Soulstone Academy

Chapter Thirty-Five: Gone

TAMARA

There were only a handful of people who saw Raven jump in that window. Si Helios, na agad tumakbo, at ako, na biglang napasigaw. It alerted everyone. Ang mga guwardiya sa palasyo ay agad na binalitaan ng tumalong estudyante ngunit lumipas na ang hatinggabi at hindi pa rin nahahanap si Raven.

It was a high fall. Ang ballroom ng palasyo ay nasa ikalawang palapag at napakataas ng bintanang 'yon mula sa lupa. Even if someone could survive that fall, they wouldn't disappear so fast. Masusugatan pa rin ang tumalon at maapektuhan nito ang pagtakas niya. Ngunit kahit ang malalapit na bushes ay walang ebidensya na may taong nahulog o dumaan. There were no blood stains, no piece of clothing leftㅡ nothing.

As if Raven was swallowed by the night.

And... that was three months ago.

"Tamara, eat."

Itinulak ni Azriel ang pagkain palapit. I sighed, staring at the slice of carrot cake. Minsan, 'pag nasa mood si Raven, paborito niya rin 'to...

"Hoy," mahina akong siniko ni Griffin at ipinuwesto sa labi ko ang gamit niyang kutsara. "Kumain ka. Ano na lang sasabihin ni Raven 'pag bumalik siya at payat ka pa sa stick?"

I was about to speak when Azriel shooed away Griffin's hand. "Marunong siyang kumain mag-isa."

"Eto naman, concern lang!"

I tuned the both of them out, preferring to stare ahead, where I found Giovanni watching with a shit-eating grin. Nakahalumbaba siya't nakatitig sa'min na parang kami ang peak entertainment ng buhay niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Hindi ka man lang ba nag-aalala sa pinsan mo?"

My accusatory question must have surprised him because his eyes suddenly widened. Sandali niyang sinulyapan si Damon, para tingnan ang reaksiyon o magsumbong dahil sumbungero siya, bago binalik ang tingin sa'kin.

"Nagiging positive lang ako!" he defended his fragile reputation. "'Tsaka ang cute mo kaya, Tamara, na pinapagitnaan ka ng dalawang dambuhala."

"Hindi naman dambuhala si Azriel." natigilan silang apat nang marinig ang malakas na tawa ni Dayang. "Isa siyang maliit na pasaway, tinatago ang sikreto sa anino kapag dumadating ang dilim."

Natahimik kaming lahat sa mesa. Kahit ang mga hindi naman parte ng usapan ay tumigil sa pagsubo para titigan si Dayang. Recently, he has made it a habit to tease and pick on Azriel, mentioning him always moving in the dark. Hindi lang siya pinapansin nitong isa pero... kahit na alam kong baka ang soulstone lang ni Azriel ang ibig niyang sabihin, may paghihinala pa rin ako.

Dayang chuckled at all the attention, moving his beaming eyes to me next. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Tamara. Lahat ay aayon sa gabi at umaga. Pinapanood ka niya at ginagabayan."

Then he left, leaving us with nothing but questions.

"Ano kaya nakain no'n- Ah. Baka wala pa palang nakain kaya kung ano-ano pinagsasabi." umiling-iling si Giovanni. "Kaya, Tamara, kumain ka na kung ayaw mong magaya kay Dayang."

Inirapan ko siya. I took a bite, not because of what he said, but because I was getting hungry too. Nauubos ang enerhiya ko 'pag silang tatlo ang kasama.

The lively atmosphere of Awanggan quickly melted once the doors opened, revealing the Prince of the Sun. Kung titingnan, ay akala mo walang nagbago sa kaniya. He was still the same stoic and authoritative Helios that everyone saw for years now, but now, there's an air of coldness. He was always unapproachable due to his status but currently? It's as if getting close to him is a bad idea.