I was just staring blankly at the tall huge gate of the holy cross academy. Revenge is still lingering on my head. It makes me think that I'll have to train hard and work hard in order to achieve my goals, whatever it takes.
Pagpasok namin sa academy, pumunta agad kami sa orientation hall. Napakarami namin. We were over one hundred examinees in here. Punong puno ang hall. We are all seated in a monoblock and there's a small stage facing us. Most of them are chattering while I'm here listening silently on the back. Neverminding the stares and gossip of some examinees at me.
"Diba siya Yung ampon ni Mr. Smith?"
"Oo, balita ko galing sya sa Dawn Village."
"Kawawa naman siya, rinig ko dalawang beses na siyang nawalan ng magulang."
"Baka naman kasi sinumpa! Alam mo 'yon, Kung sinong mag-aaruga sa kanya mamamatay! Hahaha."
Rinig na rinig ko ang mga sinasabi nila pero hindi ko sila pinansin at nagpatay malisya. Grabe ang pagpipigil ko sa sariling wag silang sugurin at magsimula ng gulo. Hindi ako pumunta dito para sa kanila. Nakita ko pang inirapan ako nang babaeng nasa unahan ko, tatlong monoblock ang pagitan namin, blanko ko lang siyang tinignan at tumingin na agad ako sa harap pero nahagip pa siya nang mata ko. Mukhang mas lalo siyang nainis. Problema nito?
Pagkaraan ng Ilang minutong paghihintay, may nakita kaming taong umakyat sa stage. The chattering stops for a while.
The man looks like on his 40's. He wears a black pants and a white polo shirt. He has a microphone with him and as he speak his cold voice echoed in the whole room.
"Good morning examinees, I am Mr. gray and I will facilitate this exam. I know, all of you has your own reasons of joining this examination but to make things clear we can't guarantee your safety and we won't be hold liable of any casualties." Upon hearing that statement the surroundings became noisy.
Some of them look scared, some were already saying they want to go home. How pathetic! However, there are also some who were like me. Keeping our mouth shut and simply listening to what he has to say. Guess, we didn't even have a care because for us, it's a do or die. Whatever happens, I can't turn my back on this rare opportunity.
Mr. Gray raised his hand. Making the examinees to keep quiet. Then, he continued on what he was saying earlier. "As I was saying, in this exam casualties are unavoidable. So are you prepared to die?! If not, you are free to go out of this room now!" a deafening silence filled the room after that.
Napangisi si Mr. Gray nang unti-unting nagsitayuan ang iba. I was just looking at them as they slowly walk straight at the door.
"Oh, I forgot! Whoever walk outside of this room can never enter again. This simply means that you can never take the entrance examination of the holy cross Academy ever again." Natigilan sila sa huling sinabi ni Mr. Gray bago sila tumuloy palabas ng pinto.
I think they made a right choice. This exam is survival and if you don't have the guts, you better off quit. Huling tao na sana ang lalabas sa pinto pero marami ang nagulat nang may biglang sumulpot na lalaki. Hinawakan nito ang kamay nang lalaking lalabas na sana.
"Oy! Saan kayo pupunta? Tapos na ba ang orientation!?" The man ask looking so confused. He wears a white t-shirt and a black pants but what caught my attention was his silver cross necklace. It's odd. Konting tao nalang ang nakikita kong nagsusuot n'yan.
May sinabi sa kanya ang lalaki ngunit hindi namin narinig dahil napakahina nito. Binitawan niya ang hawak sa lalaki at mabilis itong Lumabas sa pinto. Naiwan namang naka kunot ang noo ng lalaking may pilak na krus ang kwintas. Napakamot ito sa kanyang ulo at binalingan kami ng tingin.
May tumayong lalaki mula sa tabi ko. Nilapitan at hinila nya ang lalaking hanggang ngayon ay awkward na nakatingin samin. Mukhang kaibigan niya ito.
They seated next to me. Pag-upo palang nila ay dumaldal na nang dumaldal ang lalaking bagong dating.
"Ay shit pare! Sorry na late ako kanina ng gising! Nakalimutan ko to." Sabi nito. Binatukan naman siya ng kaibigan na naiinis na sa kanya.
"Kung hindi ka ba naman kasi isa't kalahating Gago! May alarm ka Giyu! Na set ko na 'yon kagabi!" Nag peace sign 'yong tinawag na Giyu at alanganin na ngumiti.
"Hehe, narinig ko naman 'yong alarm pero tinamad akong bumangon e'." sabi pa nito. Aamba na naman sana nang batok ang kaibigan niya pero natigilan nang makitang nakatingin sakin 'yong Giyu. Katabi ko kasi sa upuan si Giyu at katabi naman ni Giyu 'yong kaibigan niyang nambabatok. They look at each other with meaningful glances and then Giyu suddenly grinned at me.
"Magandang umaga sayo binibini, ako si Giyu at ito ang best friend kong si Eljay. Maaari ko bang malaman ang iyong pangalan binibini?" Nakangiting pakilala nito at kumaway lang si Eljay na nasa tabi niya.
"Veena." I replied shortly.
"Kay gandang pangalan. Nice to meet you Veena." nakangiting sabi niya. Ang singkit ng mata niya kaya kapag ngumingiti siya, mas lumiliit pa 'yon. Tumango lang ako sa kanya bilang tugon at itinuon na ang buong atensyon sa taong nagsasalita sa harap subalit napakaingay ng dalawang katabi ko. Mas maingay pa sila kung ikukumpara Kay Mr. Gray. Pinukol ko silang dalawa ng matalim na tingin. Napalunok si Eljay samantalang ngising aso naman si Giyu.
"Heto na po, tatahimik na." Nakangising turan ni Giyu.
"Tatahimik? Your words and actions are conflicting."
Bumuntong hininga si Giyu, "The truth is, I just don't want to listen because I already know what he had to say. I know the rules and the objectives of this examination." Sadness is evident on his eyes as he stared at the crowd.
Nagtitimpi akong magtanong ngunit sa huli ay hindi ko rin napigilan ang sarili, "Why do you know the rules and the objectives? Sa pagkakaalam ko'y isang beses lang magkakaroon nang pagkakataon ang isang tao na sumali sa examinasyong ito. You can't be an examinee before," salita ko na pinagsisihan ko rin nang sabihin na niya ang rason kung bakit niya alam.
"I had a cousin who became an exorcist but she died a year ago."