Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 17: Vulnerable

Artemis POV

The sunlight hit my face when we started marching towards the field.
Different colors of our school is seen.
The marching band leads us toward the altar looking stage.

Gabriel the Archangel's statue is on the background with blooming tulips below him.

The stage is veiled with white and gold cloth covering the stage.

Isa-isang tinawag ang mga kasaling school na kasama sa parada.

We are all sweaty because of the scorching heat idagdag pa ang jersery naming uniform para sa sports fest.

Each school has thier own color.

"...Green Field Academy!" waving their green and brown balloons

"...Athens University!" They march with pride bearing—the Aegis—their school logo.

After 20 minutes ay tinawag na din ang school namin.

"Beaumont Integrated Academy!" we march towards the stage.

The purple, white, and yellow jersey fit the administrative aim. To be superior in excellence of academic and sportsmanship.

Other students call us "Royal hounds" dahil sa mascot naming aso na nakasuot ng roman violet robe.

"Last but not the least, our very own..." may pa drum rolls pa sila. "... St. Gabriel the Archangel School!"

The cheering crowd roared at their glorious athletes. Their white and gray uniform jersey is looks clean and sleek.

Ang akala kong ordinaryong atleta kanina ay isa palang captain—Si Rafael.

He's all smiles walking infront of his schoolmates.

Spell confindence!

"Bibig mo girl!" Naia chuckled beside me.

I tried to maintain my void of emotion face but failed specially when he looked at my direction. Smiling.

I fake a cough bago ngumiti sa kanya.

What is happening to me?

Nagperform ang marching band kasama ang mga majorette. Halos maglaway na ang mga lalaking nanood sa kanila.

Everytime the skirt lifts and their legs moves. Isama pa ang fitted na uniform at ibang may malaking hinaharap.

I stared at mine. Tama lang pala ang laki.

They performed for three minutes. Bago simulan ang torch lighting.

Tumakbo sa field ang ilang atleta galing sa ibang schools at sport bago masindihan ang torch. We did the  flag raising and oath taking bago kami pinakawalan.

"Let's meet sa room 24B doon tayo nakaassign. Return after lunch. 1:30 pm sharp!"

"Yes, coach!"

He let us go pagkatapos noon.

Sabay kaming apat nila Naia, Tyler at Cindy sa lunch. Hahabol na lang daw ang kambal para sa afternoon games nila.

Nagikot-ikot kami sa mga booths na nakaset-up sa quadrangle. We are not allowed to go out of school premises.

Napili naming kumain sa garden pagkatapos magikot. We settle on the grass na parang nagpipicnic.

"Hoy kumain ka na!" anyaya sa akin ni Cindy.

"I'm sleepy." sagot ko.

"Really? You are daydreaming when we saw you." si Tyler.

"Oo nga." taas babang kilay ni Naia.

"Is it kinikilig?" nabubulol na sabi nung una.

"Sus." si Cindy

"I have never and will not have any interest in boys." sagot ko pagkaup
"I'm the ice princess remember?" dagdag ko bago kagatin ang burger.

"Really? ice princess." si Naia

Humalakhak sila sa sinabi niya.

We must be careful. We are not safe in this crowded place.  We don't have threats coming pero baka may mas malala pang mangyari.

Bumalik kami sa room 24B para magpahinga ng kaunti.

Naia's and the twins—Lindsey and Lincoln—will have their tennis match. Nakita ko sila na kadadating lang rin kausap ang kanilang coach.

We headed to the tennis courts. Halos mapuno ang venue but we manage to take a seat.

Kalaban ni Naia ang taga Athens University. Pinapatakbo siya nito noong una pero nanalo din ito pagkatapos try to ng 4 sets to 2 na laban.

The bickering twins is gone, who's present is the sports enthusiast siblings. They synchronised and strategic moves made them win.

Pasok agad sa quarter finals si Naia, habang ang kambal ay lalaban ulit bukas.

Kahit tapos na ang event na nakatalaga sa amin ay hinayaan kaming manood ng mga coach namin ng ibang sports.

"Sino yung may black na jersey?"

"Yan yung school na hindi kasali sa opening ceremony."

"Nagsabi naman daw sil bago iyon."

Joan of Arc Educational institute.

Hindi sila present kanina. Nakalagay sa bench nila ang school banner. Ang kabayong itim may kidlat sa likod nito   katabi ang isang lancer.

Nakalaban nila Naia kanina, ang nakatalo sa kambal.

"Go Archangels!"

"Dark horse kaya niyo yan!"

Halo-halo ang cheer na naririnig namin. Sa basketball ka lang makakita ng audience at players ay nagsasabong.

The court looks like a chess board. Black and white pieces move for a check mate.

Pinabalik din kami sa designated room para magannounce ng mga events bukas.

"Bukas sa school gaganapin ang ilang events. Fencing, Swimming, at Baton relay." the head coach speak to us.
Ang iba ay nakikinig ang iba ay nakapikit na dahil sa pagod.

"Good Luck bukas Royal Hounds!"

Kinuha na nila ang mga gamit nila. I didn't bother moving mine.
Since wala naman akong event na sinalihan ngayon.

Hindi nakalagpas sa isip ko ang oras na ito. We are safe today. Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito.

It will be too much kung mabibigla na naman kami sa mangyayari.

Let's be optimistic for tomorrow!