Chapter 40
Upper Hand
It's the fourth week of Level 1, and this is the most crucial stage. Ito na ang huling linggo kung saan kakailanganin namin makakuha ng points. Mamayang gabi ipapaalam ang second clue. Last week ay sa reception hall ipinakita ang una—ang 425466. But since this time Immortal City lang ang qualified, I'm not sure how they will inform us about the next clue.
This week is the battle for the last clue. It's the last time we'll be needing points because on the last day of this Level, only five schools will remain in the competition. We need to make sure Immortal City is one of it.
"Luna, can I leave you here for a while?" tanong ko sa best friend ko nang makapasok na kami ng dormitory.
"Oo naman," sagot niya. "Nandito na sila Riley, 'wag ka mag-alala may kasama na naman ako."
I smile. "Okay. Babalikan kita bago magsimula ang first period."
"Celestine, don't worry about me. Magpapasama nalang ako kay Xaniel."
"Are you sure?" Because I might actually need the time.
"I'm sure."
"Okay, then. See you in class."
Luna laughs. "I'm blind, but sure, see you!"
I break into a smile and shake my head at her sillinness.
Lumabas na ako at nagsimulang hanapin ang dormitory ng Easton. I have half an hour before our first class starts and I need to find Daimon Clyde. I still have to tell him about what I'll be needing him for. Yes, we were together the other night but we didn't exactly talk. It was all...
Shit.
Naaalala ko na naman.
I inadvertently touch my neck and I feel my face heat up.
Natakpan ko naman ng maayos, 'di ba? When I looked at it this morning, it was no longer red patches but purple marks. Some are even darker. Sinigurado ko na sinunod ko ang turo ni Lucienne bago ako makaalis ng bahay kanina so I shouldn't feel this conscious.
Speaking of our home, I figured there's something really strange going on.
Kahapon pagkaalis nila Lucienne at Luna sa bahay, umalis din si Mama, tapos si Zairus. I was left alone in our home and I saw it as a chance to unlock the room my mother forbids us from entering. Kagaya ng dati ay naka-lock pa rin ang pintuan, but I managed to open it after successive tries. Pagkapasok ko ay halos wala naman pinagbago ang kwarto base sa ala-ala ko. Nothing seems to be odd. That's what I thought when I entered. That's what it wants me to think.
It was as if someone deliberately wants me to see it as a normal room. And that only makes me think it's strange.
Hindi rin nagtagal ay nakarating na ako sa dormitory ng Easton sa tulong ni Rina. It would have been easier if my innovative device can just straight up lead me to Daimon, but Rina can only do that if it has detected him near the vicinity beforehand. Now I'm standing in front of their dormitory's door, suddenly nervous. It feels like I'm walking into a lion's den and the lions are the boys from Easton Academy. Still, I muster the courage to knock on their door.
Ilang sandali ang lumipas bago bumukas ang pintuan. Then I'm greeted by the man I arguably despise the most.
"If it isn't Celestine Demafelix," Dylan Wright says with a disgusting smirk. "What brings you here, babe? You finally decided to crawl under my sheets? I would've loved to if only your school didn't pull off that nasty stunt with the rankings."
I struggle to keep a straight face, my hands slowly curling into fists and I'm trying to hold my temper. Dylan Wright looks as smug as ever, but this time there's a hint of disdain in his eyes. "I'm not here for you," I say through gritted teeth. "I'm looking for Daimon Clyde."
His eyebrows shot up before he scoffs. "Ahh, I see," he says in a mocking voice. "So instead of me, you offered yourself to someone who's not even here half of the time. How cunning of you."
He moves closer to me and I unwillingly take a step back.
"Say... What did it take for you to seduce that guy? He doesn't even let anyone near him. But you?" He forcefully exhales. "You must have been a real cock tease, huh?"
Hindi ko na maitago ang matinding galit sa mukha ko. I raise my hand to slap him but then I hear a voice coming from their dormitory.
"Dylan, who's at the door?" It was Seine's.
Dylan Wright looks at me with contempt. "A sly fox."
Tumalikod na siya bago pa ako makapalag. I see Seine behind him and I unwillingly abandon the thought of hitting Dylan Wright's head.
"You should watch your back with that one, Evans," rinig kong sabi niya bago tuluyang pumasok sa dormitory nila.
Seine looks a bit surprised to see me, probably because my face is red from anger.
