EDITED VERSION
******
Althea's POV
Nangunot ang noo ko. "This tournament is planned, Isaac. According to Lydia, you've been dealing with this for so long, tapos sa isang iglap isusuko mo?" I can't believe he's gonna say na huwag na lang kaming sumali sa tournament when he's the one who pushed me to join.
"I know, but--" I cut him off.
"Continue being the leader and the president or else I'll never talk to you ever again," sabi ko. I didn't mean it that way. Hindi ko rin gustong samantalahin ang nararamdaman niya, pero itong tournament na ito, alam kong mahalaga 'to sa kaniya.
"Althea..." he uttered my name. I touched his hand, as if I'm assuring him that everything will be alright.
"Goodnight, Isaac." Lumabas siya at agad kong isinara ang pinto. Agad din akong nakatulog paghiga ko.
*****
"Class dismissed," Mr. Fin said. First time kong pumasok sa kaniya pero hindi na niya ako pinakilala sa mga kaklase ko dahil kilala na raw nila akong lahat. Gusto ko sanang itanong kung paano pero agad kong naalala na kasali nga pala ako sa grupo ng lalaban sa tournament. They know me as the hoaxer.
I picked up my things and was about go out and go to my next class when Mr. Hawkins stopped me. Nagulat ako dahil ngayon ko na lang ulit siya nakita.
"Good morning, sir." I bowed down to show respect. He smiled at me. "Ano pong kailangan ninyo?"
"I want to talk to you. Shall we?" Itinuro niya ang daan palabas ng room. Tumango naman ako kahit na kinakabahan ako. Iniisip ko kung may nagawa ba ako o may nalabag ako sa rules, pero wala naman. Bukod sa hindi ako pumapasok sa classes, wala na.
He led the way towards to his office. Ewan ko but I have this strange feeling na may hindi magandang patutunguhan ang araw na ito.
When we got to his office, agad niya akong pinaupo sa swivel chair.
"I want to show you something," Mr. Hawkins said. Saglit siyang naghanap sa mga papel na nasa mesa. Nanatili akong tahimik, and I can feel my hands are trembling especially when he handed me a lot of newspaper.
Pagbukas ko ng mga pahina ng mga lumang diyaryo ay puro larawan ni Isaac at mga article tungkol sa kaniya. Kahit sa Magical University ay may mga article din tungkol sa kung gaano siya kagaling na pinuno.
Nangunot ang noo ko na napatingin kay Mr. Hawkins. "Para saan po 'to?"
"Althea, can you do us a favor?" he asked. Nangunot ang noo ko, there's this feeling in my guts that this conversation will not end well. "Will you stay away from Isaac for a while?"
Natigilan ako. I tried to open my mouth to utter a word or defend myself but I can't. Napapikit ako. Bakit nga ba hindi ko kayang magsalita? Dahil ba hindi ko rin kayang gawin ang sinabi niya? How will I suppose to stay away from someone when my whole system is shouting his name and I don't fucking know why? Damn.
"Althea, I know it's hard, but Isaac is changing." Kinuha niya ang mga newspapers sa kamay ko at tiningnan 'yon. "This tournament is everything for him, as well as his position as the president and the leader. I know Isaac for so long and he never acted this way. Kahit noong buhay pa si Rhian. That's why I don't understand--" I cut him off.
"So, what are you trying to say, sir? That I'm Isaac's distraction? That I will lead him to his own downfall?"
Saglit siyang natahimik. I can feel my eyes watering that's why I look away. Kapag naaalala ko ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Isaac kagabi ay mas lalo akong naguguluhan.
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...
