I'm here, quietly waiting for the others while Mr. Niko is arranging something on the table placed in the middle of the dome.
Unti-unting nang lumiliwanag unlike kanina paglabas ko dahil ala-sais pasado na ng umaga.
Maya-maya lang ay narinig ko na ang boses ni Timmy na tila nagrereklamo.
"Ano ba 'yan! Ang aga naman ng klase—", but it was interrupted nang makita niya ang lalaking nasa tabi ko.
Agad siyang nag-bow at nag-good morning. Kasunod niya si Ridley na halatang antok pa pati na rin sila Odin at Dinvar. Sumunod na dumating na magkasama sila Clioe at Victoria at nahuli si Esteban.
Noong nakaraang araw ko pa napapansin na parang wala sa focus si Victoria. Her actions and facial expressions are the same but her eyes are not. Tila may malalim itong iniisip. I asked her the other time but she said that wala namang bumabagabag sa kanya but her eyes tells otherwise.
Hindi ko na lang inisip 'yun at nag-focus na lang kay Mr. Niko na ngayon ay nakaharap na sa amin.
Nasa medyo gitna ako dahil nauna akong makarating dito. Nasa tabi ko naman si Clioe at Timmy na parehong sinisilip ang kung ano ang nasa table na nasa harap namin. It is full of equipment—or I must say, weapons? I don't know. There are eight items in the table but I can't clearly see dahil may iilan na sobrang liit.
I'm sure that Mr. Niko will tell us about those later.
Nasa kaliwa ko sila Odin at Dinvar habang nasa kanan naman na katabi ni Timmy sila Ridley, Esteban at sa pinaka-dulo si Victoria.
When my eyes laid on Esteban, the scene from the other day came across my mind that gave me goosebumps—again. My heart also started to beat frantically na akala mo ay tumatakbo ako sa isang marathon. I've been feeling this these past few days every time na makikita ko siya. Minsan ay iniiwasan ko siyang makita but I can't help seeing him lalo na't magkatabi lamang kami. What's wrong with me? Should I visit the clinic later? Baka may sakit na ako sa puso.
Because of those thoughts, I didn't know na muli na na namang napako at napatagal ang pagtitig ko sa kanya na agad kong iniwas na akala mo ay walang nangyari. I always make an effort para umiwas sa kanya pero lagi akong napapatingin sa direksyon for no reason.
I'm all fucked up. I know. But I can't show it because that will only worsen things. Mamaya ay akalain pa ng isang ito na may gusto ako sa kanya. That's not the case. But the thing that happened in the library is a big deal for me! I mean—that was the first time that a guy, aside from Kuya and Dad touched me that way.
Wait, scratch that touch thing because it gave me chills thinking about that and touch seems like implying a different thing. Replace it with, 'get close to me'.
Napatingin ako sa harap na parang walang nangyari at itinuon ang buong atensyon ko kay Mr. Niko na nagpapakilala na.
"Hi! I'm Mr. Niko Laurel and I'm going to be your trainer for your physical training and combat skills.", he said while looking at us with his face full of smiles.
"Actually, there will be two of us who will train you for the rest of your stay here but unfortunately, she's not here with me because she has other things to attend to but you will see her on Saturday, when your next training day was scheduled."
We just nodded.
His physical appearance really tells na sanay na sanay na siya with the trainings. His lean and muscular body compliments his tall and big structure. He's handsome and I can see Clioe on my left side admiring Mr. Niko on the way she's looking at him. Tsk.
Ang chinita niyang mga mata ay tila nanlaki and her eyeballs seems like it's going to pop-out any time soon. Her two hands are also clasped together kung saan nakapatong ang kanyang kanang pisngi. Nagpa-cute pa talaga ang isang 'to.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Audacious Pillars
Science FictionWhat if you can be more than can you expect? This story lies in the story of eight teenagers looking for a quest. A quest that will question the integrity and strength of one's relationship. A quest that will answer the buried and forgotten.
