Chapter 17
Threat
Maulap ngayon. Hindi sobrang liwanag, hindi rin sobrang dilim. Mukha namang hindi uulan pero malakas ang pakiramdam kong kakailanganin ko ng payong. Kanina pa ako nakatingin sa langit kahit na kanina pa rin nagsasalita sa stage si Sir Takano. Sinasabi niya ang mga dapat at 'di dapat gawin sa paglabas namin ng school premises at iba pang may patungkol sa araw na 'to. Nakahanay lahat ng third-year high school sa kani-kanyang section, alphabetically arranged.
Ilang oras lang ang naitulog ko dahil gabi na rin kaming nakauwi ni Kuya Zairus. Kahit na pagod na pagod na ako kagabi, hindi pa rin ako nakatulog ng maayos dahil sa kakaisip sa sinabi ni Kaoru.
I was the third person to come.
I was the third person to come.
I was the third person to come.
I was the third person to come.
Paulit-ulit kong iniisip 'yan kagabi kahit na hindi naman dapat. A part of me knows there is a great chance a fellow student was the first one to come. A part of me subconsciously thinks that it has something to do with what I've heard from TS and Sir Takano, and the hunter insignia I found.
Nandito na nga rin pala si Lucienne. Nang tanungin namin siya kanina kung anong nangyari, ang sabi niya sumama raw ang pakiramdam niya at umuwi kaya bigla nalang siyang nawala. Marami sa amin ang hindi na nagtanong pa, pero halata sa mukha ni Drake at Kuya Zairus na hindi sila naniniwala sa dahilan ni Lucienne. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit siya nagsisinungaling. Bakit hindi niya sinabi na itinago siya ni TS at Sir Takano. Posible kayang kasabwat si Lucienne sa nangyari kahapon?
"Celestine!"
Nawala sa langit ang tingin ko nang biglang may tumawag—sumigaw—ng pangalan ko. Ilang pares ng mga mata ang ngayon ay nakatingin sa akin at kasama na doon si Sir Takano.
Oh, great.
Sinundan ko ang sunod na tinignan ni Sir, nagbabakasakaling tignan niya kung sino man ang may napakalakas na boses na tumawag sa'kin. Hindi naman ako nabigo nang makita ko ngayon ang isang lalakeng nakangiti at may pakaway-kaway pang nalalaman.
I ignore him.
"Mister del Valle," tawag ni Sir Takano kay Kaoru mula sa stage gamit ang mic. "Please be aware that students have to maintain silence. And next time, try to bring a wall clock with you. It seems that a simple watch cannot tell you what time it is now."
Nagtawanan ang ilang hanay ng estudyante at napatakip nalang ako ng mukha. Kahit kailan talaga 'to si Kaoru, puro nalang kahihiyan ang ibinibigay sa'kin.
Napakamot lang sa ulo si Kaoru at pumunta na siya sa pwesto niya. At dahil ang apelyido ng late na lalakeng 'to ay del Valle, halos katapat ko lang siya dahil Demafelix ako.
'Di rin nagtagal ay natapos na si Sir Takano ang kung ano mang sinabi niya. Ngayon ay papunta na kami sa designated bus na sasakyan namin. By section ang bus kaya halos kami-kami lang din na magkakaklase ang magkakasama. Kanina pa ako kinukulit ni Kaoru pero hindi ko pa rin siya pinapansin. Nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niyang hilahin ang kamay ko at hinarap sa kanya.
"So what? You're just going to ignore me?" he says. "Do you have any idea how awkward it is to wave at someone only for you to be ignored completely? I want to tell them, 'No, I swear, I know this girl.'"
"Then you shouldn't have screamed my name like I was freaking lost in the first place," I snap back.
"Wow. I am totally crushed," he says and I let out an exasperated breath. "So," he starts, all smiles now, "wanna sit beside me?"
Only now I remember what happened last night between my brother and this annoying person named Kaoru. They were fighting which seat I was supposed to take. And it's too obvious now, what he's planning to do.
"She's with me," Luna says out of nowhere, tugging my arm, "so back off."
Kaoru's jaw drops in shock. "Whoa. Just whoa. I mean—have you seen my friend? She's called Luna. She's blind and she doesn't talk like that because she's extremely kind and has a soft heart especially for her super-hot friend, Kaoru."
I see Luna struggling not to laugh.
"Seriously though," Kaoru continues, "how the hell are you managing to walk right here when you're blind? That's real badass. I think you'll be my crush now instead of C." He says the last part mostly to himself.
