— Nolian City of Ohira 12.
"Congrats!" mabilis akong napatingin sa mga kaklase ko at kay Ma'am na pumasok sa cage. They are all smiling at me. Nang makalapit sila ng tuluyan ay niyakap nila ako ng mahigpit.
Ma'am hug me tightly. "You gave an another reward to our section. Congrats, Gwyn you really are a warrior." pagkatapos ay binigyan niya na naman ako ng isang yakap.
The next who will hug me is Tanlia but I move aside. Bigla siyang natigilan at gulat na napatingin sa akin. Galit pa rin ako sa kanya, she did things without my permission.
"Gwyn?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Her arms are still wide open. Ang mga masasayang mukha ng classmates namin ay unti unting nawala at nanonood na sa amin.
"Did I give you a permission to registered my name in this fucking clash? Yeah, we're best friends Tanlia but this is not a joke! Malapit ko pang mapatay ang nakalaban ko kanina and it kills me! Alam mo namang ayoko ng mga ganito diba? Na-excite ako kanina pero dahil sa ability ko 'yon! I don't want to kill without a serious reason." madamdaming saad ko sa kanya.
"I- I thought, you will be happy. Akala ko miss mo na ang ganito. Diba noon naman sa poor nolian, sumasali ka sa mga patayan para makapera. Akala ko lang naman na gusto mo sumali kasi sayang saya ang mukha mo kanina. I- I'm sorry, I just... " she said stammering and shaking.
Everyone gasps when she finished saying those words. Kahit siya ay napa singhap sa pinagsasabi niya. That was my worst secret, dahil wala ng pagkain at mata trabahoan noon, I joined the underground fighting to received money. Nasa maayos akong pag iisip noon at wala na talaga akong choice. Nagawa ko rin 'yon para sa ina ko.
"And you think, clashing with these students make me feel complete? " I breath heavily, making myself calm. " You are my friend and you supposed to buried my secrets and life long time ago but you just revealed it. You disappoint me, Tanlia."
Mabilis akong humakbang paalis sa cage at marahas na pinahid ang luhang kumawala. Kinalimutan ko ang pamumuhay ko noon na hindi nagpatulog sa akin ng ilang taon. But my friend awakes it and make me remember. I felt worst again.
-
Before I can take another step, two guys with cloaks block my way. They are coldly looking at me.
"What?" I ask them. My sight became blurry, I almost forgot about my injury. Tumingin ako sa kamay ko at halos gusto kong magmura ng makitang kulay itim na ang mga kuko ko at manhid na rin ito.
"We are here to accommodate you to take your reward." saad ng isa sa kanila.
My head is spinning and those two become four to my sight. I lift my hand up like I was telling 'stop'. Agad akong napa kapit sa malapit na bagay sa akin ng magsimulang dumilim ang paningin ko at parang masusuka ako sa nararamdaman ko ngayon.
"Are you okay? Your hand is bleeding and -"
"Harold, take her to healer's room, the poison is slowly killing her inner parts. I'm telling the King."
Hindi ko na alam at maintindihan ang pinag-u usapan nila. May tao ring lumapit sa akin at inilalayan akong tumayo. My grip to whoever guide me became firm. I close my eyes and I felt a hot liquid from the side of my mouth ran down to my jaw.
"She's vomiting a black blood. Her going to die if you don't hurry up! Fuck this students."
"Gwyn! Gwyn! Wake up, I'm so sorry! Si Tanlia 'to! Stay with me please, oh God !"
"Bring her, hurry! Kapag hindi pa kayo aalis sa daanan talagang hindi ako mangingiming patayin kayong lahat! "
"Gwyn, putulin mo na lahat ng katawan ni Oclaire basta 'wag mo kaming iwan na mga kasama mong taga- Poor Nolians. We are strong."
"Fuck it, bakit ang kukupad nilang maglakad?! Are they blind? Rich fucking Nolians."
