Unholy Halo

Chapter 11 Curiosity kill.

"DEAR Diary.

I finally found a new friend whose name is Akhela Marie Mendoza. She was in first year like me. She and I bonded so well. She has this funny humor that makes me laugh. We are both in the same class and she encourages me to learn different languages which I find it fun though. I was thinking of trying some maybe next monday. But I was worried about mom. She'd probably won't agree with this, especially the history of this academy. She's always worried about me running for being a queen someday. Knowing the requirements. She doesn't even want me to play the sports I want. She said if you are talented you have a chance to be a queen so I must not show any of my talent while I'm in this school. But A little secret won't hurt right?"

Mabilis nyang isinara ang notebook na hawak nya nang maramdamang may humila ng upuan sa tabi nya. Nakaupo na kasi sya ngayon sa table na sinabi nya kay Sabrina kanina. She smile at Sabrina nang makita nya itong paupo na sa hinila nitong upuan. Agad na napukaw ang attensyon nya sa babaeng umupo sa upuang nasa kabilang side ng lamesa katapat ni Sabrina. Dala nito ang mga libro at wala itong imik na tumingin sakanilang dalawa ni Sabrina bago buksan ang libro at notebook nya.

Great, she now has a study group with Erica and Sabrina who seems to want to start a war. Naiiling nyang ipinatong sa hita nya ang notebook at saka binuksan ang librong nasa harap nya.

She could feel the awkwardness of the whole room. Ang naririnig nya lang ay mga yapak ng mga pumapasok at lumalabas ng library o yung mga nag lilibot sa shelf malapit sakanila. But she can't take that anymore. She couldn't take the tense between Sabrina and Erica. Even though they are both nosing at their books she could feel the burning sense between them.

"So the history?" Pagbasag nya sa katahimikan ni Sabrina tumingin ito sakanya at ramdam din nya ang tingin ni Erica sakanya kaya binigyan nya ito ng mabilis na sideway look.

"Oh. Yeah." Sabrina closes her notebook but not the book in front of her. "This academy was built in 1900 by General Henry Scott The American general. He believes in equal education between girls and boys. That's why he decided to build Scotts all girls academy since the Philippines are surrounded by smart people." Pag kukwento nito nakatingin lang sya dito habang nag kukwento ito at focus sa binabasa nya sa libro.

"So why did he build it in the middle of nowhere? Ms. Smart pants?" Napatingin sya kay Erica ng mag salita kita ito naiiling na tinignan nya ulit si Sabrina at sakto namang tumingin din ito sakanya.

"It isn't called Makagitna Island for no reason. He found this Island during the war. He helped those Pilipinos to live here and hide while the war was ongoing. And then he built this academy to help women in this country to learn and have a well deserve education." Mahina syang napabuntong hininga habang pinapakinggan ang uri ng pananalita ni Sabrina. Kung ano man ang galit ng dalawang to sa isa't isa ay parang nararamdaman nyang maiipit sya.

"How did it become Halo?" Tanong nya pa para mawala ang titig nilang dalawa sa isa't isa. Pakiramdam nya ay may apoy sa pagitan ng mga titigan na iyon ni Sabrina at Erica.

"When Mr. Scott died and his sons took over the academy he changed it into Maria Clara's Academy in the mid 1980's and then he died and another man took over in 2000 it became Halo." She looked at the book in her lap and realized the name had already changed at the year she entered this academy and the diary started at the year 2002 which one year after she became a student.

Something is not filling up in her mind. It only became more and more confusing for her. By all means A.V. Muller was here between 90s to 2000.