Storm Academy: Tale of Falsities

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter 33: Broken Barrier

It's been a week after the physical exams. It's sad that we didn't win but I'm truly happy for the winners. Dahil hindi man kami ang nanalo, nagkaroon naman ako ng bagong kaibigan. Zarriette sometimes hangs out with us and we actually hang out often if I go to the psychokinesis classes. Ngayon ay kasama ko lang si Calla para bumili ng tubig bago pumunta sa library.

Hindi na araw-araw ang pasok namin at mula 9 hanggang 5. We just spend three to five hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to hone our skills and abilities. A lot has changed, even our uniforms.

From vests and skirts to navy blue slacks, light blue long sleeve polo, and a navy blue suit embedded with gold outlines and the school emblem. Para kaming nagtatrabaho sa corporate world dahil sa uniform namin. Our whole body is covered, so it's sometimes hot. Ang iba pa nga ay tinatanggal ang suit dahil sa init, ngunit may ibang professors na dapat ay kumpleto ang suot namin lagi.

We have about seven professors in those classes to help us nurture our abilities. Syempre ay sa limang oras na 'yon, kung ano lamang ang abilidad mo ang pinag-aaralan mo, but well... your girl is handling a lot.

Paminsan ay kulang pa ang tatlong araw para maintindihan ko lahat lahat, kailangan ko pa paminsan na sumali pati sa mga nag-aaral ng martes at huwebes. Those five hours is divided into different abilities. Ngayon ay kakatapos lang namin ni Calla sa mind manipulation. Pareho kaming bibili ng tubig ngunit hindi na kami magkapareho ng pupuntahan pagkatapos. I'll head to the library to search for ZS, which was long overdue, and she's going to her safe haven.

"Bye Callabears..." Tumalikod na ako at dumiretso papunta sa library. I'm determined to search for anything about ZS, be it its shoe size or favorite color, anything! Pero mas gusto ko na malaman ang meaning ng acronym na 'yon. Could it be another Smith?

I sighed and entered the library. Ako lang ang tao maliban sa mga natutulog sa gilid gilid. They're making it seem so imperceptible by hiding it but it's actually becoming more obvious. Dumiretso ako sa Historical Names section at inisa-isa ang mga subsections.

"ZS...ZS...ZS," I chanted for the nth time. Nasa pang-apat na palapag na ako ngunit ni isang ZS ay wala akong nakita. I continued looking for it even on the other sections. Napaupo ako sa frustration ng marating ko na ang pinakasulok at walang kahit anong ZS akong nakita. Tinaas ko ang mga tuhod ko at ipinatong ang ulo at braso ko.

"Who's ZS?"

"Someone I need." I said without thinking. Napa-angat ako ng tingin kay Jerome at nagtataka siyang tinignan.

"How did you know about ZS?"

Ngumisi lang siya at umiling. "Everybody would've known who ZS is if you keep on chanting it on every aisle you go." Napakurap ako at nahihiyang tumawa. Was I that loud?

"You didn't see anything related to that?" Umiling ako at bumuntong hininga. Humilig ako sa shelf at nagulat ng biglang umusog ito. Tumayo ako at tinignan ang kabuuan ng shelf. Is this a secret shelf? Or was it just wobbly? Tinignan ko si Jerome at umiling lang siya sa akin.

He pushed it altogether and it swiftly slided to a secret room. My lips parted and looked around, was this well known? Walang tao dito maliban sa amin. Surely Jerome was here to take a nap and I woke him up. Who would go here when it's out-class activities?

Nauna siyang pumasok at hinintay ako. I stared at him and I knew I looked like I didn't want to go. Paano kung ma-trap kami diyan o may nakakatakot na bagay na nandiyan? He sighed and was about to go out when I stopped the shelf.

"W-Wait lang naman!"

He impatiently waited for me so I had no other choice but to enter the dark secret room inside the bookshelf. He created fire in his palms to create light. He illuminated the whole room.