Unholy Halo

Chapter 1: When I see you

NANCY was laying on her bed while reading the book in her hands when the irritation flowed in every inch of her spine.

“Stop walking back and forth will you!?” She knew her voice became louder than her usual voice but it's just because of her irritation. Kung hindi lang malaki ang utang na loob niya sa ka room mate nya na to paniguradong hinampas na nya to ng librong hawak nya.

“It's weekend, aren't you going home?” Deretsyong tanong sa kanya ni Erica kasabay ng pag hinto nito at pag harap sa kama na hinihigaan nya.

“Since when did I go home?” Nakataas ang kilay na sagot nya at naupo sa dulo ng kama nya saka kinuha ang sapatos sa ilalim neto.

“I need to go home, Nancy. You know that every weekend I need to spend time with my family.” Mapakla syang natawa sa sinabi ni Erica habang sinusuot nya ang sapatos nya.

“Hindi naman siguro ako nakakasagabal sa pag uwi mo diba?” Saad nya kasabay ng pag tayo ng ayos at pag harap nya sa room mate nya.

“No. No, not that nakakasagabal ka. I'm just—” a long pause before Erica turns to her and stares in her eyes pleadingly.

“I'm worried. Hindi ko alam pero bigla akong nag aalala sayo. What if umuwi ako tapos pagbalik ko sa sunday night wala ka na? Nancy. Wala ka pa namang ibang nilalapitan dito kundi ako lang.” Halatang nag hehesterikal ang Roommate nya kaya hinawakan nya ang mag kabilang pisngi nito at tinitigan.

“Erica Serenity Loar, you don't have to be worried about me. Gaya ng sabi mo wala naman akong ibang kakilala sa Dorm na to kundi ikaw. Wala akong ibang nilalapitan kundi ikaw. And the only place I went is the school library, this room, and the graveyard back at our dorm. So why wouldn't you just go home and have time with your family?” Erica shakes her body in disgust while pulling herself away from Nancy.

“Stop talking about the graveyard. Eww. Mula nung na discover mo yang graveyard na yan 3 years ago lagi mo na yan bukang bibig.” Nancy smirks at that.

Erica was right about the graveyard but apparently hindi ito naniniwalang may Graveyard sa likod ng dorm nila. Well mas mabuti na yung di sya maniwala kaisa naman magulo ang tahimik nyang mundo sa libingan na yun.

She heard Erica sigh as she sat on her own bed. Napalingon lang si Nancy sakanya at napailing dahil bakas sa mukha nito ang pag dadalawang isip na umuwi sakanila.

“I really have this bad feelings na pag umalis ako baka kung ano mangyari sayo or worse mawala ka bigla.” Nancy sat beside Erica and pats its back.

“Nothing will happen to me. I can take good care of myself, Erica.” Erica looked at her then smile before she stood up and sigh again.

“Fine. But if ever something happened just tell me, okay?” She knew she should give Erica a reassurance so she nodded and offered her pinky fingers to hers.

“Promise.” She said almost whispers but enough to be heard by Erica.

They intertwined their pinky fingers then smiled at each other. Erica seemed to be at ease now and was ready to leave her. She went back to her own bed and opened the book she was reading earlier as Erica packed her stuff and cleaned her side of the room.

Erica was the only friend she had. If being a roommate called a friend though and she trusted her at least a little bit.

“Alis na ko. Kumain ka huh? Sarado ang canteen ngayon at alam kong di ka pupunta sa mga matataong lugar kaya nag iwan ako ng makakain dyan.” Erica said then turned to her cabinet as if putting something in it.

“Hindi mo naman na dapat gawin yan.” Tinakpan nya ng libro ang mukha nya ng makitang sinamaan sya ng tingin ni Erica.

“Nilagay ko lang yung ibang snack dito para may pang snack ka hanggang bukas. You can protect yourself but you never take good care of yourself.” Matigas na saad nito. Natatawang maupo ulit sya sa gilid ng kama nya at tinignan si Erica.

“Bye~” pilit na ngiting saan nya habang kinukuha ni Erica ang bag nito.

Erica turned to her then caressed her cheeks as if she was a child who needs to be touched by her mom.

“Take care okay? Sisikapin kong umuwi bukas bago mag gabi.” Nancy shook her head then stood up to give Erica a hug.

“Just have fun with your family. Hmm?” She said but Erica just rolled her eyes and started leaving the room.

