--
It's already 11pm at hindi ako makatulog. Iniisip ko kung bakit nawala sa utak ko ang mukha nung lalaking nag nga-ngalang Dalton kanina. Napa-masahe nalang sa sa sentido ko atsaka umupo galing sa pagkakahiga sa kama. After a seconds, I stood up, facing the window in my room.
Alam kaya nung naglagay ng spell sa akin na meron akong retentive memory? but how? I heaved a sigh and breathed deeply, I closed my eyes and embraced the feeling of warm hug that Aunt Jane was giving to me last week.
Cellphones are strictly prohibited in Parallel World, Rogue College. How so? Wala naman silang signal dito! so wala ring kwenta kung dadalhin ko ang cellphone dito. I was about to head to my bed to take a rest nang maalala ko ang wand ko. Naglakad ako papunta sa maleta ko at hinanap ang coat ko dati.
"Mabuti nalang, walang nakakuha sa'yo." Kinuha ko ang wand atsaka umupo sa kama. I don't have any idea why I am fishing out my wand. Maybe I missed it? I don't know. But one thing for sure is I need to keep it hidden. There's a carved name there, aside from my name, but I can't fully read it.
Kinuha ko ang wand na bigay ng Rogue before I place my old wand above the coat. I pull out the list of spells on the Rogue wand to seek for a spell that can turn my coat and wand visible but there's no such spell there.
I search for the notebook that Principal Spencer provided for me on the last day of the meeting at sinimulang hanapin ang spell na ginamit ko para sa kotse. Maybe it's better if I just magic it back on the car or dito nalang sa maleta ko? Aish. Kahit saan, Basta ang importante ay matago ko siya.
"Invisible, cacher cette chose sera sage"
Saktong-sakto naman na naging invisible ang maleta ko galing Blanche at ang wand ko nang may biglang pumihit ng doorknob. Napatingin ako sa orasan atsaka ibinalik ang notebook sa dating ayos. I had no time left to hang around!
I ran back to my bed, tucked myself with a blanket, and close my eyes. Rolex starts vibrating endlessly, mabuti nalang at nai-silent ko siya kanina sa campus hospital, kundi baka nabisto pa ang aking nagsasalitang relo. As an empath so I can feel that the door opens widely since tahimik ang kwarto and heavy footsteps heading inside my room.
What is this a survey? "Nasaan?" I manage to hold my breath, faking my sleep while I am listening to the conversation attentively.
"Diyan ko nakita kagabi." It's the Queen of the heart's voice. What the hell is happening? "Nasaan ang bag nitong, Batang 'to?" What? what are they going to do with my bag?
"Ito." I close my eyes while I am sensing everything inside my room. I wanted to open my eyes and stop what they were planning to do, but, my inner self told me to stop and just listen to their conversation.
"Wala namang coat dito, Sigurado ka ba sa sinasabi mo?"
"Oo, siguradong sigurado ako."
"Hmmm..." I fake moaned as if I am having a bad dream. The room went silent while I was turning my body on the other side where my bag and things are and slowly opened my eyes. And to my surprise, It's Sir Jielo together with Queens of Heart.
"Bakit po..." I asked in a husky tone. Yes, Hazel. Keep lying.
Wala pang isang segundo ay nabalik na sa ayos lahat ng gamit ko. I rub my eyes to see them clearly but my room is dark, that only the light from the moon in my window shed inside. "naabala ba namin ang tulog mo, iha?" Obviously, no need to ask.
"Ano pong hinahanap niyo?" I sit upon my bed stretching my arms. "I'll go ahead, Queen." Nag bow ng bahagya si Sir Jielo atsaka naglakad paalis. "Wala, iha. Matulog ka na ulit." I nodded my head and turned my back from them to go back to my fake sleeping state.
