The Suicidal Ninja

Kabanata 14

Matapos ang eksenang ginawa namin ni Niklaus sa museo, idinala na kami ng mga guwardiya sa Office of the Prefect of Discipline. I could tell that they were being harsh to both Niklaus and I nang dahil sa ginawa naming pagpagod sa kanila kakahabol, which was partly their fault since they were not smart enough to catch us easily, at dahil na rin siguro ay napahiya sila sa nangyari. The security was not that strong is the conclusion for all that happened there.

Pagdating namin sa opisina ng Prefect of Discipline, bumungad sa amin ang isang maliit na desk na inuupuan ng isang matandang babae.

She pursed her lips when she saw us. "Handle them with care, guards. Don't hurt our beloved students," paalala niya sa mga guwardiya nang makita niyang halos kaladkarin nila kami papasok at pinaupo kami sa magkaharapang upuan sa tapat lang ng desk. "You may go now," utos niya sa mga iyon na kaagad na sumunod at isinara ang pinto.

Naiwan kaming tatlo rito sa loob ng opisina. Malamig dito nang dahil sa aircon na nakabukas which soothe my aching feet and body.

"Niklaus Fox, isn't this your first day of school?" biglang wika ng matanda nang hindi tumitingin sa amin. Nakayuko siya sa desk niya at mayroong isinusulat sa isang papel.

She is Mrs. Cassandra Cowell, ang nag-iisang staff sa opisinang ito. Marami ang nagsasabi na she is deadly and scary, pero mayroon ding nagsasabi na she is too kind. Siguro ay depende iyon sa estudyante na kanyang kaharap.

"Yes, ma'am," tugon ni Niklaus na relaxed lang na nakaupo sa upuan. I can't help but doubt his intelligence. Hindi ba dapat ay manahimik lang siya, avoid causing trouble, so he won't be exposed sa pagiging isang ninja niya? It will be really dangerous kapag nalaman nilang ninjas sila who are currently working on a mission inside the campus.

Does he not care about all those things? Nagiging kampante siya masyado. Kung kasama lang ako sa misyon niya, I would have punished him already nang dahil sa recklessness niya.

"And you have already caused us a trouble... and of all places, the museum which holds the history of our nation?" sarkastikong saad ni Mrs. Cowell at finally, humarap na siya sa amin pero ang tingin niya ay nahinto kay Niklaus.

"In what way are those items precious? They don't seem expensive at all because they're old," sarkastiko ko ring komento dahilan upang matuon ang pansin niya sa 'kin.

"I didn't permit you to speak, Miss Kawahara. Shut your mouth for a while," tanging sambit niya sa akin at muling ibinaling ang tingin kay Niklaus, na ngayon ay nagpipigil ng tawa. Ako naman ay napaismid lang dahil napahiya ako roon, ah. She really knows how to handle delinquent students like us. "Alright. I will ask you just once, Mr. Fox. What did you do wrong at the museum today? Admit it now," diretsahan niyang sabi kay Niklaus.

Hindi naman natinag ang huli at parang inaantok pang napatingin kay Mrs. Cowell. "I simply run around the museum to play with my new friend here. Did I violate the guidelines of the museum? Yes. May nasira o nabasag ba ako? None. So I don't think I did something wrong," diretso ring tugon ni Niklaus. He really said that without batting an eyelid.

Yes, that is exactly how Niklaus was back in the day. Nagugulat ako ngayon dahil nasanay akong puro normal ang mga taong nakakasalamuha ko rito sa loob at labas ng paaralang ito.

Nakita ko ang pagtitimpi sa mukha ni Mrs. Cowell. "So you're not admitting to your mistake, is that it?" nanghahamon na tanong pa ng matandang babae. Ang salamin niya ay nasa ilong na niya ngunit hindi niya inalis ang tingin kay Niklaus. "Is that it, Mr. Fox?" pag-ulit pa niya sa istriktong boses.

"Yes, ma'am. I still believe that I did nothing wrong," matigas na sambit ni Niklaus.

Nakita ko ang reaksyon ni Mrs. Cowell sa saad ni Niklaus at hindi siya natutuwa sa narinig. Nagtimpi lang muna siya at nagsimula nang magsulat sa papel na nasa harapan niya.

Nang muling iangat ni Mrs. Cowell ang kanyang tingin, sa akin naman ang naging pokus no'n.

"Akira Kawahara, a straight A student for the past three years. Not a single bad record..." wika niya habang nagtatakang pinagmamasdan ang aking mukha. Malamang ay alam niya rin sa sarili niya na ngayon pa lang kami nagkita. Sa tagal na panahon kong nag-aaral dito, ngayon pa lang kami nagkita. And that is because I never did stupid things na magbibigay sa akin ng punishment na katulad ngayon.

"Yes, ma'am?" painosente kong tanong. I've always been innocent, so I don't think they'll make a big deal out of this... or not?

"...then what are you doing here?" nagtataka niyang tanong at saka muling napatingin sa record niya ngunit malinis talaga ang aking track record, walang bahid na kalokohan. "Can you tell me what you did wrong?" tanong niya sa akin tulad ng tanong niya kay Niklaus.

Mabilis akong umiling. "I also did nothing wrong. I only took what's mine from the get-go," mariin na tugon ko dahilan upang tuluyang mapakamot sa batok at ulo si Mrs. Cowell.

"It's in the museum, so it's not yours, Miss Kawahara. Please give the item back so I could only punish you with a month of community service," malumanay na sabi niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa akin.

Tumahimik ako sandali at saka ko pinagmasdan nang mabuti ang mukha ni Mrs. Cowell. "No, I'm not going to give you what's mine to begin with," matigas kong tugon.

Mukhang nagsisimula nang mag-init ang ulo ni Mrs. Cowell at mas sumeryoso na ang mukha niya't mga mata. "I will have to hand over this case to the police, if you refuse to return the item," she warned.

Tumango ako sa kanya nang marahan at saka na ako tumayo mula sa aking pagkakaupo because I think matatapos na doon ang usapan. "I will appreciate it if you do that. So I would know who was the bastard who stole this precious gem from me a few years ago," mabilis na tugon ko at saka nginitian ang bwisit na mukha ni Mrs. Cowell. I get that she was just doing her job and that she didn't deserve any mistreatment from me. I am fully aware of that. But I won't let her, and the school, to steal the ring from me once again. "Please excuse us, Ma'am. Let's go, Niklaus." At saka na kami nagsimulang maglakad ni Niklaus palabas ng opisina. Iniwan naming frustrated si Mrs. Cowell doon.

"What's your plan?" tanong ni Niklaus sa akin habang sabay kami na naglalakad.

Tumalim ang tingin ng aking mga mata sa kawalan. "I'd have to investigate with you... if necessary."