Insignia

6

                                                                                    H E R

"Good morning class." bati ng professor namin pagpasok nya. 

"Good morning too Miss Sheira." Walang buhay na sagot nila. Bakit kaya para silang sinapian ang panlalata? Oh well. Maganda yan. Para tahimik sila at nakapakinig ako. 

"Before i start the discussion, i want to inform you all na may mga bago tayong makakasama from other courses." 

Para naman silang nakarinig ng Goooooood news. Tss. Biglang nagliwanag ang mga mukha nilang parang rainbow, dahil iba't ibang makakapal na kulay ng make up ang naka patong sa mukha nila. 

"Talaga miss?" 

"Boys ba?"

"Pogi ba miss?" 

"Ilan sila?" 

"Where school or section did they came from?"

"Where are they? Papasok ba sila?" 

Napa face palm nalang ako dahil sa mga narinig 'ko. Mukhang hindi nanaman ako makakaranas ng tahimik ng classroom. Haayy. 

"Yes. They are. Boys! Come inside." 

Halos mabasag ang eardrums ko sa narinig ko'ng sigawan nila, at muntik pa ko'ng malaglag sa arm chair 'ko. Juicemiyo! Wala na ba talaga silang gagawin sa buhay nila kundi sumigaw? 

Napatingin nalang ako sa harap para malaman kung bakit sila sumisigaw. At halos malaglag ang panga 'ko ng makita 'ko kung sino sila. Hindi ako napanganga dahil kinilig ako.

Damn. Bakit nandito sila? Of all people? Bakit sila pa ang lilipat? 

"So Class. Magiging classmates nyo na ang Phantoms." 

Sht. Si yabang together with his Kulto?! 

     ---

Nakakailang buntong hininga na 'ko para lang pigilin ang inis na kanina 'ko pa nararamdaman. 

Bwisit na lalaki 'to. Bakit ba sakin sya tumabi? 

"You should hold a knife then stab it straight in my heart. I won't die, by just you, staring at me." 

Napairap nalang ako dahil sa sinabi nya. Nakakainis talaga. Kahit anong gawin 'ko napapatingin ako sa mata nya. Bakit ba kasi ang captivating ng mata nya? Hindi bagay sa ugali nya na kasing baho ng lupa. Tss. Kainis. Bakit ba kasi nabiyayaan sya non? Pwede naman na sakin lang. 

"Class. Do you believe na may Vampires pa rin up to this time?" 

Napaayos ako ng upo at inalis lahat ng iniisip 'ko, ng marinig 'ko yon. I'm actually interested with those creatures. But i don't know kung paano 'ko mag sisimula sa pag ri-research about sakanila or kahit sa kind manlang nila. Puro mga nonsense naman kasi at surreal ang nakalagay sa internet. Tska hindi naman lahat nandon totoo, kaya i never attempt na gamitin sila mister Google at sir Youtube. 

Naalala 'ko tuloy yung una at huling nakakita ako ng vampire. Yes. I saw it with my both open naked eyes, when i was 8 years old. I will never ever forget tha nightmare, that almost took my life.

Flashback 

"Mom. Can i play outside?" tanong 'ko kay mommy na kasalukuyan nag luluto sa kitchen. Kami lang ni Mommy sa bahay dahil nasa work si Dad and mamaya pa sya uuwi. Boring dito sa bahay at wala ako'ng playmate, kaya lalabas nalang ako. 

"But Authum. It's already 4 pm. Baka abutan ka ng dilim sa labas." 

I smiled. I really love when my mom calls me with my second name. It sounds sooooo good.

"Sandali lang ako Mommy. I promise!" sabi 'ko pa. I really want to play outside. 

Matagal nya ko'ng tinignan bago ngumiti at tumango. "Okay. But be here at 5:30pm. Is that clear?"

Sunod sunod na tango ang sinagot 'ko sakanya. "Yes mom! I super love you!" sabi 'ko at hinalikan sya bago lumabas. 

Pero napaisip pa din ako. Pero baka hindi naman? 

Tama ba talaga ang nakita 'ko. 

Nag color red ba talaga yung mga eyes ni mommy kanina? 

Pinagpatuloy 'ko nalang ang paglalakad 'ko palayo sa bahay. 

---

Halos mag dadalawang oras na ko'ng naglalaro ng napag pasyahan 'ko nang umuwi. Baka pagalitan na 'ko ni Mommy pag nalate ako ng uwi. 

Naglakad na 'ko pabalik sa bahay namin. Napayakap nalang ako sa sarili 'ko ng tumama sakin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Mag gagabi na. Hala! Lagot na talaga 'ko kay Mommy. 

Tumakbo ako, dahil nag uumpisa nang dumilim. But the next thing that happend made me stunn. 

In just a snap i was pinned on the tree and a cold hand was gripping me. I can't do anything but to cry and asked for help. But i know it's useless. 

"Hello little rat. It's late. What does a little rat like you, still doin here? Why are you lurking here? Ah! You want to be my dinner? So sweet of you." He said while smirking, then laugh sinisterly. Then i saw two long fangs on his mouth, that made me cry harder. "Don't worry. I'll make, it'll be a little hurt but after this, you won't feel anything... Anymore. It's great, right?" 

