I was walking alone, as usual, sa hallway. Napakatahimik ngayon which very unusual lalo na at hindi pa naman nag-uumpisa ang oras ng klase. I just shrugged the thought of that and went on my way to my favorite spot. The tree in the middle of the University.
I was about to climb the tree when I felt an unfamiliar presence. I instantly removed my earphones and look around. May lalaking naglalakad palapit sakin.
Sya yung student council president if I'm not mistaken. I told myself.
"Ah what a bother. Sya kaya yung Yexen Jaize na pinapahanap ni HM? Sya nga siguro. Sa puno daw ang tambayan eh." I heard him saying.
Well, not literally. Sa isip nya lang kasi sinabi yon. And yes, my world is a lot noisier because of this curse. I can hear/read what other people thinks kahit di ko naman gusto. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at nagsimulang maglakad papuntang office.
"The headmaster is lo—"
Hindi ko na sya pinatapos sa pagsasalita dahil alam ko naman na ang sasabihin nya.
"I know. Zen is looking for me." Agad ko syang iniwan pagtapos sabihin yon.
Ahh this is so tiring. I just want to rest na. Damn what is it this time? Siguraduhin nya lang na importante ang sasabihin nya dahil wala akong oras para sa mga kalokohan nya. Dahil sa inis ko, hindi ko namalayan na nasa harap na ko ng office ni Zen. Hindi na ko kumatok pa dahil wala naman syang kasama sa loob, agad kong binuksan ang pinto at naglakad agad patungo sa kanya.
"Oh Jaize, sit down." Nakangiti nyang bati sakin sabay abot ng paborito kong pagkain. Siomai with rice.
"What do you need this time?" Tanong ko ng hindi sya tinatapunan ng tingin dahil busy ako sa pagkain ko.
"Magtransfer ka sa Zauberhaft Academy. You might understand why you have that kind of ability." Napatingin ako bigla sa kanya dahil don.
"Seriously, Zen? Ability you say? This is a curse for fucks sake." Irritation is obvious with my tone already.
"Please, Jaize. Just give it a shot. I know that you're getting tired because of your peculiarity pero hindi ka naman nag-iisa eh. Marami kayo. And you might know the reason why you possessed such ability. Magkakaron ka rin ng mga kaibigan don. Having a friend is not such a bad idea right? That place is secluded. May sarili silang dorm for the students and may sarili ring malls and hospitals. All you need is right there and you don't need to be scared that anyone might discover na hindi ka normal." Mahabang paliwanag nya. Still wearing my straight face, I just nodded because I don't want to argue anymore. Aksaya lang sa energy ang magsalita. Kakain na lang ako at matutulog.
Tapos na ko kumain kaya agad akong tumayo at naglakad na papunta sa pinto dahil antok na antok na talaga ko nang magsalita na naman si Zen.
"Oh rignt, I forgot to mention that you will be transferring next week kaya ihanda mo na ang sarili mo. Pack your things already." I just yawned at his remarks at tuluyan ng lumabas.
Hindi ako nag-iisa huh? All my life I really thought that I'm the only one. That I'm cursed dahil hindi naman talaga normal ang marinig mo ang iniisip ng ibang tao.
When I was young, sobrang hirap ang dinanas ko. Akala ko nababaliw na ko dahil ang daming boses ang naririnig ko sa tuwing lumalabas ako ng bahay until I realized that those voices are other people's thoughts. I tried my best na makontrol ang kakayahan kong ito. And when I turned 12, I fully controlled it. Pero mas gusto kong gumagamit ng earphones at makinig ng mga tugtog para di ko na kailangan mag-effort na iblock ang boses nila sa isip ko. Nakakapagod at nakakatamad kaya yon.
I finally reached my favorite place. Agad kong inakyat ang puno saka humiga sa sanga non at natulog.
