Alexandria Academy 2: The Reborn

Chapter 3: Midnight Talk

EDITED VERSION

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Althea's POV

"This ward is for the training rooms. There are seven training rooms here. Weapons, gears and armors inside the training rooms are complete for training," I explained. Natigilan ako nang mapansing nakatitig siya sa akin at parang hindi naman nakikinig. "Hey, are you listening?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm sorry." Kasper chuckled. Pagkatapos naming kumain kanina ay sinabi niya sa aking gusto pa niyang maikot ang buong Academy. Bumaba kami sa floor kung saan naroroon ang dorm na tutuluyan niya.

We stopped in front of a familiar door. "This is going to be your room and you will stay here for a while. Siguradong magugustuhan mo ang dorm na 'yan."

"Why? Is this your old dorm?" he asked and I nodded. After a year, they renovated the whole dormitory floor kaya ang dating girl's dormitory ay nasako na ng para sa mga lalaki. Kasama roon ang dorm na dati kong tinutuluyan.

"Yes, they renovated it. Do you wanna rest for a while?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang susi nito na kaagad naman niyang kinuha.

"Sure, aayusin ko rin ang gamit ko. See you in the training room?" tanong niya habang binubuksan ang pinto.

"See you, then." I walked away. Kasper weren't that bad after all. In fact, I'm no longer uncomfortable around him. It doesn't look like it but he always joke around. Kaya siguro naging komportable na ako sa kaniya dahil buong tour ay napapangiti at napapatawa niya ako.

Pagkarating ko sa training room ay nandoon na ang mga group members na sinasabi ni Kurt. They all sat on the floor while I was standing in front of them. I feel nervous especially when they're looking at me. Kaya nilakasan ko ang loob ko.

"On the annual Grand Magical Ball, there will be another Tournament. Have you heard the word Dauntless?" Lahat sila ay natahimik. "We will be called as Dauntless, at kalaban natin ang katulad ninyong mga estudyante rin ng Alexandria Academy. Their group will be called Lethal. The Dauntless and the Lethal."

May nagtaas ng kamay. "Are you the leader?" he asked.

"Yes, I am Althea Genovie-Saavedra. The leader of Team Dauntless. I will train you for a month and I will make sure we will make it till the end," sagot ko at nagsitanguan naman sila.

I admit, after I found out about the prize fot the winner of this Tournament, I got shocked. Hindi lang basta pagiging leader ang iaatang sa 'yo, pamumunuan mo ang isang buong eskuwela. It's a big responsibility and at the same time, it is terrifying. But in the other hand, it's an opportunity to grab.

This Tournament weren't like the 23rd Tournament. No monsters. No killings. Just pure games and challenges. Kaya siguro panatag na rin ang loob ko. I don't want these students to experience that kind of tournament.

"I know some of us here are having doubts and having a hard time. But Kurt didn't choose you for nothing. He chose each and everyone of you because he knows you are all capable of winning." Napangiti sila dahil sa sinabi ko. Bumukas ang pinto ng training room at pumasok si Kasper. "Oh, and He's Kasper Sandoval. He's the co-leader of Dauntless." Binati nila si Kasper at yumuko bilang paggalang.

"Hey, kids!" He waved his hand and stood beside me. Napangiti ako dahil mukhang miski siya ay naubusan na rin ng sasabihin sa mga bata. "Althea and I will do everything to train you until the tournament comes. Goodluck!"

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Natapos ang araw na 'yon at tinuruan namin sila ng basic uses of armors and gears, pagkatapos ay nag-sparring sila. I can all see the potential in them. Malalakas sila, ganoon din ang kanilang kapangyarihan. Tinuruan ko sila kung paano gumamit ng weapons. Habang si Kasper naman ay tinuruan sila kung paano maglabas ng tamang amount ng kapangyarihan para hindi sila manghina.

Nang magsialisan na ang mga estudyante ay naiwan kami ni Kasper sa training room at saglit kaming nagpahinga. It was exhaustingly worth it. "Let's go? Hatid kita sa dorm mo," pagpiprisinta ni Kasper.

