Chapter 7: The Truth Untold

I was stunned when Caspian pushed me and got stuck with the student inside the classroom. They are also wearing black uniforms, like me. Anyways, bago ako pumasok dito ay pinabihis muna nila ako, dahil officially student na kuno raw ako at kailangan kong sumunod sa protocol nilang, ‘suotin ang uniporme kapag may klase.’

“Goodbye!” he bid farewell to me. I don’t know, but when he said goodbye, it made my blood boil. Anong good sa ginawa nila? I thought they needed me to find some of the information, so why are they planning to kill me already?!

Napatingin naman ako sa loob ng silid-aralan. Pareho silang nagkakatinginan sa isa’t isa na para bang alam na nila kung ano ang dapat nilang gawin sa ‘kin. Natakot ako sa mga malalaswang titig ng mga lalaki lalo na sa mga inis na tingin sa ‘kin ng mga babae. I don’t know why they’re all mad at me, but that disgusting look on their faces tells me that I have done something horrible to them.

“Patayin niyo siya,” I squinted when I heard those. What the hell?

Nakita ko naman kung paano sila napangiti dahil sa sinabi no’ng isang babae. She must be their leader or president, I don’t know if may gan’yan sila rito but knowing they have a principal, maybe parehas lang din sa mundo namin ‘yong codes nila rito.

Hinay-hinay naman silang lumapit sa akin, habang ako nama’y paatras ng paatras. Puwede bang papahingahin muna nila ako?!

“Bonum mane, Estudiantes!” All of them halted when they heard someone greet them. A hint of dismay flashed on their faces when they saw their teacher slowly entering their classroom.

“Salve etiam, Miss Krypida!” Halos lumuwa ang aking mga mata ng makita ko ang history instructor namin. What the hell is she doing here?

“Long time no see, Ms. Sevilla!” she winked at me. Akmang maglalakad na sana ako patungo sa direksyon ni Ma’am ngunit laking gulat ko nang bigla akong lumutang sa ere.

“Mas maganda po kung itatapon natin ‘tong babaeng ito sa labas, Miss,” nakangising usal ng lalaking nakabangga ko kanina.

That guy, ugh! Siya na naman, why can’t he just leave me alone?

“Ibaba mo siya Mr. Alferez, kung ayaw mong ikaw ang papatawan ko ng parusa!” Mapuwersa naman akong ibinaba ng Alferez daw dahilan para mapangiwi ako sa sakit.

Hindi ko alam kung anong kasalanan ko sa kanila e, wala naman akong ginawa para maging gan’yan ang pagtrato nila sa akin! Ako ba ‘yong nagpahirap sa kanila noon ha? Kung tutuosin, hindi pa nga siguro nabuhay ‘tong mga ito sa panahon na iyon e! Pero kung maka-react, parang sila ‘yong nagdusa! Tsk!

“Ms. Sevilla, please take your seat,” Ma’am Buenaverde said. Umupo naman ako sa pinaka-unahang upuan na nasa gilid ng pintuan. Mahirap na baka madali akong mapunterya kapang sa likod nila ako umupo.

I introduced myself to the class, as always when there’s a transferee, which, hindi naman talaga ako transferee, because pinilit lang nila akong pumasok dito. Wait? If Mrs. Buenaverde is here, maybe I can ask her if there’s a secret way we can go back to the human world?

Lumiwanag naman ng mukha ko sa aking naisip. Right! I can probably ask her about that!

Mrs. Buenaverde started her class, and I can’t understand what she was talking about because of the unfamiliar words that she is using. Parang gano’n kanina no’ng dumating siya. On how she greeted her students and how they greeted her back. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang sinusulat niya sa ere dahil hindi ko naman ito nakikita, but seems the students next to me can see it. Maybe with the gift of supernatural ability, they can see it. Ang unfair naman sa side ko na hamak na mortal lang.

“Haec hodie omnia, gratias, ac vale!”

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sinabi ni Mrs. Buenaverde pero tumayo ‘yong mga kaklase ko kaya nakisali na rin ako sa kanila.

“Gratias tibi pro tempore et patientia tua Miss Krypida!” they shouted in unison, kaya nakisali ako kahit mali mali naman ang aking mga sinasabi.
No’ng makita kong nagmadaling naglakad papalabas si Mrs. Buenaverde ay agad akong sumunod sa kan’ya. Dalawang rason, para maka-iwas sa gulo sa loob, at para matanong kung anong daan papawi sa amin.