"Stupid, brainless, fucking idiot," Ione says as she slams Kaoru's head with her hand. "Hinatid ko si Luna dito, okay? I helped her find her way to Celestine because the three of us," she points at herself, Luna, and me, "we're sitting together."
"No fair!" Kaoru exclaims. "Ako ang naghirap magyaya! Kagabi ko pa kaya pinipilit si Celestine!"
But Ione and Luna pretend not to listen. Instead they drag me up the bus and now, I'm sitting beside them. Luna to my left where the window is and Ione to my right. So yeah, I guess I'm in the middle. And for some crazy reason, I'm suddenly bothered that Daimon Clyde might take me again this time. Considering the fact that it happened before. I was diligently sitting beside Kaoru back then while he kept calling me C and for a split second, I was in a red room.
I've never felt his presence since then.
•—⊶◈⊷—•
"Doon! Doon!" sigaw ni Riley. "Gusto ko sumakay doon!"
Nagkataong magkakasama na naman ang members ng Nameless Organization galing Class III-D at III-F sa amusement park, meaning, kasama namin nila Ione, Kaoru, at Luna sina Riley, Kaven, at Xaniel.
"Psh," sabi ni Xaniel at inirapan si Riley, "carousels are for kids."
One thing about Xaniel, he has a sweet tooth. Simula pa kanina, hindi siya nawawalan ng candy o lollipop sa bibig. Take note, 'yung malalaking lollipop. 'Yung flat na bilog na iba-iba ang kulay. I'm starting to doubt if he really means what he said that carousels are for kids. Obviously, he looks like a kid to me with all that lollipop he carries around. Except for the fact that another part of him looks like a gangster because of the band-aids just above his cheeks. A cute gangster at least.
"Hindi mo ko sasamahan?" tanong ni Riley na parang batang sinabihan na hindi siya pwede maglaro.
"No," simpleng sagot ni Xaniel.
"Hmph." She crosses her arms and turns to Kaven who doesn't seem to be a good choice to ask for a ride in a carousel. "Kaven, ayaw akong samahan ni Xaniel. Ikaw ba? Sasamahan—"
"No." As simple as that, Kaven answered without letting Riley finish her sentence.
I hear Luna giggle beside me.
"Ako nalang," Luna says with a smile. "Ako nalang sasama sa'yo Riley. Basta alalayan mo ko sumakay, ha?"
"Talaga?" Nagningning naman ang mga mata ni Riley sa narinig niya. So cute.
"I'll go after all." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Kaven.
"Ha?" Riley looks at him, bewildered. "Akala ko ba ayaw mo?"
"I changed my mind," he replies, still using those cold eyes of his. I notice he's looking at Luna and I think I get it.
"Hoy," singit ni Kaoru, "sali kami diyan."
"Oo nga!" pagsang-ayon naman ni Ione. "Karera tayo!"
"Bobo, walang isip, inutil," sabi ni Kaoru na may kasamang batok sa ulo ni Ione. I guess it's payback for what Ione said to him earlier. "Karera ka diyan? Carousel ang sasakyan natin, okay? Paano magiging karera 'yon?"
"Gano'n na rin 'yon!" Ione exclaims. "Makabatok ka naman akala mo ang tali-talino mo na. Sige nga, spell carousel?"
"Sus, carousel lang pala," he smirks. There's dead air for a moment. Then Kaoru's face turns serious. "Halika na sumakay na tayo."
Nagtalo pa rin 'yung dalawa hanggang sa pila. Tinanong nila ako kung sasakay rin daw ba ako pero sabi ko panonoorin ko nalang sila. Naiwan ako rito kasama si Xaniel na may lollipop. It didn't last long before I felt an urge to use a toilet.
"Uhm," I say, trying to get Xaniel's attention. "Maghahanap lang ako ng restroom, ha?" He looks at me like he's trying to say, 'so what?'
"Go," he says. "You don't have to tell me. I don't even understand why you're telling me this stuff. Like I care if you go do your thing. It's none of my business."
Yeah.
I want to tell him that if he doesn't really care, then he shouldn't have told me all those stuff and just let me off peacefully without giving any side comment. But of course, I won't tell him that. Instead, I rush to find a toilet. I'm in desperate need to pee.
Luckily there aren't many people in line and I'm able to do my thing fast.
Saktong paglabas ko nang matapos ako, biglang may kamay na tumakip sa bibig ko. Nagpumilit akong sumigaw pero masyadong madiin ang pagkakahawak niya.
"Shh. It's me," the person behind me says and I realize I know her. "Don't shout, okay? Baka malaman nilang nandito ako." Then she lets go of me.
