Lost Ranger

Chapter 5: The Trial

I feel like I'm being watched. But I didn't mind, I don't sense any danger sa paligid ko, neither sa nakatingin sa 'kin kaya 'di ko nalang pinansin.

I also noticed kung paano mapatigil ng tingin si Mr. Calahan sa 'kin. He stared at me like he's trying to remember my face, I wanted to smile. But because of this condition I feel like I'm a shitty snob woman, 'di naman ako pwedeng mag 'peace sign' sa kanya, baka isipin niya abnormal ako. I don't wanna give wrong impression to anyone, especially I'm alone now.

I felt pain in my chest as I imagined her face once again. We have been together since we were young. She was always there with me whether I need her or not at hindi ko alam kung paano ko nakakaya na wala na siya sa tabi ko. She was my sister, my friend and my protector.

Nang makalabas si Mr. Calahan bigla naman nagsi-ingay ang mga studyante at kung ano anong mga komento naman ang narinig ko.

"Grabe Pre! Ramdam mo 'yon? Tumaas yung balahibo ko sa titig ni Sir Calahan, shet Pre," umakto naman siya na parang nilalamig.

"Gago men ramdam ko rin, puta buti 'di ako nanginig, nakakahiya maganda pa naman 'yong katabi ko" bulong naman ng kausap niya.

I looked at him as he said those words at sakto namang napatingin din siya. Agad siyang ngumiti na parang nahihiyang tuta na nabisto ng amo.

I wanted to smile back. I reached out my hand and look at him with a happy eyes. I saw how his smile turned into a shock face that made me chuckled.

"Hi, my name's Merliah" I said, not minding whether he will accept my hand or not. I saw his adams apple moved as he reach for my hand.

"U-Uh, Hi! M-My name's Kevin, you can call me Kev" he replied as he look at me with a confuse 'look' on his face.

"Nice to meet you Kev, by the way thanks for the compliment" I tried to sound happy as possible. His face turned into a shock 'look' again while putting his other hand on his nape na para bang nahihiya siya sa sinabi ko.

Hala! Don't tell me nag assume ako na ako yung tinutukoy niya? Nak nang! Taena nakakahiya!

I immediately pulled back my hands at sinubukang alisin ang titig ko sa kanya. Kung kanina sumasakit ang dib-dib ko dahil sa lungkot, ngayon kumakalabog naman dahil sa hiya.

Shit! Kakahiya!

I dared not to look at the boy again, nakakahiya yung ginawa ko. Kasi naman. Hindi sa pagiging mahangin, but I see myself as a fine young lady. Mataas confidence ko kung pagandahan ang usapan. I'm not boastful, na tipong pinagkakalat ko na maganda ako. I'm just confident.

Maya-maya ay biglang may lumilitaw na parang malaking screen sa harapan namin, dahilan para matahimik ang lahat. Bumukas ito at ipinakita ang Logo ng Eleriah Academy. Hugis bilog ang logo at sa loob ay may tatlong letra na sumisimbolo sa Ilice, Asyeth at Protector. Napakasimple pero kakaiba ang dating.

Matapos ipakita ang logo ay lumitaw naman ang mukha ni Mr. Calahan.

Pogi! Hehe.

He started giving us instruction. "We will call on you, one by one," We nodded as if he's with us inside this room.

'Di ko alam kung naalog ba 'tong utak ko, dahil napapansin kong palala ako ng palala. Ganito na ako kapilya dati pa, pero mas grabe na 'ata ngayon. Imbis na magseryoso ako habang hinahanap ko ang pumatay sa kaibigan ko. E puro lalaki ang napapansin ko.

Behave Merliah.

Sobrang tahimik naman ng lahat at nararamdaman ko ang bawat tensyon at takot nila. Kahit ako kinakabahan, pero alam ko na hindi naman dapat dahil ligtas naman kaming lahat dito. 'Yon yung sabi eh!

