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Chapter 19: Burden

Chapter 19: Burden

"You already know what to do." Dean said in dismissal.

Nalilito akong bumaling sa kanila. Alam na nila? Bakit wala akong alam?!

Unti- unti na silang lumabas ng headquarters, now wearing just common clothes, para daw hindi sila makikilala.

I snorted with that thought. With the way they carry those clothes, I bet even with those clothes they will still stand out effortlessly.

Napagpasyahan ko nalang na sumabay kay Carol, pero mabilis ding napatigil nang magsalita si Dean. Akala ko ay lumabas na siya?

"You're going with me."

"No. I'm not." I said, equalling the stern in his voice.

"It wasn't a choice." He said darkly, then started walking his way out.

Hesitantly, I followed his way. Wala akong magagawa, gaya nga ng sabi niya kanina that I wasn't given a choice.

"Fuck, too many." He mumbled.

Nilingon ko siya dahil hindi ko naintindihan ang sinasabi niya. Siya ang nauuna maglakad at nakasunod lang ako. Hindi ko na nakita kung saan pumunta ang iba. What did I do?

Bigla siyang lumiko kaya sumunod ako. Where is he heading?

"Fuck, even here."

Muntik na akong nauntog sa likod niya dahil sa biglang tigil niya. Ano ang problema nitong kasama ko?

Kunot- noo siyang bumaling sa akin. "I didn't bring you just to burden us, Scott. Get a grip."

Wala akong nasagot sa kanya. Kanina ko pa nararamdaman na hindi siya komportable sa presensiya ko. Shit. I closed my eyes just to stop the tears from falling.

"Focus, seer. Now's not the time to throw yourself a fucking pity party."

Lumiko ulit siya kaya sumunod ako. Alam ko masakit ang mga sinabi niya, but heck, he's right! I was too preoccupied that I don't really mind what's happening. Maybe, I really am a burden for them.

Tuloy- tuloy lang ang lakad niya. Nakasunod lang din ako, but this time, more focused. Kanina ko pa nararamdaman na may mali, na parang marami ang nagmamasid sa paligid, probably why Dean's like this.

It took me a while to realize that we are now heading back to the headquarters. Tapos na ba kami? Bakit parang ang bilis?

"There's too many of them, far from what I expected." Arianne said as she entered the room.

"Maybe because they are expecting us."

"They are moving silently, that the common specials won't notice."

"Mukhang matagal na din sila dito, base sa kanilang mga galawan."

They continued to talk about what they have observed a while ago, while here I am, not helping anybody. Tahimik lang akong nakikinig habang nagpapalitan sila ng mga naiisip, nahihiya dahil wala man lang naitulong ni isa.

I feel so useless.

As they continue to discuss something, there was a knock on the door.

"Le Counsel wants you there." Iyon lang ang sinabi ng kumatok at umalis na.

Natahimik sila dahil doon. Carol sighed heavily, that it was heard by all of us inside the room.

I looked at Ian but he just shrugged.

Tumayo silang lahat at tinahak ang pinto palabas. Gusto ko sanang magpaiwan dito dahil mukhang hindi ako kailangan doon, pero napansin ako ni Niall.

"Let's go."

"Uh, kayo nalang siguro." I said.

Niall sighed. "You're one of us. You need to be there."

Hindi ko alam pero muntik na akong naluha sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko nalang pinahalata kaya napilitan akong ngumiti sa kanya.

He led the way. Napansin niyang hindi ako nakasunod kaya nilingon niya ako.

"They don't like waiting, Mia."

Natauhan ako sa sinabi niya. Right, who in their right mind likes waiting anyway?

Pumasok si Niall sa isa na namang double door. Pumasok din ako kasunod niya na pinag sisihan ko din agad.

Inside is a long wooden table and chairs filled with, I think, the most powerful specials in this town. They have this air of authority that screams power.

Eight in total, five men and three women.

Sa isang banda naman nakaupo ang lima, walang mababakas na emosyon sa kanila. Nanliit ako sa sarili ko nang ma- realize na nabibilang sila dito, samantalang ako ay hindi. Dapat nga talaga hindi nalang ako sumama.

"And you are?" Asked the woman who looks like Arianne, just stricter. "What are you doing here?"

Nawalan ako ng boses para sumagot sa kanya. The coldness in her voice is enough for me to feel this way. Who really are these people?

"She's with us, Mrs. Wilford." Si Dean ang sumagot.

I was right. She's Arianne's mother.

Binalewala nila ang sagot ni Dean at hinayaan na akong maupo.

"How was it?" A deep voice asked. He has the same eyes as Dean, is he his father?

"We weren't expecting that there are too many of them." Arianne said. Tahimik lamang si Dean na nakikinig.

"Of course there are many. You wouldn't be here if they're just few." Arianne's mother said sarcastically.

What the heck is this? I thought she's her mother, but why is she treating her like this?

"Dear, I can hear you from there. Can you please stop with your ridiculous thoughts?"

I was taken aback when she stared at my eyes directly. Is she talking about me?

"Yes dear. You're too loud. You're disrupting this meeting."

Napansin ko din na nasa akin na ang atensyon ng mga nasa loob ng kwartong ito. Niyuko ko ang ulo ko dahil di ko na nakayanan ang mga tingin na ibinibigay nila sa akin.

"She knows nothing about this, just continue." Sa wakas ay nagsalita si Dean.

"You brought her here without her knowing about this? Are you really serious?"

"That's enough Vivian." Nagulat ako ng nakita ang Headmaster na nandito ngayon.

"Just send her out of here."

That was my cue. I stood and walked quietly to the door. Imbes na papunta sa dapat kwarto namin ay nagtungo ako sa pinto palabas ng building na ito.

"Stop with the tears, Mia. You did a mistake. They are right, you're not supposed to be here." I said as tears pooled in my eyes habang tinatahak ang daan palabas.

Fuck Mia, I don't remember you being this crybaby.

***