VISION:Unraveling

- 16 -

Natapos ang unang phase at natanggal na nga ang sampu. Ofcourse the top 5 is still on the run.

Tumunog ang isang bell signalling the end of phase 1. After a 5 minute break, the bell rang again signalling the start of phase 2 this time. The 5 minute break seemed to be short for the challengers to regain their energy 'cause they are evidently tired still.

Sa phase 2, parang isang obstacle course ang pagdaraan ng natitirang sampung challengers. Lahat sila ay sabay sabay magsisimula at unang limang makakaabot sa dulo ang tiyak nang mapapabilang sa top 5. Hindi ito madali dahil hindi nila alam kung saan biglang may susulpot o aatake sa kanila maliban sa mga nakikitang obstacle. This phase will now test their DEFENSE and SPEED.

They all went to their position and prepared themselves. I rolled my eyes when I saw Ruru looking my direction. Hindi ko alam kung ako ang tinitignan niya dahil sa dami ng tao dito, imposible naman na maispottan pa niya ako. Anyway, I'm not making assumptions na sa akin nga siya nakatingin. I don't even wanna see their faces dahil galit pa rin ako na pinasok nila ako sa isang bagay na muntik ko ng ikamatay, lalo na yang Ruru na yan. Pasimuno. I turned my gaze to Zaza and she's still not looking so well. I already have a bad feeling about this.

After the go signal, all of them started running rapidly, avoiding and fighting all that blocks their way. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko. Alam ko namang magagaling talaga ang mga lumalaban dito pero hindi ko akalaing ganito kagagaling.

I feel so low. I want to have powers such as them. I feel so terrible with what I have.

I focused my sight to Zaza alone dahil siya naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito at nanonood ngayon. She's undeniably fast.

Napatayo ako ng biglang may tumama sa kanang balikat niyang light blade na hindi niya naiwasan o nasira. It's highly powerful that it pushed her 5 meters away. I furrowed when her face remained blank, as if she's not hurt. Ruru went to her and handed help but she just shrugged off Ruru's hand then continued her course. Napatigil si Ruru ng saglit tapos ay nagsimula na ulit tumakbo.

It took 35 mins before Zaza first hops the finish line followed by Ruru, then the presently top 3-5. Hingal na hingal silang lahat. That's it. They're still there top 5. Magagaling at mabibilis din naman yung limang iba pa pero malayo pa rin talaga sila sa galing ng currently Top 5 na sila pa ring magiging top 5 nitong kasunod na academic year.

"Sila pa rin talaga." Vince murmured. "May makakatalo pa kaya sa kanila before sila gumraduate? Sino?" Vince gave me a meaningful look that I don't even understand.

"Di ko alam. Why should I know the future's another waste?"

Napatawa siya. "You are so one of a kind, Almiona."

Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil nawiwirduhan ako. Parang bigla nalang nagiba ang tono ng papanalita niya pati na ang mood niya. Pero hindi ko na masyadong pinansin dahil hindi ko pa naman siya nakakasama ng sobrang tagal.

I don't know what's happening but each of the top 4 is looking so bothered watching Zaza.

After a short break, the phase 3 began. The audience became hyped, so loud and restless that I couldn't even look at different directions and talking to Vince, who is sitting just right beside me, seems impossible. I want to ask him what they are so hyped about.

Phase 3 is the last phase and is the battle of AGILITY. This will now determine who will take the rank positions. Ito ang phase kung saan sunod-sunod silang aatakihin ng mga energy beams. Quite simple to hear but the first one to be hit by one single beam, just one, becomes the Top 5, the second to be hit becomes the Top 4 just until Top 3. It means that as long as they can avoid the beams and no one is being hit, the competition continues, kahit umabot pa sila ng madaling araw. Thankfully hindi naman umabot sa iniisip ko. Si Harley ang unang natamaan kaya siya pa rin ang top 5, si Shinwoo naman ang sumunod kaya siya ang top 4, si Lui ang isa pang sumunod kaya siya pa rin ang top 3. Ibig sabihin, hindi nabago ang position nilang tatlo. However, the remaining two shall go on a one on one fight to see who still has the most energy to win.

Nang maiwan na si Zaza at Ruru, they proceeded with their one on one fight already. They went inside a big circle. The rule is, the first one to be out of the circle losses. This looks so intense. I couldn't even think that they will hurt each other just to be on top.

Nagsimulang magpower up si Zaza kaya naman ganoon na rin ang ginawa ni Ruru. Afterwards, they began fighting each other. They are both strong. The crowd is divided into two. One cheering for Zaza and one cheering for Ruru. Yung itsura ng mga estudyante akala mo nasa sabungan at nagpupustahan kung sino ang mananalo.

"You know what, Zaza is the Top 1 during the first year they all became top 5." Biglang nagsalita sa Vince.

Really? That means that the first year I entered this academy is the first year Ruru ascended to top 1 since they've been the top 5 for 5 years. Zaza never mentioned she became top 1 for a year.

I was so lost in thoughts when the half of the crowd shouted for joy. Seems like we've got the winner.