Chapter 17. Trust
Aeon's POV
Nang makalabas ako sa cafeteria ay dumiretso ako sa pad. Marami akong dapat imbestigahan. Masyado na akong nagsasayang ng oras. I can't waste any more time, so I called T the moment I entered my pad.
"T" bungad ko sakanya.
"Hey, A" balik bati naman niya sa kabilang linya. "Need anything?" dagdag pa nito.
"I need you to investigate someone for me" agad kong sabi sakanya.
"Again?" he asks. "Yes. Again" sagot ko rin sakanya.
"How about the other one? I'm done with her, I'm just gonna send it to your email" aniya. Umupo ako sa kama saka ko sinimulang tanggalin ang sapatos ko. "Okay" tanging sagot ko sakanya.
"Who is it this time?" tanong niya.
"Holly Cassia Cozbi" banggit ko sa pangalan niya. "I want to know every detail about her, and when I say every detail, it means literally everything about her. Don't leave any tiny detail"
"Who is she anyway?" tanong nito.
"She's someone in the school" simpleng turan ko sakanya. Nang mahubad ko ang sapatos ko ay nahiga ako sa kama.
"Why do I feel like you're investigating every single person in your circle? Kulang nalang lahat ng tao sa eskwelahan mo ay paimbestigahan mo" natatawang sagot ni T sa kabilang linya.
"I can't trust anyone T" simpleng sagot ko.
"Yeah, I know that" turan naman niya.
"You don't know anything. Not the whole story at least" biglang pasok ng mga katagang yan sa utak ko.
"Okay. I'll just send-"
"Wait" I cut him off before he can hang up the phone.
"What is it?"
"I want you to investigate another one" mabilis kong sagot sakanya.
"What?" mukhang nagulat ko talaga siya sa tinuran ko.
"Viennathalia Evans" banggit ko sa pangalan ni Thalia.
"You really can't trust anyone, can you?" tanong niya. "No" simpleng sagot ko saka ko pinatay ang tawag. Trust. It's funny how this word can turn your world upside down, aside from love of course. I can't really trust anyone because anyone can be your enemy, that's why I need to investigate those three around me because I can't afford to trust them, I just can't.
I was dragged back to reality from my reverie nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto sa pad. I didn't bother to see who it is because I already know.
"Andito ka lang pala. Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap. Hindi kita makita sa classroom eh" bungad niya sakin. I glance at her saka ko binalik ang tingin ko sa kisame. I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone. Masyado na akong maraming iniisip. My mind is in turmoil this past few weeks.
"Bakit hindi ka pumasok kanina? May meeting tayo kanina" dagdag niya ng hindi ako sumagot. She really doesn't know when to shut up, does she?
"About what?" maikling tanong ko.
"About the ball. I'm super excited na" masayang sabi niya saka umupo sa gilid ng kama ko.
"What's there to be excited about?" I ask slightly annoyed. May nakakaexcite ba sa ball na yun?
"Aren't you excited to meet other people? Not to mention our ball's theme is quite intriguing" hindi parin maalis ang mga ngiti sa kanyang mga labi na aniya.
"I didn't enter this school to meet new people nor make friends with someone" walang pakialam kong sagot sakanya.
"Then what I am to you? What are we to you?" napabaling ako sa kanya ng mapansin kong nag iba ang tono ng pananalita niya. Nakita ko siyang nakayuko, nakatingin sa sahig at nakasimangot.
"You're someone in my class" I simply said. Nag iwas ako ng tingin ng mas lalo siyang sumimangot. Why is she so sad about it? It's the reality.
"Someone" she whispered but enough for me to hear it. Hindi nalang ako nagsalita.
"But at least I am someone, not a nobody or no one" basag niya sa katahimikang bumalot sa kapaligiran. I glance at her. May ngiti na sakanyang mga labi but I know better, that smile is fake because I always do that.
"Anyway, the theme for the ball is masquerade. Lalabas kami ngayon nila Thalia at Holly para magpasukat para sa susuotin namin, wanna come?" tanong niya saka siya tumayo sa pagkaka upo sa kama ko.
"Nah, I'm good" tanging sagot ko.
"Hindi ka ba pupunta sa ball?"
"Those aren't my thing"
"Oh, okay" aniya. Hindi ko na siya narinig na nagsalita pa. Hindi na rin naman ako nagtanong o nagsalita. Narinig ko nalang na bumukas at sumara ang pintuan ng banyo sa kwarto naming dalawa. Ilang minuto pa ay bumukas ulit ito at sumara. I can't see what she's doing but I can hear it.
"Lalabas muna ako" sabi niya pagkaraan ng ilang minuto. Tumango lang ako bilang sagot saka siya lumabas ng kwarto. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Hindi ko alam kung pupunta ako sa ball, it's not really my thing but maybe going is not a bad thing at baka may mapala pa ako sa ball na yun. Kailangan ko na ring kumilos at I need to investigate hindi puro nalang si T. I need to move and observe every movement that everyone on that ball makes even though the ball is only for freshman and transfer students. Sigurado akong pupunta ang mga importanteng tao sa ball na iyon.
