PROTECTORS

2

WEREBEAR

"GISING NA, LILY!" kinamot ko ang ulo ko habang bumabangon. Narinig ko na naman ang walang sawang pang gigising ni mama.

I get up and do my morning rituals, then go downstairs to eat. "Did the thieves come back again?" Mama asks sarcastically. She thinks I just had a dream.

"Panaginip lang 'yon, ma." sabi ko saka sumubo na ng pagkain para wala ng asarang magahanap sa mga susunod na araw.

Ilang sandali pa ay handa na akong pumasok sa school, pero hindi ko inaasahan ang mga susunod na mangyayari.

"Andaming tao." sabi ko pagkababa ko ng traysikel. Andami kasing tao at mostly ay mga babae.

"May artista ba?"

"Hindi, pero may gwapong transferred student." ani ng mga kasabay ko sa paglalakad.

I lift my shoulders in a brief, indifferent gesture and keep walking. As I approach the room, a crowd comes into view. People gather around, their faces pressed against the door and windows, trying to catch a glimpse inside our classroom.

"Ly, ano bang meron?" napatingin ako nang may tumabi sa akin. Si Chelsey. Kaibigan ko.

"May gwapo daw na transferred student. Baka dito nag transferred sa class natin,"

"Mag bilang ka nga, Ly. One to Three." aniya.

"Para saan."

"Basta."

"Sige. One, two, and three-"

"MGA PAKARAT KAYO! BUMALIK KAYO SA KANYA KANYA NIYONG CLASSROOM! HINDI MAKAPASOK MGA NAKATIRA SA CLASSROOM NA 'YAN DAHIL MGA NAKAHARANG KAYO? TABE! MGA KERENGKENG KAYO!" Her voice cuts through the air, sharp and commanding, drawing everyone's attention. The girls in front of our classroom start to disperse, their faces showing a mix of irritation and resignation in the wake of her commanding presence.

As soon as I enter, my attention is immediately drawn to the two bespectacled men. One wears reading glasses, and the other sports black-framed glasses. "Hi boss!" Luther says with a grin directed at me.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Ayaw ko maka attract ng atensyon, pero hindi ata ayon sa akin ang tadhana. "Uy boss." ramdam kong naka sunod siya sa akin, pero hindi ko siya binigyan ng atensiyon dahil ramdam ko ang mga tingin ng kaklase ko sa akin.

I sit down in my seat towards the back. The ones sitting in front of me have not yet arrived, so he sits there. He takes off his glasses and looks at me. "Nasasaktan ako kapag hindi mo ako pinapansin," he whispers, but suddenly I feel embarrassed, as if he shouted what he said

"Luther, stop bothering her." ani Ezemiel na nag aayos ng gamit niya. "Fix your thing here. We'll talk to her" aniya saka tumingin sa akin.

Kumindat sa akin si Luther saka bumalik sa kinauupuan niya kanina.

The bell rings, signaling break time. I clasp their arms firmly and practically pull them towards the garden. This spot is usually quiet, with few people around, though the reason is a mystery to me. "What are you doing here? I thought you were celestial beings. Why are you two at school?"

"For fun. Keeping you safe while having fun," ani Luther at naka ngisi na naman siya.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko at nag aantay ng sasabihin, pero nginitan lang nila ako.

"Pano kayo nakapag transfer, eh, wala naman kayong academic background-"

"Sikret na 'yon." ani Luther saka sumipol sipol habang naglalakad palabas ng garden. Tumingin ako kay Ezemiel, pero nag suot siya ng earphone at nagpanggap na wala silang narinig.