SHEA'S POV
"What's with you and you brought an ordinary student here?"
"She looks weird."
"And the way she dresses..."
"What's with that big glasses?"
"She's ugly."
Hay nako, mga girls, hayaan niyo nalang muna siyang magpahinga."
"I just can't believe that Kiyan brought a girl here."
"Wag niyo siyang awayin, okay? Baka magalit si Kiyan."
"Eh, nasan na ba 'yon?"
"Ewan ko dun. Bigla na lang umalis."
I slowly opened my eyes as I heard people talking around me. Unang bumungad sa'kin ang puting kisame and a golden chandelier. Where am I? Agad akong bumangon.
"Hey guys, she's awake!" tawag ng isang babaeng pamilyar ang mukha.
"Nah, you go talk to her," sagot ng isa pang babae.
Nilapitan ako ng babaeng medyo brownish ang buhok. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," sagot ko.
Bakit sunod-sunod na ako nahihimatay? And I always woke up in a different place.
"Uhh... What's your name? I'm Ezra by the way," pakilala niya sa 'kin.
"Shea," pagpapakilala ko.
This doesn't look like a clinic. Parang nasa palasyo ako na punong-puno ng mamahalin at eleganteng kagamitan.
"You're in the Alpha's dormitory."
Namilog ang mata ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. The Alpha's dormitory? How did I get here? Agad akong tumayo.
"Where are you going?" Ezra asked.
Hindi ko alam kung pano ako napunta dito. Kung bakit sila ang kasama ko.
"Oh? Aalis ka na?" A girl suddenly appeared in front of me. Siya yung sinasabi kong intimidating yung presence.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance," I looked down.
"Sino ka ba?" muling tanong niya.
"Vishna, don't be rude. She's not doing anything wrong," Ezra inserted herself between us.
"Wala naman akong ginagawa. I'm just asking her name," sabi niya at bumaling sa'kin.
"Shea Alysia Valdemore po," puno ng galang kong saad.
Iba talaga kapag nasa mataas ka, masyado mong minamaliit ang mga nasa ibaba. I thought they are nice.
Napataas siya ng kilay. "Kaano-ano ka ni Kiyan?"
Ako naman ngayon ang napataas sa makapal kong kilay, "I don't know him," sagot ko.
Ano namang konek ko sa Kiyan na yun? Ang naalala ko lang ay may sumabunot sa 'kin and that woman in my dream appeared. And as I accepted myself and the power bestowed upon me, naramdaman kong mas lalo akong lumakas.
"Mga 'day, ito na yung food---oh." I saw a guy or rather a gay na Trevor ata ang pangalan. Napatigil siya nang makita niya kaming tatlo.
"Gising ka na pala. Anong nangyayari?" he asked.
"I'm just asking kung kaano-ano siya ni Kiyan. Too bad she doesn't know him," sabi ni Vishna.
Tiningnan lang nila ako. Nanatili lang akong tahimik at hinintay kung anong sunod na mangyayari.
"Halooo, may pagkain na ba?" Another guy with a blue hair entered the room. Napatingin din siya sa 'kin.
Now what? Magtitinginan nalang kami dito?
"Halika na, baby Ice. Our lunch is ready na! Dito muna kayo mga hampaslupa. Mamaya na lang natin ipagpatuloy ang bonggang interrogation," aya ni Trevor sa amin.
"Aalis na po ako," magalang kong sabi. I have no reason to stay here.
"Dapat lang," sagot ni Vishna.
"No. You'll eat with us," sabi ni Ezra.
"Wala pa sina Fire at Ali. Let's wait for them," sabi naman nung Ice.
"Ok then," lumapit naman sa 'kin si Ezra. "Just don't mind her. Masungit naman kasi talaga yan. Ito nga pala si---"
"Ako na magpapakilala. Kaloka 'to, aagawan pa ako ng linya. The goddess of everything, the beautifulist in the whole galaxy, pak na pak! Trevor Kendrick! But you can call me Tricia. Nice to meet you, uh... girl! Hehe." sabi nya. I know he would suppose to call me beautiful pero hindi ako na belong dun.
"Beautifulist ka dyan? Most beautiful yun, tangek!"
"Wag mo na kasi akong pakialaman."
Patuloy pa rin silang nagkukulitan not minding my presence between them.
