Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: Ravens and Doves

"Why did you said those things? You hurt her feelings you know," she said while I'm returning my books in my locker

Pagkatapos ng nangyaring sagutan sa may lobby at dahil wala naman kaming propesor sa huling klase, ngayon lang ulit ako nalapitan ni Ainslee. She's been busy with her responsibilities and with Rianne who held a grudge now against me because of that fight. She had time to confront me now because her locker is placed beside mine at nagkataong pareho kaming naandito.

Ipinapatuloy ko lang ang pagbabalik ng mga gamit na hindi ko naman kailangan iuwi at itinira lang sa bag ang mga kakailanganin ko. Hinarap ko sya ng matapos kong isara ang locker.

"She's too soft to be in a cruel world. She's not living in a world full of happiness and contentment. She will not always meet good and friendly creatures because there's no such thing like a perfect world, perfect people and all." They're so innocent with what this world could bring to them. They're so naive, pure and kind. And I hated it. "I don't need someone in my life."

Nanatili nakatitig ang kulay tsokolate nyang mga mata saakin, inaanalisa ang bawat sinabi ko. "You just said all of those because you're scared. You're scared to trust someone," she concluded.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako at naglakad na palayo. Hindi na nya ako hinabol pa kaya napahinga ako ng maluwang.

Trust. It's just a one word but it can change your life into something. Once it was broken, you can put the pieces in their places but it will never be the same again. Worst, you can never have it back.

Masyado pang maaga para umuwi kaya napagpasyahan kong manatili nalang muna sa hardin pero may nauna na saakin. Aalis nalang sana ako nang marinig ko ang isang pangalan mula sa kanilang usapan.

"We need to find her as soon as posible. She's awakening. Her presence is getting stronger which means she's back. We can't let them have her in their hands. Find Eclipse, and bring her to me," tila isa iyong utos ng isang pamilyar na boses kaya mas lumapit pa ako sa lokasyon nila habang nagtatago sa mga malalagong halaman.

Nakita ko sa grupo nila si Cynthia at ang ilang mga pamilyar na mukha dahil ang ilan sa kanila ay kaklase ko. Ang sikat na sikat na grupo sa paaralang pinapasukan ko ay nagtitipon sa isang tagong lugar para maghanap ng isang tao?

"But how could we find her if we didn't have any idea how she looked like or something?" Narinig kong tanong ng isa sa kanila. They're searching someone they didn't meet before. How unfortunate.

Nagbulong-bulungan naman ang lahat dahil sa tinanong ng kasamahan nila. Nang tingnan ko si Cynthia, she was thinking deeply, anxious. Gone with the confident Cynthia I first saw.

Pinatahimik sila ng isang lalaki. Nakatalikod ito saakin pero pamilyar ang matipunong bulto ng katawan nito at mas nakumpirma ko kung sino iyon nang magsalita itong muli. "Then just rely on the presence for now. We will do our best to search for something that might help us to find her easily," kalmadong ani ni Lune. Of course, it would be their rude leader.

That's it, now I know why they're here. It's really odd when there are more than ten transferees came in the academy, who know each other. This is their mission, to find someone. But I wonder if what's their reason but it's not my bussiness to interfere with their affairs.

I slowly walked away in the scene before anyone notices me. But I stopped when Cynthia talked. "She has a silver tattoo of an eclipse in her shoulder."

Napalingon sa kanya ang lahat, pati na rin ako. Mababakas ang gulat sa gwapong mukha ni Lune na agad napalitan ng pagkainis. "Why didn't you tell us if you know something?" Umirap lang sakanya si Cynthia at nakahalukipkip na humarap sa lider nila.

"Nalaman ko lang din ngayon. Nakakuha ako ng impormasyon sa--" Hindi na naituloy ni Cynthia ang sasabihin ng marinig nila ang malakas na bell ng paaralan, indikasyon na tapos na ang lahat ng klase. Mabilis na rin akong lumayo sa lugar na iyon para hindi na ako mahuli pa.

The sun was already setting below the horizon, painting the skies in pink, red and orange hues. It was a long tiring day.

I'm taking my time to walk to return home. Our house was build in the secluded area of the western part of the town. We still have neighbors but it could only be counted in my fingers.

It was almost nightfall when I saw our house from afar, still with no lights. They're still in the town's square probably. Nagmadali na akong naglakad pero bago pa man ako makapasok sa gate, may mga ibon na nagsiliparan patungo sa direksyon ko.

It was a group of ravens which is flying in circles above me, when another group of birds came and joined the ravens. Doves.

It was actually a sight to see, having this two different birds flying together in circles above this almost abandoned street with the starry sky. They continued to fly in circles, almost enveloping the whole place with their whistles of sirens until one of the ravens and doves drop off in the ground, lifeless.

Dread slowly entered in my system. Ravens. Doves. Death.

Someone will die soon.

•••

EclipseTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon