PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

-3-

"YOU KNOW why I wanted to end someone's life in a place like this?" saad ng isang lalaki.

They were at the end part of the Questas forest. On the other side from where they are, makikita ang mga taong nagkagulo. They were fighting for their lives.

The man pointed his gun towards the man who's few inches away from the cliff. "Kasi gusto ko kayong makitang magdusa. I'll shoot your head then I'll push you off the cliff. That's very satisfying to see," he continued, grinning to the man. "If you've got anything to say, before anything else, now's the time, Leighton Wajeeh."

Tiningnan siya ni Leighton sa mata. "Kahit anong gawin n'yo, hindi magwawagi ang kasamaan!" he said firmly, trying not to stutter.

Then the man chuckled. "Iyan lang ang gusto mong sabihin? What an empty ultimatum. Linyahan ng mga bidang namamatay sa huli."

Leighton just clenched his fist.

"Well, I'll tell you now," The man speaks again. "Any minutes from now, dahan-dahan na naming makokontrol ang Santa Luna at ang buong mundo. And sadly, you're no longer here to witness that."

Before the man could pull the trigger of his gun, a voice suddenly echoed to the whole forest. Ang tinig na alam na alam ni Leighton kung kanino galing.

"B-Blaze!"

At dahil dito, napatingin si Blaze sa direksiyon ng nagsalita at mayamaya, he suddenly grinned. Ngunit, hindi inaasahan ni Leighton ang sunod na sasabihin ni Blaze.

"Oh, look who's here. My father's puppet."

***

Two months earlier...

LEIGHTON WAJEEH

PAWIS NA pawis at nahihingal na napabalikwas ako mula sa aking pagkahiga. Paulit-ulit kong sinapo ang aking mukha dahil sa nararamdaman ko ngayon.

To realize, that was just a dream.

Most people would say, 'Thank God, it's just a dream.' But in my case, ang panaginip na iyon ay totoong nangyari walong taon na ang nakalilipas. A scenario that brought me traumas and mysteries.

'What?! Who's coming?! Hell, no! I don't know what they are talking about! Damn that school...!' I could feel rage in his voice and his expressions and gestures. 'What?! Huh! That school... that L.S.A really did this!---shit!' Inihampas niya ang kaniyang telepono matapos iyon. He seemed to be out of himself as he leaned on the wall, while grabbing his hair.

The details after that were still very clear to me. I was just 10 years old at that moment. And now that I'm 18 years old, those memories still haunts me. How my father was killed by a masked man right before my eyes.

I looked at the clock on the wall of my room and it's still 9 in the evening. Maya-maya lang ay nakarinig ako ng tatlong katok mula sa pintuan.

"Son, you up?!" matigas na tanong nito.

Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa pagtaas ng boses na iyon. I immediately looked at the door and quickly wiped my sweat on my face with my shirt.

"Yes, mom..." I responded.

As if on cue ay agad na bumukas ang pintuan. Bumungad kaagad sa akin ang galit na galit na mukha ni mommy.

She put her hands on her waist at mariing tumingin sa akin. "Ano tong nabalitaan ko na nag-enroll ka sa Levióur Seijin?! I had given you fund and told you na doon ka sa Questi High!" galit na usal niya.

With that, I quickly closed my eyes para huminga nang malalim. She was so busy with her works sa company so she just gave me fund in my credit card for me to enroll to the school that she wanted me to be in. Pero tumaliwas ako.

"I already told you as well, mom, na gusto ko doon. Nandoon ang mga programs na hinahanap ko kagaya ng... ng advance and on-the-ground trainings. They could help me with my future college course." sagot ko sa kaniya. I tried to keep my voice lower.

"Pareho lang ang offers nito sa Questi High. Ilang beses kong sasabihin sa iyo na huwag doon---!"

"Bakit nga ba ayaw mong doon ako mag-aral, mom?!" hindi ko na mapigilang mapataas ang aking boses. Tumayo ako para lalong kumawala ang emosyon ko. "Levióur

Seijin Academy is what I want. Ako naman ang mag-aral, ah! At ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit ayaw mo doon. What's in that school, mom?! Sa lahat ng paaralang ako ang nagdesisyon kung saan ako, bakit ngayon tutol ka sa paaralang ito?"

Hindi agad nakasagot si mommy matapos kong sabihin iyon. Ilang beses na namin itong napag-usapan ngunit ni katiting na dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya akong mapunta doon ay wala siyang maibigay. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong mabahala sa inaasta niya.

Mayamaya pa ay bigla siyang nagpakawala ng isang mahabang buntong-hininga. "Look... I began to worry about you---"

"I'm okay, mom. At sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, tomorrow is my first day of school sa L.S.A. All I want is to study there, mom. What's wrong with that?" pagpipigil ko sa kaniya.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya. Bagkus ay bumalik na lang ako kaagad sa pagkakahiga and slid myself in the blanket.

Naramdaman kong nakatayo pa rin sa gilid si mommy.