"Si Shea, na o-OP na sa 'tin. Ikaw kasing bakla ka, ang daldal mo."
"Dinamay mo pa ako. Ikaw ngang maingay diyan," sagot ni Trevor kay Ezra. I prefer calling him Trevor. Sanay na rin naman akong ma-out of place.
"By the way, what happened ba? Bigla nalang kasing pumasok si Kiyan dito habang buhat-buhat ka na walang malay," tanong sa 'kin ni Ezra.
Napatingin ako sa kanila. Ako, buhat-buhat ng lalaking yun? Bakit naman? I only knew his name and face but we've never talked before. "I don't know. Hindi---" naputol ang sasabihin ko nang marahas na bumukas ang pinto ng Alpha.
"Ay wafu!" Trevor exclaimed as he looked at the guy who just opened the door.
What is he doing here?
"Sino na naman yan?!" Vishna shouted from the kitchen and rushed to the living room. Ganon rin ang ginawa ng iba.
I looked at him and he's breathing heavily. Parang nanggaling siya sa isang marathon at yung buhok nya ay magulo pa. He explored his sight around the room at napatigil lang siya nang makita ako.
"Y-yes, how can we help you?" Vishna stammered. Don't tell me pati siya na attract kay Paxton?
Yes, the guy who just slammed the door was that jerk, Paxton.
Agad syang pumasok and immediately grab my arm. "Ano ba?!" I resisted but he's strong.
"Where are you bringing her?" tanong ni Ezra sa kanya with the authority in her voice. Napatigil kami.
Paxton just looked at her at muli akong hinila palabas. Ano bang problema nito?
"I speak as the rank 4 of the Alpha and as the President of the Disciplinary council. Now may I ask, where are you bringing her? And who are you?" her voice became stern with full of authority. Maramdaman mo talagang she has the power to intimidate others. I never thought her jolly personality has this side. Nanayo ang balahibo ko.
"I'm taking her for lunch, ma'am. I'm her guy," Paxton answered coldly while his grip in my wrist tightened. Nasasaktan na ako. And he addressed her as ma'am? Meaning, ganon pala sila ka respected dito.
Pero nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Her guy? What is he talking about? Tiningnan ko ang reaksyon nila at hindi nga ako nabigo na nagulantang silang lahat.
"Girl, di ka manlang nagsabi na ikaw na pala ang nakabingwit kay fafa Ren. May plano pa naman sana ako. Pero infairness, lakas naman pala ng appeal mo kahit papano," tumatawang sabi ni Trevor pero binatukan naman siya ni Ezra.
"Is that true, Shea?" baling ni Ezra sa 'kin. Mas lalo pang hinigpitan ni Paxton ang hawak niya sa kamay ko hanggang sa napangiwi na ako sa sakit.
"Y-yeah." Humanda ka sa 'kin mamaya, lalaki ka.
"Pfft!" impit na tawa ni Vishna. Yeah, I know it's funny. Whatever.
"Sigurado kang boyfriend mo 'tong nag top 1 sa entrance exam? Balita ko, you're a demon slayer and an illusionist. You even manipulated the faculties to make you pass. Tsk tsk, pathetic," Vishna while laughing sarcastically. Illusionist? Ako? Ba't di ko alam? May bago na pala akong ability? Tss.
"That's enough, Vishna. You're being rude," sita sa kanya ni Ezra. She just rolled her eyes on her.
"Excuse me. We have to go," singit ni Paxton. Yeah, singit ni Paxton na maitim. Just don't tell him that I've said that.
"Yeah, sure. Bye Shea! See you next time!" paalam ni Ezra.
"Bye girl! Paganda ka pa lalo, baka maagaw ko yang boyfie mo. Hihihi!"
Lumabas na kami ng dorm nila and as we got outside, I harshly removed my hand from his grip.
"What was that?!" I shouted at him.
"Di ba sabi ko sa 'yo, sabay tayo kumain? Nakita mo na, nasangkot ka na naman sa gulo," he answered.
"Ano bang pake mo? Hindi rin naman ako mapapaaway kung hindi dahil sa'yo," I glared at him.
Napangisi siya. "Bakit? May gusto bang umagaw sa 'kin sayo?"
What the---? Ang yabang nga naman. I rolled my eyes on him. "Nah, nevermind," I said and walked out.
