ARIS MARGARETTE LOCESTA

My alarm rang at 4 o'clock. Ang lamig naman dito. It still was early, and, teeth chattering as I did so, binalutan ko muna ang sarili ko nung makapal na comforter. Masyado pa akong pagod kagabi para ayusin yung mga gamit ko at mag-organise, kaya yung dalawa kong malalaking black na luggage ay nakahilatay lang sa tabi nung queen-sized bed ng kwartong napili ko. They must have known what I most likely prefer - they'd bathed this room in only black and white.

Gamit ang isang remote binuksan ko na ang mga ilaw para magising-gising na ako. I don't want to be late; out of all the things I want to do before I die, the one where I need to make an impression with the Council - and a good one at that - ang pinakamahalaga. I was Chosen for a reason, whatever that is, at hindi ako basta-bastang magkakamali lang dito.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the light, and I couldn't bring myself to sleep again kaya naman umalis na ako sa kama at dumiretso sa CR para mag-ayos. Blowing my tangled, black mess of a hair out of my face, I turned the shower on, the warm water soothing every tired muscle in my body. Kahit sa CR ay napakalamig. Hindi ganun katagal nang nakalabas na ulit ako sa kwarto, a thick towel wrapped around my body. Once inside my room, the cold air started nipping at my skin again, kaya naman dali-dali akong nagbihis.

Hindi masyadong strikto ang Avery Academy; wala silang uniforms, and there weren't much rules about what the students can and can't wear. Pumili ako ng isang white na sweater at black na leggings along with a panda-designed Vans. Tinuyo ko na rin ang buhok ko at itinali ito nang mataas at naka-ponytail. There.

I'm ready.

Huminga ako nang malalim pagkalabas ko ng kwarto. I think I'd learned each and every one of their names: the one wearing pink and high heels is definitely that girl, Scarlette; yung tahimik na babae na nakacross-legged sa carpet ay si Winter; (A/N: Such a pretty name.) and the only boy with gelled hair could only be Tom Yvander. Lahat sila tumingin sa 'kin habang lumalapit ako. First one who flashed me a smile was Tom - and a rather sly wink added, too - and I greeted him back. Winter mumbled a Good morning, and Scarlette just looked at me.

This would definitely be a long day.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng gutom, at papunta na sana ako sa kusina nang biglang nag-static sa loob ng room. The sound pierced through my ears and made me shriek. Tinakpan ko agad yung mga tenga ko hanggang sa nawala na yung sound.

"What the hell was that?" I heard Scarlette complain. Iniwasan kong umirap - ayoko munang magkaroon ng kaaway, thank you very much. Magsasalita pa lang sana si Tom when something interrupted the peace inside once again.

This time it wasn't static, though.

"Good morning, Chosen," nag-ring out sa buong kwarto ang boses ng Principal. Is it odd how I didn't even know her name? I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I'm perfectly sure that it wasn't from the room's low temperature. "Today's your first day. And along with it, your first task. This task is going to be simple . . . Just don't miss your classes for today. Have fun."

We waited. After about a minute or so, wala nang nagsalita. Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa iba, at nakita ko rin silang nakatingin sa isa't isa.

"Wait lang . . . Ganu'n lang talaga yun? Pumasok lang tayo sa klase? And here I thought mga seryosong task ang ibibigay sa 'tin . . . Do you guys think this is a trap?" Ang unang kumibo ay si Winter, which was exactly the opposite of what I was expecting. I didn't show my inner reactions though, and instead flashed her a shake of the head.

"Hindi naman siguro 'to trap. Don't make this too complicated, Winter. Sundan na lang natin kung ano mismo yung sinabi ng Principal," I stated. Parang tama rin naman yung sinabi ko.

"Pero what if mayro'ng trap within this task? What if there's, like, riddles after each class or something like ganun?" Nagsalitang muli si Scarlette, her face scrunched up in anxiety. Bubuksan ko pa lang sana yung bibig ko para magsalita, but once again, something interrupted me. Pumagitna si Tom.

"Guys - um, girls, huwag na lang muna nating i-stress ang sarili natin. Kung ano man ang mangyari, mag-ready na lang tayo." Tom looked at us, his eyes gleaming in the expectation of our agreement. Nagkatinginan lang ulit kami . . .

Nang mag-ring ang bell. Bigla kaming nataranta at dali-daling lumabas ng kwarto.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

Bago pa kami makapasok sa Academy ay may isang team na pumasok sa bawat bahay namin; binigyan lang naman kami ng brief insight about the school at mga papers regarding its rules and such. They had clearly stated "not to treat the Chosen as someone highly, but learn how to respect them as you want to others to respect yourself." Kakaibang rule, I know - it isn't something na makikita rin sa ibang school. But we agreed, anyway.

Ano pa ba ang magagawa namin?

As we walk through the school's abnormally wide hallways, walang ni isang tumahimik. Walang awkward atmosphere. They did their own businesses, yes. Pero pag na-involve kami, bigla na ring nag-iiba ang ugali nila.

Ewan ko ba.

Tulad na rin sa nangyari kay Scarlette this morning. Someone oblivious enough to cross the hallway while we were there bumped into her. At first parang halata mo na eh, na magtatataray yung babae. Pero hindi yun yung nangyari.

"I'm so sorry." There. Yun lang amg sinabi niya. I had observed her, and the slight crease in her eyebrows seemed genuine enough para malaman mong sincere talaga siya. Scarlette looked at her with one of her famous stares again, and said nothing.

After that wala na naman masyadong drama ang nangyari.

Pumunta kami sa mga classrooms namin. We were all guarded, too. You'll never know what could possibly happen here. But, much to our slight disappointment, wala namang mga challenges. They'd even gave us assignments, which sucked. Mga 3 o'clock na nang hapon nang natapos ang mga klase. Pwede na rin kaming makabalik sa suite namin, pero parang gusto ko munang maglibot nang kaunti.

I didn't really want to go somewhere specific, but then I found myself stumbling upon the school's pristine gardens.

Dito na lang muna ako. I sat on the grass; hindi na ako mag-iinarte pa - alam kong malinis na rito. A cool air breezed on my face, and I just let myself be succumbed in my own bubble of peace.

Wala naman sanang mag-interrupt sa 'kin dito.