Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Matthew’s Point Of View

We quickly passed De Vio without anyone seeing us where we were going, there were few students but they were busy with what they were doing. I’m doing this for the sake of my grandfather, his death is near. I have to meet him before he meets his death, there’ll be no other chance if I’m not going tomorrow, baka sa susunod na araw ay wala na siya.

I can’t allow Bianca to go there because it’s not and it’s hard for our grandfather to understand, also because I rarely visit there, compared to Bianca who is always there whenever she has the time and opportunity. Isang beses sa isang taon, minsan ay tatlong beses lamang sa limang taon ang pagbisita ko roon, it’s too far from here, hindi biro ang byahe.

“You’re really sure about this, huh?” tanong niya na pabulong at sumulyap sa akin saglit habang nakasilip sa guard’s house.

I nodded as I took a peek at the guard’s house. There the guard goes, he’s busy reading a newspaper. It is bright in its place with a small light bulb that is the only light. His two feet were still on the table as he turned his back on the spot of the two of us, it was good that he was in that position.

It’s 8:40 o’clock. It is already dark around and if the two of us run straight, the guard will definitely see us. If the light goes out, he will not be able to see even our shadows in the dark.

Nakarinig kami ng sasakyan na papalabas ng University kaya’t umayos kaming dalawa ng puwesto, “Ingat po sa byahe, Ma’am at Sir.” Guard’s said as he stood up to give respect.

Daretso lamang ang andar ng sasakyan at saka sumara ang gate. It was closed automatically? I didn’t know that. I could see her reaction to the sudden closing of the gate near our seat.

“Hay, naku. Mga propesor nga naman ngayon, ang susungit at ang hihirap na rin pakisamahan,” he said and then shook his head as he returned his attention to what he was reading.

She glanced at me again while holding on to the wall of the guard’s house, “So, what? What’s your command? Will we just stay here? You see, there might be a professor coming in, Matt. I entrusted my scholar to you now.” She said and then opened her two eyes widely as if to say that we had to move our ass up.

I shook my head and then examined the items inside the guard’s house. I saw a cup with coffee, papers piled under the table, a plate, a fork and a spoon as if it had just been used, and the key to the headteacher’s office was on the table where the guard’s two feet rested.

I looked up and saw how bright the bulb was, ain’t that really lighty. I dug a rock to my side and then waited for the guard to take the cup with the coffee to sip.

She held my arm. “Hey, what you doin’ on that rock?” She whispered.

I swallowed the rock and then threw it at the light bulb when I noticed that he was about to sip his coffee. I quickly grabbed her arm and didn’t forget to pick up the key from the table. I was injured in the forehead on the right side because of the glass of the bulb and I could feel it bleeding.

I heard the guard complain as the two of us ran fast.

I was going straight to the headteacher’s office but she grabbed my arm towards a building. We headed for the stairs and stopped running, gasping for breath and leaning against the wall.

In which direction does her finger point, “What’s that? Did you know that I almost couldn’t catch up because of your impulsive actions?” She said and I could still hear her gasping.

I stepped up a ladder and wiped the blood running down my cheek. “If I’d commanded you, maybe you’d take a long to think, aye?”

I felt her touch my arm, she seemed to be looking for where I was standing because it was too dark around. “There you are. We didn’t plan on acting rashly, huh? You just scared me.”

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya, “Hey, we gotta move, Kal. Stop acting like you’re the one who did it, I got wounded, we must move.” I said as I grabbed her hand.

“What? You got wounded? How do you say so?”

I looked left and right and I caught a glimpse of a light, far away from us, it was probably a flashlight, dahil kung saan-saan na direksyon ito napupunta.

I hurried to a series of offices. I started with the first office and enumerated subsequent offices. In the fifth office I moved my hand around to hold its door knob, inserted the key in there and the door opened.

