Carnage of Vicinity (At a Not-So-Ordinary Senior High)

CHAPTER 14: Connect the Dots

A/N: PHEW! This is the 20th part of the book! I never have thought that I would be able to write something this long again after years of inactivity.

To celebrate, I mark this chapter as a milestone, not only for me, but also for the series. We're now in the end of the book's second arc! Shall we wait a long time again before the third one comes?

Let's find out with Vi.^^

~ tarosnotsofine

Ω

VICINITY

I'VE NEVER FELT this heavy stares from our schoolmates since eternity. Usually, dadaanan lang naman nila ako ng tingin, o kaya naman ay makikiusyoso sila saglit kapag may commotion kaming nasisimulan ni Cameron, pero not this badly. Speaking of the devil, malamang ay siya ang dahilan kung bakit nangyayari 'to ngayon.

It's the first day of the week and ako'y nasa campus. Papasok pa lang ako sa gate pero marami nang pares ng mata ang naka-aim sa direction ko. At first, I had no idea kung bakit sila nakatingin, until I realized what happened on the school fair's last day, on the day The Unbeatable Duo has been finally defeated.

I swear, whoever came up with that nickname for Cameron and I, may they get an upset stomach right now. Malamang ay nakadagdag lang 'yon para mas magulat ang mga estudyante na natalo kami. They planted a thinking na hindi kami natatalo ng kahit sino- and then surprise!- we've finally been dethroned.

Pero mas nasurpresa ako sa babaeng biglang sumulpot sa harapan ko.

"Good morning, Mr. Vicinity John Maglaque. I am pleased to finally meet you! Can I have a moment with you?"

I came to a halt nang bigla niya akong harangin sa gitna ng campus oval. It's a girl with a bob-cut hair and she was in a regular-length skirt. Morena ang kulay ng balat niya na binagayan niya ng tamang shade ng blush on. Kung hindi rin keen ang paningin mo, hindi mo mapapansin ang subtle na eyeliner niya, malayo sa makapal na eyeliner ni Michaela.

But what got my full attention was the ID hanging on her neck.

"Campus media?" Kunot-noo kong ibinalik ang tingin ko sa mukha niya. "Can I help you with something?"

She's from the official publication of DBNHS; the Northernlight. If I remember it right, madalas ay malalaking balita ang fini-feature nila sa dyaryo nila kada linggo. They seldom dwell in small issues, unless those were kind of relevant to a specific group of audience. Kaya naman ang presence niya ngayon sa harapan ko ang patunay na may pinunta siya rito na importante.

Shit. Hindi naman siguro in-expose ni Kristoff sa Northernlight 'yung sikreto ko 'no? We had a deal in the first place. Siya na rin ang nagsabi na ang usapan ay usapan. I must be assured na walang makakaalam sa ginawa ko bukod sa mga miyembro ng The Nightwalkers.

So, what did a campus media respondent need from me?

"I just want to ask for your word regarding your team's lost in the Battle of the Brains. I'm here for an interview!" Ngumiti siya at nilahad ang kamay sa akin. For a moment, tiningnan ko lang 'yon, hanggang sa na-realize ko na dapat ko siyang kamayan. It seemed naman that she didn't mind the delay. "I'm Margarette Lacsamana, by the way. I'm a news respondent from the official school publication, as what you saw in my ID. And, oh-" Lumapad ang ngiti niya. "I'm from SMET, in the same class as Ember. It's nice to finally meet you! Sa mga kwento lang kita naririnig noon, and now, you're in my front, in flesh!"

O-kay. Hindi ko alam pero may something off sa ngiti niya. I suddenly became uncomfortable with her presence. Dahil ba binanggit na ang witch na 'yon? I don't know.