We left both in the infirmary because Lewis told the nurse to leave. Kung ikaw ba naman ang siga sa lugar na 'to, magagawa mo talaga lahat.
"Be careful with my wounds," he whispered.
"Kanina pa kita ginagamot dito, saka ka lang nagsabi," sagot ko kaagad at saka kumuha ng band aid para matapos na 'to. "How did you know that Axel was in danger earlier?" I asked while putting the band aid on his hand.
"I sensed it," he briefly replied. "I know when something is happening."
"Oh, do you have a sixth sense?"
"Nah."
I didn't bother to open another topic kasi halata namang ayaw niyang makipag-usap nang mahabaan. Pa-cold personality ang taong ito.
"I would like to..." He looked into my eyes and that stare made me freeze on my seat. "I would like you to be with us, for safety," my eyes instantly rolled.
I stood. "Axel already gave an offer just like that but I said no. Ang sabi dito: bawal ang magtiwala sa kahit na sino kaya bakit ako magtitiwala sa inyo? E, it looks like you are going to kill everyone at the end of the day, including me," I explained thoroughly.
"It's unclear," he stood also and left after those words.
My soul just left this room.
It's already lunch time pero hindi man lang ako naka-attend sa kahit anong klase ko. Hindi ko na lang alam kung may kamatayan bang kaharap 'to kung maka-absent ako nang marami.
About their offer, there's a part of me that I want to accept but the fact na mabibingit ako lalo sa kamatayan ay mas gugustuhin kong manahimik na lang sa tabi ng mga kaibigan ko.
"Where did you go earlier? We were looking for you," Janeth asked in the middle of our lunch.
I looked around the cafeteria and it's busy because it's already lunch time. Kani-kaniyang usapan, kani-kaniyang bulungan. Mas lalo ko lang ginugustong makaalis dito plus the fact na hindi ko na nakikita si Nicho.
"Kumusta na kaya si Nicho?" I whispered and I heard my two friends giggle, they are going to tease me after.
"I think he's fine with Gwyneth," Janeth answered so I looked into her eyes sharply.
"Ang cute ng cafeteria nila dito, 'no? Hindi katulad sa Clarkson na maliit lang at malayo pa sa building. Look oh! May mini-grocery store din sila," Tammy began to appreciate the beauty of this school.
"It's okay to appreciate pero huwag mo sanang gustuhing mag-stay dito, Tam," I replied.
"Ayaw ko na nga dito, nakakatakot, e," I could tell the shiver in her voice because of fear.
Nakakatakot naman talaga 'tong lugar na ito na hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop ng mundo ito nakatayo pero malinaw pa rin sa akin kung paano kami nakarating dito. That tunnel...
"Have you already walked around this campus?" I asked both of them in a low tone of voice because someone might hear us and kill us.
"Hindi pa. Isn't it obvious that this school is freaking huge? It's impossible for us to walk in just a day," nagreklamo na kaagad si Janeth kahit na wala pa akong sinasabi.
"I want to look around this school, hoping for a gate para makalabas tayo at makabalik doon sa tunnel," sagot ko.
"'di ba, Ellie, may lalaki ring nag-accommodate sa atin na makapasok dito since hinahanap natin si Lewis?" Nakisali na si Tammy sa usapan namin then everything playbacked in my mind.
"Who wants to look for that man, I know that he's part of this school also. We only have his voice so look for his voice in this place, he might be here," I explained. "And someone who will walk around this school and who's willing to ditch class."
"Ikaw lang lahat makagagawa niyang mga sinasabi mo, Ellie. Ikaw lang naman ang matapang sa ating tatlo. Alangan naman si Tammy," kaagad na umiling si Tammy sa sinabi ni Janeth.
"Pero hindi ko kayang mag-isa lang!" I shouted but in a low tone of voice.
"Gawin na lang natin tayong tatlo para mas maigi," Tam suggested. "Nagtutulakan pa kayo."
"Hey, girls," our gaze suddenly shifted to the man who spoke beside our table. "Planning something?" My eyes widened as he uttered those words so I giggled.
"No, we're not. Ano namang pagpaplanuhan namin?" I answered then scooped food from my plate.
"About sa pag-alis sa lugar na 'to?" Dominic asked.
"Bakit pa namin pagpaplanuhan iyon, e kung winakasan na ng lahat ng nandito ang pag-asa naming makalabas, ha?" Nagsisimula na namang uminit ang ulo ko. I don't know but every time we are talking about getting trapped in this shaggy place, my mood becomes mad. "Wala ka rin namang maitutulong kung magpaplano kami."
"Hindi mo sure," aniya kaya hindi ko na lang pinansin.
"Dominic, can I have a favor?" Biglang lumipat ang tingin ko kay Janeth dahil sa sinabi niyang favor. I thought takot sila sa kanila?
Dominic nodded. "What is it?"
"Can you say "follow me", "that's your school", and "it's free"?" My brows furrowed when Janeth said those words. Those words were exactly what the man who accommodated us said.
Nagdadalawang-isip pa si Dominic na sabihin iyon pero sinabi niya pa rin pero naiilang. "Follow me? That's your school? It's free? Does it make sense?"
"Yes, it is," Janeth answered. "Kung wala ka nang kailangan sa amin, puwede ka na sigurong bumalik sa amo mo?" Sinipa ko sa ilalim ng lamesa ang paa ni Janeth pero hindi ko pinahalata.
"Grabe naman," Dominic acted sad.
"Respect our privacy, please," Janeth pleaded so then Dominic went away but still looking at us.
Silence covered our table and everyone seems so serious except for Tammy.
"Did you observe her voice when he uttered those words?" Janeth asked. "He sounds like that man."
