The Nobles

Chapter 37

IT'S GUILLAUME'S turn to fetch Devian from school. Maaga niyang tinapos ang pagkain ng tanghalian, para masundo ang bata.

"Alis na ako!" paalam niya sa lahat.

Ginamit niya ang sasakyang bago ni Claudius papunta sa paaralan. Malapit lamang ito ngunit tinatamad siyang maglakad o gumamit ng kapangyarin para sa araw na ito.

When he parked the car on the parking lot, he went to the waiting area. May mga nakapilang nang mga bata at ang guro nila ay may hawak ng placard na may nakalagay na section.

"Ang gwapo, iyong bata na naman siguro ang susunduin, pansin ko halos lahat may itsura."

"Kaya nga inaagahan ko lagi, para masilayan naman ang ganiyang mukha."

"Kung pwede lang sa totoong buhay magkajowa ng ganiyan ang mga Yaya na tulad natin 'no?"

"Hindi naman imposible, kaso madalang."

Rinig na rinig niya ang bulung-bulungan ng nasa gilid niya. Hindi na naman bago ito sa pandinig, sa gwapo niyang ito, hindi na bago.

Hindi niya tuloy mapigilang ngumisi.

Maya maya may lumapit sa kaniyang mukhang estudyante rin sa paaralan na ito ngunit galing sa kabilang parte ng campus.

"Hi!"

Ngumiti siya at bumati pabalik sa tatlong babae, "Hi, do you need anything from me?"

Namula ang isang nasa gitna, at ang dalawang kasama naman ay halatang kinilig dahil sa impit na tili.

"A-ano, kasi ikaw 'yung laging sumusundo kay Adelaide rati. Block mates niya kasi kami e, kaso bigla na lang siyang nagdrop out. Medyo curious kami... kung okay lang, puwede ba naming malaman kung bakit?" the girl in the middle asked.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. Napansin naman ito ng mg babae.

"U-Uh! Don't get us wrong. We just want to tell her something. Uhm, by the way, I am Aubrey," pakilala niya sa sarili, tinuro nito ang nasa gitna, "This one is Juliana, and the girl beside her is Gwen."

Tumango tango siya, "Guillaume." Pakilala niya sa sarili.

Inabot niya ang kamay ng tatlo. Ngunit kuryoso siya sa nais nitong sabihin sa kaniyang Master.

"To be honest, we're curious why some famous personalities in the academy suddenly dropped out. Say for example, Adelaide, and the new guy? His name is Duncan, if I recall that correct. And lastly, just a few weeks after they dropped out, Hera also left."

Hera? The one who was stalked? Her Master's friend? Ngumuso siya at naguluhan. Alam niya, malapit lamang sa paaralan ang condominium unit nito, ngunit nagtataka siya kung bakit bigla itong umalis. Hindi ito alam ng kaniyang Master.

"'Aume, I'm here."

Magtatanong pa sana siya ngunit biglang dumating si Devian. Nagpaalam na rin sa kaniya ang tatlong babae kahit hindi niya nasagot ang tanong ng mga ito.

Ibinaling niya ang atensyon kay Devian na nakatingala sa kaniya. Ang mga mata nito ay inaantok.

"'Aume, my teacher wanted to talk to my guardian."

"Bakit? May ginawa ka 'no?" duda niyang sabi.

Agad itong umiling habang kunot ang noo.

"Alright. Saan mag-uusap?" tanong niya sa bata.

"Let's go."

Sumunod naman siya rito habang bitbit ang maliit na bag nito. Feeling niya talaga may ginawa si Devian, hindi naman siya ipapatawag ng teacher kung wala. Ito ba 'yung typical na nangyayari sa mga tao? May binully ang anak kaya pinatawag? O nabully ito?

Napatingin siya kay Devian. Maayos at walang galos. Nangbully kaya 'to?! Umawang ang labi niya. Baka siya ang pagalitan ng teacher? Ba't ba hindi kay Egon o Duncan natapat ang araw na 'to?

"Here."

Huminto siya ng huminto ang bata. Habang patagal ng patagal, parang nagiging katulad na ito ng kaniyang Master. Laging magkasama ang dalawa kaya napakadamot na rin magpakita ng emosyon. Ngumingiti na lamang ng maliit, tumatango, tipid magsalita, at isa pa, mahina at kontrolado ang tawa.