--
Sinundo ako ng boys sa dorm kaya napangiti ako. "Good Morning~" masiglang bati ni Walter. "Good Morning~ naging habit niyo na ata na sunduin ako ah?" Natatawang sabi ko atsaka ipinasok sa loob ng coat ang pink wand ko.
They both laughed, shoulder shakes when I said those words. "Eh sa gusto namin eh, at ayaw mo 'nun? may nag-susundo sa'yo? " Napatawa naman ako atsaka nauna nang maglakad sa kanila pababa ng hagdan.
I don't know if I should open up about what happened last night, maybe if I do, mas maganda kong sa isang pribadong lugar kami mag-usap. Aunt Jane is right, I shouldn't trust anybody here. Napatingin ako kela Walter and Victor, they are having fun teasing each other while we are walking in the hallway, towards the next building. Should I trust them?
"Mr. Rough?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon sa likuran. Again, Rolex starts vibrating and my pearl bracelet turns white. Why it always had to be, Mr. Arson? Alam kong ganun din relo ni Walter at Victor kasi nagkatitigan pa kaming tatlo bago siya naglakad papunta kay Mr. Arson.
"Yes, Mr. Arson?"
"Can I have a conversation with you," Mr. Arson throws a glance at Walter before he continues speaking. "Alone?"
Victor throws a glance at us and we simply nod and turn our back from them. "Nagvibrate din ba 'yung sa'yo?" Tanong ni Walter, tumango naman ako atsaka hineadlock siya. Para narin isipin ni Mr. Arson na hindi kami nakikinig sa usapan nila ni Victor.
"Araaay! Tara na ngaa!" I scream when he started tickling the armpit that makes me rushed to the edge of the hallway. Sumunod naman din kaagad si Walter atsaka inilagay ang braso niya sa balikat ko.
I feel so secure around them. I don't know why, when I meet them on the train, a smile plastered on my lips, it's like, I had known them for so long. You know, like childhood friends and such.
Late nang nakapasok si Victor sa classroom and he looks bothered again. I and Walter stared at each other, good for 10 seconds before I chose to poke Victor's shoulder. "Hoy. Okay, ka lang?"
He looked shocked at first, but I raised my eyebrow and blinked my eyes. He was about to answer when someone called his surname again. "Mr. Rough?" I gave him a signal to stand up and even though he's confused, he was left with no choice but to stand.
"Yes, Ms Rhea?"
"Can you tell me the four types of curse that are used to mortals?" I don't understand, why are they lecturing us about mortals? Are they pointing this topic to me? Because I am the only mortal left in this world? The confusion was drawn on my facial expression even, Walter himself saw it.
"I can read your facial expression, Hazel. Ms. Rhea is not pointing it out to you, it's for the hunters." I forced a smile and nodded my head. Still, hunters are mortal. And, I am a mortal.
"Pampers, Lampein, EQ and Cotri, Ms." Sagot ni Victor bago umupo pabalik sa upuan niya. He throws a glance at me, apologizing for answering Ms. Rhea's question which I don't mind at all cause his name was picked randomly.
"Mr. Rough is right. There are four types of curses that we can use to eliminate the hunters or mortals. The first one is, Pampers. Who would like to explain the pampers? Anybody in the class?"
"Ms!" We both looked around when someone participated and proceeded in front of the class. I swallowed the lump on my throat. I don't know his name and I have no plan to know it at all.
"Pampers is the type of wizards who have the ability to poison a mortal in a refreshing and easiest way, by dropping a deadly poison on someone's drink." So it's basically a Blue Wand Wizard's work. I remember, Principal King introduced the designation color.
"Perfect explanation. You noticed, Pampers is the first curse on the list because they are mostly performed by our, blue wanded humble wizards. They had poisoned multiple mortals in the past few years. The next on the list is Lampein." Again, she paused in the middle of the discussion to randomly call out someone. "Yes, Mr. Jamora"
"A-ako po?" Napatingin sa akin si Walter and I flashed a smile. Napakamot siya sa batok niya atsaka naglakad sa harapan. "Lampein Curse, wizards used to lure their victim, obviously a mortal..." Tumingin si Walter sa direksyon ko atsaka ngumuso.
