot die of old age. But that doesn't mean you can't be killed."
"In short, mamatay lang kami kapag may pumatay sa amin?" Xaniel asks.
"Yes. A knife through your chest, a poison, a car crash. Anything fatal, things that can lead to your imminent death, will kill you."
"Like Eye Hunters?" I say and Sir Takano looks at me smiling.
"Impatient, aren't you?" he says.
"Eye Hunters? Bagong term na naman? And what are they supposed to be? Villains?" Drake asks.
Truthfully, I think that kind of remark would suit Kaoru better. Now that I think about it, hindi pa nagsasalita kahit isang beses si Kaoru. Usually, he's the one who comes up with absurd things to say. But now he's completely silent. Should I be worried like Julien now?
"I guess you can call them villains," sabi ni Sir Takano at nabaling na ulit sa kaniya ang atensyon ko. "But we call them Eye Hunters because their sole purpose is to kill Ability Users."
Great, another term to add in my dictionary, is something I imagine Kaoru should be saying right now.
"Ability Users. That's us. A person with eye ability. Eye Hunters kill a User to obtain more ability. You can say they're mostly greedy. You can ask Celestine how they look like later. She already met one."
Great. Clearly, Sir Takano is making fun of me. Lahat tuloy sila nakatingin ngayon sa'kin. Even Kaoru who has yet to say anything.
"Oh, and Lucienne too," Sir Takano adds, "but we wiped away her memory of it."
"Me?" Lucienne asks, bewildered.
"Yes, dear. You can ask Miss Yajima to return your memory, but I strongly recommend you don't if you still want to sleep at night."
Lucienne?
How? When did—oh.
The day she went missing. The day we decided to look for her and Cenon, Kaoru, and I accidentally heard TS and Sir Takano's conversation.
So that's what it was about.
"May kaugnayan ba ang Eye Hunters kung bakit ka hinimatay kanina?" bulong sa'kin ni Luna and I snap out of my thoughts. Mukhang wala talaga akong maitatago sa best friend ko.
"Oo, pero 'wag kang mag-alala. Wala namang nangyaring masama sa'kin. Maliban nalang doon sa pagbura ni Miss Y sa mga alaala ko tungkol doon."
"I'll let Irene discuss every detail," sabi ni Sir Takano, "the only thing I'll add about Eye Hunters are their Class. A Class II, Eye Hunter has two abilities. A Class III has three. And the list goes on. You can determine their Class by their irises. Their Class depends on the number of circles their irises have. We call those circles, Rings. If you're confused, ask Irene. This is the first and last time I'll explain things so pay attention.
"Lastly," he pauses, "Immortal City. It's the name of our school, but this is the real Immortal City. This place is not in the map. No one can come here other than by teleporting. This place is a haven for Ability Users. I'm not the one who found this place that's why I can't answer any question regarding this matter."
"Kaoru."
Sobrang hina lang ng pagkakasabi ni Julien pero napansin ko 'yon dahil kanina ko pa pinagmamasdan si Kaoru. Kung titignan mo siya, parang wala namang problema. Pero kapag si Julien ang tinignan ko, sobrang pag-aalala ang nakikita ko kaya hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala na rin kay Kaoru. Kagaya ngayon. Hawak ni Julien ang kanang kamay ni Kaoru na para bang pinipigilan siya kahit wala naman akong nakikitang reaksyon mula kay Kaoru.
"I'll entertain questions just this time," sabi ni Sir Takano at nabalik sa kanya ang tingin ko.
"What's your goal?" tanong ni Cenon. "Ability Users, what's their goal? Eye Hunters' purpose is to gain power. What about Ability Users?"
"I shouldn't have entertained questions," Sir Takano mutters to himself. "Well, you're all bound to know anyway. Users are free to do what they want to do. They are all given the choice to be part of our cause or to live their own life. Our goal is to find a way on how to get rid of eye abilities without dying. Sure, having an ability is awesome. But it isn't us who controls it. It's the ability who controls us.
"Make a choice," he says, "live your own life or be part of Nameless Organization. If you choose to live your own life, I'll have Miss Yajima erase all of your memory from the day each one of you was chosen until now. That means you wouldn't be able to participate in Division's Competition and you'll be a regular student starting tomorrow. But if you choose to still be a part of N.O. then you'll be a part of our cause. I'll give you ten minutes to decide."
Naglakad na paalis si Sir Takano pero tumigil siya pagkabukas niya ng pintuan.
"By the way," sabi niya, "if you plan on asking Drake about information he read on my mind, save your energy. We have someone who can control eye abilities kaya kung ano ang ipinaalam ko sa inyo, 'yon lang din ang alam ni Drake."
