KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 25

The moment I opened my eyes, my head hurt, but for some reasons I couldn't explained, I remained calm and motionless. Nakatingin lamang ako sa taas. Hindi ko magawang makaimik kahit na nararamdaman ko ang matinding kirot. I felt drained that even uttering complain and reminiscing what happened didn't occur to me.

I don't know how long I stayed watching the ceiling.

"You're awake. Now, will you stand up and leave my room?"

I blinked. Dahan-dahan akong napaupo habang nanatiling walang bahid ng emosyon ang mukha. Sinalubong ako ng kaniyang matalim na titig.

"Quit staring. Just leave." He motioned the door with urgency and annoyance.

Tumayo ako na parang isang naka-program na robot. Hindi ko maipaliwanag, pero kahit pakikipagtalo kay Davil ay hindi ko magawa. Tila napansin nito ang kawalan ko ng pakialam, his forehead creased and he gave me a questioning look. I remained void with emotion. Hindi ko na inayos ang sarili ko o kahit nagsuklay man lang ng buhok. Agad ko nang tinungo ang pinto para makalabas.

"Sinclaire."

I lazily turned my head. I just raised my eyebrow, my way of asking 'what the heck you need?'

"Won't you ask what happened to you?"

"Does it matter?"

Something flickered on his eyes before he smirked.

"Of course, it doesn't matter. Leave."

I nodded.

***

Maaga akong nakarating sa classroom. Halos wala pa'ng ibang estudyante sa loob, or maybe some of my classmates were now buried below the ground. I checked my planner and realized I needed to study harder.

Ilang minuto akong tahimik na nagbabasa bago nagsidatingan ang ibang estudyante. I didn't know if the students here were good pretenders because the moment I looked at their faces, they were back to their usual selves. Calm, studious and wouldn't gave a fuck about their surrounding. They were back to the mode where only books mattered to them inside this classroom.

Muli na namang pumasok ang isang teacher. Tumikhim siya para maagaw ang atensyon ng mga kaklase kong tutok sa pagbabasa. Honestly, hindi ko alam kung ano'ng silbi niya dito o kung may silbi nga ba siya.

Nakakatawang isiping, isa itong unibersidad pero bihira lang akong makakita ng mga guro. Kung mayroon may ay parang mga desinyo lamang sila sa loob ng classroom.

"The Rook is strictly monitoring your academic performance for the past weeks. There will be an execution once you failed. And another thing, some of the Superiors were displaying unruly behaviour yesterday, you all knew that Saunder won't give you mercy. Four lessons per subject everyday will be your quota. Huwag niyong subukang gumawa ng mga gulo kung ayaw niyang mas madagdagan pa ito."

Akala ko walang aalma.

"Tangina!"

"Anak ng—"

"Puta!"

They all managed to cuss in unison even when the teacher was still standing in front. Nagkibit balikat lang ang guro at lumabas na sa classroom, leaving the students fuming in anger.

"Ang hirap na nga'ng dalawang lesson kada subject araw-araw tapos ngayon, dinagdagan pa! Tangina!"

Sandaling naging maingay sa loob. Malulutong na mga mura at iyakan na naman ang aking narinig. Ibinalik ko ang aking tingin sa aklat at hindi na ininda ang kanilang mga ginagawa.

After almost two hours, I stood. Lumabas ako at pumunta sa Rook's Edifice bitbit ang card na ibinigay noon sa akin. Sa may lobby pa lang ay madami na ang mga estudyante at kalimitan sa mga ito'y nagmamadali na tila ba may hinahabol na deadline. Ngunit ang mga kumpulan ay nahawi nang lumabas si Saunder mula sa elevator. Napayuko ang mga estudyante at awtomatiko siyang binigyan ng daan.