Chapter 11

Nisha's Point of View

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa guro at tahimik din akong nag-oobserba sa lalaking nakabunggo sa akin kanina. He's looking for something and I know for sure that he's looking the paper that I was holding earlier. I put it inside of my bag. I don't have any plans to tell anyone. I tried to closed my mind earlier because I don't want Shawn to know what's running in my head. I don't know why but something telling me that Shawn can read minds and I want to know how the hell it happened and how he can do it.

Napaayos ako ng tayo when I heard a bell.  This class is weird.  All the students are behave and I didn't hear any gossiping just like what other students do in the movies.  No one is murmuring and they are just silent and they gave their attention attentively to the adviser who's giving us a lesson.

"See you tomorrow.  Class dismissed," some of my classmates are getting their things to get out. We have just half-day class everyday and I like it because I have a lot of time to plan everything. Konti na lang ang natira at naiwan din yung lalaki kanina. His name is Bryan Custodio and he also stayed inside while I remained sitting and silently observing him. He's still looking for that stupid paper.  I wanna know who told him to do this and who's the mastermind of this but not now. I still need to be close to him and to know him better. Maybe, Shawn knows about him. It's not bad if I'll ask him and leave him suspecting. The hell I care. 

Tatlo na lang kaming natira. Bryan and the Class President who assigned to locked the classroom. Maybe, she's waiting for us to go out. I smirked and shook my head. Maybe, I'll wait for him there. I took my things readying myself to go outside.

I am in the corridor and patiently waiting for him. Nang matamaan ko siyang papalabas ay agad-agad akong lumapit sa kaniya. Nagulat naman siya pero agad din niyang binalik sa pagiging balisa ang kaniyang mukha. I think he's worried and I can sense that he's in trouble. Hmm, I wonder why.

"Hey Bryan!" I greeted him with a smile plastered in my face. He's trembling and that made me more curious. Is he really in great trouble?

"H-hello," he's stuttering. I observe his reactions and he can't get comfortable that I am with him right now. I think, he knows that I am close with Nathalie. He's weak, I can sense that and maybe, someone told him to do what he's looking for and if he fail, someone will die. I shooked my head and sighed heavily.

"Are you alright?" I asked him with the tone of suspecting. He scratched his head before nodding. Lie.

"Saan ko ba nilagay 'yon. I don't want my family die," I suddenly stopped but he just continued walking. I clutched my fists because of madness. What does he mean? That his family is in danger and the enemy took his family to be the bait so he can do whatever he wants? But the question is, how can I hear the voices of my head. Agad akong napatakip sa aking tenga nang mas dumami ang mga boses na aking nadidinig. Hindi ko nakayanan at biglang sumakit ang aking ulo.

"AAAAAAHHHH!" I screamed harder. Napapansin kong napapahinto ang mga ibang studyante pero hindi ko sila pinansin. Nakatuon ang pansin ko dahil sa pagsakit ng tenga na parang nagdurugo. Stop this! It's killing the hell out of me. Para akong nasa impyerno.

Iba't ibang sigawan ang naririnig ko. Mga sigaw na naghihinagpis. Hindi lang sigaw, kundi iyak ng karamihan. This scene is so fucking familiar. I cannot think straight. What happened? I can hear bomb, I can see blood and dead bodies. I closed my eyes and breath deeply. No. I should stop this. This is making me crazy!

Ang pagtayo ko ay naging upo. Naramdaman ko ang lamig ng semento at napapansin kong marami nang nakausisa sa akin. Nagtataka kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin.

Napapansin kong unti-unti nang bumabalik sa normal ang pakiramdam ko. There's something inside of me that flowing through my veins and slowly killing my body.

"Help us! Nooo!"

That's the last words I hear from the voices of my head before it came back to normal.

"Nisha!" I heard a familiar voice called my name. But my eyes still remained closed. I heard the students whispering and gossiping but the hell I care. I was startled when someone grabbed my shoulder and shake it. She's a girl and her scent is familiar.

"Hey, it's me. Open your eyes. Are you alright?" Tanong ng babaeng yumugyog sa akin. I slowly open my eyes and I was right, some of the student's attention was on me. Nahagip ko ang aking paningin sa isang studyanteng malamig ang paningin sa akin. I don't know her and she's just new to my eyes.

Does she have a problem with me? She rolled her eyes when she saw that I am staring deeply to her. Before she turned her back and walked away, I heard another voice and I know that it's coming from her.

"You deserve it," I can sense in her voice that she's mad. I know that she's referring to me but I didn't even remember that I did something to her. Is she my classmate?

