Walang imik lang ang lahat habang pinagmamasdan si Mr Principal na nasa may pinakadulo ng conference table at nakapukos lang sa pagbabasa ng isang kulay itim na forder na kaninang magalang na iniabot ni Prof.
"Hmm," napatango-tango siya habang nananatili pa rin ang tingin sa black folder. Wala lang din akong imik dahil hindi ko din naman alam kung ano 'yung pinagkakaabalahan ng mga mata niya.
"Your a brilliant student Ms Del Rey. First quarter palang ay talagang competitive kana. From quizess, tests, recitations, exams to projects even on taking notes- I don't know what to say! You really impressed me Ms Del Rey!" Na sa 'kin ang masayang tingin nito at tumungo naman kaagad ako at magalang na nagpasalamat.
"I've told you Mr Principal, I really think she's appropriate to be our choice to fulfill the lack of our HHU Junior Varsity Representative."
"Base on this school records of Ms Del Rey, I don't have any reasons to disapproved your suggestion, Proffesor. I'm really empressed so yes, I'll approve you by this one. Let this bright student be part of our junior varsity representative for that forthcoming NIO."
"Thank you Mr Principal. I believe in her brain abilities and you wouldn't regret it. You've just made a right decision and I'm really thankful for giving this opportunity to one of my students, also for me as her prospective coach," Prof.
Nginitian lang siya ni Mr Principal at napakurap-kurap na lamang ako ng mamalayang na sa 'kin na bigla ang tingin nito.
"How about you Ms Del Rey, any comments about this conversation?" Hindi ako makasagot. Nakakahiya man pero wala talaga akong maisip na komento sa sinasabi niyang usapan. Wala naman kase akong alam sa pinag-uusapan nila e.
"Auh.."
"It's Ok hija, feel free to express your opinions here 'cause your a very essential part of this topic." Tila hinihintay nito ang sagot ko pero bago pa man may lumabas na salita sa bibig ko ay mahinang tumikhim si Prof dahilan para maagaw nito ang atensiyon naming lahat, kasama na don si Mr Principal.
"I'm sorry Mr Principal, but she doesn't know anything at the moment. She's just a newcomer at this University and exactly don't know anything about NIO, IIO, including NHO, MHO etc.."
"It's Ok, NIO will goin' to start on next month right?"
"Auhm, yes Mr Principal."
"So she have enough time to know all of that, that she doesn't know and that are also need to know before the forthcoming NIO will going to start. Nevertheless, Miss Hace, what are your thoughts 'bout this preparation, any complications?"
Tanong niya sa babaeng naghatid sa 'kin kanina papunta rito. Maraming kung ano anong mga dokumento sa harap nito ang pinagkakaabalahan ng mga mata nito, nagpapalipat-lipat ang mga iyon don sa mga papel na nasa harap niya at sa laptop na nasa harap din niya. Medyo haggard na rin ang maganda niyang mukha. Secretary 'ata siya ni Mr Principal.
"NIO is a tremendous event that everyone's are waiting. And since, she's a newcomer I suggest for her someone proficient that is capable of training her for this remaining days before the NIO happen. That will definitely be a compelling help to lead her the way of winning the battlefield of Intelligence. Even she's that smart one, doesn't mean she don't need any help by someone. I have no doubt on her knowledge based on her school records, but at this very moment she know nothing. Like when she disqualified and unable to play the game 'cause of her lack of information and understanding about the rules and regulations inside that competition. She really need someone who can train her for that."
"Hmm.. that thoughts are absolutely great, Ms Hace. I'll go along with that- well if you only don't mind." Prof.
"I feel that way too!"
"Yea, Ms Hace is absolutely right."
"Exactly!" Aniya ng iba pang mga faculties.
"Auhm.. sorry for interrupting everyone. If you don't mind, let's ask first if Ms Del Rey agree with it. We're already planning up to this point, without asking first if she also have the same opinion about this- if she's agree with this?! You're just disappointing yourself planning those.. auhh.. no need to say that- without knowing that she doesn't have plans to take and accept this in an instance, right?" May halong sarkasmong boses ni Laira.
Marami ang magulat sa sinabi niya pero mas piniling hindi na lamang magsalita. Takot lang siguro nila kay Laira.
"That's exactly what I'm thinking right now. Emerald Princess Laira is right, we aren't know about Ms Del Rey's opinion." Mr Principal.
May pag-aalala sa mga mata akong binalingan ng tingin ni Esther, "are you Ok?" Tanong nito at ngumiti naman ko para sagutin ito ng Ok lang ako.
"Yeri, do you want to be part of HHU's junior varsity representative?" Mahinahong tanong ni Raila.
