II

Chapter 2

Welcome to Abode of the Gods. The school of Half-Bloods.

I tied my hair using the band my mom gave me. Kulay black ito na may design na dalawang cherry lang. Binigay nila sa akin 'to kanina dahil kinuha nila ito sa buhok ko para linisan ako noong na-aksidente ako. I thanked them for keeping it since this is my favorite gift that mom has given to me.

Napangiwi ako sa salamin nang makita ko mukha ko. Ang putla ko. Gosh, wala bang tint dito? Liptint, lipstick, o kahit ano man lang make up? 

"Human, here." 

Napatingin ako sa inabot ni Alexa sa akin. It is a small tube with red liquid inside. 

"What's this?" I asked then grabbed it from her hand.

She laughed and pointed her lips. Pulang-pula ito. "That is for lips. Para hindi ka magmukhang patay, gosh. Try it! This is your first time?" She giggled. Yumuko pa ito at may kinuhang box. Binuksan niya ito at tumambad sa akin ang kumikinang na mga kulay. The box looked like a make up set. "Wala ito sa inyo? We are using this to enlighten our beauty even more."

Napatango na lang ako. Girl, mayroon ako niyan. Make-upan pa kita 'e. 

Ako pa talaga ininggit niya ah? Sabagay, hindi pa naman siya nakakapunta sa Earth kaya wala pang alam.

I used their lipstick and I cannot deny that it was fine. It looks so good on me. Though their make up was a little different from what I have in real word. Parang may halong magical ang make up na nila, ewan. Pero okay na rin, at least hindi na ako mukhang patay. 

Naglagay na rin ako ng konting pulbo at nag-ayos. Napangiti ako nang nakita kong ayos na mukha ko. Ganyan! Dapat kahit saan ako magpunta maganda pa rin. Kailangan maging maganda palagi dahil hindi natin alam kung kailan tayo mamamatay. So kung mamamatay rin lang naman, dapat mamamatay na maganda. Purya usog!!! Tuktok sa kahoy. Ayoko pa mamatay.

"You are really beautiful girl!" she exclaimed, twinkling her eyes. "But why did you knock on the wood?" she asked confusedly.

I shrugged. "On Earth, if you don't want your bad expectation to be true, you must knock on the wood to avoid it." Tumango naman siya kahit alam kong hindi niya naiintindihan.

"Wow, you slayed," Haelyn commented as she came to us. 

"You all are done?" Hannelle interrupted us. Tumawa na lang silang dalawa at kinuha mga back. 

"She's like that always but she is kind sometimes. That's her. She's not just showy," Alexa assured. 

I am wearing blue crossed-dress na kita talaga ang cleavage ko. 'Yong pananamit nila ay parang tao rin malamang. Pero si Hannelle, since she has wings, may butas lang ang kaniyang likuran. While Haelyn, Alexa, and I just looked normal dahil mermaid naman si Haelyn, nagkakaroon lang ng buntot 'pagnababasa, habang si Alexa naman ay matulis lang ang tenga. But all of them looked so gorgeous. 

Parang hindi talaga ako belong dito. As in, hindi talaga. 

Nanlaki mga mata ko nang nakalabas na kami sa dorm. My lips parted as I roamed around my eyes. May mga katabing dorm din kami kung saan nagsisilabasan lahat ng mga babae. Para akong nasa lugar ng perfect people! May ganon? Basta! Sobrang gaganda nila! 

Some has tail on their ass, some has wings, some has hairy body, some has a body of horse, and some has four arms, etc,

Everything here is so magical.

Am I really encountering this kind of creature?

"Hey, you okay?" Alexa tapped me. Napatingin ako sa kanila. Nasa unahan na si Hannelle at Haelyn habang si Alexa naman ay nasa gilid ko. Siguro bumalik nang makitang humito ako. 

"Yes, nagulat lang, and kinda nervous."

Nagtuloy na kami lumakad hanggang sa paglabas ng dormitory. 

"This is the gate of Dormitory," Hannelle introduced. 

"When you stepped outside the dorm, this is already the field of Academy," she added. 

Napatango ako at inangat tingin ko sa nakasulat sa gate. 

άγριος κοιτώνας

Ano raw? I don't read noodles.

"That's Ágrios koitónas in greek. While in English, it is translated into 'Fierce Dormitory' which fierce means us." Haelyn pointed herself and to us. "We, girls are fierce, and we should be." She smiled. 

So, basically means it's 'Girls' Dormitory'. Ano ba 'yan, basic lang pala. So kung meron Girls' dorm, mayroon din boys' dorm. Malamang, sinabi na nga kagabi na may iiwasan ako na lalaki 'e.

