The Fallen Essentials

TFE 2: Dorm

Amara Ellaine POV

"Amara, bago natin to linisin, itanong pa rin natin kung meron pa bang ibang dorm." Pangungulit sa akin ni Guthrie. Tishara then made me look at her. "Is he idiot or what?"

I laugh hard to that comment. "Anong sabi mo?! Tishara ayoko nang away baka ikaw gusto mo?" Mabilis pa sa hangin ang pagsasalita ni Guthrie at talagang napipikon na siya kay Tishara.

"Why don't we try giving it a call?" I said stopping them both. Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Ethereal, tinitignan kung sasangayon siya. Tumango siya ng isang beses at nagiwas na.

"It's a waste of time but for this man's sake, fine." Tishara then stand next to his bestfriend Ethereal. Guthrie just give me a thumbs-up.

Being a leader requires patience, Amara. Huwag kang magalit sa ugali nila please.

Bulong ko sa isip ko at saka na itinaas ang bracelet ko para tawagan ang isa sa mga tagapag-bantay ng dorm.

I tap the bracelet's crystal and it shows a hologram of persons in my contact. Dahil nga team kami, I got their contacts then my family's. I swipe it up to tap the upper essential I need to talk with.

Mabilis na sinagot ng tagapag-bantay ng dorm ang tawag ko kaya medyo itinaas ko ang bracelet para maayos akong makita nito.

"Good day, team fallen would like to ask if-"

" Yes, that's your dorm. Any more questions?" Hindi ako makapaniwalang ang gaspang ng ugali ng tagapag-bantay. Nagsalubong ang aking kilay at tumango na lang. No matter how much I would complain, their position and age allow them to talk like this but I really hate it.

"My last question would be- if we got to finish cleaning this room without no further questions because your bad at talking at us- Where should we get materials that could possibly be the room divider and such?" I saw my team in the corner had teasing expression but agreeing and Guthrie showing me his two thumbs up for my b***h manner.

Well, my father thought me that if bad essentials talk to you, you got to make them feel their own bluntness.

And My mom would always tell me that in order to make a complain, you got to be frankly respectful.

Hindi kaagad nakapagsalita ang tagapag-bantay kaya tinaas ko ang isa kong kilay para malaman niyang naghihintay ako ng sagot.

"Ehem, sa .... " Biglang nagbago ang itsura ng tagapag-bantay at napangisi ito. Uh-oh, mukhang hindi maganda to.

"Gawan niyo ng paraan. Gamitin niyo yung mga tambak diyan." Walang pasabing bigla nitong ibinaba ang tawag pagkatapos magsalita.

Pikon.

"HAHAHAHA Ang panget kasi nang ugali mo, Amara e." Tawang-tawa si Guthrie at may pa punas pasiya ng mata dahil naiyak na sa tuwa.

"Hala? Bakit ako pa? Siya tong bastos eh." Depensa ko sa sarili ko.

"That was funny, I must admit." Humahalakhak at may pahampas pa si Tishara kay Guthrie.

"Aray ko naman! Bakit hindi si Ethereal ang hampasin mo?! Close tayo?!" Banat ni Guthrie, hinihimas yung pinalong braso niya. Kawawa naman etong lalaking to, malas talaga sa babae.

"Eh baka patulan ako niyan ni Ethereal eh! Ikaw na lang!" Ethereal sigh when they start fighting beside him.

"Anong akala mo sa akin? Hindi papatol? Si Amara nga pinapatulan ko ikaw ka pa kaya?!"

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil naguumpisa na naman sila mag away.

"Ethreal, hanapin mo yung switch ng iba pang ilaw dito sa loob. Tignan mo kung gumagana. Sa tingin ko kapag nailawan tong kwarto mas makakapagplano tayo ng maayos." Mabilis na kumilos si Ethereal sa pinaguutos ko. Nice, mabuti at meron akong kahit papaano, isang miyembro na hindi sakit sa ulo.

"Tama na nga, Tishara. Kumilos na rin tayo." Guthrie stated then come to me. Problema neto? "Bakit?"

He pointed himself "Utusan mo ko, leader." Tishara also come in front of me. "Ako rin."

