Crimson Academy

Important

"Nathan!", sigaw ko nang bumagsak ito sa lupa.

Napatingin naman ako sa lalaking sumuntok sakaniya at magkasalubong ang kilay na hinarap. "Ano bang problema mo?", naiinis kong tanong dito.

Ramdam ko ang pandidilim nang mukha nito at matigas nitong tinitignan si Nathan. Kaya pinilit ko itong ipinaharap saakin. "Tinatanong kita diba."

Sinamaan ako nito nang tingin. "What the fuck are you doing, Chelsea?"

Pinanlakihan ko naman ito nang mata. Wow, siya pa ang may ganang magalit ngayon? Eh siya nga itong sinuntok nalang bigla si Nathan!

"That's none of your concern.", tumayo si Nathan mula sa lupa at tumabi saakin.

"None of my concern? Of course that's my goddamn concern!"

"Carlo! Tama na. Umalis ka na, walang nangyayari saamin ni Nathan. He's just comforting me.", tugon ko dito.

Masuri akong tinitigan nito. At napaatras nalang ako nang isang hakbang nang hawakan ako nito sa magkabilang pisnge.

"What happened? Why are your eyes swollen?", kunot-noong tanong nito.

Naiinis ko namang naitulak ito na kaniyang ikinabigla. "W-Wag mo akong hahawakan.", tanging sabi ko dito at napaiwas nang tingin.

There was a minute of silence. All I can hear was my heaving breathings. My was was bombarding inside my chest.

"W-What did I even...", hindi na nito ipinatuloy ang kaniyang sinabi. "Kakabalik ko lang galing misyon, Chelsea. Goddammit! I'm tired okay? I'm fucking tired.", his voice broke. "Pagbalik na pagbalik ko dito malalaman ko nalang na galit na galit ka saakin? Chelsea, it hurts. You don't even know how it feels when I didn't get a hold of you for 2 months.", napapikit ako nang mariin dahil sa sinabi niya.

"I saw you, Carlo...", huminga ako nang malalim at tinignan ito nang walang emosyon. "I saw you kissing Kristine."

"I-I w-what?", gulat nitong tanong.

"Yes, what?", tanong 'rin ni Nathan.

"Nakita kita! Sa storage room! You were kissing Kristine!"

Hindi ito makapaniwala saaking sinabi. Kahit si Nathan ay ganoon 'rin.

"C-Chelsea... whoever you saw, it wasn't me.", he said in a serious tone.

"Who do you think would believe you then?", natatawang tanong ko dito.

"Well, I would believe him if I were you.", singit ni Nathan. "Kristine has been expelled already last week."

Confusion was written all over my face as I stared at the two men standing right at me.

"H-Hindi. Nakita ko palang kanina si Kristine at si Carlo! Why wouldn't you believe me? At bakit naman ipapaalis sa academy si Kristine?"

"Because she was a fraud.", he simply said.

Naguluhan naman ako sa sinabi nito. "Kristine wasn't our saviour nor the long lost princess."

Nabigla naman ako sa sinabi nito. Hindi ko aakalaing darating sa punto na malalaman kong hindi pala siya ang tunay na prinsesa.

Goddammit! I was obeying her orders back then! So all along I wasted my time for some fraud woman?

"Chelsea... I swear it wasn't me.", napatingin naman ako kay Carlo. Parang hinaplos ang puso ko dahil nahagilap ko ang maluha-luha nitong mga mata.

"K-Kung hindi ikaw, edi sino yung nasa storage room? Hindi ako bulag nakita ko kayo ni Kristine! Alangan naman mga dobleng anyo---"

I was taken aback when something strikes my mind.

I remembered when I woke up in my bed and I saw Yessa and Carlo in our dorm. But then they were fakes. They were a doppleganger.

Posible kayang ganoon 'rin ang nangyari kanina? Are they one of the dopplegangers? Pero bakit nakakakita ako nang ganoon?

Is someone messing with me?

But who would do such a thing? I can't seem to guess a person who badly wants to mess me up.

"Chelsea?", tawag saakin ni Carlo.

Napakurap-kurap naman ako at napatingin dito. "Y-Yes?"

"Ikaw ba ang may kagagawan kung bakit patay na ang mga halaman dito sa Floral Garden?", tanong nito.

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa sinabi nito. "What are you talking about? I was just---"

Agad akong natigilan at napatakip sa aking bibig nang mapagtantong tuyo ang lahat nang mga bulaklak dito. Kahit ang mga pader na gawa sa dahon ay tuyong-tuyo na 'rin.

Did my ability just automatically activated against my will?

"S-Sorry... hindi ko naman alam na mangyayari ito. H-Hindi ko nakontrol ang ability ko.", tugon ko.

"Ability?", kunot-noong tanong ni Carlo.

"What? Hindi mo pa alam--- oh,right. Nasa mission ka pala noon. So I guess I have to tell you everything then!",masayang sabi ko. I missed hanging out with him.

"Please do tell me. I'm interested.", natatawang sabi nito at kinaladkad na ako papalabas nang Floral Garden.

A small smile appeared my lips when his warm hands touched mine.

Pero sumagi sa isip ko si Nathan na naiwan namin, kaya napatingin ako sa likuran ko.

And there he stood with his hands on the sides of his pocket, watching us from afar with an unknown expression written all over his face.

Guilt strikes me when I left him behind just to hang out with Carlo.

Pero iniiwas ko nalang ang tingin ko sakaniya at ibinaling ang pansin kay Carlo.

Carlo is more important than him though.