Monster University (Completed)

Chapter 17

"So, you're saying that this book and the person with a Z tattoo is connected?" Margaux asked.

"It seemed like that." I answered.

I am now in a meeting with the Royal Officers and Knights, together with Alpha and Mr. S.

"How can an Aegis foresee the future?" Howard asked.

"Who knows? Ang importante ngayon, kailangan nating malaman kung sino ang lalakeng may Z na tattoo. 'Cause base from everything I heard, Arc will get his hand on with my daughter. And I won't let that happen." Sabi ni Mr. S. He looked different.

"But my vision never been wrong and we can't do nothing about it." Margaux said.

Never been wrong? Ibig bang sabihin, hindi pa kailanman nagbago ang hinaharap? It means, delikado ang buhay ko. Makukuha ako ni Arc at papatay ako gamit ang sarili kong mga kamay. Hindi puwede.

"Hey."

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Alpha na humawak sa kamay kong nakapatong sa lamesa. Pinisil niya yun ng marahan.

"I'm here." He said. I know what he meant by that.

I know I can trust his words. Pero paano kung mapahamak siya nang dahil sa akin?

"Ano nga palang laman ng libro? We might find an answer here." Ellena asked holding the book.

I suddenly get scared when she mentioned that. The last time I touched it, my head almost couldn't handle the pain.

"Ellena is right. The book title says it all. Z's identity is in that book." Duncan agreed.

"Do you even know what you're suggesting?! That book is a pain for Eri!" Roux strongly disagree with the idea.

Roux was there when the pain attacked me. He was so worried.

"Relax, Roux. Eri can still read the book without touching it, right?" Sabi naman ni Dylan.

"Yeah. We just need a page turner." Pagsang-ayon ni Flynn.

Lahat sila natahimik. It's a good suggestion anyway. And from what I see, we don't have a choice. I don't have a choice. We need to make an immediate action. It's all about me in the end.

I could feel their eyes on me.

Nasa harapan ko ang libro. It gave me a slight traumatic experience. The pain was almost unbearable. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko na-handle ang ganung sakit.

"You don't have to do it. We can find another way." Sabi ni Alpha. Hawak niya pa rin ang kamay ko.

"I'll do it." I insist. Alam kong ayaw niya akong masaktan tulad nung nakita niya. But it might be late for us if I won't do it now.

Pagkatapos ng meeting, sinamahan ako ni Alpha na maglakad-lakad sa garden. Umupo kami sa bench na nakapalibot sa mga rosas. Maganda ang panahon ngayon kahit na summer. Hindi gaanong mainit.

I looked up at the sky. The clouds are forming different images.

"Right!" Bulalas ko. May bigla lang akong naalala dahil sa mga ulap. "The painting!"

"Ha?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Alpha.

Hindi na ako nag-explain pa. Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at hinila siya papunta sa library.

Habol ko ang hininga ko nang makarating kami sa harapan ng malaking painting sa pinakadulo ng library. It's an abstract painting of a woman holding a knife with a Z engraved letter, just like the book and the tattoo I saw.