CHAPTER 13
Eureka's POV
AT AROUND NINE o'clock, finally, nakabalik na ako sa apartment building ni Auntie Ester.
Sa sobrang pagod sa biyahe, para akong zombie na naglakad papasok ng aking apartment unit, bitbit-bitbit ang aking backpack.
"Oh? Mabuti naman at nakabalik ka na?" Tumambad sa'kin si auntie na nagwawalis sa sala ng unit ko. "Kamusta naman? Nag-enjoy ka ba?"
"Ayos lang naman po." Walang-wala na ang energy ko at pati boses ko'y parang pang-zombie na rin.
"Hala, mukhang pagod na pagod ka? Naghapunan ka na ba? Gusto mo ipagluto kita?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni auntie, saka niya hininto ang pagwawalis upang lumapit sa'kin. "Ano? Sabihin mo, anong gusto mong ulam?"
Walang gana akong ngumiti at umiling. "Hindi na po, auntie. Kumain na po ako ng hapunan. Matutulog na lang po muna ako. Sobra po kaming jetlag sa biyahe eh."
"Ah, gano'n ba? Oh siya sige. Pahinga ka na."
"Sige po."
I dragged my body toward my room, tossing my bag somewhere at the corner. Then, I immediately plopped down on my cozy bed like a robot with drained battery.
Uuuh... I'm too exhausted!
Ni walang palit-palit ng damit, ayun, bumagsak ako sa kama na parang lantang gulay.
Without a minute, unti-unting nag-shut down ang sistema ko. Pumikit ako at hinayaang maglayag sa dreamland ang aking diwa.
And by that, I knew that I already fell asleep.
* * *
A DAY AFTER tomorrow arrived. Yes, it is Monday. Weekdays again!
The sun rises at the east, the official guards open the school's gate and many students randomly enter our beloved Arthur's High.
Hinawakan ko ang straps ng aking backpack, saka naglakad sa malawak at medyo crowded na pathway ng paaralan.
Kahit saan ako lumingon, puro estudyante ang nakikita ko. Maingay at masigla ang ambiance ng school ngayong umaga.
I proceed walking.
Pero hindi katulad dati na mag-isa lang akong naglalakad sa gilid ng daanan, ngayon ay iba na ang sitwasyon.
From now on, I am not alone, 'cause I have these four pals who'll walk beside me starting now and hopefully... until for lifetime.
"Monday, school day, busy day!" energetic na sambit ni Genesis.
"Hay, oo nga!" dugtong naman ni Suzy, sabay simangot. "Sana lang hindi magpa-surprise quiz 'yung terror teacher namin sa science! Kun'di lilechonin ko siya! Grrr!"
"Pfft--! Easy lang, babe!" sabat naman ni Neil, sabay himas ng likod ni Suzy. "Ayokong naha-highblood ka. Dapat kalma ka lang, dahil mas maganda ka 'pag kalmado. Hehehe."
"Hanep na babe 'yan!?" mabilis na umaktong kukutusan ni Suzy si Neil, ngunit hindi niya ito naituloy.
Ba naman, alertong humakbang paatras si Neil at nagtago sa likod ni Ele bilang shield. Aba! Kabisadong-kabisado na niya si Suzy kaya maagap siyang nakaiwas sa kutos nito.
"Sige, babe, subukan mo!" hamon ni Neil na ngayo'y tagong-tago sa likod ng club leader namin. "Subukan mo!"
Hindi nagsalita si Ele. Bagkus ay hinayaan niya lang si Neil na magtago sa likod niya, habang si Suzy naman ay nagpipigil ng galit.
"Ugh! I hate you!" Suz stamped her foot, evidently pissed off. At saka siya umirap at nag-crossed arms. "An'daya mo! Dinadamay mo pa itong leader natin!"
She pinpointed at Ele who does nothing but to let his club members do what they usually do... Noisy quarrel.
"Wahahaha! Hindi ka makapalag sa kanilang dalawa, ano?" Halakhak pa ni Genesis habang nakatingin kay Suzy, sabay turo kay Neil na nasa likod ni Ele. "Hahahaha! Mautak 'yang computer-nerd na iyan! Haha!"
"Shut up, Genesis, baka gusto mong makutusan?"
