⪼ S A P P H I R E
"Bull's eye!" Hadley's loud voice echoed throughout the whole training hall. Her dagger almost landed directly on my forehead if I wasn't observant enough to notice.
I glared at her, throwing my bandage on the cemented floor. Clumsy Hadley kept on asking for apologies after witnessing what happened. We're currently learning more about knife throwing in order to enhance our abilities. But there's a twist: one of us must stand in the center of the massive board, and the true task is not to harm your partner.
Ako naman ang kumuha ng throwing knife mula sa metal na lamesa, this time hindi ko na tinawag si Hadley para tumayo sa gitna. I closed my eyes and threw it with enough force and level. Kumuha ulit ako ng isa pang throwing knife at inihagis ito ng buong pwersa ngunit tumalsik lamang ito at nalaglag sa sahig dahil sa pwesto kung saan ko naibaon ang knife kanina ay doon rin dapat babaon ang pangalawa kong inihagis.
"You're really a pro," Hadley had her jaw dropped.
"I have to be."
Pinanood niya lang akong muli. Hindi siya nagsasalita at para bang lumalim ang iniisip.
"Random thought lang, Quinn. Why do you think the government wanted to keep us hidden? I mean, we're in the middle of a forest and there's literally no information about Infernio Academy on the internet. We are even prohibited to have access outside. I mean, what's the point?"
"Every country is aware that our country has withdrawn from the world battlefield, but I've heard that it's for "cover-up" purposes. Whoever wins the Infernio Battle will be the pride of the country in that competition, according to Mr. President. Because we're one of the strongest contenders, they had to keep us secret for the time being."
"Ah, that's why we can't go outside whenever we want," she sounded sad, but her face immediately lit up. "Pero gusto ko lumabas! Gusto ko subukan—"
"Gusto mo bang maparusahan?"
Someone spoke behind us, it was Ford. Natigil tuloy sa pagsasalita si Hadley.
"Balita ko ang huling nagtangkang lumabas rito ay muntik ng itakwil ni Mr. President," he laughed making my eyebrows furrow. May nakakatawa ba sa sinabi niya?
"Who?"
"I don't know. Let's eat?" Biglang tanong niya kaya nagkatinginan kami ni Hadley.
And we all agreed since we're all hungry.
Raising the chopsticks, I picked up the fresh Sashimi and ate. Them, too.
Most of the time we eat quietly as there was absolutely nothing to talk about besides training and other schoolwork. We never discuss random topics or events in order to prevent accidentally bringing up anyone's past. Sobrang traumatic ng past lives ng bawat isa kaya nga kami nandito ngayon sa Academic.
Infernio Academy isn't just a training school, this institution also helps us deal with our fears and traumas. We were individually chosen by the personnels to be a part of this institution. They promise to assist us in healing and discover more about ourselves, which a normal school couldn't do.
When the Infernio Listers are selected to represent the country at the end of this year, I just wonder what will happen. What would happen to those who were unfortunate? Will they escape this hell and resume living their regular lives as if they hadn't spent close to four years—or perhaps longer—in this institution?
Too many questions unanswered.
One movement in front of me made my eyes looked up, "Gusto niyo nang makalabas?" Ford asked out of nowhere.
"Yes, but we have no choice. Isa pa there's no proper cure yet, I can't leave." Hadley sighed. "Ikaw, Sapph?"
"Neutral." Sumandal na ako sa upuan dahil tapos na akong kumain. "Wala naman akong babalikan sa labas pero ayaw ko namang manatili rito habambuhay," I told them.
Napatigil ako nang may maalala. "Saan ka nga pala galing, Ford?"
"Just somewhere inside this academy."
"Of course, it's going to be just inside this academy. There's no way outside, Ford," sabi ni Hadley ngunit nananatili lamang akong nakatahimik habang pinagmamasdan si Ford.
I tilted my head when I noticed something unusual. The direction of his eyes. The lack of words and not saying enough.
The body language of someone hiding something.
⪼ D A N N A H
"Find the value of x," pagbasa ni Dale sa assignment niya habang nakaupo sa study chair ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakain ng kapatid ko at bigla na lang sumipag ng ganyan sa Math. Kalimitan kasi kapag usapang Math, automatic ako na ang gagawa ng assignment niya.
I was busy searching for a book to read. Balak ko sanang magbasa ng academic related textbooks to have knowledge about my course, but I remember ang dami kong nabiling book series and stand alone. Hindi ako gaanong nakakalabas kaya nag-hoard na ako sa book shop noong nakaraan pero heto ako, ngayon pa lang magbabasa.
"Wala. Wala ng value si ex."
Napataas ang isang kilay ko sa narinig. "Dale, ha? Saan mo natutunan 'yan?" Tanong ko. Imposible namang sa akin dahil hindi naman ako bumabanat naman ng mga ganong klaseng salita.
"Kay kuya Blake."
Sabagay. Kanino pa nga ba, Dannah?
As I roll my eyes, my phone rang. It was dad, finally!
"Hello, dy!" Agad na napalingon sa akin si Dale nang marinig ang masiglang bati ko sa kabilang linya. Inaya ko siya rito sa tabi ko sabay pindot ng loudspeaker para parehas niya kaming makausap.
"Hi po, daddy! Miss ka na ni poging Dale!" Inilapit pa ni Dale ang bibig niya sa cellphone na nakatapat sa kanang tenga ko. Pero dahil nasa kaliwa ko siya ay halos madaganan na niya ako. Excited na excited siyang makausap si daddy. Medyo matagal na rin kasi ang huling tawag.
They talked about a few stories and seeing Dale's wide smile really makes me happy. Mahal na mahal ko talaga ang kapatid ko. Hindi siya maluho. Simpleng quality time lang kasama ang parents namin, masayang-masaya na siya.
"Dannah, Blake's mother talked to me."
Sumeryoso ang tono ng boses ni Daddy kaya naman inalis ko ang pagkaka-loudspeaker nito. Mukhang naintindihan ni Dale kaya naman bumalik na siya sa pagsasagot matapos magpaalam.
"Nakiusap raw ang pinsan mo na mag-aral sa Del Fuego."
"Infernio Academy located at Del Fuego to be specific, dad. Have you heard about that school po?"
"Yes, I've heard about it. Sobrang hirap makakalap ng information about that institution, but I asked some of my techie friends to do so." He chuckled.
"What do you think, dad?"
"Dannah, they can cure you..."
There's a hint of sadness in his tone yet it managed to sound a bit hopeful.
It sounded like finally.
_