"Nurse Amfeil, what happened to her?"
"I do not really know. She was brought here by Justine Lointe. I asked him what happened but he just told me to take care of her."
I woke up having no idea where I was. Napalingon ako sa nag-uusap at nakita ko sina Louise at ang School Nurse.
"What are your implications when you checked her up?" tanong ni Louise sa nurse.
"Lack of air. She fainted," the nurse answered.
Ibinaling ni Louise ang tingin niya sa akin at agad niyang tinahak ang distansya na mula sa akin nang makitang gising na ako.
"Gosh Aleighna! Mabuti gising ka na. Pinag-alala mo ako! I hurriedly went here nang marinig ko ang usap-usapan na sinugod ka raw dito sa clinic na unconscious. Gosh! Ano bang nangyari sayo? Sana pala sinamahan na lang kita kanina. Gosh. I'm really sorry Aleighna. Hindi dapat kita iniwan," sunod-sunod na pahayag ni Louise.
Umupo ako at sumandal sa headboard ng higaan.
"Leigh, wait," aniya at biglang inangat ang baba ka, "Nurse Amfeil, have you checked this?" aniya at agad namang lumapit ang school nurse sa amin at tiningnan ang bandang leeg ko at saka ko lang naalala ang nangyari. Nang akmang hahawakan na ni Nurse Amfeil ang leeg ko ay agad ko itong inunahan.
"Let me check your neck Miss Lowrie. Hindi ko napansin iyan kanina," aniya.
"Wag na. It's fine. It's nothing," I did not know my reason of doing it. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang pinagtatakpan ko si Nazaire at ang ginawa niya sa akin. I was still scared. Parang nakikita ko pa rin ang sarili kong unti-unting nawawalan ng hininga sa mga mata niya. It felt like whenever I looked at his eyes, I was always at stake. I could always feel danger seeing his soul.. His dark soul.
"Aleighna, I need to, okay? Mr. Lointe ordered me to make sure that you are fine," she said while still trying to convince me.
Bahagyang napakunot ang aking noo, "Who's Mr. Lointe?"
"Uhm, Leigh, it's Justine. Siya raw ang nagdala sa iyo rito," paliwanag ni Louise.
So it was confirmed. It was really Justine who saved me from the devil.
"Okay na po ako nurse. Do not anymore bother," I assured her.
"Ganoon ba?" pagkokompirma niya at tumango na lamang ako, "O siya. Basta kapag may hindi maganda sa pakiramdam mo just call me okay?" I nodded and she then went out the room.
Meanwhile, nanatili pa rin ang tingin ni Louise sa akin hanggang sa makalabas kami sa clinic. We headed to my dorm as adviced by Nurse Amfeil.
"Now, tell me what Nazaire really did," ani Louise at napatingin ako sa kanya na bakas ang pagkagulat.
"How did you know?"
"I am a department representative Leigh. Mas madami akong alam kumpara sa mga ordinaryong estudyante rito. Now tell me what triggered him para sakalin ka niya," seryosong litanya ni Louise.
"Aware ka pala sa nangyari, bakit hindi mo direktang sinabi kay Nurse Amfeil?"
"Because I wanted it to directly come from you!" she said while raising her tone up.
"Bakit Louise? Takot ka bang ilaglag si Nazaire? Takot ka bang mabahiran ang pangalan ng presidente niyo? Takot ka bang malaman ng iba na hindi perpekto ang SCB President ng Heartfilia?" I sarcastically said.
I saw Louise took a deep breath. She was trying to stay still. She kept her eyes shut at sunod-sunod ang malalalim na paghinga niya. Ilang segundo pa bago niya iminulat ang mga mata niya at tiningnan niya ako ng diretso.
"Siguro nga Leigh tama ka," aniya at nakita kong nanunubig na ang gilid ng mga mata niya. The guilt was slowly eating me. I tried to go near her and hug her but she stopped me halfway. "Oo Aleighna. Takot ako na ilaglag si Nazaire dahil takot ako sa mga pwedeng mangyari. Pero Leigh kung alam mo lang. Leigh if you only know what scares me more!"
Bigla ko na lang nakita ang pagkinang ng tubig na nahuhulog mula sa mata niya. Frustration was swallowing her.
