Chapter 4: Argue

NAGTAKA ako nang mapansing tumahimik ang buong paligid, lahat sila nakatingin sa’kin na may paghihinala.

“I didn’t know that you’re a spirit, Mayi!” Ayla happily said and cling into my arm.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you earlier,” palusot kong sabi. Plano ko namang ayaw sabihin sa kan'ya dahil 'di pa ako naka-isip nang  paraan no'ng panahong 'yon.

“It’s okay, I already knew it, didn’t I?” nakangiti namang ani niya. I smiled at her.

Lumingon ako sa staff nang ito’y umubo, kunyareng inayos nito ang salamin at ibinaling ang paningin sa librong nasa harapan.

“I’m sorry to interupt your conversation but…” Nasa libro lang ang paningin nito.

“What type of spirit of element are you?” nanghihinalang tanong niya pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan.

Her eyes telling me that she didn’t believe the race I was.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at sasagot na sana, “I heard that there was a spirit enrolling today?”

Lahat kami ay napalingon sa pintuan nang ito’y bumukas at lumuwa doon ang lalakeng nakasalubong namin kanina papasok dito sa Registrar Office.

Lahat ng taong nasa harapan niya ay binibigyan siya ng daan hanggang sa makarating siya sa gitna ng Office. 

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin nang umikot ang kaniyang paningin, then I saw his smirk while walking towards me.

“You’re the girl I saw before,” ani nito. Hindi ko siya sinagot at tiningnan lang.

“Hey, what race is this woman?” tanong niya sa staff ng makitang wala akong balak magsalita.

“She’s a low-tier spirit,” mabilisang sagot naman ng staff na nakausap namin kanina.

His eyes was looking at me like an insect. I don’t like it.

“So you’re a spirit? What type of spirit? Wind? Earth? Or Fire?” nanuot ang noo ko sa tanong nito, feeling close ‘to a!

“It’s none of your business,” ani ko rito. I saw his brow twitch after hearing my answer.

“A mere spirit refusing to answer my question?!” giit nitong ani.

Lumapit siya sa’kin at sinuri ako mula ulo hanggang paa, ”Do you know who I am?” ani pa nito. 

Hindi ko siya sinagot dahil hindi ko naman talaga siya kilala at isa pa baguhan lang ako dito. Paano ko siya makikilala?

Minutes of silence passed, “He’s a dragon,” sabat naman ng kung sino. His head raise up while looking at me proudly. Kaya pala mayabang dahil dragon ang uri.

“Did you hear that? I’m a dragon!” yeah! An arrogant dragon, “Since you already know who I am, you’re now scared right? That’s right, that was the first thing that you a mere spirit need to do!”

I look at him blanky. Where did his arrogance come from? Why would I be scared at him?

He looked at me when he noticed that I didn’t responded. His face darken that make me notice  that he’s annoyed.

“Why aren’t you responding?” tanong nito. 

‘Nagtanong ka pa!’ Nais ko sanang sabihin pero baka lalong magalit, kaya ‘wag nalang.

I smiled at him, “Why would I respond to an idiot?” ani ko.

He looket at me with disbelief like it was new for him that someone can really talk back at him.

He gritted his teeth, “How dare to messing a dragon like me? You’re just a mere spirit! Know your place, insect!”

What the! He’s the first one whi started it and then his mad at me right now? That’s unfair on my part.

“I already responded what you want, why so mad?” sarkastikong sambit ko.

He clench his fist while looking at me, “You’re courting death, insect!”

Kanina pa ako nagsasawa sa pangliliit nito sa disguise ko a, porket dragon siya aapak-apakan niya lang ang mga mababang uri? Hindi ‘yan maaari, lahat ng taong naninirahan dito ay dapat pantay. Saan ba nakuha ng aroganteng dragon ang masamang ugali nito?

“A mere spirit like me can be your greatest nightmare,” ani ko rito, “You don’t know you’re already kneeling in front of me without knowing,” dugtong ko pa.

I looked at Ayla when she hold my hand, shaking her head telling me to stop arguing with him.

“But Ayla, he’s looking down on my race!” I exclaimed. Ayla tighten her hand which holding mine.

“Just stop it already, Mayi. You will be in danger if you keep arguing with him. You don’t know him, I’m warning you just stop it. He’s dangerous!” pigil nito sa akin.

I sighed. Ayokong tingnan nila ako bilang isang mababang uri. Kahit na mahina ako kailangan ko ring lumaban kahit salitaan man lang.

“Just a little bit, then I stop!” ani ko kay Ayla at hinarap ang lalakeng kasagutan ko. 

His head is now looking at the floor. I can’t see his face but I got a feeling that there will be a bad thing will happen yet, I didn’t pay attention to it.

“I don’t care if you’re a dragon! I’m a being too. Even my race is weak, I will stand and fight!” halos pasigaw kong wika.

“If your race being mock by others, do you think you will just standing there and don’t do anything?”

He didn’t responded. I sighed. Ano ba naman ang pinagsasabi ko, wala naman ‘tong patutunguhan.

“For now I forgive you for mocking me but if you do it again, I will not going easy on you,” ani ko at agad siyang tinalikuran.

Hinila ko palabas ng Office si Ayla ngunit agad akong napahinto nang biglang nagkaroon nang apoy ang dinadaanan namin.

“A mere low-tier spirit, lecturing me?” Nilingonan ko ang dragong nakasagutan ko, may apoy na lumalabas sa kanang kamay nito. His face darken than before. He’s angry.

“An insect like you saying that you’re not going easy on me?!”

The fire starting bigger and bigger. Nararamdaman ko na rin ang paghapdi ng balat ko dahil sa init.

“Do you think, I’m kind enough to let you go after what have you done?” ani nito.

Naglakad siya palapit nang palapit sa'min, lalo na ring humahapdi ang balat ko sa tinding init.

“You’re stupid!” Itinaas niya ang kaniyang kanang kamay. Lumabas do’n ang apoy na hugis patalim, tyaka ibinato papunta sa'kin.

Hindi ako nakakilos nang makita ang patalim na papalit sa kinaroroonan ko. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba at mahigpit na hinawakan ang braso ni Ayla.

“You’re breaking the Academy Rules again, Lu.”

Nagulat ako nang sumulpot sa harapan ko ang isang malaking itim na leopard. Sinangga ng kaniyang mahabang kuko ang atakeng papalapit sa‘kin ngunit hindi lahat nasangga niya. Mayroong nakalusot na nakadaplis sa braso ko.

“Stay out of this, Aster!” galit na giit ng lalakeng tinawag nang itim na leopard na Lu. He’s glaring and ready to kill.

“Just stop this or else I will report it to the principal,” sagot naman ni Aster, the Black Leopard.

Nilingon niya ako at napadako ang paningin nito sa braso kong nasugatan.

“Even a weak newbie, you’re bullying,” ani Aster. 

Then the second thing I know, Lu was shouting at me while his figure getting smaller and smaller.