Agad natikom ang bibig ni Gen matapos siyang bantaan ng nag-iisang Suzy Morplex.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha! Panes ka, bro!" natatawang komento naman ni Neil kay Genesis. "Amazona 'yan! Ingat ka! Hahaha!"
Mas lalo bumusangot ang mukha ni Suzy matapos marinig ang pang-aasar sa kaniya nito. Dali-daling lumapit sa'kin si Suz at saka niyakap ang braso ko.
"Hala, Eureka oh!" parang bata siyang nagsumbong sa'kin. "Si Neil at Gen pinagtutulungan ako! The heck! Pagalitan mo nga!"
Hala! Dinamay niya pa ako?
Napakamot na lamang ako sa'king ulo at tumawa nang pilit, sabay tapik sa kamay ni Suz na nakapulupot sa'king braso.
"Eh... Hehehe. Pabayaan mo na sila, Suz. Magsasawa rin ang dalawang 'yan."
Hindi ako magaling magbigay ng advice. So, sorry if my statement sounds lame.
Nagpatuloy sa pang-aasar sina Genesis at Neil kay Suzy. Si Suzy naman ay panay ang sumbong sa'kin. Ako naman ay panay ang pagpapagaan sa loob niya.
Si Ele, well nevermind, ni hindi nga siya kumibo kahit isang beses lang. Mukha kasing malalim ang iniisip niya. Kung tahimik siya dati, aba, dumoble ang katahimikan niya ngayon.
I can tell that something's bothering him. I just don't know what something that is. Pero hula ko, may kinalaman na naman 'yon sa Atlantis.
* * *
KRIIINNNGGG!!!
FROM MORNING, my consciousness jumped on the afternoon
The time skips really fast. Until I just realized, the school bell rings, declaring the entire student-body that it is already recess time!
"Narito na ang mga pagkain! Yehey!" masiglang anunsyo ni Suzy.
Sabay kaming humakbang sa pinto ng rooftop, dala-dala ang napakarami at iba't ibang pagkain na binili namin sa canteen.
May mga chichirya, juice, burgers, sandwiches, hotdogs, other beverages and more!
Nang makatungtong kami sa tambayan, which is the rooftop, sumalubong sa'min ang sariwang hangin mula sa himpapawid.
Mataas na ang sikat ng araw pero dahil nasa rooftop kami, hindi namin nararamdaman ang init. Napakapresko kasi ng ihip ng hangin dito at nakaka-refresh.
Nadatnan naming nakaupo sa lapag ang tatlo. Nasa gitna si Neil na kasalukuyang nago-operate ng kaniyang laptop. Habang sina Ele at Genesis ay nasa magkabilang gilid niya, nakikisilip sa laptop's screen.
"Suzy, Eureka!" tawag sa'min ni Gen. "Good timing! Tignan n'yo, may na-research si Neil tungkol sa misteryosong Bermuda Triangle."
Those two last words ring a bell on me. Nagkatinginan kami ni Suzy, saka sabay naming ibinaba ang mga pagkain sa isang sulok, bago kami lumapit sa'ming club-mates.
Pumwesto kami ni Suzy sa likod nilang tatlo at nakitingin din sa monitor ng laptop ni Neil.
Thus, there I saw many descriptions flashed on the screen. There's also a single picture of Bermuda Triangle on the upper center.
"Tama nga si Eureka," Neil stated with his eyes still glued on the monitor. "Nananatili pa ring misteryo ang mga plane crashes and shipwreck na nangyari sa area ng Bermuda Triangle. And yes, there are many crazy theories about it. It was all leaked on the internet."
"Theories? Patingin nga?" Sumingit si Suzy sa pagitan nina Neil at Genesis, so that she can take a closer look on the screen. "List of theories about the incidents in Bermuda Triangle."
She began reading the further details.
"Hurricanes, violent weather? Human errors? Extraterrestrial UFO? Unusual marine creatures, sea monsters? Advanced built city... Atlantis!"
All our attentions were captured as she hit the very last word. Atlantis.
Cl-in-ick ni Neil ang word na Atlantis, saka lumabas ang ilang mga results tungkol sa theory nito.
Genesis extended his neck to share a look on the monitor.