"Lucienne, what's going on?" I ask her. "Bakit ka nandito at bakit kailangan mo pang takpan ang bibig ko na parang ki-kidnapin mo ako? Akala ko tuloy kung ano na."
"Well," she looks at her feet and clasps her hands, "I need your help."
"Help?"
"Yeah."
"What kind of help?"
"A help like an escape plan." She smiles awkwardly. I think it's uncomfortable for her to ask for someone's help.
"Escape plan? Bakit? Sinong tatakasan mo?" I ask as I'm completely puzzled.
"Them." She gestures toward the window and now I see tons of people outside this restroom.
"Bakit ang daming tao? Wala naman kanina 'yang mga 'yan nung pagpasok ko ah?"
"They're looking for me," she says. "Fortunately, I was able to hide here without them noticing that's why it's still peaceful here inside. Sooner or later, papasok ang iba dito para hanapin ako and I have to deal with them, and I don't want that."
Then it strikes me. She's an idol after all, and those are her fans. Why do I always forget the most significant thing?
"Pero hindi ka ba natutuwa na ang daming fans na gusto kang makita?" I ask her. "At least they're fans, not haters."
"No." She flashes a sad smile. "They're not real fans of mine."
"How do you know?"
"I know," she answers, looks at me, glances at the window, "they're only following me because of my eyes. It's because of my stupid eye ability!"
There's sadness in her eyes that I've never seen on her before. Like this is the first time she's telling this to someone.
"They're not attracted to me because they want to. They're attracted to me because I want them to. And now I don't know what I want anymore. I hate my eyes."
Eye ability. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, I know I don't have any. But right now, there's someone who needs my help.
"Stay here," I tell Lucienne.
Lumabas ako at sumama sa mga tao. The plan is simple. Sisigaw ako at sasabihin ko na nakita kong doon pumunta si Lucienne. Kapag lahat sila ay umalis na, saka ako pupunta sa totoong lugar kung nasaan si Lucienne.
So I did.
I did as planned and it worked like a charm. Now I'm with Lucienne and she's holding my wrist. Sabi niya may alam siyang lugar na peaceful.
Tumakbo kami hanggang makarating kami sa isang lugar na puno ng mga bulaklak at malalaking bahay na hugis mushroom. I think this part of the amusement park is for kids. But it really is peaceful in here.
"Thank you," Lucienne says.
"Don't mention it. We're friends, right?"
"Yeah, I guess we are now." She looks at me, smiling, "I have to be honest, I really didn't think of you as my friend until now. Pero sa tingin ko pareho kayo ng kuya mo."
Medyo nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Si Kuya Zairus?"
"Yes," she replies while fumbling the button of her blazer. "Your brother. We've been classmates since first-year high school. Ayon 'yung panahon na nagkaroon ako ng problema sa career ko. Maraming may ayaw sa'kin at lagi akong pinagbubulungan saan man ako magpunta. 'Yon ang dahilan kaya lumipat ako ng Immortal City.
"Hindi sikat ang school natin kaya sa tingin ko wala masyadong makakakilala sa akin. After all, they think I am no one. But I was wrong." She sighs. "Pare-pareho lang ang mga tao. Pero isang exception ang kuya mo noon. He was my seatmate that time and he didn't care about the gossips about me. He didn't meddle with any of our classmates talking behind my back. He's the only friend I have despite us not even talking to each other. But his presence and ignorance about my life made me feel like he doesn't care about my flaws. I've liked him as a friend since then. And I think I'm going to like her sister too."
One thing about Lucienne, she's not the bitch they say she is. She's just a girl who seeks affection and real friendship. And right now, I want to beat the hell out of those people who treated her like she's not a decent artist.
"And I think I now have a favorite celebrity."
•—⊶◈⊷—•
"Hey, Drake!" Lucienne shouts. "I told you I didn't want this ride!"
"Too late!" Drake shouts in reply. "They'll start the engine soon!"
We're on a rollercoaster type of ride and it looks like this will be my resting place. Seryoso baka ikamatay ko talaga 'to. The worst part is there's water so we're going to be wet. How did I even get in here?
Kasalanan ni Drake.
We bumped into them and he's with my brother, Zairus. Nakasalubong din namin ang members from III-B na sina Cenon, Julien, at Van. At ngayon, katabi ko si Cenon sa cart namin. Sa unahan namin ay si Lucienne at Julien. Sa likod si Drake at Van. Ayaw raw mabasa ni Kuya Zairus kaya hindi siya sumama. Kung alam lang nila, siguradong wala pang sinasakyan na kahit anong rides 'yan si Kuya. Masyado kasi siyang kill joy sa mga ganitong bagay. Ako hindi. Pero tignan mo naman tuloy ang kalagayan ko ngayon.
