"Ang cute ko, Zaggy", sabay ikot ko sa harapan ng salamin. Suot ko ang uniform ng academy. It's a below-the-knee dress with a combination of blue, white, and gold, the official color of the empire.
"Ugh. Human ego", rinig kong bulong ni Zaggy.
"The uniform looks so good on you, my lady", komento naman ni Letty. "By the way my lady, your things are already on your locker. This is your key".
Sabay abot saakin ni Letty ng maliit na susi na siyang ibinulsa ko. Kinuha ko na ang maliit kong bag. "Letty, you don't have to accompany me to the school. It's only a 5-minute walk from this building. Just take care of my Zaggy".
"I understand my lady. Well then, have a great first day", oh no Letty. Don't jinx it.
"And you Zaggy, behave", tsaka ko tinignan ng matalim ang ahas na nakahiga sa higaan ko.
"What a fun thing to say to a demon. Behave.. hehehe", binalewala ko nalang yung baliw na ahas at lumabas na sa room ko.
Sabi ko nga, five-minute walk lang ay nasa gate ka na ng academy. Marami na ring mga estudyante ang nandito at ilan sakanila nakatingin saakin. Ever since coming to this world, lagi nalang may nakatingin saakin. Hindi ba nila alam na nakaka-conscious? Anyway--
This is it, Alexandria. There's no reason to be nervous. All you have to do is not meet any of the main characters. Avoid them at all costs. Don't meet anyone, don't talk to anyone.
'In order for you to survive, let's just live quietly and peacefull--'
"Lady Alexandria".
Teka, kakasabi ko lang ng peacefully may tumatawag na agad saakin, ni hindi pa nga ako totally nakakapasok sa loob. Nakatayo pa rin ako dito sa may gate, nagmo-monologue.
Lumingin ako para tingnan kung sinong lapastangan ang sisira sa plano ko. "Lady Prim". Ano ginagawa ng chismosa na ito dito sa academy?!
"I'm surprised to see you here, Lady Prim. I didn't know that you are also entering the academy".
"Well, it's a last-minute decision. I wasn't interested in entering the academy at first, but something interesting comes up, now I am here".
Sus! Nahiya pang sabihin na gusto niya lang makakalap ng chismis about me first hand.
"I see. Then, shall we head inside?".
"It's an honor, Lady Alexandria", sabay kaming naglakad papasok ng academy at dumiretso sa Information Office para kunin ang aming class schedule. And on our way, a lot of people are looking at us. "Ugh, these people...", I muttered and it looks like Lady Prim heard me as she is giggling ear-to-ear.
"That's a normal reaction, Lady Alexandria. If you don't notice, you are quite popular and most people are curious about you". And that's the reason I don't like it. There's nothing interesting and worth curious about me.
"That's irritating".
"You say funny things, Lady Alexandria". And now I'm funny?
Nakarating na kami sa Information Office and asked the attendant for our class schedule na agad naman niyang binigay.
I checked my schedule and it only has 4 subjects. History, Ethics, Arithmetic, and Magic?
"The four subjects on your schedule are mandatory subjects. The minimum number of subjects you can take is about 6 subjects. As you can see on your list, there are blank spaces. You have the option to choose the other subjects you want to take it. Here is the pamphlet where you can choose from. Also, the club's list. And you need to submit this today", dagdag nung attentand.
Napansin ata niyang may malaking question mark sa aming mukha. Tinanggap naman ni Prim yung pamphlet.
"Excuse me but am I really obligated to take Magic class even though I have no magic power?".
"Yes, Miss Eveque".
"Tsk".
"How about we sit over there, Lady Alexandria", ani ni Prim. Pumunta naman kami doon at chineck ang pamphlet.
"It looks like we are in the same class, Lady Alexandria".
"Ha", too much for not talking to anyone.
"So what other subjects will you be taking, Lady--"
"Just call me Alex". Tinignan ko ang pamphlet at binasa ang mga subjects. Well, I need a class that's low-key. A class with no importance. Tsk, para namang may ganun. Let's just choose what a normal noble lady would do.
Tinignan ko si Prim na nakatunganga saakin. "Ah.. earth to Lady Prim?", tsaka ako nag-snap sa mukha niya. "Are you serious, Lady Alexandria?".
"Serious about?".
"Is it okay for me to call you, Alex?".
"Well yes", it's not a big deal for me. To others maybe, but to me it's fine.
"Then you can just call me Prim, Alex".
Kung anu-ano lang din pinag-usapan namin. More likely, kung anu-ano kinwento ni Prim. Ang daldal niya. Prim is not bad actually. Marami na rin akong na-encounter na katulad niya in my original world so I can handle her type in case may gawin siya saakin.
After long hours of pondering what subjects to take, nakapag-decide na kami. Magkaiba kami ng kinuha sa dalawang subject. She took Designing and Business Law. As expected for a daughter of a business-minded man like Count Devenney.
