Lunch break...
Bakit kaya palaging nagliliwanag ang emblem ko every time na nakikita ko or napapalapit ako dun sa nakakatakot na lalaking iyon? (You knew who I meant right?) But I wonder kung bakit sa kanya lang...
Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa pinag-usapan naming tagpuan ni Luna... hindi ako mapalagay lalo na at bawat madaanan ko'y nakasunod sakin ang mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung imagination ko lang ba iyon o ano pero iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko.
"Sigurado kang siya iyon?"
"She's the new student right??"
"He never had a zanga again after Denice, but the moment she entered this school..."
"What kind of person is that new student??"
"We had to be careful around her."
Jeezzz... gusto ko ng makalayo dito at pumunta sa lugar na walang katao- tao, ganito ba talaga kahaba ang hallway na 'to?
"ZIAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" when I heard that familiar voice tila nawala lahat ng tension na nararamdaman ko kanina.
"LLLuuunnnnnaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!" kumaway ako sa kanya saka ngumiti. Hindi na pala namin kailangan pang magkita sa tagpuan dahil dito pa lang ay nagkasabay na kami.
"What? She even knew Luna?"
"What a lucky girl."
"And it looks like they're already good buddies."
"They're roommies."
"But I heard she's from Preea."
"That trashy town? Eeeewwww."
"Let's go??" nakangiting sabi ni Luna the moment na nagkasama kami.
"Ah—ah y-e-yeah."
"Don't mind them." Bulong niya. She clung to me saka ko hinila paalis sa mga tao. Hinihingal kaming pareho ng huminto sa dapat ay tagpuan namin. Sa ilalim ng puno kung saan may lamesa at upuan, napaliligiran ng bermuda grass ang floor at mga puno kami naroroon. "So..."
"Huh?"
"There's something you had to tell me."
Tinignan ko siya ng may halong pagtataka, "Tulad ng???"
"Ikaw ang usap-usapan ng lahat did you know that?" sabi niya habang nakacrossed arms at nakatayo sa harapan ko.
"Ah... eh... yeah," saka ko tumango, at hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko doon, "..dahil ba isa kong new student at galing ng Preea.. at nandito ko dahil lang sa recommendation?"
"No, hindi lang iyon.."
"Huh? May iba pa?"
"Jeez. The fact that you're his zanga is what making you famous in this school."
"Zanga???" kanina ko pa naririnig ang salitang iyon pero wala naman akong idea kung ano iyon.
"Yeah. And it's just your second day here in school and yet you already found a zanga. Of all people ay bakit siya pa. You don't have any idea what kind of person he is." Naupo siya sa upuan saka nagpout, and I found it cute. "It took me six months to find mine you know? So you're really amazing. Congratulations Zia! I'm so proud of you as your friend though I'm also worried."
"Hehehehehe... thanks." but I really don't have any idea kung ano ang mga tinutukoy mo and I felt bad about it.
"But next time, don't hide things from me again okay? That's a very important thing you know."
"O-okay."
She smiled, "Let's eat???" she's really a very kind and sweet person.
"Yeah." Naupo ako saka inilabas ang lunch box na ipinadala samin ni Mother Daisy kanina. This is the first time na naranasan kong magbaon ng lunch at kumain other than our house at iba ang kasabay. "Salamat po sa pagkain." Akma na kong susubo ng biglang may ibang kumain ng dapat ay para sakin.
Gulat na gulat akong nakatitig sa kanya hanggang sa malunok niya ang pagkain ko.
"Lucas!!!" sabi ni Luna.
"Yo! Cute ladies.. what are you doing here in this lonely place???" sabi ng lalaki.
"I-ikaw???" di makapaniwalang sabi ko ng makilala ang lalaki.
"Huh? You knew me? Man, I guess I really am popular that everywhere I go there is someone who knows me." Sabi ni Lucas at sinuklay pa ang buhok gamit ang kamay.
"Not really." I murmured.
"It would be boring if it's only the two of you girls here right? Mind if I join you??" he says. "And your meal is so tasty by the way." sabay kindat niya sakin.
Agad kong inilayo ang pagkain ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya. "Hindi mo ba ko natatandaan? After ng ginawa mo sakin kahapon?" sabi ko after remembering the incident yesterday.
"Huh?" he looked clueless.
"Oh my gosh! What did you do to my friend Lucas??" sabi ni Luna.
"Me? Nothing."
"What?" sabi ko.
"Hmmm... Kung ako nga ang tatanungin, she did looked familiar, but she's your friend Anul?"
"Jeeez. I told you to stop calling me that."
"Hahahaaha.. why? That's cute."
"Of course not. And don't change the subject will you?" hindi ko alam na magkakilala pala sila ni Lucas at mukhang close pa.
"Fine..." Lucas says and looked at me, "Have we met before??" he asked.
