Akademya de Majika

AdM78

Coby was cursing his friend—no longer is—ex-friend, Dash, nonstop—again and again, on his mind.

Pinanggigigilan din niya ang nakatanim na mga bulaklak—pinagpipitas ang mga 'yon at pinagpipiga.

He was in rage. He wanted to go back and beat that traitor to pulp. He wanted to kill him... for taking away what is supposedly his... His property, his possession.

Someone approached him. "Humblestream? A suprise to see you here." Komento noong lumapit sa kaniya. Hindi niya ito pinansin. He is not in the mood right now to converse with anyone.

Buti na lamang at hindi na ito nagsalita pa. Umupo lamang ito sa lupa kagaya niya at pinagpupulot ang mga petalo ng mga bulaklak na nagsilagasan noong pinagpipiga niya ang mga 'yon.

A long silence enveloped their surroundings.

He decided to speak after a while. "Have you ever been in love?" He asked.

Napalingon sa kaniya ang kapwa niyang nasa lupa rin. Kunot-noo, sinagot siya nito. "No... Why'd you ask?" He didn't answer. Maya-maya, muli itong nagtanong. "So you're in love, huh? Who's the lucky girl? Do I know her?" Again, he didn't answer. Muli rin, nagpatuloy ito sa pagtatanong. "A classmate of yours, perhaps?" Hindi ulit siya sumagot, pero napakurap-kurap siya—unconsciously, he can't help but react.

Sa gilid ng mga mata niya, kita niyang napailing ito habang may nakaukit na ngisi sa mga labi. Madali, uminit ang ulo niya—tila kasi nang-aasar ang ngisi nito, pero nakuha niya pa ring ikalma ang sarili.

"Who could it be..." Nasa tono ng boses nito ang pang-aasar at lalo lamang umiinit Ang ulo niya. Napakuyom na ang mga kamao niya. Pinadaan ang mga iyon nito ng tingin, maya-maya'y muling napailing.

"I doubt it's Cleartalon since she's taken—" He cut him off.

...with a roaring voice. "Shut up!" Also, his eyes were glaring at him, his lips and fists trembling and his whole body face red in anger.

Sa halip na tumahimik, ngumisi ito sabay sabing, "Masakit ba? 'Yung mahal mo, nasa pangangalaga na ng iba?" Natawa ito nang mahina. "At malubha—sa kaibigan mo pa talaga napunta!" Tumawa ulit ito, pero malakas na na tila nang-aasar pa.

Pinilit niya ang sariling magtimpi.

Pero hindi na niya kaya, lalo na noong sabihin nito ang mga katagang... "Hay... Kaawa-awa ka, Humblestream." The thing he hated the most is being pitied. Ayaw na ayaw niyang kinaaawaan siya ninuman.

Wala na siyang pakialam pa sa pagkakakilanlan ng nilalang na nasa kaniyang harapan. He grabbed him by the collar and punched him—unfortunately, his fist didn't land on his face.

Lalo lamang siya nakaramdam ng galit. Sa kaharap niya na ibubunton lahat ng galit niya. Akmang sasapakin niya ulit ito, pero napatigil siya dahil sa sinabi nito. "Avenge them."

Napakunot-noo siya at unti-unti, lumuwang ang pagkakahawak niya sa kuwelyo ng damit nito at napababa ang kaniyang kamao.

Napangisi ang kaharap. Tuluyan niya nang nabitawan ito. "I will help you to have your revenge against them. Only, you first need to do something for me... That will be sort of like your payment to me. Don't worry, though, it's nothing hard, I promise."

Blinded by anger and jealousy and hungry for revenge, he immediately took the offer. He mindlessly nodded as he said... "Tell me more about it."

Lumawak ang ngisi ng kaharap. Bago siya nito talikuran ay nagwika ito, "Follow me." At saka tuloy-tuloy nang naglakad. Walang imik siyang sumunod.

Naging mahaba ang lakaran nila. Coby was not familiar of the route.

It took three hours before they have arrived in their destination and Coby didn't even notice the passing of time for his mind was busy killing the traitor in his life. Pagkatigil mula sa mahabang lakaran, noon lang siya nakaramdam ng pagod at pangangalay.