I had no choice when Justine insisted to bring me to the clinic.
Maliit lang naman ang sugat ko pero dahil sa ulo ay may kalakasan nga ang pagdudugo nito. But if Justine did not tell me that I had wound, I had no idea that I really had. Sa tingin ko ay natamaan ito kanina ng food rack.
"He got some bruises. Titingnan ko pa kung may internal bleeding siya. Canned goods ang tumama sa kaniya. I'll call Dr. Zaiede right away."
Napaayos ako ng upo nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni Dr. Zaiede. Agad namang tumango ang tatlo. Nurse Amfeil then excused herself to contact Dr. Zaiede Heartfilia.
I already had my wound bandaged at hinihintay ko na lamang na matapos sila sa pag-aasikaso sa staff.
I did not even know why I was still here. In fact I could already excuse myself and go back to my dorm but something in the atmosphere was telling me not to.
"Aire, based on my findings, hindi ang canned goods o ang food rack ang dahilan ng pagkakahulog niya," panimula ni Justine at itinuon ko rito ang atensyon ko, "Hindi rin siya nawalan ng balanse. Nawalan na siya ng malay bago pa siya mahulog."
"He skipped a meal. Well, that's my lucky guess dahil hindi naman mainit ang katawan niya," dagdag ni Axel habang tahimik lang na nakikinig ang dalawa. Meanwhile, Nazaire's attention was still focus to the unconscious staff. "I mean he doesn't have a fever."
Sandaling tumingin si Nazaire sa akin at saka may sinabi sa dalawa na hindi ko na narinig.
Nurse Amfeil then stepped in to the scene.
"The ambulance is coming. Pinapadala siya ni Dr. Zaiede sa ward."
Nagulat ako nang biglang lumapit sa akin si Nazaire. He steadily stood right in front of me that made my whole system freezing!
"Didn't I tell you to just stay there?" tanong niya sa akin ng may blankong ekspresyon.
I heaved out a sigh to prevent myself from stuttering. I still feel anxious around him. I could still see the dangerous soul that was hiding behind his eyes yesterday. And I will forever curse him with that.
"If I did not come the food rack would surely fall before you reach it," walang ekspresyong sagot ko sa kanya.
Not because he was the president, he had the ability to do everything. He should know that himself and stop putting his self on the center for once!
"I reviewed the CCTV footage Aleighna Lowrie. Nazaire stopped on the midway the moment that you started moving towards the rack. And that made you went passed him," Axel stated. Sandali ko siyang tiningnan nang biglang nagsalita si Nurse Amfeil at nabaling ang atensyon namin sa kanya.
"Excuse me," aniya, "the ambulance is already outside the clinic."
Agad namang sumunod sina Justine at Axel kay Nurse Amfeil samantalang si Nazaire ay nanatili lang na nakatindig sa harapan ko.
"Now what?" iritableng saad ko sa kanya..
"All the students' data passed through the SAS Office before completely enrolling here in Heartfilia and we all wonder why yours did not. I tried to ask Dr. Zaiede and Engr. Zyrie but they just remained silent. I actually wonder how Rayford Karringstyn convinced our president to be involved in the exchange student program of the West." litanya niya habang seryosong nakatingin sa akin and that made me smirk.
"Can't you see it? They are already making your limitations visible. And just so you know, I never wanted to be part of this exchange student program," pahayag ko at tumalikod na sa kaniya. I did not want to be in this place anymore.
Lalo lang na bumibigat ang loob ko sa Heartfilia. It looked like I was putting the blame on them when in fact this was no one's fault. But curse everyone who are part of this! They took me away from Karringstyn and it hurts me even more that Karringstyn just let it happen. Kaya nga ako nagpursiging manatili bilang student council para hindi mapabilang sa exchange student program eh.
"Lowrie," napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang muli kong narinig ang boses niya, "I do not actually care why you're here. Ang gusto ko lang ay sundin mo kung ano ang patakaran ng Heartfilia. Do not ruin what was built long before you came."
That made me froze. Bakit pakiramdam ko nasa likod ng mga sinabi niya ang mga sagot sa mga tanong na araw-araw na gumugulo sa akin simula nang dumating ako rito?
