Flame Academy

/1/

Ilang minuto din siguro ang lumipas na nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa bagong school ko. There are many questions running inside my mind but I'm in so much awe I cannot ask anything. I think I just came back to my senses when I saw two men walking towards us.

They both have a welcoming smile plastered on their faces but their auras shout the otherwise. It was like they were just ordered to smile at us. Their smiles are also not warm at all.

Wala sa sariling napaatras ako nang tumigil silang dalawa sa harapan namin ni Mommy. It looks like they have the same age as mine but their presences are different. There is something about them.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Calmerin," greeted one with a tan skin. Then the two of them turned to me. "And to you too."

Mommy smiled back and greeted them too. Then she suddenly looked at me, like saying I also should say something. Napatikhim naman ako at tumingin sa kanila. I showed them the usual smile I used to use in my former school. Their smiles shortened while looking at me as I said, "Good afternoon, too."

Napatikhim naman ang lalaking nakasuot ng pulang damit at sabay silang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. They fixed their eyes on Mommy and that made me wonder if I did something wrong. I just shrugged because they didn't seem to like my smile. Or they aren't just used seeing a girl smiling at them?

"The headmaster sent us to take your luggage and take you to his office," said the guy with a red shirt.

"Oh, right. Her baggages are at the back of the car," Mommy said and they both nodded.

Nanatili naman akong tahimik habang kinukuha nila ang nag-iisang maleta na dala ko sa likuran ng sasakyan. The guy with a tan skin took it and suddenly walked towards the huge building standing at the left side of the white structure. It was separated and I wondered what it is for.

"Please follow me," said the remaining guy and started to walk. Hinawakan naman ni Mommy ang kamay ko at nginitian bago kami sumunod sa kanya.

Instead of entering the main entrance of the school, naglakad kami papunta sa kaliwang bahagi. We entered a double door at the left edge of the structure and the people inside immediately turned their gazes on us. I saw many working stations and it looks like the faculty room in my former school. But this one is bigger, wider and more beautiful. Mukhang ito din ang facutly room para sa mga teachers ng academy na ito. But just like what I felt with the first two young guys, I felt something different with these people. I know there is something about them that I just cannot pinpoint.

As we follow the guy towards somewhere, the people inside smiled at us. I saw recognition the moment they looked at my mother, like they knew her and they knew we would come. No one spoke a word, neither them or Mommy. But between them, I felt a connection.

Umakyat kami sa hagdan na nasa kanang bahagi ng faculty room papunta sa ikalawang palapag. A long straight hallway greeted. He kept on walking and it seems like Mommy also knew the place so I just followed them. Nagtataka pa din ako sa maraming bagay pero imbes na magtanong, nilibot ko na lang ang paningin ko sa paligid.

When we reached the end of the hallway, the guy stopped and knocked on a huge gray door. I heard a response from the inside but it's too low I wasn't able to hear it clearly. Pero mukhang pinapapasok na kami dahil binuksan na niya ang pinto pero hindi pumasok. He looked at us and smiled before motioning us to go inside. Mommy thanked him and I did the same.

"You're welcome," he said and suddenly looked at me. "I'm Galen by the way."

I smiled. "I'm Kate." Tumango naman siya at mukhang sa unang pagkakataon, ngumiti siya ng bukal sa loob niya.