Chapter 10

10. Rare

It's already midnight but still, I wasn't even able to take a nap. Ligtas kaming nakabalik sa MRA, together with the three and I have this fulfillment in me dahil nagawa namin ng maayos ang unang misyon ko dito sa mundo nila.

I don't know what exactly to feel, or to say, or to even do. I never expressed myself openly before, either I am happy, pissed off or sad, I always have just one emotion on my face and that is being neutral. Just nothing.

I moved and flipped myself. Niyakap ko ang tuhod ko and I looked like a baby now inside a mother's bump. I keep on thinking about what I am experiencing these passed few hours.

I hear voices from afar. Clearly. Wala akong pinagsabihan, kahit pa nagtataka na din sila pero nanatili akong tahimik. There is something inside me that's telling me not to give off this information about me to them.

I sighed. Hindi naman ako ganito kaproblematic before, so why now? Bakit ako maaapektuhan ng mga taong ngayon ko lang nakilala? Ni hindi pa kami nagkakasama sa loob ng ilang buwan, at hindi ko din masasabi na buo na ang tiwala ko sa kanila, kasi hindi naman talaga.

O kahit sino pa.

Kung sakali man na malaman ko kung anong kapangyarihan ko, anong sunod kong gagawin? Paano ako makikibagay sa kanila?

I want to know how will I be able to cope up with them. In this world.

"SCARRLET.."

I stopped midway from walking. Hindi ako lumingon sa tumawag sa akin kasi alam ko na din naman kung sino 'yun, just by hearing his voice.

"Have you eaten?" Walang emosyon na tiningnan ko siya sa pagkakataon na 'to.

Anong klaseng tanong 'yun?

"Why?"

His forehead creased.

"Do you still have to know why I asked you 'have you eaten?'"

I rolled my eyes and pursed my lips. There's just no way in hell na makakasundo ko ang lalaking ito.

"Princess!!"

Muntik na akong matulak sa sahig kung hindi lang maagap si Prince at hinawakan ako kaagad.

"Hindi ka namin mahanap, tagal mo talagang kumilos."

I glared at him. "You can stop shouting right through my ears."

"E-he-he.."

Napakamot siya sa ulo at bumaling kay Steven na walang emosyong nakatingin sa amin, o kay Prince? I don't know.

"Oh, may staring contest dito?"

I just shrugged my shoulders at nauna nang maglakad. Wala ako sa mood, well, palagi naman pala.

"Saan ka pupunta, Scarr?"

"Room."

"Hindi tayo diyan." Jana said hesitantly. "Sa auditorium tayo."

Tuluyan akong napaharap sa kanila ulit, dahil sa unang pagkakataon ay nakaramdam ulit ako ng kaba.

"Today is the examination." Sabi ng bagong dating na si Rage. He has this smirk in his eyes that I really hate to look at.

"Ready ka na ba, pinsan?" I know that Skyller is born as a happy-go-lucky pero sa pagkakataon na 'to, walang makakapa na pagbibiro sa tono niya.

Seryoso ko silang tiningnan at binalewala. I used to do things on my own, I will still make it this time.

Ano ngayon kung wala akong kapamgyarihan? That won't make me less of myself. We have our own flaws and if that's what for me, then so be it.

Naramdaman kong sumunod sila sa akin.

"Kailangan nating sumakay sa centaur bago tayo makarating sa sentro ng university. Andon ang auditorium." Rinig kong sabi ni Kyo.

"Centaur?" Mahinang bigkas ko. Narinig ko na 'yun dati pero hindi ko matandaan kung kelan at saan.

"In greek myth, they are the hybrids that composes a human upper body and horse's lower body. Kung sa mundo natin, sila 'yung parang tikbalang kung tawagin." Bulong ni Prince.

I made a face when I realized it. Sa kaniya ko din pala narinig 'yun dati. Mahilig kasi siyang makichismis sa mga kwentong bayan at sinaunang paniniwala.

"Pito na lang ang natitirang centaur. Madami na kasi ang nauna kanina kaya ngayon ay pabalik pa pang panigurado ang mga centaur na iyon. Paumanhin. Mahihintay niyo ba sila o maaari namang magpares na lang kayo sa isang centaur?"

Mahaba ang pila na inabutan namin kanina para makasakay sa tinatawag nilang centaur at ngayon na kami na ang sasakay, ilan nalang ang natira.

"Hihin—"

"We can just share and pair up." Steven cut off whatever I am about to say. Kung tutuusin ay kasya nga kami sa pito na iyon kung magsusuno, pero ayaw ko noon.

But in the end, wala naman na kong nagawa kasi malapit nang magstart ang test tapos nandito pa lang din kami.

"Dito ka na sa'kin, Scarr."

"Come here."