Isa-isa nang tinawag ang mga estudyante na nasa unahan namin. Kakasabi ko lang na hindi dapat ako kabahan pero taena nanlalamig na ang mga kamay ko at pinagpapawisan pa.

I was too occupied thinking on how nervous I was, nang mapansin kong tumayo na ang lalaking nasa kaliwa ko, which is yung kausap ko kanina na si Kevin. Halata naman ang takot sa mukha niya habang naglalakad papunta ng pintuan.

Shit ako na next...

I looked at him from the screen. We can actually see what was going on inside that room.

As Kev entered the place, I saw him gulping na para bang nalunok na niya lahat ng laway sa loob ng bibig niya. Nakatayo lang siya sa kaliwang bahagi ng screen at nakatulala. Hindi ko alam kung may pinapanuod ba siya o may binabasa, basta nakatulala lang siya.

Then he started talking. Walang audio na maririnig mula sa screen kaya kung papanuorin ay parang tanga si Kevin na nagsasalita mag-isa. He talked for exactly 10 minutes, then he moved like he is ready for something. Suddenly,  he laughed as if someone's telling a joke, then seconds later, he look like screaming like a mad man.

I see

He started to run from his left side like he was dodging at something, then he faced the right side of the screen, then he jumped as high as he can.

Taas tumalon! Parang may lahing palaka 'tong si Kevin ah.

As he landed on the ground he lowered his upper body which made his hands touch the floor, then rapidly crawled like he was chasing someone. He used his hands to support his upper body as he glide his right foot to his left as if he was wiping the floor with it. Then he flipped backwards which made him stand facing the left side of the screen. He just stood for exactly 2 minutes while breathing the shit out of him, heavily.

It took him exactly 17 minutes in all.

I was impress by his moves kahit na mukha siyang tanga kasi walang audio at siya lang talaga ang makikita sa video, puti ang buong paligid kaya kung mapapanuod mo talaga. Para kang nanunuod ng action movie na parang hindi.

And I also figured out na he's a protector, which made me feel proud. Protectors are treated as shields, inferior daw sabi ng mga Ilices at Asyeths. Protectors don't have any special ability like the rest except sa hindi ito natatablan ng kahit na anong ability ng Ilices at Asyeth that is why it was labelled as shield o panangga 'lang'. And maybe up to this day, ganun pa rin ang label ng mga Protectors, namin, rather.

How did I know? Why shoudn't I? Maybe I just love reading books about history, especially dad's book collections.

And what is happening right now? Maybe it feels surreal for others, imagine being born with natural powers and yet, ipagkakait saiyong gamitin ito for the sake of peace? I mean peace for what? I'm sure hindi para saamin 'to. For the sake of peace and equality, we were restrained to do what we should naturally do. And because of that, many things happened, things that even I didn't imagine to happen.

I snap back as I saw Kev left the room which made my heart pump like crazy! Mas lalong nanlamig ang mga kamay ko at pakiramdam ko lalabas na ang puso ko sa sobrang lakas ng kabog!

Ako na next! Shet! Kalma lang Liah, you have been through worst. Kalma lang...

I automatically stood up at naglakad papuntang pinto kung saan pumasok kanina si Kevin, I don't know kung saan napupunta ang mga estudyante na tapos na mag take ng test, and not knowing it makes me more nervous. How we will know kung nakapasa ba ito o hindi, kung tama ba ang mga ginawa nila. But it's actually smart na ganoon ang ginawa ng mga personnel dito. It will make the students more confuse and nervous knowing na hindi na nakabalik ang mga nauna kanina.

I tried to calm myself, and keep on reminding not to do any mistake, anything but mistake. I need to get in, I have to.

I opened the door and as I expected, it was different from what we were seeing in the screen.

•••••
Profile

Name: Kevin Ramirez

Age: 20 years old

Ability: Protector
☆High intelligence, immune system and powerful physique. They have high resistance to any ability of Asyeth and Ilices

Level: The Spears

Status: Unidentified