Just like what Drake said, the engine started. It didn't last long before my uniform got wet. Buti nalang may area kung saan pwede kang magpatuyo. May towels din na provided pero kailangan mong bayaran dahil hindi naman pwedeng ipagamit pa 'yon sa iba. Hiwalay ang girls sa boys at kasalukuyan kaming nagpapatuyo nila Lucienne, Cenon, at Julien ng mga uniform.
Ang uniform namin ay binubuo ng blazer, ribbon, at button down blouse na pinapatungan ng parang dress na sleeveless. The dress serves as our skirt. Napagdesisyunan namin na unahing patuyuin ang blouse namin dahil mabilis lang naman matuyo ang tela no'n.
Nasa iisang side lang lahat ang mga blouse namin, hindi naman kami nag-aalala na baka magkapalit-palit dahil may pangalan naman ang mga uniform. Isa pa 'yon sa gusto ko sa Immortal City. We get to decide our uniform's style. Kagaya ng kay Riley, mas maliit ang blazer niya dahil above her waist lang ang length. Different styles, but same uniform.
"Guys," tawag ni Cenon. "It's almost 5:00 p.m. at baka hinahanap na nila tayo," sabi niya habang isinusuot na ang blouse na kinuha niya.
"Oo nga." Sumunod naman si Lucienne at kinuha na niya ang blouse niya at isinuot na rin gaya ni Cenon. "We should go." Mukhang hindi na niya susuotin ang blazer niya.
Nang makapag-bihis na ang lahat, lumabas na kami at nakita namin sina Drake na mukhang kanina pa naghihintay.
"What is it with girls and their awfully long time to dress?" tanong ni Van at mukhang kanina pa siya inip. To himself, he whispers, "Always making a man wait."
"Sorry," sabi ni Cenon. "We lost track of time."
Lumapit sa akin si Cenon at pinagpagan ang blazer ko.
"Mayroon kasing—" pero hindi na natapos ni Cenon ang sasabihin niya.
"Lucienne, bakit may dugo ka sa sleeves ng blouse mo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Julien.
Agad na napatingin si Cenon sa kanila at gano'n din ako. Napatingin si Lucienne sa may wrist niya at nakita ang tinutukoy ni Julien.
"Wala 'to," sabi ni Lucienne at tinakpan ng kamay niya ang kulay pula sa long sleeves niya. "Ketchup 'yan. Kumain kasi ako ng spaghetti kanina."
Naglakad ako papunta sa direksyon ni Lucienne at tinignan ang kamay niya. Imposibleng ketchup 'to. Maliit lang naman ang bakas ng dugo sa may wrist niya pero sigurado akong dugo 'yon.
Napatingin ako sa bulsa ko dahil bigla nalang nag-vibrate si Rina—ang ID ko. Nakakapagtaka lang. Kadalasan naman hindi nagvi-vibrate si Rina kapag may message. Sasabihin nalang niya bigla sa isip ko. Pero nang mapatingin ako sa mga kasama ko, doon ko lang napansin na hindi lang pala ako ang naka-receive ng message.
Binasa ko ang nakalagay sa itim na screen ni Rina.
Congratulations on making it to the next level. Since all of you are celebrating by now, we have decided to give Immortal City a welcoming gift. On our behalf, we sent someone to deliver our present. You must find it because at exactly 6:00 PM we're afraid it might explode.
Time is ticking.
"Shit," I hear Van curse.
"What's this supposed to mean?" takot na tanong ko. "Akala ko ba walang pandarayang magaganap sa Immortal City? 'Di ba? Sabi ni TS dadayain ka lang kung sa tingin ng kalaban ay threat ka."
"Then it means we pose a threat to them," kalmadong sabi ni Kuya Zairus. I can't believe him. He's still calm after all of this.
"We have to find everyone," Drake says. "We have to find Sparks. Sigurado akong marami pang estudyante at teachers ang nasa school natin by 6:00 p.m."
"Wait," Van interjects. "What if it's a fraud? If it's a prank?"
"This isn't a prank," Cenon says warily. "Can't you see? It's not the usual way our ID sends us 'messages. Hindi nakalagay kung kanino nanggaling 'yung message. Prank or not, we have to do something. This might be real."
"Rina, can't you trace where the message came from?" I ask my ID.
"Sorry, Number Six. The line is untraceable."
