Prism of Equilibrium

Chapter 18- Questions Unanswered

Now that I know they have just talked about me, I looked at them. The realization came too sudden it hurts---I was egoistic as hell. I acted as if only my opinion mattered when the truth is that even if I didn't like people, they might not like me, too. I was too blinded. I hate humans. But now when I need them, I realized that they can hate me, too. All those words that I said about humans, about how I hate them, are they thinking like that towards me as well?

"Selena!" Raziel exclaimed. "How did you get here? Where were you?"

I felt everybody's stare pierced through me, demanding for the answer. "I..."

"Whoa, I forgot about you! I'm sorry. But why did you split up on the way?" Natasha said.
"She has just came back from looking around." Raziel answered when I was busy stumbling to find the right way to say a thing.
"Yeah, I was just looking around." I shrugged, trying my best to show an innocent face. I saw her eyes narrowed upon this.

I noticed she was about to say something about it. But luckily, Sean came, and I swear he is going to fall. He is halfway to hitting the ground, and that's not the real problem; because 4 cups of coffee that were once on his hands are flying mid-air, the liquid inside pouring in all directions.

Eventhough everything looked like it is going on a slow-motion, I can't do a thing; there won't be enough time. If I stepped away, the coffee will still stain my shoes and pants.

Somehow, someway, before the coffee rained down on all of us, Raziel jumped and successfully grabbed three cups, and the slow-motion ended when he caught the last one which almost fell on Natasha. However, what shocked me more is that Natasha was able to handle the coffee. When Raziel put all the cups on the table, Natasha slowly make the liquid get back in again.

Everyone, and I'm not the exception, gasped. How in the world did she do that? And Raziel's reflex---that was so unhumanlike, like that psycho who tried killing me at Branson's. These people are not just ordinary people. I think they are paid assassin and sorts.

"I'm so sorry." Sean got up and said, his eyes showed horror.

Natasha was glaring at Sean, and if looks could kill, they must be hers. "You, little troublemaker. Do you have any idea how much does my shirt worth? This peplum top is limited-edition. You can't just spill your coffee on this. I swear I'll kill you, you shi---" she stood up and as if on cue, Simon got up and held her back before she did anything.

"At least, our coffee is still safe." Simon told her and send an apologetic smile towards the crowd around us.

"You mean your coffee?" she hissed. The crowd slowly went away.

"I'm sorry!" Sean said, hands lifted up.

"It's only the first day, and you are so dead." Simon looked at Sean.
"Look, at least they didn't realize it, okay?" said Sean. "And hey, I have refused to bring the coffee!" he punched Simon on his arm.
"Ouch!" Simon rubbed his arm and did the same to Sean.
Soon enough, they are punching each other non-stop.

My brain can't process any of the information my eyes saw. What the hell just happened? They are all aware that each of their friend is a paid assassin? Are they a secret organization or something?

"Raziel," said Natasha, her voice stopped me from making more questions. "this is the group we have to be in?"

"Unfortunately," he sighed. "yes."

"Training will be hard this way."

"I know."

"And we need to grab the chance. I don't want to rot in that school."

Whoa. Rot? What kind of school is Princeton? I remembered now that Branson wanted me to ask Raziel about the school, power, and something else I can't remember. But how can I ask him? Everyone seemed to know about everything already, and if I asked he will think that I am weird.

"You might want to stop those two before one of them decides to share a room with one of us." said Raziel, pointing at Sean and Simon. The punching session have turned into stepping session.

"Oh, stop it you two." Natasha walked to both of them, leaving only me and Raziel.

This is a chance I have to take. "Hey. Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?" He looked at me, his expressionless face gleaming. "Sure."

"Can you explain what powers are, what school Princeton is, how could you catch all those cups, how in the world Natasha controlled the coffee to get back in the cups, and who---" I closed my mouth, taking a deep breath. These questions flowed out too fast that I forgot to breath.

"Can I ask you something, too?" I looked at him, puzzled. "How can you not know about all of these?"

My heart sank. I don't know how to answer. His response is just like what I expected. What am i supposed to say? "I..."

His eyes are piercing into mine, and I can't focus when I'm looking into his. I can barely recognize a figure getting closer until a voice snapped me out. "Hey, Selena!" said the figure in bright red jacket.

Calixto, you are my savior.