Mukhang seryoso siya though based on what she said earlier, she also didn't take the entrance exam but pay thousand of golds under the table.
Heh. Like what my parents did as to why I am here right now. Prestigious school my ass.
==================
Pagkatapos naming ipasa ang bagong class schedule namin ay nagpunta na kami sa magiging classroom namin.
As expected, marami na ang nandito at pagkapasok na pagkapasok namin ni Prim, ang kaninang mga nagdadaldalan ay biglang tumahimik.
"Let's sit on the middle, Alex", sinundan ko nalang si Prim at hindi pinansin ang mga bulungan sa paligid. Tatahimik din mga yan maya-maya. Umupo na kami sa pwestong napili ni Prim.
"This would do. We should be the center of the attention", tagging along with Prim was a bad decision. So much for living quietly.
"Why is the lady of the Eveque with the lady of Devenney?".
"I didn't know they were close".
"I heard they didn't take the entrance exam and just paid their way in".
"Sshhh! Shut your mouth. They might hear you!"
"But isn't it unfair though. Just because your family is rich and well-known things are always easy for you even without lifting a finger ".
"Sshhh. You're digging up your own grave".
"There are a lot of high nobilities that are ignorants. All they have is their pretty faces nothing more".
Ewan ko ba kung bulong ba yun or talagang pinaparinig nila sa amin ni Prim. Malinaw naman na kami yung tinutukoy nitong tatlong lalaking nakaupo malapit saamin.
Tinignan ko si Prim kung ano reaction niya at aba ang gaga nakangisi pa. Napangisi nalang din tuloy ako at tinignan yung mga nagbubulungan kanina. Nag-iwas naman sila ng tingin sa amin.
"Geez. The things jealous people say nowadays, right Alex?".
"Indeed. It's sad how some people are so jealous and intimidated that they can only say negative things to you to make themselves a bit better", I added.
"Instead of stooping on their level, let's just thanked them for admiring us because of our wealth and standing on the high society", tinignan ko ulit sila. "Thank you, jealous people, thank you", dagdag ko sabay ngiti sakanila.
Look at them grit their teeth. Siniko ko naman ng mahina si Prim, kung makatawa wagas akala mo hindi noble lady. "You're too kindhearted, Alex". Tumingin din si Prim sakanila. "Thank you, jealous people".
Langya itong Prim na ito. Pati rin tuloy ako natatawa.
Tinignan ko ulit sila at mukhang napahiya sila sa mga sinabi namin ni Prim. Pasalamat kayo yun lang sinabi ko dahil kalahati ng pinagbubulungan niyo kanina ay totoo. Eh ano ngayon kung hindi kami nag-entrance exam at nagbayad under the table? Kung inggit kayo, bat di kayo gumaya since anak sila ng baron. Though, mas mapera lang kami ng malayo.
At dahil sa nangyaring pagpaparinig kanina ay biglang tumahimik ang buong klase. Nasaan na ba yung magiging teacher namin sa History? Ang dami ng nangyari wala pa rin siya.
Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas ay may biglang pumasok na napakagandang babae. Naka-uniform din ito tulad namin. Tipid itong ngumiti sa lahat at umupo sa pinaka-harap.
Nagsimula nanaman ang mga tao sa pagbubulong-bulong. Ano ba itong mga tao dito, mga bubuyog. But isn't that girl too familiar? Brown hair and sky blue eyes. Hmm?
Wait? Brown hair and sky blue eyes?
That's the heroine! The female lead!
"It looks like Lady Charlotte will be our classmate", bulong saakin ni Prim and that just confirmed it. "Have you heard of her?", dagdag na tanong niya.
"I did. Her older brother found her recently, right?", sabi ko nalang kahit na alam ko ang buong pagkatao niya. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na magkaklase si Charlotte at Alexandria sa novel.
"I heard that she is a powerful water magic-user. She was blah..blahh blahh", at tuloy-tuloy sa pagkwe-kwento si Prim tungkol sa mga narinig niya.
Nadako ang tingin ko kay Charlotte.No wonder you're the heroine. You're too beautiful.
I approve of you Charlotte.
Even so, I won't approach you. I won't do anything to you. You can have your lovey-dovey moments with the male leads without me interfering.
Nagulat ako ng biglang lumingon ito at nagtama ang mga mata namin. Mukhang nagulat din siya at nahihiyang ngumiti sa akin. Nag-iwas ako agad ng tingin, sakto namang dumating ang magiging professor namin sa History.
Hoo! That was close.
==================
Lunch break na namin ngayon at kasalukuyan kaming kumakain ni Prim sa terrace ng cafeteria para may privacy kami.
After ng History class namin kanina, sumunod naman ang Ethics class na nagturo agad. May pa-pop quiz pa. Nawala lahat ang energy ko dahil dun.
