To:  Lori Griffin
It's no big surprise to me that you are really good at everything.
The clock is ticking, an eye for an eye.
— nightmare
Another damn letter.
This is the second letter from that silly-stupid nightmare. Akala niya ba matatakot niya ako? Tch. Inilagay ko ang sulat sa isang maliit na wooden drawer, at kalmadong lumabas nang dorm.
"Lori," papunta si Thalia, sa direction ko ng makita akong palabas nang dorm. "Hmm?" I asked while fixing myself, I wore a checkered long sleeve matched with black tokong and white fila.
"Pinapasundo kana nila sa akin, nasa main gate na sila at nakatambay sa van," she explained in motion, I just nod. We're about going outside Brookshire for a whole day as a reward dahil sa nangyari noong isang araw. Suggestion 'yon ni Master Froyle, the good thing is pumayag si Lolo, at ang iba pang nakatataas sa Brookshire, bukod sa physical training kailangan daw namin magkaroon ng break.
"Narinig ko kahapon, matakaw ka daw talaga sa tulog sabi ni Lana," she chortled habang kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad papunta sa van. Natawa na lamang ako, kahit kailan talaga 'tong kapatid ko. "Ang ganda ng mga ngiti mo," she affirmed while eyeing my reaction.
"Hey," may isang babaeng mukang manghahamon lang ng away ang lumapit sa aming dalawa ni Thalia, may kasama pa itong apat na babae. "Amanda," said Thalia. "I am not interested in you Thalia, not you... but this girl beside you," she said while gesturing my direction, seems like her way of talking shows that she wants some trouble to begin with, huh.
'the good news is I am trouble.'
But the bad news is today is not the right time for it, I'm still pissed about the letter I received from that stupid nightmare earlier and her timing wouldn't result any better.
"Lori, the conspicuous girl, uh! that thought irritates me," she babbled while throwing me a filthy glare. "Nice to meet you, pig." I gave her a mock smile. "Excuse me, what did you call me?" she asked in a pissed manner. "Stupid," I smirked while giving her a bored reaction.
"If I were you, I'll be more careful spilling immoral words, especially when you are talking to a Hendrix." She yammered. "I think you should move your ass off away from us, whoever the hell you are." I gave emphasis. "I'm a Hendrix, bitch, so Kung ako sayo dapat masindak ka sa'kin." She blustered with a smirk. Hindi naman bagay, halatang pilit at nagtatapang-tapangan lang, yes... we can read emotions lalo na sa mga taong walang special ability.
'and this one... she's faking her guts.'
"Shut it off Amanda, are you that desperate to become one of us? Na kakailanganin mo pang kalabanin si Lori? Last time it was Kamil, and now her? You didn't even have the proper attitude of being a battler. Kaya hindi mo magawang makapasok sa Battlers' Class eh. Hendrix ka nga puro pangap ang tapang." Thalia commented.
Whoa.
"An average wealthy student who thinks that being a Hendrix can be a fear to anyone. Oh, okay. We will let you indulge that thought in any way you want." I said in a full of pitiful manner.
"You dare to—?!" pasugod siyang lumapit sa akin nang harangin siya ni Thalia. "That's enough." Thalia disproved, ngunit hindi niya ito pinansin at tinulak ito dahilan upang bumagsak si Thalia sa lupa. Kumunot ang noo ko sa nangyari, tinapunan ko ng tingin si Thalia, tila napa daing ito, at dahil dun nahila ni Amanda ang buhok ko ng walang kahirap-hirap.
I throw a punch right on her stomach.
"If you want some kind of a stupid scene, tell me! You don't have to hurt us just to get attention, I can do you a favor by humiliating you, beating you up, just name it! Don't you dare pull my hair cause I don't do things like pulling someone's hair, it's absurd, and my advice to you... I want you to learn how to punch and then come back. Deal with me." I fumed, mangiyak-ngiyak niyang hinawakan ang kanyang tiyan dahil sa ginawa ko, pasalamat siya pigil pa yun.