The next day, bigla na lamang akong nagising. Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako sa kaiisip ng mga pangyayari. I took my phone to check the time. Muli kong ibinagsak ang aking ulo sa higaan nang makitang quarter to 5 pa lang. It was too early. I still wanted to go back to sleep.
But to my dismay, it was now my body clock that was functioning. I could no longer sleep again. I decided to get up and fix myself instead. Maybe, it was better to take a jog instead of wasting my time lying on this bed trying hard to fall back to sleep. After fixing myself up, lumabas na ako ng aking kwarto.
"Aleighna," tawag sa akin ni Miss Gryzel nang madaanan ko ito sa reception table.
"Good morning miss, gising na po pala kayo," saad ko at lumapit ako ng bahagya sa reception table.
"Ah oo, kaninang alas kwarto pa. Hindi na ako nakatulog kaya dumiretso na lang ako rito," aniya pagkatapos inuman ang tasa ng kape na nasa lamesa, "Where are you going anyway?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Will go for jog lang po," sagot ko rito.
I just nodded and bid her a goodbye.
Pinaalalahan ako ni Miss Gryzel na bumalik bago mag-alas otso dahil sa orange code, kahit na mamaya pa naman ito magiging effective sa akin dahil may klase pa ako. Yet, all the Heartfilia Academy personnel are all way stricter than the usual dahil nga sa nakataas ang code ngayon sa buong Heartfilia. Kaya't kahit afterclass lang namin kailangang magreview para sa UNATEX ay binabantayan pa rin kami ng lahat.
Pagkalabas ko ng dormitory ay tumingin-tingin muna ako sa paligid. The cold breeze of morning was embracing me.
I actually did not know where I should jog. Out of nowhere ay nabaling ang tingin ko sa mataas na pader sa likod ng Engr. Zyrie Illushia Building. I had been wondering what was behind this wall. Naglakad ako palapit dito at napansin kong nakabukas ang gate nito.
"Heartfilia Atrium Extension," iyon ang nakalagay sa arko sa taas ng gate.
I smiled a little bit knowing that I had already found the perfect place to spend my morning routine. I wore my earphones and started to warm up.
Jogging was one of my ways to release the tension I had. It has always been my remedy since I was ten. I loved running with my earphones on. Pakiramdam ko kasi, sa bawat paghakbang ng mga paa ko ay naiiwan ko rin ang lahat ng mga bumabagabag sa akin.
All the questions and things I had gotten from yesterday deserved a jog. I have no one to talk with here. Hindi ko pa rin nakikita si Louise. And I did not even have any idea where her dorm was. That's how great I am as her friend. I could still feel the guilt inside me. I wanted to talk to Louise, not because she was the only one I could count on here right now, but because she was the only person here that mattered to me right now. She was with me since my first day here and I could not just let our friendship sink because of some misunderstandings.
I stretched my right foot and reached it's tip with my left hand and I did the same with the other side. I heaved out a sigh after executing it ten times.
I would look for Louise later.
After five minutes of warming up, I started jogging. Bukas pa ang ilang lamppost dahil hindi pa gaanong sumisikat ang araw. Ngayon lang ako nakapunta rito sa extension ng H Atrium and it was half of the size of the H Atrium at the front.
Maganda rin naman. There were fountains at the center, benches at the side, plants and the human size statue of Mr. Sebastian. Pinasadahan ko ito ng tingin. Iba ito sa nakita kong statue sa library. Sandali akong tumigil at lumapit dito.
"Lennar L. Heartfilia. The man behind the success." pagbasa ko sa nakaukit sa estatwa.
Oh my bad. I thought this was Mr. Sebastian. It was nice seeing his father's features through this statue. Pero bakit nandito ito sa likod when it could be placed at the front atrium?
I started jogging again. Mula sa di kalayuan ay nakaaninag ako ng mga paparating. Sa halip na kabahan at tumigil ay nagpatuloy lang ako. This would not be Heartfilia Academy if this was not safe. Outsiders were strictly prohibited to enter the premises and no one could ever sneaked. I could say that Heartfilia Academy was armored. Hindi ito ang tipo ng paaralan na basta-bastang mapapasok ng mga outsiders na may masamang pakay sa loob, just like Karringstyn University.
Nagpatuloy lang ako. I was about to pass by them when someone suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me.
"What the hell?" wika ko nang dahil sa gulat at pagkainis dahil sa ginawa niya.
Marahas niya akong binitiwan and I most fell to the ground when someone grabbed me again. This time it was gentle.
"Aleighna?" nilingon ko ito at marahas kong tinabing ang kamay nito thinking na may masama itong balak sa akin dahil sa pagkakahawak niya sa bewang ko but I was wrong because it was Justine Lointe.
"You know her J?" tanong ng isa nitong kasamahan at hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong kabahan sa tono ng pananalita nito.
"She's the transferee, Warnell," sagot ni Justine at saka ito bumaling sa akin, "Why are you here, Aleighna?" he asked.
I felt at this point being in a lion's territory just like what Nazaire told me. They were looking at me like they could kill me anytime. They were staring at me like they would not hesitate to shoot me dead just by one wrong move.
Damn! I could not even think straight. Warnell's name was still rolling inside my mind. It sounded really familiar.
"Miss!" I was pulled back by that monster-like voice together with the snap of a finger in front of me, "We're asking you, why are you here?"
What's up with these men? I did not trespass! Sa mga tingin at pananalita nila ay para akong nakapatay. What the heck? Even Justine. He was a little bit different from the Justine that I had known at the restau. Pero hindi rin naman siya nakalalayo sa Justine na itinituring nilang respected SCB Officer. But darn. Something was really wrong with him.
"Weiss, calm down. She's still a woman," ani ng kasama nito na tinawag ni Justine na Weiss and that hit me!
I could not be wrong. They were the ones Louise was talking about!
"Man or woman, once gets into our territory is considered the same."
Agad na napataas ako ng kilay nang marinig ang sinabi at doon lang tila nagkalakas ako ng loob na humugot ng salita.
"Excuse me? Your territory? This belongs to Heartfilia and not with any of you," ani ko. Lumalaki na yata ang mga ulo nila and why were these three even here? "And mind you, if there's someone here who's trespassing, isn't it you?"
Akala ko ay matitinag sila sa sinabi ko pero hindi. Lalo lang bumagsik ang mata nila.
"This atrium is Heartfilia's property but this is not for Heartfilia's students. Do you get it?" ani ng isa na sa tingin ko ay si Jax.
"You are Jax, right?" pagkokompirma ko and his eyes widened and that spoke for the answer, "Isn't this whole damn place exclusive only for HEARTFILIA STUDENTS?" I said emphasizing the last two words.
"J, I told you that I do not care about man and woman once someone enters this place. I could hit her right now."
My eyes widened upon hearing his words. He did not seem to be kidding.
"Hit her once and I will not hesitate to hit you twice or more, Weiss. You choose," my heartbeat became faster.
Axel stood right next to me. What the hell. I no longer understand what the hell is happening. Even this Axel beside me was not the Axel Belmonte that I have known.
"Playing a hero Axel? Really? Let's see if you can still hit Nazaire once he laid a hand on her and to you as well for letting a stranger enter what we already marked as ours."
"Give threats all the way you want to, Holstein but you think Nazaire will?" ani ni Axel.
I got stuck inside these people's circle. They were like animals who would not hesitate to attack each other.
"Both of you!" naagaw ni Justine ang atensyon ko samantalang itong si Weiss at Axel ay patuloy pa ring nagsusukatan ng tingin, "Cool your shits down! Axel, bring him outside before Nazaire arrives."
Axel then dragged me back and away from them.
"Axel you're holding me too tight," ani ko sa kaniya at naramdaman ko naman ang pagluwag ng kapit niya sa braso ko ngunit hindi niya pa rin ako binibitawan.
"Hindi ka dapat pumunta rito Leigh! You're dragging yourself to danger, are you even aware of that?" pigil na galit na saad niya at naramdaman kong tila bumibilis ang paglalakad namin.
He had been dragging me!
"Slow down, Axel! And I did not know, okay? Ano bang mayroon sa lugar na 'to!?"
