Midnight's Secret

Second Midnight

"Does it make you brave to stick your hand in a bear's mouth? Would you do it again just because you didn't die?"

- Robert Jordan, The Dragon Reborn

Chapter 2

"Hey, are you alright?" Athena asked. It has been three hours since we left the auditorium. I was completely embarrassed. Who would've thought that a girl like me who does almost everything right would be announced to change schools? Are they insane?  

"Do I look alright to you, Athena? Ang hirap para sakin na tanggapin na for once in my lifetime, may pagkakamali ako." 

Athena motioned me to seat down in one of the benches in our school's quad. It was a typical day, the trees swayed in the right direction, the sun was in its' usual brightness. Nothing wrong, until three hours ago.

"Aislyn, look I hate to break it up to you but nobody's perfect. Though, you can be perfectly imperfect by embracing whatever mistakes you'll meet throughout your journey. I admit it may sound cliche but, conquering every battle will be your greatest weapon in life." 

"I understand. I guess I'll not see you anymore, huh?" I let out a deep sigh. I wanted to cry and run to my parents to not let me change schools but I guess its's too late, I am overly frustrated.

"Don't miss me yet. This isn't goodbye." she responded. No hint of sadness or worry was reflected in her eyes, I tried to look into her eyes but she quickly shifted her eyes to the trees.

***

It was almost midnight the clock was ticking very slowly as if it was waiting for every bit of my sweat to drop. Ten students were waiting, hands clasped together. Others were giving me weird stares, may isang lalake na tinignan ako ng maiigi, eyes locked on mine, I heard a manly voice saying 'Aislyn Flare Alvarez, notorious for getting everything right. Why is she even here?'.

"Young gentleman, even I myself do not know why I'm here so please just shut your mouth." I accidentally raised my voice as I respond to him.

"Huh? ako ba?" asked the guy, pointing at himself.

"Oo, may iba ka pa bang narinig na binigkas ang pangalan ko rito?" I guess I caught the other students' attention since all their heads turned to see the little commotion that was going on.

 "Eh, ate wala naman po talagang nagsalita" Nahihiyang sambit sakin ng katabi kong babae, wearing some thick glasses with her bangs down.

I was about to resonate something but a loud dong interrupted which filled the empty hallways, the clock struck at 12 midnight. An eerie feeling spread among all of us, for some weird reason the cold breeze blew gently which made my body shiver. The moon is brightly glistening as if it was watching every move that we might make. 

All of us were confused on whether to enter the office or wait for further instructions. I was about to stand up, but to my disbelief we were all transferred automatically to the school's office. My head was metaphorically spinning at all the weird events.'What the freak? kanina nasa labas kami tapos biglang nasa loob na kami ng office?! nababaliw na yata ako' isip ko sa aking sarili, pero parang hindi lamang ako ang nag-iisip ng ganoon, pati ang mga kasama kong ibang estudyante ay kinukusot ang kanilang mga mata at ang iba naman ay nakabuka na ang kanilang bibig, tila hindi rin makapaniwala na nakalipat sila kagad ng silid. 

"Pleasant to see that you're all here on time." Biglang sambit ng aming principal, siya'y nasa hindi katandaang edad, elegante ang kanyang dating ngayon na para bang pinaghandaan nya ang gaganapin sa oras na ito. If this was a cartoon, question marks would appear on our eyes.