Out of the Woods

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Letter

After our initiation ritual, we were told to go to the office of the Acting Headmaster for further instructions.

I was sitting here boredly with the others. Tatlumpo't isa kaming lahat na nakapasok sa school. May limang nalumpo kanina, at dalawa naman ang namatay. I feel bad for them, but it cannot be helped. It is their choice to apply here. Pinili nilang pumasok sa hindi ordinaryong paaralan, gayong marami namang ibang paaralan diyan sa tabi tabi na hindi kasing brutal ng A-GOV. They shouldn't have applied in this school in the first place kung hindi naman pala nila kaya. In this place, kung lalampa-lampa ka, talagang matatalo ka. Walang puwang ang mga mahihina sa paaralan na'to. Kill or get killed. The choice is yours.

I sighed. Ang tagal ni Mr. Verne. Ano pa ba ang pinagkaka-abalahan niya? Iritado kong kinamot ang aking noo. Tiningnan ko ang mga katabi ko. Ang tahimik nilang lahat. Walang ni-isang nagsalita. Parang may mga sarili kaming mundo.

Humalukipkip ako at sumandal sa sofa. I closed my eyes. I guess a little nap isn't bad. Mukhang matatagaln pa naman ata si Mr. Verne

I opened my eyes immediately when I felt the presence of people outside this office. Nahuli ko pang nakatitig sa akin yung tao na nasa harapan ko, si Viscardi. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Agad naman siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Tss.

Hindi ko na siya pinaglaanan pa ng pansin at inayos ko na lamang ang sarili ko.

The door opened at iniluwa nito si Mr. Verne at ang limang miyembro ng student regent. Luther and the vice president is also here.

Agad na naglakad si Mr. Verne patungo sa kanyang swivel saka naupo muna siya bago nagsalita. "I apologize for my delay students. May inasikasong importante lang kami ng student regent. Anyway, welcome to A-GOV. You are now officially part of our school, and I expect that you will behave accordingly in this school, especially now na nandiyan lang sa tabi-tabi ang may-ari at inooserbahan tayo..."

I raised my brow. Masyado namang pa-impress tong si Mr. Verne sa akin.

"I will not tolerate insolent behaviors. If ever I will catch you doing something that is against our school rules, you will be immediately expelled," he added.

Oh, wow! That is a bit too much, but, whatever. Rules are rules.

"Am I clear?" He asked coldy.

"Yes, Mr. Verne," sagot ng mga kasama ko. I didn't respond. I just looked at Mr. Verne with a smile hidden behind my expression. I then smirked at him.

Mr. Verne smiled. "I think that's all I need to say. After you leave this room, please go to the school's tailoring department. You can get your ID, dorm key, necktie, and badge there. The student regent will accompany you to each of your classrooms after you will get your things. And don't worry about your other things, kami na ang bahalang maglagay no'n sa mga dorms ninyo. You may now leave," he said with finality.

Isa-isa kaming tumayo. Nauna nang lumabas ang student regent kasama ang ibang new students.

Panghuli akong lumabas kasi may ibinigay pa akong memory stick kay Mr. Verne. It contains the answer to his problem, the reason why he was late earlier. I put it on his table. He just looked at me with confusion in his eyes. I just smiled at him and I went out of the room.

Agad akong sumunod sa mga kasama ko. I silently followed them until we arrived at the tailoring department.

Isa isa kaming pumila roon para kunin ang mga gamit namin. After a couple of minutes, I got my ID, necktie, dorm key, and badge. Kung ano yung kulay ng badge, iton din ang kulay ng ID, dorm key, at neck tie namin. Dashinggarde's badge is the same as A-GOV's crest, a shield that is surrounded by wild leaves and inside the shield are two crossed swords pointing downwards with V and S engraved on each sword, and a dragon in between the swords. Under the shield, there is a ribbon banner with A-GOV's school motto " Destitutus Ventis, Remos Adhibe". The only difference is the colors used. A-GOV's crest is in Prussian Blue and Gold, while Dashinggarde's is a combination of Black, Gold and Maroon. My necktie, ID, and dorm key are also in the same color as the badge.

I observed the other's color combination. Metalthorns' is a combination of Puffin's Bill, Green and brown. Steelblades' is a combination of Windsor Wine, Scarlet, and Bright red. Shivermites' is a combination of Tanager Turquoise, Teal Blue and Kelly Green. Trembleblane's is a combination of Blazing Orange, Buff Orange and Yellow Cream. Each of A-GOV's class has their own unique color that represents the values of each class.

After we got all our things, we then proceeded to each of our classrooms. Viscardi and I were escorted by Luther lazarus. Sabagay, classmates din naman pala namin siya dahil Dashinggarde siya. We have the same destination.

I can't help but stare at Lazarus' broad shoulders. Ang lapad naman ng likod niya. My gaze went down to his body. Uy, ang laki ng katawan niya, yung tipong may ibubuga. Does he work out? I shurgged to myself. Maybe he goes to the gym to tone his muscles. Imposibleng hindi siya nag-wowork out. Sa laki ng katawan niya. Liningon ko ang katabi ko nang mapansin ko na he's glaring at me. Busangot ang kanyang mukha habang tinitingnan ako ng masama. Kung nakakamatay lang siguro ang titig, baka kanina pa ako bumulagta rito sa kinatatayuan ko.

