RISA MOONSTEIN

Chapter 17

It's been a great deal of time since I've been in the Royal Ten's dormitory. No signs of any attack on me. Sumuko na ba ang papatay sa akin or is he just waiting for the perfect moment ? I have no idea.

"Can you pass me the broom, Risa ?" suyo ni Conny sa akin.

"Yeah, here." I tossed him the sweeper and he continued to dust the entire floor, collecting some dirt accumulating on the corners on some of the walls. Sa paninirahan ko rito, wala pa akong nakikitang maid nila o kasambahay. Sila lang ang gumagalaw mag-isa nila to maintain the dorm.

"Why are we here cleaning the entire dorm, again ?" tanong ko kay Conny. Dinadakot na niya ang na-ipon na kalat.

"Well, another expedition had come up at kailangan kaming lahat. Lagi naming nililinis ang buong bahay before going." he smiled and continued on what he was doing before moving on to another task.

"Ohhh--- why are the three not back yet, though ? Hindi ba dapat matapos muna yung sa kanila ?"

"Don't worry, Risaaa, they're fine—and we're fine. Natatagalan lang siguro silang tapusin yung trabaho nila." Louisa said habang nakatayo sa isang upuan, tiptoeing para maabot yung painting na pinupunasan niya.

That means, kung magkataon, kami lang dalawa ni Diana ang matitira rito. But why the sudden change ? Kung ang rason ng pag lagay nila sa akin dito, bakit bigla silang aalis ?

"Besides, they have Aries there." sambit ni Conny. Pinunasan niya ang pawis na tumutulo sa gilid ng kaniyang luha.

"Yeah, that bastard is there. I'm sure they're okay." tugon ni Louisa. Ini-usog niya ang upuan malapit sa may kabilang painting at iyon naman ang pinag-kaabalahan niya.

Aries ? Another name to remember. May tatlo pa akong hindi nakikilala sa loob ng Royal Ten, yung tatlong nagpunta sa expedition na itinalaga ng school. Sinabi nila na umalis na kaagad sila pagkatapos palang ng pasukan.

"Who is Aries ?" I innocently asked the two of them.

"He's the Sixth Seat. He's incredibly strong, though. Probably equally with Locke." I unconsciously gave the dustpan to Conny when he led out his hand to me. "You'll soon see him pagbalik nila."

"Conny !" malakas na tawag ni Roman mula sa kabilang kwarto.

"Ano yun ?"

"Patulong akong ilipat ito. Ang bigat, eh !"

Conny beamed at me before he went to help with Roman. Masayahing tao si Conny honestly. Para siyang isang gentle giant. Malaki at matikas ang build ng kaniyang katawan pero mamon siya sa kaloob-looban.

Everyone was cleaning, pabalik-balik, moving things around buong umaga at maghapon. Of course, tumulong ako sa paglilinis nila as well as Diana. Okay nanaman din si Diana ngayon, she isn't sulky anymore at nasa dating mood na niya siya. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung anong iniisip niya sa sinabi ni Locke. Hindi niya kasi sinasabi at hindi niya binanggit iyon simula nang lumabas siya ng kwarto niya.

"Narinig mo na, diba ?" tanong sa akin ni Locke. Alam kong nag-aalala rin siya sa akin. After all, siya ang inatasang magbantay sa akin. Pero gulo rin ang utak ko sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Why is security on me suddenly abandoned ? Nagka-sakit din si Elizabeth ngayon kaya ang tanging makapagbabantay lang sa akin ay si Locke. Of course, andiyan din naman si Diana pero ayoko siyang ipahamak. Kung magkataon, I'll need to rely on myself to fend off the attacker and hopefully uncover his identity in the process.

"Yeah... may panibago kayong outing." I answered lifelessly. "Why are you here, again ?" mukhang nandito nanaman siya para mambulabog.

"Well, I am assigned to protect you, right ?"