Nandito na naman ako, as usual sa hallway naglalakad papuntang room kung saan first period ko ngayon. I'm wearing my disguise and I'm walking with my heads down.
“Ow!”
Pareho kaming napadaing ng nakabangga ko. Mukhang hindi rin siya nakatingin.
I looked up at siya yung babaeng seatmate ko. If my memory was right, she is Alzena Alors. She has the power of sound vibration and has the ability to steal. I don't know what kind of ‘stealing’ she does.
“S-sorry.” I apologized.
Alam kong sisigawan na niya ako at mapapahiya so I better prepare myself. Nasa aura pa naman niya yung pagiging bitch.
“It's ok. I wasn't looking too so quits lang tayo.” she said.
I was surprised. Well that’s new.
“Just don't do it again next time.” Dagdag pa niya at nilampasan ako.
I stared at her back. Is it just me o kumintab talaga yung mata niya nang tiningnan niya ako?
Her eyes… It was just like me.
“Good morning class. Wala muna tayong gagawin ngayon and I have some few announcements to make. Mr. Montero how was their training?” tanong ni sir Carlson kay Paxton.
After that, dumiretso na ako dito sa classroom at ito na nga, kakarating lang ni sir.
“They're good, sir. Everybody is performing well.” sagot niya.
Napatili naman ang mga kaklase kong babae. I rolled my eyes. Performing well in flirting siguro pwede pa.
“You heard that? Ren said that I'm good. My gosh, best day ever!”
“Duhh... ako kaya ang tinutukoy niya.”
“No way. Don't you get it? He's looking at me while saying those words kanina!”
“Kyaaahh! Bakit ba kasi ang gwapo niya? Why? Why? Why?”
“You are all being delusional. He is mine.”
“Okay, settle down, class!” sigaw ni sir. Natahimik naman silang lahat.
Ang lalandi naman kasi.
“So here is my announcement, after the duel part on Festival of Magic, which is two weeks na lang, we decided that the finale of the event will be a pageant. A search for Mr. and Ms. Myrrh Academy.” They gasped. Yeah, whatever. As if may pake ako sa mga ganyan.
“Dahil golden year ngayon ng Festival of Magic, ito nga ang napili nilang finale. Maliban sa duel, ito ang highlight ng event. So, can you suggest someone na pwede maging representative ng section natin?”
I can't believe na may mga ganito rin pala dito. I thought sa common realm lang may mga ganito. Such a nonsense and boring activity. I lean on my desk and closed my eyes. Hindi ako interesado sa pinag-uusapan nila.
“Sir, si Shea.”
Tss… ayan na naman sila. May mahihinang tawa akong naririnig. Ako na naman ang pinagti-tripan nila.
“Oo nga, si ugly nerd. For sure, tayo ang mananalo sa best in costume. Hahaha!”
This people don't know who they are dealing with. Be careful of what you wish for dumbasses. I may be your worst nightmare.
“Yeah, I go for Shea. Hahaha!”
“Seriously, guys? You're voting for her?” I think that's Alzena.
“Makapal naman ang mukha niya, eh. Hahaha!”
“Can't you be more serious?”
“Shea! Shea! Shea!”
They are all cheering for my name with insults. Nanatili lang akong nakasubsob sa desk ko.
“Ayaw niyong tumahimik?” Dumagundong ang boses ni Paxton sa buong classroom. Natahimik agad ang lahat.
I guess he's already performing his duty as a familiar. Or maybe he’s just acting as a self-proclaimed president na nagpapa-bibo kay sir.
"Let's ask Ms. Valdemo—”
“I decline.” sinagot ko na agad si sir kahit di pa siya tapos magsalita.
“Booo!” Muli na naman nilang sigawan. I really don't get the way people think. Ganon na ba kakitid ang utak nila?
“Shut your stupid mouth, f*ckin' people!” Isang boses ang nangibabaw sa buong room. It's my seatmate, Alzena. Nagulat sila sa pamurang sigaw nito at pagtayo sa gitna. Her face was scary kaya natahimik na naman sila.
“Can't you be more realistic? Ms. Shea, I don't intend to offend you, but seriously people? You're choosing her?” she really emphasized the ‘her’ part habang tinuturo pa ako. Yeah whatever, you’re not offending me, really. Not at all.
“Hindi lang siya ang mapapahiya kundi ang buong section natin. Gusto niyo ba ‘yon?” dagdag niya.
Tinitingnan ko lang siya. Wala akong reaksyon o kahit ano pang komento. Why is she reacting like this? Big deal ba sa kanya ang pageant?
“Ms. Alors that's enough. You may sit down.” pag singit ni sir.
Huminga muna siya ng malalim at bumalik sa pwesto katabi ko.
