Paradise of Hell

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Exemption

The Capital · 11:54 am

A slap touched my face and a cold water dripped in to my skin. In a swift move I stood up from my bed.

"What the hell, Chen! I'm sleeping!" iritado kong sigaw. Habang tinitingnan sjla. Ano bang problema nila? I was furious when I hugged my pillow and went to bed again. What I hate the most is disturbing me on my sleep. No one ever did that except for these monkeys.

I clenched my jaw when I can't go back to sleep. Hindi na ako inaantok. Napabuntong hininga ako at napaupo. My eyes are still closed and I can sense their presence.

"Will the three of you get out of my room in the count of one..." I said, still closed eyes and clenched jaw.

"Enough of sleeping, Emi! It's already passed lunch! Our stomachs are growling in upset. Can you please-"

"Two..."

"Emi, we can't just leave you here. Magugutom ka. Paano kapag nagkasakit ka?" alalang alalang tanong ni Luna. Minulat ko na ang mga mata ko at ginalaw ang leeg sa magkabilang side, how many hours did I just slept?

Ayaw talaga nilang umalis. Bigla kong naramdaman ang pagkalam ng tyan ko. Gutom na ako. Napairap ako at tumayo at tiningnan silang tatlo ng masama.

"Next time don't bother me when I'm sleeping. Nakakainis kayo," sunod sunod silang tumango at naglakad na palabas. Sinabayan naman ako ni Chenna. She hugged my left arm childishly. Nagha-lukipkip naman ako at hinayaan ang trip niya.

"I have to tell this to you. Many have died. We are exempted to this battle week which is happening right now, na ilang araw na lang ay matatapos na nga. I still don't know when will be the next battle week. I don't know how to fight, Emilia. Paano tayo makakaligtas? I have no powers and I have no idea what we're doing here." I can feel her hopeless voice. Naglalakad kami sa hallway at nasa unahan lang namin sina Snow at Luna na busy rin magkwentuhan. Pareho ang nararamdaman namin ni Chen. Tama ang sinabi niya, four of us don't have special powers kaya ano pa ang saysay namin sa paaralang ito? Ang mamatay? Ang magdusa? How dare them. Sana pala kung alam ko lang, hindi ako magsasawang pigilan silang huwag pumasok sa paaralang ito.

Napabaling ako sa direksyon ni Chen. "How did you know? How many died?" tanong ko. Kumunot ang noo ko kasabay ng pagturo ng daliri ni Chen sa napakalaking screen na lumulutang lang sa taas ng field dito Hall of Residence. Kasing laki yata ng screen sa mga sinehan. Isa isa pinapakita sa screen ang picture ng mga namatay.

"About a hundred or less. Don't you think it's too much that they really need us to fight and kill our fellow students? Hindi ba sila naaawa sa atin na mamamatay na wala manlang na kalaban laban?" she irritably said. Dahil sa inis niya ay halos may pumatak na luha. Chen has a soft heart, madali siyang masaktan. She's emotional and can't handle tough situations, bakit ba nasali pa ang mga kaibigan ko dito?

Nasa field na kami ngayon ng Hall of Residence. Saka ko lang napansin na dalawang napakataas na building ang nakatayo dito sa inaapakan naming lugar. Only two canteen but has more than three floors. Sigurado ng hindi magsisikipan ang mga estudyante dyan sa canteen na iyan. Habang naglalakad kami ay napapansin kong pinagtitinginan kaming dalawa, pati na rin si Snow at Luna. Maraming mga estudyante ang naglalakad ngayon papunta sa canteen, might as well will have some lunch.

"That's what I really wanted to ask to Senior. Like, killing is not illegal? Crap that out. Gusto ba nilang walang matirang estudyante dito?"

"We're still in first floor, we need to level up and train. Baka sa ganoong paraan man lang ay makasurvive tayo sa laban. You sure you want to ask that to Senior? He's super hot but has a dark aura, nakakatakot siya though natatakpan ng kagwapuhan niya." Chenna said.