Willford University

ᗯᘮ - Chapter 58

Annica Torres

"Can you guys please shut the fuck up? Can't you see she's sleeping?" Iritang sabi ng isang babae. Was the Annica? Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang aking mga mata. It wasn't Annica. It was Olivia.

White ceiling? Pang-ilang beses na ba akong bumabangon na ang unang makikita ay white ceiling? Wala na ata itong katapusan. Nang maidilat ko na ang aking mga mata ay nakita ko ang mga ka-team kong nagbabantay. I didn't see Hiro and Annica though.

"Topaz?! You're finally awake. You scared us." Hingang malalim ni Caleb na bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon nang maramdaman ko ang kirot sa aking tagiliran. Right, I was stabbed.

"Where's the fucking bastard?" Agad kong tanong.

"Goodness, Topaz. Kagigising mo lang nagmumura ka na agad." Sabi ni Caleb at agad ko siyang binigyan ng masamang tingin. Sinara niya naman agad ang kanyang bibig.

"I'm glad, you're okay now." Sabi ni Olivia at napatango si Jack sa pag-agree. "Anyway, the guy you're talking about ay kasama ng board members and council. I'm not sure kung anong meron but they're probably forcing him to reveal his purpose." Dagdag niya pa.

"I see." Sabi ko. "Where are we?" Tanong ko ulit.

"You're still in the camp. Hindi pumayag ang dean na dalhin ka sa ospital dahil within the college's activity nangyari ang pagkakabaril sayo. And this university doesn't really want to be involved with the police which is for sure huhuyakin nila ang nangyari dito kaya naman nagpadala na lang ng private doctor ang university para gamutin ka. You've been asleep for four hours." Sabi ni Jack.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Where's Annica and Hiro?"

"Kailangan si Hiro sa council and Annica, I'm not sure what's the reason but she had to go with them."

"She's probably called because she'll get the throne? She technically won." Sabi ni Olivia at napabuntong-hininga ako ulit. Everything was ruined because of that man.

"I need to see and talk to that man."

"No, you're not feeling well. You'll stay here and wait for the announcement." Awtoridad na sabi ni Jack. Nag-igting ang panga ko at tumango na lamang.

"You should go rest more. Kailangan na naming umalis. Today's the last day of the camp, kailangan pa naming ayusin ang mga gamit namin. We haven't moved here since you fainted. We'll be back in a few." Sabi ni Jack at napatango ako.

"What's the name of your friend? I'll ask her na ayusin na rin ang gamit mo." Tanong ni Olivia at sinabi kong Nicole.

Napahiga akong muli at tinakpan ang aking mga mata gamit ang braso. I'm so pissed right now. Ilang sugat na ba ang nakuha ko sa university na 'to? I can almost get a veteran certificate for being a mafia sa sobrang daming peklat kong nakuha sa mga laban.

Fuck, I bet the wound would have a mark. Tinaas ko ang aking damit at na-realize na nabaril ako malapit sa tattoo ko sa right waist. Muli akong napabuntong-hininga.

This won't end.

Agad akong napabalikwas nang may biglang pumasok ng kwarto.

"Miss Margarette?" Taka kong tanong.

"How are you doing? I have to apologize dahil nakapasok ang isang katulad niya sa camp natin. Ikaw pa ang napuruhan." Sabi niya.

"I did what I have to. Annica was his target and she couldn't see it dahil nakatalikod siya sa taong iyon. She's still a team and a student from the same university, after all." Sabi ko at tinitigan ang dean.

Napangiti siya at napatango. "I understand. Kaya mo na bang tumayo? It's almost seven in the evening and the bus will be here soon. Babalik na tayo sa university."

"I'm alright, Miss Margarette. This is nothing to me especially that I am trained at a young age."

"Well, then. Also, the university would provide a room for you for a few days stay. We can't let this issue get out of the university kaya hangga't sa maaari we don't want your family to know about this. Would that be okay?" Sabi niya at napatango ako. "I'm fine with it but what about my uniform?"

"We will provide you shoes and uniform, you don't have to worry." Sabi niya. "Ahh, before I forget. I announced something earlier pero wala ka."

"What would it be?"

"The day after tomorrow, we will be announcing the new queen. All students are required to attend the coronation. As usual, it will be held at the announcement hall and by ten in the morning." Huli niyang sabi bago lumabas ng kwarto.

It's obviously Annica, why do I have to attend the coronation kung alam ko na naman kung sino ang nanalo? But I guess, I should go. Give respect to the new queen, they say. 

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"How's your wound?" Tanong ni Nicole sa akin. Papunta kami ngayon sa announcement hall.

"Medyo nakirot pa rin siya but I am doing fine."

"Okay, that's good to know. I was really worried." Sabi niya at napailing naman ako.

"You've been saying that for these past few days. I understand you're worried but really, you don't have to. This is nothing to me. This isn't the first time I was shot by a gun." Irap ko.

"Still!" Pilit niya at tumango-tango na lang ako.

Pagkarating namin sa hall ay bumungad sa amin ang sobrang ingay. Halos excited silang lahat sa magiging queen. Hindi mapakali at kung ano pa.

Tumahimik rin naman agad ang paligid nang umakyat ang dean at ang council. Nanatiling nakatayo ang dean sa harap ng podium stand samantalang ang council naman ay umupo sa mga upuang nasa stage.

Nagsalita naman agad ang dean nang tumahik at hindi nagpaligoy-ligoy pa.

"I'm sure you, students, are aware of today's event. It was announced at the last days of your yearly camp. There was this specific camp batch that showed an outstanding performance. With that, the board had decided to choose a new queen from that batch. We have already talked about this matter with the council and they finally agreed to find a new queen. Now, at the last day of that batch's camp, we held a solo match for the female members of the winning teams.

"I should announce the winner now, what do you think?" Tanong niya sa amin at nagakaroon ng ingay.

"The new queen of Willford University is Annica Torres... that's what I want to say but the board, council and Ms. Torres had decided against it." Agad na kumunot ang noo ko at hinanap ng mata ko si Annica. She was sitting straight and listening to Miss Margarette's word.

Anong nangyayari? Akala ko siya ang bagong queen?

"You see, at the last day of that batch's camp, an assassin got into the camp's premises. It was a spy from an enemy organization and its mission was to kill Willfordians. Why do you think their mission is to kill Willfordians? It's because of the Chavaliers of Willford." Agad na nagkaroon ng komosyon sa buong hall.

"Annica Torres was the target of that spy but her opponent stopped the man and ended up as the victim. What I am trying to point out is that techinally, Annica Torres was supposed to be the queen because she won the match but she decided against it. Let's hear from her, shall we?" Sabi niya at tinawag si Annica at stage. Nanlaki ang mata ko. I think I know where this is going.

"I won. Well, technically. I wanted to be the queen but I know someone better than me deserves that throne. A queen should be respected but that's not all. The queen must sacrifice something to win the throne and I did nothing. I couldn't do anything at that moment. My opponent saved me. She caught the bullet for me even though she knows, it will affect the result of the match. I believe she deserves the throne. I believe Topaz Jewel Monteverde deserves to be the new queen of Willford University."

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