The Hourglass

Chapter 4 - Arts

CIELLE

I used to stand in the farthest corner of the crowd during practical classes. Especially the large scale practical classes.

Pero nahatak ako ni Aila sa kinatatayuan nila. Ilang beses kong sinubukan tumakas sa kanila pero parang nakabantay sa akin si Aila. Kani-kanina lang sinubukan ko uli na bumalik kung saan ako komportable, kaso nakita ako ni Aila. Malala pa, pinagitnaan nila ako ni Jett.

"Nasa loob na ng dimensional buildings ang ibang klase. You guys are basically the seekers here. Sa loob ay iba't ibang terrains ang nandoon." Sabi ng professor namin. "They're already inside and ready to subdue you."

Terrains? So we could be in a desert, jungle, forest, or a glacier for the time we'll be inside the dimensional buildings. Depende lang kung saan kami mapupunta.

Being able to handle whoever I face is not what I'm concerned of. Mayroon at mayroon akong makakaharap na madali kong matatalo at mahihirapang manalo. Mas iniisip ko kung kakayanin ko ba yung temperature sa desert at sa glacier. When it comes to stuff like this, the professors doesn't babysit us.

They put out challenges that will really test our survival skills.

We maybe entering a dimension where we can utilize our Arts but what's inside the dimension can be how it is in reality. Or worse.

Sa desert at glacier ako nababahala dahil baka taasan o babaan nila ng sobra yung temperature.

Naalala ko nung finals ng first year, sa jungle ako napunta. May crocodile doon na sobrang laki na kayang kumain ng dalawa o tatlong tao ata ng walang nguyaan. Buti na lang may mga kasama ako nun doon kaya pinagtulungan namin na mapabagsak yun.

"Professor!" Tawag ni Aila.

"Yes, Ms. Fern?"

"Since upgraded and dangerous version ng hide and seek 'to, we can seek in groups, right?" Tanong ni Aila.

"Yes. And aside from finding those from the other classes, you also need to find this. " sagot ng Professor at may inangat na, crystal ball?

I'm not sure if it's a crystal ball. Pero pabilog s'ya at transparent. Hindi rin ata matatakpan yung buo kahit dalawang kamay na panghawak mo.

"There's over 40 of these that the other students hid. Only 10 are real."

"Prof, pano namin malalaman kung totoo?"

"They won't explode on your faces if they're real. You may enter the dimensional building in 10 seconds."

Madaming nagulat sa sinabi ng professor kasama na ako pero nanlaki lang yung mata ko hindi tulad ng iba na nagrereklamo. Pinakikinggan ko naman yung reklamo ng iba at sumasang-ayon sa isip ko nang biglang may humatak sakin.

Wala akong choice kundi sabayan yung paghatak sa akin kung hindi matitisod ako. At ilang hakbang pa ay naramdaman kong parang nahigop yung katawan ko.

A normal forest.

Yun ang bumungad sa mga mata ko. Tall trees, tall grasses, different kinds and colors of plants, and insects. On the shady parts, I could see fireflies.

"Things seem normal. At least for the first ten seconds we're here." Komento ni Jett.

"OA nito. Teka, bakit nga ba kayo sumunod sa amin?" Tanong ni Aila sa kan'ya.

"Malay ko kay Gray. Basta ako ayokong may makasamang tuod na hindi nagsasalita."

"Hoy sinasabi mo bang tuod din 'to si Cielle?!"

"Si Cielle, tahimik, itong si Gray tamad magsalita kaya tuod! Know the difference!"

I think ignoring their banters wouldn't hurt.