"Saglit lang. Limitado pa ang kilos natin dahil wala pa masyadong makita. Kapag nagawa ni Eth-" naputol ang salita ko nang umilaw ang buong kwarto. Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa direksyon ni Ethreal. Naglalakad siya habang may hawak na maliit na bola. Saan niya nakuha yon?

"Saan mo nakuha?" Tinitigan niya ako at tinuro ang sandamakmak na kahon. "This room is huge. Puro maliliit na bola, libro at mga kagamitan sa pangangaso. Ang buong kwartong to ay halos tatlong ulit ng regular na dorm." Napatango ako at inilibot ang paningin. Makalat siya pero hindi naman ganon karami. I must say, kulang sa linis.

"So ano na, Amara?" Guthrie stole my attention habang siya mismo ay nakatangin sa kalat.

"Lilinisin muna natin at saka iaayos. Yung mga kagamitan sa pangangaso, dadalhin natin sa House of Merchants ng academy. Books and other things, gawan na lang natin ng paraan yan dito o sa mga gilid. They could be useful in the near future. If I'm not mistaken pwede tayong magrequest ng higaan. Over all, if we manage to clean then we'll talk for the division of the room. Maybe both of you guys sa kaliwa iaayos ang higaan then dito kami sa kanan. Or vise versa."

After I talk, nakatingin lang sila sa akin. Hindi ba nila naintindihan?

"Siguro nga tama ako ng desisyon na gawin kang leader." Guthrie said. Is that a compliment?

"Take it as a yes, Amara. Phew! May kwenta rin pala ang pagbuhat ko ng gamit mo kanina doon sa gulo." Amara commented. She's using again her ability of reading thoughts on me. I just shrugged.

"No big deal." Nilingon ko si Ethereal kaya umiwas siya ng tingin. "What? Do you expect me to compliment you? Dream on."

I chuckled and nodded. "You're really something, Mr. Ethereal Vaoq from Earth tribe."

"Let's start?" Tishara ask so I give her assuring smile. "We can do it. Tishara move those boxes of books to this side. Guthrie move those boxes of different balls to that side."

"Ok." They both said in unison.

"And, before I forgot, check every boxes. Kung may mga box na onti lang ang laman, pagsama-samahin sa isang lalagyanan para bawas box. Be careful ok?"

"Yes." Mabilis kumilos ang dalawang nagaaway kanina. Ethereal move closer to me. "Anong gagawin ko?" He ask while still playing the ball he got in his hands. Still not looking at me.

"If your talking to me, try to look at me first. I might think that you're talking to a ball." Ethereal sigh then look at me with straight face. I smile because I successfully made him look at me. I must know my team so awkwardness isn't allowed.

"You and me will go take the sharp materials to the House of Merchants." Tumalikod siya sa sakin at mabilis nang hinanap ang mga box na dadalhin.

But the thing that made me smirk is now, I realize, it's the first time I lead people and it turns out, I'm surprisingly good.

Lumipas ang isang buong araw at kalahati pa lang ng nalilinis namin. Gabi na at wala na kaming lakas pa para ipagpatuloy ang pagaayos. Hindi ko rin inakala na malaki pala talaga ang tambakan na to at maraming gamit talaga.

Sobrang laki ng pagkakaiba nang lugar na nalinis namin sa lugar na hindi pa naayos. Kung ikukumpara, ang lugar na nalinis namin ay halos kuminang na sa sobrang linaw ng sahig at mga dingding habang sa kabilang gawi ay mapagkakamalang house of black magicians—puro sapot ng gagamba at mga makakapal na alikabok.

"Anong gagawin natin? Bukas magsisimula na ang training." Nagaalala at hindi mapakaling saad ni Tishara.

"Amara...." Napatingin ako kay Guthrie na pawang nagtatanong at nagaalala sa kung anong susunod na gagawin. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang balisang balisa.

I just brushed it off and sigh. "I guess we should really stop cleaning for now. Mabuti na lang at inuna natin linisin ang gawing to' ng silid. May maayos tayong paliguan at lutuan."

"Pero Amara, ang gusto kong sabihin ay paano tayo bukas sa training? The dorm is fine, we could just clean the rest if we got some free time. But how about the trainings and such? We're Team Fallen, pinaka mahina."