She followed me inside and then she closed the door. I shoved my cellphone into my pocket and pressed the flashlight. Lots of papers on each table opened up to us. She also turned on the flashlight of her cellphone and then looked around the office.

She turned to my face the light of her cellphone as teasing. I retaliated so I also turned my flashlight on her and then she averted her face from the light.

She untied the curtains on the two windows and covered them. “Hey, no time for jokes, Matt.” She said as she checked the boxes on the floor.

I looked at the papers on Mrs. Tuan’s desk and scrutinized whether there were the guide questionnaires for the debate tomorrow.

“Where did they place them?” I asked myself.

She approached me and then turned off her flashlight. “There’s so many papers in here, Matt. But, don’t lose hope.”

I nodded and went to the cabinets, she accompanied me to open ‘em and find what we were looking for. Minutes passed by, we saw nothing there but test papers. 

She could only be held on her forehead because she was already sweating from the heat inside the office. As she held his forehead it suddenly looked at me as if something had entered her mind. “I just recalled it! Oh, my goodness,” aniya at saka tumayo sa pagkakaupo.

It headed to Mrs. Tuan’s desk and then digging under it, she looked at me and I quickly approached h.er I pushed her out of her seat because she was obviously having a hard time getting to whatever it was reaching under the table.

“Let me do it.” I said as I pointed behind me.

I placed the flashlight under the table and looked down there, boom.

I removed the paper tape under the table and then took it out. When I got up I stood up immediately to read the sentences properly.

“Debate’s guide questionnaires.” She whispered as she leaned behind me.

I nodded as I read the letters on the paper. All right, these are the guide questions for tomorrow’s debate. But, there’s one paper that I have to find too. Pwede naming iwanan ito, basta’t makuha ko ‘yong isang papel.

I rolled my eyes at the office while holding the paper and then frowned. Where the hell did they place it?

She punched me on the shoulder but lightly, “What’s the matter? Hindi pa ba tayo aalis?” she asked.

My jaw tightened when I looked at her, “Do you… know where the student lists?” I said and then handed her the paper I was holding.

She took it and then frowned. “I would like to ask what’s with you? You act so strange, Matt. Why are you so obsessed about papers, huh? What’s with you? What did Lucifer do to you?”

Natawa ako sa kanyang sinabi, “Wait, wait. What? Lucifer? So, you just watched Constantine over and over again? You said you don’t like it?” I said to avoid what she’s asking.

She shook her head and then looked at the paper she had folded and put in her pocket, “No-uh. My brother is always watching it, always, Matt, always. And I can’t help but to sit beside him and watch it too, with him,” she said as she took a glance at me.

I just nodded as I stared at the floor. I can’t focus.

“Ya’ still here? Baka nasa ibang mundo ka na.” She said and then turned her palm to my face and waved it.

I blinked at the unknown a few times. I looked her in the eye and then laid my hand on a nearby table, “I cannot answer your question right now. But, you should answer my question for you right now.” I said as I smirked.

“Lumalalim na ang gabi, Matt. It’s 9:20 o’clock. We can’t go in the library at this hour, aside from that, we also or should I say, you also don’t have the key to enter the library, aight? Itong susi ng office lang ang hawak ng guar— Wait a minute—”

Dang it.

She raised her left eyebrow, “Bakit nga pala na sa ‘yo ang susi ng office na ‘to? Ah, so you’re a snatcher now, huh, Mr. President Ortega?” She asked as she crossed her arms.

My goodness, she didn’t notice it? I’m not informed that you are blind, Kalea.

I walked towards the door and then touched the door knob, “I don’t know, but, your IQ is now decreasing. Naniniwala na ako sa iba ngayon. Don’t let your IQ leave you behind, Kal.” I uttered as I rolled the door knob to open.

Tumalas ang tingin niya sa akin at saka lumapit. “You’re really a jerk, Matt, but, no one knows. So, would you mind that—”

“Hoy! Bakit nandiyan kayo?”