"Gosh. Louise I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"I'll leave now Leigh. Take care. Never go along Nazaire's way again," she said upon cutting me in between words.
Ilang segundo akong napatingin sa kawalan matapos na umalis si Louise. I then let myself fell on the bed. Nasa kalahati pa lang ako ng araw but it seemed to be very long already. I took my cellphone beneath the pillow and was supposed to call Iana only to find out that my network was cut off.
"What the hell?"
Agad akong napaupo. Inabot ko ang laptop mula sa drawer sa bedside table ko and was hoping to access it dahil mababaliw yata ako sa kaiisip ng mga nangyari. I clicked the power button while crossing my fingers.
"Oh please, please please," sunod sunod na saad ko habang hinihintay itong magbukas.
Damn. I could no longer connect to the school's wifi.
Inayos ko ang sarili ko at agad akong lumabas ng kwarto. Dumiretso ako sa reception table but no one was around. Where could Miss Gryzel possibly be? Dumiretso na lang ako sa telepono but the landline was even cut off.
"Wala ka ba talagang kadala-dala Aleighna Lowrie?"
Hindi pa man ako nakakalingon ay kilala ko na agad ang pinggagalingan ng boses at hindi nga ako nagkamali. It was Chastity Nevara.
"I am giving you a warning Lowrie. This is supposed to be your third and last one pero sige, I will give you the very last one. Once I caught you again, or any of the SCB officers, class officers or department representatives, you will be automatically sent to the detention office. And just so you know, iba ang pamamalakad sa Detention tuwing may coding. You won't like it. No one will," aniya at saka ako nilagpasan.
Hindi ko nagawang magsalita. The Chastity in front of me a while ago was different from the Chastity that I had known and everyone was telling about.
Napahilamos ako ng aking mga kamay sa aking mukha ng wala sa oras. This is really getting worse. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ako at pilit na kinalma ko ang aking sarili. Ilang sandali lang ay biglang tumunog ang speaker.
"Good day Heartfilians. This is Axel Belmonte, your SCB PIO. I, together with my co-SCB officers, inform everyone that the orange code will be effective in thirty minutes. If you noticed, all lines were already cut off. Everyone is advised to follow the policies regarding the orange code. This is an announcement from the Student Affairs Service Office. Thank you and have a good afternoon ahead."
The speaker beeped and that ended the announcement of the SCB from the SAS Office.
Tama nga ang hinala ko na may kaugnayan sa orange code ang pagkawala ng network signal at internet connection. Bumalik na lamang ako sa kwarto at kinuha ang dalawang textbook ko dahil wala na akong afternoon classes. Unti-unti na ring nagsisidatingan ang ilang estudyante na sa tingin ko ay pare-pareho lang din ang gagawin. Review. Ano pa nga ba? Eh rank is the only thing that matters here in Heartfilia. Lumabas ako ng Engnr. Zyrie Illushia Building II at nagtungo sa cafeteria. Anyway, ngayon ko lang napansin that all dormitory buildings were labeled as Engr. Zyrie Illushia Building. Bigla tuloy akong napaisip kung mayroon bang building dito na ipinangalan kay Mr. Zaiede.
I ordered for my meal dahil hindi pa ako nagtatanghalian. I haven't eaten my breakfast neither. Nang makuha ko ang order ko ay pumwesto ako sa pinakasulok na table. I wanted peace. Sinabay ko ang pagrereview habang kumakain. I had no idea why all of a sudden ay nagkaroon ako ng kaunting dahilan para sipagin sa pag-aaral.
Am I scared to be subjected as a violator and be sent in the detention? Did what Chastity say affect me that much?
I was already eating my dessert when someone pulled the chair across mine and sitted. I did not bother looking to the person. Bakit ang hilig hilig ng mga tao rito na makiupo sa table ng may table kahit na maraming vacants?
"Hey Leigh," napatigil ako sa pagbabasa when I recognized Justine's voice, "How are you?"
Nang iangat ko ang aking tingin ay saka ko lang napansin na may dala-dala rin pala siyang mga libro.
"I'm good. Thanks for taking me to the clinic and for somehow saving me," I said blankly.
"Somehow saving you? So for you what I did was just somehow?" he said trying to break the little bit of awkward atmosphere.