Sabay na aya sakin ni Prince at Steven. Napataas ang kilay ko. Why would Steven do this?

I pursed my lips. Apparently, dapat kay Prince ako sasama di ba? Bakit ako nahihirapan bigla kung kaninong kamay ang hahawakan ko ngayon?

"She'll come with me." The tension instantly fades away as soon as Rage gets my hand and pulled me.

Wala nang nakaangal sa aming tatlo kasi pinatakbo niya na agad ang centaur. I hold intensely when we're already at the sky.

"Open your eyes."

"No!" I gulped. I might be strong enough to handle myself but there will be always an exception.

I have a fear of heights.

"You'll get to enjoy the view. Trust me."

What a word.

It seems like a joke to me, trust? Whom should I really trust?

I just found myself slowly opening my eyes. I hitched when I got a view of the surroundings.

"You will never see this kind of scenery in your real world. So enjoy it as much as you can."

"Take care of her, Rage!"

Steven shouted when he's already just a few meters away from us.

"You've got a lot of princes, dear princess."

Rage smirked. Kumunot ang noo ko. What is he bubbling about?

Hindi na lang din ako nagsalita at tahimik na lang na naghintay na marating namin ang stadium. Kinakabahan ako sa totoo lang.

What will I do infront of all these people? I sigh.

I don't know.

I seriously don't know.

But one thing is for sure.

I won't let myself be a loser, not even this time.

"Ang dami agad ng tao,"

It's true. Pagpasok pa lang namin ay halos mapuno na ang auditorium ng mga estudyante. I didn't imagine that MRA actually has a lot of students. As I carefully watch them, it looks like we all are just feeling the same way.

Nervous.

I chewed the insides of my cheeks and do my best to remain stoic. It won't even help me in this state if I will let my emotion empower me.

"She's the newbie,"

Napalingon ako nang marinig iyon. Jana looked at me, puzzled. "Is there any problem?" Nagtatakang tanong niya. Napalingon din sa amin ang iba kaya ipinagsawalang bahala ko na lang.

"No," I answered but they looked doubtful. I just shrugged my shoulders at nagpatiuna na patungo sa upuan namin.

There's a big, squared-glass wall in the middle. Para iyong isang malaking aquarium, the only difference is that, wala itong tubig. O kahit na ano sa loob. Nakaupo sa likod noon, kung saan kaharap namin, ang mga professors at ang headmaster namin.

"You don't looked nervous at all," Steven sternly said. Hindi ko napansin na tinititigan niya pala ako magmula pa kanina. I smirked.

"Why would I be?" I asked in a monotone. Tumaas lang ang kilay niya at humalukipkip na. Siya kasi ang katabi ko, which is I really don't know why kasi si Prince ang kabuntot ko kanina.

"That stage out there can easily kill you," ani niya pa. I pursed my lips together.

Everything in this world can kill you. That's me being frank. There's even a school made for killing. A frat or an organization made for killing. Or even just by having a mere accident at the most unexpected time can kill you.

Death is enivitable. That's what I believe since I started growing up. The world is cruel and it is not made to sugarcoat what you should believe. But this world, is actually just the same from where I belong.

Wherever I might be, there's no difference between death. It will always keeps on chasing you no matter what.

"Let's see," I just managed to say. Naramdaman kong tinitigan niya ako, but I didn't waste time to glance at him as well.

"Good morning, Royalties!"

Umayos kami ng upo at tumugon kay Headmaster. Nakatayo na siya sa gitna ng stage at nakaharap sa aming lahat. He's grinning, they are all anticipating for this to happen and they are all waiting for this moment. While I, only want to go home and rest in peace. Lol.

"Are you ready for this year's level examination?!"

"Level?" While everyone is cheering, I can't help but to asked. No one told me that.

"It's like year and classification of section here in magical world," balewalang sagot sa'kin ni Steven. Ni hindi ko alam na nakikinig pala siya.

My lips formed an 'o' and nodded my head.

"Anyone who can reached level 30 and above, will have the privilege to stay at the palace with the Queen this weekend! I hope everyone of you really did well on training and on your own practices, Royalties.."

Malakas na naghiyawan ang lahat. I am not that excited to dig my own grave, alam ko naman na hindi ako mapapasali sa mga iyon. Baka nga umuwi akong level 1 lang pero masaya pa din, eh. Imagine, Scarrlet being at the bottom? Lol. It can't be helped at this situation.

"Let us begin, this year's Level Examination!"

And let's end my life here, y'all.

*****

Hi! So I announced that I'll publish the edited version after Destiny series, however, something came up and my ass is now so fired up to re-write this story. I hope you'll enjoy the new version!

Leave a comment, please. Don't be a silent reader. Love yah!

*****

Marie Mendoza

@ThirdTeeYet