Classmate
Zion
"A-aww," Kagat-labing reklamo ko kasabay ng pagirap sa akin ni Selene. "Can you be a little bit gentle?"
"Oh, you want me to be gentle?" Mataray na aniya sabay mas lalong idiniin ang cotton sa sugat ko. Damn, that hurts! "There, that's how gentle works for me."
Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako't nilingon ang kwarto 'kong siyang pinagtaguan namin matapos ng lahat ng nangyari. Yep, this is one crazy day.
"You're one stupid Protector," Mataray na sabi niya't nilingon ako gamit ang kulay-lilá niyang mga mata. "Who in their right minds would say hi to an Ogre? Especially a Protector!"
"I-i'm sorry," Nakayukong sabi ko't hinayaan si Selene sa pagmurder ng sugat ko. "H-hindi ko alam 'kung anong gagawin ko--"
"You should've fight!" Galit na sabi niya't sa wakas ay tinigilan na ang sugat ko. "You're a Protector, Zion! Not some stupid brainless creature."
Natahimik ako, pakiramdam ko ay isa akong kahiya-hiya't napakawalang-kwentang tao matapos marinig ang lahat ng sinabi niya.
I'm so worthless.
"Sorry," Mahinang aniya't muling itinoon ang pansin sa braso 'kong nasugatan nang matumba ako kanina. She looked at my bruise with a pained expression and said, "Forget what I've just said--"
"How?" Sa wakas ay nabanggit ko na din ang tanong kanina 'pang gumugulo sa akin, the question that I was dying to get an answer. "Paano nangyari ang lahat ng ito?"
"Zion," Buntong-hininga niya't diretso akong tinitigan sa mga mata. "This is the reality, you're a Protector and you must help me bring peace to this world."
"Are you sure?" Kunot-noong sabi ko't umiwas ng tingin, my eyes facing the floor. "I think you got the wrong person, I mean, look at me."
Natahimik siya, katulad ko ay seryoso ang kaniyang itsura't 'tila hinihintay ang susunod 'kong sasabihin.
Napalingon ako sa paa ko, ang dahilan 'kung bakit ako pinagtatawanan ng mga tao lalo na't ni-makatayo ng tuwid ay hindi ko magawa.
I'm such a weakling.
"I'm no Protector, Selene." Sabi ko't napabuntong-hininga. "I'm just a worthless human being."
"No, Zion." Agad na alma niya't itinuro ang kwintas 'kong kimikislap matapos bumalik rito ang Dragon na nagprotekta sa akin mula sa Ogre. "You're a Protector, a Fire Protector--"
"Paano?" Frustrated na sabi ko't kunot-noo siyang nilingon. "All my life, I had never stepped both of my foot on the ground. I can't even stand straight. So tell me, how can I, a weak human being, help you save this world?"
"You're no weakling, Zion." Seryosong sagot niya't hinawakan ang sugat sa tuhod ko, letting her hazelnut brown hair fall on the ground as her eyes sparkle with such determination. "This is a symbol of your braveness, you risked your life protecting me and I will forever thank you for doing that."
Natahimik ako, for a moment I just stared at her lovely purple eyes as she said, "Thank you for saving me."
Those eyes, mahinang bulong ko't 'tila hindi magawang bawiin ang tingin ko sa kaniyang mga mata. So familiar and beautiful.
"Hep, hep!" Agad na awat ng isang maliit na boses, dahilan para mapalayo ako kay Selene kasabay ng pagbungad sa akin ng isang, I don't know, a small ant-looking creature with wings? "Stay away from my Master!"
Napanganga ako, manghang nilingon ang maliit na langaw, or maybe a bee, na nasa harapan 'kong namumula ang mukha sa sobrang inis.
"It's alright, Heather." Buntong-hiningang saway ni Selene sa maliit na bubuyog sa harapan namin sabay hinawak-hawakan ang ulo nito para pakalmahin. "He's a Protector, not an enemy."
"Protector?" Gulat na sabi ng bubuyog na tinatawag niyang Heather sabay nilingon ako. "So, you're the one who broke the spell?"
Napakunot-noo ako, 'tila hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi niya't napatanong, "Spell? What spell?"
"You know, the spell which made me and my master stuck inside a statue, duhh."
Napalunok ako't napapakurap na lamang ng mga mata habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa ni Selene.
Like master, like uhm--bee?
"Hoy!" Muling pamumula ng mukha ni Heather sabay sinuntok ako sa mukha. Small but terrible. "I'm not a bee!"
"This is Heather Silverglimmer, my guardian." Paggitna sa amin ni Selene sabay mataray kaming nilingon, well as always. "She's a fairy."
Napanganga ako, manghang nilingon si Heather at 'tila natauhan nang makita ang kumikislap niyang damit. Oh, so she's not a bee--
"Sabing hindi nga ako bubuyog eh!"
"Stop it you two," Muling pagtigil sa amin ni Selene, her hand touching my elbow. "We got a bigger problem here."
Natahimik kami, 'tila natauhan matapos ang sinabi niya't tumahimik upang makinig sa kaniyang sasabihin.
"We only have a few months left before the crescent moon arrives," Aniya't bumuntong-hininga. "We need to find the other Protectors."
"What?" Gulat na sabi ko't nanlalaki ang mga matang nilingon si Selene. "Other protectors? You mean, I'm not the only one?"
"Yes," Aniya't seryoso akong nilingon. "You see, the world is consist of 4 different elements namely; Fire, Earth, Wind and Water, and these elements have their own Masters or what we called as the 'Protectors'. These Protectors will serve as an instrument to help the Gods protect the world before it's too late."
"Before my sister destroys everything.."
"Sister?" Gulat na sabi ko't manghang nilingon siya. "You have a sister?"
"Obviously," Mataray na sagot niya't inirapan ako, her purple eyes glowing with the moonlight. "I also have a brother named Helios, the God of Sun, who was kidnapped by Eos, my evil sister who is also the Goddess of Dawn."
Natahimik ako, 'tila pinapasok pa sa utak ko ang lahat ng sinasabi niya kasabay ng pagpapatuloy niya.
"As you can see, my sister is obsessed with Power which led her to kill both of our Parents and made her even stronger." Aniya't bumuntong-hininga. "She was also the reason why I was stuck on a statue for a couple of years, she cast a spell on me and made me truly useless as she kidnapped my brother to also get his power. She did everything just because of her obsession for Power."
Napatigil ako, bigla ay nalungkot para sa kaniya kasabay ng pagharap niya sa amin, her purple eyes shining with determination.
"So, we must now find the other Protectors." Aniya't nginitian kami. "We still have 3 months to go."
"How?" Sabi 'kong nagpatigil sa kaniya. "How can we find the other Protectors?"
"Simple, darling." Aniya't nginisian ako. "I'll be your classmate."
