I woke up alone.
He already left without leaving any trace. My place was also cleaned like last night was just a dream or was it?
This place is completely hell. Sana kasi nakalabas na kami kung hindi lang kami pinagti-trip-an ng mga baliw na tao sa loob ng campus na 'to. Their eyes are on me, na parang pinapatay na nila ako sa isipan nila - ganito na lang araw-araw mula nang manatili na kami dito.
"¿Has oído hablar de los leones que atacaron la habitación de alguien anoche?" Dinig kong usapan ng dalawang babae na nasa salitang spanish.
*Narinig mo ba na umatake na naman ang Los Leones kagabi sa isang dorm room?*
I didn't know that students also value language as well as they value the presence of killing and blood in this campus - in this sucking place.
Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang mga sinabi nila kaya't hindi na ako nag-abala pang tumagal para maki-isyoso sa usapan nila.
"por favor, señoras?" I stopped when I heard a familiar voice came from behind me. I looked back and saw Axel, talking in spanish with those women. "no hables en español en este campus. no priorizamos la esencia del lenguaje. estar contento con el lenguaje que usamos, ¿de acuerdo?"
*please, ladies? do not talk in spanish on this campus. we do not prioritize the essence of language. be contented on the language we use, okay?*
I rolled my eyes and walked away.
I was walking in the hallway when someone blocked my way.
"Excuse me?" I pleased the soft tone of voice but it seems like she has something to ask or explain or tell. I don't know.
"May nakakita sa inyo kagabi," aniya kaya pinangunotan ko siya ng noo. "Marami nang nagsalin-salin na kuwento tungkol sa nangyari kagabi. Mag-ingat ka, baka pag-initan ka pa nilang patayin," pagtapos ay bigla na lang siyang tumakbo na parang walang nangyari.
"Alam ko na kumalat na ang usapin tungkol sa atin, Ellie," napatingin ako sa nagsalita sa likuran ko pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makaharap sa kaniya ay hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at iniharap sa harap.
"Anong trip mo, ha? Kung nasa mood ka, pwes ako wala," reklamo ko.
"Hindi maglalaon at makararating iyon sa head teacher at paparusahan ka, nakakalimutan mo yatang ang katapat mo sa lugar na ito ay si Juliette at si Lewis, wala nang iba pa. Ngunit, kung pagkukumparahin ang dalawa, di hamak na walang-wala si Juliette sa kapangyarihan ni Lewis. Ang role lang niya dito ay tagasumbong," pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil sa mga sinasabi niya.
"It doesn't make any sense, Axel. Are you following me? Kasi kanina nandoon ka sa mga nag-eespañol tapos ngayon nandito ka na naman para i-explain sa akin ang role ng Juliette na iyon kahit hindi ko naman tinatanong. Ikaw ba, anong role mo dito? Buntot ni Lewis?" Satsat ko pa.
"Pinag-iingat lang kita, minasama mo pa. Alam kong gusto mo ng proteksiyon para hindi ka maparusahan ng mga teacher dito kung sakaling makaabot sa kanila ang balitang magkasama tayong natulog kagabi--"
"Ilakas mo pa."
Inilapit niya sa akin ang kaniyang mukha at bumulong, "Magkasama tayong natulog kagabi," at ngunit nang nakakaloko.
"Tapos ka na, blabbermouth? I have my classes pa," sambit ko at nagpasimula nang maglakad.
"Ayaw mo ba talaga ng proteksiyon galing sa pinakamakapangyarihan sa lugar na ito?" Sigaw niya habang ako naman ay patuloy lang sa paglalakad.