"Celestine? What are you doing here?" tanong ni Seine at nang hindi ako kaagad makasagot ay nagbago ang itsura niya. "Did Dylan say something to you? Jesus Christ, that jerk— I—I'm sorry, Celestine. Ako na ang humihingi ng paumanhin. Dylan is just... he can be a little prick sometimes."
"A little?"
"Okay, a lot. He's a real asshole. But I swear he has a good side to him... probably." Seine scratches the back of his head like he's confused himself. "Anyway, why are you here? Alam mo naman siguro na panigurado pag-iinitan ang Immortal City dahil sa punishment na binigay last Friday."
I know, Seine. I was the one made the call for the punishment.
"You shouldn't have come here unaccompanied, Celestine. What if someone assaults you?"
"I'm just looking for Daimon Clyde. Is he here?" From the sound of Dylan Wright earlier, Daimon doesn't seem to be inside their dormitory. But I had to check with Seine. I believe him more than the douchebag.
He eyes me for a moment like he's trying to read me. After a while, his eyes shine in realization before he says, "So that's your play?"
Seine is no fool.
I've seen how perceptive he is countless times. He himself doesn't shy away from expressing how he enjoys the thrill of the competition's mind games. Marahil ngayon ay napagtagpi-tagpi na niya ang plano kong mangyari.
"I..." he trails, smiling as if he's lost for words. "I have to say I'm impressed. You thought of this?"
I can't stop the faint blush on my cheeks when I slowly nod.
Seine smiles even wider. "You're exactly like what Luna said—a hidden gem."
I give him an awkward smile. He still has this look of newfound respect for me in his eyes.
"Daimon isn't here. Sorry, I have no idea where he is."
"Oh. That's okay."
"Well then, I guess I'll be expecting something from you guys later. Good luck, Celestine."
"You too."
I turn to leave and hear the sound of their door closing.
Daimon Clyde isn't in their dormitory. I doubt he even stays with them. Now that I think of it, I have no idea where he goes off to whenever he's not around in class. I always try not to think about it before since I don't want to involve myself any further, but look at me now.
I'm not exactly sure where to go and my feet drag me toward the main building. It wasn't long before I find myself near the reception hall where the rankings are displayed.
Rank 1
Immortal City
1,017 points
(from Rank 16)
The tables have turned. I scan the few students here in the hall and they make sure to hide their condemning stares. This is what they get for belittling us and for hurting Luna. Dati ay pinagkaisahan nila kami. Sisiguraduhin ko na hindi na mauulit 'yon.
Tinignan ko ulit ang rankings ng ilang sandali bago nagdesisyon na umalis nang biglang may sumigaw.
"You!"
I turn around and see Tammy walking rapidly toward my direction. She doesn't try to mask her anger when she reaches me, and now all the other students' attention is directed to us.
"You did this!" she exclaims, pointing at the rankings. "I'm sure it was you! What trick did you pull off this time, huh? Did you fuck the head of the Administration? Answer me you fucking slut!"
I desperately want to get back at Tammy for what she's done to Luna, but I will not step down to her level of pettiness. I ignore her and turn to leave but she quickly grabs my shoulder, forcefully making me face her.
"Don't turn you back at me!" she says. "I'm going to make you pay for this—"
Surprise is evident in both of our eyes when someone holds Tammy by her wrist. I can tell the grip is strong by the way her face winces in pain.
"I hope you did not just threaten the woman I love," Daimon Clyde says, his voice hard and menacing, and I feel his dangerous intent to kill.
Why is it so easy for him to declare his love for me?
Fear registers in Tammy's eyes and I gently place my hand on Daimon's arm. He looks at me before his expression softens.
"Don't," I tell him. "She's not worth it."
Ilang sandali niya akong tinignan bago hinawakan ang kamay ko at nagsimulang maglakad paalis ng reception hall. I feel all eyes on us as we leave, but I already learned not to care.
Tahimik lang akong nakasunod kay Daimon, naglalakad sa kung saang corridor. At dahil sa katahimikan ay hindi ko mapigilang ituon ang aking pansin sa magkahawak naming kamay. His hand is warm, warm like how it used to be when he touched me. Suddenly, I remember how it felt like when his hand roamed around my skin, when he trailed kisses down my neck, down my chest, and when he whispered sweet nothings in my ear and—
"What were you doing out there, Celestine?" he asks and I snap back from my thoughts.