"Nisha, I will take you to the clinic."

My eyes flew to the girl and she's now holding my hand. I suddenly remembered her. Keyshaa. But I just pushed her hands and help myself to stand. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at may mga ibang studyante na tinalikuran kami.

"I'm okay. I'll just go to my room and rest there," I said to Keyshaa. Nakitaan ko ang pag-alala niya pero tumango na lang din siya kalaunan.

"You sure?" Paninigurado pa niya na tinanguan ko lang. Hindi ko na mabakasan ang presensya ni Bryan. I set aside first my issue towards him. I still want to know something about the woman earlier. She's mad and I want to know why.

"I'll go ahead. Thank you," she smiled and nodded before going to the different direction. I sighed again and took a steps going back to our dorm. I wonder what happened to me. Unang beses itong nangyari sa akin. Am I still normal?

Ang daming bumabagabag sa isipan ko habang paakyat ako. I can still remember the voices. The way how they seek some help. I can feel their heartbeats. They are scared, full of agony and hatred if who ever did that to their lives. They need help yet I cannot do anything because I know that they are part of the past. I lost the half of myself— and I mean it. Something inside of me that I need to wake up that keeps on sleeping for almost three years.

Nakarating ako sa harap ng dorm namin na may pagtataka. The main door is locked and Nathalie didn't locked the door if she's inside. So, she's not here? I immediately took the key out of my pocket and opened the door. Tumambad sa akin ang kabuuan ng sala. Nothing has changed either. I think, they are on their missions. Maybe, I should watch TV and wait for her.

I went inside after I locked the main door. Agad akong nagtungo sa kusina at nanghalukay kung may makain ba. I saw a clubhouse sandwich, a canned juice, pork and rice. I just shrugged and open the canned juice. I immediately turned my gaze to the refrigerator and I noticed a note placed in there. I did not hesitate to look closer and check it.

Please take good care. We are having an emergency meeting. If you want to know about the emergency, just turn on the television. Eat your foods. Mamayang hating-gabi pa kami makakauwi. Lock the door and always observe the surrounding. Love lots!

–Nathalie Cleigh🙂

Kahit nagtaka ay agad kong dinikit ulit sa pinto ng ref ang note. Mas tinuon ko ang pansin sa clubhouse sandwich. Maybe, I can keep the pork and rice for my dinner later. Iinitin ko lang ito para mas masarap. Tinuruan din naman ako ni Nathalie kung paano mag-init ng pagkain baka sakaling wala siya. She won't go for the mission when my foods are still not prepare. She's too kind to be true and I kinda like it and loves to be with her. I know that her treatment towards me is not kind of pretend and plastic. Maybe, she just want to keep a secret for my own sake so be it. But I still want to seek answers for my own and without their help. I have a lot of questions that needs to discover about myself.

After I ate, I immediately went to the living room. Nathalie told me to turn on the TV. Curiosity eats me after she told me that they have an emergency meeting. I pressed the remote and take a sit from the sofa beside me. There's a news but not that necessary. Hindi ko alam kung huli na ba ako sa balita o hindi pa talaga nagsisimula. I need to spend some minutes to wait.

Naglalaro ako sa aking kuko ng mapabaling ang paningin ko sa TV at nang marinig ko ang Ottawa City. It's a news from the famous Patrol and I can see a lot of police in a place that not familiar to me. Pero alam kong paaralan ito. Napatayo ako nang makita ko si Nathalie sa camera na tumatakbo papunta sa likuran ng paaralan. I feel my heartbeat and I feel nervous because of the sudden news. I'm worried for Nathalie.

And I was more shocked by what I've witnessed. The back of the school was completely destroyed and it was gradually engulfed in flames. I read the statement below about the news.

Ottawa Clint High was in the ambush right now from unknown people. They escape and the highest authority from Ottawa City are doing their moves to find the culprit and who's behind this. A lot of students died and to those who's remaining alive are now in evacuation area.

I clutched my fist because of the news. I don't know the place and the students, but they don't deserve this. May gustong akong gisingin sa kaloob-looban pero may pumipigil din sa akin. Napabaling ulit ako kay Nathalie na lumuluhang tumitigin sa studyanteng nasawian ng buhay.

I gasped when I caught a glimpse of someone's shadow. He's looking to Nathalie who's crying right now. I looked closely to that man and saw him hiding in a tree. Mas nagimbal ako nang may hawak siyang kutsilyo. He smirked before he throw the knife where Nathalie standing.

"NOOOO!" I shouted even they didn't hear it. And for the first time. I feel emotions inside of me and tears streamed down my face because of sadness and madness at the same time.