"Mauuna ka naman tapos mapapahamak ka na naman?" he said from my back. Bakit ba sunod nang sunod sa 'kin 'to?
"As I've said, wala kang pake. I can handle myself. At hindi ka ba nandidiri? You're talking to a nerd who doesn't know to fix herself. In short, ugly."
"You're not ugly. It's just your disguise."
Napatigil ako. Binalot ako ng kaba at rinig ko pa ang tibok ng puso ko. Alam niya? Paano? Am I too obvious? Bakit?
"W-what are you talking about?" Like f*ck, Shea? You're stammering!
He grinned. "So, disguise nga?" tanong niya.
I mentally face palmed. Akala ko, alam niya.
We did lunch together. Wala na akong magagawa dahil sunod siya nang sunod sa 'kin. I wasn't talking the whole time. Bahala siya dyan kausapin ang sarili niya. All I think is that woman who finally gave half of that power to me. The power that I loathe before is already inside me.
"I know you're still doubting yourself. You won't be able to receive your full power unless you remove that doubt and uncertainty. But I'm thankful dahil kahit papano, natuto ka nang tanggapin ito. The festival is about to start soon. I hope you're ready."
Yan ang huling sinabi niya bago siya nawala at nawalan ako ng malay. But what festival is she talking about?
**
"So here's the result of our previous assessment test," diretsang sabi ni sir Carlson as he arrives into the room.
We're having our class na siya ang teacher at ito pa pala yung isa sa mga pinoproblema ko. Remember that I was the only one who didn't use any of my abilities or power during the test? Kung sino raw ang mahuhuli ay expulsion ang kabayaran. And I'm dead.
A huge screen appeared in front of the class as he pressed a button from a remote he was holding.
"Ranked na yan from highest to lowest," sabi ni sir.
Top 1 na naman si Paxton. Eh di siya na. Kailangan ko na masanay na hindi na ako sa top. Ever since I started school I'm always at the highest. But now, mukhang mababaliktad na yata.
I searched for my name at halos maubos ko nang basahin ang pangalan sa screen but my name was nowhere to be found. Napalunok ako and my heart began to race. Hanggang dito na lang ba ako?
Valdemore...
Valdemore...
Valdemore...
Bakit wala ka pa rin?
And at last, I saw it. Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko as I saw my name on last place. I guess this is it.
"Sir!" may biglang nagtaas ng kamay.
"Yes?"
"Di ba kung last place, paaalisin sa academy?" she asked as she smirked at me. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at tumungo nalang ako.
"Actually, yan nga yung announcement ko ngayon. Walang matatanggal."
My soul rejoiced as I heard Sir Carlson's announcement. Really? Yes! I'm saved again. Palagi na lang.
I saw some of my classmates rolled their eyes on me. I think they're already sick of seeing my face. Well whatever, I don't care. Ang mahalaga, ligtas pa rin ako. Sana talaga, makapasa na ako next time. I'm always in the bottom list! Bakit kaya nag change mind siya?
"Wala munang klase ngayon dahil marami akong aasikasuhin. I only have an announcent. Next month, we'll be having our 50th Festival of Magic. Dahil ika-50th ito, this is more special compared sa mga nakaraang festival. So I want you to train harder para tayo naman ngayon ang mag shine sa festival. The Festival of Magic is where you will showcase what you have learned during your stay here in the academy. In short, this is a duel. Iba't-ibang mga special ang makakalaban niyo from different year levels. At pag sinusuwerte ka, makakalaban mo ang isa sa mga Alpha."
We all gasped nang marinig namin ang huling sinabi ni sir. The Alpha? Hindi ba masyado silang malakas para sa amin?
"Mr. Montero, I'm expecting from you. Help your classmates to improve themselves especially Miss Valdemore. You will be my substitute pag wala ako," baling niya kay Paxton.
"Yes sir," sagot niya sabay tingin sa 'kin ng nakakaloko.
I sighed heavily. I can't believe that I'm already in the bottom of the class. For sure, my parents will be disappointed. At siya pa talaga ang naka-assign.
"Further announcement will be announced next meeting. Dismissed," he said then left.
Festival? Ito ba ang ibig sabihin ng babae sa panaginip ko? But why? May mangyayari ba during the festival?
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