THE OMEN OF THE FORBIDDEN RACE

KABANATA XXXII: THE BEGINNING OF DAY TWO

BRIELLE'S POINT OF VIEW

Alas dose na ng hating gabi at kasalukuyan akong kumakatok sa pinto ng bahay ni Kuya Tieo kung saan namin iniwan si Darsy. Binuksan naman ito no Darsy na papungay-pungay pa ang mga mata.

"Oh, ang late mo namang dumalaw, Brielle at sino yang karga-karga mong bata?"  Tanong niya.

"Siya ai Roi, pinaalaga muna siya ng nanay niya sakin dahil sa may mental problem ito. Don't worry, as soon as gumaling ang nanay niya ay ibabalik ko rin siya. Sa ngayon, dito muna si Roi, iiwanan ko muna siya sa pangangalaga mo hanggang nag-aaral kami sa Academy," Paliwanag ko. Nag-nod naman si Darsy.

"Naiintindihan ko, saan ako na ang bubuhat sa bata para malipat na siya sa higahan na mas komportable siyang matulog," Sabi ni Darsy. Kaya inabot ko na siya sakanya. Bigla namang nagising si Roi at kinusot-kusot ang mata nito.

"Kuya, sino po siya?" Tanong niya. Kaya inakap ko muna ulit si Roi.

"Siya si Darsy, siya muna ang titingin sayo habang may pasok pa ako sa Academy. Ayos lang ba sa iyo iyon?" Tanong ko. Binigyan niya naman aki na malapad na ngiti at nag-nod.

"Okay lang kuya, maraming salamat pala ulit sa pagkupkop sakin," Sabi niya. Hinimas ko maman ang ulo niya at saka nginitian siya. Katapos ay pinasa ko na siya kay Darsy.

"Sige ipapasok ko na siya para makapagpahinga na," Sabi ni Darsy. Pero hinawakan ko ang balikat niya na nagpatigil sa paglalakad niya.

"Siya nga pala, may ipapakita ako sainyo sa linggo. Babalik kaming tatlo dito," Sabi ko.

"Sige, sige. Oh siya bumalik kana sa Academy at baka may gagawin pa kayo doon at lara makapagpahinga kana rin," Sabi ni Darsy. Sabay sara ng pinto. Hindi ko pala napaalam na nasa Elfos Palace kami ngayon.

"Ayahan mo na nga." Nasabi ko na lang at nag-teleport na pabalik ng room namin sa Guest Building.

...

WEINER'S POINT OF VIEW

Narito na kami ngayon sa Venue Hall at inihintay nang pumanhik si Prof. Stella na kausap ngayon si Dr. Morgan dahil hindi na raw i-aannounce sa buong batch ang naging desisyon ng Mistress ukol sa request ni Dr. Morgan at baka mag-cause daw ito ng jealousy at gulo sa mga other participants. Ilang saglit pa ay kita naming nagtanguan na ang dalawa at lumakad na papunta samin si Dr. Morgan habang lumakad naman na papanhik ng stage si Prof. Stella.

"Prof. Stella said that your extra points will be credited to your grades as extra recitations. So, you will have a perfect mark in all of your subjects for sure," Sabi ni Dr. Morgan. Napa-yes naman kaming lahat at gumuhit ang ngiti sa aming mga labi.

"Good morning, students of Akadima Evlogas Tou Theo. I am here today to explain what you are going to do for day two's activity. All twenty teams have their own five Næm fegurð flowers. These flowers are so delicate and sensitive that if you touch them, they will die instantly. So, you need to make sure that they are still alive until there are only ten groups left. We also have a bracket system where there's Domain A and Domain B, where we deploy ten groups per domain, and if you have no more flowers to protect, you will be automatically eliminated. Furthermore, you need to protect your flowers from other teams, as they can steal or kill them. Fighting with a weapon is allowed. But killing your co-student is forbidden and can lead to expulsion from the academy. Also, you will be monitored by these devices that will be worn by your team captains that we have already chosen. The instructors are no longer needed for this game, but they can give advice and strategy for the game before you are all deployed. The first ten groups that protected their flowers, made the flowers survive, and brought them back here to the venue hall will be the ones to be qualified for day three's activity. Please go outside, go to the Guards outside, and get a card and the bracelet for the group leader. Leaders already chosen by us as your group name will be their names. If the Guards gave you a blue card, please proceed to Dome I on the left side of the Venue Hall, near the Palace's kitchen and stock room building. And if they give you a red card, please proceed to Dome II on the right side of the Venue Hall and near the Guest's Building. So, let day two's activity begin!" Sigaw ni Prof. Stella.