Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Five: A Missing Pet

-chapter twenty-five-

"Our opponents are Yuri and Dale tomorrow. You need a good rest."

Inilagay ko ang bag sa gilid ng mesa at umupo sa likuran ni Ana. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa classroom namin na puno ng usapan at chismisan. They looked concerned and worried, for some reason. Is this still an after-effect of the murder that happened yesterday?

"What happened?" tanong ko kay Ana.

She stopped writing and turned to me. "Good morning, Ren!" masayang bati niya. "They're talking about the missing student, Antonio."

A knowing look passed between us.

"Antonio?" kuryoso kong tanong. "The pet?"

Tumango si Ana. "His partner, Maria, has been looking for him all night. Hindi daw ito dumating sa room nila."

"Hindi din nagpakita si Antonio kay Meredith nang tanungin ni Maria." dagdag ni Akiru.

Hmm. So they're hiding the body? Takot ata si Meredith sa maaring pagbagsak ng credibility ng grupo niya if the truth is ever uncovered. Not to mention Shaina will have her band recolored dahil sa she went rogue.

Unless, makita nila ang sugat sa gilid ni Antonio. Ang stab wound nito na mula sa'kin. Of course, it wasn't a one-manned murder. Someone had to help the guy die.

Yes, he was only used as a pawn. To increase the tension between the student council and Meredith's group, and see who will act first. Although, ayoko rin sa kaniya. He pissed me off. Reading into my memory like that.

"People are sayin' maybe Serena killed tha'guy. Kinda believe it."

Napabaling kami sa bagong-dating na si Rachel. Nakangisi siya at may lollipop sa labi. She placed a hand over Akiru's desk and inched closer to the guy.

Rachel popped the candy in her mouth. "Don't ya think so, cutie?"

Mabilis na umatras si Akiru mula sa babae. His chair bumped into Kahel's desk who instantly glared at him. Umiidlip kasi ito.

"Problema mo?!" singhal ni Mad Dog.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Akiru. "I'm sorry!"

"Is somethin' wrong, cutie?"

Kahel fixed his dark glare to Rachel. "Umalis ka na nga. Ang ingay mo."

"I can be noisy at otha pla-"

Inilalaro ni Rachel ang lollipop sa kaniyang bibig habang sinasabi 'yon, at dahan-dahan rin siyang naglalakad papunta sa mesa ni Kahel. I subtly placed my feet out. Dahil sa distracted siya sa mission niyang lumandi, hindi niya ito napansin at nadapa.

"Hala, okay ka lang?!" Ana asks, concerned.

Rachel quickly got up and patted her clothes. Medyo namumula siya sa hiya at napapasulyap siya sa direksiyon ni Kahel na bumalik sa pag-idlip.

Rachel glared at me. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You tripped me!"

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Is that another phrase for I'm clumsy? Tayo-tayo lang naman dito. No one's interested if you fell or not."

Rachel glanced at Kahel again. Ngumisi ako.

"And certainly not that one."

"Ugh!" padabog na umalis si Rachel.

Tumingin ako kay Akiru na nakahinga nang maluwag. I keep on forgetting his phobia of new people, especially those his opposite sex. Nasanay ako sa normal na ugali niya. He can even be sarcastic at times.