The Dawning of Cosmos

3

Ria.

We're heading to the city. We took off around 5 AM. Malayo pa ang Capital sa amin.

Our town, Diosne, is about 5 hour travel before we reach Sienna, the Capital of Cietel.

Kasama namin si Alio, Alliyah ang nakakatanda nitong kapatid at ang kanilang Ina na si Nanang Maria. Si Alliyah ay 12 taong gulang, mabait ito at masayahin at hindi mo maitatangging magkapatid sila ni Alio.

We're riding a train which is very convenient for us. If we can't ride a train we use horses but it will take more than 7 hours to the Capital.

The train has a six-person cabin. Katabi ko si Inang at Yulian na parehas tulog sa aking balikat at kaharap namin si Nang Maria, Alio, at Alliyah na natutulog din.

I want to sleep to but I can't, obviously.

Huwag sanang mangalay ang mga balikat ko.

We reached the Capital after 5 hours of travel, we bid good bye to Nang Maria, Alio, and Alliyah. They are in a boarding house near the school, while us, we're going to ride a coach to reach our house.

We went out of the train station and we are welcomed by the overwhelming population of Sienna.

There are flowers everywhere. Ah. The spring season is coming and the Capital always celebrates it as it is a sign of good fortune.

There are so many people, mostly are like us, they came from their own towns for the opening of classes.

There are floating things everywhere. People always use their abilities to lighten their work. Everyone is blessed with the ability to lift things without touching it, known as telekinesis. This ability is not use for harm. If you happen to use it in harming others, the higher up will seal your abilities so you cannot use it. That's one of the reason why the crime rate of this city is low which is the same in Prianka, the sister country of Cietel.

"The hue of the house changed! It was brighter and much comfortable!" Yulian exclaimed when we reach our house. Inang said that he asked someone to clean our home and paint it with dirty cream and sage green.

It's so homie!

"Mabuti at nagustuhan niyo, siya at magligpit na kayo at Yulian, hinaan mo ang iyong boses kapag ginagamit ko ang lengguwaheng iyan, hindi mo gugustuhing tumungo sa konseho dahil diyan," sabi ni Inang na ikinatango ni Yulian.

Uvi, a language that is mostly used only by the higher ups. It takes a lot of talent to understand and speak it fluently. Most of the people who use this language are taught when they are still kids. It is a hard language to use and even learning it is hard especially in comprehending.

People who does not belong to the nobles are not allowed to use it in their daily living, the council did not elaborate, but if inside a learning facility such as the schools, it can be use when you know how to use it. None other than that, it is prohibited.

"Inang, pupunta ako sa botika ni Nong Karyo, ibebenta ko ang nga halaman ko," paalam ko kay Inang at tumungo na papunta sa botika.

Si Manong Karyo ang isa ka pinagkakatiwalaan ko na ng aking mga halamang gamot dahil alam kong sa mabuti niya ito ginagamit at ibinibenta. Sa gustuhin ko mang ipamigay na lamang ang mga gamot ko ay hindi ko ginawa para hindi masanay at abusuhin ang aking hangarin pero ibinibenta ko ito sa presyong hindi mabigat sa bulsa. Samantala, ang mga gamot na nagawa ko na ay hindi ko binibenta dahil ginagamit ko ito kapag may kinakailangan pero minsan binibenta ko pa rin ngunit ang mababang uri lamang o ang komon na gamot na makakapagpagaling ng mga hindi malubhang sakit katulad ng lagnat, ubo, sipon, at iba pa.

I'm starting to think of selling some of my ointments, it is convenient and useful.

Nakarating ako sa botika ni Nong Karyo, hindi masyado matao, may mga kaunting bumibili.

Pumasok ako sa loob at nakita si Nong Karyo na nagdidikdik ng dahon sa kaniyang lamesa.

"Magandang araw po. Kumusta na po kayo Manong Karyo?" bungad ko sa kanya. Mabilis niya akong nilingon: nginitian ko lamang siya at sinuklian din niya ako ng isang ngiti.

"Ria! Nandito ka na!" magiliw niyang saad sa akin.

"Opo," natawa ako dahil nagmadali itong lumbas ng counter at lumapit sa akin.

"Kumusta ka na? Tagal mo ring hindi naka-bisita sa bayan. Pasukan niyo na ba at naririto ka na?" ang bilis niyang magsalita kaya natawa na lang ako.

"Ayos lang po ako, wala rin naman po akong dadayuhin dito sa bayan kaya't hindi ako nagawi at opo, pasukan na po namin kaya narito ako," sagot ko sa mga tanong niya. I looked at his whole being, he seems well.

"Mukhang mabuti po ang inyong kalagayan," puri ko.

"Ikaw din, mas gumanda ka, ibig kong sabihin ay maganda ka na pero mas lalo ka pang gumanda, parang bulaklak ba," balik puri niya sa akin na ikinatawa ko na lang.

"Ang hilig niyo po mang-bola pero alam niyo naman po ang sadya ko rito, hindi ba?" sabi ko. Ngumiti at tumango na lamang ito.

"Charm na may betlog, pansinin mo naman ako," bumungad sa akin ang tinig ni Yulian.

"Tigilan mo na si Charm, Ian, kakalmutin ka ulit niyan," sabi ko.

"Ate, you're back," sabi niya.

"Nasaan si Inang?" hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya.

"Ah, umalis na si Inang, kanina ka pa niya hinihintay upang magpaalam ngunit napaka-tagal mo kaya ang umalis na siya at ang bilin niya ay alam mo naman daw ang dapat gawin, mag-ingat palagi, kumain ng maayos, at 'wag kalimutang sumulat. Pumasok kayo bukas, malalaman ko rin kung hindi, 'yon lang," litanya na habang ginagaya ang boses ni Inang.

"Para kang tanga," komento ko.

"You're mean!" reklamo niyo.

"Shut it. I'll cook, pakainin mo na si Charm at bawas bawasan mo yang lakas ng boses dahil kung hindi, isasako kita at ipapadala sa dumpster," saad ko sa kanya at umakto siyang zini-zipper ang kaniyang bibig,

I hate attending first day of school, it's annoying.

"Ian, let's skip tomorrow," pange-enganyo ko sa nakababata kong kapatid habang siya ay tahimik na kumakain.

Umiling lamang ito na ikinarolyo ng aking mata.

"Come on. I'll make sure Inang won't find out," pangungulit ko muli.

"Ate, hindi ko man gusto ang orientation, gusto ko naman maglaro kasama sina Alio," rason niya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako dahil sa kapalaran ko.

I've been in that school for years and I have achieved a streak of skipping the first day of class pero dahil sa lintek na 'to ay masisira pa ang achievement ko.

"Let's arrive late, then?" I tried again but he just shook his head.

Fuck it.

"You better wake up early tomorrow or I'll leave you here and won't cook you breakfast," banta ko at tumango lamang ito.

I leaned on my chair and watch him eating his food happily.

I really hate school!