That's it! I have already let out the first question that was running inside my mind as soon as I got there. Bahagya siyang napatigil. I thought he would answer me but he just hid me behind him. I was about to look what's in the front when I heard a voice that sent fear all over my system.
"Since when did I allow anyone to bring a student here?" Nazaire coldly asked Axel but it was not an ordinary cold tone. His voice contained a lot of warnings.
"I will face it later. But first, let me bring her outside." pahayag ni Axel at doon ko lang namalayan na nasa likod na rin pala namin ang apat.
"A fucker left the gate open."
"Shut the fuck up, Weiss!"
Rinig kong pagtatalo nila sa likod.
I did not want to encounter a devil this early! But fate must be too playful.
"Aray! Ano ba!"
Nazaire suddenly pulled me and no one ever noticed it. He was too fast that not even Axel who was in front of me could stop it.
"How many warnings shall I give to you, Lowrie? You have been messing up with me this much."
I could not look straight into his fiery eyes.
"Let me go! Ano ba? Nasasaktan ako!"
"Know your place, Lowrie. You are going farther and that makes you vulnerable. Now, stop everything you are doing before it gets worse. Do not step into this place, again. Naiintindihan mo ba Lowrie?"
Damn tears of mine. They were starting to fall.
"Aire, let her go," rinig kong saad ni Justine and that was when he threw me. Luckily, Axel got me.
I could feel my entire system trembling. This feeling felt so familiar. This fear. His eyes. They were all familiar.
Naramdaman ko na lang na hila hila na ako ni Axel. I did not know where we were going. We turned the other way around. I could no longer see what we were passing through, my vision was starting to get blurry because of the liquids that my eyes were producing.
"We can no longer go that way, Leigh. I have to take you to the other exit. But I'm sorry if I had to do this," pilit ko siyang inaaninag at bigla ko na lamang naramdaman ang kakaibang lamig sa aking leeg.
"You will be fine Leigh, don't worry."
These were the last words that I heard before passing out.
Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko nang makaramdam ako ng kirot sa bandang leeg ko. Bumungad sa akin ang puting kisame. This place looked so familiar. Nasa school clinic ako. Doon lang unti-unting bumalik sa akin ang mga nangyari kanina at agad akong napaupo nang makita si Axel na natutulog sa sofa habang nakasandal.
I stared at him for a long time and that made me noticed his bruises. There was one near his right eyebrow, another close to his lips and his fists were pinkish. Did he got into some fight? I was about to go near him when I suddenly stopped halfway. Bigla kong naalala ang mga nangyari kanina. His friends, Nazaire, and even when he injected something on my neck that made me lost consciousness. But why is he here?
I stepped back. I did not know this guy. I did not know them. I had no idea who they were. I was really lost inside their own den. I took another step away from him and was about to part the curtain when I heard him call my name.
"Aleighna," I stiffened upon hearing his voice and the anxiousness that I had a while ago while in the atrium came flashing back.
"Do not go near me. Please," I suddenly said when I heard his footstep.
"Look, Aleighna. I'm sorry, okay? I did not mean to inject you that formula. It's just that I could not bring you out of the atrium while you were conscious. You are not allowed to know the gateways of the place. Atrium is too private," and that made me face him.
I was so nervous but I was not able to stop myself from facing him. My lips remained parted. I did not know how to respond. I did not know what to say. I did not know what to ask first! The raging train of questions came into me.
"Leigh, please. Get a hold of yourself. Huwag kang magpapadala sa kahit na ano. Do not let your questions manipulate you, it won't do you any good," saad niya at bigla na lang naihilamos ang mga palad niya sa kanyang mukha. He seemed frustrated, at katulad ko ay tila nangangapa rin siya ng mga gusto niyang sabihin.
"Aleighna, just forget about what you saw. Forget about the atrium. Forget about Weiss. Forget about Warnell. Forget about Jax. Forget about how Nazaire, Justine and I acted inside the atrium. Just... just forget about everything Leigh," he continued and walked out.
Can I have at least a day of break with my thoughts? Naguguluhan na ako and I felt like bursting out in any minute.
What's with atrium extension and why are those three still here when Louise said that they were already kicked out?
These things were really taking me to somewhere. And all I wanted right now, is to go back to Karringstyn.