I feel a soft blush forming on my cheeks when I answer him. "I was looking for you."
He stops in his tracks, his back facing me. His hand is still holding mine when he turns around unable to suppress a smile. "You were looking for me?"
He moves closer and I feel my heart beating faster. "Y-Yeah."
"Well, I appreciate your need to see me, love," he says as he tucks strands of my hair behind my ear, his fingers slowly grazing down the side of my neck, "but I didn't give you this for nothing."
He holds the triangular pendant of the necklace he gave me between his index finger and thumb. I look at it and bite my lip in embarrassment. "I thought it was only for emergency use."
He chuckles softly before tilting my chin up with the same fingers he used to hold my necklace, making me look at his ocean blue eyes. "You can use it anytime... call for me anytime. The decision belongs to you, Celestine, and so am I."
I stare at him with affection, genuinely touched by his sincerity. He always speaks to me with a certain tenderness in his voice, like he'd offer me the world if I ask for it, like he wouldn't even think twice to surrender himself to me.
"So why were you looking for me?" he asks, his hands now inside his pockets and I look away to hide the disappointment in my face.
"Tungkol sa c-competition," sagot ko. "I-I told you I'd use you, right?"
A grin creeps on his lips. "Yes... I remember. And what would you use me for, may I ask?"
Nagsimula na ulit kaming maglakad at hindi ko pa rin magawang pakalmahin ang sarili ko. "I w-want you to p-protect Immortal City. It's a little silly b-but the students fear you so..."
"You want me to be your scarecrow," he says in a playful tone, his smile just as playful and I instantly turn red.
"A-Ano namang problema do'n? It's a perfectly sound countermeasure!"
He raises his hands in mock surrender, obviously feigning innocence. "I didn't say anything."
Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata bago ko sinuntok ang kanyang braso. Tinawanan niya lang ako. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko at parang bata na ngumuso. "What? So you won't do it? You said you'd do—"
He kisses me quickly and my eyes widen in shock. "Whatever you want, love."
* * *
Buong klase akong hindi mapakali at hindi makapag-concentrate sa lecture dahil kay Daimon Clyde. I'm actually contemplating whether I liked him more when he was a bit more reserved with showing his affection. Now he's just... He won't let go of my hand. Magkalapit ang table namin at hindi niya binibitawan ang kamay ko. When I try to retrieve it, he just holds it closer and leans down on his desk, pretending to be asleep. I know it's just pretend because every now and then I'd feel his lips on the palm of my hand, and it's taking everything I've got to keep a straight face.
When the bell rings, I instantly tap Daimon's cheek using my hand that he trapped between his desk and face.
"Lunch break na, aalis na ko," sabi ko.
Nakapatong pa rin ang ulo niya sa lamesa at bahagya akong tinitigan gamit ang mapupungay niyang mga mata. "You're so beautiful, Celestine."
Agad na nag-init ang magkabila kong pisngi. "T-Tumigil ka na nga."
"I'm coming with you."
"H-Huh?"
Mabilis siyang umayos ng upo at pinadaanan ng kamay ang kanyang buhok. Damn it, why does he have to be so attractive?! "I'll eat lunch with you."
"Huh?!"
At dahil doon, hindi ko na alam kung bakit nangyari na kasama ko siya ngayon sa cafeteria. He's sitting beside me, eating lunch with Nameless Organization.
The atmosphere has never been this awkward.
Maingay pa rin sa cafeteria pero alam ko na marami ang nakatingin sa table namin. Only Daimon seems to be nonchalant about the whole set up. And maybe Lucienne in front of us who's giving me weird smiles. My eyes search for Zairus and my heart sinks when I see him at the end of the table. He's wearing a blank face, devoid of any emotion.
Xaniel is the first to break the silence.
"Dude, why are you sitting with us?" tanong niya kay Daimon.
Hindi ko mapigilang kabahan sa nangyayari. Never in my imagination did it occur to me that Daimon Clyde will interact with Nameless Organization. Somehow, I've always thought that his existence is only real to me. Pero ngayon ay nandito siya kasama ang mga kaibigan ko. Besides Zairus, Lucienne, Xaniel, and Van, everyone looks tense. Even Kaoru whom I thought would be the first one to react. Surely, he'd never miss this opportunity to tease me.
"I was told to look after Immortal City," Daimon replies with an impersonal tone.
"By whom?" tanong ni Cenon, halatang napukaw ang kanyang atensyon.
