KNOCK, KNOCK (BL)

Chapter 6

"Is this a chicken or something?"

Pareho naming tinitigan nang mabuti ang sisiw. Kite and I are currently sitting in a bench near the dormitory.

"I think it's a phoenix. Where did you find that?"

"Kasasabi ko lang na hindi ko nga alam. Maybe someone owns this chick, and it got lost?"

Sinubukan kong hawakan ang pakpak nito may mumunting mga balahibo. Umamba ang tuka ng sisiw na para bang nagagalit sa ginawa ko. It's whole appearance is funny and cute at the same time. Did it just got hatched? How should we find its owners?

"Kite..are you good with animals?"

"No" Maybe he got the idea na ipapaako ko sa kanya ang paghahanap ng amo ng sisiw na to.

"Stop looking at me like that."

I tilted my head to my left when he said that. What did he mean?

"What look?"

Mas lalong dumilim ang itsura nito. I wonder if a day will come na magiging maaliwalas man lang ang itsura nito?

"That look as if you're begging to be f*cked."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. Pakiramdaman ko ay nalaglag din ang panga ko sa sinabi nito. I..I never felt so offended in my life. I composed myself and my expression went from shocked to grim. Nandidilim ang paningin ko, I need to get some fresh air. Pakiramdaman ko ay hindi ako makahinga ng maayos kaharap sya. I should leave this place first before I could punch that stoic face of him.

"I think we sh--"

"Oh my gosh! Lally!" A high pitch voice interrupted our conversation. Napatingin ako sa babaeng papalapit. I think she's in her 30s now. I think I saw her walk from the faculty during lunch break. A teacher maybe?

"Kanina pa ako naghahanap sayo! You walked off on your own again."

Nakapamewang na sabi nito habang nakaharap sa sisiw na nakatayo sa bench chair.

"Hello po, alaga nyo ba itong sisiw?" Alanging tanong ko sa ginang. Mabilis itong umiling saka binuhat ang sisiw na gustong magpumiglas sa hawak nya.

"No, this is my son Lally. Someone must've forgot to close the door of the office kaya nakalabas sya. I've been looking for him for a while now. Ikaw ba ang nakakita sa kanya? Thank you."

So it's not fully a chick, but someone's child. Nang makaalis ang ginang ay saglit ko lang tinapunan ng tingin si Kite saka sya nilampasan. Forget that he's been kind to me a few times. He went too far today. He's old enough to know what words are offending and not. By that, his words offended me. Is he not even going to apologize? Or he did not know what wrong did he commit.

"Today's activity, will be about measuring your physical endurance through running. It doesn't mean that since this is a Magic School is we'll solely focus on just magic. Your physical capabilities should also be developed. Boys will go first."

For the next few days ay hindi naging maganda ang pakiramdaman ko. I just hate it when someone did me wrong and then failed to acknowledge their own fault. Wearing our P.E uniform, we stood at the starting line.

"Remember that using even a small amount of magic is prohibited. Kapag nahuli ko kayo ay failed na kaagad kayo sa activity na to."

When the teacher released the go signal ay mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa finish line. I let my frustrations out in that run. I don't remember how many laps I've run. Noong una ay may mangilan ngilan pa akong kasabah tumakbo, hanggang sa naging kami nalang nj Warner and then I was left running alone. Hingal na hingal kong inabot ang towel at tubig na inabot ni Natasha at Bailey.

"You're freaking cool! Unlike someone.." Bailey gave me two thums up while Warner received a sneer. That still didn't ease the tension I'm feeling.

"Bailey you're a meanie." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Warner habang pinupunasan ang sariling pawis.

"Have you heard? The Student committee will held a welcome party for the new students?"

"Really? Sabagay..may cousin told me na hindi nangyari yun for the past 3 years dahil sa crisis na kinaharap ng Academy."

"Yep..wala pang exact date, pero may rumors na open sa lahat ng students."

Habang umiinom ng tubig ay pinapakinggan ko ang bulong bulungan sa paligid ko. Apparently it's all rumors and other things na wala naman akong idea. Saglit na napatingin ako sa flying city. It's funny to think that that's where I originally come from, and now I can only dream about going back there. Nang matapos na rin ang girls ay nagbigay lang ng announcement ang teacher saka dinismiss ang klase. Warner, I and our male classmates went to the shower room for a bath.

"That's some cool looking tattoo."

Habang nagbobotones ng longsleves ay narinig kong sabi ng isa naming kaklase. Akala ko ay si Warner ang tinutukoy nito pero hindi ko naman narinig na sumagot si Warner.

"I'm talking about your tattoo on your hand."

"Ako?" Inulit ko pa iyon sa kanya baka kasi hindi naman pala ako ang kausap nito. And wala naman akong tattoo talaga so iisipin kong hjndi nga ako yun.

"oo"

Tinitingnan ko ang tattoo sa kamay ko na tinutukoy nya. There is really one, a silver and blue outline of a certain celtic language. Hanggang sa nakalabas kami ng locker room ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang tattoo na nasa katawan. Nawala lang ito nang may mamataan akong pamilyar na bulto sa hallway malapit sa shower room. His silver white hair is as dazzling as ever.

Si Nevéir.

"I ask your two friends about you. The Bailey and Natasha one?" Nakangiting sabi nito habang sinasabayan kami ni Warner sa paglakad. Tinanguan nya rin si Warner saka ipinagpatuloy ang sinasabi.

"Last time you're looking for an errand to do right?" Tinanguan ko sya. The truth is kailangan ko na namang maghanap ng bago dahil paubos na ang silver coins na meron ako. Ayaw kong bumalik sa pagulay gulay lang ulit.

"Great! great!" I can't help but to view Nevéir as a happy little child.

"Our team will be out for an errand and we need a healer on our team. The employer didn't said that we can't take a non S-class kaya ikaw agad ang naisip ko. Would you like to come with us?"

Mabilis kong hinawakan ang dalawa nyang kamay. Sunod sunod ang naging pagtango ko habang nakangiting nakatitig sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay nagliwanag ang buong pagkatao ni Nevéir. He came at the right moment.

In the corner of my eyes I saw Kite's departing figure. He looks...defeated?
__________

To be continued...