The Grimoire

Chapter 10: Obvious Lies

It's been a couple of days since Cairo, and I had that little argument, but we didn't even talk about it again. Hindi na rin ako sumasawsaw kasi baka lumaki pa yung argument namin. I understand him though kahit hindi ko intention iyon kaya hahayaan ko lang muna siya sa ngayon. 

Today marks my first week here in school and so far, I can say that I have been doing well. My scores are higher that Cairo's but sometimes, he's just always on the top of every scores lalong-lalo na sa history and geography subjects. For the past few days, nagpapadala ako ng mga letter at konting pasalubong papunta sa Liwet. Hindi ko alam kung masaya ba sila sa pinadala ko pero isa lang ang matitiyak ko, sigurado akong magugustohan nila ang mga sinabi ko sa letra. I now belong to a team which has strong members and are royalties. Kung mababasa nila iyon, tiyak akong ma-eexcite sila. I guess I should bring my members there someday.

"Let's go," rinig ko mula kay Cairo. 

Nauna na siyang maglakad papunta sa assigned room namin kaya sumunod kami. I'm getting a hang of it, but I still find it awkward when students will start looking at us. Not to mention that my teammates are all walking with poise and confidence, samantalang ako ay nakayuko lang dito sa gilid. I;m just a farmer after all. No one would expect me to be somebody like them. Nakikisingit lang ako sa team na ito. Let's just say that I was lucky enough to be picked.

"Walk straight, lift your head up," biglang sabi ni Cairo at kahit na hindi siya nakatingin sa akin, alam kong para sa akin iyon kaya sinunod ko kaagad.

We walked for a couple more minutes bago kami nakarating sa room. Naunang pumasok sila at sumunod lang ako. They all went to their assigned chairs kaya ako rin. Nakita ko na si Uzma sa tabi ng upoan ko kaya nginitian ko lang siya bago ako umupo ng tuloyan.

"Good morning," bati ni Uzma na nakangiti. 

"Good morning," bati ko pabalik.

He was about to talk pero biglang bumukas ang pinto. A middle-aged man, holding an old book went inside our room. He looked normal but for some reason, the book he was holding looked warm to me. I am not sure how I should describe it but somehow, the book's aura reminded me of home.

"Good morning class," bati niya at umupo siya sa table. He didn't talk much other than his lover history. He is our new history teacher for now kasi yung dati naming teacher ay on leave. He started talking about things that we ourselves didn't really understand. Hindi ko alam kung may klase bang magaganap o kung makikinig lang ba kami sa story niya. 

Umiwas na lang ako ng tinigin at hindi na siya pinakinggan. Tumingin ulit ako sa labas and enhanced my vision towards the Dead City. My mind was locked into Night and as much as I want to know about him, hindi ko alam kung paano. In fact, when I tried to search for it, napagalitan pa ako kasi connectado ito kay Farrah which I didn't really know.

"Who has any idea of Babylonians?" he suddenly asked, and my eyes widened. Parang bumalik ako sa katotohanan at agad akong napatingin sa harap. Most of my classmates raised their hands. Of course, kilala sila ng lahat. They saved the world 20 years ago and I'm the only one left.

"They have blue eyes and white hair sir, hindi ba?" tanong ng kaklase ko at tumango ang guro namin. He nodded with a bright smile as if he was satisfied with my classmate's answer.

"They have this unique power called Sight sir. Kaya nilang makita ang kahit ano within 500-meter radius," singit naman ng isa ko pang ka klase. "Sabi lang po iyon ng mama ko," he added, and our professor nodded, still wearing his bright smile.