“Mrs. Buenaverde!” tawag ko rito at nagmadaling tumakbo patungo sa kan’yang direksyon. Huminto naman ito, at ngumiti sa akin.

“I am a Miss here, Ms. Sevila, wala tayo sa mortal world para tawagin mo akong gan’yan!” she smiled, showing her teeth. Halata namang nainis siya sa aking tinawag sa kan’ya.

Yes, the strict Mrs. Buenaverde that I knew is now showing to me. Hindi kasi siya gaanong strikto kanina and to think that she saved me from that student back there is a sign that she’s a good person.

“I will ask you straight, Mrs— I mean, Ms. Buenaverde. Can you take me back to your world?” I asked with my eyes full of determination.

I want to go back now, knowing that I am not safe here.

Frankly, I wanted to explore, and roam around their world. I really, really want it! However, the way they treated me like garbage, makes me want to go home. There’s a side of me that wants to fight back, but I can’t because I am an outcast, an outcast that doesn’t have any power to protect herself from the grave danger that’s awaiting for her.

“Even if I know, I can’t tell you,” I furrowed my brows after hearing that. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? How can she not tell me? “Find it on your own. And with that, you need to stay here,” she added. Nakita ko naman ang pagsilay ng malungkot na ekspresiyon sa kaniyang mga mata, ngunit agad naman niya itong binawi nang tumingin na ito sa akin.

“Wait, what? Why? Anong ibig sabihin niyan? Can you just tell me, miss? You know that I am not safe here because they hate humanity. You all hate humanity! And then you wanted me to stay here and die?” Tiningnan ko naman siya sa mata, napaiwas naman siya nga tingin dahil do’n.

“You came here alone, so you can go back to your world alone.” Really? E, kung sabihin nalang niya? Bakit ayaw niya pa? She knows it, so she can spill it!

“I know, I came here by myself, but I can’t go home! Even if I would, I can’t!” I argued.

“Why?” she asked while turning her head on the other side, diverting my gaze to hers.

“Because I don’t know how!” sigaw ko naman sa kaniya.

“Then accept your consequences,” she retorted, and stood firmly.

Napahilamos nalang ako sa aking mukha dahil sa inis.

“Then, can I ask you something?” Hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa, dahil alam kong kahit anong pilit ko sa kan’ya hindi niya pa rin ito sasabihin.

Ms. Buenaverde only has the same attitude as Mrs. Buenaverde in the mortal world, which is that she will never change her mind once it is her final decision.

“Ano ang gusto mong itanong?” wika nito saka ako tiningnan ulit.

“You know Caspian, Engrid, Aideniel, and Rhenouis?” tanong ko sa kan’ya kaya napatingin siya sa akin na may halong pagpatataka.

“Yes! Of course, I know them!” she answered quickly.

“Anong ibig sabihin no’ng isang estudyante na kailangan ko raw lumayo sa apat immortal na iyon?” I asked. I saw how her lips curved when she heard it. Uh-huh?

“Oh, you’re interested in those students, huh?” Her smile did not fade when she says those things. Can she just tell me?

“Then you know it? Based on how you reacted when I asked you, you knew it.” My eyelids drooped, looking at her intensely. Nakita ko naman kung paano siya magpatay-malisyang tumingin-tingin sa itaas, na wari ba’y tinutukso niya ako.

“Nah, I will not tell you about it! Just ask them personally!” she said this while waving her hand.

“But—”

“Oopss, I've got to run!” and then she vanished out of my sight. Wow! Just wow!

Ang pasaway niya! Bakit ayaw ba niyang sabihin sa akin na puwede naman?! Dati ba siyang gaga? Awit siya e!

Plus! Iiwan niya ako without knowing na unfamiliar pa ang lugar na ito sa akin! Rude na gaga pa! Tsk.

Naglakad-lakad nalang ako. Gusto ko rin naman libutin ang buong eskwelahan. I don’t care that they’re having their class in that classroom. Wala rin naman akong maintindihan sa mga pinagsasabi nila. My mission here is to go back to my world, where I belong.

My eyes are wandering, and so am I.

This school’s hallways tell a fascinating story, even inside the classrooms. It’s more than just where you are within these walls, it’s an extravagant tapestry of Victorian elegance. It’s not just an ordinary hallway as I walk through... it’s the opulent pathway of a palace whereas nightmares come true. Oh, Fiamiolle, dream big! For in these walls, each step is a royal step, every moment is a luxurious move.

“Fiamiolle!”

