EDITED VERSION
******
Althea's POV
Nagising ako nang masakit ang ulo. I didn't know that alcohol will give this kind of headache.
Habang naliligo ako ay napapasapo ako sa aking ulo dahil sumasakit talaga 'yon. Paglabas ko sa bathroom ay napasigaw ako nang maabutan ko si Lydia at Cath na nakaupo sa sofa.
"How did you both got in--" I was cut off when Lydia showed me an ice that looked exactly like my key. Napakagat ako sa aking labi. I should really put a lot of locks in that freaking door!
"I smell alcohol. You drank last night?" Cath asked. Nagbihis ako pagkatapos ay humarap sa kanila na naghihintay ng sagot.
"I did," tipid kong sagot at sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng dorm. We walked on the busy hallway towards the cafeteria.
"For sure Isaac will be angry when he finds out that you got an alcohol on the wine cellar," sabi ni Lydia. Hindi ako nakasagot. He knew. Alam na alam niya dahil siya ang kasama ko kagabi. At siya ang kasama ko hanggang makatulog.
"After our classes, we'll be having our training," paliwanag sa akin ni Cath. Nang makarating kami sa cafeteria ay marami na roong estudyante.
"Hey!" Napatingin kami sa isang mahabang mesa with a unique clothing compared to the other table. A table for them.
Akmang hihiwalay ako sa kanila when Lydia held my arm. "Where are you going? You're part of us now. Tara." Then she pulled me.
Nang magsimula kaming kumain ay nagsimula na rin silang magkuwentuhan kung gaano nila inaabangan ang magaganap na tournament. They are really looking forward for that.
Natigilan kami nang may maglakad palapit sa mesa. "President, ngayon ka lang ulit sasabay sa aming kumain, a!" natatawang sabi ni Kurt at hinila niya si Isaac. Kaya ngayon, nasa harap ko na siya.
I can sense that he's looking at me as well as the others. "Does your head hurts?" he asked. Napapikit ako at agad na umiling.
"Wait, wait, wait..." Lydia motioned her hand as if she doesn't understand what's happening. "You knew she drank last night?" nagtataka nitong tanong.
Hindi sumagot si Isaac. Instead he hand me a cup of coffee. "Drink that. It will lessen the headache."
"Bakit kami wala?" nagtatampong sabi ni Kurt pero sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Isaac.
Tiningnan ko siya. Is he doing this to make fun of me? Isa lang bang biro sa kaniya ang nararamdaman ko kapag malapit siya sa akin?
I stood up and held the cup of coffee. "You know what? Sa 'yo na 'to. I don't drink coffee." Inilapit ko 'yon kay Kurt. Ramdam ko ang naguguluhan nilang titig sa akin. "I'm done here."
Naglakad ako pabalik sa dorm at natulog. I don't want to attend any of those classes. Nang magising ako ay tiningnan ko ang oras. It's almost time for the training.
Naglakad ako patungo sa training room at napadaan ako sa music room. Agad akong natigilan when I heard a familiar melody of a song being played. Bahagyang nakaawang ang pinto kaya sumilip ako roon upang makita kung sino ang nasa loob.
And there I saw Isaac holding a guitar with a serious expression on his face. Hid eyes are shut and all he began to sing.
"And you look as beautiful as ever, and I swear that everyday you get better," he sang while strumming the guitar. "You made me feel this way somehow."
Tumigil siya at nagulat ako nang nilingon niya ako. He saw me. Umiwas ako ng tingin at agad na naglakad palayo but I heard him called my name.
"Hey, stay for a while." I was frozen when he said that. Naglakad ako pabalik sa loob ng music room at pinanood ko lang siya habang tumutugtog at kumakanta. His voice gives shiver down my spine. He's good at it.
"Music can calm me that's why I'm here," sabi niya. He put down the guitar and stood up. I guess there's something bothering him that's why he needed to calm down.
"You are bothered," I stated. I heard him chuckled.
"By you..." Nagulat ako. I didn't expect him to say that. "Pumunta na tayo sa training room. Naghihintay sila sa atin," he said then walked away.
Nang makarating kami sa training room ay sabay-sabay nila kaming nilingon ni Isaac. They already wore their fighting gears. Siguro nga ay kanina pa nila kami hinihintay.
"We didn't know you're that close at sabay pa kayong nagpunta rito," Kristian said. He sounded like he's teasing us.
"I guess they spent a little time together," bulong ni Kurt pero rinig naman namin 'yon.
I heard Isaac sighed. I guess he's pissed. "Kapag tapos na kayong mag-asaran, magsisimula na tayo."
Kurt chuckled. "Pikon," he muttered pero dahil malapit siya sa akin ay narinig ko 'yon kaya hindi ko na lang din naiwasan na matawa.
"Let's start!" sigaw ni Isaac. Inabutan niya kami ng pagbubunutan kung sino ang mga makakalaban namin. Bumunot na ako at napangiwi nang mabasa ko kung sino. Lydia.
"Si Cath at Kristian na ang mauuna. Kurt, start the simulator," utos ni Isaac. Binuksan na ni Kurt ang simulator at nagsimula na rin ang laban. Namamangha ako sa mga nilaa
labas nilang kapangyarihan. Magaling si Cath sa apoy. Si Kristian naman, sa tubig. They mastered it and keep on pushing their limits. Walang sumusuko and that's what I like abouy this team.
Ilang minuto pa, natapos ang laban at mukhang wala namang nanalo. They have the same strength, and ability. Nakamamangha.
"Next fight, me and Kurt," ani Isaac. He smirked but Kurt bit his lips. "It's payback time," sabi ni Isaac.
"Hey, take it easy--" Kurt was cut off when Isaac yelled.
"Start the simulator!" Gaya ng sinabi niya ay agad 'yong sinimulan ni Kristian.
Nagsimula silang maglaban. Napaismid ako nang makita kung gaano kagaling si Isaac pagdating sa labanan. He's so focus that even if you're much stronger than him, he can beat you. Ayaw niyang nagpapatalo. Gusto niya seryoso ka pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay. And I can't help but to admire his capacity when it comes to fighting.
Agad na natapos ang laban nila dahil natalo ni Isaac si Kurt na napaluhod sa lupa at napakapit doon. Pero si Isaac ay tila wala man lang emosyon habang nakikipaglaban.
"Next fight. Lydia and Althea!" Napaigtad ako nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko. Shit!
Nagkatinginan kami ni Lydia at nginitian niya ako. "Good luck, 'Thea."
"Thanks," sabi ko. I know Lydia. She will not be easy on me. Lahat sila ay mayroong mga kakayahan na wala ako. But it is the same for me. I may be average compared to them, but the truth is, I can now use any of my powers.
"Let's start!"
****
Isaac's picture on the media. Credits to the rightful owner of the photo.
BINABASA MO ANG
Alexandria Academy
Fantasy"You knew how hard it was for me to trust people! You knew what I've been through, but you still broke me!" Althea Genovie grew up without someone to lean on. Kaya't sa tuwing may gustong pumasok sa buhay niya ay itinutulak niya palayo. Her life rev...
