NHEAN'S POV
I can't help but stare at the very familiar silhoutte of a man in front of the crowd. He stood up on the stage looking like a king and someone who is so powerful. Giving everyone a goosebumps with those cold and fierce aura.
He is indeed a superior to all.
Just by the looks of him, no doubt he govern this hellish school.
Nguni't I cannot believe my own eyes. The very same man whom I met was this school's very own chairman. I felt a sudden mixed of emotions inside my chest. A different kind of reactions which I cannot process so well. To be a bit exaggerated, I feel like losing some air to breathe.
"He looks so familiar." Wika ni Ve habang nakatuon ang kaniyang mga tingin sa kaniya.
She might seen him somewhere too. I shaked my head and opt to ignore her and the idea of her meeting her somewhere before too. I focused my eyes on the man standing on the stage. His eyes says it all. He is not interested in this event at all— even a single interest is never shown.
"Good day to each and everyone. What a lucky day for all of us here today to be with our dearest chairman on this very second. Finally, after three years, we got to see him face to face again." Everyone appluaded and hindi pa nga napigilan tumili ng iilang mga babae. "And I won't make this long. Let us hear our chairman on his welcome message. Sir, the stage is yours."
Naglakad siya papalapit sa puwesto ni Miss Sweet. Sa sandaling makalapit siya bahagyang yumuko si Miss Sweet at ang isa pa nitong kasama upang magbigay galang.
Everyone's eyes are on him. Amused and amazed by the presence of a man before them.
"What a waste of time." He sound so irritated. Cold and yet firm voice silence the crowd. "This school has rules and rules must be followed. Remember my words until the remaining days of your life— no one could ever cross the limits." His facial expression remained cold and serious. Enough to scare the whole school.
Kung kanina puno ng kilig, ngayon no one dared to make a sound. Kahit sa paghinga sinusubukang i-mute. In just a split second, everyone seems to be facing the king of death.
"He is a dangerous prince!" Taylor blurted out fearly.
Trusting too much can kill you! I remembered Red's words. He is right. And this man, right in front of everyone, is the person who could be the end of me. Goodness, Nhean! How could I trust someone that easily? I nearly forgot I am in Shimmara Academy.
"Bitawan niyo ako! Bitawan nyo ako! Maawa ka yo!"
Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa lalaking hawak-hawak nang dalawang lalaki na naka suit din. Yung lalaking sumisigaw ay umiiyak at sigaw nang sigaw habang nakaposas ang kamay nya sa likod.
He was mercilessly dragged with his hands tied in the midst of the crowd. The place was so quiet that his tiny little sobs echoed the whole place.
I clenched my fist out of frustration. This is out of hand. How can this man do this? I thought he is a good guy!
Suddenly, I felt someone touched my hand underneath the table. I turned to Red and saw his warning look.
"Don't do such stupid thing, Nhean!" He uttered.
"Pero-"
"Ilalagay mo lang ang sarili mo sa kapamahamakan. There is a right time to everything. Stay still."
Natahimik ako at napatingin nalang ulit sa stage. Pero hindi ako mapakali.Ano bang gagawin nila sa lalaking yan?
"C-chairman Ax! Please, maawa ka po sa akin. Hindi na mauulit. " The guy pleaded.
Ano bang nagawa nya?
Pero tila walang naririnig si Chairman Ax.
"This is an example of my word. This is why you should be scared." His words instantly give me goosebumps. A short but deadly words made my heart skip a beat. "Throw him to the dungeon!"
"PAKIUSAP CHAIRMAN AX!AYAW KO PANG MAMATAY. PATAWARIN NIYO AKO. PAKIUSAP...."
His screams and pleas is the only sound that we can hear. Kasabay ng pagkaladkad sa kaniya palayo ay ang unti-unting pagkawala ng natatakot na sigaw nito.
Napatingin ako sa exit door ng hall. Chairman Ax just left the place and leaving a death threat.
"Kawawang lalaki. For this year sya ang kauna-unahang natapon sa Dungeon..."rinig kong usal nang isang babae sa kabilang table.
Hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip at matakot. What kind of school is this?
A sudden sound from the stage and umagaw ng atensyon ng lahat. We saw Miss sweet testing the mic with a wide smile on her face like nothing just happened awhile ago.
"To formally end this event, let me call the newbies here on stage!"
More lights were added and made the area more lively. Ignoring the fact that something scary happened earlier.
Ve pulled me up and everyone from the group followed. Ewan ko kung anong gagawin namin at kailangan pa nang ganitong introduction basta't kinakabahan ako. Sobra! Nanginginig pa ang kamay ko habang nasa stage kami.Sa lawak nang Hall para akong nalililo.
