Flame Academy

/22/

"May tao po ba dito?"

"Anyone?!"

Minutes have passed ever since we went in this village but up until now, wala pa din kaming nakitang kahit na sino. The whole place is quiet and the only sound that can be heard are our voices and the birds chirping up at the sky.

"Is this place abandoned?" Ace asked.

Jillian shook her head. "If this village was really abandoned, the place should be covered in dirt and rust. But look around, the place is clean."

Napatango-tango naman kami sa sinabi ni Jillian dahil may point siya. Wala din kaming nakikitang mga sira sa mga bahay kaya siguradong may mga taong nagpapanatili ng village na ito. But if this place isn't abandoned, then why there isn't no one in here?

"Baka tulog lang sila?" Neo asked.

Napatingin naman ako sa wristwatch ko. "It's only quarter to six."

"Ang aga naman yata kung tulog nga sila?" sabi naman ni Bea.

Ilang saglit pang namayani ang katahimikan sa aming anim. Obviously, everyone is confused. I'm also feeling a little bit nervous because this might bring us in a bad situation.

Tumingala ako at nakitang hindi pa madilim. The sky is in great orange but the suroundings are still bright.

"Maghiwa-hiwalay tayo. Let's search for anything that will tell us what's happening here. Then after some minutes, let's meet near the fountain," Ace said.

"Pero paano kung mapahamak tayo? There might be evil people lurking around and just waiting for the right time to kill us," Jillian said.

"We have flames. We can defend ourselves."

"But what if they are normal people? You said we can't risk the truth about existence, right?"

"Chill nga kayo!" sabi ni Bea. Umirap naman si Jillian habang napabuntong si Ace at nanahimik na lang.

Neo cleared his throat. "Ganito na lang, we'll go in pairs. Para naman may magkakasama pa din. I'll go with Ace."

"I'll go with Jillian," Bea immediately said.

Napatingin sila sa amin ni Main Titan at napanganga na lang ako. Bea and Neo have mischievous smiles on their lips that made me think that they planned this.

"Then I'll go with her," Main Titan said and glanced at me. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at tumango.

Ace reminded us to be back and meet each other by the fountain before night comes. We all just nodded and went on our ways.

Tahimik lang naman kaming naglalakad ni Main Titan nang humiwalay kami sa kanila. Ever since that night in the hospital, ngayon na lang ulit kami naiwang dalawa lang.

There was awkwardness in the atmosphere but I guess the confusion and curiousity behind this village's silence is weighing more. I think that's better since I also don't know what to say about that kiss.

Lumapit kami sa isang bahay na nadaanan namin. I knocked on the door and even called for anyone inside the house but we didn't get a response.

He touched the doorknob and looked at me before rotating it. Tinulak niya ang pinto at kahit nagdadalawang-isip, sumunod na lang ako sa kanya papasok.

A simple but beautiful house made of wood greeted us. He went upstairs while I search in the first floor.

Wala naman akong napansing kakaiba sa sala maliban sa malinis talaga. Parang araw-araw na nalilinisan ang bahay na ito at kakaunti lang ang mga alikabok. The things are also on their right places.