Maayos ang relationship namin ni mommy. Kahit na sobrang busy niya sa trabaho ay naglalaan pa rin siya ng oras sa akin tuwing gabi. However, hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang sudden outbursts niya when it comes to that school. Marami na akong paaralang pinasukan at ngayon pa siya nagalit sa akin ng ganun.

Still near to me, ilang beses kong narinig ang kaniyang buntong-hininga at maya-maya pa ay narinig ko nalang na bumukas ang pinto ng aking kwarto.

"Just remember... all I want is your safety, son." saad niya at ilang saglit lang ay kumalabog nang mahina ang pintuan.

***

MALAKAS AKONG napapreno dahil may biglang dumaan sa harapan. I'm driving with my car right now and I was quite occupied with many thoughts.

Mariin akong tiningnan ng matandang babae. At nung nakaalis na siya sa harapan ko, I continued driving.

Today's my first day of my new school, ang Levióur Seijin Academy at ilang minuto lang akong nagmamaneho ay narating ko kaagad ang magarang paaralan na ito. The school that I wanted to enter this year. When I left the house, my mom is not around already. I tried to check my credit card and gladly, may laman pa iyon. I thought she would cut my fund knowing na tumaliwas ako sa gusto niya.

After I parked my car, agad kong sinunod ang mga tao. Yung iba, nakasuot na ng uniform, yung iba naman ay kagaya ko lang na nakasuot lang ng plain white T-shirt at itim na jeans. And we are heading towards a circular building na narinig ko kaninang tinatawag nilang gymnasium.

Before I got closer to the gymnasium, may nakita akong isang babae malapit sa isang puno dito sa loob mismo ng paaralan. Kaharap niya ang apat na batang lalaki. Sa gilid nila ay may umiiyak na batang babae.

"First day of school, ito kaagad ang inaatupag n'yo? Kindergarten pa ba kayo?" the woman said. Napahinto ako dahil biglang nakuha ang atensiyon ko.

From the back view of the girl, I noticed a yellow highlight of her hair at napakaastig ng pormahan niya. Nakasuot rin siya ng jeans at puting T-shirt.

Nakita kong umiling ang apat na batang lalaki. "H-Hindi po. Grade seven..." sagot nung isa.

"Then bakit kayo nangbu-bully? At babae pa talaga ang inaapi n'yo?" sabi ng babae habang umiiling. "Next time, if you really feel you're still a kindergarten pupils, don't bully girls. Just bully boys, okay?"

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay humarap na ang babae sa gawi ko. The moment I saw her face, parang biglang tumahimik ang paligid. Then suddenly, she smiled at me causing me to gulp once.

I immediately blinked my eyes at ilang beses akong umiling to shrug that moment away. Mabilis akong lumakad pagkatapos nun at maya-maya lang ay narating ko na ang entrance ng gymnasium.

I roamed my gaze around to see if may available pa bang seats. May nakita ako ngunit hindi ko gusto ang spot. I don't like sitting just in front of the stage.

"Oh, gosh---uhm, hi, pogi. Dito ka na, tabi na tayo." I heard another woman spoke as soon as she saw me searching for a seat.

I just stared at the smiling girl then later on, I ignored her. Kung wala akong makitang komportableng mauupuan, I might choose to just stand at the back.

I was about to go to the back portion of the benches when, suddenly, I saw a familiar face. Nakaupo siya sa pinakagilid na upuan habang ang mga mata'y paulit-ulit na tumitingin sa kaniyang relos.

I squinted my eyes at her. "Yuna?" I muttered when I confirmed.

Inangat niya ang kaniyang ulo patungo sa direksiyon ko at nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang kaniyang noo. She touched the bridge of her eyeglasses before she asked.

"Excuse me?" with an unsure tone, she responded.

Agad akong nakaramdam ng hiya dahil sa sagot niya. "U-Uh, sorry... I thought you were Yuna. My..." I paused for a while. "Just a close person I know..." pagpatuloy ko habang kinamot ang aking batok.

As I said that, nag-iba bigla ang expression ng kaniyang mukha. She slightly tilted her head towards my direction.

"L-Leighton?" she muttered and with that, I smiled at her.

I slightly laughed. "Oh, ikaw nga, I knew it... Can I sit beside you?" tanong ko sa kaniya, pointing at the vacant chair to her left. Tumango naman siya kaagad habang ang mga mata'y nasa mukha ko pa rin. "It's nice meeting you again. How are you? I never thought na nandito ka na pala ulit sa Pilipinas." I immediately opened up nung nakaupo na ako. Looking at her outfit, I could say na dito na talaga siya nag-aaral.

"U-Uh, yeah... nice to see you." sagot niya. "Just got here a year ago."

"Oh? I see." I commented, but something just bothers me. "Did you change your accounts? I was really surprise na nandito ka na pala ulit kasi our communication stopped few years ago."

I observed her reactions. "Uhm, yeah. My accounts were hacked and... and I was busy the past years kaya I was not able to contact you with my new account." she said and I nodded my head in response. "How are you, by the way?"

"Trying to do better." sagot ko sa kaniya.

She's Yuna Watanabe, a childhood friend at ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita for almost a decade. Right after my father's death, she and her family left the country and stayed in Japan. Well, nagkaroon naman kami dati ng communication way back then when she was in Japan. However, it just stopped few years ago, gaya ng sinabi ko.