"Pabasa nga," he insisted. "Hm... Ang sabi dito, Atlantis was said to be a very high technological city 8000 years before Trojan War. Its island was possessed by advanced devices that were very unusual and unclassified by that era. The theory says, maybe the reason why there are many unanswered incidents at the Bermuda Triangle is because that's where the Atlantis currently lies. The compass problem that was said to be the main errors of most of the crafts passing through the triangle was hypothetically believed that it was cause by the Atlantis magnetism from the furtherance improvement of the powerful systems of the city itself."
Below it, on the screen, there was a graphic illustration of an old temple-like structure built underwater, surrounded by corrals and fishes and weeds were crawling all over that temple's pillars and vintage walls.
Animo'y nahimasmasan ang aming mga reaksyon matapos marinig ang binasa ni Gen. We were surprised and amused at the same time.
"That theory seems a hoax but... I can say that it has a probability, though it's very not believable," Ele commented.
"But try to think of it," Neil injected. "Kaya nga siguro nagkakaroon ng navigation errors ang mga piloto na dumadaan sa Bermuda Triangle ay dahil sa epekto ng malakas na radiation or magnetic field na pinro-produce ng isang advance technologies possessed by an advanced built city. And well, malay natin, na baka nga ang Atlantis na iyon?"
"To get to the bottom line, Bermuda Triangle is where the Atlantis lies," Suzy said, then she snapped her fingers. "That's it! Meron na tayong lead sa location ng ating project. We're halfway toward the answer to this very very long-time question! We are about to find the missing piece of this puzzle."
"Pero... Baka hindi ninyo natatandaan?" I abruptly stated. "Malapit sa America ang ating pinag-uusapang project. Nasa Asia tayo, specifically sa Pilipinas. And we're just junior students! How can we travel such far far away continent? First, wala tayong pera sa pamasahe. Second, wala rin tayong guardian's permission. Third, pumapasok tayo sa school. At marami pang rason na balakid sa'ting plano. Paano natin 'yon malulusutan?"
"That..." Ele spoke and heaved at deep breath. "...is the question I can't answer."
Sabay-sabay bumagsak ang aming mga balikat dahil sa disappointment. Even our faces were enveloped by gloominess.
So, paano na ito?
We can't proceed our "Navigating Atlantis Project" kung napakarami naming pagkukulang. Financial and underage problems. Dang. Ang hirap naman nito!
There was silence within the rooftop. A moments later, we harmoniously released a long stressful sigh.
"Haaayyy~"
Tumunganga kami sa harap ng laptop. We're hopeless!
Totally hopeless!
Tok! Tok! Tok!
All of a sudden, napalingon kaming lima sa pinto ng rooftop nang marinig na may kumatok mula roon.
A black male shoe stepped forward. From the doorframe, a formal and masculine presence greeted our eyes.
Sabay-sabay kaming tumayo matapos makilala kung sino ang ginoo na ngayo'y naglalakad palapit sa'min.
"Principal Morgan?" Ele cited with slight questioning tone.
Umayos kami ng tayo, saka huminto sa harapan namin ang naturang punong-guro. Matikas ang tindig ng principal, punong-puno rin ng autoridad ang kaniyang aura.
"Juniors Decode Club, am I right?" he spoke.
"Yes, sir!" sabay-sabay naman kaming tumugon nang may paggalang.
"I've been waiting to talk to all of you," the principal said, without holding back his authoritative side. "Do follow me. We will have a private discussion about something... Important."
Important? Important what?
Agad tumalikod si Principal Morgan at nagsimula na siyang maglakad palabas ng pinto ng rooftop.
Nagkatinginan kaming lima. Our reactions were obviously clueless. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang kami, bago sinunod ang utos ng nakatataas.
Without any protest, we walk behind the principal, tracing the staircase from the rooftop down to the school building's lower floors.
Tahimik lang naming sinundan ang nilalakaran ni Principal Morgan.
Hanggang sa narating namin ang kaniyang office. The Principal's Office itself. The office's room has chilling ambiance, with silent yet spacious corners.
"Please take a seat."
The principal offered us the long couch lying at the center of the room. Without complaining, tabi-tabi kaming lima na umupo sa couch na 'yon.
Si Mister Principal naman ay umupo sa isang single sofa, katapat lang ito ng couch na inuupuan namin. The only gap between us is the small transparent table, standing at the middle of our seats.
