Written by the Moon

3~ THE EVALUATION

“Markus!” I called the man just looking for me.

It’s crowded especially that the Olympics has ended for today and the angles have been congratulating the contestant. My fellow Acadians have swarmed around me, giving me their tightest hugs.

Because there were so many angels coming up to me, Markus, my brother couldn’t find me. I am short for an eighteen-year-old. I raised my head and made a heel with my feet. I spotted him yet he couldn’t find me.

“Markus!” this is already for the ninth time.

This time, he was able to find me. I met with his eyes and showed him my medal. His smile is highlighted with his white teeth. I waved my medal and he came closer to me.

I excused some angels just to get closer to Markus. I squeezed as the crowd got bigger and bigger. I only sighed heavily when I was able to escape the hoard of angels.

I smiled at him and showed him my medal. He looked at me with his proud eyes.

“See? I told you I can win.”

He hugged before I could even brag. It caught me off guard but I hugged him back. His tight hug told me that he won’t let go yet so I stayed hugging him. I heard him sigh in relief like there was a burden on his shoulders. I pouted.

“I thought you were gonna die,” he let go of the hug and I faced him.

“What?” I wanted to laugh.

Does he think I am a weakling Acadian? How much did he underestimate me? This man!

I knew from the very beginning before the Olympics even if he didn’t say it to me, I felt him hesitant on letting me compete. I know he’s only worried for me but I really hate being looked down on.

I surveyed his face. He looked relieved yet concerned at the same time. I gave him a small smile just to assure him.

“When you fell to the water, I thought that was it,” he said in so much forlorn.

“Did you think I’d be eaten by a shark?” I said dumbfounded.

He nodded and bit his lip. I chuckled at him. That’s why the other angels look at us so low. Most of the Acadians are softies. You’d relate them to marshmallows and bunnies. Romantic and cry babies. I’m the only one who's different. Thank god for that.

“I prayed when a minute passed and you haven’t come out of the water. You’ll never know how eager I was to jump to the water until I saw you.” He caressed my cheeks and I found it cringe.

I sighed at his remarks. I hugged again but for a brief moment now. He clearly knows how I hate hugs and touching to cringe. I don’t really know if I am supposed to be an angel for what?

And he clearly knows I’ll give in when he’s weak. Markus has been with me even before I was born. Everybody finds me weird and just unlikeable but still, they accepted but not as warm as Markus welcomed me.

He’s my best friend and brother. Nobody can actually keep us apart. So when I told him I will compete in the Olympics five years ago, hesitancy was evident on his face. He knew my reason that’s why couldn’t tell me to stop.

I appreciated his support even though it's half-hearted.

“You know, the Olympic is still not over yet,” he uttered quietly as we entered my room.

I’m tired and everybody has been congratulating me. I got tired of smiling and just hugging. Something I am never used to.

I sighed at what Markus said. Of course, the final evaluation is tomorrow.

“The Olympic earlier is a sure ticket to win, Mark,” I assured myself.

He pursed his lips, suppressing to say something. I gave him a look to spit it out. 

He sighed.

“You sure you don’t want to be part of the top 5 Acadians?” he asked carefully. Not wanting to offend me.

I shook my head as an answer. His eyes immediately dropped to his shoes.

“You know I hate it there, Mark.”

“But you haven’t been there before, Nav. You’ll never know, you might like it there.” Trying to convince me.

I inhaled air to make myself calm.

“Do you think our professors would be lying about the world down there, Mark? It’s cruel and unjust! From the stories I heard, I will never set my foot in that world.” I dropped finality with my words.

Mark sighed in defeat. He smiled tightly, forced. Hugged me for the last time and said good night. I closed the door to my room and rested my back to the back of the door. I sat in so much fatigue.

I’ve heard stories from my professors. How the world down there is complicated. How witches and wolves treated each other. How cruel and unjust the system is there. If you’re different they won’t accept you. If you’re not like the others, they’ll hate you. While here in my world, I am different yet everybody accepted me. Everybody embraced my flaws. I think I won’t ever survive in Athanatoss. Just hearing about them makes me sick to my bones.

I slept early that night and woke up ready for the last test. The evaluation. My professor fetched me into my room with his bright smile.

I’m feeling positive this morning. Today, I am manifesting that I will be the first Acadian to be the Manodestra of the Moon Goddess. I greeted Professor Jell with a good morning. Because indeed, it is a good morning.

“I smell a winner just beside me,” He said.

“I’m quite flattered with your compliments, Jell.”

“Professor Jell. May I remind you, I am two decades older than you, young lady.” He corrected me.

I nodded mockingly.

“Sir Jell it is.” I winked at him.

“Are you ready?”

He opened the door to the evaluating room. There, machines of some kind were waiting for me. I swallowed. There were a lot of wires and buttons. And a chair in the middle.

Sir Jell escorted me till there and inserted some wires inside of me. I winced when the wires touched my skin. Three planted on my head. A couple of five on both sides of my arms. Four on my chest and a couple more around my body. When the last wire was inserted, I fell into a deep sleep.

The moment I closed my eyes, I felt something. Something my heart kept on beating. It scared me because for the first time, even when the evaluation hasn’t started, I felt I will lose.

Deep and dark. That was my sleep. Just like the deep oceans and rivers. Calming yet alarming at the same time. In that deep sleep, all I could think was the pain the machines gave me. It felt like my energy and essence were sipped.

So, when I woke up, it felt like I was dead. Like my body never had the chance to feel alive. I rose from my bed and it surprised me when I saw my room. I’m inside my room. Not in the evaluation room anymore.

I examined my body and it was full of little scars from the wires. My every move made me groan in pain. My head kept on throbbing in so much pain that I just stayed sitting for a while.

My eyes took a peek at the calendar at my left. I unconsciously stood up despite the pain and looked at my calendar. Six days had passed. I have been sleeping for six days!

I looked puzzled as ideas started to invade my mind when the door of my room opened revealing Mark. He looked surprised seeing me. Never expected that I would wake up. Hmm.

“Your awake,” surprise even evident in his voice.

But there’s only one thing in my mind.

“Who won? Did I win the Olympics?” I asked slowly.

Mark fidgeted with his fingers after I asked. My brows furrowed at his action. He looked hesitant and at the same time worried. I don’t know if I made it or not because of his expression.

“Mark, tell me,” I lost my patience.

I sighed heavily.

“I said tell me- “

He cut me off.

“No. You lost, Nav.”

To be continued…