Ang Boyfriend Kong Black Smoke

CHAPTER 17 - LIBRARY

POV HAILEY

RAYAH and Xyder already created our schedule for the day and they call it the DETOUR or The Deadly Tour. Deadly daw kasi buong araw kaming maglalakad paikot sa CRAM.

"Just remember, kung may mass gathering, nasa first and second floor lang ito ng CRAM. All of the huge halls are located there. Our next destination is The CRAM Library," sabi ni Rayah at bumaba kami sa fifth floor ng CRAM building.

Naglakad kami sa corridor at binuksan niya ang isang white French door na may transparent glass. Tanaw namin mula dito sa loob ang isang malawak na greenfield na may lawa sa gitna.

"Rayah, how is this possible? Nasa fifth floor tayo ng CRAM building?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Magic, my dear. Ang bawat pinto sa loob ng CRAM ay magdadala sa'yo sa mundo na gawa ng mahika. Are you excited to go to The CRAM Library?"

Tumango lang kami ni Maiko at pumasok kami sa pinto. Para kaming napunta sa isang malawak ng golf course na may maraming puno. Mukhang tama si Rayah dahil may araw ang lugar na ito. Mukhang nasa iba nga kaming mundo na gawa ng magic.

"The CRAM Library is located in the middle of the lake. Maraming mga estudyante na tumatambay dito," sabi niya sabay turo sa mga estudyante na nasa ilalim ng puno.

"So this whole green field is part of the CRAM library?"

"Yes, and it is always sunny and windy here," sagot ni Rayah sabay turo sa wooden port sa may lawa.

Lumakad kami papunta sa wooden port at bago namin marating ang dulo ay napansin ko na ang parang water-like transparent portal. Sigurado ako na ito na ang entrance sa The CRAM Library.

Pagpasok namin sa loob ng portal ay tumambad sa akin ang isang malawak na circular library na may dome-shaped ceiling. May circular balcony din ito kung saan may mga ilang estudyante na naglalakad.

"The CRAM Library has 12 terminals that serve as magical computers. You just need to enter some keywords and the number of books that you would like to borrow. The CRAM library will provide you a copy of the book that you need. No need to return it as this will disintegrate after a certain duration. The maximum time that you can borrow a book is only for one week," sabi ni Rayah.

Naglakad si Rayah at si Xyder kasama si Maiko paikot sa circular balcony ng library. Si Thade naman ay sinubukan buksan ang isang library terminal.

It is like a normal computer except the keyboard and the monitor are made of glass, similar to high-tech and advanced sci-fi movies.

Nag-type si Thade sa keyboard at ilang saglit pa ay nag-materialize ang isang libro palabas ng glass monitor.

"Magical and non-magical books can be found here in the CRAM library. Name it, we have it. Even research papers were uploaded to our server. I would suggest reading this book. It was written more than fifty years ago," sabi ni Thade sabay bigay sa akin ng isang black book.

"Thade, this is a fantasy book. At ang cheesy ng title ah? Mummy Vampire?"

"Well, if you would like to know more about our Uncle Mason, you can start with that."

"Vampire ba dati si Mason?"

"That is the story of his parents, my great grandparents. Whoever wrote that clearly knows a lot about us. Good thing, it is in the fantasy fiction section."

Tinanggap ko lang ang libro na ibinigay ni Thade at itinago ko sa loob ng aking coat. If I want to know more about myself, I might as well read about Mason's parents who are definitely not from this world.

"Our tour in the library is almost over, but we will end this with a blast," sabi ni Xyder sabay turo sa exit door.

"Queen X, saan tayo next pupunta?"

"I like that, Queen X! Sa library pa rin tayo pupunta, but we are going to the restricted section."

"Restricted? Hindi ba bawal doon?" nag-aalala na tanong ni Maiko.

"Bawal pumunta sa restricted section kung may makakakita sa'yo."

Itinaas ni Xyder ang kanyang dalawang kamay na parang may sina-summon na isang magical being sa kung saan.

"Mirror mirror on the wall, make us invisible of them all," bulong ni Xyder na niyaya kami na lumabas sa exit portal door ng library.

Pagkalabas namin ay bumalik kami ulit sa wooden port, pero napansin ko agad na transparent ang braso ko. Kahit si Xyder, Rayah, Thade at Maiko ay invisible din, pero naaaninag ko lang sila ng bahagya.

"Did you cast an invisibility spell?" bulong ko kay Xyder sabay iwas sa isang estudyante ka kasalubong ko na mukhang hindi nga ako nakikita.

"We call it Area Spell. A spell that has an effect on a large area. In our case, the invisibility spell was casted on the five of us."

"Hindi naman ito forbidden spell?"

"Nope, my dear. Pero walang estudyante sa CRAM ang nakakagawa nito kundi ako, si beshie Rayah at si Thade. I don't know why, but based from our research, our pinoy ancestors during pre-Spanish period are fucking great and talented witches and wizards. And their expertise? Invisibility Spell. Not available in history books, of course," sagot niya sa akin.

Lumakad kami sa may tabing lawa, pero kapansin pansin nga na hindi kami tinitignan ng ibang estudyante.

"Brace yourself, babies! We are now going to the Restricted Section of the CRAM library, which is totally awesome!" sabi naman ni Rayah.

Sa pagkakaalam ko, kapag restricted, delikadong lugar, pero mukhang isang dangerous at exciting trip ang ginagawa namin.