I have been nagging Emily and Eira about Aero's plan on sailing to Melian. Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Kanina parang ang kampante pa niya habang tumatambay sa council tapos ngayon na halos oras na ng curfew sa dorm ay nagdesisyon siyang pumunta ng Melian?

How dare he.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi ka nagseselos?" Eira asked as she sways her feet on her bed above Emily's. In our room, there are two double decks and we still have one vacant bed as we three are the only occupants here. 

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at napangisi. "Bakit naman?"

"Ang init ng ulo mo. Hindi mo nga alam kung bakit niya napagdesisyonang magtungo roon eh." Emily responded as she laid down on her bed. Bakit ba naging kaibigan ko itong dalawa?

I snapped my fingers and stood in front of them. "Exactly my point! Hindi siya ganito. Hindi siya tatakas kung hin—"

Napatigil ako nang may mapagtanto. Oh no. He will do it.

"Mukhang napansin mo na." Emily hummed in a singing tone. "Took you a while eh?"

"Amaya."

Nagmamadali akong nagtungo sa pinto. He wanted to see her. Hindi ko alam kung anong kadramahan na naman ang ginawa ni Amaya para makauwi ng Melian pero hindi naging maganda ang dulot nito kay Aero. That stupid brat.

"Sandali. Sandali nga lang. Kalma, Lia." 

Tumalon na pala si Eira mula sa higaan niya at agad na pinigilan ang kamay ko sa pagbukas ng pinto. She looked at me as if she knew I'm about to cause a scene once I get out.

"Chill. Let us handle this." Tinapik niya ako sa balikat bago ako pinabalik at pinaupo sa higaan ko. Lumingo siya kay Emily na pikit matang nasa higaan. "Nakita mo na si mama?"

I forgot that Emily and Mrs. Asteria had the same ability, astral projection. Except for the fact that they could visit someone's dream is that they can also roam their spirits outside and only those with the same ability as them can see those spirits.

I remember that every Wednesday, Eira's mom is on Ibera to visit the library.

Napamulat si Emily at tumingin sa akin. "He's on his way to his ship but Mrs. Asteria's already talking to him at this moment. Sinabi ko na rin na ilabas niya tayo rito. She's our guardian for today."

Nagkasalubong ang kilay ni Eira sa sinabi ni Emily. "Bakit tayo kasali? Ipabalik nalang natin si Aero."

"Please, Eira. Gusto ko na ring lumabas. May maliit na theater show malapit sa daungan ng Ibera. Gusto kong manood."

"Foro goodness sake. Theater again, Emily?" Ako na mismo ang sumabat sa kanila. 

The two went quiet and just after a few minutes, or maybe half an hour? Someone came knocking at our door telling us that our guardians were already waiting in the main hall.

Ironic when 2 out of 3 of us were the elemental guardian yet we have to be guarded by someone else. 

Nakita naman sa baba main hall ang mommy ni Eira at katabi nito si Aero na nakayuko lamang. May kausap si Mrs. Asteria na head ng dormitory. Nakita niya kaming pababa na ng hagdan bago ito kumaway sa main. Aero even looked up at us with panic.

Mag panic siya.

Para kaming mga batang sasama sa ina nilang gumala habang nakasunod sa mommy ni Eira. Mrs. Asteria and Eira were talking while Emily's behind them following quietly and here I am walking alongside Aero. 

"Cordelia." Bahagyang hinawakan ni Aero ang braso ko. "Listen to me."

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. What did she even see with Amaya? Walang ibang ginawa iyon at maging pariwara sa buhay niya. What does she have that made him heads over heals for her?

"Pwede ba, Aero? Sa susunod sabihin mo na lang sa akin ang totoo na mas gugustuhin mong makita si Amaya? You even wanted to sail this freaking evening. Are you insane?"

Alam kong kaya ni Aero na ilayag ang barko ng mag-isa pero gabi na. Who knows what the ocean brings?

We roamed around the busy night of Ibera. It's more lively than usual at dahil ito sa theater act malapit sa daungan. We went to different stores even though it's almost midnight. Kaya pala ganito ka ingay ang Ibera. A festival's coming.

We stayed at Callisto's mansion. Apparently, Cordelia's parents were also friends with Eira's parents so we ended up staying at their place except for Aero who went to their house which is also in Ibera. His house is just a cliff below our mansion. 

Kinabukasan madali kaming nakabalik sa academy na para bang walang nangyari.

