She's a Legend: Legend of Ice

Chapter 3

I C E

The sun rays between the curtains woke me up. I know it's an exaggeration to say this but for some reason the warmth of the sun hits differently in this country.

It just feels like home.

So, I have the energy to start preparing. Wala naman masyadong espesyal sa paghahanda ko. I just took a bath, looked for a change of clothes na masaya kong ginawa dahil ako ang namili. No maids involved. No fancy dress with itchy laces. And most especially, no father came in my room asking me to hurry.

Pero iyon ang inaakala ko. Maayos na sana, maganda na sana ang umaga ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto ko, at may sumigaw ng, "ICE!"

Of course, it’s Casey and the others.

"Pinapahinga mo pa ba 'yang boses mo?" I asked her then I shut the door close. Hindi niya talaga ugali na magsara ng pinto pagkatapos niyang pumasok.

"She has an unlimited stock of batteries for it, Ice. You should not worry,” Jane replied, mocking Casey.

“Bakit hindi mo gayahin si Ruby, ang tahimik,” Lisa additionally advised to Casey. Gusto niya kasi na tumigil na sa pag-iingay ang babaeng ito.

"Oo nga, gayahin mo si Ruby. Para maka-experience din naman ng pagkapanis ‘yang laway mo." Hindi pa ata tapos sa pang-iinis kay Casey si Jane at nagsalita pa ulit ito.

Ruby, on the other hand, reluctantly raised her hand. May sasabihin pa ata siya kaya hinayaan ko na siya na magsalita.

"A-A-Am… Am,” panimula ni Ruby, “Am I th—"

"YES, RUBY?" Jane and Lisa raised in chorus addressing Ruby’s first words of the day.

Sinuklay ni Ruby ang kanyang buhok gamit ang kamay niya. I'm not sure why she's doing that, but I guess it's her way to prepare herself before speaking. Hindi rin naman ako nagkamali dahil kaagad din siyang nagsalita pagkatapos niyang magsuklay ng buhok. “Okay. Chill. You don't have to shout, guys. Huwag niyong gayahin si Casey.”

Nagsitawa na lang ang tatlo sa ganti ni Ruby. Palagi na lang kasi siyang nakukumpara kay Casey.

"By the way, Ice. Your father wants to see you. Uh, malapit na daw silang dumating,” sabi ni Lisa, “I-Iyong guardians mo,” she added hesitantly.

"Isn't it ironic to mention the word guardian. We are guardians ourselves." Casey commented, she must have also noticed Lisa’s hesitation.

"Excuse me, it should be we were, okay? Sa kasamaang palad ay iyan na tayo ngayon – past tense,” malungkot na sabi naman ni Jane.

"Sige. I have to put on some makeup first,” paalam ko sa kanila.

Sa salitang makeup pa lang ay alam na nila kaagad kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito.

"Makeup na naman, Ice? Ang sipag mo talaga, ano?" sambit ni Casey

Siyempre iyan ang sasabihin niya dahil makeup is equivalent to disguise in my vocabulary.

Hindi naman sa masipag ako sa paglalagay ng disguise, sa totoo lang ay nakakatamad din ito kung minsan. Pero kailangan ko itong gawin para maging presentable tingnan sa mga bago kong guardians. Hindi iyong magmumukha akong white lady dahil sa kakaibang kulay ng balat ko.

J A N E

Pagkababa pa lang namin ng hagdan mula sa kuwarto ni Ice ay sinalubong na kami ni Uncle Danny.

"How about Ila?" Ito kaagad ang una niyang tanong sa amin nang makita na hindi namin kasamang bumaba si Ice. Hindi man lang niya kami binati.

"Pababa na– I-I mean, she's coming down, uncle,” Ruby replied politely.

It is still awkward to talk with Uncle Danny. Siya rin ang dahilan kung bakit panay ang pagsasalita namin ng English kanina. Since he barely speaks Tagalog, we have to adjust by speaking the common language when he is around.

