"She's a Giovanni?"
I could here those three words everywhere I go. After what happened in the cafeteria, everyone started to treat me differently.
The ruckus that was made by that Capo ended with my introduction. Umalis lahat ng tao niya maski ang mga tao sa loob ng restaurant noon. Kami lang ang natira.
Akala ata nila ay may magaganap na away kaya umiwas sila. But I just walked away from the scene. Hindi na ako umattend pa ng klase at natulog na lang sa dorm.
"Your identity spread like a virus." Sofi commented while clinging her arms to me.
Today is the second day of class. Katulad kahapon, madami pa rin ang mga estudyante sa labas kahit na malapit nang magsimula ang unang klase.
"Oh also Lance and Leo already left yesterday after nang nangyari sa resto." She said while looking around the cafeteria. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya nang bigla itong tumigil ito sa may kaliwang pinto.
"They're here Devi." I stared at them. Pansin kong walo lang sila including Audrey and that Harris guy. Even though that group were together always, I can sense that they aren't that close.
"Showing themselves together just to prove that there's unity huh." Natawa si Sofi sa bigla kong komento pero nagpatuloy pa din kaming maglakad papunta sa pwesto namin kahapon.
Not until the Elites stood in front of us.
"Join us." A guy from the Elites said. Since they initiated the conversation, everyone now are watching our every moves.
"Pass." Sofi answered and was about to walk pass from then but they still stood firmly not breaking their line. Kung maliit lang kaming dalawa ni Sofi, masasabi mong may pader sa unahan namin.
"Ayaw mo?" I was taken back with those two words. His accent. His deep voice. His stares. Alam kong ako ang kausap niya.
Hindi ko siya sinagot bagkus ay tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakakatawa but he smiled for a second. Then he stepped back and give way for me.
Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lang ang ginawa niyang pagpapadaan sa akin na sinundan naman ni Sofi. So that Harris is something.
"Napapansin ko lang, you personally know Damian?" Agad akong napalingon kay Sofi pagkaupo namin. The hell is she talking about?
"Remember the little scene Audrey made yesterday? Hindi ba he dared to touch you? Then after that I always caught him looking at you. From the field til the resto, grabe siya makatitig sayo. You're lucky you didn't melt."
"Oh please stop spouting non sense Sofi. Just order us so we can leave immediately."
"Okay fine."
Habang tinitingnan ko si Sofi na pinapauna na magorder ay napaisip ako sa mga sinabi niya. That Damian Elliot Harris was looking at me? I wonder why.
After we ate, nagpunta na kami agad sa room para sa unang klase. Wala pa man ang Prof ay parang may klase na sa loob ng silid. Everyone was quiet. Parang kanina lang sa cafeteria, mukhang ramdam nila hanggang dito ang tensyon sa paligid.
"Good morning class." Bumati pabalik sa kanya ang klase pero kahit ako ay pansin ang parang robot na pananalita ng lahat.
"So this is the effect of finally learning that the Giovanni's princess is also here in the class."
Now I could feel all eyes on me.
"Sorry to disappoint you Ma'am. But I'm no Giovanni's princess. I'm Giovanni's Queen."
The class went well. Normal discussion. We're patiently waiting for the second teacher that any minute now will come. Kung kanina ay tahimik ang klase, ngayon ay nasa kanya kanyang grupo ang lahat at nakikipagkwentuhan. Of course, maliban sa amin ni Sofi at ng Elites.
I was busy looking outside through the windows when I felt a presence beside me following a noise on my arm chair.
Tiningnan ko ang nasa mesa ko bago ko tinapunan ng tingin ang nasa harapan ko na tingin ko ay naglagay nito.
"Coins?"
"Coins. Penny." He said blankly that made me confused.
"What is it now Harris?" I asked Damian in front of me. I don't like his name. I don't know why but another name popped out in my mind.
"Penny for your thoughts." He answered. Hindi na niya hinintay ang reaksyon ko at agad na umalis na sa harapan ko.
"Wait." Agad siyang napahinto sa paglalakad niya kaya tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya.
"You forgot your coins, Ian." Inabot ko sa kanyang kamay ang mga barya. His fist was closed at first but it looks like he was surprised that's why I opened his palm easily. I gave the coins and went back to my seat.
Napatingin ako bigla sa paligid. Pabalik balik ang tingin ng lahat sa aming dalawa. I looked at Sofi and she has the same reaction.
The stares were cut when the prof arrived. Nakatingin man ako sa white board ay lutang ang isip ko. I keep thinking about what I read yesterday. Nang umuwi ako kahapon sa dorm pagkatapos nang nangyari sa resto ay nagpasya akong magpahinga na lang. But the student handbook in my bedside table caught my attention that's why I finished reading it first before sleeping.
After the Prof ended the discussion, we immediately went to our locker room to change into fitness uniforms. Combat class kaya kailangang komportable ang mga suot namin. Naglalakad na kaming dalawa ni Sofi kasunod ang ilang estudyante sa likod namin nang mapansin kong tatlong klase na naman ang nasa field kasama ang tatlong guro na mageensayo sa amin.
"Sofi how does Mafillia Tournament works?" I can see how surprised she was with my out of blue question.
"How did you know that?" She asked.
"I've read it from the student handbook." She nod at me. We were about to have a conversation regarding with my question but the combat teachers gathered the whole class.
"Simce today is the official start of the class, I want all of you to be reminded by the Mafillia Tournament. Everyone needs to prepare for it especially Elites." Sinuri ng guro ang Elites na malapit lang sa kaniya at saka binalik ang tingin sa amin.
"Where's the new Giovanni student?" Sa tanong niyang iyon ay kusang nagtinginan ang lahat sa aming dalawa ni Sofi.
"I assumed you already know that you have to prepare for the tournament since you're one of the candidates for the Elites ranking." Hindi ko pa man alam ang buong proseso ay tumango na lang ako sa kanya.
"Today will be the start of your trainings." I can hear some students cheering while others just sighed.
"Let's see."
Nilibot ng isa pang guro ang kanyang paningin habang nakahawak ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang baba na tila nagiisip. I was busy looking at everyone when suddenly I met the gaze of the teacher. He even smirked at me before turning his back. He was talking with the other two teachers and together they went back to the platform set in the middle of this field.
"For today, let's start a duel between Audrey Lowe and Devi Giovanni."