"Wala akong pakealam sa kapangyarihan na mayr'on kayo. What I want is to leave this damn hell!" Naglakad ako pabalik sa kaniya and my teeth are clenched. "If I can explain how frustrating it is to live in this dummy world, I will but everything is too narrowed to let you speak. Judgments here and there like we are living in the old centuries. Palibhasa kasi, buntot ka ni Lewis kaya ganiyan ka na rin makaasta. Do you even know what everyone told me after I get into this trouble? - do not trust anybody even the leaders and now it does make sense, alam kong inuuto niyo lang ako para itulak akong pumatay kagaya niyo."
Nakatulala at nakatitig lang siya sa akin nang may takang-taka na wangis sa mukha niya na parang may nasabi akong hindi maganda pero I had my point.
He smiled and sighed. "Nagtatanong lang naman ako kung gusto mo ba ng proteksiyon pero ang dami mo nang sinabi, minasama mo pa ako, kami! Ganiyan ba talaga ang utak sa labas?" Halata sa tono ng pananalita niya ang galit ngunit hindi na lang ako nagpaapekto dahil masisira lang niya ang target ko - ang makalabas dito.
Nauna pa siyang umalis sa akin at mukhang siya pa ang naagrabyado, e, ako na nga 'tong napasok sa mundo ng mga demonyo.
Palakad pa lang sana ako nang salubungin ako ng pawis na pawis na si Tammy. I started to panic because of her trembles like she did something horrible.
"Why? What happened?" I asked in a hurry but she started crying.
"Ellie!! Believe me, it wasn't me!" She blabber while crying and that made me anxious. What is she talking about?
"I know that wasn't you but let me know what you are talking about," I tapped her shoulders a little bit.
"Iyong mga estudyante, hinahabol ako habang may dala silang patalim, gusto nila akong patayin dahil sa paglabag sa utos ng school - iyong ay ang huwag matulog nang may kasamang lalaki. Nakita raw nila na kasama ko sa kuwarto ko kagabi iyong isa sa mga tauhan ni Lewis!" And that stings my ear.
It was me but I do not know how to tell Tammy.
"Don't worry, I am a hundred percent sure that it wasn't you, I believe you," I calmed her down but the students who are chasing her are behind her so I put her before me.
I faced them with the courage that I am ready to face death by these arms.
"It wasn't Tammy!" I shouted to them but their eyes turned black and I think it triggered them more. "It was me with Axel last night! Everything you saw is clear, I am with Axel but do not put my friend into this matt--"
I wasn't able to continue my words when something hard hit my head and totally lost my balance. Everything went slowly shaking while I was kneeling the ground.
Before passing out, I looked at Tammy and she was dragged by someone but I wasn't able to get her back.
I heard people's whispers around me. I do not know where they brought me but one thing is for sure, this is my final destination. I looked into their sharp eyes and into their weapons that are ready to stab me.
"I slept with Axel and that's the reason why y'all are barking?" I asked but no one answered. "You can sleep with him if you want, as if I have a relationship with a demon," I rolled my eyes.
And when I was about to stand up, I fell into the ground. I was tied in the chair, both hands and feet but someone came to fix my position - I bet, he's one of these students who are eager to kill me.
"Kill me then," I commanded but someone stopped them.
"Kill her and I will kill y'all," that voice... "Go and stab her and I'll stab you to death," that voice that is tiger mad.
"Sino ka ba? Tuta ka lang naman ng presidente sa school na 'to?" Maangas na tanong ng isa sa mga estudyante na nakapaligid sa akin.
I was right, it was Axel.
After I said harshly to him, he still went here to save me?
"Tsk! Tanda ko ang mga pagmumukha ninyong lahat, ni hindi naman kayo makalalabas ng buhay dito sa lugar na ito kaya wala kayong takas," nilabas niya ang kaniyang phone and took a picture of a woman in front of him. "Dominic will tell me about your information, looks like you're the head of this activity."
Tinititigan ko lang sila habang nagdidiskusyonan. Hindi ko rin naman alam ang sasabihin ko o may dapat ba akong isabat sa usapan nila.