I moan when a familiar hand touch my forehead and carry me. Hindi ko na kaya pang magmulat kaya nagpapadala na lang ako sa sarap ng init na nagmumula sa taong bumuhat sa akin. I felt a two fingers gently slap my forehead.
"Please stay, pyscho."
-
An unbearable pain suddenly hit me when I tried to stand the upper part of my body. Nanatili akong naka higa at naka pikit ako ng mariin dahil sa sakit na biglang bumalot sa ulo ko pagka gising ko.
I open my eyes slowly and stare at the pale green ceiling. My forehead crease, where am I? I look around and found Tanlia sleeping beside me. She's sitting on the chair and her head was on the bed.
Napa ngiti ako dahil hindi ako pinabayaan ng kaibigan ko. A sudden memory fill my mind. I close my eyes firmly as the memories were blurry fast forwarding to my mind. Natigilan ako ng maalala ko ang nangyari sa Friday night. That clash.
I decided to wake Tanlia. Gamit ang isang kamay na mahina kong iginalaw galaw ang ulo niya. Seconds later and she's awake. Bahagya pa siyang napa hikab pero agad ring natigilan ng makita akong naka titig sa kanya.
She yell and my face crumble up to that annoying high pitched sound.
Mabilis na lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Her shoulders are shaking and I can hear her crying. Mukha parin siyang bata na umiiyak. Naka subsob sa leeg ko ang mukha kaya hindi ko iyon makita.
"I thought you aren't going to wake up ever! You are two weeks in coma and I can't do anything. Nag-50 50 ka pa. Oh gosh, I'm so sorry for the dumbest thing I've ever done to you, Gwyn." umiiyak niyang saad.
I caress her back and smile. Tumingin ako sa pintuan ng bumukas iyon at nakita ko ang apat at si Cara kasama pa si Ma'am. They all yelled when they saw I smile at them. Nagsi hulugan ang mga dala nila sa sahig at mabilis na tinakbo ako ng yakap.
"You're awake!" rinig kong masayang saad ni Cara. Even our Teacher hug me and she's sobbing.
"We thought you're dead. But my instinct is right, you are a bad plant." saad naman ni Gughes at bahagya pa akong pinalo sa braso.
"Bad plant?" naguguluhang tanong ni Cara sa kanya. Even us who are listening to his grammar. Bahagya pa siyang napangiwi at napa iwas ng tingin.
"Alam niyo 'yong masamang damo. 'Yon, iyon ang pinopunto ko. Anyways, you survived it, nang maihatid ka dito ni Trefor ay fatal na ang lagay mo."
"Si Trefor ang naghatid sa akin dito?" I control my voice not to make sound interested to what he's talking about. Pero sa kaloob looban ko ay hindi ako maka paniwalang siya ang naghatid sa akin dito.
"Oo, inagaw ka niya sa isa sa mga tauhan ng Hari at tinakbo papunta rito. You are very paled that time and like any minute ay mamamatay kana. He hurriedly take you here and thanks God, grand healers quickly take care of your injury."
"How about my opponent?" tanong ko.
I mouthed 'thank you' to Ma'am when she willingly peel the apple for me. She hand me the small plate with full of apple on it. I take it and after drinking the water, I eat the fruit.
"She's okay now. The poison of the needle almost kill her but she was healed fastly of the healers. Hindi pa lahat ng lason ay nakuha sa katawan niya kaya hindi pa rin siya gumigising hanggang ngayon but the healers said she is okay. Nothing to worry." sagot ni Cara.
"But you missed the trainings." sambit naman ni Evonne. I look at her and she smile at genuinely. Minsan lang siya maging ganito.
"And you also missed Oclaire's successful whole day sleep." dagdag ni Last. Smiling playfully.
Agad akong napa baling ng tingin kay Caise na naka tayo sa dulo. Tumatawa siya ng malakas dahil sa sinabi ni Last. Natatawang tumingin na lang din ako sa kanya.