Ilang minuto pa akong nakatitig sa kisame, nag iisip ng plano at kung anong susunod kong hakbang ng maalala ko ang sinabi ni T, kaya naman inabot ko ang laptop ko sa may bedside table, binuksan ito and then I opened my email, and there 1 email from T.
Name: Dark Angel Whitham;WB
Birthday:October 13, 1920
Age:147
Sex: Female
Address:Block 3, Neon Street, ABO Village
Parents: Mr. And Mrs. Alexander Whitham
Note: This is pretty much everything. I think you need to be careful around this one. She's a very mysterious and secretive person. There's no reason indicated in the database why she chose this school. I tried to pull some strings to dig deeper and you're not gonna believe what I've just found out. She was an agent at A5 known as Ace of five. I know you already know what A5 is, so be careful.
Yan ang nakalagay sa email na pinasa ni T. A5? What is an ex-agent doing in this school? A5 is known for its excellent and intelligent agents. It is an organization lead by 5 bosses. What the hell is she doing here? Is she still an intel? But T said 'was' so she's an ex-agent. There's only one way to find out. I should join that fucking ball so I could investigate her closer, so I called T, again. Pagkatapos ng ilang ring sa wakas ay sinagot rin niya ang tawag ko, pero hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita ay inunahan na niya ako.
"Don't tell me you're gonna make me investigate another one? Seriously A. Imbestigahan mo nalang kaya ang tao sa buong eskwelahan mo" bungad niya sakin. I just rolled my eyes.
"Duh, kung sana pinagsalita mo muna ako" may bahid na inis ang boses kong sabi sakanya.
"Oh. So you're not going to let me investigate?" sagot naman niya.
"Why do you sound disappointed?" nakakunot noong tanong ko sakanya.
"No, I'm not. So what do you need then?"
"Can you help me find a gown?" tanong ko.
"A gown?" nagtatakang tanong niya.
"Yeah, for that fucking masquerade ball. I decided to go so I could investigate more" sagot ko sakanya.
"Okay, I know someone who might actually help you. Meet me at our usual place, same time" aniya saka pinatay ang tawag.
*
Magtatakipsilim na nang makauwi ang tatlo sa kung saan man sila nanggaling at ngayon ay narito silang lahat sa kwarto namin ni Dark. So much for wanting peace.
"Anong kulay ang napili mong gown Thalia?" tanong ni Dark kay Thalia na nakaupo sa may sahig sa paanan ng kama ni Dark.
"I'm stuck between royal blue or navy blue. What do you think?" sagot nito sakanya. Dark stared at the space while thinking.
"Mmm, since your complexion is fair, both colors are suited for you, but I think navy blue will kill it" sagot naman ni Dark sakanya. Nakahiga lang ako sa kama at nakatitig sa kisame habang nakikinig.
"How about you?" tanong naman ni Thalia.
"Usually I'd go for princess style design and color but for now i'll choose maroon" nasisiyahang sagot naman ni Dark.
"And I know there's someone here that is more suitable for princess style" dagdag nito. Hindi ko alam kung sinong tinutukoy nila kaya sinulyapan ko sila at nakatingin silang dalawa kay Holly. I agree. Holly has this, delicate chaste but classy style charisma which is a princess-like.
Nahihiya namang ngiti ang tinugon nito sakanila bago nagsalita. "I'm actually torn between peach or apricot, white and sky blue"
"See?" Dark said then she wiggled her eyes up and down. Nakita kong sumulyap siya sakin dahilan para mag iwas ako ng tingin.
"How about you Aeon?" tanong nito sa akin. Tumingin lang ako sa kisame saka ko nilagay ang braso ko para takpan ang mata ko bago sumagot.
"Black" simpleng sagot ko. Naghintay ako ng ilang segundo sa sagot ng isa sakanila ngunit walang umimik. Thank god they didn't pry anymore.
Ilang minuto pa ng katahimikan ang lumipas bago nagsalita ang isa sakanila.
"Let's go. It's already 7, i'm starving" sabi ni Thalia saka tumayo sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig na sinundan naman ng dalawa. Bumangon narin ako sa pagkakahiga saka sumunod sakanila para pumunta ng dining hall.
Pagkapasok namin ng hall ay naghanap kami ng mauupuan. Ng makahanap kami ay agad kaming naglakad patungo rito at naupo pero bago pa kami makakain ay may biglang nagsalita sa harapan. Ang headmaster.
"So as you all know, two weeks from now we will be having our Acquaintance Ball, but this ball is for the freshman and transfer students only but don't worry sophomores, juniors, and seniors because there will still be events that you can attend and join in the future. So for this year's Acquaintance Ball's theme is Masquerade. We'll need your cooperation and the preparation will start tomorrow. Good evening and goodnight" anunsyo niya saka siya umalis sa poduim ng hall at nagtungo sa mesa para sa mga guro at iba pang staff ng eskwelahan.