Acresia Academy: The Six Aces (Editing)

CHAPTER 4

DUMIRETSO sila Quintana sa West Wing nang makarating sila. Nais sana ni Headmaster Greg na pumunta muna sila sa Conference Hall pero ikinagulat niya ang ginawang pag-hindi ni Jiro kanina. Saying that she's too tired to have a meeting with them.

She doesn't know, but there's a side of her that's thankful for what the man did.

“Your Majesty. You can rest now. Just call me if you need anything.” Adhara told her. She give her a slight nod. Yumuko ito at umalis. Leaving her alone.

She heaved out a long sigh. Parang pinaglalaruan yata siya ng mundo dahil ang kwartong ginagamit niya ngayon ay may malaking glass door na kita ang buong Acresia- the land where its people betrayed her.

She shook her head gently. Hindi niya na dapat isipin pa iyon dahil sa oras na matapos ang responsibilidad niya rito ay aalis siya at hindi na kailanman babalik pa.

After a while, she heard a knock.

“Come in.”

Ang akala niya ay si Adhara ang bumalik pero ikinagulat niya'ng si Jiro pala iyon.

“Anong kailangan mo Jiro?”

“Nagkausap kami ni Headmaster Greg. He requested na pumasok Tayo sa Academy. Especially you Your Highness. He wants you to observe there.” her forehead creased upon hearing this.

“Tell him to go to hell. If he wants, I can burn the whole academy instead." she saw how Jiro slightly cringed at the thought. Ano na naman bang pumasok sa utak ng matandang iyon at papapasukin pa siya sa Academy? Tulong lang ang kailangan nito at hindi niya attendance niya sa Academy.

“He said something about magus trying to possess the students there. They can't let that again after....you know.” after hearing that ay liningon niya si Jiro.

How can she decline it? Kung magus ang pag-uusapan? She clenched her jaw. No, hindi niya hahayaang may inosenteng tao ulit na masasaktan dahil sa mga pesteng magus na iyan.

“Okay.” she said. Her jaw clenched. They are giving her no choice.

***

“Your Highness! Princess Quintana! Gising na!” a frantic voice and the constant banging of the door woke Quintana from her deep slumber.

“Your Highness! Mal-late na po tayo!”

She groaned when she heard Adhara banged the door again.

She silently curse this whole stupid attending school. Tuloy ay nabubulabog siya sa pahinga niya because she had to wake up early and get effin ready for school.

“Shut up no Adhara. I hate nosy people.” ang bungad niya kay Adhara nang buksan niya ang pinto. Adhara didn't react tho. Dahil sanay na ito sa ugali niya and her constant threats.

“Maligo na po kayo Mahal na Prinsesa. I'll get everything ready for you.”

And she did. She did her daily routine. She was too fascinated with the shower room na nang matapos siya at lumabas ay nakita niya ang lugmok na muka ni Adhara.

“Oops. I might have took a long time taking a bath." she said humorlessly.

“Kailangan na ho nating magmadali Princess Quintana. 30 minutes late na ho tayo.” Adhra frantically told her. Which she just rolled her eyes.

“What difference does it make Adhara? I'm already late so I don't need to rush because whatever I do I'm still late.”  she said.

Nakita niya kung paanong naiiling si Adhara habang tinitingnan siyang kumakain. Late naman din lang siya ay hindi na niya kailangang magmadaki. Besides, it was them who wants her help kaya maghintay sila kung gusto nila.

“Where's  Jiro?” tanong niya nang mapansing wala ang lalake.

Adhara eyed her. Ito ang unang beses na hinanao niya ang binata. She realized what she said kaya dali siya g nag-iwas ng tingin kay Adhara. Acting like she doesn't  care at all.

What's happening with you Quintana?! Argh! She asked herself.

Tuloy ay nawalan na siya ng ganang kumain. She stand up.

Bago lumabas ng kwarto ay pumunta siya sa sala.

“Do you really have to wear it Princess Quintana?”

Natigil ang pagsusuot niya sa kanyang maskara at liningon si Adhara.

“Hindi na nila kailangan pang malaman kung sino ako Adhara.” she said. Leaving no room for discussion.

The mask covered half of her face. At tanging mga mata lang nuya ang natatabunan. But it's enough to hide her from them.

She ponytailed her white hair and get her bag.

Narinig niya ang pagsunod ni Adhara sa kanya at nagpatuloy na siya sa paglalakad. Aware of the knights following her secretly. O kung matatawag nga bang sekreto kung alam na niyang sumusunod ang mga ito sa kanya. But she knows that her knights respect her privacy.

Kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas ay alam niya pa rin ang daan papuntang academy.

Her heart started to beat frantically habang papalapit siya sa gate ng academy.

Pinakawalan niya ang isang mahabang hininga at tuluyang pumasok sa academy. Hindi maikakailang nakakatawag siya ng atsensyon sa mga studyante. Because aside from the knights following her or the mask she's  wearing, she carries a powerful aura too. Aura that demands respect and submission from everyone.

She tilt her head to the side. Hindi niya na binigyan pa ng pansing at mga matang nakatitig sa kanya.

But when she saw a familiar eyes, her facial expression hardened.

Unti-unting lumapit sa kanya ang limang ace. She was aware how her knights stand defensively. Ready to protect her from any danger.

She raised her hand. Signalling her knights to be still- and they did.

“Magandang araw Princess Quintana.” ang sunod-sunod na bati sa kanya. Pero tanging si Rainier lamang ang nanatiling tikom ang bibig habang tinitingnan siya. Nagsimula na siyang mailang sa tinging ipinupukol nito sa kanya pero nilabanan niya iyon.

She stand in front of them proudly and gracefully. Showing them who she is.

“I don't  think there's something good with my morning.” she said and then walk away.

She left them dumbfounded. She doesn't need their hostility!

Bago tuluyang lumayo ay nakita niya pa ang pag-igting ng panga ni Rainier. But she couldn't  care less. She's done.

“Good morning You Highness.”

Napalingon siya sa may-ari ng tinig na iyon at tumigil.

“Morning Jiro.”

Ngumiti ng matamis ang kausap niya. He slightly  bow and to her surprise, he get her hand and kiss the back of it.

Narinig niya ang pag-singhap ni Adhara na nasa likod niya at ng ilang studyante na nakakita.

She took her hand from his grasp in a subtle manner. Hindi niya maintindihan ang nararamdaman at mas lalong hindi niya maintindihan ang sobrang init na temperatura sa paligid. They all feel it.

At nakita niya ang may kagagawan niyon. It was the man with a grim look etched upon his face.

It's Rainier.

***