Sa loob ng ilang segundo at tumango ako. Kita ko ang malapad na ngiting gumuhit sa mga labi ni Prof at masaya akong napangiti ko siya ng gano'n. Minsan lang kase siya makitang ngumiti at masaya akong isa ako sa mga taong naging dahilan non.
"Good, can we now close this topic since Ms Del Rey already agreed and now proceed to the next matter to discuss Mr Principal?" Ms Hace.
"Ok, proceed Ms Hace." Mr Principal pagkatapos malalim na bumuntong hininga.
"Apparently, Emerald Princess Raila will not goin' to the NIO."
" What?!"
"Why?!"
"Her absence of being our representative can lead to something inconvenience!"
"How can we now win our School when one of our great competitors is leaving?!"
At marami pa ngang mga bulong-bulungan ang pumuno rito sa loob ng ACR.
"Silent everyone! Don't you know how to hear her reason first before exaggerating like that! She's the Emerald Princess, the Grand daughter of my bestfriend and your all being ill-mannered!" Bakas ang galit sa boses ni Mr Principal na nagpabalot ng kagahimikan sa buong silid. "Continue Ms Hace."
Parang awkward na nag-angat naman ng tingin si Ms Hace at malalim munang humugot ng hininga bago magsalita.
"She has her own reasons everyone, respect the Emerald Princess and let us hear her countercause," walang emosyong aniya Ms Hace at binalingan ng tingin si Raila, gano'n na rin ako at ang iba pa.
"Auhm, I'm sorry everyone but even I don't want to I don't have a choice. I'm going to China with Grandpa to deal some important matters. Dapat talaga kasama si Laira, but we are also concern of our University to win the General Triumph Trophy so she's staying here and go play the NIO competition. I'm really sorry-"
"It's Ok Hija, you don't have be sorry. Your  Grandpa and I talked about that and I understand. About your grades, auhm.. I'll talk to your Proffesor to be responsible for sending some activities, quizzes, test, examinations, etc.. while your outfield. That would be your temporary basis that will also help your grades unaffected even when your away."
"Thank you Mr Principal." Nakangiting wika ni Raila, nginitian naman siya ni Mr Principal.
"Ms Hace, are the numbers of our Junior Varsity Representative still the same as last year?"
"Apparently, yes Mr Principal. We really need enough numbers of students to represent our University. But since Emerald Princess Raila wouldn't goin' to join there, we also need someone capable on replacing her particular position. And that's the problem, we need to get the list now of our representatives before this day ends so that we can pass this to the  NIO Admins on time. We haven't found someone that we're goin' to replace her yet.  Any recommendations 'bout this everyone?"
Marami naman ang magrereact na sana para magrekomenda ng maudlot bigla.
"A student who has also higher IQ, same or even more than the Emerald Princess Raila are the only qualified. A student that have a good class record having the necessary abilities and knowledge to be worthy on this making decision."
Wala ng imimik sa kanila ngayong tapos na itong magsalita.
"There's a lot of bright student's inside this University, but only student's that are in here including Ms Del Rey are the only exemptions for this kind of competition. Silang nandito lang ang mga batang may matataas na IQ. Is it Ok Ms Hace if we don't have a representative for SignificanScience Olimpiad?"
"I'm sorry Mr Principal, but we cannot play the whole NIO competition for lacking even only one representative per NIO games."
"Then who will goin' to replace the Emerald Princess Raila's position?" Medyo nai-stress na ang boses ni Mr Principal.
Wala namang imik ang lahat, pati na rin ako. Napapaisip pa rin talaga ako, ang dami-daming studyante sa Unibersidad na ito pero nagkukulang pa sila sa isang representative. Mukhang matindi talaga ang NIO na 'yun at pinag-iisipan nilang lahat ng mabuti.
"We need to decide now before this meeting ends, I also want to remind all of you that higher IQ is the only required to get the replacing happen."
"But as Mr Principal said, these are the only student's HHU that has a qualified higher IQ?!"
"What are we gonna do now?!"
"We can't lose that NIO!"
Marami ang mga hindi nakapagpigil sa kanilang emosyon. Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi, hindi naman kase pwedeng hindi matuloy ang NIO na 'yun dahil lang sa mababawasan ng isa ang mga representatives. Binalingan ko ng tingin si Raila at kita 'kong malungkot ang mukha nito. Kung hindi lang kase siya Prinsesa ng Emerald Kingdom ay hindi naman siguro siya aalis dito.
"I'm sorry Emerald Princess Raila, but is there anything you can do to postponed or re-sched your flight to China? It's only one week lang naman?" Ms Hace Kay Raila.