"N-no. P-please. M-mommy. H-help m-me." I tried to say, while sobbing. 

"Ohh. How poor. But sad to say, I'll satisfy my tirst first before your life." He suddenly stop, i heard him sniffing my neck. "What the f**k?" He said, I can feel a hint of happines in him, but why? "You do smell like your mother, and your blood, his blood runs into your veins. What a f*****g good time for me to take my revenge."

I know i'm hopeless. I chose to close my eyes when i saw his fangs near at my shoulder.

Sino na mag aalaga kay Mommy? Eh laging busy si Dad sa work. Hindi manlang ako naka kiss sakanya bago ako mamatay. 

I waited for minutes, but i can't feel any pain from the bit i'm expecting. I thought masakit 'yon? Bakit wala akong maramdaman? 

"Are you going to close your eyes forever?" 

I immediately opened my eyes when i heard that cold yet deep voice. I saw i kid, i think we had the same age. With his tuxedo, it looks like just came from a party. He has this black hair. But one thing caught my full attention. He's deep brown eyes. It's fascinating.

"W-who are you?" Is the only thing that i able to say. 

"It's not important. Now go home. There's more creatures lurking around, it's not safe for a girl to wander alone." He said then turned back. 

I nod, and run home kahit na alam 'ko na hindi nya naman nakikita.

"Miss Schmid!" 

Agad na napabalik ako sa reyalidad ng marinig 'ko ang matinis na boses ng professor 'ko. 

"Y-yes miss!" 

I heard them, laughing. 

"You have your own little world inside your mind?" Taas kilay at sarkastikong sabi 'nya. 

Tumango nalang ako. "I'm sorry." 

Damn, kanina pa pala 'ko nag rereminsce. Kainis. Napagalitan pa tuloy ako. Si maam naman kasi. Bakit tungkol pa sa mga vampire ang naisip tanungin. 

"So as i was saying, may mga findings that proves na totoo ang mga vampires." She said, then open the presentation. 

And to my dissapointment, nag appear don ang ilang mga fangs na nasa lupa pa. Napataas ang kilay 'ko sa mga nakita 'ko. Akala ko pa naman nakakita talaga sila ng mga biktima ng vampires or may nakita talaga sila. But it's not. 

"What do you think about this Miss Schmid? Based on your face, you seems not believing with this." Taas kilay nyang tanong. 

I mentally rolled my eyes. For pete's sake, 50 students ang nandito, bakit ba ako lagi ang napapansin nya. And take note, second to the last row ang kinauupuan 'ko. 

Tumayo ako at tumingin sakanya bago magsalita. Nakita 'ko naman sa gilid ng mata 'ko na nakasunod ang tingin sakin ni yabang. Problema nya? Hindi 'ko nalang pinansin. "Kung yan lang naman ang evidence na sinasabi ng mga naka discover, alot of people might think that it's not true. Were now living in the modern time. Everything is possible. And that one" I said and point the picture. "Pwedeng hindi totoo yan. Pwedeng sinadyang ilagay yan dyan. Hindi lahat ng nakikita dapat paniwalaan." I finished at umupo. 

Tss, stupid. Paano naman mapapatunayan na totoo 'yon? 

"Hmm. Bakit Miss Schmid, may na encounter ka na ba'ng totoong vampire?" That made my heartbeat stop for a second. 

Anong klaseng tanong naman kaya 'yon? Well, Yes. "No. I've never got a chance." 

She just shrug. "Okay." Said while smiling. I don't like her smile. 

"We'll continue the discussion tomorrow, goodbye class." 

Lumabas na din ako kaagad pagkasabi 'nya non. Kanina pa 'ko nagugutom kaya kakain muna 'ko. Maaga naman nag dismiss, and i still have 10 minutes para makakain manlang. 

Pero nagulat ako ng pagliko 'ko sa sa hallway, nakasalubong 'ko si maam. She's smiling. 

A happy smile. 

"Yes?" I said, at tumigil sa harapan nya. 

Mas lalo naman lumawak ang ngiti nya at hinawakan ang balikat 'ko. "Nothing. Just want to see you lang." 

She's weird. At bakit naman nya 'ko gustong makita? 

"But the feeling is not mutual MISS." I empasized. 

She chuckled and patted my shoulder. "I'm sorry Miss Schmid. But you have to get used of this beautiful face. Dahil malapit mo na itong makasama everyday." She sweetly said then winked. 

Napakunot naman ang noo 'ko sa sinabi nya. 

Malamang everyday 'ko syang makikita, professor 'ko sya. Stating the obvious lang? 

Bago pa 'ko makahanap ng isasagot, naglakad na sya palayo sakin.

Hindi 'ko alam, pero bigla nalang akong napalingon sa garden na tanaw lang mula sa kinatatayuan 'ko. 

Teka. Si yabang 'yon diba? 

At bakit sya nakatingin dito sa pwesto 'ko?