Pyramid Academy

Chapter 2

Pyramid Academy

Game of spells

Are you willing to be enchanted?

Chapter 2

He began walking, I think toward the infirmary, because I pretended to pass out. He carried me as if he'd done this a thousand times before. My cheeks were on fire, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

I stared fixedly at the collar of his uniform, willing myself not to look up and meet his gaze. Every inch of me screamed to jump out of his arms and put some distance between us, but that would just make everything worse. The hall was still filled with students whispering, casting amused glances our way, and some even trying to stifle their laughs. Each chuckle and sideways glance was a reminder of just how ridiculous I must look right now.

This is not cool, Phoenix Aria.

Pagdating namin sa isang tahimik na sulok, nilapag niya ako nang dahan-dahan. "There. Now you can quit the act," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he straightened, folding his arms across his chest.

Nang makita kong wala nang ibang tao sa paligid, biglang bumalik ang katinuan ko at sinubukan kong magmukhang composed. Pero grabe, ang init ng pisngi ko, parang nararamdaman ko pa rin ang kamay niya sa likod at binti ko.

Napairap ako, sabay brush ng uniform ko para kunyari may pinupunasan. "Sino ba'ng nag-aacting?" I shot back, crossing my arms and hoping the blush on my cheeks wasn't as obvious as it felt. "Medyo... nahilo lang ako."

He looked at me, his eyes darkening with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. "Wag kang makialam sa mga mas mataas ang rank sa'yo," he said, his voice low but laced with warning.

"Huh?" I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone.

Then he leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him, his gaze locked onto mine with a razor-sharp focus. "Dahil kung mangyari 'yan," he murmured, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "ako na mismo ang makakalaban mo."

For a split second, I felt like he could see right through every layer of pride, every attempt at bravado. My heart pounded, a strange mix of fear and thrill clawing its way up my chest. The edges of his mouth turned up, barely noticeable but enough to unsettle me even more.

"Don't test me," he added softly, his voice as steady as steel. Then, just as quickly as he'd invaded my space, he took a step back, leaving me standing there with my pulse racing and my mind reeling.

My fists clenched involuntarily. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I wanted to defend myself, to tell him he was wrong, but somehow, I couldn't.

***

Tahimik ang buong lugar habang papasok ako sa library ng Pyramid Academy. Ano ba talaga ang secrets ng school na 'to? Bakit may mga rankings? Wala akong mapagtanungan. Like, zero. Ayoko ring magtanong sa iba-what if malaman nila na hindi ako ang tunay na Verena? Ede dead-du aabutin ng eabab niyo.

Pagbukas ko ng doors ng library, parang pumasok ako sa ibang dimension. Not even kidding. It was like stepping into some kind of magical Pinterest board, pero buhay na buhay. Towers of books were everywhere, stretching up like skyscrapers, and here's the wild part-some of the books were floating. As in, legit lumulutang sa ere, umiikot na parang may sariling buhay. The pages were turning on their own, like they were daring me to read them.

I walked further in, and oh my gosh, ang chandelier sa taas nagka-cast ng light na color-changing-blue to purple, giving the whole place this glow na parang nasa enchanted world ako. Everything felt surreal, and at the same time, ang intense ng energy.