"H-huh? Anong---"
"Sorry, sorry my bad. I'm sorry I forgot, ikaw yung kanina.. new classmate right?"
"Hindi lang tayo kanina nagkita, you tricked me. Sinabi mong nasa kanan yung girls' dormitory pero hindi naman." I almost entered in the boys' dormitory. Nakakahiya.
"What? Really? Did I really say that? I thought I said left."
"See? Naaalala mo ko, at kanan ang sinabi mo.."
"Hahahahah... my bad. But I just said that because from where I'm facing, it's really on my right side. Anyways.. did you get into trouble?"
"H-huh? Well... muntikan na kong pumasok when a devil came out."
"Devil? BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH... Really??? BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!" tawa siya ng tawa at may paghawak pa sa tiyan habang kami ni Luna ay nakatingin lang sa kanya, "So how was it? Your first encounter with this devil?"
"Hmm.. ang totoo niyan.. teka nga bakit ko naman sayo sasabihin?? Para sabihin ko sayo, di ko pa nakakalimutan yung ginawa mo kahapon. Hmp." Saka ko naupo.
"Hahahahahahahahahah, you're really interesting cutie."
"Huh? Wag mo nga kong tawagin ng ganyan. I need an apology."
Hindi niya ko pinansin, instead ay umupo siya sa tabi ko. "So what do you have here? Tamang-tama nagugutom na ko." agad kong tinakpan ang lunch box ko. "Huh? Anul?" sabay smirk niya sakin.
"Jeezzz, how many times do I have to tell you, stop calling me that Lucas! But I'm glad you went to your class."
"Right. Right. Paniguradong hindi niyo na naman ako patatahimikin ni Ayama, and of course I want to see the zanga of that cold-blooded hot boy that everyone was talking about, right miss cutie?" sabi niya sabay wink at muntikan ko pang maibuga ang kinakain ko.
"Hindi ko alam kung anong tinutukoy mo. And I told you that my name is Zia." Saka ko nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
"Yeah. Yeah. But you're cute so there's no problem."
"What???"
He just laughed.
Mabilis na lumipas ang klase sa maghapon, kasalukuyan na kong naglalakad papunta sa director's office, hindi maalis-alis ang ngiti sa labi ko sa sobrang pagkaexcite na sa wakas ay makikita ko na ang idol ko na si Sid Damien in person though ako lamang mag-isa dahil hindi ko naman kilala kung sino si Mr. Hansleigh. Hindi ko na rin naman nagawang ipagtanong kung sino siya dahil ramdam kong iniiwasan nila ko.
Huminto ako sa harapan ng malaki at malahiganteng two panel golden doors. "Ito na yon. Sa likod ng pintuang ito ay naroroon si Sid Damien, ang Greatest Wizard ng Aldia." I was about to knock when someone speak from behind.
"Move."
"Huh??" nilingon ko ito at ganon na lamang ang gulat ko ng makita siya.
"Tsk. I said move."
"Uh-uhmmm.." gumilid ako, "T-te—" natakot ako sa tingin niya na naging dahilan para mapastep back ako. His eyes was so dark na parang may gagawin siyang hindi maganda kapag hindi ko siya sinunod.
He opened the two door na parang napakadali lang niyong gawin, "Do not enter until I left." He says saka nagdire-diretso sa pagpasok ng office, naiwanan akong nakatayo sa labas at di makapaniwala sa nangyari.
What's wrong with that guy? Parang anlaki ng galit niya sa mundo, at nakakatakot siya.... I almost forgot how to breathe again..
As I wait for him to get out of the room, ay wala kong ibang ginawa kundi ang magpabalik-balik ng lakad sa hallway.
Then after ilang minuto, I heard something from the inside, parang may sumisigaw, huminto ako sa paglalakad saka lumapit ako sa pinto at idinikit doon ang tenga ko, "NO, I CAN'T ACCEPT THIS!!!!!!! I DON'T NEED A ZANGA!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!" bigla na lamang bumukas ang pinto kasabay ng pagkabagsak ko sa floor since nakasandal lang naman ako sa pinto. As I fell on the ground, he looked down on me with a fierce look on his face.
"Tch." Then he furiously dashed out and walked away in the hallway.
Really? What's wrong with him?
Pero... ansakit ng pwet ko dahil sa pagkakabagsak.
"Well... sorry about that Miss Heartfilia." Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ang napakagwapong nilalang sa aking harapan. He's offering his hand on me. I hesitated to accept it at first but when he smiled ay tinanggap ko na. Tinulungan niya kong tumayo. Nakakahiya, he saw me in this state, and on top of that ay nakikinig pa ako sa usapan nila though yung sinabi lang ni Devil yung narinig ko. Seriously, sino ba talagang kaaway non?