We continue to walk to the living room and when we have the full view of the sofa six new faces greeted us.

They all look familiar, strangely, I feel like I've seen them quite a lot. Then I remembered Ice's bedroom just now, it was full of these men’s posters.

Oo nga pala, dumaan din sa phase na iyon ng buhay niya si Ice. She used to like boy groups and one of them is the ALPHA.

"Alpha,” bulong ni Ruby.

“’Yung Alpha! Oo nga, no. Teka, ‘di ba sampu sila bakit anim lang ‘yan?" tanong naman ni Lisa nang makita na kulang ng apat ang mga lalaking nasa living room.

I just shrugged as an answer. I'm not really too familiar with them.

"I chose them,” biglaang sabad ni Uncle Danilo sa gitna ng mga bulong-bulungan naming apat.

We just noticed that he has returned from Ice’s room. Sometimes we think that this man can be invisible, we barely feel his presence then the next thing we know is he's already beside us.

"Sigurado akong magiging masaya ang yelo,” pangiti-ngiting banggit ni Casey.

"Hindi ba matagal nang huminto si Ice sa pagiging fangirl niya?” Lisa suddenly wondered out loud.

Pinatid ko naman siya sa paa para patikumin ang bibig niya. “Shh! Quiet,” I whispered.

"Oh, sorry," she quietly apologized.

Umayos naman kami ng upo nang tumikhim si Uncle Danny. He gave us a sharp glare and in an instant, we zipped our mouth then stayed quiet.

"Boys, introduce yourselves,” utos niya sa mga ito at sabay-sabay na silang tumayo sa kinauupuan nila. Magkaharap lang din naman ang upuan namin sa kanila kaya mas madali na lang para sa amin ang makita ang mga mukha nila.

"Hi, I am Gray Sanderson,” panimula ng lalaking may magandang hugis ng labi. Napatingin siya kay Uncle Danny bago nagdalawang-isip na magpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

“Go on, tell them your power,” ani ni Uncle Danny.

Mukhang pati rin sila ay kabado sa harap ni Uncle Danny.

"Yes, sir.” Yumuko ng bahagya ang lalaki tapos ay muling nagpakilala. “Again, I am Gray Sanderson, you can call me Sander, but I prefer Gray. Teleportation is my specialty.” Pagkatapos niyang bigkasin ito ay agad na siyang umupo.

Sunod na nagpakilala ang lalaking may matalim na panga. I didn't say it to sound mean but he just stands out with that sharp jawline of his. "Hi, it's Tristan Sandric. I have the wind with me, and my expertise is flight.”

"Hello!” masiglang bati naman ng sumunod, “My name is Chance Gases. I have the light with me… uh, yeah. My power is light,” he said awkwardly. Mukhang kinabahan ata siya sa hulingang bahagi at nakalimutan ang dapat niyang sabihin.

"It’s Atticus Marlow, mine is time control," maikling pagpapakilala ng pang-apat na lalaki at pabagsak na umupo ulit sa sofa.

The next guardian greeted us with a wide smile, then said, “Hello, guys! I'm Godwin Lopez, my power is frost.” He kind of surprised me because he looks so warm despite having the power of frost.

Matapos ng lima, sa wakas ay nasa panghuling guardian na kami.

"I am Jay Lura. I have a strong mind so, I have telekinesis as my power,” wika niya.

“D-Do we have to introduce ourselves too, uncle?” I immediately asked after Jay finished his introduction.

Uncle looked at me with his cold gaze, then he waved his hand while saying, “You don't have to, I already introduced you during our first meeting in Spain as they also have to learn what type of guardians Ice have before them.”

Hindi na ako nakasagot pa at tumango na lang. As expected to Uncle Danny, he is always prepared. Pero nasaan na ba kasi si Ice? Ang tagal niya atang mag-apply ng disguise niya.