Napatingin naman ako sa tumawag sa akin. It’s Caspian, he’s waving his left hand at me, and he is smiling from ear to ear, while running toward me.

Akmang sasalubongin niya sana ako ng yakap pero hindi niya nagawa sapagkat umiwas ako, dahilan para mamudmud ang mukha niya sa pader. Serves him right.

“Aray ko! How dare you!” reklamo niya habang hinihimas ang kan’yang nguso. I rolled my eyes seeing his ‘pa-cute face’. Well, he is cute, but not that cute. Kung hindi siguro ako naiinis sa kan’ya, siguro matagal ko na siyang pinupuri sa aking isipan, pero hindi e. Pinapainit niya kasi kalamnan ko.

“Get to the point,” walang ganang kong wika sa kan’ya kaya inayos na niya ang kan’yang sarili.

“We need to tell you something. Napag-usapan na rin namin ito kanina habang wala, total, nasali ka rin naman sa aming plano. Maybe we can tell you more about your purpose in our plan,” he replied. Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. So they’re just actually using me, huh? Well, same-same, I will also be using them.

“Let’s go!” masayang sabi nito at hinila ako patungo sa kung anong direksyon.

Bakit ba ang hilig manghila ng mga tao rito? Magkapatid yata sila no’ng batang na ‘yon e!

Halos mawalan ako ng hininga ng huminto kami. The same house they called Hearthstone. Pumasok kami sa loob at umakyat sa taas.

“Wala na ba kayong klase?” he started the conversation when we arrived at the fifth door.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged.

“Baka siguro binugbug ka nila ron kaya hindi ka pumasok!” Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin ng humagalpak siya ng tawa. Anong nakakatawa sa binubugbug?

“What’s funny?” kunot noo kong tanong sa kaniya.

“Nothing!” he replied. Hinila niya naman ang doorknob, kaya pumasok na kami sa loob.

There I saw Engrid, Rhenouis, and Aideniel chatting about something, but they stopped when they saw us.

“She’s here!” Caspian announced wearing his annoying smile again. Tsk.

Umupo naman ako sa tabi ni Rhenouis na malapit lang sa pinto. Mahirap na baka kung anong gawin nila sa akin, e ‘di makakalabas ako ng mabilis dahil nasa gilid ko lang ang pinto. It is better to be prepare than to do nothing.

“So, we’re here to tell that mortal there our plan?” Aideniel asked. “Anong nangyari sa ititikom lang natin ang ating bibig ukol dito, Caspian?”

“She needs to know because she’s part of us now. Knowing that we need her in our plan right?” Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa dalawa. Big deal ba ‘yong plano nila? Bakit kailangan pang may gan’yanan?

“Quiet. Walang maitutulong ang pagtatalo niyong dalawa,” ma-awtoridad na sambit ni Engrid kaya naman napatahimik silang dalawa. ‘Yan girl power!

“We asked you for your help, Fiamiolle. And we need you to know our plan so you can cooperate accordingly,” Rhenouis spoke in a monotonous tone. It feels like he is different right now because he used to be the gentleman in the group. I know that I just met him, but the first time I saw him, he was like Carl because of his attitude.

“Ang kaharian na ang iyong tinatayuan ngayon ay nasa—” Caspian stopped when we heard a three-time knock at the door.

Bigla naman itong bumukas, at nakita ko na naman ang mukhang ayaw kong makita. Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo ng makita namin ang principal ng eskwelahan na ito. She is smiling and looking around.

“Pagpasensyahan niyo na ang aking pangingistorbo sa inyong pinagu-usapan, ngunit hinahanap kayo ng Reyna, mahal na Prinsisa.” After hearing that, I saw how Engrid rolled her eyes.

“Let’s go, and Fiamiolle you stay here, we will be back before you know it!” masiglang sabi ni Caspian sa akin. Huminto naman ito nang magkadikt ang balikat nila ng tinatawag nilang principal. “And never, touch her,” may pagkariin nitong dagdag, at tumingin sa principal. Ngumiti lang ito ng pilit ‘tsaka nagpaalam na silang lahat sa akin, at isinara ang pinto.

I heaved a sigh.

Nando’n na o! Masasabi na ‘yong plano nila! Bakit ba kasi pumunta pa ‘yong bruhang iyon! Wrong timing, awit na ‘yan!

Maybe I will just wait here. Well, ano bang magagawa ko? Alangan namang sumunod ako sa kanila hindi ba? Tsk.

fin.