"In the middle of the battle." Pagpapatuloy niya atsaka naglakad pabalik sa upuan niya. I sighed. Mabuti nalang pala at hindi ganun ka OA ang Lampein kumpara sa Pampers. "And who would like to explain, EQ?"
"Ms!" The moment I turned around, I just simply look down. "Go ahead Mr. Arson."
"Are the wizards who are half wolves, like me, who like to eat fresh mortals..." I turned my head and I swallowed the lump on my throat when Keith was walking towards my direction, placing his both hands on my table.
Agad na inilabas ni Walter at Victor ang kanilang mga wand atsaka ito itinutok kay, Keith. "And can curse the mortals, and transform them into a house decoration." I can't look away from his gaze, he was staring at me eagerly, licking his lips with his tongue. I just simply gulped and maintained my posture.
"Go back to your seat, Keith." Ma-awtoridad na sabi ni Victor, tumingala lang si Keith sa kanya bago bumalik sa upuan nito sa likuran.
"Okay, ka lang?" I clutched my chest, taking a deep breath. When Walter asked me a question. He grabs his bottled water and gave it to me. Wala naman na akong nagawa kundi ang kunin ito at inumin. My hands are shaking, my mind completely messed up for a moment.
Victor gently rubs my back and heaves a sigh. "Okay, that was intense. And the last one is Cotri, Cotri is universal, all wizards have the authority to curse a mortal. Mostly, they are the ones who love to torture a mortal, mentally, and physically. They are the wizards who like to play with mortal's emotions."
After the class, dumiretso kami sa field. Nakatingin lang ako sa kawalan habang itong dalawang kasama ko ay nag uusap tungkol sa lesson kanina. I am spacing out rn, I don't even have any idea what am I thinking right now. "Hazel..."
"HAZEL!" I almost jump out of the bleachers when Walter screams my name in my left ear. "No need to shout," I hissed upon fixing myself. "Anong no need to shout? Kanina ka pa tulala. Kanina mo pa rin hinawakan 'yang wand mo," I look down at my hand and Victor is right, I am still holding my wand.
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako atsaka umiwas ng tingin. "Last night, Sir Jielo sneak inside my room," I stated. I turn my body to face them and they both looked into each other. "Why?" I asked confusedly.
"In our room too." Ika ni Walter, "Nagising ako mga bandang ala-una ng umaga. May hinahanap silang coat."
"Wait- roommate kayo?" It didn't look like they were roommates, my first impression was that they were just friends. "Oo?" They answer with a nod and cupped my both cheeks, frowning my brows deeply
"Sa tingin niyo? Ano kaya ang hinahanap nila?" I asked out of the blue. I really had a mini heart attack last night. I thought they were looking for my wand, but these boys just enlightened my mind.
"I am not yet sure, but I think they are searching for the maps." I frowned. The maps? Yung map na binigay ni Principal King at President Mal ng Supreme Student? "How did you come up with that conclusion?"
"King of heart, lift up my pillow and he keeps on saying, 'where is the map?' repeatedly." Bulong ni Victor sa amin. "Geez. Kaya din pala ga'non nalang hablutin ni Sir Jielo ang kumot ko. Mabuti nalang, Hindi ako nag jajack-" I throw a deadly glare towards Walter and smile. "-stone. Mabuti nalang 'di ako nag jajackstone nun!"
"Oo nga pala, Ano yung pinag-usapan niyo ni Mr. Arson kanina?" Tumingin sa amin si Victor atsaka mabilisang umiling. "No, you don't have to know, Hazel. I'm sorry." I guess it's that private.
"Okay lang, 'nu ka ba!"
