Ibong Adarna Games Of The Faction Rings

Chapter Two

"You see that Erudite boy from District 6?" She asked, pointing at a tall tan boy with glasses and deep dimples. I nodded. "I like him." I just rolled my eyes when she looked away. She likes Zed. It's not that I am jealous because she has a bigger chance, but it's because she has terrible taste. "We're both from Erudite, but I don't know him so well. We were only together for a year." I knew him for more than half my life. "He's so adorable." She's acting like an Amity girl now...  "So adorable." I rolled my eyes. "So irresistible." I crossed my arms and shrugged. "So handsome." I raised an eyebrow. I was annoyed... very annoyed. "Don't you think he's an angel?" I couldn't take it anymore, so I told her, "I was Erudite. I've been with that boy for more than half of my life. He's going to be a pain in the end, trust me. A terrible person, that's what he is." Fina was shocked. "He's like that?" "Yes. He's an expert at sorry and keeping lives blurry. He tries to act sweet and helpless to get you to forgive and forget fast, but then betrays and abandons you in a way you'll find hard to forgive and impossible to forget." "Is that why you chose to stay in Amity?" She asked, observing my red dress and golden citrine bracelet. "Yes. We stopped sending each other letters a year ago because his last one said... 'You are a disrespectful shame of disgrace... Don't bother to reply with your rotten lies.'" "Ouch." "Yes it hurts. A lot. I still cannot accept the fact that I have lost a very close friend of mine. I'm still wearing this golden citrine bracelet the gave me. The aquamarine-sapphire mixture in the gem thingy here represents Eudite, so I could remember him." "When did Zed give it to you?" "He gave it to me when my mother sneaked me out of Erudite on my 13th birthday. It was his goodbye and birthday gift." She smiled then stared at Zed then the ground...

A day later... training started. I found out my strengths and weaknesses. So let's see... umm... I'm good with camouflage and making traps. I jump high and climb well. I use the sword, throw knives, shurikens and spears pretty good. I'm not that good at swimming, running, catching flying objects, using the nunchucks, slings, trident, quarterstaff, and the bow & arrow. I have some skill with identifying plants and herbs, thanks to five years of Erudite botany & herbology with an additional four years of Amity farming experience and a lifetime of forestry in District 7. Fina's the opposite except she's not much of a swimmer too.

A week passed... Fina worked harder and harder. She was in a more serious state than the most serious state I can be in. "Woah! Fina! You're doing great!" I exclaimed. She smirked but stayed silent. Why is she like this?

I heard a call. It was Zed. I walked to him. "Come with me... I need to tell you something. I took a quick look at the back, saw an angry girl and listened to Zed. "Good morning..." he started. No response from me. "Your height has increased..." he added. I shrugged. "Yeah..." "And..." "And?" "You're amazing with knives. Your performance was impeccable." "Thank you." I say, smiling. "And..." "And what?" I ask, seeing his eyes wide open. "What? What are you looking at?" "The..." "The what?" "Your uhh..." "My?" "Your bracelet..." "Oh..." "You still have one of the symbols of our friendship..." "Indeed I do." "That's delightful." He smiled. I smiled. "Thank you." I was puzzled. "Why are you thanking me? For keeping the bracelet?" "Well... that and... for believing in our friendship." "You sound so..." "Amity?" He asked, smiling awkwardly. "Very amity... You're talking to me like you've had too much peace serum." I answered, plainly. "Sorry..." he told me. "Don't apologize... it's actually kinda... cute." "Cute?" "Yeah, but weird." "Really?" He asked. I laughed at the tone of his voice. He said, "Azi. I'm serious. Really?" Still laughingly, I said, "Maybe... considering the fact that you had the guts to wear yellow last night!" "I wasn't... I was wearing blue..." "Oh so are you saying I'm a liar? I'm not colorblind you know..." "No I know you're not lying. I was wearing yellow last night. Wait, how did you know? Your room is so far from mine..." "Why were you wearing yellow last night?" "Were you stalking me?" "Did you miss me?" I ask, smiling. He shrugs. I raise an eyebrow. "Fine I'll answer you first. Yes I missed you... that's why I asked for yellow clothes and not blue." He smiled. "You're blushing..." I roll my eyes. "Don't believe you..." "You're bright red, my dear..." "Am not!" "My little girl won't admit the fact that her face is so red..." I laugh. "Besides... you were wearing blue last night, Amity." All the color from my face disappeared. How did he know?! "You're colorblind--" "I missed you, remember?" I hide my face. "What if I--" He takes my hands. "Rolling of the eyes. Okay... what if I--" Silence. Then... I feel something on my cheek... "Blush... I s--" "Do me a favor, Zed. Stop doing this... please... I don't want to look too vulnerable and we're just friends, not some sort lovers. I'm not exactly prepared for your mushy disgusting ways of showing your sappy romance stuff." I say, seriously. "I just made you look more desirable, but, I'll respect you." "Actually, no, you just showed how foolishly, stupidly and suckishly sick you are. Thanks anyway for the respect."