"Perhaps," tipid na saad ko at saka bumalik sa pagbabasa.
"Nazaire wouldn't do such thing if he wasn't triggered by you. Kahit wala ako kanina, I knew that you had said or done something that pulled his trigger," seryosong litanya ni Justine na siya namang nagpatigil sa akin.
Did I pushed him to his limit? But how? May kinalaman ba ang kambal na Heartfilia rito? In what way then?
Bakit ba pakiramdam ko tuwing hihinga ako sa loob ng paaralang ito ay may kalakip na panibagong katanungan?
"Maybe you're right Leigh. I just saved you somehow. Because it was Nazaire who really saved you," dagdag niya at kaagad akong napaangat ng tingin. He smirked before continuing, " He was not really going to kill you. If he really meant it, you were already dead in the first twenty seconds the he held your neck."
He took the last sip of his cup of coffee at nang maubos iyon ay nagsimula na siyang tumayo.
"I need to go Leigh, masyado na yata kitang naaabala at applicable rin sa amin ang coding," aniya at tipid lang na tawa ang kanyang pinakawalan. Bago siya tuluyang umalis ay muli niya akong nilingon. "Trust me Leigh. If ever man na hindi ako dumating agad kanina at nawalan ka ng hininga, he would either let go of you or revive you."
He gave me a smile before going away and that left me wondering again!
I decided to stay inside the cafeteria even after I finished eating my lunch. I preferred here dahil kaunti lamang ang estudyante. Some were probably at the library, at the chill room, in their dorms or wherever part of this academy where they could comfy themselves.
"I'm so annoyed! What's with the sudden change of policies!?"
Napalingon ako sa mga estudyante di kalayuan sa akin. Sa tingin ko ay kakapasok lang nila.
"I guess they were trying to catch the violators off guard. Wala tayong magagawa Hiewly," said by the other and tapped her friend's shoulder.
"Bawal na yata magreview sa mga dorm pre," ani ng isang lalake sa kabilang table.
"Kaya siguro nagra-rounds ang buong SCB at department representatives ngayon," sagot ng kasama niya at pareho na lamang silang napailing bago muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa pag-aaral.
Ayaw ko nang gawing big deal pa ang mga nangyayari dahil paniguradong madadagdagan na naman ang mga katanungan ko.
I decided to leave the cafeteria at 3pm. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dadalhin ng mga paa ko. I just wanted to find a more comfortable place. Sa paglalakad-lakad ko ay napadpad ako sa Heartfilia Circle.
It's my first time here. Joseph was not able to bring me here when we conducted a campus tour during my day one in Heartfilia. Nasa likod lamang ito ng Sebastian Building, kung saan naroroon ang opisina ng mga faculties, including the deans' and the SAS office.
The atmosphere in the Heartfilia Circle was so relaxing. It was a garden-like place. At the center of the circle was a three-layered fountain. There were benches, plants and trees. Malilim naman sa mga kinaroroonan ng benches pero mas pinili ko pa rin sa damuhan dahil mas komportable akong sumandal sa puno.
Ilang sandali ay unti-unti na akong napapapikit dahil sa preskong atmospera na bumabalot sa lugar pero bago pa man tuluyang magsara ang talukap ng aking mga mata ay nakarinig ako ng yabag. Hindi ko na lamang ito pinansin sa pag-aakalang isa lamang itong ordinaryong estudyante na gusto rin ng mas payapa at tahimik na lugar.
"I cannot promise when to go home. - I don't know either. - What!?"
Sunod-sunod na litanya niya at hindi ko magawang sumilip. Kilala ko ang boses niya. It was Nazaire. Nanatili akong nakasandal sa puno at pinapakinggan lamang siya. He must be talking with someone over the phone.
"Okay. But. You. Are not going. To. Fckng. Enroll. Here. Do. You. Understand?" aniya nang may diin sa bawat salitang binibitawan.
"No Zel. Not even Nazeviere! Keep your asses in LA. I need to hang out."
Nanahimik na ang paligid pero alam kong nandoon pa rin siya dahil wala akong naririnig na kahit anong yabag.
"Let what is inside remain inside."
Bahagyang tumayo ang mga balahibo ko dahil sa binitiwan niyang salita. Was that for me? Saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag nang hindi ko na marinig pa ang mga papalayo niyang yabag.