Miss niya na dating iyakin niyang Baby Devian.

"Teacher, he is my guardian," sambit nito pagpasok na pagpasok pa lamang.

Bakit niyang may isang batang lalaki na naroon, at isang guardian din na tulad niya. Babae naman ito, ngunit agad kumunot ang noo niya nang maramdaman ang presensya nito. It is definitely a half blood. Maging ang batang lalaki na masungit na nakatingin sa kanila.

But are they here? Sa pagkakaalam niya, may sariling paaralan ang mga half bloods para sa kapwa nila half bloods.

Kunot noo rin siyang tiningnan ng babae. Hatalang alam nito na Noble rin siya.

"It's good that everybody is already here. I just want to talk to the guardians of these kids."

Agad sumingit ang babaeng half blood.

"Is there a problem with my little brother, Ma'am?"

"No, Miss."

"What about Devian?" he asked.

"Okay, there's no problem with the both of them. But I wanted to tell you that both of them can be accelerated. They are both a genuis and their knowledge and wisdom are far higher and greater than the other kids their age."

Oh. Weh?

Nagkatinginan sila ni Devian na nasa tabi niya. The kid's eyes are showing arrogance and pride. Natawa siya ng mahina dahil doon.

Tiningnan niyang muli ang katapat nila.

"But I also want to address an issue to the both of you," dagdag ng guro.

Agad silang tumango.

"Kids, please wait outside."

Agad sumunod ng walang pasabi ang dalawang bata at lumabas ng silid.

"I think there's a silent competition between the two. They are always competing with each other in everything they do. I am afraid, they will fight physically one of these days."

"Don't worry, Ma'am. My little brother won't fight someone."

"So is Devian."

Tumango ang guro at ipinaliwanag na sa kanila ang mangyayari kung maaaccelerate ang dalawa. Kailangan nilang magtake ng exam at kung pumasa maari silang mapunta sa higher grade level.

"I'm afraid I won't let my brother take the test, I want him to enjoy his time here."

"As for Devian, I still need his approval on this. I knew he can decide for what he wants."

Doon natapos ang usapan nila kasama ang guro. Ngunit alam niyang hindi roon matatapos ang usapang iyon.

"I think we should talk," he mumbled.

Tumango ang babaeng half blood.

"I understand."

Nang lumabas sila, nandoon ang dalawang bata at may pinag-uusapan tungkol sa pisika. Halos malaglag ang panga niya sa mga sinasabi ng dalawa.

G*go, anong utak 'yan?!

Kinalabit niya si Devian para kunin ang atensyon nito.

"What is it, 'Aume?"

"I just need to talk to your classmates guardian for a while, stay here, okay?"

Tumango naman ito agad, "Understood."

Nang makausap na nila ang mga bata, pumunta sila sa malapit na pasilyo na walang kahit sino.

He immediately open the topic.

"I don't want to sound rude. But as far as I know, half bloods like you have your own academies for your own kind?"

The girl smirked.

"Why? Is it bad to enroll my little brother in a lesser evil environment?"

Natahimik siya kaya nagsalita mula ito.

"I know you were alarmed, but Yuan is harmless, he will never hurt anyone."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

"I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's fine. We have prejudices about each other. I am also worried a Noble is just around."

He sighed, "No worries, I don't harm innocent half bloods, just the greedy ones."

"So am I, I don't harm Nobles, just those greedy ones as well."

"What about humans?" he curiously asked. Because to be honest, humans are in a greater danger than them.

"Humans?" pagak itong tumawa, "Although I harbor deep fury against them, I am not as petty as those evil humans."

Tumango siya. She must have experienced something in the hands of humans, he wonder what and how but he won't asked personal questions.

"Oh, I didn't introduced myself. Since your brother is our young lad's classmate, let's be at ease with each other. I am Guillaume," inabot niya ang kamay niya.

Tinanggap naman ito ng babae.

"Name's Yvonne."

Tumango siya. Doon natapos ang usapan nila. Nang binalikan nila ang nga bata, parehas naman itong nagtatagisan ng kaalam tungkol sa periodic table.

Umiling iling siya at natawa na lang. Parang si Duncan, ang weirdo, hinaluan ng talino ng King, tapos parang si Claudius din na ayaw magpatalo.