I still didn't bother talking to Aero. Busy siya sa council bilang public information officer kung kaya't mas lalong hindi ko siya nakikita at hindi niya ako kinakausap. Although, minsan inaattempt niyang kausapin ako.

It went for days turned weeks. As if just by that incident our friendship became molded.

I started hanging out with other guys from the class and some seniors. Laughing with them and teasing them. Minsan napapagsabihan na ako nina Eira, reminding me I'm just 17 and shouldn't interact too much with them. There was this rumor that some seniors molested the younger ones. 

Who would dare to play with me? I'm a freaking guardian. 

"Yow, Lia! Wanna hang out?"

Theo immediately burst out as soon as I got out of our class. Theo's one of the seniors I'm talking to. Agad niya akong inakbayan itatanggal ko na sana iyon pero nakita kong papalabas si Aero ng classroom kaya hinayaan ko ito. 

"Sure! When? Anong meron?" 

Agad niya binulong kung saan bago niya hinawakan ang ulo ko't bahagya itong ginulo. "See yah later."

He waved me goodbye before jogging to his friends that are waiting for him ahead.

"Anong meron sa inyo?" Aero asked with seriousness in his voice. "He's a senior. Do you know that there are rumors about seniors molesting their juniors?"

"Alam ko. Isa pa. It's Theo. He's a good guy. Hello? He's one of the best students graduating from his class. Kaklase niya rin si Aiden."

"That is not an assurance, Lia."

"And I don't need your freaking opinion, Aero."

Pareho kaming nagulat ni Aero sa sinabi ko. I immediately composed myself as if I really meant the words that I said. I just want some time and space away from him.

Later that day I went to the forgotten garden in the academy. It's minutes before the dorm curfew. Why does Theo decide to meet here? 

"Lia!"

"Theo!" I waved my hand and immediately went near him as he had 3 other men following him. I guess it's his friends. I stood beside the broken fountain full of weeds. "Anong meron? Is something fun happening?"

Theo sneered followed by the mocking laugh of his other friends.

My body started to stop moving. Napatingin ako sa lalaking katabi ni Theo, his hands were forming a fist slightly facing at my direction.

Body paralyzation. Goodness! I forgot that they exist.

The eerie environment then becomes silent. 

"I had the illusion set, Theo. No one will find us here." It was the other guy uttered before looking to the other guy. "Make sure that she'll have no chance using her ability."

After his statement, I know that the last guy had the ability to block the usage of ability.

"Good." Theo's hands started to move as if commanding my actions. That's when I realized that I was moving towards him and wrapping my hands around his neck. My body went closer to his chest and as soon as he grips my waist, I know I'm deep trouble. "A guardian for tonight's feast."

"That might never happen."

I heard rocks being thrown to us and hitting the four men, which includes Theo. Dahil dito agad akong nagkaroon ng kontrol sa katawan ko at bumalik na ang kakayahan ko. I immediately imprisoned them to the water bubble. 

Nanghihina akong napaupo habang pinipilit na kontrolin ang tubig. Nabigla ang katawan ko sa muling pagdaloy ng kakayahan ko kung kaya't bigla akong nanghina. 

Lumapit si Aero sa'kin at agad na ipinababa ang kamay ko dahilan para masira ang bubble.

"You!" 

"Mr. Charna!" 

Napalingon ako sa maotoridad na boses ng headmaster na siyang nasa harapan na namin ngayon. Theo's eyes widened before slumping back to the ground together with his friends. Accepting his defeat.

"You followed me?"

"Obviously. I'm worried sick!" Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko na para bang tinitignan ang bawat anggulo nito. "I haven't looked at this face for weeks."

Agad kong inialis ang kamay niya sa mukha ko bago pa niya mapansin na namumula ako. "Shut up. Birthday ni Amaya ngayon bakit nandito ka?"

"Why? Is it even a question? Namiss kita and I'm worried sick seeing you hanging out with the seniors. Halos mabaliw ako sa kakaisip Lia. Napagtanto ko kung gaano kababaw ang pagkagusto ko kay Amaya nang mapansin kong ang lalim ng pagkahulog ko sa'yo. Funny isn't it? I didn't even know why I feel this way. It's not like you like me or what."

Bahagya akong napatawa. The headmaster looked in my direction before I showed an okay sign with her as she escorted the four men away.

"I like you. Why do you even think I'm acting this way?"

His eyes widened, mouth opened. Really he's just so dense. Still, he's the man I like since childhood.