"What a nice day to see lots of newbies here. This is so nice. The more the merrier...." Miss Sweet give out a creepy and weird smile that did not escape my attention. "And let us not make this long. Allow me to also call the Council, lead by the Student Council President, Mr. Klein Vallejo and the Vice-President, Mr. Johan Suangco!"
Nakita kong nagsitayuan sila Klein kasama ang iba pa. Naghihintay lang ako kung ano ang gagawin hanggang sa may isa-isang lumapit sa amin. Napatingin ako kay Ve at nilapitan sya nang secretay nang Council. Confuse kung pano ko nalaman? Well, nameet ko na sya before. If you can still remember, that was the day my teacher was killed through the snake's poison.
Napatingin naman ako sa lalaking lumapit sa akin. He smiled at me. Not a creepy one pero isang maamong ngiti.
"Just a piece of advice, Miss Valdemore. Do not believe too easily."
"What do you mean?" Tanong ko. Bigla naman syang may iniabot sa akin at nanlaki ang mata ko habang nakatingin sa hawak-hawak nyang matalim na kutsilyo.
"Kunin mo."
"No, I wont. Wala naman akong pagagamitan nyan. I-I dont need that thing. I don't have any plan to kill someone..." I said refusing the offer.
"I would love to applaud you on that. And I love to watch you sticking on your words. But this place is not a place for your silly ideas. This is where you can only rely on your self. So, I am doing you a favor. I bet you'll thank me for this."
After a second thought, I silently took the knife.
"The chairman ordered me to give you that kind of knife." Huli niyang sabi at agad na akong tinalikuran.Tatawagin ko pa sana sya kaso napansin ko nakatingin nalang sa akin ang lahat. Nag-usap pa kami ni Klein kaya natagalan kami sa stage.
Nakaramdam ako nang hiya kaya naglakad na ako pa baba ng stage pero napatingin ako sa kutsilyo habang napapaisip.
The chairman did?
Why would he? Why would you chose it for me Alexon Bruise Montejo?
***
Inilibot ko ang mga mata ko sa mga taong nagsasaya sa loob ng Hall. Limang oras na makalipas ng mga nangyari kanina. And upon watching this people having fun and enjoying the rest of the party ay parang walang nangyari kanina.
Nakalimutan na ba nilang may isang taong dadalhin sa dungeon. Kung ano man ang mangyayari sa kanya sa loob ng dungeon wala akong alam pero hindi ako mapakali. Knowing that someone's life is in danger and I wasn't able to do something to save him.
Sa kalagitnaan ng pag-iisip, I caught two people doing dirty things at the corner. I shook my head and turned my eyes away and saw my friend's table are empty. Where are they?
Napatingin ako sa medyo di kalayuan. Sa isang round table I saw Terrence and Willa having a drink while talking. Para bang para sa kanila lang ang kanilang pinag-uusapan.
Si Shaena? Wait, where is she?
"Alone?"
Napatingin ako sa lalaking tumabi sa akin.
"Obviously, Stephan." I said sarcastically. I heared him chukle.
"Kanina ka paraw tulala sabi ni Shaena. She's with my brother Angelo."
"Sina Red? Ve? Deyland and Taylor?"
Napaisip naman sya at napatingin sa mga tao.
"I don't know, Miss Nhean."
"Saan naman kaya sila nagpunta?"
"Hindi ko rin alam. But by the way, bakit ka pala tulala? Is there something wrong? You can tell me. "
Napaisip naman ako at napatitig sa kanya. Mapagkakatiwalaan ba talaga to? Dahil sa di ko inaasahan na nalaman kanina about kay Alexon , I don't know if I can trust The Rosales Brother's too. Like, look at stephan he looks like a tamed wolf now pero alam naman natin na looks can be deceiving.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako.
"Who's Princess Anne Guevarra?"
Out of nowhere, I blurtee out a question that I do not intend to know more.
"Oh, so she's bugging you ha!" Sabi nya sabay tawa . Umirap ako sa kanya.
"Nuh! I just wanted to know whos that girl. Mystery parin kasi sa akin ang ginawang pagpatay sa teacher ko " I explained.
He shrugged his shoulder. "Well, Princess? Sya ang babaeng kinakatakutan ng mga kababaehan.Nope-pati rin ng mga kalalakihan. Wala syang sinasanto. "
"Marami na ba syang napatay? Nasabi ni Angelo na because of her kaya namatay ang teacher ko."