“Sorry for that.” Bulong niya sa ‘kin.
“It's okay.”
I'm certain that Alzena is not just an ordinary student here in the academy. That strange aura surrounding her at ang pagiging mainit ng dugo ko sa kanya, I think she have a strong connection to the opposite side.
“Anymore suggestions?” tanong ni sir.
“Si Alzena nalang.” sabi ng isang estudyante. Nag-agree naman ang lahat sa suggestion niya.
Well, bagay naman kay Alzena dahil nasa physical features niya naman ang characteristic ng isang beauty queen.
“Ms. Alors, okay lang ba sayo na ikaw ang representative ng section natin?”
“Yes sir.” walang pag-aalangang sagot niya. Mukhang gusto niya talagang sumali dito kaya ganon siya kung maka-react.
“It's settled then. How about our representative for Mr—”
“REEEENNNN!”
Hindi pa nga tapos magsalita si sir ay nagsigawan na agad sila at kilig na kilig. Mukhang ako nga lang talaga ang walang pake sa ganitong event. Pero bakit si Paxton pa?
“Mr. Montero, you heard your classmates. Is it okay with you?” tanong ni sir sa kanya.
“I'm sorry but I have to decline.” He replied politely. Where did his attidude go?
Napa-aww naman sila.
“Bakit naman?”
“Ayaw ko lang.” walang gana niyang sagot. Ah, so there it is.
“Alam niyo, hindi ko rin hilig ang mga ganitong event, eh pero since adviser niyo ako, no choice. Kung pwede ako na nga lang maging representative matagal na akong nag-volunteer, eh.”
Nagtawanan naman sila sa sinabi ni sir.
“Anymore suggestions or volunteer?”
Wala nang nagsalita o nagtaas pa ng kamay.
“Mr. Montero, mukhang no choice ka rin. Sayang naman kung tatanggihan mo 'to dahil malaki ang chance mong manalo. Based on your physical features and your popularity, di malayong mananalo ka. Ganyan din ako nang kabataan ko.” Ngisi ni sir habang nag papa-pogi pa. Kilig na kilig naman ang mga babae. Hays, lahat nalang.
Lahat sila nakatingin sa gawi ni Paxton at usually ang mga babae ay naka-puppy eyes. Kadiri.
Knowing Paxton and his attitude? Alam ko kung ano na ang isasagot niya.
“Tss… Mahirap talaga maging gwapo.” sabi niya as he sighed in defeat.
Sabi ko na nga ba.
Natuwa naman silang lahat and I even noticed Alzena smiled at Paxton pero hindi siya pinansin nito.
THIRD PERSON'S POV
(The scene bago ang first period ni Shea)
“Nandito siya. She's one of us.”
Napatigil ang lahat sa kanya-kanya nilang ginagawa nang magsalita ang Pro Alpha habang nakaharap sa malaki nilang bintana sa kanilang dormitory o tambayan. Kita nito ang buong academy.
Minsan lang magsalita si Kiyan kaya kung marinig mo siyang magsalita, you have to listen well. Because every detail of what he is going to say is very accurate. Siya rin ang pinaka respetadong tauhan sa buong academy next from the founder of the school who is unknown.
“Nasan?” tanong ni Ice. Binatukan naman siya ng kambal niyang si Fire.
“Did you already meet her, Master?” asked by a girl who was playing darts in the corner. It was Ezra.
“Once. I caught her watching us two weeks ago as I killed that demon. She must be the reason kung pano napunta ‘yon dito sa academy.” He said, still wearing his emotionless face.
“So I was right.” Lahat napatingin kay Fire nang magsalita siya.
Fire is known as the brain of the group and a very excellent theoritician. Maliban sa pagsaway sa kambal niya ay madalas itong makikita na nagbabasa or rather reviewing his data. He often takes down notes sa tuwing may laban or kung may misyon sila sa labas ng academy. He's weird at karamihan na sinasabi niya ay scientific-based even they’re using magic.
“Event A and Event B of probability matched my formula. So the probability of the event that the Mistress is watching us while we’re fighting that S-class demon is 83 percent.” He explained habang inaayos ang eye glasses niya.
“Woah. Wala akong ma-gets.” His twin commented.
“I didn’t ask your opinion.”
“So what's the plan?” Vishna asked while playing some water balls. She has the power of water.
“We must find her.” From being gay, Trevor shifted his voice in a serious and manly tone.
Akala niyo bakla siya? Nah, he serves as the bait of the group.
“Then kill her?” Alison grinned.
“Don't touch her unless I say so.” Kiyan said in a stern voice at humarap sa kanila.
