COPULA TRILOGY: Her Vengeance

Frame #13: His Spree

[Chapter Thirteen: His Spree]

I was alone after my father died. I picked up pieces of myself ever since that day, especially after being recruited to train under Copula. I overworked myself despite people telling me to take a break, taught myself things that I eventually needed to learn in life, and became something that I needed to be.

I despise being picked on. I despise people looking at me with pity, with sympathy, with the weakness that they thought they were seeing in me.

I hated relying on someone and even accepting their help. It was something I made myself not get used to. But those changed when I met Acrid. She made me feel safe, like I could be fragile around her...which I was...which I'm regretting I did.

My wall was down, but after that incident, it came back to its normal height. I became afraid to trust anyone, afraid to let my guard down again, and afraid to let someone enter my life.

This mission was just temporary. This was made so I could wander myself as I waited for the headmistress to go back. This was supposed to end on the exact day that I was told to end, the day after this day. I still have a day to figure something out, to look for something that can help these people living inside this place.

But after hearing those words...words I'm not even sure if the headmistress really said, it made me quite mad, and it frankly came from an ordinary student's mouth.

I slapped him without breaking any eye contact. Sa sobrang lakas no'n ay nag-iwan iyon ng pulang marka sa kaliwa niyang pisngi. I have no idea why I did that. It wasn't even an instinct of mine. Due to his sudden announcement, I slapped a kid, but he didn't move a muscle. He just stood there while his left cheek was all red.

"Umalis ka na," blankong utos ko.

I frowned when he started digging his hand in his right pocket while still staring at me emptily. May kinuha siyang papel mula sa bulsa niya at agad niya 'yong tinapon sa harapan ko.

"If you're still doubting about it, then I might say you're the stupidest spy I've ever seen in my life."

Nilisikan ko siya ng tingin bago pinulot ang papel sa sahig. I automatically opened it and read it out loud in front of him. I wanted him to hear it from me so he could be embarrassed.

"Mr. Nowen Fontenelle, I apologize if I disturbed you during your school hours. But yes, I am letting my child go from her mission in your place." Kumunot ang noo ko at ilang segundong huminto. Muli akong nagbasa pero sa pagkakataong ito ay mahina na ang boses ko. "You're free to guard Miss Salvia for the sake of my child's mission, and I hope you'll do well for the clan of Salvias to be safe. Apologies again, Mr. Fontenelle. Intelligence Officer Eris Dacheu is free to leave the place."

Kumawang nang kaunti ang bibig ko at napatitig sa papel.

Sincerely,

Headmistress

I slowly looked up to him. Inipon ko muna ang sarili ko bago nagsalita nang hindi pinapahalata na parang nahugutan ako ng tinik sa nabasa ko.

I took a sharp inhale before talking. "And how could you tell? Everyone could easily fake someone's signature and letter." I lied. I saw a familiar stamp, which belongs to the headmistress herself. Since she's still under investigation by the Copula, she still can't bring the title "Director" with her.

He scoffed and playfully grinned at me. Parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"See? You're the stupidest spy in the world."

Tumagilid nang kaunti ang ulo niya at nang-aasar na nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. "If only you were one of Witwicket's men who's infiltrating this place, baka unang kita ko palang sayo sa cafeteria, pinatay na kita." She smiled fakely. "And it could make my day to see you losing all of your blood."