Oktofinitum

Chapter 5

Elisha

"Good morning!" Puno ng enerhiyang bungad ko sa aking mga kasama pero hindi ko alam na wala na pala akong kasama. I face-palmed at the thought. Ang mga bwisit 'yon iniwan na naman ako! I rolled my eyes heavenwards. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng quarters namin para pumasok na dahil maya-maya lang ay umpisa na ng klase. Subalit malapit na ako sa study hall namin nang may maramdaman akong pamilyar na enerhiya na gumapang mula sa lupa patungo sa aking paa, the familiar energy seems to be footsteps. They must've been a few meters away coming from behind me, "Naihatid mo na ba siya?" It was the headmaster's voice, I'm sure, for I could identify him even when he whispers. Tumigil ako sa aking kinatatayuan at hinintay na makarating ang pares ng nag-uusap sa aking harapan.

"Yes, Headmaster, but..." replied another familiar voice. Ngayon ay nakikita ko na sila na papaliko galing sa gawing kanan ng hallway at unti-unti ay papalapit na sa akin.

"Kaso? Don't tell me...?" Isang guilty-expression ang inihandog ng kausap ni Headmaster sa kanya.

"Greetings, Headmaster," bati ko dahilan para matigilan ang dalawa at mapalingon sa akin.

"Lady Elisha, ikaw pala..." No, it's just an apparition, I sarcastically remarked internally.

"Really? Since when have apparitions been haunting hallways in the morning then?" Which is useless by the way because the old man could read thoughts through open channels. Bakit? Bawal ba ang morning shift na multo? I said in my mind which caused the headmaster to shake his head at my logical rebuttal.

"Are you about to go to class now?" Isn't it obvious?

"When will you ever answer me properly, Lady Elisha? Kahit kailan talaga reyna ka ng kapilosopohan," Headmaster jokingly remarked. I got this from you so it's your fault really, saad kong muli sa isipan. Kidding aside, it's really just fun talking to him in my mind because it makes him look like an idiot as if he's talking to a statue. This is kind of an inside joke between my uncle and I, at ako lang ang may lakas ng loob na gawin ito sa kaniya. Most people would tremble at him and close their open channels once he's near.

"Puro ka kalokohan, Ija. Proceed to your first class now, at pagkatapos mo sa klase mo ay dumiretso ka sa opisina ko," isang tango bilang paggalang ang aking ginawa at nagpatuloy na silang dalawa ng kausap niya. Nang lampasan nila ako ay sinundan ko sila ng tingin sapagkat pamilyar sa akin ang kausap niya ngunit hindi ko alam ang pangalan nito, but I do know he's one of the most competent knights in the ranks. Mukha namang kaedaran lang namin ito o mas matanda ng ilang taon pero kailan pa nakipag tropa si Headmaster sa mga bata? Kadalasan ay mga kapuwa gurang ang mga kasa-kasama niya na parte ng Board of Elders ng paaralan.

My eyebrows narrowed. Hindi naka-takas sa akin ang sinabi niya kanina, sino 'yung 'hinatid' niya? Hmm, parang may kung anong bumabagabag sa akin. I'm not as intuitive as Pepper and her visions, but I can safely say my senses never fail me, perks of my element I think. I brushed the thoughts out of my mind and just went to our class. Pagdating ko naman ay normal ang lahat. And by normal I meant...

Normal na basa ang sahig na malamang dahil kay Wendell, gulo-gulo ang mga libro sa shelf, sobrang lakas ng hangin, nagkalat ang mga tarantula na alaga ni Jorgette, at humihilik si Jennifer. In short, dinaanan ng bagyo ang room.

"Oh, dear friend! You're finally here," bati sa akin ng pinaka malapit sa pinto na si Wendell pero bago ko pa siya masagot ay may nagsalitang isa pa, "You're late," said Jorgette without taking her gaze away from her pets, nang pumasok ako sa room namin.

"Iniwan niyo ako kaya late," I said in annoyance and marched towards my seat that was just right in front of hers, "And you missed breakfast," she said in a blank expression, but evident in her eyes are stern disapproval. Jorgette's not one to scold us but she hates it when we dine incomplete. Malapit na sana ako sa aking upuan nang, "Ouch!"