"H-hello po, ako po si Zaniah Heartfilia. Kayo po ba si Sir Sid Damien?" tanong ko sa lalaki. He smiled. Does it mean—"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Alam niyo po bang idol na idol ko po kayo? Gustong-gusto ko po kayong makita, I can't believe na nasa harapan ko kayo ngayon mismo. Masayang-masaya po talaga ko. It's like a dream come true..." dire-diretso kong sabi with full of emotions.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that, my dear student."
"Huh???" hinanap ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon, hindi ang lalaking nasa harapan ko ang nagsalita kundi ibang tao. And there I found him in the front, kung saan nakaelevate ito ng 3 steps mula dito sa tinutungtungan namin, may railings ito where he's leaning and looking at us. He's wearing an eye glasses, his hair is very messy at maging ang kanyang damit ay walang kaayusan, salu-salungat ang pagkakabotones, nakatack-in yung ibang part habang yung iba ay nakalabas.
"Sid... Miss Heartfilia is here." Sabi ng lalaking tumulong sakin habang nakaharap sa isa pang lalaki.
"Sid? H-Huwag mong sabihing.... S-s-siya si Sir Damien? T-the Greatest Wizard????????" hindi ako makapaniwala, I mean... is he that busy at hindi na niya magawang mag-ayos ng sarili? Amazing. It must be hard to be the Greatest Wizard as well as the director of this school. So siya si Sir Damien. "COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sobrang tagal na kitang gustong makita sir, salamat po sa opportunity na makita kayo ng personal...." Sabi ko saka nagbow ng 90 degrees.
"Y-yeah... it''s my pleasure to meet you too." Umayos ako ng tayo at nakitang nakabow rin siya ng 90 degrees.
"No sir, it is my pleasure to meet you." Muli ay nag bow ako.
"No, it's mine." Wala kaming ibang ginawa kundi ang magsalitan ng pagbabow..
"The two of you stop doing that will you? Hey Sid... get serious." Sabi bigla ng lalaking tumulong sakin. Speaking of him, who is he?
"Yeah, sorry Axe..." umayos ng tayo si Sir Sid, but did he just call him Axe? Axe.. Axe...
"Huh!!! I-ikaw si Sir Axel Phinston, ang General ng Royal Wizard Knights!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Y-yeah."
"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Hindi ako makapaniwala na nasa harapan ko kayo mismo ngayon! I'm glad that I came to this school." Saka ko nagbow ng 90 degrees. "Salamat po sa opportunity."
"It's my pleasure to meet you too, but don't think too highly of me." Sabi niya saka nagbow din.
"Ehem.. ehem..." nabalik ang atensyon namin sa Greatest Wizard na si Sid Damien. He looked different when he's serious. "Miss Heartfilia, I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here..." tumango ako bilang sagot, "supposedly dapat dalawa kayo but as you just see... anyways before anything else I would like to welcome you in this academy, welcome to Laurelia Royal Wizard Academy."
"Thank you po sir. Hihi. Ano.. okay lang po ba kung makahingi ako sa inyo ng autograph?? Sobrang idol ko po talaga kayo."
"Y-yeah sure. No problem." natataranta siyang kumuha ng papel saka ito pinirmahan at iniabot sa akin, "Okay na ba ito??"
"Opo. Thank you very much." masigla ko itong kinuha sa kanya saka muling nagbow.
"Y-you're welcome." he says saka nagbow din. Nabalik kami sa simula at nagsalitan na naman kami sa pagbabow.
"Stop it you two. Miss Heartfilia, have a sit, you too Sid." sabi ni Sir Axe habang nakasapo sa kanyang ulo.
"Y-yes sir." sabay na sabi namin ni Sir Sid saka kami naupo sa sofa.
Tinignan ko naman ang papel na may autograph ni Sir Sid saka ko ito niyakap ng sobrang saya.
"Talk seriously Sid, I'll bring you some tea." sabi ni Sir Axe saka umalis.
"I'm sorry Miss Heartfilia, I haven't had the chance to see you yesterday since I have so many things to do.." he took a glanced at General Axel na busyng-busy sa pagtitimpla ng tea.
"And whose fault do you think is that?" sabi ni General.
"Heh.. ah—hahahaha.. anyways welcome again to Laurelia Royal Wizard Academy Miss Heartfilia and I hoped you'll enjoy your stay here."
"Thank you sir." Sabay ngiti ko. Mukha silang mabubuting tao, tama nga ang sabi-sabi plus they're cool and amazing and stunning. I almost lose my breath, hindi ko mapigilang hindi maging fan. "Pero... may gusto lang po sana kong itanong.."
"Go ahead." -Sir Sid.
"Bakit po ako ang napili ninyong makapasok sa school na ito? I mean sa lahat po ng tao na gustong makapag-aral dito, bakit ako po?"
