[Seven-Minute Semblance] GODSFORRENT & FIMBULWINTER

Chapter 10 - Anonymity

Edward Dace.

17. August.
Tuesday, 1:00 pm.
Outside Coronado Chronicles Newsroom.

ANG PLANO NAMIN NGAYON: hanapin si Laevateinn.

Hindi nga lang namin alam kung saang lupalop ng San Lorenzo namin makikita ang hinayupak na ʼyon. Hindi sʼya nagbigay ng pangalan o apelyido, hindi sʼya nagbigay ng course, hindi sʼya nagbigay ng kahit anong pagkakakilanlan. Hindi kami pwedeng sumugod sa registrar at magtanong, "Hi, may kakilala po ba kayong second year—matangkad, foreigner, nakatatakot, kaya akong patayin gamit lang ang masamang tingin?"

But that wasn't our only problem. Lumilipad ang utak ni drama queen. Nasa jeep pa lang kami pabalik sa uni, ang lalim na ng iniisip nʼya. Ni hindi sʼya pumalag sa akin noong tinanong ko kung ang iniisip nʼya ay ang kinabukasan ng monarkiya ng Britanya!

"Tatanungin ko muna si Kuya Zweihänder kung alam nʼya ang tunay na pangalan ni Laevateinn," sabi ni Futhark. Naghintay sʼya ng sagot mula kay Joyeuse, pero ʼyong gago, busy pa rin sa iniisip nʼya.

Tumango ako. "Sure, Iʼll wait here."

Futhark worriedly knocked. "Bakit pareho kayong distracted?" he asked us, whilst waiting for a response from the other side of the door.

"What do you mean pareho kaming distracted?" I snorted. "Dude, ako nga lang ang sumasagot sa ʼyo. Si drama queen, napunta na sa Mars ang kaluluwa. Katawang-lupa na lang nʼya ang kapiling natin."

"Ang likot ng mata mo, kanina ka pa nagpipilit na magbigay ng sassy remarks, kaso nagiging interruptions lang. It sounds so unnatural for you, and it's concerning for me."

"Ginagamitan mo ba ako ng Psychology?"

He shrugged, with his brows still arched from worry. Then the newsroom door opened. It was Ichaival, this time. Ichaival smiled at us but didn't let us in just yet. He poked his head out and kept the door narrowly opened.

"Hi, pinabalik ba kayo ni Sir Lance?" tanong nʼya. Naririnig ko pa ang paglilinis nila sa loob. Parang nag-aayos din sila ng mga lamesa at upuan.

"Hindi po," sagot ni Futhark. "Itatanong po namin kay Kuya Zweihänder ʼyong tunay na pangalan ni Laevateinn. Hinahanap po kasi namin sʼya."

Ichaival looked around the hallway and took a deep breath along with a thoughtful purse of his lips.

"I'm guessing wala si Zweihän-dude sa loob," I said. It came out louder than I ought it to, I interrupted—finally—Joyeuse's contemplation. He looked up and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Wala nga si Zwei," Ichaival replied. "Hindi rin namin alam kung anong tunay na pangalan ni Laevateinn, dahil ang instructions sa ʼmin tungkol sa kanya ay ibigay ʼyong tissue paper kay Sir Lukas."

"Sir Lukas?" Futhark repeated, tilting his head a bit.

"He's a CAS department faculty member." Joyeuse finally reconnected to the world. "I had classes with him this morning."