The Curse of 11:11

CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

Sabay-sabay kaming bumaba sa kotse dahil excited kami sa bagong school na aming papasukan subalit sabay-sabay rin kaming napahinto sa hitsura ng school na bumungad sa aming harapan.

Bahagya kaming natigilan. Isa-isa kaming nagkatitigan. Muli ay sabay-sabay naming tinignan ang pangalan nitong school na nakalagay sa itaas ng malaking tarangkahan.

[Primoon Academy]

Eyra looked upset. Veyda looked disappointed. Vida looked disgusted. Cheska groaned in displeasure. And I, just shrugged my shoulders.

"Wow! Super namangha naman ako sa school na 'to no'ng nakita ko sa picture. I even pleaded my parents just so they could send me here tapos ganito lang pala ang madadatnan ko?" Veyda sarcastically asked as she rolled her eyes upward and crossed her arms.

"I don't have any idea about this. My sister's friend just suggested me this school. To be honest, when I saw the picture, I was amazed too and just like you, I pleaded my parents too. Sa tingin mo, kung nalaman kong ganito pala 'tong school na 'to, dito ako papasok?" Cheska replied. Muli naming tinignan ang school building and all I could hear was our deep sighs.

It was Cheska who suggested us this school. The school looks amazing in the picture pero hindi naman namin alam na kabaligtaran pala ng nasa picture ang totoong hitsura nito. Marahil ay noon pa nakuhanan iyong picture na ipinakita sa amin but the truth is, the school looks too old now.

"Nandito na tayo. Aatras pa ba tayo?" I disappointedly asked.

If I were to describe the school in one word, that is creepy. The school looks creepy though napapalibutan siya ng mga puno and halaman. I can feel a friendly vibe actually but I just have this premonition that something is really wrong with this place. Or masyadong exaggerated lang ako sa pagdedescribe?

We didn't know na ganito itong school. It was Cheska's sister's friend who processed our school papers. All of us were in vacation that time. Sa mga pictures naman, maganda at nakakamangha itong school. Hindi ko lang alam kung paanong nangyaring naging ganito.

Is this the 'expectation versus reality' feeling?

But then, I think we have no choice anymore kaya imbes na magreklamo, pumasok na lamang kami.

I am not a person who's picky when it comes to school as long as alam kong marami akong matututunan. But I think that principle of mine suddenly changed, not because I hate the school but because I feel something different about this school.

"Kayo ba 'yong mga bagong estudyante rito?" Tumango kami sa guard and then he let us in. The guard locked the gate first before he assisted us with our things.

Nangunot ang noo ko. Why do they need to lock the gate where in fact may isa pa namang guard ang naiwan doon? Is it for security purposes?

Pagpasok namin sa school, halos lahat ng mga taong nakakasalubong namin ay napapatingin sa gawi namin. Iba iba ang ekspresyon ng mga mukha nila, hindi ko mabasa.

"Bakit may mga bago? Tiyak buhay na naman ang kapalit nito." Bahagya akong natigilan nang masagip ng pandinig ko ang salitang iyon. What? Buhay? Tama ba ako ng dinig?

"Millizen!" Agad na nalipat ang atensyon ko kay Eyra.

Gusto ko sanang habulin ang babaeng nagsabi no'n subalit napansin kong medyo malayo na ako sa mga kasamahan ko.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?" Cheska asked nang makalapit ako sa kanila.

"Wala," ang tanging naisagot ko.