"Celestine," sagot naman ng katabi ko.
Riley's eyes start to look like it's sparkling. "So you're like, our personal bodyguard? You'll really protect us?"
I internally cringe at Riley's question, afraid of how Daimon will respond. Will he get mad? Get irritated? Get offended? It's none of what I thought.
Instead he indifferently says, "If that's what Celestine wants."
"Waaa," Riley happily says. "I feel so at ease now."
I look at Daimon and he turns to face me. For me he always has a warm smile.
"So," umpisa ni Lucienne at agad akong kinabahan. "I was just wondering where you were last Saturday night, Daimon."
At dahil nasa harapan ko si Lucienne, mabilis ko siyang sinipa. Hindi naman siya nagpatinag at may mapagbiro pa rin na ngiti sa labi.
"Where is that even coming from?" Van says with knitted eyebrows, and this is the first time I'm grateful to him. "Why the hell would you ask that?"
"Wala ka nang pakialam, okay?" sagot ni Lucienne. "And I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to Daimon Clyde."
"Fine. Suit yourself."
"Oh, I would definitely do, Veridiano. You don't have to tell me."
Across from us, Cenon sheepishly smiles. "Don't mind them," she tells Daimon. "Ganyan lang talaga sila."
"Now what was I saying again?" umpisa ulit ni Lucienne.
"Saturday night," sagot ni Xaniel.
"Right. Back to my question. Curious lang ako kung nasaan ka noong Sabado ng gabi. Alam mo na... ang lakas kasi ng ulan that time. It just happened to cross my mind, I swear I'm not trying to make anyone blush or anything."
Kahit panliitan ko ng tingin si Lucienne ay hindi naman niya ako pinapansin.
"I was with the woman I love," diretsong sagot ni Daimon.
Kaoru coughs on his drink and Lucienne's smile is getting wider. I am trying so hard to keep my face from turning red in embarrassment.
"And that woman is?" pagpapatuloy ni Lucienne sa pagpapahirap niya sa'kin. Ito namang si Daimon hindi nalang tumahimik. "Do you mind describing her for us? What she's like? Just the eye color will do."
I look at Daimon in a silent plea but he's not facing me. There's a hint of softness in his eyes when he says, "She's indescribable. No word can even do her justice."
I unknowingly let out a strained breath.
Why does he always have to be so raw and genuine? It pains me that I can't completely be the same with him. That he's always so forward while I'm always struggling to take a step.
"Dude," Xaniel says, his mouth full of strawberry pudding, "you sound so sweet it's kinda gross."
I can't help but chuckle at his tactlessness. Even the others are laughing and it helps lessen the tension.
"Daimon," tawag ni Luna mula sa tabi ko. She still looks uncomfortable, so I'm surprised when she says, "Thank you."
I'm not sure if she's thanking Daimon for agreeing to protect Immortal City, or if she's pertaining to when he saved my life. I mentioned it to her the other night and knowing Luna, it's not unlikely for her to be grateful about it.
"There's no need to thank me," Daimon curtly replies. "I'm only doing it for Celestine."
"Dude," tawag na naman ni Xaniel. "Why are you all over our Number Six? She will deadass persist you to drink water every day, I'm telling you it's horrible."
But Daimon just looks at me with a playful smile, "Oh, I'm looking forward to that."
Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin at uminom ng tubig.
"You still haven't taken a single bite out of your food, lov—"
Muntikan ko nang mabuga ang iniinom ko at agad na tinakpan ang bibig ni Daimon. Lahat tuloy sila ay nakatingin sa akin ngayon na may pagtataka sa mukha. I give Daimon a look before grabbing his wrist, quickly pulling him away from our table.
I don't know what this will look like to my friends but I have to give this guy a lecture.
"Celestine!" tawag ni Lucienne at lumingon ako. "I want a strawberry milkshake, pasabay sa pagbili." She winks at me, her hands in a parenthesis before she mouths 'tell me everything later.'
"I want cranberry juice and avocado lime cheesecake," pahabol ni Xaniel.
Where the heck will I get that?
Tinalikuran ko na ulit sila at nagmadaling maglakad paalis ng cafeteria. Hila-hila ko si Daimon palayo hanggang sa makahanap ako ng lugar kung saan walang tao. Then I let go of him and promptly face him with a frown.
"Don't call me love in front of them!" I reprimand in a whisper.
