Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 46 School Day

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Babatukan ko na sana si Plutus dahil sa kayabangan nito nang biglang pumasok ang adviser namin. Kanya-kanya tuloy kami ng ayos sa pag-upo. Nang mapatingin ako sa box na bitbit ng guro namin, nagtaka ako kung ano ang laman nito.
 
Tumikhim muna ang guro namin bago ito nagsalita. "I have an exciting announcement for you all," she began. "The Enchantment Day is coming!"
 
And that's when the room exploded in excitement. Cheers and shouts filled the classroom as everyone leaned forward, waiting for more details. Then Plutus leaned in to ask me something. 
 
"What's enchantment day?" He whispered. 
 
"Abah, malay ko. Kita mong transfery lang din ako," masungit kong sagot sa kan'ya na ikinangisi lang nito. 
 
Then I saw Chloe raise her hand and asked, "When is it, Mrs. Willow?"
 
"It’s next week! Enchantment Day will be a two-day event, filled with fun activities for everyone to enjoy," Mrs. Willow said, smiling.
 
 
Muli na namang nag-ingay ang buong klase. Ang iba ay nagsisimula nang magplano ng mga gagawin nila, habang may iba naman na hindi mapigilan ang mapasigaw sa tuwa.
 
"On the first day, we’ll have various booths and stalls, and each class will be required to set one up. You’ll need to come up with a unique theme for your booth, something creative and fun to make our class stand out! And all the booths will be set up at the sports field."
 
There was more applause, and the energy in the room was growing even more intense. Mrs. Willow raised her hand, smiling as the room quieted down again.
 
"At night," she added, "our very own school band will perform, and we’ll finish the evening with a fireworks display!"
 
"Omg!! Banda ni Slate 'yon!" Mahinang tili ni Jenna. 
 
"On the second day, the school will provide free stalls for everyone to enjoy. And also, we’ll be having a talent show in the morning. Anyone interested is welcome to sign up."
 
"Dylan! It's time to shine," pang-aasar ni Jenna sa kaibigan nito.
 
"Pinagsasabi mo, ano'ng gagawin ko do'n, magwala?" Asar na tugon naman ni Dylan.
 
Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang tawa ko sa bangayan ng dalawa. Makikinig na sana muli ako sa guro namin ng mapansin ko si Plutus na nakapangalumbaba habang nakangisi sa'kin. 
 
"Try not to watch our performance, and I'll dice you to pieces," he threatened, a wicked smirk spreading across his face.
 
Ayan na naman siya pagbabanta niya makuha lang ang gusto. Sa sobrang inis ko, inambahan ko ito ng sapak sa mukha. Pero dahil may guro sa unahan, tinadyakan ko na lang ang lamesa nito. Sa lakas ng impact, muntik na sumubsob ang mukha nito sa lamesa. Ginantihan naman ako nito ng isang masamang tingin, kulang na lang ay lapain ako nito.
 
Buti nga sa kan'ya. 
 
"And now, for the most anticipated part…" Mrs. Willow paused, glancing around to make sure she had everyone’s full attention. "On the final night of Enchantment Day, we’ll have the Crimson Ball. But there’s a twist!"
 
Everyone leaned in closer, completely absorbed. 
 
"This year, each girl will be given a magical ring. Once your chosen partner wears it, he won’t be able to take it off until the end of the ball. The spell is designed so no one is left scrambling for a partner last minute."
 
The whole class erupted in cheers and laughter, thrilled by the sudden twist. It was clear that everyone was beyond excited for the upcoming festivities, except me.

Binigyan pa ako ng problema ng teacher namin, napapa-iling na lang ako sa sobrang sama ng loob. Sino naman yayayain ko? Si Plutus? Naku, mas lalo lang yayabang ang isang 'to. Walang katapusang pang-aasar na naman panigurado. 
 
"Kyaaaa! Yayayain ko si Slate!" Excited na turan ni Jenna habang inaalog ang balikat ni Dylan.
 
"Yah! Tigilan mo ko, nahihilo ako!" Pilit na tinatanggal ni Dylan ang pagkakahawak sa kan'ya ni Jenna. 
 
"Good luck naman, Jenna," tawag ko sa pansin nito na ikinalingon niya naman agad. "Mahaba-haba pila ni Slate, kamusta naman ang fandom niya?" Pang-aasar ko. 
 
"Waaaah!" Napasabunot ito sa buhok niya. "Oo nga pala! Madami akong karibal!" Sabay dukdok ng ulo nito sa lamesa at doon nagdrama. 
 
"Buti pa si Plutus, nakareserved na," malokong singit ni Dylan habang nakatitig kay Plutus. 
 
Agad na napalingon ang ulo ko kay Plutus, "Weh, 'di nga?" Paninigurado ko. 
 
Nagkabilit balikat lamang ito pero ando'n pa din ang ngisi sa mga labi nito. "Who knows?" He said. 
 
Lihim na napakuyom ang kamao ko sa ilalim ng lamesa. Nang mabaling ang tingin ko sa pwesto ni Angelica, nakangiti ito habang panay ang titig kay Plutus. Napa-irap na lang ako sa inis. So, may balak si Angelica na yayain ang prinsipe? 
 
Promise, hindi ako nagseselos. Hindi talaga. 
 
"Now, if you’ll all settle down, I’ll have the class president pass out the rings to the girls," Mrs. Willow added with a wink.
 

~~~

 
Nang hindi ako dalawin ng antok, natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko sa attic. I turned on the small attic light and started searching through dusty piles of papers and spell books I hadn’t noticed before. 
 
Then I started flipping through the pages. Healing spells, enchantments... rare and powerful magic. Mukhang naka-jackpot ako ng mga rare healing spells, ah. Sinumulan kong ibukod ang mga libro na napusuan ko habang may ngiti sa mga labi. 

Masubukan nga ang mga healing spells na 'to.
 
After a while, I stumbled upon a small, weathered book near the bottom of the pile. As I opened it, a burned piece of paper slipped out and fluttered to the floor. I leaned down to pick it up, completely intrigued.
 
"Ano kaya 'to."
 
The letter was addressed to my father, from someone whose name had unfortunately been burned away. My eyes scanned over the remaining words, piecing together bits of it. The letter spoke of a remote village near Blackwood Forest. The writer was requesting my father’s presence to heal an elderly woman who, apparently, was suffering from some unknown ailment.
 
"Village in Blackwood Forest?" I whispered, more to myself. "Who would ask him for that?"
 
I looked over the letter, trying to decipher any hint of who had written it, but there was nothing, the bottom half was completely burned away.
 
With a deep sigh, I considered what little I’d found. Hindi ko alam na nakakatanggap pala si daddy ng mga request para magpagaling ng may sakit. My fingers traced the edges of the letter absently, feeling the rough, singed paper.
 
"Alright, time to visit this mysterious village," I said softly, a touch of bitterness creeping into my voice.
 
I closed the book, carefully placing the letter inside, and stacked the other spell books I’d found under my arm. With one last look around the attic, I turned to go back downstairs, making a silent vow.

Mahuhuli din kita, Dad.
 
 
 
To be continued...