Unforgotten Tale

CHAPTER 4

JOAQUIN 

"Why are you late?" Asked by the professor. But It seems like he didn't hear what our professor asked. 

Inilibot niya ang kanyang paningin sa loob ng silid-aralan hanggang sa tumigil ito sa akin. We're both staring at each other's eyes. He slowly tore his gaze on me and proceeded to sit on the empty space on my back. I suddenly feel agitated. I wanna talk to him and ask him something.

I lost focus on the whole class. A part of me wants to end it already so that I can talk to him. I have a lot of questions to ask. I saw him in the mortal world, maybe he can help me to go back already.

Mrs. Sherlot already dismissed us and as soon as she left the room I looked at my back and he's not there. Did he leave already? I grabbed all my things and hurriedly went outside. I looked left and right but he's nowhere to be found.

"Where is he?" Melissa nudge me.

"Who?" She asked me. Should I tell her?

"No one. Let's go?" I decided not to. What would I tell her if she'll ask why I'm looking for him?

"Don't associate yourself with him in any way." She said and proceeded to walk. Napatigil naman ako at nakatingin lamang ako sa likod niyang papalayo. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Bigla siyang lumingon sa akin.

"Ano tutunganga ka lang ba riyan? We still have a class I don't wanna be late." Tumakbo naman ako papunta sakanya.

"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" I asked her.

"'Yung lalake kanina, siya ang hinahanap mo diba? Do you know him?" There's no point in denying.

"I saw him once. I just need to ask him something." Tinitigan niya naman ako.

"What do you need to ask?" Hindi ko naman alam ang isasagot ko.

"Er..It's kinda personal." Tinampal niya naman ang kanyang noo at tila ba hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin niya sa akin.

"Hindi ako nagkulang ng pagpapaalala sayo."

"What's wrong?" Naguguluhan na kasi ako. Ano ba ang nangyayari.

"Remeber Asilia. He belong to one of the family. And not just that, their family is rumored that they have something to do with the disappearance of the third family." Pagpapatuloy niya habang naglalakad kami patungo sa susunod namig klase.

"But, it's just a rumor." I defended. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at inirapan ako.

"He is dangerous himself." Nanahimik nalang ako at hindi na nagtanong pa.

Nasa ikalawang klase na kami. Saktong pagpasok ng aming guro ay siya ring pagpasok nang lalake sa bus stop. So, he's also a first year. I don't have the chance to talk to him again for the class started.

Our professor is Mr. Fredrick Merin and he teaches Charms. Tinitigan na naman niya ako katulad ng pagtitig ni Mrs.Sherlot, siniko naman ako ni Melissa.

"What was that? He's staring at you just like Mrs.Sherlot did." Nagkibit balikat nalamang ako. Napaka observant niya.

"Although charms may be slightly lighter than transfiguration it is necessary for you to learn and master it. Charms are essential to perform a greater part of magic." He started. I agree, it may be simple for others but the simplest things hold the greatest power.

"That would be easy." One of my classmate suddenly uttered. Mr.Fredrick looks at him and smiles.

"We'll see about that Mr.Pery." The discussion continued. He discussed the importance of charms and the do's and don'ts when brewing them.

"Okay, for your next activity you need to bring phials, powdered roots of asphodel and worm wood. You can all find the said ingredients at Luminous Alley." After that he ended our class.

Luminous Alley? Where is that? Magtatanong na sana ako kay Melissa ngunit bigla kong naalala na kailangan ko pa palang kausapin 'yung lalake.

Paglingon ko ay wala na naman siya ulit. Nagmadali ako sa paglabas, hindi ko na rin pinansin ang pagtawag ni Melissa at agad siyang hinanap. Luckily I saw him, ngunit paliko na siya at kailangan kong magmadali para maabutan siya.

"Hey!" Sigaw ko habang hinahabol siya ngunit mukhang hindi niya ako narinig. Pinagtitinginan narin ako nang mga tao. Mas binilisan ko pa ang paghabol, lumiko ako kung saan siya lumiko ngunit hindi ko na siya nakita.

Nanlulumo ako dahil nawala ko na naman siya. Yumuko ako at nagsimula nang maglakad pabalik ngunit may biglang humila sa mga kamay ko. Pagtingin ko ay 'yung lalake. Hila-hila niya ako, hindi ko alam kung saan kami tutungo. Ang bilis ng tibok ng aking puso. Nakatitig lamang ako sa napaka gwapo niyang mukha.

"Quit staring." He said with a smirk plastered on his face. I don't understand but my heart feels like exploding. He suddenly stops, we are at a botany.

"What do you need? He asked me. I couldn't find my voice, I'm just staring at him. He snapped his finger in front of my face. I blinked on what he did.

"I saw you." I started. He looks confused on what I said.

"Ah-huh?" He answered in a playful tone. He doesn't remember me?

"I mean, in the mortal world." The playfulness on his face slowly fades and is replaced with a serious look.

"Stop playing around." He suddenly turned his back on me and was ready to leave.

"I was also there, in the bus stop." I told him vexedly. He looks at me and holds both of my shoulders. I was taken aback, he looks angry.

"When and how did you get there?" I couldn't answer him, he's squeezing my shoulder tightly. He perhaps noticed my discomfort so he released his grip.

"Meet me here tomorrow after class." Tumalikod na siya, ngunit nakaka ilang hakbang palang siya ay bigla siyang tumigil.

"It's not hey, it's Juaquin." Huh?

Naiwan akong nakatulala roon nang ilang minuto bago ko naintindihan ang sinabi niya.

Joaquin I uttered softly. A smile crept on my face. 

Pabalik na ako sa dorm. Padilim na rin, medyo natagalan ako dahil hindi ko mahanap ang daan pabalik. Nagkausap nga kami kaso wala namang matino. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Pagbukas ko sa pintuan ay tumambad ang mukha ng roommate ko at nakataas ang kanang kilay niya.

"Where have you been? Sinundan mo si Joaquin?" So, Joaquin really is his name.

"Yhup, kaso hindi ko siya naabutan. Kakahanap ko sakanya ay naligaw ako."

Mukha namang naniwala siya sa sinabi ko. I want to tell her the truth. I see that she genuinely cares for me but I don't want to include her in this mess.

"Well go to the Luminous Alley tomorrow." Pagkausap niya saakin.

Papunta na kami sa Fortes Hall. Doon kumakain ang mga estudyante.

"Ano pala at saan ang Luminous Alley?" Nakalimutan kong itanong sakanya kanina dahil nga sinundan ko si Joaquin.

"Luminous Alley is where we shop, we basically get everything in there. There are also restaurants and my most favorite part is the ice cream parlor. There are also some entertainment where you can play and win prizes, and bars. You'll find it outside the school but we need to ride a Pegasus." I felt excited.

"We'll also buy you a wand, you need that." I don't know about that. I'm not a wizard, It wont work on me I want to tell her but I stopped myself.

Everything will be a mess.