H.M. Academy

Chapter 16

Tahimik lang ang dorm ng mga ilang minuto matapos umalis ang ibang Mokong para sa utos ni Blake. Ako naman, nakahiga pa rin at ina-adjust ang posisyon ko dahil parang may kung anong masakit pa rin sa katawan ko.

"Masakit pa rin ba, baby?" tanong ni Blake habang inaayos ang kumot ko.

"Tsk. Ikaw pa nagtatanong? Ikaw nga may kasalanan neto eh," sagot ko, sabay irap.

Ronnie: "Uy uy uy... ang sweet ni misis at mister. Pero seriously, Blake, ang tindi mo pala bro. As in literal na may 'battle scar' si Winx."

"Tumigil ka nga, Ronnie, baka ipahampas ko sayo 'tong unan," banta ko, sabay tapon ng tingin sa kanya.

"Relax, Winxie, nagbibiro lang. Pero seryoso, ingat-ingat naman next time, may quota rin ang kaligayahan," sabi ni Kid habang tumatawa.

Paul, na kanina pa tahimik, biglang nagsalita: "Wait, pero diba may rule sa H.M. Academy? 'No emotional distractions during physical training week'? Di ba ito na yun?"

Napatingin kami pareho ni Blake.

Oo nga. Ngayon ko lang naalala. May rule nga pala sa academy na bawal ang intimate relationships habang ongoing ang combat training week lalo na para sa mga ArchGod candidates. Violation of that rule could lead to penalty missions o kaya worst-case, demotion from elite candidate list.

Biglang nagseryoso si Boni. "Winx, Blake... alam niyong may mga mata dito, right? Kung nalaman ng HQ ang nangyari, baka hindi lang reprimand ang abutin niyo. We're talking expulsion from active duty."

Biglang tumayo si Blake. "I don't care."

Nagulat kaming lahat.

Ronnie: "Hoy bro, chill."

Blake: "I said I don't care. Kung gusto nila akong i-expel, fine. Pero wag lang nila gagalawin si Winx. I'll handle everything."

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Yung usual na pilyo at maangas niyang aura, biglang naging protective at seryoso.

"Blake," sabi ko habang hinahawakan ang kamay niya, "I can fight my own battles too. Hindi kita kailangan isakripisyo para lang maligtas ako."

Pero ngumiti siya. "I know. Pero ang mahal ko, di ko hahayaan mapahamak. Lalo na't ako ang dahilan ng sakit niya ngayon."

Awww. Lord, ito na naman po kami sa kilig.

Paul: "Okay, pero pano kung may kumalat na info?"

Kid: "Or may spy dito sa HQ?"

Napakunot noo kami pareho.

Ronnie: "Actually, nung isang araw may nakita akong kakaiba... may CCTV glitch sa hallway sa tapat ng dorm niyo, tapos parang may unknown log-in sa system natin. It might be nothing... or baka may nagmo-monitor nga talaga sa inyo."

Blake: "I'll investigate."

Boni: "Count me in. Di na to simpleng chismis. Someone might be watching Winx for other reasons."

Winx: "You think it's connected to the Red Aces?"

Tahimik sila saglit. Si Blake lang ang tumango.

"Possibly. Or worse... baka may traitor sa loob ng academy."

A Secret File
Bumukas bigla ang phone ni Blake. Naka-encrypt ito at may alert.

One New File: Codename—SIRENA.

"Sh*t," bulong niya.

"Ano yan?" tanong ko, pilit pa rin nakaupo kahit masakit.

Blake showed me the file. It was a photo.

A photo of me, taken from afar, outside the dorm, last night.

Underneath was a message:

"The ArchGod Sirena has been marked. The Queen will fall before the war begins."

Napakapit ako sa braso ni Blake. This wasn't just a love story anymore.

There was a bigger game, and I just became the target.

Preparing for the Worst
Blake: "Okay. Change of plans. Ronnie, Boni, Paul, Kid... I need full security around Winx starting now. Walang labas, walang contact sa kahit sino outside this dorm unless galing sa atin."

Ronnie: "Copy."

Paul: "Ako bahala sa cameras. I'll patch the loop and trace the sender."

Kid: "Weapons on standby. I'll sleep outside the door kung kailangan."

Boni: "I'll coordinate with a silent contact from the academy. We need to know if the higher-ups are aware of this threat."

Winx: "Pero Blake, baka mas mapahamak kayo—"

Blake: "I'd rather be in danger than see you hurt."

Then he looked at me with those intense eyes.

"Winx, you're not just some girl I fell for. You're my future queen. At kahit anong mangyari, I'll protect you."

And then he kissed my forehead again, gently this time. Unlike last night, this one felt like a vow.