Afterwards, Principal Morgan spoke, breaking the fragile silence within the air.
"I'm sorry if I called you so sudden. I just want to have some brief discussion with your club."
"If you don't mind," Ele questioned. "What is it about?"
Nakaka-curious naman. I mean, hindi naman bigla-biglang magpapatawag si Mister Principal kung hindi urgent ang rason.
Bumuntong-hininga ang punong-guro at naging mas seryoso ang itsura niya. "Alam kong hindi kayo aware dito pero... I once heard something from your club. Something about an island, a mysterious island."
Natahimik kaming lima matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Mister Principal. Hindi kami nakatugon dahil hindi rin namin alam kung ano ang aming ire-react.
The principal continues, "To make things short, I knew that you've been planning a project about that island. Atlantis, isn't it?"
Surprise strikes our faces. Nalaglag ang mga panga namin dahil 'di namin inaasahan ang sinabi ni Principal Morgan.
"B-But how did you..." I tried to ask, pero hindi iyon natuloy dahil may bigla akong naalala.
The shadow. Yes, the shadow from the rooftop that I saw a few days ago. 'Yung anino na nakita ko noong araw na dinecode namin ang USB flashdrive ni Mr. John Callaghan. Could it be...
"It was you," I suddenly exclaimed, staring intently at our principal. "You were there when we decoded the drive. You were eavesdropping us that day."
Napalingon sa'kin ang apat kong co-members at mababakas ang pagtataka sa kanilang mga reaksyon.
Straightforwardly, Mister Principal simply nods his head. "Yes. I was there. I didn't expect anyone from you to notice me. But, looks like someone has incredible skills in observation that caught my unwanted act."
Pasimpleng tumingin sa'kin ang punong-guro, evidently implying that he is referring to, none other than, me.
"Anyway," pagpapatuloy niya. "I do not made that act to pull any villainous deed. In fact, I call you all here because I am lending you a help."
"Help?" Suzy said. "We're sorry, sir, but we can manage."
"Can you?" Pagbabalik tanong ng principal. "For all I know, napaka-bata n'yo pa para sa project na pinagpaplanuhan ninyo."
He even smirked that brings quite offensive feelings to our club, especially to our club leader.
"I beg your pardon, Mister," hindi na nakapigil si Ele at nagsalita na siyang muli. "But who are you?"
Nagtataka naming nilingon ang aming club leader. What's with his question? Anong klaseng tanong iyon?
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Principal Morgan. Kagaya namin, nagtaka rin ito dahil sa itinanong ni Ele. It took awhile before the principal recovered, thus, he simply answered the interrogation.
"I'm your principal."
"No," mabilis at mariing tugon ni Ele. "You're not just our principal, I can feel it. Right from the start, I can feel that you're hiding something from us. Hindi mo kami basta-bastang ipapatawag dito at magi-insist na tumulong sa'ming proyekto kung principal ka lang. I can smell your other self, Principal Morgan. You are not just the head of this school. I can sense that you are beyond a man who stays in his office. You are somewhat different, Mister. Now tell us the truth... Who are you?"
I was surprised after I heard what just our leader said. Gano'n din ang naging reaksyon ng mga co-members ko.
Silence swallowed us. The tension gone heavier, while Ele and Principal Morgan keep their sharp eye-contact.
Maya-maya pa, narinig namin ang pagbuntong-hininga ng punong-guro. Bahagya itong yumuko, nagkross ng braso, saka siya natawa habang umiiling-iling pa.
"Hahaha!" he chuckled with his deep masculine voice. "Mister Mcdon, you never fail to impress me."
What is he saying?
Tumigil sa pagtawa ang principal, nag-angat siya ng tingin at makikita ang kakaibang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.
"You caught me, once again," he said. "You're right, I am not just a principal. I was once also a science researcher. I was involved in a team that study the long lost city of Atlantis."
"Team?" Neil abruptly asked. "Sa team po ba na sinasabi n'yo ay may kagrupo kayong professor na nagngangalang Callaghan?"
Napangiti ang principal dahil sa tanong nito. Tumango si Sir Morgan at gumuhit ang malapad na ngisi sa kaniyang mukha.
"Yes. In fact, he is someone close and dear to me. John Callaghan. The man who discovered the Atlantis himself... Is my best friend."