Nang masiguradong hindi na babalik ang kaibigan ay nahiga ulit sya sa kama nya at nag basa ulit.

Erica surely acts like a mom but she doesn't actually know what mom is doing with their child. After all Hindi naman nya naranasan ang pag aalaga ng isang ina or ama. Pero para sa kanya mas better yun kaisa magulo ang buhay nya dahil sa mga gusto ng magulang na gawin ng anak nila na di naayon sa gusto ng mga anak nila.

She read that in the book. How parents control their child and make them do what they don't want to do. Tsk. Disgusting.

Hindi nya alam kung greatful ba syang iniwan sya ng magulang nya sa Academy na to or hindi but one thing's for sure. She doesn't want them to fucked her life anymore. They hurt her once and that should be the last.

Napatingin si Nancy sa pintuan ng bigla itong bumukas ng malakas at sumara din ng malakas. Her eyes widened when she saw a girl in the back of the door holding the door knob as if she's hiding from something dangerous outside the room.

“Who are you?” Malamig na tanong niya sa babae. The girl had this long ash gray hair, cravy body and Nancy was sure this girl is standing taller than her.

Naramdaman nya ang biglang pag bilis ng tibok ng puso nya ng humarap ang babae sakanya. The girl had cold eyes and ocean blue as they stared at each other. Nancy could say that this girl was crying inside her. Her lips were thin and kissable and her nose was pointed that could highlight her beauty.

“Did you find her?” Rinig nyang sambit ng isang babae mula sa labas ng kwarto nila ni Erica.

“No. Pero sigurado kaming nandito lang sya sa isa sa mga kwarto dito.” The other girls said. She squeezed her eyes a little while looking at the girl in front of her. She stood up and walked toward the girl.

“I'll scream as loud as I can to let them know you're here if you don't answer my question.” Pabulong na banta nya sa babae habang magkalapit ang mukha nila pero medyo nakayuko ito sakanya.

“You wouldn't do that.” her voice made Nancy's heartbeat even faster now. Hindi nya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. Parang umakyat ang puso nya sa lalamunan nya ng marinig niya ang boses ng babae. It's a whisper but enough to be heard that made her feel something in her stomach.

No. She couldn't feel it. Kung ito man ang sinasabi nilang ‘butterfly in their stomach’ sisiguraduhin nyang magiging ipis itong nararamdaman nya na to sa tyan nya. Kung kinakailangan nyang sunugin ang sariling tyan nya ay gagawin nya mawala lang tong nararamdaman nya.

Nancy composed herself and was about to scream when the girl pushed her against the nearest wall and then pressed her lips against hers. Her eyes widened in shock but wanted to close just to feel the sensational softness of her lips against hers.

Hindi nagtagal ang pag didikit ng labi nila dahil sa biglang katok sa pintuan ng kwarto. “Don't tell her I'm here.” Bulong ng babae sakanya bago nito ilagay ang sarili sa likuran ng pinto.

Wala sa sariling binuksan ni Nancy ang pintuan at tumambad sakanya ang isang babaeng may kulay lilang buhok na di kahabaan at bilugang kulay kayumangging mga mata. She also had this smile and her pair of dimples was stunning too.

“Did Sabrina Alvarez around here or enter your room?” That makes her look at the girl with a questioning look.

“Who?” She asks then the girl just did the sideways eyes and tapping her feet on the ground that irritate Nancy even more.

“Uhm. Did someone enter here or did you see her around your corridor? She was tall and had long hair.” The girl explains. Nancy squeezed her eyes a little then slowly shook her head.

“Wala akong nakitang ganyang babae. And if ever she enters here I will surely kick her ass out of my room. Try to look at the back of this dorm, you'll surely find a lot of dead people there, maybe she's one of those.” Pag papaliwanag nya, the girl smiled at her then nodded.

“If you ever find her around just tell me. I won't be far from this hall.” Saad ng babae saka tumalikod at umalis. Sinara nya ang pinto at tinitigan ng masama ang babaeng nasa likod nito.

“Sabrina Alvarez.” She muttered while glaring at the girl. Sabrina just smiles that makes her even more pissed off.

She frowned when Sabrina walked toward Erica's bed then sat there. “What do you think you're doing?” Sabrina gave her an ‘o come on’ look.

“I'm sure they are still at the Hall, looking for me. So I'll stay here. I'm sure Erica wouldn't mind.” Sabrina said while wondering her eyes around the room.

