THE GIFTED

C H A P T E R 4

Unlike the normal universities, Pandora doesn't really offer all academic subjects. But instead, it focus more on their gifts. There are few subjects for academic, but only three, mainly; English, Science and Math. The rest, it's to improve their ability to manage their gifts. To test it, to test their brain. To test their capabilities.

"I wish, I was like those normal people." Alganier glance at Madison, as she sigh after saying it. "I wish, we're given the chance to study on a normal university. Get a degree, and work on the job we want." She looked down, her both hands on her either side, as they sat under the tree. Watching their classmates goof around. It's been a week, when their class started. And It's far from what they have expected it to be. They thought it would be just the normal college life. But they have no choice, as there is no university who accept students with gifts, other than Pandora.

"I know what you feel." Alganier sympathy. He look at her, giving her an assuring smile. "But I think, this is how our fate was supposed to be." He then pointed his friend, Jerald. "You see him, he's so cheery. It was like he has no worries at all." He sighed, averting his eyes. "Deep inside, he's just like the rest of us. He also had his own struggle, his gift is also giving him a hard time. Replaying his sad memories. It's more painful than physical pain. Yet, he's living so carefree." Madison who was listening, felt bad towards the said boy. She glance at his direction, plastering a sad smile.

The two of them got immersed in their own thought, that they didn't notice one of their classmate approach them. "Hey," he called grabbing their attention. Alganier beam, greeting him back. "You guys seems to be in serious conversation." He sat down, inviting himself with them.

"Are you okay, Kenley?"  Madison asked, when she observe his conflicted expression.

"Well.. maybe? I don't know. It must be rude, or rather bad to eavesdrop.." He look at them expectantly. Chuckling as their faces contort. "You see, it wasn't intentional. I heard all of your conversations, since from cafeteria." He looked away, feeling guilty, but looked back at them nonetheless. "I want to be friends with you too, guys." He admitted.

Someone isn't among them snort, making them look up and was shock to see Raymark, welcoming himself. "Oh Raymark!" Alganier happily greeted him. He give him a warm smile, sharing glance with the others. "What brings you here?"

Raymark simply shrug and mimicked Maddie's position. "I just want to make friends too, seems like the others are too busy to make some friends." Their eyes followed his eyes, and saw: Florence, Joanna, Betty, Jonathan, Lawrence and Carl laughing with one another. Alganier's eyes focus on Jonathan, his eyes boring at his back.

"That's what I'm saying." Kenley shook his head, grinning at them. "They don't acknowledge me, so instead, I went here. I can tell, people on Alganier's team are all kind." He praised, patting the latter's shoulder. Flashing him a proud smile. "You're so amazing at handling your team." During their activity on one of their subject, Alganier was chosen as their team leader. And it seems like he did a great job, as their team won at the end, with teamwork.

"Right? Right?" Madison agree, laughing along with them. As they stopped laughing, she put her attention to Raymark, raising her eyebrows at him. "So.." She started. "Care to share, what is our gift their?"

"I can hypnotize someone." He told them honestly, as if it's just a common thing, which earn a gasps from Kenley and Madison. Alganier who was surprised, reacted silently, by nodding at Raymark. "I almost hypnotize Jeffrey the first day." He chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. If he didn't control his self, he might have make Jeffrey do what he was thinking.

Madison's eyes widen, moving a little bit away from Raymark. "Don't worry, I won't waste my energy on you." He told her, before dusting his pants as he got up and bid his goodbye to them. Madison was speechless to even utter a single word. She point herself in disbelief, with gape mouth.

Alganier laugh at her reaction, so does Kenley who tease her more. "Guess like you're a waste of time to someone." They laugh, causing Madison to pout.

"That's cute." Alganier pressed his lips into thin line, realizing what he have said. Kenley that has a good hearing, had his head turn quickly to Alganier's direction, and stifle a laugh.

"What did he say?" Madison whine at them, feeling embarrassed. Alganier shook his head. His cheeks burning.

"Nothing."

"He said, you're cute." Kenley giggle, standing to his feet as he hop on his way to the others. "Lovers~" He sing. Madison was quick to get up, going after Kenley. She can't even look at Alganier who was embarrassed to himself. He got up from the ground, patting his pants and glance at his device.

"I wonder, who's the rank 1." He mutter as he look at the library. It was rumored that, the top of library is now accessible for top 10. And since he's still at the rank 2, he can access it. Without hesitating, Alganier let his feet drag him, towards the library. He mindlessly walk, finding himself standing infront of the elevator. Scanning the elevator, it was indeed not accessible for everyone. You need a card to open the elevator, but if you're part of the top 10, all you have to do is scan your device. And so he did.

With thumping heart, Alganier relax himself by eating the candy, Heather gave him the other day. It helps a lot, and sometimes he wonder, if he Heather put something in it. When he heard a ding, he waste no time and stepped out of the lift. His Jaw almost drop. It was spacious than below. It has many tables that was place, facing the windows. He approach the table and saw the view outside. It was relaxing, you can read a book while enjoying the view in front of you. It was the same to the other tables. It was all facing the windows. He looked around and saw that there are stairs, he went to it and climb the stairs. He couldn't be more fascinated.

There are plenty of computers. And more bookshelves. He scanned each shelves and notice, how all of the books here, are can't be seen below. No wonder, people are dying to get access here. His little tour was stop, as he saw one of the computer open. He took a step forward, stepping halfway, when someone come out from one of the shelves. It's a student like him. She look at his direction, and didn't even react. It was as if she didn't saw him at all. She pulled the swivel chair, sitting down and open the book on her hands.

It was the girl he saw with Jim, and Jonathan. It was their friend. His eyes roam around, and saw there's another window on the left, and on the right side. His small strides brought him near the window, his breath was caught up in his throat as a gust of wind pass by him. It was quite strong. His eyebrows furrowed and focus on nothing but his mind. Someone else's here, beside Jonathan's friend. He was standing at the left side, and when his head turn to his right side, that's when he saw behind the wall, where computers are, was another passage.

Out of curiosity, he headed there. It was dark, and seems like there's no window at all. But another gust of wind, pass him. He shiver, as he take a step backwards. His hand find its way on the wall, trying to look for a switch. He froze as he touched something, it was hard yet smooth, and warm. He's sure it's someone's hand. Then the light switched on, a face few inches away greeted him, making him stumble, falling on to his butt, and let out a surprised shriek. A scurrying footsteps was heard. He looked up to see the female student, shock as him.

She help him stood up, and asked if he's okay. Alganier nodded, as he swallow the lump on his throat. His breathing became unsteady, as he was still recovering from the shock. "Sorry about that." The person whose behind all of it laugh, as if it was nothing. Their eyes follow his movement as he sat on one of the couches. There's a long coffee table in the middle of two big couches, and in the corner, there's a coffee machine. With plastic cups, spoons and there's a door, on the top there's a 'PANTRY' written.

"Sorry about him, he's weird." The female whispered to him, giving him a reassuring squeeze at the shoulder before leaving. Alganier stood there, not really knowing what to do. Not until, the weird guy motion him to sit at the couch across him.

"People are different from each other, the fascinating thing is, it was all because of how distinct we think from one another. It was our brain, that makes us unique. It's how we think, how view the world that make us different from others."