"You know..." I sighed. "Lewis and Axel, both offered me to be one of them for my safety but I refused. Knowing that I'll have to follow all their errands will be hard for me and the risk will increase," I shared then their faces say it all - they're shocked.
"Join them, I guess," Janeth shrugged her shoulders.
"Huwag naman! Kapag sumama si Elle sa kanila, paano na tayong dalawa? Baka mapatay tayo o baka tayo ang makapatay, hindi na magandang maghiwa-hiwalay pa tayo," Tammy explained and that's what I thought.
"But if Ellie will join them, it'll be easy for us to determine who's the person who accommodated us knowing that Dominic exactly sounds the same. Ellie can also ask for benefits like protecting us knowing that Lewis is the powerful one in this school," Janeth has a point. "Ellie, join them."
"I'll think of it some other time."
We parted ways because we have classes after that so I went straight to my room which everyone is glaring at me. Their eyes are all on me as well as the teacher.
Nararamdaman ko ang bigat ng atmosphere sa loob ng classroom na 'to. Tinitignan ko sila isa-isa pero hindi ko sila maalala kung kasama ba sila sa mga dumakip sa akin.
"Ms. Elliana Dizon, been absent for 4 consecutive hours without prior notice or without reasonable reason," the teacher spoke which made me shiver. "As the school rules, you will be in detention for the rest of your day, until 5:30 regardless of your original schedule," the area filled with their whispers like detention is something to be feared about.
"Fine. Detention lang pala," sambit ko at saka umalis palakad papunta sa detention kahit na hindi ko alam kung saan ba iyon matatagpuan.
"Hi girl, detention?" Nairita kaagad ang tainga ko nang marinig ang boses ng bruha sa lugar na ito - sino pa ba? "I think... deserve?"
"Yes, bitch, I deserve this," I admitted and heard her pissing giggles. "Bakit ka ba sumulpot? Did I even call you?" I raised my brows at her.
"I just thought... You need an escort? Since wala man lang nagpresinta sa room niyo kung sino maghahatid sa 'yo," aniya saka ginusot ang ilong kaya mas lalo akong nairita. "By the way, I heard you were in danger kanina, ah?"
"Alam ko namang hinihiniling mo na sana namatay na lang ako doon at hindi sinagip ng knight in shining armor ko," I smiled her teasingly but I think it didn't piss her at all.
"As if Lewis wanted it," she whispered.
"What if..." I whispered back and then I felt the pain in my scalp as she pulled my hair.
"Are you trying to deceive my boyfriend?" Gritting her teeth, she asked.
"I don't need to put an effort about that thing. Maybe my charms already hit him that's why," I shrugged and walked ahead of her.
That Juliette never failed to piss me off.
Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang paglalakad papunta sa detention. Mas maigi nga doon at nang mapag-isa naman ako. Unless, may mga kasama rin ako doong tigasin.
The way became dark and dark as I walked continuously. I wonder if this place is having an attention. It's dirty and smelly.
I entered the gross door and I was surprised when I saw someone sitting in the corner but I didn't mind him. I left him there while me - I rested my head on my arms to sleep.
"Kian," someone called his name from one of the speakers. Is it his time to get released? How lucky.
I kept on sleeping but when I was about to have a dream, they called my name. I walked towards the door then a man escorted me to the other way. Instead, they brought me to the darkest place I've ever seen.
That man picked up scissors then held my hair.
"Wait, anong gagawin mo sa 'kin?" Pigil ko sa kaniya. Pilit kong inaagaw ang buhok ko ngunit mas malakas siya sa akin na tila mapupunit na ang buhok ko dahil sa pag-aagawan naming dalawa.
"Punishment," he briefly replied.
"By cutting my hair?! Do you think it's fair?!" My voice echoed in the room but I think no one heard me except for this man.
"There's no such thing as justice," he continued then cut my hair which made my eyes widen. "Everything is nonsense," he said again then cut another hair. "Be used to this system," napapapikit-mata na lang ako sa mga sinasabi niya. Nagpapaliwanag ba siya? "Get this hair done outside this room," then he let go of my hair. "Don't get yourself hurt."
That's his message. The last sentence made my heart flutter. Kahit na naka-assign siyang magparusa sa mga nasa detention ay nagagawa pa rin niyang mag-warn sa mga napupunta rito pero ang nakakagalit lang, ganito pala sa detention. Baka nagkaroon pa sila ng awa sa akin kaya't gupit lang ng buhok ang ginawa pero ang lalaking nauna sa akin ay hindi ko na nakita.
"What happened to your hair? And your uniform's dirty, too," Dominic asked with his surprised face like he isn't used to these things.
"I got detention," I answered lazily with my back hunched of course.
"Gusto mo ayusin ko buhok mo?"
Napaayos ako ng tayo at gulat na napatingin sa kaniya. "No, thanks. Hindi ko pinapahawakan ang buhok ko sa kahit na kanino, swerte na n'ong naggupit sa akin sa detention. Maikli na nga, mas lalo pang iniklian," atungal ko.
"Bakit ka ba kasi napunta d'on? Don't tell me, by mistake?"
"No, it wasn't a mistake. Hindi na ako nakapasok sa mga classes ko because of things that I didn't even expect."
"Like?"
"Like, kidnapping me with those brats?" I smirked.
"But Lewis saved you."
"Pero sa detention, hindi man lang siya dumating. Hindi ko man lang siya naramdaman. I was expectin--" I instantly covered my mouth because of that.
"You were expecting Lewis to save you?" I didn't answer, I wanna go to bed!! "Did you?"
"It's not that."
"Lewis won't always be there by your side so be careful. Don't get yourself hurt," the man's voice in the detention echoed again in my mind because of that sentence which he sounds like... Dominic?
"Was it you?" He looked into my eyes and walked away.