"Nah, it's okay. I can manage." I assured him. Palabas na sana ako sa training room nang pigilan niya ako.

"Please? I insist. You look tired. Kaya gusto kitang samahan," nakangiti nitong sabi. I looked at him, carefully. "Don't worry, I know you have a boyfriend so rest assured."

"Okay!" I laughed. Nagsimula na kaming maglakad papunta sa dorm ko. Tahimik na ang buong hall. It's already eleven pm. And I'm sure natutulog na ang mga estudyante. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kahirap maging leader. Now, I know why Isaac is a short-tempered type of leader.

"I like it in here. Kaysa Magical University, it's boring there," he joked. Tinulak ko siya kaya tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Bakit? Is Isaac that strict?" I asked. I wonder what Isaac looks like whenever he's getting angry when someone's breaking the rules. His cold and short-tempered side, isa 'yon minahal ko sa kaniya. Because he's cold to other people but not to me.

"No, actually he's a good leader. But he never tried to approach the students. Sobrang busy kasi ng isang 'yon," he explained. "At puro training lang ang pinapagawa niya sa mga estudyante. No funs. No Tournaments like this."

"Because Isaac promised to his mom that he won't let Tournaments be held again in Magical University." It's better that way. I know Isaac is like that dahil iniisip niya ang kapakanan ng mga pinamumunuan niya.

Huminto kami sa paglalakad nang marating na namin ang harap ng dorm ko. "Thank you, Kasper. Ingat ka pabalik sa dorm mo."

"No worries. Goodnight, Althea." His sweet smile flashed through his face. Naglakad na siya palayo at pumasok na ako sa loob.

Pabagsak akong humiga sa kama. Akmang papikit na ako nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. It's Isaac. Agad ko 'yong sinagot.

"Hey," his voice was husky. As if he's tired. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Love." hindi ko maiwasang malungot, to think that it has been so many days since the last time I saw him. Hindi niya nagagawang bumisita rito dahil napaka-busy niya. Ganoon din ako. Naninibago lang siguro ako  dahil noon, nasanay ako sa pangungulit niya.

"Don't be sad, Love." He knows me too well. "Ganito na lang, I promise, bukas pupuntahan kita. I want to see you so badly. And I don't want you to be sad anymore."

"No, you don't have to. Kung busy ka, okay lang--"

"No, I want to go there. I miss you so much and I'll do everything for us to meet," napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Nawala na lahat ng pag-aalala ko at gusto ko na lang lumipas ang gabi para magkita na kami.

"Promise?" I asked. I need an assurance.

"I promise." I heard him sighed on the other line. Mukhang pagod na pagod na nga siya sa trabaho. "Sleep now, Love."

"Ikaw ang dapat matulog. Bakit gising ka pa?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Earlier he said he's been awake for eighteen hours. At ngayon, gising na gising pa rin siya. Alam kong hindi siya sakitin pero masyado na niyang napapabayaan ang sarili niya.

"I have some paper works left. I have to finish this. Para bukas, iyong-iyo ako," he said that made me chuckled. He's doing this on purpose. Hindi ko maiwasang mahulog pa lalo kapag ganito siya. Damn.

"I can't sleep, Love. Can you sing a song for me?" paglalambing ko.

"Sure, kakantahan kita hanggang sa makatulog ka na." Saglit siyang huminto sa pagsasalita.

I met you in the dark, You lit me up
You made me feel as though I was enough
We dance the night away, We drunk too much
I held your hair back when you were throwing up

I can't help but to adore his voice. Kahit pagod siya, napakaganda pa rin nito. "Hey, are you still there?" he asked but I didn't answer. I was too sleepy to talk back. Unti-unti nang sumara ang mga mata ko pero naririnig ko pa rin siyang nagsasalita. "No matter what life brings us, I want you to stay with me. Just stay, Althea. And I'll give up everything for you," he uttered.

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