"I'll go to the cafeteria, magta-take out nalang ako. Dito lang kayo ah." Tumango ako sa sinabi ni Walter bago siya nagpaalam na umalis.
Nang maka-alis na si walter, tumayo ako para ayusin ang suot kong coat atsaka kinuha ang pink wand ko. "Do you want me to teach you, spells? I'm sorry, I can't" Tumayo din si Victor atsaka inilabas ang kanyang brown wand. "but we can have a brawl"
"Well, ano bang mga alam mo--"
"fermez cette bouche pour la fermer!"
Tiningnan ko ng masama si Victor atsaka iwinagayway ang wand ko. I can't speak my spell out but I can still think of it. "With this spell, I hereby say, turn this man in a hilarious way!"
I pointed the tip of my wand at his foot as I watched when his normal foot turned into a cat foot. After doing that to him, I also pointed out the tip of my wand on my lips and smiled widely.
"Come on, Victor Rough, give me what you got" Ngumisi si Victor, pointing his wand too on his feet to revise my spell, we looked into each other's eyes intimidatingly while I pointed my wand in his direction and the same goes with him.
"Farcical!" He shouted, my eyes widened when I felt my face with a mustache. What the hell did he just do?!
"Slapsoil!" I screamed, pointing the edge of my wand in his direction, and laughed loudly when a plant grew above his head.
Tiningnan ako ng masama ni Victor and I can sense his anger now. Well, the spell I use is... How should I say this? I don't know! I'll just say it. "abracadabra, fais de cette fille un anaconda!"
"HOY!! ANONG GINAGAWA NIYO!?" Hindi na natapos ni Victor ang spell niya dahil biglang dumating si Walter. Tinawanan niya lang kaming dalawa kaya napanguso ako.
"Bakit ka may bigote, at, Bakit ka may, Halaman sa ulo?" I giggled and pointed the tip of my wand towards Victor to revise my spell and he also did the same.
"Siya nauna!"
"Yeah yeah, me first." Natatawang wika ni Victor atsaka inakbayan ako nang makalapit siya sa akin, atsaka kami sabay na naglakad papunta kay Walter. "Sayang, wala ako!"Napairap nalang ako sa kanya at umupo sa harapan nila para simulang kumain.
Mabuti nalang at kaming tatlo lang dito. Wala masyadong nakakita sa ginawa naming kalokohan ni Victor. I just continue on eating, so do the two. We discuss some stuff especially about the Map that Sir Jielo and the king and queen of heart pursue. They discuss some connections that they concluded from last year that again, didn't relate to my appearance, but good friend Walter spells out some scenarios that I can relate to.
Just like this moment when he said one of their friends, I can't recall her name was kidnapped but some conclude that she was poisoned during their lunch break, way back their elementary school status. Nobody, even the two don't have any idea who is the one behind the poisoning or kidnapping, but they are confident it's not from the blue wand wizards.
Until now, the mystery of their former friend remains a mystery.
I don't have any idea how they cope up with it. But, I am proud that they remained strong. "That's why, kahit anong mangyari, proprotektahan ka namin! Ngayon pa naka red ako at brown si Victor?" Iwinagayway nila ang kanilang mga wand atsaka ngumiti ng malapad. "I can handle myself too, though. Kailangan ko lang ng seryosong practice."
They both shook their heads. Victor chews the food inside his mouth first before pointing his wand to me. "No! We will protect you at all costs!" I pointed to the corner of his lip, there's a stain of food there while he is--- what should I call it? Scolding me?
"Why protect me, when you guys can teach me?" I raise my brows before I continue eating, glancing at the two of them. "I need to be one of the Supreme Student first before I can teach you mahirap kasi kung normal na estudyante ka lang, Yung mga itinuturo ng ibang instructor sa'yo ay, Hindi mo magagamit sa self-defense." That makes sense. Kaya naman pala puro kalokohan ang itinuturo nila sa amin.