The ride going home just took them a few minutes, and when they arrived. He immediately looked for his Master. He saw her sipping her tea on the balcony of her room.

"Master, I have to tell you something." sambit niya matapos tumungo bilang pagbibigay galang.

Umangat ang tingin nito sa kaniya. He signed her to sit in front of her, which he immediately did.

"Hera, your human friend, some of your former block mates told me that she dropped out from school weeks after you did."

Her expression suddenly change a bit. Her eyes showed her curiosity and confusion.

"Did you find out why?"

Umiling siya at napabuntong hininga.

"Her condominium is just a few minutes walk from here, we can visit her."

"Then let's go."

ADELAIDE felt shocked at the news. She and Hera doesn't really have ways to communicate rather than face to face. She doesn't have any social media accounts and she forgot to exchange number with her so she doesn't know how to contact her. It's been almost two months since she last saw her and now, she doesn't know how to reach her.

Guillaume came with her to Hera's condominium. When they tried to ring the doorbell at the same unit that they went to months ago, someone they don't know opened the door.

The middle aged woman stood in front of them, magulo ang buhok, nakasalamin at mukhang walang tulog.

"What do you need?" humikab ito.

Si Guillaume ang sumagot, "We are friends with Hera, she owned this place."

Tumingin ang babae ng salit salit sa kanilang dalawa ng kasama.

"I'm sorry but she's no longer staying here, I own this place now."

Kumunot ang noo niya. So Hera really leave without a say. Did something happened? Or is she in trouble? Adelaide can't help but to feel so worried for her human friend.

"Are you sure? When did you leave this place?"

Nagkibit balikat ang babae, "I don't know, I'm only here for like a month or so."

Wala silang nagawa kung hindi umalis at magpaalam sa ginang, mukhang may ginagawa ito at wala pang tulog kaya't hindi na sila nagtanong pa at umalis na lamang.

She suggested to go to the school instead. Claudius knew the headmaster and her right man also introduced her to him so maybe she can asked the old man questions.

Hindi naman sila nabigo nang pumunta sila sa opisina nito. Nakaupo silang dalawa ni Guillaume sa sofa at ang Headmaster ng paaralan naman ay nakaupo sa couch na nasa gitna.

The old man looks so strict yet honorable.

"Good day, Miss Victoria and Mr.?"

"Guillaume Alexander, Sir."

"Mr. Alexander, good day too."

"It's nice to meet you too, Sir."

Ipinatong ng matanda ang dalawang siko sa tuhod at pinagdaop ang dalawang kamay.

"So why did you visit my humble office?"

"I'd like to ask you, Sir, about Hera Ravine, one of your students here. Why did you dropped out?" she asked.

The Headmaster mouthed an "Oh" as if he realized something.

"I don't really disclose informations like this, but since you are very close to Mr. Lawyart, I'd like to do you a favor. To be honest, Ms. Ravine suddenly dropped out without any reasonable reason. She came here one day saying she need to do something very important far away. But she left something on me. If someone look for her, she told me to give that person a letter. Let me get it for you."

The old man stand up and went to his huge and carved table. She saw how he open one of the cabinets of the table and he get something from it. It is a white envelope.

Bumalik ito sa pagkakaupo at inabot sa kaniya ang papel. It has some visible designs and even though it was stuck there for weeks, the smell is still nice. She can clearly smell it because of a natural trait of a Noble, which is enhanced sense of smell.

Binuksan niya ang sobre at binuklat ang papel na nasa loob nito.

Unang kita niya pa lamang sa pamilyar na sulat, alam niyang ang kaibigang tao agad ang nagsulat nito. Maayos ang pagkakasulat at hindi masakit sa mata.

It started with, Dear Adelaide,

I knew you will come looking for me, and I hope you find this letter in the place I left it. I wanted you to know that you are a very precious friend for me. Our friendship is not that long but I treasure every moment I spend with you, because wow, for the first time after I wake up, I had a friend whom I am comfortable with. I'm really happy, and I am glad to meet such good Nobles like your friends also. I will miss you, my only friend. But through this letter, I wanted you to know that I am fine. I just need to do something for myself. I just need to complete me, I just want to be whole. I want to gather my pieces and through this journey, I know I will eventually find out who really I am. Wait for me, it sounds demanding, but I will come back. I hope when we cross paths again, we're still friend.

Sincerely yours,

Hera Ravine.