"I wonder... why? Do you think you don't deserve it?"
"Opo. Pero.. masaya po ako... sobrang saya ko po... pero hindi ko pa rin po magawang hindi mag-isip. Alam ko pong mahina ako at puro kapalpakan lang ang nagagawa kaya bakit..."
"I see..." sabi ni Sir Sid saka ngumiti. "Knowing how weak you are is not a bad thing but it doesn't mean that you have to belittle yourself because of that. The purpose of this school is to turn an ordinary stone into a precious stone, we polish them carefully until they shine. Ms. Heartfilia, every wizard starts from being an ordinary stone. Remember that."
"Sir Sid..." I looked at him with teary eyes.
He suddenly panicked, "Ah.. eh... that's what I wanted to say... but..."
"But???"
He smiled weakly, ipinatong ni Sir Sid ang kanyang mga siko sa lamesa na nasa gitna saka ipinagdikit ang mga kamay at ipinatong doon ang kanyang ulo habang diretso siyang tumingin sakin.
"I'm sure you are aware that you're not yet an official student of this academy, no?"
"P-po??" kinabahan ako ng makita ang kakaibang tingin ni Sir Sid. Kahit na medyo malayo ako sa kanya, it gave chills all over my body with just his stare and this pressure in the air is really making me nervous. "Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin??"
"You've read the letter right? It says provisional at sinabi nito na magiging official student ka lamang kapag naipasa mo ang Scale of Judgment. It sounds cliche despite of what I've told you about the stone right? But we need to see if you are really qualified to be a student of our school despite of my recommendation, we want to know if you have what it takes to be a true wizard."
~~~~~~
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Ano ng gagawin ko?? Of all people ay bakit siya pa? Ngayon naiintindihan ko na lahat... yung sinabi ni Luna kaninang lunch break at ni Lucas. "WWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" nagpapagulong-gulong ako sa higaan ko, hindi ako makapaniwala. Hindi talaga. I don't think I can do this.
"Hey cheer up Zia. I'm sorry too, I didn't know that you don't have any idea about that. Nagtampo ko for nothing. But I'm sure everything will be fine. You can do this." Rinig kong sabi ni Luna na nakapagpabangon sakin.
"Sa tingin mo? Pero nakakatakot siya, nakakaintimidate, at nakakatakot siya."
"You just said nakakatakot twice, are you really that scared of him??"
"Oo, tingin niya pa lang sobrang nakakatakot na what more kapag ginamit na niya ang magic niya?"
"You didn't even hesitate.. hahahah."
"I can't believe it. Pangalawang araw ko pa lang pero mukhang magpapaalam na kaagad ako sa school na 'to."
"Hmmm.. sa bagay siya ang number 1 sa school na ito that's why I'm a little worried after hearing the news."
"N-number 1??"
"Yup, number one in our grade level in terms of academics and magic."
"What?? G-grade level??"
"Ah—huh... and he's so obsessed in being the no. 1. Actually hinahabol niya ngayon yung pagiging no. 1 in all grade level."
"So kapag nagkamali ako, I'm really dead." Tila nanlugmok akong muli, "Thanks for telling me that Luna, it really helped. Mukhang kailangan ko na nga talagang mag-impake ngayon pa lang."
"But, I know there's still a way, I mean.. since you're the chosen one to be his Zanga, then maybe you're good in magic?"
"Hindi, ang totoo niyan, wala pa kong napapaganang maayos na spell."
"For real?? Then how about academics? I'm sure kaya mong makipagsabayan sa kanya academically or even surpass him right?'"
"I'm sorry pero hindi rin. Ito ang unang beses na pumasok ako ng school, I know nagtataka ka na kung paano kong nakapasok dito kasi kahit ako hindi rin makapaniwala."
"No, not really.. that never crossed my mind I swear. Don't say that Zia." She held both of my hands. "May tiwala ako na kaya ka nandito because you deserved to be here, may nakita sila sayo kaya ka naririto, all you had to do is to know that and to developed that something and I know that your Zanga will also be a great part of your development, me too. Alam kong napakapositibo mong tao kaya hindi ka dapat nag-iisip ng ganyan. Believe in yourself more Zia."
"Luna.."
"Stop worrying about things, as your friend.. I'm always here, so cheer up Zia."
"Salamat Luna, hulog ka ng langit." She smiled. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala ang feeling na meron kang kaibigan, natutuwa ako at nandito siya ngayon to encouraged me. I'm still scared, scared na baka magfail ako at mapaalis sa school, scared to face him but I can't move forward if I don't face this fears of mine. Tomorrow will be the start of everything... I have to be ready.
"But you're really lucky, hindi mo kailangan dumaan sa Scale of Judgment." sabi ni Luna na muling nakapagpalugmok sakin.
***