She knew Erica? Yet Erica never mentions her name even once. Who the fuck is this girl? Hindi tinangka ni Nancy na lumapit kay Sabrina dahil sa kakaibang nararamdaman nya sa babae. She knew she should stay away from this girl as far as she could.

“I didn't invite you and how did you know Erica?” May inis na saad ni Nancy habang nakatayo malapit sa pintuan ng kwarto para kung sakaling mag tangka si Sabrina na lapitan siya ay madali siyang makakalabas.

“O. I know every single student in this academy. How come you didn't know me?” Sagot at tanong ng babae habang nakatingin sa kanya na para bang isa siyang wirdong babae sa harap nito.

Sino ba tong babaeng to? Bakit pakiramdam nya kinakausap nya ang sarili nya habang nakatingin sa babaeng to?

HABANG tinataguan ni Sabrina ang mga school representatives ay napapatanong sya sa sarili niya kung bakit di na lang ang mga ito sumuko sa paghahanap sa kanya? Hindi ba ang mga ito napapagod? Kada weekend na lang sya nakikipag habulan sa mga ito at parang walang katapusan yun.

Mula ng maging School queen siya hindi na sya tinigilan ng mga ito. Oo alam nyang kailangan nyang tugunan ang tungkulin nya pero hindi sa ngayon, matapos ng mga nangyari sa kanya 3 years ago. Hindi pa siya handang isubsub ulit ang sarili nya sa mga gawain na kailangan nyang tugunan.

‘Hanggang kailan ka mag tatago sa dilim?’ Hindi sya handang sagutin ang bulong ng isip nya na yun dahil kahit sya ay di pa sigurado kung kailan nya kayang harapin muli ang liwanag sa paligid nya.

“Majesty!” Napalingon sya sa likod nya at mariin na napamura ng makita si Tanya duon at naglalakad palapit sakanya.

“Kailangan ka na namin sa gathering room.” Saad nito habang sya ay unti unting inihahanda ang sarili sa muling pag takbo.

“Sasama ka sakin sa ayaw at sa gusto mo kung ayaw mong malaman ng daddy mo ang pag talikod mo sa katungkulan mo.” Sabrina smirks at those words. Akala ba nito matatakot sya sa sinabi nito na yun? That's bullshit, blackmailing isn't gonna get her to do her job.

“Only if you catch me.” Saad nya at mabilis na tumakbo paakyat sa isang hagdan na malapit sa kanya.

Mas lalo siyang napamura ng makita si Dianne at Gabby sa kabilang dulo ng Hall sa second floor ng Hailsmith dorm.

“Majesty!” Sabay na sigaw nito sa sobrang hindi niya alam ang gagawin ay lumiko sya sa kanan nya at sinubukang buksan ang bawat pinto na nandun. Sabado ngayon kaya inaasahan nyang konti lang ang mga student ng bawat School ng Halo.

Agad siyang napangiti ng mag bukas ang ika-apat ba pinto, mabilis siyang pumasok duon at agad na nilock ang pinto. Habol ang hininga na hinawakan nya ang doorknob nito.

“Who are you?” Fuck she thought this room just left unlock. Bakit may nag salita sa likod nya? Tangina naman. Akala nya pa naman swerte na sya.

Nag dadalawang isip syang humarap dito dahil baka bigla itong tumili pag nakita ang mukha nya. Most of the students in Halo were screaming like a jerk when they saw her face. She knew they idolized her so much that they were willing to throw themselves to her.

Mariin syang pumikit at mahinang minura ang sarili bago harapin ang kung sino man ang nasa likod nya. Handa na sya sa pag tili ng babae at pag takbo nito sa kanya ng humarap sya pero laking gulat nya ng titigan lang sya ng babae na para bang may kung ano sa mukha nya.

“Did you find her?” Rinig ang boses ni Tanya sa labas ng kwarto. Lihim nyang ikinuyom ang kamay nya at nagdarasal na sana'y hindi mag ingay ang babaeng nasa harap nya ngayon.

“No. Pero sigurado kaming nandito lang sya sa isa sa mga kwarto dito.” Saad ni Dianne. Tinitigan nya ang babaeng nasa harapan nya para basahin ang gagawin nito.

