Heaven Academy

20 - IRIS (Part 2)

20 - IRIS (Part 2)

"Pasensya na po, Sir Dominic." Muling napakunot ang noo ko nang yumuko pa talaga ang guard sa harapan ni Dominic. Mas matanda siya sa aming lahat pero kitang-kita ang paggalang niya. Tsk.

Dominic just sighed. "It's okay. But please remember this lady." Wala na akong nagawa nang hilahin niya ako palapit sa kaniya. "She's Erisk Oliver."

"Opo," walang pag-aalinlangang sagot ng guard saka muling yumuko. Nagpaalam din siya kaagad.

The Takahara siblings could only give me awkward looks as they sat on one of the couches inside the hideout. I don't know if it's their first time entering the room, but I could clearly sense their nervousness. I sighed.

"Does it still hurt?" Nagulat pa si Saichi nang tanungin ko siya. Mukhang hindi niya kaagad na naintindihan ang ibig kong sabihin. "Your stomach, does it still hurt?"

"A-Ah, a bit..." halos ibulong niya.

Muli akong napabuntong hininga saka inilipat ang tingin kay Saryo. "Your sister should take a rest. Get some meds in the clinic, then take her to the dormitory."

"B-But—" I know why Saryo was hesitating. Binilinan siya ni Luther na 'wag akong iiwan nang mag-isa. He looked like he was about to argue but stopped his self when he noticed that Dominic was also looking at him. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"What are you doing in here?"

From the door where Saryo and Saichi went out, I turned to look at Dominic who's eyes were glued to the opened book that he's holding. I smirked. "Ghost hunting."

He sighed and turned a page, still without sparing me a glance. "Don't go playing around Heaven Academy at night."

Sumandal ako sa couch at tumingala sa kisame. "I just wondered if there are ghosts in other parts of the campus. You know, aside from Aster's soul that's haunting his room."

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya muli akong napangisi. Inihilig ko ang ulo ko sa sandalan para lumingon sa kaniya. "He just can't rest in peace without his death given justice, can he?"

Dominic closed the book. It took seconds before he looked at me. "He's at peace because that's what he wanted."

Wait a second. Didn't Iris tell me that Dominic is also entertaining the idea that my twin brother could've been murdered? Was that also a lie?

"If he's at peace, why do I see him every night?" madiin kong tanong.

"Because he doesn't want you here either."

Naiinis akong tumayo. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay kong nakakuyom. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako nagagalit. May alam ba talaga siya sa nangyari sa kapatid ko o wala? Kung meron, pinagtatakpan niya rin ba si Iris? Kung wala, bakit ba ayaw niyang nandito ako?

Without any hint of emotion in his eyes, Dominic looked at me again, as if telling me something. I didn't understand a thing.

"Good night, Erisk." He opened the book again and started reading.

Realizing that he's dismissing me, I scoffed. "Bad night, Dom." I went out of the hideout.

That conversation may have seemed too natural. I didn't practice it in my head, or prepared any of the lines I said. I just thought that whatever happens, I should exit the room because I still have some sneaking to do.

Dahil nasa parehong floor lang naman ang hideout at ang office ni Mr. Diaz, mabilis ko 'yong narating. Wala akong nakasalubong na kahit sino at wala rin naman akong napansing kakaiba.