"I'm sorry Ms Hace, but we can't postponed our flight to China. I'm not leaving this country and my studies here just for nothing. One of our Major Business in there are in trouble and it's necessary for me to be there." Kalmadong paliwanag ni Raila.
Umugong na naman bigla ang bulong-bulungan. Ano ba naman sila, katulad ko ba sila na baguhan lang rin rito? Parang Hindi kase nila kilala ang Emerald Princesses at walang mga respeto. Napakurap-kurap ako ng sa gitna ng bulungan at naiinis na tumayo si Laira. Halos mag-abot na ang dalawang kilay nito sa inis.
"Can you just shut up everyone! Don't you know why she's goin' to China? It's not for any other personal reasons, 'cause it's actually for the University's Interest. That's Mr Principal and our Grandpa's main project of this year. Not renovating that out-of-date building-" itinuro niya ang lumang building na makikita sa labas ng bintana rito at nagsilingunan naman ang lahat. "-but demolish that and build a new fashionable, substantial and durable one. Grandpa can't go alone and only Raila is capable to accompany him to China since I'm staying here."
"Pupunta lang naman sila do'n para iassist ang mga tauhan namin na dalhin dito ang mga matitibay na mga materials and other stuffs that are needed to build the planned building." Katulad ng inaasahan, halata ang sarkasmo sa tono ng pananalita nito. "Thankful pa nga dapat kayo at tumutulong kami para mabigyan ng magandang future 'tong University e! Couz is also being fair, even it's for the sake of improvement of this University, sasagutan pa rin niya ang mga tests, quizzes, exams etc.. even she's out of the country. Para maging fair pa rin ang lahat! And now your talking nonsense na on her without knowing she's doing something that can help the University better than that stupid-"
Hindi matuloy ang galit na pagsigaw nito ng biglang tumayo si Cai. Naagaw nito ang atensiyon naming lahat lalo na si Laira. Tinaasan lang siya nito ng kilay.
"What?" Mababakas pa rin ang galit sa tono ni Laira, pero mas nangingibabaw pa rin talaga don ang kamalditahan ng kaniyang pananalita.
"S-Shes right everyone," aniya Cai at mabilis na naupo ulit sa kaniyang silya. Natawa nalang tuloy ako sa kaniya.
Sinulyapan ko ng tingin si Raila at nalungkot ako bigla sa ayos ng kaniyang mukha. Ngayon ko lang siya makitang ganito kalungkot.
Alam ko namang hindi lang 'yun ang dahilan niya para gustuhing pumunta do'n e, nakasisiguro akong may mas mabigat at malalim siyang dahilan. Sa tingin ko ay alam ko na kung ano 'yun at naiintindihan ko siya.
"It's Ok everyone, I'm not goin' there if-" pinutol ko na ang sasabihin nito sa aking pagtayo.
"Auhm, kung inyo pong mamarapatin.. ako na lamang po ang papalit kay Raila," marami ang nagulat sa sinabi ko, maging si Raila ay gano'n din.
"Hayaan na lang po natin siyang lumabas ng bansa, para rin naman po 'yun sa ikagaganda at ikauunlad ng University."
"A-Are you sure, Ms Del Rey?!" Gulat at hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng isa sa mga respectable teacher na naririto.
"P-Payag naman po ako, pero na sa sainyo pa rin po ang disesyon." Nahihiyang tugon ko.
"We know your smart, Ms Del Rey. But your making helter-skelter decision, this is not a joke?!" Ms Hace.
"Sorry po, pero hindi po ako nagbibiro. Gusto ko lang pong tumulong." Nakatungong paliwanag ko.
"Are you-"
"Ms Hace, can you set aside your anger for once! That doesn't give any help to deal with this problem!" Saway ni Mr Principal at napatikhim na lamang siya't napatungo.
"I'm sorry, Mr Principal."
"Ms Del Rey, I just want to remind you that your already a junior varsity representative. Especially now that your just a newcomer, you don't have any idea how this all can be so difficult. Marami kang concequences na haharapin kapag wala kang naipanalo kahit isa." Ani Mr Principal.
"O-Ok lang po sa 'kin. Tatanggapin ko po ang magiging kapalit kung mangyari 'yun, kung bibigyan niyo lang po ako ng pagkakataon-"
"You don't have to do this Yeri." Raila
"But we doesn't have any other choice!"
"Yea, it may be better if we give her a chance right everyone?"
"I agree, mabuti nga at may nagvo-volunteer tayong estudyante."
"Yea, kesa naman magback-out tayo to play the NIO competition."
"I can't really say no, 'cause we badly need someone to take the replacement by the Emerald Princess Raila. Besides, I think there's no any other options here. But are you really sure about this hija?" Mahinahong tanong ni Mr Evilord.