"Marami? Ha! Maraming marami, Miss Nhean!" Nakangisi nyang sagot. Napatitig naman ako.
"H-how did she do it? M-mag isa lang ba sya?"
"Nope! She is the leader of a well known female assasin group. They use their body to decieve their targets. So, usually are men. But if they target women...." He took a glance. "She usw this simple but cruel way of killing."
Napatingin ako nang mataman sa kanya."Ano?"
"Syringe and a snake." He smirk. Oh, so a poisonous snake. But what about the syringe? Anong nagagawa non? "Princess use this syringe with a very dangerous chemicals inside on it at itatarak ito sa kanyang biktima.Yan ang pinanlalason nya. And the snake? To finally end the show, pinapakagat nya sa ahas ang mga nilalason nya " sagot nya.
Natahimik ako. So baka yun ang ginawa nya sa teacher namin. Pero ang tanong anong motive nya for killing her? Dont tell me isa nanaman to sa mga laro ng school na to?
"How did you know about this?Are you telling the truth o baka gumagawa ka lang?" I ask him suspiciously.
Tumawa naman siya. "Why would I lie?Trust me, Miss Nhean. Alam ko. We studied about them dahil muntik na kaming mabiktima nang mga yan. And oh, bago ko makalimutang sa ihin meron syang ibang taguri...."
"Ano naman?"
"Well, she's the Serpent's Empress! Once you caught her attention? Get ready, siguradong magiging alahas mo ang mga ahas nya." sabi nya pa at tumawa.
Napatitig nalang ako sa kanya.
Serpent's Empress ha!
Whoever you are Princess Anne Guevarra, nangangati ang mata kong makita at makilala ka.
Umalis narin si Stephan after awhile. Eksaktong bumalik si Ve. Napatingin ako sa wristwatch ko and 10:44pm na. Kaya pala inaantok na ako e dahil gabi na. Hindi ko man lang napansin ang oras.
"Ang tagal namang matapos!" wika ko.
"Yeah! Matagal pa to, Nhe. Mas mabuti siguro kung i-enjoy nalang din natin. Keysa tumigas tayo dito. Tara..." Tumayo na rin ako.Nakakabagot rin kasi. Hinila niya ako papunta sa isang buffet table.
Tumapat kami sa isang chocolate fountain.
Na-amaze pa ako sa ganda nun pero hindi ako nag-dare na manatili pa non nang mapansin ko ang kakaibang titig sa gilid ko. Nagpunta kami sa dulo
"Nasan sina Red, Ve? Nakita mo ba?" I asked her habang kumakain sya ng dessert. Tinignan nya ako .At umiling.Ngumunguya kasi sya.
Kukuha nalang din sana ako nang kakainin nang biglang naman may nagkagulo sa malapit sa akin.
*BOGSSSHHH*
Agad akong napatingin sa gawing kaliwa ko to see a girl on the floor. Napatingin naman ako sa babaeng nakatayo sa harap nya habang nakangisi. I know this girl. Sya ang bumaril sa akin nung friday.
Nakita ko ang pagkatakot sa mukha nang babae sa sahig.
Akmang lalapit na sana ako but I was glued on my position nang mahuli nang mata ko ang kamay nang babaeng nakatayo na mabilis na kumuha nang maliit na syringe sa ilalim namg mini skirt nya.
My eyes widen. Nakita ko pa ang mga syringe na nakapalibot sa hita nya . Napatitig ulit ako sa kanya.
Does it mean-it's her?
"How dare you threat me with your cheap knife Newbie!" she said while smirking at isasaksak na sana syringe sa babae but before she could do that, I need to stop her.
"Nhe! No!" Hila ni Ve sa akin. She pulled me back.
"Ve, kailangan natin syang tulungan." Ani ko at humakbang pa sabay nang pagyakap ni Ve sa akin para pigilan ako. But I was too late, naturok na ng babae na yun ang syringe sa babae.
The poor girl screamed. Tatakbo pa sana ako nang bigla namang-
"Uh!"
I stopped and looked at Ve. Nakita ko ang mabilis nyang pagbagsak sa sahig unconciously. Agad akong napaluhod.
"What the Hell! Ve! Ve!" Inalog ko sya ng inalog but she fell unconcious. Bigla namang may isang lalaking lumuhod sa tapat namin at binuhat si Ve.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I don't know. Bumagsak lang sya bigla. Please, help me bring her to the clinic, Mister President!"
Mabilis kaming naglakad palabas nang Hall habang nakatingin sa amin ang iilan sa mga estudyanteng malapit sa amin.
★★★
Above multimedia: Lu Han as Greg Alester