Looked like I was in a guessing game again. Pakiramdam ko nasa isang malaking maze ako and the only thing to find the way out was to solve all the puzzle and answer all the riddle. Kailangan ko na talagang makita sina Lester, lalong lalo na si Mrs. Heins. They were the ones who put me here. Siguro naman ay alam nila ang sagot sa mga tanong ko. But how? I lost connection from the outside at bawal din kaming lumabas. Minsan tuloy napapaisip ako kung may illegal transactions ba ang paaralang ito.
Oh curse my nonsense thoughts!
Ilang minuto pa akong nanatili sa pagkakaupo sa damuhan at pagkakasandal sa puno. Pinakiramdaman ko ang malamig na dampi ng hangin sa aking balat. Sandaling lumaya ang aking isipan sa mga tanong na gumugulo sa akin. This place felt so relaxing. I guessed I found the perfect place inside this campus where I could release stress.
"It's orange code free. Enjoy the rest of the day Heartfilians! Let's go parrrtttyyyy!!! - What the heck Axel? - Why J? First day of orange code is done. Party tiiiimmmmeee!!!"
Nice. Hanggang dito pala sa Heartfilia Circle ay may speaker. Tumayo na ako at pinagpag ang suot ko na kinapitan ng ilang damo.
"Finally!"
"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!"
"Hey! Stop!"
Saka lang ako natauhan nang magsalita ang kung sino mang taong ito. Tinanggal ko na rin ang pagkakahawak ko sa aking dibdib dala ng pagkagulat.
"Shit! Bakit ka ba bigla biglang nanggugulat? At ano bang ginagawa mo sa taas ng puno?" tanong ko sa lalaki.
"Miss, first of all, that's my hideout. I hate orange code. I hate all the codes. And mind you, kanina ko pa gustong bumaba but you were there. Anong gusto mo? Talunan kita?"
"What? So kasalanan ko pa?"
"Yes because I hated eavesdropping but you made me do."
I know that he was referring to Nazaire. Tinaasan ko na lamang siya ng kilay.
"Dahil sayo nadagdagan na naman mga tanong ko. Tsk. Kapag minamalas ka nga naman," aniya at nagsimula nang maglakad habang sumisipol.
Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin at nagsimula na rin akong maglakad sa kabilang direksyon.
It was already pass 7pm when I woke up. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako kanina nang makauwi ako. I headed to the comfort room and fixed myself. Pupunta muna ako ng Heartfilia Grocery Building upang bumili ng mga pwede kong kainin at wala na ring stock sa fridge.
See? That's how elite this school is. Para na nga itong isang village. Complete package. May grocery store. May fastfoods. May bar. Oh yes. May bar talaga rito. I wonder kung idea ba ni Ginoong Sebastian 'yon. Just name it and this academy will serve you what you want. Oh well exclude the carnivals.
Isinuot ko ang hoodie ko at nagsimula na akong maglakad palabas ng dorm. Nadatnan ko sa reception ang ilang estudyante na nanonood ng tv. Ito lang ang maganda sa paaralang ito. They give what the students deserve. The codes for studying were only effective until 6 pm at pagkatapos noon ay bahala na ang mga estudyante sa kung anumang gusto nilang gawin.
I was about to open the main door when I realized one thing. Bumalik ako sa reception table kung nasaan si Miss Gryzel, isa sa mga receptionists.
"Good evening Miss Gryzel, may I use the telephone?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Hindi pa rin kasi napapanatag ang loob ko. My queries were still seeking for answers. I needed to talk with people from Karringstyn.
"For internal services lang ang telepono ngayon Aleighna," ani Miss Gryzel na siyang nagpakunot sa noo ko.
"Bakit po? I mean, hindi ba wala nang coding after 5pm?"
"Yes dear. Pero as long as na may stickers tayo, we cannot communicate with outside. Hindi rin kayo maaaring lumabas ng campus," paliwanag niya sa akin at bagsak ang balikat na sinagot ko siya ngunit mababakas sa aking pananalita ang pagkainis.
"Bakit naman po? Aren't they being too tight?"
"That is an order from Mr. Heartfilia that we all should obey," aniya at napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at nagpaalam na sa kanya.
Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Eh isang hamak na estudyante lang ako ng Karringstyn na out of nowhere ay pinapasok dito sa Heartfilia.
Nagtungo na ako sa likod ng main building kung nasaan ang HG. From here, I could see the party lights from the bar and the well-lighted café where Louise and I hang out.
Speaking of Louise, I have not spoken with her yet. I needed to appologize to her. Pero minsan ay napapaisip na lang talaga ako kay Louise. She was always acting weird whenever Nazaire is inside the conversation. Really really weird.
Kumuha ako ng basket at dumiretso sa biscuit section. Kaunti lamang ang tao ngayon. Marahil ay may kanya-kanya silang ginagawa to release the stress that the upcoming UNATEX was giving to us.
Light foods lang ang kinuha ko. Enough for me to satisfy my boredom cravings. Bukas naman palagi ang cafeteria kaya hindi na ako nag-abala pang kumuha ng mga pagkain for heavy meals.
As soon as I made sure that I had already get all the foods that I could eat for the rest of the week, I then made my way to the cashier.
"Miss!!!" rinig kong sigaw ng isang babae at akmang lilingunin ko pa lang ito nang may humablot sa kamay ko.
Agad akong napapikit nang makarinig ng sunod-sunod na tunog ng pagbagsak.
"Stay here," said by the baritone voice and I froze to where I was standing.
I could still hear the falling objects but I could not make a move to look back.
Damn. It was Nazaire Bernards who... I must admit that it was him who saved me just seconds ago!
Saka lamang ako nabalik sa wisyo nang makarinig ako ng sigawan at doon lamang din ako nagkalakas ng loob na lumingon. My eyes then became wide. Natabunan ng mga canned goods ang isang staff at -
"Oh my God."
Sa gulat ko ay gumana yata ang adrenaline rush ko at agad akong napatakbo malapit sa staff na nakahiga na sa sahig ng walang malay at sinalo ang mahuhulog na rack.
I closed my eyes and prayed in silence. The rack was just too heavy!
Or that was what I thought it was! I opened my eyes and saw Nazaire next to me also stopping the rack from completely falling.
Agad ring nagtakbuhan ang ilang estudyante na naroroon at mga staff upang tulungan kaming itayo ng maayos ang food rack.
When Nazaire made sure that it would no longer fall, he hurriedly ran to the staff who was now completely unconscious.
From here, I could clearly see how he checked the staff. He looked around trying to find someone.
"Ranel, call Lointe and Belmonte now! Tell them to bring a stretcher. Have them paged! Move!" Aniya sa isang staff na nagngangalang Ranel at bumaling siya sa isa pang staff na babae, "Call Nurse Amfeil. Tell her to prepare the clinic."
Tila hindi alam ng babae ang gagawin niya dahil sa pagkataranta kaya napasigaw si Nazaire.
"Quick!"
"Yes pres!" saad niya at saka nagsimulang magdial sa cellphone niya.
He did not stop checking the guy and just some minutes later, Justine and Axel arrived.
"Aire, what happened?" parehong bungad ng dalawa na halatang tinakbo kung saan man sila nanggaling hanggang dito.
Hingal na hingal silang pareho at nang makalapit kay Nazaire ay doon lang nila nakita ang nangyari.
"Damn! I thought kumakalat na ng dugo rito! Did he only pass out?" wika ni Axel at saka inilapag ang dala-dala nilang stretcher.
"Bleeding or not, he needs to be brought to the clinic," blankong pahayag ni Nazaire.
"Teka pre! Pagpahingain mo naman kami kahit saglit lang. Tinakbo naming ang halos kalahati nitong Heartfilia," ani naman ni Justine at sumandal ito sa food rack.
"Carry your asses up and help me bring him to the clinic," seryosong litanya nito at agad namang napatigil ang dalawa at napatingin sa kaniya, "Now." Dagdag ni Nazaire nang walang gumagalaw sa dalawa at doon lang sila nagsimulang kumilos.
Narinig ko pa ang pagtatalo nina Justine at Axel at biglang napadaan ang tingin nila sa akin nang bubuhatin na nila ang stretcher.
"Aleighna?" baling ni Justine sa akin.
He did not speak up. Dire-diretso lang siyang naglakad palapit sa akin at bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking noo.
"You're wounded."