Her eyes farrow as she saw the girl smirking and slowly walking toward her. May kung anong nararamdaman sya sa loob nya habang papalapit ang babae sa kanya. Seeing the charcoal and Sharp eyes, the perfect heart shape lips, the not so pointed nose, the slightly long curly hair of this girl. It even better up close. She felt thirsty all of the sudden nang halos isang dangkal na lang ang layo ng katawan nila ng babae.

“I'll scream as loud as I can to let them know you're here if you don't answer my question.” Pabulong na pag babanta ng babae habang matalim ang matang nakatitig sakanya.

Who the hell is this girl to talk to her like that? She surely won't let her do that but her head is fuzzy and the only thing she could think right now is to ease the thirst she's feeling.

“You wouldn't do that.” the only words she can say. Hindi nya alam kung guni-guni nya lang ba iyon pero may kung anong emotion ang dumaan sa mata ng babaeng nasa harapan nya. Gusto nyang alalahanin ang pangalan ng babae pero hindi niya alam kung bakit ang layo ng lipad ng katawan at isip nya.

May nakita syang kung ano nanaman sa mata nito na lalong nag patindi sa nararamdaman nya. The girl opened her mouth and that's when Sabrina absentmindedly pushed the girl toward the nearest wall and kissed her.

Sabrina could feel the softness of this girl's lips and she wanted that all by herself. She wanted to sober those lips and take it as hers without her knowing the reason why.

Hinayaan niya ang sarili niyang malunod sa malalambot na labing iyon habang ang utak nya ay unti unting inaalala ang pangalan ng babaeng ito.

Lihim syang napamura ng biglang may kumatok sa pintuan. She was about to know the girl's name. Bakit ba ang daming epal sa paligid nya? Sa loob ng tatlong taon ngayon nya lang ulit naranasan ang pakiramdam na gusto niyang palayain ang sarili nya. Bakit kailangan syang gambalain ng mga to?

“Don't tell her I'm here.” Bulong nya sa babae bago sya marahan na nag lakad patungo sa likod ng pinto. Kita nya ang gulat at pag kalito sa mukha nga babae habang binubuksan nito ang pinto.

“Did Sabrina Alvarez around here or enter your room?” It was Tanya. Nak ng tokwa hindi pa din sila tumitigil? Napapagod na sya sa pag takbo gusto na nya mag pahinga at mahiga. Mukhang malambot pa naman ang kama sa kanang bahagi ng kwartong to.

“Who?” Lihim na natawa si Sabrina ng marinig ang kainosentehan sa boses ng babaeng kausap ni Tanya. She didn't know her? That's weird. Every single student in this academy knows her name. Does it mean she didn't vote for her? Well at least there's someone who didn't literally know her.

“Uhm. Did someone enter here or did you see her around your corridor? She was tall and had long hair.” Halata sa boses ni Tanya ang tinatago nitong pag kairita. Tanya didn't believe that someone in this academy didn't know all of the school officers, even the lowest one. That excites her.

“Wala akong nakitang ganyang babae. And if ever she enters here I will surely kick her ass out of my room. Try to look at the back of this dorm, you'll surely find a lot of dead people  there, maybe she's one of those.” Kunot noo syang tumingin sa likod ng babae na medyo tinatakpan ng pinto. She can't believe those words just thrown to her by some student like this girl.

Habang nakatingin sa babae ay saka nya naalala ang pangalan nito. This is Nancy Swift, the well known “weirdo” inside the academy. Narinig nya ang mga usap usapan tungkol sa babaeng to pero hindi sya naniwala. And right now hindi talaga sya mapapaniwala dahil ang nakikita nya ngayon ay isang brutal na babae na walang pakealam sa paligid nya at hindi weirdo. Saka teka anong lot of dead people pinagsasabi nito?

“If you ever find her around just tell me. I won't be far from this hall.” Nag pakawala ng maingat na buntong hininga si Sabrina dahil sa narinig nya.

Thanks god sambit nya sa utak nya ng isara ni Nancy ang pintuan. Pilit nyang nilalaban ang ngiti at tawang gustong kumawala sa labi nya ng tignan sya ni Nancy na para bang malaking krimen ang ginawa nya.

“Sabrina Alvarez.” Hinayaan niya ang ngiti na gumuhit sa labi nya ng sambitin nito ang pangalan nya. She'll bet her position in this academy, this girl doesn't even know who she really was.