"You're right," Julien says, breaking my thoughts from my ID, "We can't afford the risks."
And as if on cue, a white limo appears in front of us. It's almost dark and the light coming from the limousine's headlights blinds me so much that I have to cover my eyes.
"Get in!" sigaw ni TS as sumunod kaming lahat sa utos niya.
Nasa loob na ang lahat ng members ng Nameless Organization. Mukhang lahat kami ay naka-receive ng message na 'yon. Walang nagsasalita. Lahat ay nananahimik pero bakas sa mukha naming lahat ang kaba. Nagkatinginan kami ni Kaoru at mukhang pareho kami ng nasa isipan.
Nagdududa ako kung isa na naman 'to sa pakana ni TS. Na baka ipapahamak talaga kami nila ni Sir Takano.
"No," Drake interrupts my train of thought. "She's feeling the same fear we're feeling." Nakakabasa si Drake ng isipan. Wala akong magawa kundi maniwala sa sinabi niya. Right now, we have to find the gift—the bomb they sent us.
And then it hits me.
"Wait," I tell Drake, my eyes wide open, "alam mo?" I try to keep my voice as low as possible. "Ang nangyari? Noong narinig namin sila nila Kaoru at Cenon? Alam mo 'yon?"
"Darling," he says with a crooked smile, "have you forgotten I can read minds?"
After that conversation, silence fills the air. No one's talking. And I only realize it now that we're moving at an incredible speed. Halos hindi ko na makita ang nasa labas dahil sa bilis ng limo, and yet, I don't feel like its running fast. At this point, we'll reach Immortal City before 6:00 p.m. and we'll have time to find the bomb.
Nakarating kami ng eksaktong 5:55 p.m. sa school. Five minutes left before the bomb explodes.
Maghihiwa-hiwalay na dapat kami nang pigilan kami ni TS.
"Wait," she says and her eyes turn into an intense shade of red. She looks at the school as if she's finding the bomb with her eyes alone. I almost forgot, her ability can see pass through any object. "At the center of the Central Building, you can find the bomb there. The building's locked. It'll take time to find the key. Do anything necessary to open the doors. I'll find the one who delivered the gift."
Tumakbo na kami papunta sa Central Building. It's a nice spot to put a bomb. But I'm not fond of nice things this time.
We reached the Central Building at exactly 5:58 p.m. and TS was right, the door is locked.
"Make way," Xaniel says, "I'll crash the door."
"Are you insane?!" Lucienne exclaims. "That door is thrice bigger than—"
We're all rigid. My mouth drops open as Xaniel winced the pain of his hand away.
He literally crashed the door with his bare hands.
"Remaking eyes," he says. "My eye ability. Did you forget?"
Exactly.
Remaking eyes would be suitable for remaking your body. That means he could remake his wounded hand into a new one—much stronger maybe.
"Go. Find the bomb," sabi ni Kuya Zairus.
Kani-kanya kami ng direksyon at isa lang ang nasa isip kong puntahan ngayon. Ang pinaka gitna ng building. Sigurado akong naroon ang bomba. Kailangan kong bilisan. Mahigit dalawang minuto na lang ang natitira.
Madilim sa paligid pero may liwanag na nagmumula sa buwan kaya nakikita ko pa rin ang dinadaanan ko. Mabuti nalang at salamin ang mga gilid ng ceiling. It helps illuminate the building.
Nang makarating na ako sa gitna ay nadismaya ako sa nakita ko.
Wala. Wala rito ang bomba. Walang ibang nandito kundi isang piraso ng papel. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang napansin ko. Pinulot ko ang papel sa lapag at binuklat ang pagkakatupi nito.
It's a paper teared from a notebook and it's smeared with blood. The words are written in blood and it says:
Y o u w i l l n e v e r f i n d
m e b e c a u s e I a m n o n e
Napatakip ako ng bibig nang may maalala ako.
"Hindi sikat ang school natin kaya sa tingin ko wala masyadong makakakilala sa akin. After all, they think I am no one."
"Lucienne, bakit may dugo ka sa sleeves ng blouse mo?"
The paper says: I am none.
Lucienne said: I am no one.
My legs are shaking. My hands are trembling.
Then,
someone called my name.
"Celestine! Umalis ka diyan!" Nakita ko si Kuya Zairus na tumatakbo papunta sa direksyon ko.
"Ano?!" sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya.
"Umalis ka diyan!" he cries. "Damn it, Celestine! Get out of there! The bomb! It's above your head!"
My eyes widen in fear as I look up.
There it is.
The bomb.
15 feet above me.
And it reads,
00:01