KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 17

My thoughts wandered inside the maze of many unanswered questions. Hindi ko mapigilang isipin kung bakit ganito na lang ang nararamdaman ko. How could someone be so familiar and strange at the same time? Was it even possible to feel a hollow in your heart, like something was missing, yet, you knew you didn't lose anything?

Dale.

Whoever you are, you didn't have the fucking rights to make my mind spinned in confusion.

Dumako ang paningin ko kay Honey. Isa pa siya, alam kong may kakaiba sa babaeng ito. It would take a lot of time and effort to get my trust, but this girl got mine in instant. I could not even fully trust those people I'd known for how many years, but for some reason I couldn't fathom, a short conversation with her was enough to tear down my walls.

And that was scary for me. Being so comfortable with someone meant danger. Trusting so easily was lethal, and I might ended up in a risky situation.

"Tatlo ang dapat mong salihan. Isang academic club such as English Clubs, History, Mathematics and so on. Then one club for your hierarchy. Bawat hierarchies ay may specific na pwede lang masalihan. So you should choose a club that is intended for Superior. And lastly, isang fraternity. Mayroon pang other clubs na available na hindi under sa mga nabanggit pero hindi naman compulsory, katulad na lang ng sa school publication also known as the Abyss. Mayroon ding musical and dance related, debate club and so on. Hindi ganoon ka tinatangkilik ang mga clubs na 'yan so nevermind," paliwanag ni Honey.

"Isa rin kasi ang performance ng clubs particularly iyong clubs per hierarchy sa factor na makakapagpadali sa promotion mo para sa next phase," dagdag ni Resh.

Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang malaking pintuan. May malaking signage na nakasabit dito.

BEHIND THE MASQUERADE.

Napakunot ang aking noo. Nilingon ko sila na puno ng katanungan ang mga mata.

"Ito ang club na kasali kami. Ito ang para sa representation ng Hierarchy. Mayrong apat na clubs available for the Superior at isa ito sa apat 'yon," paliwanag ni Ivan.

"Ang weird naman ng pangalan," komento ko. My eyes were glued to the signage written. Tiningnan ko si Honey. "Kung per hierarchy ito, hindi ka kasali rito?"

"Honey is a special case. Isa siyang Masqueraders," agap ni Resh.

"Paano iyon nangyari? Isa kang Diplomat, diba?"

Nagkatinginan ang tatlo.

"Masyadong komplikado kung ipapaliwanag pa," makahulugang sagot ni Honey.

Tinitigan kong maigi ang mga mukha nila. There was something off. Binigyan lamang nila ako ng isang makahulugang ngiti.

"Okay."

I didn't dig deeper even though I was still confused.

Jaylord knocked on the door. Wala pang ilang segundo matapos siyang kumatok ay bumukas na ito. Bumungad sa amin ang isang balingkinitang babae. May pagka-kikay ito dahil ang raming mga hairpins ang nakalagay sa buhok niya. Iba-iba ang kulay at desinyo nito. Morena siya at kapansin-pansin agad ang may kalakihan niyang mga mata.

Namilog pa nga ito lalo nang makita ako.

"New recruit?" seryoso niyang tanong at nilingon ang apat.

"Oo," magkasabay nilang sagot.

Muli niyang ibinaling sa akin ang kaniyang tingin. Napahalukipkip siya. She looked at me from head to toe. 'Yong tingin na parang nangingilatis. Nagpaikot-ikot pa ito. Lahat na lang yata ng anggulo ko gusto niyang makita.