Gusto nyang maupo at maging komportable habang na sa labas pa ng hallway sila Tanya. Kahit gusto nyang maupo sa kama na nasa kanang bahagi ng kwarto ay mas minabuti nyang maupo sa kamang nasa kaliwang bahagi. She's sure as hell that it belongs to Erica Serenity Loar.

Hawak nya ang mga listahan ng bawat kwarto at bawat tao sa apat na school ng Halo kaya alam nya kung sino sino ang mag kakasama sa kwarto.

“What do you think you're doing?” Pagod sya at nasa labas pa sila Tanya ano ba sa tingin ng babaeng to ang ginagawa nya? Malamang umuupo.

“I'm sure they are still at the Hall, looking for me. So I'll stay here. I'm sure Erica wouldn't mind.” She decided to wander her eyes around the room and got mesmerized by the bookshelf that was awesomely arranged on the other side of the room.

“I didn't invite you and how did you know Erica?” Sabrina smiled at Nancy when she noticed the shock in her face. Sigurado si Sabrina na nag kakagulatan sila pareho pero aaminin nyang mas nagugulat sya sa babaeng to. Never in her life in this academy did she encounter a girl like this after three years.

“O. I know every single student in this academy. How come you didn't know me?” She is so full of herself right now. She needs to release this boastfulness before Nancy throws her out of this room.

Napabuntong hininga sya ng makitang nakatayo lang si Nancy sa likod ng pintuan habang nakatingin sa kanya.

“Mukha kang multo dyan. Maupo ka nga.” Naiiritang sabi nya habang nakatingin sa kabuuan ni Nancy. Kumunot ang noo nya ng mapansing ang pag iwas ni Nancy ng tingin. Did she say something wrong to make Nancy act like that? Is she over checking her? Teka ano bang pake nya sa kilos ng babaeng to? Bakit mukhang alalang alala sya?

“Ayoko.” Matigas na Saad nito ng hindi man lang tumitingin sa kanya.

“Sira. Kwarto nyo to tapos ikaw ang nakatayo dyan? Maupo ka no.” Hindi nya alam saan niya nakuha ang salitang yun pero kusa lang talaga yun lumabas sa bibig nya.

“I don't wanna be near to some brute person like you.” Brute person like her?! Adik ba to? Ano bang ginawa nya para masabihan ng brute?

Sabrina's lips formed a devilish smirk as the thought of her kissing Nancy's lips flashed before her eyes.

“Kissing you is what makes me brute now?” She stood up and was about to walk toward Nancy when she noticed Nancy's hand on the door knob and was ready to open it anytime soon.

“Kissing a person without their permission is a crime, Ms. Alvarez.” Nancy said with some hint of anger in her voice. She didn't enjoy the kiss? No. That was a good kiss for her. Or not?

Hindi alam ni Sabrina kung ano bang paniniwalaan nya. Ang naramdaman nya kanina na konting pag kagat nito sa labi niya o ang sinasabi ngayon ng mga mata at boses nya?

Pinakatitigan nya pa si Nancy ng malalim bago sya mag lakad palapit dito at tulungan itong pihitin ang doorknob para mag bukas ang pinto.

“See you in the dining room.” Mahinang Saad nya dahil sa pag kalito at Hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman nya.

“I've never gone to that place and wasn't planning to.” Kunot noong huminto sya sa harap nito pero nakayuko lang ito at mahinang tinanggal ang kamay nya na nakahawak sa doorknob.

“How can you eat?” Sabrina asks. Hindi nya alam kung anong klaseng babae ba tong natakbuhan nya pero mas Hindi nya alam kung bakit parang alalang alala sya dito e ngayon lang naman nya ito nakita.

“Canteen, on weekdays.” Mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo ni Sabrina dahil sa sinabi ni Nancy. “Please, Umalis ka na.” May kung anong tumusok sa puso nya ng marinig iyon pero ayaw na nyang madagdagan ang tusok na yun kaya humakbang sya palabas ng pinto.

Huminto siya ng makatapak sa pinaka labas ang paa nya at dun din nya narinig ang pag sara ng pinto. Humarap sya duon at tinitigan yun habang naguguluhan sa sarili.

Why does it feel like they had something and then fades real quick? She experiences lots of one night stands in this academy but this isn't one of those yet she feels like it's a one night stand and the table turns then she was the one who's useless and boring?

Kinuyom nya ang kamao nya bago pilitin ang sariling maglakad palayo sa kwartong iyon.

Kissing a person without their permission is a crime, Ms. Alvarez. The only thing that keeps running in her head.