I raised my brow at him. "Problema mo?" I mouthed, at tiningnan siya ng maangas, tinging naghahamon.

He just rolled his eyes in response at nilagpasan ako. Nauna na siya samin ni Lazarus. Problema no'ng lalaking 'yon? Hindi ko naman siya inaano. May topak ata. I just shrugged my shoulders. Pake ko ba sa kanya.

I can almost hear the crickets sa sobrang tahimik namin ni Lazarus. I let out a loud sigh kaya napalingon siya sa'kin. He stared at me for a couple of seconds. I stared back at him, too, as we walked. Damn those eyes. I can stare at those for a long period of time. Kahit abutin pa ng ilang taon. Naputol ang titigan namin nang muntik na akong matapilok. May bato kasing nakaharang sa daanan. Buti na lang at mabilis ang naging kilos ni Luther kaya mabilis niyang nahawakan ang baywang ko bago pa man ako humalik sa lupa. Ang awkward ng posisyon namin. Nanatili kaming ganoon sa loob ng ilang segundo habang nagtititigan.

"Excusee me? Pwede bang pakibilisan ninyong dalawa jan? Ang init init na. Gusto ko ng maupo sa classroom." Inip na sabi ni Viscardi. Saka pa lang kami napabitaw sa isa't isa ni Luther.

Binawi niya ang tingin niya sa akin at mas binilisan ang lakad papalayo sa akin.

Okay? What the hell just happened? Did I just allow that three L-ed guy to touch me? What the heck is wrong with me? I must be out of my mind. I let my guard down dahil lang sa mga mata na 'yon, Muntik pa akong matapilok. Really?! Yukina Sorya Von Stein Astrophel, kinatatakutan ng lahat, pero muntik nang matapilok dahil sa katititig sa mga mata ni Luther Lazarus. This must be a joke. My goodness!

Winala ko sa isipan ko ang aking mga pinag-iisip saka mas binilisan ko na lang ang aking lakad para maabutan ang dalawang iniwan ako. Nang nakarating na kami sa classroom, tahimik na binuksan ni Luther ang pinto at pinauna akong pumasok. Sumunod naman si Viscardi na masama pa rin ang timpla at huling pumasok si Luther.

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid. May sampung desk at upuan lang. Meaning, sampu lang kaming nasa Dashinggarde. Sinuri ko ang mga upuang bakante na pasok sa aking preference. At nang nakita ko na ang pwestong gusto ko ay naglakad ako patungo roon saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa may unahan, katapat lang ng bintana. 

Napalingon ako ng umupo din si Viscardi sa may bandang likuran ko lang. He still has the smug look on his face. Sirang sira ata ang araw niya ah? I just rolled my eyes at him and faced the white board. Paki ko ba sa kanya?

In just a few minutes, our Calculus teacher arrived. He didn't even bother to introduce his name. Diretso niya lang sinulat ang isang problem sa board at pagkatapos ay bumaling sa taong nasa likuran ko.  "Please solve this Mr. Viscardi."

Tamad namang tumayo si Viscardi at pumunta sa harap para isolve ang problem. Tiningnan ko ang isosolve niya. Hmm. What a long problem. Pero hindi naman siya mahirap i-solve. Some may actually perceive this problem as a hard one dahil sa mahaba nga ito at mahirap tingnan. Dagdagan pa ng napakaraming radical signs at trigonometric values kaya nagmumukha talaga siyang imposibleng i-solve, pero kung isi-simplify mo ito, you will immediately get the answer.

Ngumuso ako nang masolve iyon ni Asmodeus sa loob ng isang minuto. Well, I hate to admit it, but he's smart. Ang paraan ng pagkakasolve niya ay detalyado, at talagang makikita mo na alam niya kung anong ginagawa niya.

"Very good, Mr. Viscardi. As expected from Dashinggarde." Sabi nung prof namin sabay ngiti kay Viscardi.

Napalingon ako kay Lazarus nang mapansin kong hindi siya nakatingin sa sinosolve ni Asmodeus. Calculus does not seem to interest him at all. He's looking outside the window. He looks bored. Well, I guess, he doesn't need to pay attention to things like this. Sigurado akong alam niya na ang sagot dito. I heard he also got brains, not just strength, that's why he is the League of the Student Regent's president. He is not their leader for nothing.

And just like that, my day went on.

After I attended all of my classes, I went to my locker to put my things inside. Pagbukas ko, isang boquet ng black roses ang tumambad sa akin. 

I looked around to see if anyone is around. Walang tao. Bumaling uli ako sa pulumpon ng bulaklak na nasa harap ko. Kinuha ko ang card na nakaipit sa boquet at binasa ang nakasulat.

"I always believe that you and I are made for each other. I look forward to see you everyday, my Soraya."

-Lord V.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Lord V? Lord Voldemort? What nonsense is this? Dinampot ko ang bulaklak para sana itapon nang mahulog ang isang sulat.

Dinampot ko ito at binuksan.

"Leave this place. You do not belong here. You belong to us."