Kitang-kita ko kung paano pinaikot ng babae ang mata niya at pagtapos ay may isang lalaking nakatakip ang mukhang may hawak na baseball bat at hinampas sa ulo si Axel.
"Axel!" I screamed to make him in his consciousness. He smiled at me like it didn't hurt him. "Axel, get up!" He was about to get up when the same man hit him again on his back. "Will you please stop?!" My voice echoed as I screamed in anger.
The man approached me, the baseball bat was not in his hand anymore. He glared at me and was about to slap my face when someone grabbed his wrist.
"Hurt her and I'll kill you," Axel in his monotone voice made me shiver. When did he get up?
"Axel, don't get into--" I automatically stopped when his deadly look met my eyes. "Let me untied," I commanded and someone from behind me removed the ties. "Thank-- Lewis?" Wait, what?
Dominic is also here, like they found out about this matter or did Axel call them for help? But I think he is too weak to call for help!
Lewis looked at his watch and shifted his gaze at me. "You have the time to run," he signaled but I froze to my feet and there's a part of me that I want to be with them so I could help them.
"Let me help you," I whispered and Lewis seemed to have heard nothing.
Dominic held my shoulder and forced me to go out so I couldn't fight anymore. This happening frightened me because they might die there because this school is hell!
I stood in front of the door, waiting for them to go out alive and safe. Ilang minuto rin akong nakatayo sa harapan ng pinto na tila ba hindi napapagod.
My smile appeared on my face when Dominic came out first followed by Lewis and Axel. Unang hinanap ng mata ko ay si Axel dahil sa tingin ko ay siya ang mas napuruhan sa nangyari. Sa lakas ba naman ni Lewis, ewan ko na lang at baka iyong mga estudyanteng naghahanap ng away na lang ang sumuko.
"Axel," I called his name and ran after him. Thankfully, he looked back. "Are you okay?" I asked.
He looked at the ceiling like he was thinking of the best answer. "I think so? Nahihilo ako nang kaunti," aniya kaya hinawakan ko kaagad ang braso niya para alalayan siya.
Tinignan ko ang mukha niya at halata rito ang pagkagulat. "Be thankful that I am helping you, do not give me a face like that," I spoke out because of awkwardness. "Samahan na kita sa infirmary," presinta ko.
"Ayos lang naman ako," pagtatanggi pa niya pero hinampas ko ang braso niya kaya hindi na siya nakaangal pa.
Nang makarating kami sa infirmary ay kaagad siyang inasikaso ng nurse na naroroon. Naupo lang ako sa hindi kalayuan sa kaniya at pinanonood siyang gamutin.
"After this, take a look at that girl also," he commanded and the nurse looked at me.
"But sir, Mr. Lewis told me not to cure anyone except for the teachers and the three of you," the nurse excused.
"Okay lang naman ako, hindi niyo na kailangan pang magdahilan. Ano pa bang aasahan ko sa lugar na 'to kun'di ang may posisyon lang ang aasikasuhin," rebat ko kaya napasinghap ng lang ng hangin ang nurse. "I just want to leave this freaking place, that's it."
"Matigas ba talaga ang bungo mo't hindi mo matanggap na hindi ka na makalalabas dito ng buhay?" Inis ng sagot naman sa akin ni Axel ngunit pinaikutan ko na lang siya ng mata.
Lewis came inside the infirmary with Dominic with a poker face, of course. He's acting like the cold hearted man in the books. Sabagay, mukha nga naman kaming nasa story lang dahil sa mga pangyayaring hindi kapani-paniwala.
"My sugat din ako," sambit ni Lewis at saka tumayo sa gilid ni Axel.
"Sir Axel, let me cure sir Lewis first, okay?" The nurse excused but Lewis raised his one brow.
"I don't want you to accompany me," he said so the nurse looked surprised. Lewis slowly turned his head into my place and so I avoided his gaze. "I want her to do that," he pointed at me.
"Me?" And he nodded. "Fine."