EDITED VERSION

*****

It's been two days since Isaac confessed. Yet, I ran away from him that day. Iniwan ko siya roon sa rooftop without saying a word. Ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin? Na hindi kami puwede dahil sadyang magkalayo talaga ang mundo namin?

I don't want to be the reason for his downfall. He should focus on his duties first. At isa pa, walang dahilan para bigyan niya ako ng oras.

Pero kapag iniisip ko 'yon, I feel a pang of pain inside my chest. Na para bang ayaw tanggapin ng puso ko 'yong desisyong ginawa ko.

"Hey, you're spacing out," ani Lydia. Naglalakad kami sa tahimik na hallway patungo sa office ni Mrs. Athena dahil pinapatawag kaming buong team. Sabi ay magkakaroon daw ng meeting along with the former members of Alexandria Academy.

Darating daw ang former leader at hoaxer noong 22nd Tournament. Lydia and Cath said that they will teach us how to fight inside the arena.

"Are you okay, 'Thea?" Cath asked. Agad naman akong tumango sa kanila. "Dapat yata ay dalawa kayong tanungin ko niyan."

Napatingin ako kay Lydia na kanina pa rin tahimik. Nang malaman niyang pupunta ang former members ng Academy ay nagbago na agad ang mood niya.

"Is it really okay to you to face Rica right now?" tanong ni Cath kay Lydia.

Rica? Anong mayroon sa pangalan na 'yon? "Who's Rica?" hindi ko na napigilang magtanong.

"Rica Soulevan, the former hoaxer of team Alexandria. She's the ex-girlfriend of Kristian." Natigilan ako nang ipaliwanag sa akin 'yon ni Cath. That explains why Lydia's expression changed.

"Ang tagal na nang maghiwalay sila, Lydia. According to Kristian, that wasn't even a serious relationship. Have you forgotten? They dated because Kristian wants you to get jealous," sabi ni Cath. "And besides, hindi naman si Kristian ang ipinunta ng babaeng 'yon dito."

Sabay silang napalingon sa akin. "What?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Rica Soulevan came here for Isaac," makahulugang sabi ni Lydia. Nagulat naman ako nang hinawakan ni Cath ang balikat ko na para bang sinasabihan akong magiging ayos din ang lahat.

"Don't be jealous, too. I know Isaac. He's a one-woman-man," ani Cath. Napasapo ako sa aking ulo at kalaunan ay naunawaan ko ang sinabi ni Cath.

"Wait, you knew?!" tanong ko. Halos pasigaw na ang tanong ko dahil nagulat ako.

"That what? That Isaac likes you?" natatawang tanong ni Cath.

"Isaac may be a secretive guy but we know him too well." Lydia winked and started walking. Kaya humabol ako sa kanila at naglakad na rin. Pero pagliko namin sa isang hallway ay natigilan kami.

"I-Isaac," I muttered. Kasama niya ang isang magandang babae na nakasuot ng pamilyar na uniform. Magical University's. Ganoon din ang lalaking tahimik na nakatayo at natigilan din nang makita kami.

I can feel Isaac's sharp eyes are glaring at me right now. Alam kong galit siya dahil sa ginawa ko sa kaniya sa rooftop. At dalawang araw na rin akong hindi pumupunta sa training knowing that he'll be there.

Cath and Lydia bowed down kaya wala na rin akong nagawa kun'di yumuko.

"Hi." Biglang may nagsalita sa tabi ko kaya napaigtad ako at napaatras. This guy, he was just standing at Isaac's back awhile ago. What the hell?

"H-Hello," I said, awkwardly. He offered his hand for handshake.

"Hunter Sandoval, the former leader of team Alexandria Academy," he said. Nanlaki ang mata ko at agad na yumuko. He's the former leader. Isa siya sa tinitingala sa paaralang ito!

"You don't have to do that," natatawa niyang sabi. Agad ko namang tinanggap ang kamay niya at ngumiti.

Sabay-sabay kaming pumunta sa office ni Mrs. Athena. Hunter is walking along with me while, Isaac and Rica is talking.