"And we missed your daggers-like eyes, Gwyn. Your psychotic attitude and ability." sabi naman ni Ma'am.
I feel that I was already home when they all hug me. I find my home, already.
-
Nanatili akong naka titig sa kisame habang pilit na ina alala ang ginawang pag hatid ni Trefor sa akin. Hindi rin ako maka paniwala na inagaw niya ako sa tauhan ng Hari para lang maihatid ako dito ng mabilis.
Please stay, Psycho.
Those words are disturbing my thoughts. Boses iyon ni Trefor at para bang nakiki usap siya. Hindi ko lang alam kung kailan niya iyon sinabi sa akin.
Napahawak ako sa noo ko. Before the darkness ate me, I remembered a two fingers gently slap my forehead. And then after that was Trefor's words to me.
"Penny for your thoughts?" mabilis akong napa tingin sa kapeng bahagyang inilapit ni Tanlia sa akin. I take it and she smile.
Nakaka panibago nga na kinuha nila kanina ang dextrose sa akin. Magaling na daw ako at kailangan ko lang daw mag stay ng isang gabi for hour to hour check up. And tomorrow, I can go back to our dorms.
"I'm so sorry, Gwyn."
Napabaling ako kay Tanlia ng bigla siyang magsalita. She look down and I can't see her face because of that. Base on her voice, she really sorry.
"I revealed your secret, I almost killed you by registering your name to that clash of students without your permission. Oh, I'm so sorry. I ... I don't deserve to be your friend."
Ang huling mga sinabi niya ay palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin kapag nakaka gawa siya ng mali sa akin. I just look at her weirdly but I'm used to her. That's why we are friends for how many years.
"Go to sleep, Tanlia. Your giving me that shits again. Apology accepted and you are deserving to be my best friend. Now go and I'll see you tomorrow."
Naiyak na lang siya at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. She wave at me goodbye before walking towards the door and close it. Leaving me alone in here so I can sleep peacefully.
"So,I have a time with you now."
Mabilis akong napa lingon sa pamilyar na boses. Nakasandal siya sa pader at naka tingin sa akin ng seryoso. With his right hand in his pocket he walk towards my direction. Mabilis akong tumayo at isinandal ang upper part ng katawan ko sa headrest.
Umupo siya sa inupuan ni Tanlia kanina. We look at each other and nothing words came out to our mouths. Pinilit kong mag-isip para may mapag usapan kami. The air around us held awkwardness.
"So you brought me here. Thank you." pasasalamat ko at bahagya pang tumango sa kanya. He is just staring at me. Like watching my every moves.
"That's nothing." tanging saad niya. Nanatiling naka titig sa akin ng mataman.
Ako na mismo ang umiwas ng tingin at mas lalo lang na nagiging awkward ang hangin na pumapalibot sa amin.
"Are you okay now?" he ask.
"Yeah, my injury is fully healed. Puwede na akong bumalik sa dorm ko bukas. That's what the grand healers told me." sagot ko sa kanya.
He just nod and still looking at me. Pilit ko na talagang iniiwas ang tingin ko sa kanya para hindi mag tagpo ang mga mata namin. I look at the fruits inside the basket. Nasa side table iyon at medyo malayo sa akin. I tried to reach for it but a long and manly hands pick the apple and hand it over me.
Hindi pa ako nakapag react nang bigla niyang kinuha ang isa kong kamay at inilagay ang prutas. The sudden contact of our skins made an unfamiliar feeling to my insides. My heart is beating faster.
Akala ko ay bibitawan niya na ang kamay ko nang maging mas mahigpit iyon. Tila parang bakal na kahit anong pagpupumiglas ko ay hindi ako makawala.
Nanlalaki ang matang tumingin ako sa kanya.
He smirk. "Thank you and you are now okay, pyscho." then his two finger's knuckles knock on my forehead.
—End of Chapter 12.