Napatango lamang siya sa sagot ko kaya napatitig ako sa kaniya. She's different now unlike before. Noong bata pa siya, I knew her being talkative. I am happy to see her again. I admit that I missed her.

Tumingin ako sa sahig para mag-isip kung ano pa ang sasabihin ko. I suddenly felt awkward dahil sa response at reaction niya.

"K-Kumusta na pala sina tita at tito?" I tried to ask her.

I heard her heaved a sigh. "Ayon, as usual, they're busy with their works. Pero maayos naman sila." prenteng sagot niya.

When I was about to utter some words again, a woman showed up on the stage. And what amazed me is that, she's showing up through a hologram.

"Good morning, students!" the woman enthusiastically greeted and her voice echoed to the large speakers. "I am pleased to see all of you in this school..."

"Pwede makiupo?"

My attention diverted to the woman who suddenly spoke. She was pertaining to the seat just next to mine. When I looked at her face, I remember she was that girl I saw before I got here. Before I even give my response, she immediately sat beside me and then we continued listening to what the host said.

I secretly glanced at the woman beside me. Her aura seemed very serious. Bigla ko nalang naramdaman ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko.

With that, iniwas ko ang atensiyon mula sa kaniya and I then focused my attention to the stage. "To formally welcome again us all, let us give a round of applause to the Chairman of LSA, Mr. Rudulfo G. Ramirez!"

Palakpakan ang namayani sa gymnasium and I also contributed to the noise. The old man, wearing a blue formal attire went to the center of the stage where the microphone is located on a standing table. Kagaya ng host, he appeared in blue, holographic. Then he welcomed us all.

However, aside from those words, seryoso kong tiningnan ang Chairman. The way he speak, act, and change his reactions. Mariin ko siyang tiningnan.

Marami pa ang mga nangyari sa stage. There were different performances from the alumni of this school, and the General Orientation was also conducted. Hindi ako gaanong naka-focus sa mga ito kasi panay ang tingin ko sa paligid.

The opening ended by 10 in the morning and we are instructed to go to the main building. The building, when we are to judge on its external appearance, it looks like a house. According to the orientation, that building is called House Building, in which the classrooms and faculty rooms can be found.

12-STEM - Mapagkumbaba

That's the name that was indicated in the small paper that was given earlier. Plenty of us gathered in front of the classroom with that indicated block section. Thankfully, magkaklase kami ni Yuna. Siya lang ang natatanging kakilala ko dito.

Yuna looked at me. She nodded at me and I gave her a smile.

We went to the last two seats at the back near the window. As I sit down, I noticed that the serious woman was also here, sitting at the table in front-also near the window, aligned to Yuna's seat.

Some of the students inside began to approach other students, habang kami ni Yuna ay nanatili lamang sa aming upuan. Suddenly, a woman in her mid-30's walked towards the table in front of us.

"Good morning, my dear students!" she joyfully greeted us. We stood up and greeted her back. "My name is Miss Faye Gomez." she introduced herself habang naka-flash sa napakalaking monitor sa ibabaw ng whiteboard ang buong pangalan niya.

As we sat down, she discussed her rules and regulations. The do's and don'ts when she starts her class and such other things. The typical teacher that has many things to say. She also mentioned about keycards and Students Cafeteria Card to be used when we pay our foods inside the school.

After she's done with her stuff, she looked at us individually, scrutinizing us. "Since you all know me and my rules, might as well you will introduce yourselves in the class. Napansin kong, ang ilan sa inyo ay transferees," she announced. "So, let us start with... you," she pointed her fingers to the person seated in front.

The 'introduce yourself' thing has started. I was sometimes able to familiarize their names and focused my attention on them, but most of the time, I just played with the notebook and pen on my table.

Noong nadako ang paningin ko kay Yuna, kagaya ko, she was also not paying attention. She was just looking outside the window.

"Ang ganda niya, bro!"

"Oo nga, bro! Para siyang isang model!"

My attention suddenly caught up with my male classmates' words. Nasa harapan lang namin sila. I looked in front to see who are they referring to and I saw the serious woman. She is currently walking towards the center and her yellow-highlighted hair bounced as she steps.

Ang seryoso niyang mukha ay biglang napalitan ng isang malawak na ngiti. "HI! MY NAME IS NIKOLINA EUN-JI KIM! I'M 17 YEARS OLD! TURNING 18 THIS JUNE 20, HIHI!"

I was shocked by her expression dahil sa kaniyang matinis na boses. I was not expecting her to be like that.

From a serious aura, it became jolly and bubbly.

"Oh, your energy is quite surprising. By the way, do you have foreign blood?" Miss Gomez suddenly asked her.

"UHM, YES. MY FATHER IS PURE FILIPINO AND MY MOM IS KOREAN. PURE!" she answered loudly.

Napaawang ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

At hindi ko akalain na sa araw na ito, magbago ang takbo ng buhay ko sa paaralang ito. My initial plan of getting here is to investigate whether this school has really something to do with my father's death.

However, something has really changed.

##