Naikuyom ko ang aking kamay. Ni hindi man lang niya kami kakausapin? And why do I care kung ayaw niya kaming kausapin? As if namang gusto kong kausapin niya ako?!

"Ang dami ng nagbago rito sa Academy," ani Hunter. "Nang matapos kasi ang 22nd Tournament, halos dalawang taon din kaming nawala nila Rica. We all can't get over on Rhian's death."

Natahimik ako. It was really hard for them, losing a member and a friend. Siguro malaking trauma ang idinulot nito sa kanila.

"Do you know why we're here to guide you?" tanong niya.

"To help us win?" sagot ko. He smiled, a half meant smile.

"Isaac isn't just aiming for victory. He's aiming for safeness of his member inside that arena. Kaya niya kinailangan ang tulong namin dahil mas alam na namin ang puwedeng mangyari," paliwanag niya sa akin.

I looked at Isaac who's currently walking ahead of us. He's really a good leader. He can handle us but because he wants us to be alive until the end, he called for help. He possesses the will of a true leader.

Nang makarating kami sa office ni Mrs. Athena ay ipinaliwanag niya sa amin na ang mga susunod na training ay kasama namin si Hunter at Rica. They will guide us on how to protect ourselves kung sakali na may mangyari daw sa loob ng arena.

Pagkatapos ng meeting ay kakain na kami dapat pero si Rica ay hinila palayo sa amin si Isaac.

"May pag-uusapan pa kasi kami, right?" sabi niya kay Isaac na agad namang tumango. I rolled my eyes. Halata namang napipilitan lang siya.

"Right! Sakto, kami rin ni Althea hindi muna sasabay sa pag kain ninyo, 'di ba?" Hunter asked then winked. Nangunot naman ang noo ko. What is he trying to do. "Tara na, Althea!"

We were about to walk away when I felt a hand touched my arm. "Aray!" asik ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at agad na natigilan. Isaac's eyes were full of anger.

"Let's talk," he said. Walang kahit anong emosyon ang mababakas sa boses niya but his green eyes says it all. He's furious.

"Isaac..." I uttered. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang nagbago ang emosyon niya nang mga oras na 'yon.

Nakatingin lang si Kristian at Kurt sa amin, ganoon din si Lydia at Cath na halatang nagulat din sa reaksyon ni Isaac. Rica was flustered as well.

"Isaac, I thought--" Rica was cut off when Isaac shook his head.

"I need to talk to my girl first." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Ano kamo? H-His girl?

Wala na akong nagawa nang hilahin niya ako palayo sa kanilang lahat. All of them were dumbfounded. Kahit ako!

"Isaac, what was that?!" sigaw ko sa kaniya. Hinila niya ako papasok sa isang bakanteng classroom.

"So, this is what you'll do after you walk away from me? Really, Althea?!" asik niya na para bang ako ang may ginawang mali.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" I yelled.

"Do you think making me jealous will stop me from liking you?!" Nagulat ako nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Y-You're jealous?" tanong ko. Umiwas siya ng tingin at nagulat ako nang sinuntok niya nang malakas ang pader.

"Yes, and fuck it! Stop making me jealous!" He tore his fingers through his hair.

Napapikit ako. Why do I feel this way when he said that? Napasapo ako sa aking ulo. "Isaac, do you really like me?"

Gusto kong muling marinig sa kaniya 'yong sinabi niya sa akin sa rooftop. Gusto kong malaman na hindi talaga panaginip 'yon.

I was stunned when he pinned me on the wall. He put his hand against it, caging me. "I like you, Althea. I really fucking do. So, please. Stop this. Don't make me jealous again."

Awtomatikong tumango ako. Shit! "Okay, I won't." Nakita kong sumilay ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

"That's my girl," he whispered. I rolled my eyes. Dalawang beses na niya 'yang sinasabi.

"Stop calling me your girl," sabi ko pero umiling siya.

"What? You're my girl, Althea." Hindi pa rin naaalis ang ngiti niya. "Let's go." Then we both walked away from that room. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. Damn you, Isaac.

******