ELISE'S POV
LUMIPAS ANG MGA araw na puro pagte-training lang ang ginagawa ko. Physical combats, learning new kinds of attack, workouts and everything. I faced my friends and faked a smile—a laugh. I pretended to be fine and Carter's death doesn't bother me anymore. But who am I kidding? They knew I'm still not fine, pero sinasakyan na lang nila ang bawat kilos ko at hindi na ako pinuna pa.
I tried to keep myself busy to stop myself from thinking of him—thinking that being dead tired and exhausted my brain wouldn't be able to function and produce any thoughts about him. Pero paano ko siya makalilimutan kung napakaraming mga bagay ang nagpapaalala sa akin sa kanya?
Whenever I hold a sword, a bow and arrow, memories came crashing through my mind like a bullet. Those times were he became my defense partner, lahat iyon bumabalik sa akin.
Every bit of memories with him, they're still fresh. At sa bawat alaala ni Carter ay masakit pa rin.
"Stan, let's go back to the institute." He was taken aback by my sudden thought. Nag-iba ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
"Why? It's dangerous."
"I just have to do something. We'll be quick. Please?" Hinigpitan ko hawak ko sa kamay ni Stan at tumingin sa kanya nang nagmamakaawa. I know he wouldn't be able to say no.
He sighed. Oh no. Mukhang pag-iisipan pa niya.
"Delikado, Elise. Paano kung may nag-aabang doon? Paano kung makuha ka nila?"
"They won't. Hindi na ako yung Elise noon na mahina at matatangay na lang nang basta-basta. And you wouldn't allow them to take me. Would you?" I hope my attempt to persuade him will be a success.
"Okay."
Yes! Napangiti ako at napayakap sa kanya nang wala sa oras.
"Buti na lang, nasa akin pa rin ito." Inilabas ko sa loob ng T-shirt ko ang kuwintas na kakaiba ang pendant. Ito ang ibinigay sa akin ni Mrs. Perez para makatakas papuntang Falias City.
Nakahanap kami ng magandang lugar kung saan pwedeng magbukas ng portal na patago. Dahil kapag nahuli kami, we'll be in big trouble. Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang paglabas ng Falias City nang hindi humihingi ng pahintulot. Well, rules are rules.
Nakarating kami sa institute at halos manlumo ako sa nakita ko. Everything was destroyed and burned to ashes. Ang sakit isipin na kasamang gumuho ang mga nabuong alaala at mga taong nakasama ko ang eskuwelahang ito.
"Be alert," said Stan beside me, while roaming his eyes around.
"Tara sa main building," aya ko.
"Bakit doon?"
"I just have to say good bye to him formally, so he'll stop haunting me. His ashes were scattered there anyway."
Hindi na lang siya kumibo at sumunod na lang sa likod ko. Nagawa ng institute na mabawi ang ilang mga katawang pwede pang mabigyan ng maayos na mahihimlayan. But those who were not, their names were engraved in the place where they were last seen. Noong mga panahong nagkukulong pa ako sa kuwarto, ni hindi ko man lang nasilayang maisulat ang pangalan niya sa semento. At hindi ako nakapagpaalam nang maayos sa kanya dahil hindi ko pa matanggap.
BINABASA MO ANG
Project X (published via Sanctum Press)
Science Fiction[TAG-LISH] "hiddens" are species who have an altered genome in their DNA and is considered a genetic failure that has evolved during conception and is considered higher than the average human in terms of intelligence and capabilities. Elise is an...
