MAGIC SHOP

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Airee couldn't stop thinking about the note she found on her locker, and Karis too is worried about her. Both are wondering who would do that, in the first day of classes? And why would anyone give her a cryptic note? What does the sender wants, and what do they meant by that?

"Miss at the back?" Airee and Karis were startled by the teacher in front when she called them out and slightly slammed the table with her hands. She is staring at them both who clearly aren't on their selves.

"Did you hear my question?" the teacher asked.

The two of them looked at each other, and face the teacher again and both shook their heads. The class burst out laughing at their clueless faces, even the teacher herself let out a soft chuckle.

"Ayan, ano kasing tinutunganga niyo?" biro ng guro, at inayos ang postura niya. "So as I was saying, I am Esther Clouds, your Self Development teacher," she introduced.

"And, instead of doing the same introduction, I want you to let yourself be known by answering my question ; 'What do you think is a beauty standard? And if someone says you don't fit the beauty standard, what would your response be?" She explained as she starts roaming around the room, and she stop in front of Trisha. "Miss Brooklyn, do you mind answering first?"

Trisha did not hesitate a bit as she stood up and adjusted her glasses, "I believe beauty standard is something everyone should have ⏤ the inside beauty. Physical appearance does help but I think character matters more than just a pretty face. A true beauty, for me, is seen in what someone's heart desires. If one says to me I don't fit the beauty standard, I wouldn't waste a second of my time arguing with someone who doesn't understand beauty the way I do, or with someone who has their own concept of beauty."

Everyone was amazed by her answer, no wonder why she got the highest honor last year.

"Very good delivery of thought, Miss Brooklyn," Miss Esther smiled at Trisha, "Miss Atienza? It looks like you've got something to say?" she turned to Ruth as she slowly walked toward her seat, but the latter smiled and shook her head. Miss Esther nodded in response and eyed the whole class again, and her gaze stop at Airee. "How about you, miss?" she said pointing at her.

Airee was confused for a second, but eventually she stood up, "Uhm, I believe that beauty has no standard, and whoever created the idea of it just ruined what the real beauty is. I think everyone is a beauty in one way or another, or at least, there is beauty in everyone. What makes us even more of a beauty is our confidence, passion, morals, and our personality, and if one says I, or someone, do not fit the quot unquot beauty standard, just say it's because beauty has no standards at all."

The class was stunned, Airee seemed like the type of student who wouldn't want to interact with anybody but here she is speaking her mind.

"Hmm, that's actually a great way to see it, what a new perspective, I see. Thank you, miss?"

"Airee."

Karis gave Airee a sweet smile and a thumbs up. "Nice miss ayaw ngumiti!" she winked. Napailing na lang si Airee at umiwas ng tingin, pilit itinago ang ngiti. Napansin ito ni Karis kaya natawa ito at hinayaan na ang katabi, hindi niya tuloy maiwasang maalala ang pinsan niya kay Airee, pareho sila ng ugali at magkalapit pa ang pangalan.

The class went good, the discussion was fun, and Miss Clouds was kinder than they thought, but a little bit frank.

Kaka-dismiss lang sa kanila nang may tumawag sa pangalan ni Airee habang inaayos nito ang mga gamit niya⏤it's Var Villanueva, a friend of hers. The guy smiled at her and was about ask her something when another guy put his arm around her shoulder as he turn her to his side, and Airee was greeted by Ethan's smile, "Na-miss mo ba ako?" Tanong niya rito.

Airee glared at him and flicked his forehead, "Bitaw," malamig na turan niya sa binata na kaagad naman nitong sinunod. "I didn't missed you, Ethan. Sino ka ba?" sarkastikong tanong ni Airee na tinawanan ng mga kaibigan ni Ethan na malapit lang pala sa kinatatayuan nila.

"Oo nga, sino ka ba kasi Ethan?" pang-aasar ni Jedric.

"Sinong Ethan?" segunda ni Rashed.

Tiningnan ng masama ni Ethan ang mga kaibigan na umiwas lamang ng tingin, kaya ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Airee at nginitian muli ito, "I miss you so much my Airee, it's been four years!" he said just to make her cringe and he did not fail.

