Will Of A Deity

22| You can't sit with us

Time: 20:19
Location: Assembly Hall, Horizon Academy
Athena Whitesky

My life at the orphanage was fulfilling. Despite being unable to make proper friends, Sister Nicole has raised me into a person whose void of displeasure towards other people. I was taught that it was wrong to think badly of other people. And yet...

"You know what I mean, right?" He laughed.

The headmaster of Horizon Academy is ticking me off.

We've only met twice. The first time, I thought it was only in the spur of the moment that I felt severely displeased by his actions. This was the time we were transferred here and greeted by him. The second time is happening right now. Although he's merely a hologram, he managed to get on my nerves. With his mannerisms, his smile, his appearance, his words...they were all equally irritating.

I tried to void myself off this feeling. And yet...it still comes back to me.

No. It's as if it's been there all this time. I'm just not acknowledging it. What is happening to me?

The dreadful speech of the Headmaster finally ended. Master Earth of CODE:GAIA introduced a group of muse and escorts who prepared an introduction number for the opening program.

Naghihiyawan ang mga estudyante ng Horizon Academy ng magsimula ng sumayaw at kumanta ang mga muse at escort.

"Should we scream too?" I heard Zen asked beside me.

"I-I don't know," I answered, taken aback by him suddenly talking to me.

"Ethan taught me that I should clap after a performance in an acquaintance party." He said. Was he always this clueless? I don't know. This is the first time we ever talk to each other..

"T-Then we should clap after." Tumango naman siya at tinuloy ang panonood.

"This is my first time in a school event." He said.

"Whoa, really?" Di makapaniwalang tanong ni Shane. "Ang loner mo naman. Oh ano, masaya?" Tumango si Zen. Di ko mapigilang mapangiti at nakikita kong napangiti din ang iba.

Somehow, this feels nice. I was a loner too. I used to believe that I don't really need friends, that I'm fine with being alone. But seeing Zen like this makes me feel that even loners like me and Zen still needs someone.

Their opening performance ended and everyone applauded, some even cheered.

"Oo nga pala," Yael said while peeling his eyes off the stage. "Nasaan si Ethan?"

Nagkatinginan naman kami. Oo nga, where's Ethan?

"Hindi ba sumama siya kay Sierra kasi nakulangan daw sila ng tao sa backstage?" Sabi ni Princess Merlia.

"Oo nga," Shane agreed.

"Ahhhh..."

Weird. Out of all people, si Ethan pa talaga ang hiningan nila ng tulong. It seems strange but maybe Ethan is the only that can help them at the moment.

I just shrugged the thought away and turn back to the stage where the emcee is speaking at nakinig na ulit sa program.

"Do you think Captcha asks 'are you a robot?', because its looking for its family?" Muntik na akong mapatalon ng biglang may nagsalita sa likuran ko malapit sa tenga ko. Nilingon ko siya habang hinahabol ang hininga ko. Umayos naman siya ng tayo at napapikit ng mariin.

"Sorry that was a strange question to ask," sabi ni Natasha hanag tumatango-tango.

"I..."

"Anyway!" Isang malaking ngiti ang ginawad niya sa amin at umupo sa tabi ko at umakbay sa akin. I flinched. Hindi ako sanay sa skin contact. "How's everyone doing tonight?" Tanong niya sa iba ko pang mga kasama.