"You'll pay for what you did to me, freak!" she yelled at me, I don't mind her way of talking wag lang niyang subuking saktan muli ako, because I'm no angel. "Leave, now." seryosong tinitigan ni Thalia, si Amanda. "Compulsions won't work especially in stupid people, like her. " I reacted at sabay kaming natawa. "Maybe a bit might help, haha." She replied. "Okay kalang?" I worriedly asked. "Yup, small thing," and then she smiled genuinely, even if I saw a slight scratch on her right elbow I'm partially convinced that she's fine.
"Finally! Saan ba kayo gumala't ang tagal-tagal niyo?!" bungad na sermon sa amin ni Filch. "What happened to your elbow?!" hinawakan ni Filch, ang kanang kamay ni Thalia, at tinignan ang siko nito. "I'm fine, Fortner, we just encountered a little trouble on our way here." She assured him.
Filch, is somewhat caring kahit medyo cold paminsan-minsan at minsan rin akala mo eh nagd-drugs dahil sa sobrang hype nila ni Thalia, he's kinda caring.
I think he's into her.
"With who?" Kamil asked.
Nasa gilid kami ng van, at may kanya-kanya silang uri ng pinagkaka-abalahan ngunit lahat ng attention nila ay nasa amin ng tanungin kami ni Kamil, kung sino ang nakaaway namin.
"Amanda Hendrix," Thalia, replied at inabot ang balikat ni Filch, para sandalan.
"Spoiled brat," Zariah, reacted while leaning on the van. "Ipinagyayabang na naman niya ang Hendrix blood-line niya." Thalia stated. "What's new? She's always like that. She can't accept the fact that she had no special ability, kaya ang pagiging Hendrix niya ang pilit niyang ipinagyayabang. Pwede naman siyang maging parte ng Battlers' Class, kahit wala siyang ability. Proper Attitude. Effort. and Courage, lang naman ang kailangan niyang taglayin, kaso wala." Ash cuts in.
"Nice, alam and three golden rules." pang-aasar ni Zariah kay Ash, napangiti na lamang sila sa isa't isa.
"Nasaan si Thrill?" I asked, shit, hopefully, they do not think the way I interpreted my question. "Si Thrill, talaga ang hinanap?" Thalia gave me a meaningful look.
'eh.'
"Why? He's not here, siya lang naman ang wala dito kaya hinanap ko, what's wrong with that? Tsaka aalis na tayo oh." I reasoned out. Natawa sila, including Zariah, okay fine ako na ang napag-tutulungan. "Nothing's wrong Lori, the case is ni-hindi mo nga napansing wala rin si Lana, cause you're too focused on him." napapangiting gatong naman ni Zariah, this is unusual they are all laughing like we're so close, and it's strange because I feel jovial.
"Speaking of the beast." Thalia said. Nanigas ako mula sa kinatatayuan ko. "Get in." I heard his spine-chilling voice again. "Narinig naming dalawa lahat 'yon, sissy ah, hindi ko alam may hidden desire ka pala kay Thrill." pangaasar naman ni, Lana. "Shut up, saan ba kasi kayo galing?!" I asked while trying to minimize my voice. "Chill, he's yours." She replied mockingly, tumaas ng kilay ko. "Fine, edi hinanap ka." She replied.
'edi hinanap ka.'
'edi hinanap ka.'
'tch.'
"Nasa dorm lang ako, Lana," I declared while crossing my arms. "I saw a guy in front of our dorm and then he said nakita niyang lumabas kana, kaya naghanap ako sa ibang lugar," she stated while shoving her hands into her pocket. "A guy?" I cleared out, she nodded.
In front of our dorm?
Napaisip ako sa sinabi ng kapatid ko at mas piniling manahimik na lamang, so lalake ang nagpapadala sa akin ng sulat, he placed the letter in our door's aperture this morning. Pinapasakit lang ang ulo ko ng nightmare chu chu na iyon, kapag nakita ko talaga siya I'll choke him to death he's a terrible mind disturbance.