I just shrugged and followed them. 

"Since this the over field, we need to walked further to enter the main building of the Academy," Haelyn spoke. 

Tinignan ko nilalakad namin at napansin ang malaking building sa harap. The field are so open with trees encircling us. Grabe sobrang lapad talaga ng field. I have noticed that we are all girls walking to the main B. Napangiwi ako sa iba, andaya, nakakalipad sila. Some are just running so fast. Andaya talaga, mukhang one hour ako makakaabot nito. Kabanas, ayaw ko pa naman sa lahat maglakad.

Char. Arte ko ha.

"Puro mga babae lang dito?" Kalabit ko kay Alexa. Gusto ko lang makasigurado.

Her eyes widened and she let out a wide small. 

"Oh no!! No no no! Lots of strong men are here! Especially Zale Javaid, oh my gad. I wish he'll notice me this time. Kahit si Xave na lang o si Zadkiel," she giggled. 

Ano ba 'yang mga pangalan na 'yan?

Napatingin si Haelyn sa akin at bigla kong naalala ang sinabi niya kagabi. Kanina ko pa naalala actually. She just bowed her head and continued walking. Saktong pagtapak namin sa main building ay may tumatakbo papunta sa amin. Hannelle grabbed my blouse para makaiwas ako sa gulo. 

Lumampas sila sa amin at ginamitan ng isang lalaki ng kuryenteng power ang isa. Nanlaki mga mata ko nang wala itong awang kinuha ang natitirang lakas. The man fought back with his power also. Pinalibotan na kami ng mga half-breeds. They are enjoying the war while me?! I can't breathe! The man took his sword and stabbed the one who attacked him first! They are shouting, supporting, cheering the man with sword. What the fuck!

He is killing him! 

And I was right, he killed him. 

Nang wala na talagang buhay ay lumapit ang matandang lalaki with a horse's body. He is clapping his hand while approaching the guy. 

"Good job! You are passed!" he greeted. 

He snapped his finger and a magical car came after. A floating car, rather. He snapped his finger twice again and the car labored two hands to get the dead man. In just a snap, lumipad na ito palayo kasama ang patay. 

Everyone left the area and started walking again as if nothing happened. What the hell! Walang may naawa? 

"Patay 'yon!" I exclaimed. Gulat silang napatingin sa akin.

"Gano'n lang 'yon? Wala na tapos na? Hindi siya ikukulong?" I hysterically asked.

They all laughed after hearing my rants.

"No, why would he? Kung makakapatay ka nga dito ikaw na 'yong pinakamalakas."

Nanlaki mata ko sa sinabi ni Hannelle.

"What's the purpose of training our skill if you're going to stay weak?" She added. 

"At isa pa, magiging ganyan din tayo soon." 

Mas lalo nanlaki mga mata ko.

"What?! I don't have a skill," madiin kong wika na nagmumukhang bulong na. Ayaw kong may makaalam 'no.

"Chill. You will have that one. Besides, sa 4th year pa 'yan. We are only freshmen, training pa lang at pag-aaral atin," she winked.

"Yeah, calm down Davina," Haelyn hushed me. "Besides, that man who died was just a mere props. He was made with the use of magics. Ang totoong patayan talaga ay 'yong final exams."

Bakit parang hindi sila natatakot? Kahit na sa finals pa 'yan o ano, may papatayin sila!

I'm really going home! 

Mamaya na talaga 'pagnaka-hanap ako ng timing dito. I am not belong here. Baka nag-aalala na sina mama sa akin. 

Mukhang may ceremony dahil tinipon kaming lahat. It has stage also wherein we can see our professors. Madaming instruction at kung-ano ano pa ang naibigay pero hindi ako nakikinig dahil iniisip ko kung paano ako makatakas. Maybe I should ask Haelyn where did they find me. 

Kinalabit ko ito at binulongan, "Can you please tell me where y'all found me? The exact location," I clearly stated. 

Kumunot noo nito, "Why? You're leaving? We already told you all holes are now closed. She closed it." Sabay turo nito sa babaeng may katawan ng scorpion. 

"She is really strict, Davina. If may mahuli siyang tumatakas ay mas lalo niya pang pinapahirapan. Her reason is, 'there's no weak and stupid God/Goddesses' blahblahblah." She mocked her.

"Okay, but just tell me. I promise I won't leave. I'll just get my things in my car, nandoon pa naman siguro diba?" I lied. Sana lumusot.