"That professor is too much. Giving quiz on the first day!", at mukhang pati si Prim ay na-drain dahil sa biglaang quiz.
"I guess this is where we part ways since we have two different subjects", ani ni Prim. "If only you could also take the Designing and Business Law with me", dagdag pa niya.
" I have no talents in designs and I don't have plans participating in the world of businesses", sabi ko nalang kay Prim.
"Then see you tomorrow, Alex", naghiwalay na kami ni Prim ng daan. Tulad ng sinabi niya ay magkaiba kami ng klase ngayon. Yung dalawang subjects na idinagdag ko ay Literature at Archaeology. Hindi ko ito kinuha dahil interesado ako, kundi dahil mangilan-ngilan lang ang kumukuha sa subject na ito.
I can have my peace of mind here. Hehehehe...
Pumasok na ako sa magiging classroom ko sa Literature and as expected kaunti lang kami dito--
Anong ginagawa ni Charlotte dito?! Umupo muna ako sa bakanteng upuan malayo-layo sa iba kahit na nasa 12 na tao lang kami dito. Isa pa mukha akong tangang nakatayo sa harapan.
Think Alexandria. Think.
The more I think about it, hindi nabanggit sa novel yung dalawang subjects na kinuha ni Charlotte. Binanggit lang yung club na sinalihan niya, which is the art club. Hindi rin nabanggit yung mga klase ni Alexandria kasi hindi naman daw importante yun.
Kasalanan mo ito lahat, Isabelle. Magsusulat ka na nga lang, kulang-kulang pa!
Should I drop this class? But there is a reason why I also took this class. Natapos na lang ang Literature class ko na wala akong naintindihan. Ilang beses din akong tinawag ng professor, but I unconsciously glared at him.
I'm so sorry professor but my mind is flying right now. Please let it pass. I will listen and answer you next time.
Agad akong nagpunta sa next class ko which is Archaeology. Kaunti lang din ang tao dito and most of them are earth magic users. It makes sense for them compared to me na walang magic.
"I love bones?", tanging nasagot ko nalang ng tinanong ako kung bakit ako nandito at mukha naman silang na-weirduhan sa sagot ko.
Buti nalang at mataray ang mukha ko at walang nag follow up question.
Tapos na ang lahat ng klase ko for the day pero may last period pa which is the club activities. I sent an application to join the book club this morning. Siguro naman hindi pa required na magpakita doon noh? First day palang naman eh.
Babalik na ako sa dorm room ko. I'm so tired. Gusto kong humilata muna.
Pagkapasok ko sa kwarto ko...
"My lady!", bungad saakin ni Letty. "Zaggy is missing!".
Missing? "He's fine", baka naglibot-libot lang yun. Ibinagsak ko ang sarili ko sa higaan.
Heaven...
"But my lady, I haven't seen him since lunch", dagdag ni Letty na siyang nagpabangon saakin. I forgot the fact that Zaggy is not just a snake, it's a fricking demon!
"You stay here Letty and prepare a slice of raw meat in case he comes back. I will look for him in the academy. He may have wondered there", sana. Nagliwaliw lang sana siya at wala pang kinain na tao.
Lakad-takbo na ang ginawa ko.
"Zaggy?!"
"Where the hell are you, you damn snake!", I screamed telepathically. Tutal maririnig naman niya ako dahil kapag nagsisigaw ako dito baka pagkamalan akong baliw.
Halos nalibot ko na ang buong academy. Wala pa akong naririnig na nakitang patay na tao, so wala pang tinegi si Zaggy. Naku, naku, naku.
Ako kinakabahan sayo, Zaggy.
Kakahanap ko kay Zaggy, hindi ko namalayan na nasa may garden na ako at sa kamalas-malasan nga naman masasaksihan ko ang eksenang ito!
Agad akong dumapa at nagtago sa may pathway para hindi makita nila Chadwick at Charlotte. Buti nalang at walang tao dito at walang makakakita kay Alexandria Eveque na nagtatago sa kaniyang fiance.
Pinanood kong nag-uusap si Chadwick at Charlotte. This is really the novel.
"To think that I could witness this nonsense. What are they even talking about?".
"Just Chadwick introducing himself to the lady", napatango naman ako. So it's that part of the novel.
Wait? Who said that? Ngayon ko lang napansin na may nakatayo sa tabi at dahan-dahan itong nilingon.
"AAAHHH".
Agad naman akong napabangon at napahawak sa dibdib ko. That surprised me!
"What happened? Lady Alexandria? What are-- Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?", biglang lapit nila Chadwick at Charlotte.
Anu daw?
"I greet His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince", pagbati naman ni Charlotte.
Napatingin naman ako sa nakangiting lalaki sa tabi ko.
"EHH?! I mean, I greet his Royal Highness, the Crown Prince", sabay yuko ko.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SITUATION?!