I sudden realize what she wanted to say. Oo nga pala.... Paano na kami bukas?

"All we have to do is train double their training... Kung gusto natin talagang maging malakas." I heard Ethereal 'tsked' making the three of us look at him.

"Think again, Amara. Do you think we could possibly be strong just by training ourselves so much? Even if the beast is too big, if the roar and authority is little, nothing will change." He said in return. Bakit ba feeling ko ayaw niya lang?

"No, Ethereal. You're wrong." I hastily replied. His eyes bore on mine as he search if I'm joking. "How, Amara?"

"The beast wasn't big. It's small to begin with. The beast doesn't even want to become big, it wants to roar louder than others rather than standing out but scared to fought back." I straightened my back then look at him with all seriousness. "Or is it your way telling me that your that big beast?"

He blinked his eyes slowly as he can't believe that I caught him red handed. Judging from his act since earlier, he went here half hearted. "O-of c-course n-not!" Ethereal start stuttering making the scene worst.

I wonder what happen to him. He seems bothered.

"You're lying." Guthrie said in shock voice. I don't know how did he know it but based on how he view Ethereal just now, is like he's reading something that we can't see.

Ah! It's maybe his power....or not?

"Don't put words into my mouth, bastard." Ethereal look dissatisfied just by observing. Tishara gave me a look that wants me to make them stop but.... Why?

"Ok, that's enough talk for today. I had enough of your fights." I give them a stern look before going to the kitchen and cook.

I started to feel that each one of us will go on different direction someday. They never really agree on something.

'Don't you think it's too early to judge them, Amara?' A voice in my head said.

' It's better to think the possibilities than to expect one prominent idea.'

I felt a tug in my shirt so I look at that direction, seeing Guthrie. "Why?"

"Aren't you scared for tomorrow?" My eye brows met at the sudden interrogation.

"I would be lying if I said no, but, you see, I came here with a goal and I disobey my family just to pursue it. I even know my skill and power is my weakness." I smile sadly then show him my fist. " All I have now is courage and my oath to the nation."

"Amara.." I turn sideways to see Tishara with Ethereal standing from afar. It looks like Tishara taught Ethereal to behave.

"Are you guys hungry? The food will be-"

"We just want to say sorry."

" Huh? Sorry for what?" I put down my hands and come closer.

Bakit sila nag so-sorry?

"A while ago... I heard the upper essentials talking about us and the reason why they give us this room." I cross my arms in front of my chest and motion him to continue.

Sabay naman kami ni Ethereal umalis at nagdala ng mga kagamitan sa merchants pero bakit hindi ko to alam?

"They said weaklings like us supposedly give up after 4 days. They want us to leave the academy because they don't want-as they call us- 'useless'. " I run out of words as I keep processing what Ethereal just said.

"P-paano mo to-"

"Ethereal have surprisingly good sense of hearing." Tishara cut me and look at the ground.

"It's just day 1 right? Does their opinion matter? All we have to do is to survive. If we really can't then we're leaving. Simple as that. " I said in a matter of fact. They don't have to over react to those, they will just die in consciousness and anxiety if they did.

"Aren't you angry at us? From keeping it to you?" Guthrie butt in.

" Oh... So you knew?" I pointed them one by one. "Do you want me to feel betrayed?"

They all shrugged. "All right, because I don't."

I finish cooking the food and look at them. "A team leader don't need to know all of the information, rather, a team leader should trust her member. If it's to big for the member to solve and it bothers them, that's the time team leader should work right?"

"You're amusing us, Amara." Tishara said while arranging plates.

"aren't you too passionate for the team fallen?" I take a deep breath before answering Guthrie. Of course I already thought of that but hearing it does really...

"Does it matter? She's a leader. A leader is still a leader despite of the team she's holding." I'm speechless to what Ethereal just said in return... Is he now trusting me as his leader? I thought it would take time for him to trust me.

"You sure know how to flatter, don't you?" I chuckled a bit to ease some tension. Baka mamaya mag away na naman ang dalawang to.

Ah.... I'm getting chills to this team.

Sana maging maayos ang training bukas.

Sana.