She sighed. "Yes. Nasa likod ng dormitory natin ang lugar. May gubat do'n, as far as I remembered I was counting there. Hmm, maybe just count 206 steps. Right! 206 is the exact steps kung saan binuksan namin ang hole."

Napangiti ako. "But wait for me okay? Dapat may kasama ka para hindi ka mawala," habol pa nito.

Tumango ako. No way, mamaya tatakas na talaga ako. 

Natapos na ang ceremony at may kanya-kaniya na silang schedule at room number while me, I don't have. 

Sinamahan lang ako ni Haelyn sa office nila at tinulongan makakuha ng sched. 

"Yes, she's my cousin! Davina. Just Davina. Half-human, half-mermaid."

The girl with a torn on her head smiled and did her thing. After it, she handed a paper to Haelyn. Agad naman binigay sa akin ito.

"Congrats, you're now enrolled." 

I just smiled at her, "Thanks, pero mukhang nakakatakot naman ang babae. May sungay." 

Natawa ito, "She's a Satyr. Half-Human, half-goat."

Ah. Kambing lang pala. Akala ko demonyo na. 

"Bakit name ko lang sinabi mo? Hindi na required surname?" I asked. Davina lang sinabi niya. 

She chuckled, "We don't use that here. Isa lang pangalan namin dito, nagulat nga ako dalawa sa'yo or tatlo because the only sons and daughters of the 12 gods and goddesses are allowed to have second name.”

Napatango na lang ulit ako. Andaming pinagkaiba talaga.

Iniwan na ako ni Haelyn at dumiretso na ako sa room. Nang pumasok ako ay lahat ng tingin ay nasa akin. They are looking at me like they never saw a beautiful girl. Sus, ako lang 'to oh. 

The professor cleared her throat. Oh, she's a satyr too. 

"You are late, but I will let you pass this time since it's the first day of school. You may now introduce yourself," strikta nitong sabi at lumakad muli sa likod. She crossed her arms waiting for my speech. 

Pumunta ako sa harap at napatingin sa lahat. They do not have something on their body or faces. Baka mermaid lahat 'to. 

"I-I am Davina Ro—," nauutal ko pang wika. 

"Davina. I am the Davina. Half-human, half-mermaid."

Kumunot noo ko nang nagsitawanan sila. 

"You stupid mermaid, we all know that because you are our classmate," the one with blue hair spoke. Nagsitawa rin ang lahat. 

"Stop, Siofra," saway ng professor. 

She just rolled her eyes and laughed.

Maganda sana pero ang bitchy! 

Umupo na ako at hinintay matapos. So I was enrolled with the mermaids. Kaya pala mukhang tao pa rin sila hindi tulad ng iba kong nakikita. 

Puro introduce lang lahat ng mga subjects. Parang sa real life lang, gano'n din pala dito. Nang natapos na ay kaagad akong lumabas at tumakbo patungo sa likod ng dormitory. Nakakapagod pero gusto ko na lumabas dito. Hindi ko talaga kaya mamuhay dito. 

"200.." I stepped.

"201.. 202.. 203.. 204.. 205."

Napakunot noo ko nang may nakita akong lalaking nakatalikod. He's just wearing blue polo and pants. Likod pa lang ay mahahalatang gwapo na ito.

He is looking inside my car. Yumuko pa ito at  may nakita siguro kaya pinasok niya ang kamay niya sa loob ng sasakyan. 

My eyes widened as he took my cellphone! 

"What the fuck is this," he cursed. 

"Magnanakaw!" sigaw ko at tumakbo sa kaniya. 

Humarap ito sa akin at nanlaki mga mata ko nang makita kung gaano siya kagwapo. I felt the slow-motion thing when he faced me. His dark blue dazzling eyes with arched eyebrows, perfect nose, red lips! And his jawline are totally jaw-dropping! Is he one of the Gods? Wala akong eksaktong words na madedeacribe sa kaniya but I knew for sure that he was one of the main leading man characters that I read in books. Grabe!

Napasigaw muli ako nang natapilo ako sa kadahilanang natapon ako sa kaniya. Sabay kami napahiga at nagtama ang bibig ko sa bibig niya. 

Our eyes widened, my heart is beating so fast! 

"Zale— Oh, fuck." 

Napatayo ako kaagad at napatingin sa lalaking tumawag sa kaniya. 

I don't know what happened next, but I ran away from them as fast as I can do. 

Fuck! 

Fuck!

I can't stop my heart from beating so fast.

Fuck! I lost my first kiss to someone I do not know?!