Sweet Deceit

Chapter Two: Invitation to the Mad Hatter's Party

The ride was long and quiet.

Hindi nakipag-usap ang driver sa akin. May naghaharang na parang pader at may maliit na sliding glass sa gitna nito. Magkasya lang siguro ang kamay ko, maybe to give something like a book to the driver sa harang na iyon. The glass was also frosted. Wala akong makita kundi ang mga kulay na naroon.

Mag-isa ako rito sa backseat at tahimik na tumitingin sa bintana. The scenery kept changing. From concrete roads and lush greenery, this part of town I've never been yet. Or are we even still in town?

Hindi pa ako nakapag-bisita sa boarding school niya. From what my sister told me before, it would take at least 3 hours before getting there. Outsiders were also prohibited. That school was prestigious because they only accepted geniuses. My sister was one.

They had this sort of bias, na kapag kapamilya mo ang isang na-admit doon, automatic matalino ka rin. That's why most of the students there are from elite families.

But I'm quite different from my sister. She likes mathematics and I like languages. She likes basing on logic while I like basing on emotion. She likes calculating the stars while I enjoy simply admiring them.

But I love her so. And I miss her.

I scrolled through my phone's gallery, smiling at pictures where I could see her. It made me cry a bit again.

"I miss you, Sofia..." I mumbled, wiping the tears that managed to escape using the back of my hand.

I mentally braced myself. I might find clues when I could search of that Graveyard Society inside the school. Baka isa iyong club. My sister wasn't one for the occult, so it made me think that it was probably a club that explored languages with their hidden codes.

Akala ko ay gloomy ang eskwelahan. Turns out it wasn't. Trees and greenery. Bright skies. A big campus ahead of me. The wind was warm. The grounds were full of students walking about. Some gave me curious glances, some paid me no heed.

Walang sabi lang akong binaba ng driver sa loob ng campus. Binitbit ang aking gamit, nilagay sa aking tabi at may binigay na papel. He then added, "Electronics, ma'am."

Malalim at malumanay ang kaniyang tinig, ng may pagkatandaan na. I gave my phone to him, a bit confused. Hindi pala puwede iyon dito?

"You can take this back at the Registrar's office," aniya. He immediately left, and I didn't have the chance to ask more.

Sapientia potentia est!

Welcome to Glassvioll Academy, Sphiera Jean Roslyn.

Your assigned Dorm is in Brinne Building. Your room number is 188. A map is attached for you to locate your way.

I bid you my greetings for being admitted to Glassvioll Academy.

Signed,
Headmistress Virgil Anrel

Tumingin ako sa naka-attach na mapa at bahagyang napanganga. This school was bigger than I thought!

So I carried my luggage and started my journey. It was a sunny afternoon. I guess the students are in their lunch breaks. Their uniforms in deep brown and white matched with their old, vintage looking buildings and rustling greenery.

Maganda ang uniporme, and it really feels like I've arrived. But despite being in a uniform that was once my sister's, I feel alienated.

Ang iilan ay napatingin sa akin sa mata. I was confused when they all avoided me like I was a sick disease. Ang iba nga ay harap-harapan akong tinignan ng masama, na para bang pinapahiwatig na hindi ako taga rito.