He leaves after informing us about Drake.
For a moment nobody tries to talk. We're deep in our own thoughts and no one wants to start a conversation.
So I did.
"I still want to be a member of Nameless Organization," I say.
"Celestine," tawag sa'kin ni Zairus. I know he'll be the first to object. "Think about it first."
"I did. And as much as I want to live a normal life, I want to know more about this world too. Ayokong burahin na naman ni Miss Yajima ang mga alaala ko. I don't want to forget about you guys. I don't want to forget something that has been part of my life."
And I don't want Luna to die.
Withdrawing from the competition means we automatically lose. And if we lose, Luna dies. I can't let that happen no matter what.
"Pero hindi ka ba natatakot, Celestine?" tanong ni Riley. "Pwede tayong mamatay."
"Syempre natatakot ako. Pero ayokong pangunahan ako ng takot."
"I also want to stay," biglang sabi ni Lucienne.
I didn't expect that coming from her. But really, unexpected things come from unexpected people.
"I—I want to get rid of my eye ability," she says. "Naiintindihan ko 'yung sinabi ni Sir Takano kanina. I don't want my eye ability to control me."
"I guess I have to agree," sabi ni Kaven na ngayon lang nagsalita. "I don't want this eye ability either."
Everyone starts to discuss their own opinion. Pero alam ko namang sa huli ay lahat kami papayag.
I feel it.
Our bond.
And I'm sure they feel it too.
A moment later, everybody's talking at their own pace. I decided to check what's going on with Kaoru so I seat beside him.
"Hey," I say, though barely looking at him.
"Hey, C," he says, smiling like his usual self. "Himala, ikaw yata ang naghahabol sa'kin ngayon."
Seriously. He's putting an act in front of me.
"Don't give me that crap, Kaoru. Anong problema mo? Nahilo ka ba o ano? Bakit ganyan ka? Sa tingin mo hindi ko napapansin na may kakaiba sa'yo?" I ask, still not looking at him.
Pero ang tagal niya bago sumagot kaya nilingon ko na siya. I'm surprised to see him stunned. May nasabi ba ako?
"Bakit naman mukhang gulat na gulat ka?" tanong ko. Then in a gentler tone I ask him. "May problema ba?"
Hindi pa rin niya ko sinagot pero nakatitig lang siya sa mga mata ko.
"Kaoru," tawag ko pero nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin na parang wala sa sarili.
Winagayway ko ang kamay ko sa mukha niya para makuha ang atensyon niya, pero nabigla ako ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko at bigla siyang ngumiti. Strange. Ilang beses ko na nakikitang tumawa at ngumiti si Kaoru, but somehow this smile looks so sincere. I can't help but smile back.
"Okay ka na ba?" mahinahong tanong ko.
Ngumiti ulit si Kaoru and this time sumagot na siya. "Oo. Okay na okay na. Nakita kong nag-aalala si crush, e."
Good. Bumalik na siya sa dati.
"Oh, ngayong okay ka na, pwede ko na bang malaman kung bakit hindi ka okay kanina?"
Bumuntong hininga si Kaoru at tinignan ulit ako sa mga mata.
"Hindi mo talaga palalampasin 'yon, ano?" tanong niya at umiling ako. "Naisip ko lang... kung bakit Pilipinas pa."
"Ha?"
"Bakit Pilipinas pa," ulit niya na para bang pinapamukha akong tanga. Babatukan ko na sana kaya lang nagsalita ulit. "Bakit sa Pilipinas pa nagkaron ng mga ganitong Eye Hunters at Ability Users. Bakit hindi nalang sa America o sa Japan."
"Ewan ko sa'yo! 'Yan lang pala ang pinoproblema mo," sabi ko at tumayo na para bumalik sa pwesto ko.
But I know he's not telling me the truth.
I just hope I can be someone he can confide in someday.
Pabalik na ko nang hawakan ni Kaoru ang kamay ko.
"Thank you," sabi niya.
I give him a playful laugh. "Oo na. Alam ko na. Salamat dahil nag-alala ang crush mo."
"No, really," he says and I can feel his grip tighten around my hand, "thank you, Celestine."
I give him a reassuring smile in return, then I go back to my seat.
Sir Takano returns after ten minutes as he said. We all stand up in unison to tell him our choice.
"We still want to be a member of Nameless Organization," we all say.
Sir Takano gives a satisfied smile.
"Then that's great news," he says, "because starting tomorrow you'll all be attending a different school."
"Different school? We're not going back to Immortal City?" Lucienne asks.
"Unfortunately, no."
"But why?"
"Because tomorrow will be the start of Level 1."