Chapter 24: What's with Estelle Kethyst Clemence and the rest?

Heartle

"So" —Mrs. Margaux scanned the area—" I decided to organize a sports festival!"

Nabigla ako when Charles snorted. "Challenging the death, eh?" he said before slightly chuckling.

The death? Sinong death? Anong death?

Tapos na ang general meeting. We, the HOLE Squad, ay nandito pa rin in our standpoint. Everyone is already nasa labas but I don't know talaga as to why are we exactly here. I take a malalim na breath and tiningnan ang sila Loris, Oliver and Estelle.

Estelle's eyes are nakapako sa double door. Loris is tumitingin at the kisame without blinking. Oliver is clenching his panga while facing the sahig of the platform. What happened to them ba? As if naman na may problem sa sports festival. It's just a sports festival.

I darted my mata into Estelle. She closed her mata. She bites her labi after a few minutes of closing her eyes. Ano ba she is thinking? I don't know but I feel like may something dito. Why would the three react like that if this is nothing? But also, it's just a sports festival right?

"This is alarming," I heard Loris said.

Estelle opened her eyes and rolls it after. She faces Loris with a slight frown on her face. "In case you forgot, Loris, this whole thing is really alarming from the start." She pouts her lips a bit as Loris shrug off.

I cleared my throat nalang. What's their problema ba? Anong alarming? Is it the sports festival? Ano naman ang alarming about that? Are we going to die? Where are their brains ba? I thought they are smart kids. It turns out that they are brainless sometimes. Gosh!

"What can you say? This is Underground Academy which is, in case you forgot, the school of conundrum thrill," Oliver mumbled while still doing the same thing.

Gusto ko mag-facepalm pero hindi ko gagawin. What are they thinking ba? There is nothing conundrum at all! Hello, we are just obliged to participate in the School Festival! Is that alarming? Are they losing their passion in each sport field they used to love? Well if that's the case, it's really kind of alarming. Gosh!

"Guys, what are you sinasabi ba?" I stand up and fix my buhok because it's messy already. "You know what, if you are not as good in sports then you can practice naman eh. It's not that alarming, alright?" I pull my hand back. "I mean, we are great."

They look at isa't-isa. They snorted in unison. What did I say ba? I am not saying unreasonable bagay here. Why are they reacting kaya that? Are they really losing their big brains and turning into a morbo? Gosh, this is really may alarma.

"I thought this is the most alarming but it turns out Shoal's condition is more alarming," Oliver whispered while shaking his ulo.

I immediately glance at him and glared my eyes. "What condition is alarming, Oliver?"

Oliver lift his palms and faced it to me. He forcibly smile and shakes his palms. "What I mean, Shoal, is—"

"Shut it, Oliver. You don't know what to say next," Estelle said as she stood up. "Stop pretending already because it's useless."

I clear my throat loudly. "Can you all please enlighten me? Seriously, I don't know what you all thinking. Tsk," I said before rolling my eyes.

Instead of answering me, Estelle stands up and started walking away. I held her wrist as soon as possible. Where did she think she's going? She stops walking and sigh. She turned her body into us while having her usual poker face.

"Where are you pupunta?" I said as I pulled my hands back.

She licks her lips as she face the ground. "Internalize," she said before she left us in the platform.

We are just staring at her as she gets farther. Why would she internalize? Gosh! I just shrug my shoulders nalang and stood up. I turn my body around and look at Loris and Oliver.

"Don't you have plans as SAC and COR Officers?"

They sigh in unison as they stood up. I turn my body around and started walking into the library. I sighed. Why are they acting strange kanina? I shake my head nalang kasi I know I won't have the answers that I want. I pity myself for that.

We are in the Elevator already. The bell rings as the door opened. I immediately left the elevator and Loris is leading the way. It's silent and not even our shoes makes a noise. I suddenly felt something as we approach the Office door. What is this?

We scanned our nameplate on the scanner, one by one. We entered the room. My brows raise in an instant. I approach the meeting room slowly while examining it out. Why are they in the meeting room without having a discussion?

I entered the meeting room and they didn't even glance at me. I shrug my shoulders as I sit on my chair. Everyone is in their own world. Nobody is talking. Nothing is glancing. All are spacing out. What is really happening? Fuck!

I scanned the area, once again. I notice that it's not just Estelle is missing. Theo is missing too. Where is Theo? My body suddenly bounced when someone slaps its hands on the table.

"Why are you all acting like this?" Loris said.

I glared at him but he didn't even glance at me. Why are you all like this? Come on, why don't you ask yourself, Loris? Tsk. Everyone sits properly and face him seriously. I roll my eyes and sighed.

"Since Theo isn't around, why are you all here by the way?"

I put my lips together. The rest are glancing at each other with a frown in their mukha. Bea stands up and sigh. She faces Loris and the initiated a staring contest. Loris raise his brows and stares back at Bea. What's the matter between the both of them?

Both aren't blinking. Both aren't moving. Both doesn't want to lose. What a childish act! I immediately slap my hand into the table and they are all looking at me. I roll my eyes and stand up.

"What's wrong with you all!?" I shouted.

Everyone became silent. Loris and Bea took their seats. I glance at the table and realized that my hands made a scratch on it. I sigh as I step back and then I kicked my chair straight into the glass wall. The wall had a scratches too and it's way worse than the table that I just broke. I never glanced at them again. I left the room instead. They are all bullshits.

My face frown because the bell suddenly rings. I'm certain that it's not for the Self-governing Hour. I immediately sprinted into the door and opened it. My eyes widen when a German Shepherd approaches me directly. I dropped myself on the floor while the dog is licking my cheeks. Gosh!

I heard some footsteps approaching but I didn't bother to look at it. I immediately sit properly and play with the dog. It is so cute!

"Hi, baba," I said while caressing its fur.

"Anong Baba? Shoal its not a sheep," Oliver said in a flat voice.

I rolled my eyes. I turn my body into his direction. "Baba is another term for baby. Morbo talaga!"

The place became a comedy bar. Everyone is laughing even the maarte Zoe. Why is she laughing ba? Duh.

"Baba is for black sheep." Oliver stood up and grab his phone. "The lyrics says, baba black sheep" —he stopped and his eyes widen— "kaya pala." Tumango-tango siya. "You're the black sheep, Shoal."

"Oh, really?" Zoe's smart-mouthed words echoed in the place. "I think" —she puts her hand on her temple— "it's a fake news."

End of the Chapter 24

Other works:

KEEPING THE KEEPER

LOVING MY LOVER

TAKE A ONE-SHOT

Dedicated to KatharinaWainwright & marsocrates