When We Wake Up

004 • First Day

I SMILED A LIL AND COMPOSED MYSELF. I never saw it coming. It was my first freaking day here in this classroom. And just a while ago, I answered the question of our English instructor. At hindi ko inaasahan na kailangan ko palang makipag debate sa twing sasagot. A girl named Artemis na tinatawag nilang Art stood up and oppose my answer.

"Now Ms. Athena. If you really care for your country, then why do you have to kill those people in jail? Didn't you'll gonna disobey the human rights?" I smirked and mock her. Ang tanong kasi ng instructor namin, kung sakaling presidente kami ng isang bansa na overpopulation na, ano ang gagawin namin. And I just answered the possible answer.

Ramdam na ang tensyon sa buong room. Nararamdaman ko rin na nagpipigil na ang iba ng hininga. Even Ms. Topaz, didn't bothered to talk or make any noise. Naglalakad lakad pa si Artemis sa kinatatayuan niya kaya nag eco ang tunog ng sapatos niya sa bawat ginagawa niyang hakbang.

"Oh please Ms. Artemis things that aren't possible should be eliminated. Why? Are you that compassion to save one's life? Silly how people nowadays only think of what they thought that's good, answer what they think that's right for them to be praised by the society for their altruistic image. And let me ask you, did I said that all of the prisoner will be eliminated? Oh please again, use your precious mind, of course I am going to save those who are innocent. And, what's your solution? Orientation of family planning? Isn't that solution is so ineffective? Observing that many people is narrow-minded and don't give a damn— I'm sorry, err, care about your objectives? And if they refuse to do so, you'll torture women by having their fallopian tubes remove?" and as I'm done with my speech, the bell rang.

"Okay class, see you tomorrow. But I reckon that there's other solution than killing of lives and killing their hope to have their child. Dismiss." at agad nang umalis si Ms. Topaz. Di agad ako lumabas dahil siksikan pa sa pintuan.

Inayos ko na lang ang mga gamit ko. At nang mapansin kong kaunti na lang ang tao ay isinuot ko na ang bag ko at akmang lalabas ng classroom nang bigla akong tinawag ni Artemis. Nilingon ko siya't tinanong kung bakit. She smiled at me politely and so I smiled back.

"I like your way of killing people by words." halakhak niya at saka inilahad ang kaniyang kamay sa harap ko. "Artemis Frosts." inabot ko 'yon at ngumiti din.

"Athena." nang matapos ang hand shaking moment namin ay agad niya akong niyaya.

"Halika, libre ko lunch— ay, libre lang pala dito." pagkakamot niya sa ulo niya na tinawanan ko. I feel comfortable to her just like what I feel with Hestia and Hades, kaya naman ayos lang saking ipakita ang totoong ako.

Umupo kami sa pinakadulo at agad na pinindot ang button sa tabi ng gusto naming kainin na nasa menu. Noong una ay nagtataka pa ako kung para saan ito. Pero nang makita ko kung paano nag order ang nasa kabilang table, ay ginaya ko rin ito.

Wala pang limang minuto ay nagulat ako sa pababang mini flatform na pabilog galing sa itaas. May dalawang pinggang natatakpan doon. Kukunin ko na sana ang pinggan ko nang pinigilan ako ni Art na naintindihan ko naman kung bakit, dahil robotic ang flatform na bumaba.

Nilapag ng kamay ng robot ang order namin at saka siya may kinuha sa itaas na isang bucket ng yelo at mga basong may juice at tubig.

"I never thought na ganito pala dito!" na e-excite kong ani at saka naman tinanggalan ng takip ng robot ang mga pagkain namin at naglagay pa ng flower vase sa gitna.