Isa-isa na kaming sumakay sa van, si Thrill, ang nag drive katabi niya sa front seat si Filch. I chose to seat on Filch's backside while Thalia's on my left side followed by Kamil. Habang ang iba ay nasa back seat na umupo.
~~~
"Shhh! Ano ba! Wag kayo maingay." I heard Thalia's voice. I remained my eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Inaantok kong tinignan ang paligid at nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita si Thrill, na nakatingin sa akin habang hawak ang pintuan ng van at inaantay—akong gumising?!
"Kung inaantok kapa, you don't need to force yourself to wake up." He said napansin ko rin na kaming dalawa nalang ang nandito sa van.
'bakit hindi nila ako ginising?!'
Damn! I'm conscious about my state when I'm asleep.
"You don't look bad. Just for you to calm your inner thoughts down, psh," He commented while crossing his arms over his chest, he looks gorgeously handsome while wearing his calm expression complimented by his cool messy hair. He's wearing a black leather jacket with a gray shirt inside matched with his faded pants and a black converse shoes.
"You don't have to memorize my physical features." He stated again. "As if." I rolled my eyes at him, he just replied me a blank reaction.
I fixed myself first before I decided to leave the van, nang tuluyan na akong makalabas, I saw him standing four steps away from the van, he was sighting the view in front of us. I just found out myself eyeing the view also, it's quite calm and fine. Nasa mataas na parte kami ng bayan, at sa tingin ko nasa ibaba na ang mga kasama namin at masayang naglilibot, hindi nakakapasok ang malalaking sasakyan kahit na kasya ito, may policy sila dito na no vehicle allowed, mas makikita mo ang kaayusan at ganda ng lugar na ito kapag ikaw mismo ang maglilibot.
"Kung ganito pala ang reward, hindi na masama malayo na ang itsura nito mula sa magulong mundo na meron ang Brookshire," I stated in a sudden swing of my mood. "This is just a short-term serenity," He took in a deep breath. "Short but enough for me to know that serenity exists," I replied, I saw him through my peripheral view na tinignan niya ako, ngunit mas pinili kong tanawin ang view sa harap namin at pinakiramdaman ang kalmadong paligid.
Matapos namin sulitin ang magandang view na mayroon ang itaas, naisipan naming dalawa na sundan at hanapin ang mga kasama namin, hindi ko parin magawang i-absorb ang pangyayari kanina, nagawa naming makapag-usap ng hindi nagsisigawan at nagpapalitan ng death threats sa isa't-isa. This is weird nakakapanibago.
"Love conquers!"
"Love conquers!"
"Love! Love!"
"Love conquers!"
May mga taong ultimo nagpaparada at sinakop ang buong pathway, they kept on yelling 'Love conquers!' dahilan upang mawala sa paningin ko si Thrill.
Maybe he can take good care of himself.
Nilibot ko ang paligid ng may kasamang ngiti, marami akong nakakasalubong, may mga tao namang bumabati sa akin, there's a lot of foods to eat. Sinundan ng mga mata ko ang mga bubbles na lumulutang sa ere until I saw a strange guy standing straight while eyeing me, magkatapat na kami ngayon, he's nearby.
"Lori."
I'm about to turn around and leave his creepy stares behind until his hand touches mine. "Who are you?" I asked in a straight-forward manner at hinila ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya.
"This isn't the right time for you to know." He replied in a creepy way. "Maybe, I don't need to know, whoever the hell you are Mr. who knew my name, don't hold someone's hand in a direct sudden, the next time you did that to me you'll meet your deadline." I gave emphasis, he smiled.
He looks like we're on the same adolescent age. "So the news I heard about you are now validated, scary," He said while wrapping his hands around himself, I'm awesomely sure it's full of sarcasm.
