Flame Academy

Special Chapter #2: A Water Bearer

"Are you okay?"

Napalingon ako kay Zach dahil sa tanong niya. The others looked at me and I just sighed. I looked at the school standing in front of us.

"It's just that, there are some memories coming back as I look at it," mahinang sabi ko.

"Bakit? May nang-bully ba sayo dito noon? Susunugin namin!" sabi ni Neo kaya sinamaan siya ng tingin nila Ace.

I slightly laughed. "Wala naman."

"'Wala naman'. That means, meron kahit papaano," sabi ni Bea at tumango si Dereen.

"Yeah. There's a bitch always lurking around her—" she confirmed and I nudged her arm to make her stop.

"Your mouth, Dereen," Ace warned and Dereen bit her lower lip. Then he looked at me. "Pero meron talaga?"

"Don't you dare confirm it to us nor introduce that bitch to us because I might burn her," Jillian said and I saw how serious she was, making Dereen clung on my arms.

"Pero mukhang ito ready na talagang manunog," Bea said in a low voice and glanced at Zach.

That's when I saw that his hands are already in fists. He was looking at the school with rage in his eyes, making Dereen shiver to death.

I tapped his shoulder and his eyes turned to me. I smiled and shook my head.

"It's fine. Ako nga ang may kasalanan sa kanya," I said and that made them frown.

"What do you mean?" Zach asked but I wasn't able to answer when I saw the man coming out of the gate.

Napaayos ng tayo si Dereen habang napatingin din sila Jillian sa kanya. The man who went out of the gate is Sir Bairo Enriquez, the owner of this school and Daimo's father.

He stopped in front of us and smiled. Some of us smiled back and Dereen greeted him good morning.

Tumango si Sir Bairo at tumingin sa akin. "Nice to see you again, Kate Calmerin."

"Me, too, sir."

"So, can we enter the school now?" he asked and we looked at each other before nodding.

The gate widely opened as we step inside the school premises. Since it's Friday, there are still students around who immediately looked at us. Nakarinig ako ng ilang tilian pero mas nanaig ang mga bulong-bulungan.

"We have no classes today since it's our Foundation day. It was being held in our gymnasium so most of our students are there. Pero may mga gumagala pa din," Sir Bairo said and looked at the students around us.

Nag-iwas sila kaagad ng tingin at lumayo sa amin. Bahagya akong yumuko dahil ramdam ko na ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. I just hope that I won't see her today.

"You can go around the school as long as you want until you have the answers we need. Dereen will come with you," he said and Dereen nodded. "And thank you for coming by the way. I really hope you can help us."

"It's our pleasure, sir," Ace said and that's when Sir Bairo bid his goodbye.

Dereen faced us. "So, where should we start?"

"Where it also started," Jillian said.

"Then let's go to the library."

Nagsimula kaming maglakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa hallways. Few students are tailing us as we make our way to the library. I can also hear my name from them.

They really remember me, huh?

When we reached the library, Neo immediately locked the door so no one can enter aside from us. May police tape din sa paligid ng library pero lumusot lang kami doon. There's no police here anyway.