"Hey?" Nabaling ang atensyon kay Var nang magsalita ito at nasa tabi na ni Airee. "Hi, Var!" Airee greeted back while the boys are uneasy, it seemed likke Var's presence made them uncomfortable and that confused Airee. "What's up?" she asked not minding her confusion.

"Nothing much, just wanted to greet you," Var said in response and smiled sweetly at her, "Anyway, I gotta go. See you around."

When he storm out the room, Airee looked back at Ethan, "Bye!" paalam niya at lumabas na rin. "By⏤" hindi na nakapagpaalam si Ethan dahil nakatakbo na palabas ng room si Airee. "Hindi man lang ako pinatapos."

Tinatawanan siya ng mga kaibigan niya nang lumabas sila ng silid na hindi niya na lang pinapansin. "I didn't know you're related to that girl, Ethan?" Harrix then said to Ethan who looked at him, "Kailangan ba alam mo?" biro niyang tanong na ikina-iling ng kaibigan. "Kidding, yeah we were friends. I met her on her grandpa's birthday party 4 years ago."

"Were?" singit ni Yves sa usapan nilang dalawa, "Is she not your friend now?"

"Ano ka ba, shempre kaibigan pa rin naman turing ko sa kanya, ewan ko lang kung ganoon din siya," sagot ni Ethan.

"Bakit naman?" tanong pabalik ni Harrix.

"Well, she suddenly stopped answering my letters before and I couldn't reach her either, so I don't know," Ethan said.

"Baka naman nagsawa sa 'yo," pang-aasar ni Grey, "kahit ako magsasawa sa 'yo e, boring mo kaya kausap," dagdag niya na tinawanan ng mga kaibigan nila.

"Sus, baka naman hindi lang kayo friends noon?" Jedric teased. Ethan rolled his eyes, "Shut up, Malton," he replied, "She really is just a friend. She's Dr. Aixza's daughter."

"What!" all of them exclaimed, "You mean that girl who don't even know how to smile without being awkward is Dr. Aixza's daughter?" Rashed disbelievingly asked making Ethan burst out laughing.

"Damn, your face is priceless, man." He laughed.

"That girl is so reserved, not really like her mom," Lei commented which everyone agreed to.

Natahimik sila nang palabas na sa gate ng school. Even though they're part of really wealthy families, they don't take their fancy cars at school with them unless necessary, also because most of Brooklyn's students are also wealthy and the school's parking lot is always full.

Habang naglalakad sila ay binuksan ni Yves ang usapan tungkol sa Someday News at sa Editor-in-Chief nito na si Hannah Yuu. "I don't think she's willing to tell us what she knows. We've been asking her for help for 3 years. I'm really losing hope." Grey said in a very serious tone.

"Don't be too serious Grey, 'di bagay sayo at 'di kami sanay," pang aasar ni Jedric, na ikina-iling ni Grey. "She will eventually tell us everything she knows, maybe she's just waiting for the right time, you know?" he added to make Grey feel better.

Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad nang walang nagsasalita, ngunit binasag ni Lei ang katahimikang bumalot sa kanilang grupo. "Are we all gonna go at Phines this weekend?" he asked.

"I'll go," Ethan answered. "Me too," Harrix said as well. "I will too," Yves join in, and Lei as well.

Habang naglalakad sila ay nakasalubong nila sina Samara at June Lee na palabas ng subdivision. The ladies didn't seem to notice them, and they looked like they're in a rush and worried about something.

"That June Lee is cute, isn't she?" Jedric blurted out, and was too late to realize what he just said when his friends looked teasingly at him, and the next thing he knew, everyone is teasing him already.

"You mean to say, 'I like June Lee'?" Harrix teased. Jedric shove them away, "Geez, I just said she's cute. I never said I like her. Your minds are just on another level," he reasoned out and walk away.

"Yeah, sure." Yves casually said, as they followed him.

In no time, they're already inside the barn at the back of the Valdez residence. Ipinaayos nila iyon nang ibigay ng papa ni Harrix ang barn sa kanila na dati ay pagmamay-ari ng papa niya at ng mga kaibigan nito.

"Ahh⏤" Yves let out a breath and laid down on the couch, "Another day without Lei here again."

"He's probably out there jogging again. He'll be here later," Ethan said as he open a can of soda.