“Why? Once we finish her off, magiging okay na. Wala nang darkness and everybody will be happy!” Magiliw niyang saad.
“You never know what the Mistress of Darkness and Destruction can do, Ali. She has an equal strength as Master Kiyan.” sabi ni Fire habang nakatungo at nagbabasa na naman.
“But light can never be defeated by darkness, right? Light always wins. Evil can never win against the good.”
Kiyan sighed as he faced again the window while looking at the nerd who is about to enter the building.
“What can you say about darkness and destruction?” tanong ni Kiyan sa kanila.
They all went in silence hanggang sa nagsalita si Vishna, “It's evil. Wala ‘yang ginawa sa mundo kundi masasama. It shouldn’t be existing in the first place.”
Kiyan sighed again and closed his eyes as he whispers to himself. “Yes, it is.”
SHEA'S POV
Kakatapos lang ng klase namin at hinintay ko munang lumabas lahat ng mga kaklase ko. Alam ko pag nakisama ako, pagti-tripan na naman nila ako.
I waited there for a few more minutes until I decided to go out.
“Saan punta mo?” Biglang sabi ni Paxton na nasa gilid pala ng pintuan habang nakapamulsa at nakasandal sa pader.
“CR. Sama ka?” I said sarcastically.
He grinned, “Sure. If it's from an invitation from my Mistress, why not?” He smiled evily sabay kindat.
Napailing na lang ako. “Pervert.”
Dire-diretso akong naglakad pero napapansin kong sumusunod pa rin siya. Tumigil ako at hinarap siya.
“Can you please stop following me? I can handle myself.” I said coldly.
“Handle yourself? Tsk. You always get yourself into trouble and end up fainting and you are saying that you can handle yourself?”
Kumunot ang noo ko. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay yung sinusuway ang utos ko. Especially when I'm not in the mood to ride other people's opinion.
“That's an order from your Mistress. Follow it.” sabi ko and glared at him.
Napaiwas siya ng tingin at napailing. Hindi na siya sumagot at tuluyang umalis ng hindi na ako tinitingnan.
Tumalikod na ako at diretsong naglakad. Buti hindi na siya makulit. Pumasok ako sa comfort room para i-check kung sa ayos ang disguise ko nang may biglang pumasok. At first, hindi ko siya pinansin pero bigla niya nalang ni-lock yung pinto kaya doon napunta ang atensyon ko.
It was Alzena.
She looked at me at ganon din ang ginawa ko. But I almost dropped into my knees nang biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko as I heard a very loud beat inside my head. It's the same thing noong assessment test namin kay sir Carlson.
“W-what are you doing?”
Halos mawalan na ako ng hininga. She’s looking down at me. My blood circulation isn’t normal dahil abnormal ang speed ng puso ko. I can get a heart attack anytime by now.
“Masakit ba? Masakit ba, Shea? That's for stealing Paxton's attention from me.” Nanlalabo man ang paningin ko but I can see through her eyes the anger and hatred she have for me.
“Where's your ability? Use it! Use it you, bitch! Demon slayer ka 'di ba? Malakas ka 'di ba? Then use it to defend yourself you damn whore.” Pasigaw niya sa mukha ko habang kinekwelyohan ako.
What is wrong with this girl?
Mas lumakas pa ang vibration and beat na naririnig ko at halos mabaliw na ako dito.
“That's for flirting Kiyan. Ang kapal ng mukha mong lumapit sa Alpha when you are just a nobody.”
What the hell is she talking about? Nandidilim na ang paningin ko. It's either that I'm losing consciousness or losing my control in my body and I might kill her.
Hinawakan niya ang leeg ko at inangat ako sa sahig. I never expected that this girl is strong. Galit na galit talaga siya.
“Where is your ability? Release it....” She paused and grinned at me.
“...So I can steal it.”
So that’s what she means. Sinadya kong painitin ang leeg ko, enough para mapaso siya.
“Ouch! What the hell did you do?!” she shouted nang bitawan niya ako. Napaubo naman ako nang lumapag ako sa sahig. I'm catching my breath.
“You are talking nonsense, Alzena. You’re acting like a bitch. I can't believe that you can actually kill a person because of those nonsense reasons.” sabi ko sa kanya at tumayo habang inaayos ang uniform ko.
“You...” She pointed at me habang tinitignan ako ng masama.
“Who are you?”
I was stunned for a moment dahil sa tanong niya. Who am I? I'm just the Mistress of Darkness and Destruction. The disciple of the Goddess of Darkness and Destruction, the second most powerful, Queen of the Underworld, and feared and hated by everyone.
Inayos ko ang eyeglasses ko bago sumagot, “Ako? Like what you've said, I'm just a nerd, a nobody.” I said and left her inside.
---