Who I Really Am

FINAL CHAPTER

Chapter 34.

"Phyn, anong balita?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Maris sa kaibigan. Ilang linggo na nilang hinahanap si Jia ngunit tila ayaw na talaga magpakita ng kaibigan nila. Matapos ito lumipad paalis sa gubat ay alam nilang malabo na nilang makikita si Jia, pero wala sa bokabularyo nila ang sumuko. Isinakripisyo ni Jia ang kaniyang mga kaibigan at pamilya para iligtas si Alfee. 

"S-she's nowhere to be found." Nanghihinang saad ni Phyn. Bagsak ang balikat nilang lahat habang nasa loob ng training ground. Matapos ang labanan ay nakita na muli nila ang kanilang pamilya ngunit nawala naman si Jia sa kanila.

"Then we'll let her go." Tulalang sabi ni Alfee habang nakatingin sa kawalan. Nagpintig ang tainga ni Helix sa narinig. Hindi man lang niya nakita ang dalaga bago ito umalis, tapos titigil na agad sila sa paghahanap?

"She sacrificed herself for you! how could you give up on her! I wasn't able to see her for years! We can't give up on her!" Nag-aapoy sa galit na usal ni Helix habang hawak nang mahigpit ang kuwelyo ni Alfee. Ngunit walang reaksyon ang kausap niya at patuloy lamang itong nakatulala na tila may malalim na iniisip.

"No one said about giving up, That's the rule for her ability– sacrifice. If you truly care for her, you won't let her sacrifices be in vain." Alfee coldly said. He stood up and quietly left the room. Natigilan naman si Helix sa sinabi ni Alfee saka kalmadong napaupo sa sahig.

Silence filled the room. No one is talking, everyone is trying to think of a way to find their friend, their family. She didn't  die yet her disappearance caused them to feel grief. They didn't even bid goodbyes. 

"We will see her again." Napalingon ang lahat sa taong kakapasok pa lang.

"M-miss Reigna, did you see it?" Timothy hopefully asked their principal. Tuluyang pumasok si Reigna at naupo malapit sa Morbens.

"Yes, but I don't know when it will happen. At least we now know that we will see her again." Their face lit up at the thought of them seeing their friend again. She maybe away from them for now, but they know they will see her again. They will be complete again.

•••

4 months later.

"Mystique! Halika dito, 'wag ka malikot anak." Tawag ni Miguel sa batang may mapulang buhok at kulay asul na mata.

"Papa, naglalaro lang naman po kami ni Phoebe sa hagdan eh." The little girl pouts at her father. Natawa naman ang ama niya sa ginawa.

"I know, but you have to be careful, especially with your little cousin. Okay?" Paalala ng ama. Tumango lang naman ang bata at bumalik na sa kaniyang pinsan.

"It's been months, kamusta na kaya siya?" Someone talked beside him. It was his twin, they are both watching their child play together.

"I'm sure she's doing good. Jia's a fighter, remember?" Isang mapait na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ni Miguel nang banggitin ang mga salitang iyon. Naalala niya pa rin kung paano nilabanan ni Jia ang mga bully sa school nila ilang taon na ang nakalilipas.

Masaya nilang pinapanood ang mga anak nang may marinig silang pagbagsak. "What's happening?" Natatakot na tanong ni Mystique sa ama. Agad naman silang pinasama sa kanilang mga ina habang ang kambal ay pumunta sa labas ng bahay upang tignan kung anong nangyayari.

"What is that?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Nathan. Isang malaking bato na may gintong ribbon ang bumagsak sa tapat ng headquarters nila. Agad lumapit ang siyam kasama si Reigna.

Agad gumamit ng ability si Maris upang pa-angatin ang bato at tignan ang ilalim nito.

Natigilan silang lahat nang makita kung anong nakalagay sa ilalim ng bato.

It was a letter carved in the stone.

Welcome to Praeditus Academy, Morbens.

-J.A

Maluha luha si Pat at Maris nang makita ang initials ng sumulat. "This must be her." Naluluha sa tuwang usal ni Maris.

Agad silang naghanda upang tignan ang kanilang nasirang eskuwelahan. Dumaan sila sa portal na ginawa ni Phyn upang mabilis na mapuntahan ang kanilang destinasyon.

They all stand in awe as they see their ruined Academy is now again standing tall in front of them. There are some people walking around the campus.

Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad nang salubungin sila ng tatlong pamilyar na mukha.

"Madame Nympha, Sir Ophius, Sir Asron." Bati ni Reigna na tila inaasahan na ang mga pangyayari.

"Maligayang pagbabalik, Principal Reigna, and Morbens." Marahang yumuko si Sir Asron bilang pagbati sa kanila. The elders guided them inside the campus.

"P-pero paanong—" hindi natapos ni Liz ang kaniyang sasabihin nang magsalita si Sir Ophius.

"Jia found us in Netherlands three months ago, patawad dahil iniwan namin kayo sa gitna ng laban. Ginawa namin 'yon dahil alam namin na kaya niyo kahit wala kami. Kailangan maka-survive ng mga elders. Alam niyo 'yan." Paliwanag nito.

"So, it's indeed her." Nakangiting sabi ni Pat kay Maris habang naglalakad.

"She rebuild this place using her ability almost two months ago. She also find other praeditians and gather them here. Honestly, we did not expect her to be strong enough to build an entire school just using force telekinesis. Mind telling us what happened during the war?" Ani Madame Nympha. Wala naman ni isang sumagot sa kanila. Nagkatinginan lang si Reigna at Madame Nympha na tila nag-uusap gamit ang tingin.

"Anyway, she told us to give this to you before she left." It was a small cube with a note in it.

Open this at the open field, at night. :)

Nagtataka naman tinignan ng siyam ang cube na binigay sa kanila. Maya kaya pa ay inutusan na sila ng elders na bumalik sa headquarters upang kuhanin ang pamilya nila.

•••

"How do we open this?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Liz.

Kinuha ni Alfee ang cube sa kamay ni Liz at walang pasabing pinindot ang isang side ng cube.

The cube lit up and it opened. A golden hologram appeared above it with their pictures with Jia in it.

"J-jia..." Wala sa sariling usal ni Nathan. Hindi kailanman sila kinalimutan ng kaibigan sa kabila ng lahat. Kahit na hindi sila maaring magkita ay tinutulungan pa rin sila nito.

All of their pictures and memories together continue to show in the hologram. There a picture where they took inside the training ground, holding their weapons with their own crazy poses.

A picture from Jia's condo of them eating pizza in the living room while watching movies.

One inside cafeteria when Helix treat them a set G meal set with Irene.

All of them just stand there reminiscing every story behind every picture. And when the slideshow end, a letter appeared.

I will never forget you, I'm sorry if I have to make you forget me. I have to do this.

"No!" Sigaw nilang lahat saka tumakbo palayo.

Ngunit ilang metro palang ang layo nila ay biglang sumabog ang cube, emitting the golden mist from Jia's power.

~~ The End ~~