CHAPTER 2: THE TRUTH

"Valery?" tawag sa akin ng principal na si Miss Grace at tumingin naman ito kay--kung sino man ang lalaking to, hay! Di ko pa nga alam ang pangalan niya may tensyon na sa pagitan naming dalawa, kakainis!

Tinignan ni Miss Grace ang mga kamay niya kaya napatingin naman ako dun---at nakitang namumula ito at parang may mga gasgas pa at mga pasa ang kanyang mga kamay. Huh? Why is that?

"Xavier, nagprapraktis kananaman bang mag-isa?" napatingin rin si Miss, Grace sa lupang kinatatayuan niya at nakitang may abo ito. "At ginamit rin ito sa mga hayop? Diba ilang beses ko nang sabihin sa'yo na huwag kang magpraktis mag-isa dahil delikado ito sa kalagayan mo, at maari ka ring makapanakit ng iba dahil dito! At ano toh? Inaway mo rin ba siya?" pagtuturo ni Miss Grace sa'kin.

"Palagi kanalang may kaaway! Detention Now! And It's not only for this but also for skipping one of the classes this afternoon" he groaned at bilis na tumakbo y-yung parang isang bampira! Pero ewan ko ba kung bakit bigla nalamang siya napaestatwa!

"Nah uh Xavier, you're going inside the detention, my way" miss Grace clicked her fingers in the air then that Xavier disappeared! What the freak did just again happened? What the heck am I seing?

"Valery, halika muna" naalimpungatan ako.

"Pagpasensiyahan mo lang si Xavier, he does everything he wanted to do and no one can ever dares to interrupt him, so just be careful. His heart's like a stone, so funny he's really the same as his surname" napairap si miss Grace, at napalunok naman ako still in shock!

Lumakad na kami ni Miss Grace paalis sa garden at pumunta sa second floor.

"Valery, sa second floor na ito ay mayroong 200 rooms, and every rooms here are quite big and wide which the Utopian students are living. Each student has roomates unless you're a boy. And because you're a girl, may magiging roomate ka" tumango lang ako as a sign of Ok pero nagtataka lang kung bakit ang mga boys ay tig-isa talaga ng rooms and like, it's kinda unfair right?

"Um miss, can I ask why boys doesn't have or shouldn't have any roomates?" I asked then she smirked.

"I expected that coming out from you, well that's because palagi nalang sila nagkakaaway-away and I know I know, it's kinda unfair for every other girls here in the Academy, but that's the best way para makaiwas ng mga gulo. Boys have different taste of fights than girls in this Academy. They can't control themselves that easily especially na may mga kapangyarihan pa sila, so now let's go to your room. I still have alot of things to explain to you dear" she said and I just sighed. 

"Miss, Grace? Si Mama Neng pala?" napahinto siya at humarap sakin.

"I'll tell you when we get into your room, don't worry I'll tell you everything so you'll understand" very formal niyang sambit.

"Ok" pagsasagot ko lang at sumunod na sa kanya, napakarami pala ng mga rooms dito at hindi ko naman maiwasang mapamangha, all of what I'm seing are just very pleasing to my eyes, and it's just so cool!

The chandeliers from above, the red carpet on the floor, the wall paintings, the decorations, all! Are very mesmerizing.

Pagkarating namin sa room na I'll be living in and who I'll be living with, may binigay sa akin si Miss Grace na card, at may nakasulat dito na 'Room card-140'

What's this?

"That card is a key to your room, you and your roomate has the same card, but you might just needed that in the first place because when the room already recognizes you, just go here" pumunta siya sa side ng door at ipinakita sa'kin ang isang nakadikit na gadget sa pader at may nakasulat na maliit na letra sa ibabaw nito.

"Face detect" pagbabasa ko.

"Yes, face detect" she smiled. "You and your roomate are only the one's capable of using this and that others cannot. Your card? Just swipe it here" tinuro niya naman ang sa giliran ng gadget kaya iniswipe ko ito at bumukas ang pinto na parang elevator, ay grabe super naman yata, plus ang lamig pa! Astig.

Nung pumasok na kami, sinalubong kami ng isang babae, halata naman na siya ang magiging roomate ko, she has this warm smile on her face while looking at me, she looks kinda cute too pero, nakauniform pa siya. Huh? Anong oras na ba? Tiningnan ko ang relo ko and it's already quarter to 2 PM, why is she still here? Wala pa ba siyang klase?

"Hi!" pagregreet niya sa akin na mukhang excited. "Um, good afternoon Miss Grace" she looked startled seing Miss Grace. Bakas naman sa mukha ni Miss Grace ang pagtataka.

"Evie, why are you still here?" tanong ni Miss Grace.

"Um---I left my book here miss sorry gotta go!" at dali-dali siyang lumabas na natataranta. Umiling-iling muna si Miss Grace bago tumingin muli sa'kin.

"Well anyways Val this is your room and that girl from earlier is your roommate. Darling shall we  sit over there for a moment. I've something very important to tell you." umupo kami sa malaking California King Bed which is going to be mine? Woah! Hindi Queen size pero King size talaga? Grabe.

"What is it Miss Grace?" I ask politely hiding my excitement.

"Valery I know it's weird pero isa ka ring elemental user, hindi lang isang elemental user, but you can also detect alot of things, hindi ko pa masyadong mawari but I can sense that your power is amazingly special than any other students here in the academy" nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napawi agad ang mga ngiti sa labi.

"W-what are you saying miss? Are you saying that I'm one of the students with elemental powers? No wait look at me, I'm just ordinary, and normal--" pinutol niya ako.

"Only Myst, elemental users, or students that has magic within them can only enter and visit this enchanted school my dear. Why do you think na nandito ka miss Cahill? Why did the gate opened for you to come in? Our gate here in the Academy only opens for people who has magic within them. Take note Cahill, you're one of us now" unti-unti akong nakaramdam ng matinding kabog sa puso.

Paano? Wala naman akong kapangyarihan, normal lang ako! Gusto ko ng sagot at merong isang taong makakapagpaliwanag nang malinaw sa'kin.

"Miss Grace, gusto kong makita si Ma Neng ngayon na please" seryosong saad ko at tiningnan niya naman ako ng formal Ok look bago bumuntong hininga.

"Follow me then" sumonod ako sa kanya.

Pumunta kami ulit sa kanyang malaki na office at nakitang paalis na si Ma Neng? Wait---aalis na siyang hindi magpapaalam sa'kin?

"Ma Neng!" sigaw ko sa kanya sa di kalayuan, tumingin siya sa'kin na para bang nabigla "You're leaving me just like that without even explaning on what's going on around here?" I asked frightened. "Where the heck am I? Please explain!"

"Val it's not what you're thinking, I'm so sorry. I'll explain everything." saad niya't pumunta sa akin at yinakap akong mahigpit.

Pumasok na kami sa office ni Principal Grace at dun nag-usap, pinaliwanag na ni Mama Neng ang lahat-lahat kaya may lungkot at saya akong nararamdaman, kahit ano paman, hindi ko inaasahan na maging masaya ako sa aking mga narinig.

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____ellaloredo