"And you're pointing out?" Tanong ni Victor kay Walter. Nilunok muna ni Walter ang kinakain niya bago sagutin ang tanong ni Victor. "Kung ayaw ni Hazel na protektahan natin siya kasi iniisip niya na kaya niya ang sarili niya, mas maganda kung tutulungan natin siya hindi ba?" What the hell is he talking about?
"Of course. Tuturuan niyo ako ng spells na mga, Alam n'yo. Duh." Rolling my eyes, I go back on eating without glancing at them. What he said at first makes sense and now? It becomes a mess, nagkaka ramble ramble na. "Huh? Eh, Hindi naman 'yun ang ibig kong sabihin. Victor is already part of the brown wand group, the group of wizards who are good at manipulating students and they had a lot of knowledge when it comes to spells and magic already, so mas may advantage siya sa ating dalawa."
"And also, it was written in the book 'So cool, so good' that all colors who are in the highest position are not allowed to share their knowledge with a mere student." He continues. "You mean, us?" I asked, pointing to myself and himself. Tumango naman si Walter atsaka pinagpatuloy ang naudlot nitong pagkain. Now that makes more sense.
I remember what Principal King told me the other time.
"Yellow, students who use yellow are the supreme students. I know it's quite new to you knowing that this is a Parallel World and we are still having supreme students. It is to maintain the peacefulness of the school. Away from harm."
So that means? If we run for Supreme Students, we will know how to revise spells, and have more knowledge and skills? "Perfect!" I snapped when Victor spoke kaya napatingala ako sa kanya, He was smiling ear to ear. Now I finally understand why he chooses to protect me rather than teach me. It's against their rule.
--
We have only had 2 classes today and right now, the boys are dragging me somewhere-I-don't-know. "Where are we going ba kasi?" I puckered my lips, letting my petite body dragged around with these two boys.
"You need to see this!" If only he's not gripping my wrist tightly, I would've choked Walter. Kanina pa nito sinasabi na 'you need to see this' But, I literally saw nothing. "Dahan-Dahan naman! Ayokong mabali ang kamay ko sa higpit ng pagkakahawak niyo." I keep on blurting out to them but they don't care at all. Konting konti na lang at mauubos na ang pasensya ko sa dalawang 'to.
"Shhh! quiet."
"Ano ba! Let go nga--" I put on my straight face when they choose to shut me up using the shut-up spell.
"Abarakadabva!" My eyes squint, did we just peek on a training ground? Everybody is wearing their witch hat and practicing their spells. My eyes widened when a pumpkin turns into an owl, the owl flies away probably hiding in the trees. I just realize we are in the eye of the forest.
"You wave your wand wrong, do it this way, Abarakadabva!" I keep on squinting my eyes, The Supreme Student named Mr. Mal is the one who is teaching them. I must conclude, this is a training group for Supreme Student's officers.
On the left side, I can unmistakably see Keith, practicing his spell on a crow. Poor crow, what is he planning to do with the crow? turns it into a zombie?
"Abrakadabhra!" Abrakadabhra? Why are they voicing out similar spells but different outcomes?
"The spell depends on how you pronounce it. When I said abrakadabra! I can produce an arrow or bow or anything that I am visualizing to produce. When I pronounce, abarakadabhra, I can turn a living thing into a rock, diamond, or gold. It always depends on how you pronounce a spell, that's why practice makes everything perfect. You can't just simply, cast a spell and then it turns to what you wanted." Victor explained. I wonder how he knew that something was bothering me?
"Your facial expression says it all-"
"WHO'S THERE?" Walter pulled me to his side as we hid on the big trunk of the tree, covering my mouth- wait, covering my mouth? There's no use covering my mouth, remember, they used a shut-up spell on me! These bastards!
I looked around and Victor in front of me, giving me a hand signal to keep quiet. Sickhead. Even if I literally scream, nobody can hear me. My mouth is zipped.
"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?"
uh-oh...