"Hindi ba kayo nagsasawa sa lasa ng soda? Can we have some beer, or anything? We⏤" Rashed stop talking and straight up drank his soda when he felt his friends shooting daggers at him. "Ahh!" he let out a breath and slammed the can on the table, "Sodas are great."

Harrix slightly shook his head, "Rashed⏤" before he could even finish his words, Rashed put both of his hands on the air, "Okay okay, I get it. I'm sorry!" he said because he didn't need Harrix lecturing him again.

They spent an hour or two at the barn⏤doing video games, swimming, eating, before Lei came in bathing in his sweat. "Gross, maligo ka nga muna bago ka tumabi sa akin," bungad ni Yves sa kanya nang umupo si Lei sa tabi niya.

"Pareho lang naman kayong hindi naliligo, arte mo!" Jedric butt in and threw water at them but thanks to Lei's reflex, he managed to move away swiftly. "Oh my f-cking god," Yves muttered when it wetted his shirt, "Jedric I swear I'm gonna kill you!" he hissed and threw a couch pillow on Jedric but only hit the water when Jed dip underwater which just pissed Yves more, "Imma get you one day, Malton."

Their friends just laugh at them, Jedric's always fooling around so they're pretty much used to it. "Pauwi na kami, ngayon ka lang dumating," nabaling ang atensyon nila ngayon kay Rashed nang tanungin nito si Lei. "Whatever, it's just 7 : 00, go home if you want," sagot ni Lei sa kaibigan na hindi na nakatanggap ng tugon.

"Anyway, Harrix," Yves spoke while changing his shirt, "I just remembered isn't Airee's the one we met 5 years ago in Charleston?" kumunot ang noo ng lahat sa tanong ni Yves.

"In California?" Lei asked.

"Hmm, when we went there, siya iyon diba?" Tanong muli ni Yves kay Harrix na saglit natahimik.

"Wow, don't tell me you met her first before I did?" Ethan teased.

Harrix only shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think so. I can't remember clearly," he lied. He does remember, when he saw her earlier, he immediately remembered. How could he forget her face. He just didn't spoke about it because he did not want to be teased.

Mag-a-alas nueve na nang nagdesisyong umuwi ang mga kaibigan ni Harrix, kaya hinatid niya ito palabas at nang makalayo na ang mga ito ay naisip niyang maglakad lakad sa subdivision nang makita niya si Airee na naglalakad mag-isa pauwi. Naka uniform pa ito at dala pa ang bag.

Nagkasalubong sila, and the moment Airee met gazes with him, he saw just another eyes with sadness. He was staring straight to her eyes so she looked away, "Bakit ginabi ka na ng uwi?" tanong niya sa dalaga na inirapan siya. "So? Tatay ba kita?" balik na tanong nito sa kanya na hindi na niya sinagot.

"Excuse me," Airee said, and he moved to side without saying a word. Naglakad siya palayo at sumabay lang si Harrix sa kanya, "Go away." Airee said.

"Someone might kidnap you," Biro ni Harrix na ikinatigil ni Airee at liningon siya, "Oh yeah? What part of you thinks I couldn't protect myself?" pagtataray niya at lumakad ng mas mabilis para iwasan ang kasama.

She felt someone staring at her as she walk, thinking it was just Harrix she didn't mind it at all. Mas binilisan niya na lang lakad niya, tutal malapit na siya sa bahay nila. Ilang hakbang na lang at makaka-uwi na sana siya nang maramdaman niyang may dumapong kamay sa kanyang bibig niya at may nakatutok na matulis na bagay sa kanyang leeg. Kinaladkad siya nito sa dilim.

Hindi makita ni Airee ang hitsura ng taong humila sa kanya dahil sa suot nitong cap at mask, gawa rin na madilim ang kinaroroonan nila. Mahigpit siyang humawak sa strap ng bag niya, nag-iisip ng paraan kung paano siya makakatakas. But she trembled, a hint of fear clouded her whole system as the memories of the past flashed before her eyes, everything felt like a deja 'vu, and the feeling of fear is nostalgic it made her body weak.

She wanted to fight back, but her body is just too weak to even move a foot, for a moment she wished she hadn't ran away from Harrix. She couldn't do anything but close her eyes, but few seconds passed she didn't felt anything happening to her, as she opened her eyes again to see the person she's hoping to save her⏤Harrix.

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