Bago sumagot ay nilingon ko muna si Raila at bakas ngayon sa kaniyang mukha ang pag-aalala.
"Sigurado po ako na pumalit kay Raila at 'wag na rin po kayong mag-alala, gagawin ko po ang lahat ng makakaya ko sa competition na 'yun at tatanggapin ko rin po ang sinasabi niyong concequences kapag wala akong maipanalo kahit isa." Sabi ko at pagkatapos niyon ay wala ng kahit isa sa kanila ang nagsalita pa at nananatili lang ang mga matang nakatitig sa 'kin.
Malungkot na napatungo na lamang ako. "S-Sorry po.. Gusto ko lang-"
"No, don't be sorry Ms Del Rey!"
"Yea, your actually a blessing!"
"And we are thankful that you just saved not only the problem NIO, but the whole University."
Naramdamang hinawakan ni Raila ang kamay ko. Ng sulyapan ko ito ay may masaya at pasasalamat itong nakatingin sa 'kin.
"Thanks," tanging sambit nito at napangiti naman ako. Ewan ko ba, pero kakaibang saya ang naramdaman ko. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit, gustong-gusto ko siyang tulungang makapuntang China.
"If you really made up your decision, then I'll gladly give you my permission to be the replacement of the Emerald Princess Raila. As what they're all stated, you really help us on this one."
"Maraming salamat po."
"No need to thank you hija. I'm not gonna wish you a good luck, but may the God bless you at that forthcoming Competition." Tinanguan ko naman kaagad ito tanda ng pagpapasalamat.
"Ok everyone, since we've already done with this I'm now goin' to make the lists of our representatives and there positions to make it pass to the NIO Admins." Marami na ang umayos ang mga upo at nag-abang sa susunod pang sasabihin ni Ms Hace.
"Ok, spit it out Ms Hace." Taas-noo namang tumayo naman si Ms Hace.
"The National Intelligence Olympiad is parcel out into many academical branches of knowledge for this competition and of course the representatives. I'm going to state first the expected representatives of HHU. Don't hesitate to correct me if I'm wrong teachers and students, 'cause that is actually the main purpose here." Kinuha nito ang nasabing lista ng mga expected ng representatives.
"As expected, the Inheritor, Ms Charity Esther Leigh is the one holding the Music and Arts Olympiad segment. The Emerald Princess Laira is focused on the English Major Olympiad, while Mr Chad Riel Arevallo is responsible on taking the Computer Sciences, Computer Basics and the Information Technology Branches of Knowledge. Whereas, Mr Cairo Avila Cuesta is under the preservation of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Session. On the other hand, Mr Zach Ecleo Evilord is the one in charge for the Math Collision Olimpiad and also the other companion of the SignificanScience Olimpiad. Now for Ms Yeri Miel Del Rey, your position is goin' to be focused on non-other than the last branche of knowledge, the Humanities Olympiad. On behalf of that, like what you have just said, your taking the replacement of the Emerald Princess Raila so in addition, you'll be Mr Evilord's companion- or let's just say it- partner! For the SignificanScience-"
Literal na napaubo ako sa gitna ng pagsasalita ni Ms Hace ng marinig ko ang huling mga sinabi nito.
Ano daw??
Mr Evilord?!
Companion?!
Partner?!
Nag-angat ako ng tingin 'di magtagal ay nabalik ako sa huwisyo. Pero halos mapatungo na lamang ako ng makita ko silang lahat na na sa 'kin ang mga mata. Pati na ang nasa harap kong si Zach na nakataas lang ang kilay na nakatingin sa 'kin.
"Any other problem, Ms Del Rey?" Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba ang nakakapansin, pero may halo talagang sarkasmo ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa kaniya kapag ako ang kausap.
"S-Sorry po.." tanging tugon ko na halos nakatungo na.
"Being Mr Evilord's partner of the SignificanScience Olympiad, is the Emerald Princess Raila's position. So any other problems about that?" Sarkatiko na naman nitong tanong.
"W-Wala po, Ms-"
"Good! That's your choice kaya panindigan mo." Sabat kaagad nito.
"Also, as her replacement, your the one who's gonna be in charge on taking the NIO Buzzer-Based General Quiz competition for individual students or representative by each schools. In total of the NIO branches of knowledge, you're under the three main game. Are you really sure you have this-what-they-call assurance that you can cope on this?"
Hindi ako nakasagot, hindi din naman ako sigurado kung kaya ko ba. Pero ng tingnan ko si Raila ay awtomatikong napatango ako.
"K-Kaya ko po," sagot ko.
"Just make it sure Ms Del Rey, consequences is just a word, but here in HHU, it's too risky to deal with," May ngiting nakakalokong sambit ni Ms Hace.