"What a junk conversation," I stated while giving him a bored facial expression. "So this is a conversation, I am having a conversation with the notorious entri-passer of Brookshire," he smirked, isang tao lang ang bagay sa word na smirk.
'why am I thinking about him?!'
"As a stranger like you who knew several things about me, can not put my mind in a good mood, so tell me what's your agenda? Don't make me pull it out of your tongue." I glared at him, ngumiti ito sa akin. "Don't worry, you don't have to, malalaman mo rin kahit wala kang gawin," He declared and then he jerked his head towards mine.
"Turn around."
1.
2.
3.
"Lori! Ba't tulala ka?"
I snapped back and then I realized, he compelled me, paano? Hindi ako maaaring maapektohan ng compulsions lalo na't I have this cursed ability that can control human's consciousness. Unless he already mastered his ability.
"Lori!"
I looked at them, lahat sila ay nagaalalang nakatingin sa akin, naka kunot naman ang noo ni Thrill, ibinaling nito ang tingin sa sahig na tila may malalim na iniisip.
"I'm okay," I assured them, I run my fingers through my hair in a sudden. "Someone's with you before us." Zariah declared. "What do you mean?" Lana, asked. "I can still feel the remaining threat." I think she was referring to the guy I was with earlier.
"I was with someone, he knew several things about me. But he had been very careful in giving words about himself." I shared out, para mawala ang pagka-puzzled nila sa pangyayari. "Tara kumain na muna tayo sa beanery at doon na tayo mag-usap." seryosong tugon ni Thalia.
I wasn't focused on my 4:00 pm snack, tulala kong nilalaro ang straw ng cheese shake ko.
"You know what, Lori, I thought ikaw 'yung third one na mayroong cursed ability kasi nagawa mong i-block and detector ni Zariah noong unconscious ka dahil sa lason. But when I heard that you have been compelled, I guess, I'm wrong." nasamid si Lana, sa naging pagsasalita ni Ash. Lumingon sa akin si Lana, at tinignan ang reaction ko ngunit tulala parin akong nagiisip.
"Careful, Lana," said Kamil.
Hinawakan ni Thalia, ang magkabila kong pisngi at iniharap sa kanya. "Eat," she said. "See, I can't compel her, hindi kaya si Callum, ang nakausap ni Lori kanina? Parehas kami ng ability pero mastered niya na ang ability niya including his cursed one." Thalia commented, at dahil sa sinabi niya nakuha niya ang buong attention ko including Thrill's.
"Callum?" I gave them a confused response.
"Kapatid niya si Amanda." Zariah, replied.
"Damn it! Ayoko ng pag-usapan pa siya. Just let it pass," I responded while caressing my head. "If you say so, come on guys! I-enjoy na natin ang mga natitirang oras." Thalia suggested. Humiwalay ang iba sa amin, magkita nalang daw kami sa van around 6 pm.
We were ordered to buy clothes, gowns etc. na magagamit sa gaganaping gathering ng apat na schools na kasama sa Battlers' Tournament, magkakaroon ng gathering ang lahat kung saan magsasama-sama ang apat na schools sa iisang designated area.
A Traditional Week of Battlers.
Annually ito ginaganap, bago magsimula ang Battlers' Tournament. Where you are obligated to join its three biggest events.
Their damn three traditional events.
Bonfire Party. Kung saan, magpupulong ang lahat including our team master, para itong acquaintance party ng mga normal na school. Pero casual lang, less formal more like camping
Games and Bonuses. Magkakaroon ng palaro, delikado pero less lang. Sa larong ito kapag nanalo ka sa mga games na ibibigay maaring kang magkaroon ng 20% bonus life meter kapag nasa Arena na kana.
The standard 100% life meter summing it up it'll be 120%. If you won. Maraming iba't ibang prizes kaso wala na akong idea sa iba.
The last one which is I hate.
The Battlers' Night. Everyone has their own image of having a party wearing their gowns and suits which I find it choking.
'why do we have to follow that stupid tradition?!'
Damn!