IMPERIUM: The Reverie

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Founders

Lumipas ang ilang araw at malaki ang pasasalamat ko dahil hindi ko nakikita si Grand. Good thing he understood my last words that afternoon. Mabuti na lamang at hindi ko na siya naging ka-klase sa iba kong mga subjects kahit na dalawa sa mga ito ay classmate ko si Silvia. Lagi niya akong tinatapunan ng masamang tingin pero kagaya ng dati ay tinataasan ko lamang siya ng kilay. Palagi akong mag-isa pero minsan ay kasama ko si Taizon dahil super-classmates kaming dalawa. Turns out na last year pa pala siya pumasok dito sa Imperium. I was able to credit some of my units kaya hindi ako back to zero.

According to Taizon, Imperium is an accredited university but only the heads of the government know of its existence. Isa itong malaking sekreto at tanging mayayaman at ma-iimpluwensyang mga tao ang nakakapasok dito.

"Wanna play polo with us later? We are short with one player" anyaya sa akin ni Taizon.

Inaayos ko ang baril ko at nilagyan ito ng bala. We were in the firing center, underground Dynami 2. Apparently, magka-klase rin kami ni Taizon sa P.E.

"Nah. I can't. Pupunta ako kay Ms. Yojasmine after this class then deresto ako kina Mr. and Mrs. Marati." Bahagya ko siyang tiningnan at ini-aim ko ang baril sa target. Kanina pa kami ng-instruct kung anong gagawin at hinayaan na kami ng professor na mag-firing.

"So alam mo na pala na hindi totoo ang sinabi ko sayo?" he said not looking at me.

"Yeah but why did you lie to me? It's not like I'm gonna get killed on that place." Sabi ko habang nakapikit ang isang mata at inaasinta ang target.

Ibinaba ni Taizon ang baril niya. "My father told me a secret before I went here. He said..."

Binaril ko ang target at sa mismong bulls eye iyon tumama. I looked at Taizon with an anticipation of his story.

"Please don't tell anybody about this Zeffira." He pleaded as I loaded my gun once more.

"If you do not trust me with this secret of yours, then don't spill it. Simple. I don't really care about that story anyway. I just want to finish my detention shit on that place." I aimed my gun at the target.

"I trust you Zeffira." He said and that made me put down the gun. It was my first time to hear that someone trusts me. He iss not my family but he trusts me. I don't know why but I felt a little heat inside my heart.

I did not say anything in response and instead, I fired the gun. Medyo malayo ito ngayon sa bulls eye pero nasa loob pa rin ng right target.

"21 years ago, a hunt was conducted inside Imperium. A traitor was inside the campus' premises. The eldest son of one of the founders was shot dead on Timberland. It was a secret mission then."

Ibinaba ko ang baril at bumaling kay Taizon na ngayon ay nakatingin sa kawalan.

"Timberland?"

"The name of the forest back then. It used to be a camp site and a place for practice hunt but they never used that anymore. Now, they converted it into an agricultural land. Well, at least half of it."

"And the other half remained as it is?"

He stood straight and took his gun again. He aimed it at the target and I just watched him.

Firing the gun, he answered, "Yeah"

Lalo akong na-curious sa paraan ng pagkukwento niya. It's like he's still hiding some information from me. Parang hindi kumpleto ang kwento niya. I can't help but to be curious and I hate it because this curiosity of mine doesn't do me any good. Kagaya na lamang nang pagiging curious ko kay Grand nuong unang araw ko, hindi rin magiging maganda para sa akin ang pag-iisip sa lugar na iyon.