He looks unfazed, his lips even curving into a crafty smile. "Why? You want to hide our relationship?"
My brows furrow even more. "We are not in a relationship, Daimon Clyde."
But his smile just widens in amusement. He takes a step closer and I can feel the familiar flutter inside my stomach. "Then what are we?" he asks, tilting his head to one side.
"F-Friends."
Tumango-tango si Daimon habang papalapit sa akin. Hindi ko naman mapigilang mapaatras hanggang sa maramdaman ko na ang pader sa likod ko. He moves closer to me, his face just inches from mine, his lips almost touching my ear. Then he whispers, "Friends don't kiss each other at night, love."
I feel his arm circling around my waist, resting on the small of my back. His free hand travels up the side of my torso and I gasp when it stops beside my breast.
"They don't hold each other like this," he says and my heart is beating wild, his lips just below my ear, dangerously close. His hand moves to my cheek, running across the side of my neck as I feel his fingertips lightly brush my hair. "But if you insist, I can be a special friend."
My chest heaves when he kisses the underside of my ear, my hand clawing the back of his blazer as I feel him slowly sucking my skin—heatedly, fully, hard. Memories from the night we shared together floods my mind, reminding me of how he made me feel. And my knees go weak, my whole body lost to his touch.
"This is proof of our friendship," Daimon says, giving the spot below my ear one final lick before he releases me.
It's like I suddenly lost all my energy and I'm left to stare at nothing blankly. I can still feel his warmth when I touch the underside of my ear.
Great. Another hickey for me to cover.
•—⊶◈⊷—•
The second clue was given to us after dinner. Hindi kagaya ng dati na naka-display sa reception hall, ngayon ay ipinaalam lang sa amin ang pangalawang clue gamit ang sari-sarili naming innovatice device.
1630
The second clue is another set of numbers. Ang una ay 425466, ngayon naman ay 1630. We still can't figure out what this all means. Ang unang clue ay masyado pang malabo para bigyang kahulugan. We tried substituting it with letters before but Cenon thinks it's not a cipher but maybe some sort of code. Mas may nakukuha kaming ideya sa pangalawang clue. It's 1630 and it may signify something that happened within that year. Kaya naman ngayon ay tungkulin namin na usisain ang year 1630 at maghanap ng kung ano na pwedeng ma-relate sa 425466.
We now have the second clue.
All schools were at a standstill earlier. They lost all their points at tanging Immortal City lang ang mayroon. A few are slowly gaining points through activities in classes, but it's not enough to keep them satisfied. To them, this our fault. But they can't make a move carelessly. Neither can we earlier dahil wala pa sa amin ang second clue.
But now we can finally make a move.
This time we have the upper hand and I'll make sure to put it in good use. We already talked about this beforehand—about the game plan I came up with when I decided to reset our competitors' points. Kung dati ay pinagkaisahan nila kami, ngayon ay sila naman ang makikipagtalo sa isa't isa. The only thing left for me to do now is to give my innovative device the go signal.
Now.
"Send it, Rina."
"Right away, Number Six."
This is a message from Immortal City. To make up for your lost, we have decided to make our own point system. Before the final day of Level 1, we will grant the second clue to five schools. Best of luck to all chosen twelves.
•—⊶◈⊷—•
we've come a long way from character introductions at ngayon chapter 40 na tayo huhu i'm getting emotional
last 10 chapters to go before we reach the epilogue
i will also publish a Companion Novella to Immortal City called Nameless Organizaton: Classified soon!
tapos skl rin yung mga stories na naka-line up ko na HOPEFULLY masimulan ko soon hahaha
yung mga may asterisk (*) ay sobrang tagal nang stuck sa drafts ko, as in kasabayan lang siya ng immortal city
1. Remembering November*
[C] Romance/Erotica
Past and Present story of Ember and Trace and Scythe. Medyo drama rin hahaha. It's an amnesia trope ;)
2. Bride of Sin
[G] Fantasy
Sia Sorra's adventures in a different world—as the bride of the vain king and soon to be his queen.
3. Wounded*
[C] Romance
Story of ______ and Arisa and Ander. This is about moving on and waiting for the one you love to move on from another person.
4. 21st Century Genie
[G] Fantasy
A genie, but in the present. Jin and Colline's story.
LOL dami ko plans diba, sana masimulan ko na soon hahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha
hope to still be with you all until the end and new beginnings!
—lia