"Who are you?"

"Ara Belacour," I replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

She grunted and picked herself up, pero hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pangangatog ng kanyang tuhod.

Such a coward.

"I'm not stupid." She successfully managed to stand straight. "Sino ka?"

Napairap ako at pinagkrus ang braso. "Are you deaf?"

Demi slammed her stone goblet on the floor. Nilamon ng ingay nang pagbagsak nito ang kabuuan ng cafeteria, but what took me was how the floor where the goblet was slammed formed a slight crack. Gano'n ba kalakas ang kapangyarihan niya para masira pati ang sahig ng building na ito?

The students weren't even surprised as much I am. They'll probably used on seeing this woman pisses her ass off. How does throwing objects helps one's anger, anyway?

"Who's behind the Ara Belacour everyone is talking about?" she uttered. Her gaze sharpened. There was something in there that I could not tell nor comprehend. They were empty and as gray as stone. Sumisimbolo ng kapangyarihan niya. "What is your secret?"

Halos lahat ng mga estudyante ay lumingon sa gawi ko. It was almost as if I could hear the swift movement of their heads. Their eyes were fixed in my direction, some are not even blinking.

Now, she had put me on the hot seat.

Isang matagumpay na ngisi ang binigay ni Demi sa akin. Isang ngisi na naghahatid ng kayabangan, na parang nanalo siya sa isang madugong labanan.

Tsk. As if naman mananalo siya. Magkakamatayan muna.

Lahat ba ng estudyante sa akademyang ito ay kayabangan lamang ang laman ng utak? Mga hangal.

"Secrets?" I narrowed my eyes, caressing my invisible beard. "It's too complex for an idiot like you."

Tila umusok ang ilong at tainga ni Demi sa aking itinuran. Her fist clenched, making her veins mark visible. She gritted her teeth and glared at me. Tinaasan ko lamang siya ng kilay kasabay nang marahan na pag-angat ng sulok ng labi ko.

Half of the students laughed, half did not. Estelle and the two girls next to me, Shaye and Rhysan, gave a soft chuckle. I scoffed. Masyadong pabebe.

"You—" dinuro niya ako. "You wench!" Mabilis na lumipad ang kamay niya papalapit sa mukha ko, buti na lamang at mabilis ko rin itong nasangga gamit ang kamay ko. I could feel the weight of her hand. She had put extra strength on her palm, and if it did meet my face, my cheekbone would be dislocated.

Nanginginig ang kamay naming dalawa habang pilit na itinutulak ang isa't-isa, but I did not use my full strength yet. She's not even worth a sweat.

She glared at me one more time and I responded with the same manner, but I flinched secretly when my hand seemed to harden. Tila mayroong tumusok sa dulo ng mga daliri ko, at isang malamig na pakiramdam ang dumaloy paakyat sa aking braso. After a second, Demi's hand against mine vanished, or did it? Nangmamanhid ang kamay ko at paakyat iyon sa leeg ko.

And then it hit me.

This is her power. Petrification magic.

Damn. I did not see that coming.

Inangat ko ang tingin sa kanya. I maintained a straight face. Walang bakas na pagkagulat o takot ang mukha ko pero ngumiti ito ng nakakaasar.

"You are no match for me," nakangisi niyang sambit.

Tahimik akong napamura nang umabot na ang paninigas ng katawan ko sa aking kanang balikat. This can't happen. I had sworn to myself na hindi na ulit ako magpapatalo sa kahit sino, lalong lalo na sa hinayupak na babaeng ito.

I closed my eyes and felt my surroundings. Bawat paghinga ng mga nasa paligid ay nanunuot sa aking tainga, even their heartbeats. As if calling something from within, I whispered words no one can recognize. And it occured to me again — the burning sensation of bloodlust and urge for violence. Tila mainit at banayad na alon ang dumaloy sa aking buong katawan kasabay ng pagmulat ng mga mata ko. The heat was deflecting the coldness of Demi's power, slowly negating it.

This is not a battle of powers, but brains.

I smirked and moved my hands, letting Demi realize it. Ibinuka ko ang bibig upang muling magsalita pero kaagad akong natigilan nang muling maramdaman ang panlalamig ng paa ko. Fuck this girl! Ngayon ay napalitan ng pang-aasar ang kaninang gulat niyang mukha. Good thing that my power was blocking hers. Hindi ako nito maapektuhan.

"Detention, Ms Ross." Halos sabay kaming lahat na lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Sa dulo ng cafeteria kung saan ang magarbong pintuan ay bumungad sa amin ang head ng student council na halos magkasalubong na ang kilay sa galit. He looked at me and pierced me with his death glare pero inirapan ko lamang siya. "You too, Ms Belacour."

The cold sensation on my feet vanished as Demi spoke, "You can't do this without knowing the true reason behind, Caelum." She sneered. "Hindi ka di— what the hell!?" gulat niyang bulalas na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Pinanlakihan niya ng mata si Carwell at sinamaan ng tingin.

Carwell darted his eyes on me, hindi ako nagpatinag at ibinalik din ang paraan ng pagtitig niya. Kalaunan ay mabilis siyang umiwas at muling tumingin kay Demi.

"I don't have to ask to know, Ms Ross," said Carwell. "This is the twenty-third offense you've done since last year. May magbabago pa ba?" His voice were not his usual voice. Mas malamig at maotoridad ito kumpara sa mga pag-uusap namin noong mga nakaraang araw.

"You don't understand," Demi replied. It was almost a whisper. Kung hindi ako namamalik mata ay tila lumambot ang mukha niya nang bigkasin iyon. "Now, let me go. Huwag mo akong ikulong sa sarili kong kapangyarihan."

Mas lalong nagtagpo ang kilay ko. Ano bang pinagsasabi ng babaeng 'to?

"Mas magandang matikman mo rin ang sarili mong luto, Ms Ross," makahulugang pahayag ni Carwell.

I metally nodded.

Right. He's a royal mimicry holder.

Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa mga paa ni Demi. Katulad nang sa akin kanina, tila naninigas din ito. He's using Demi's power against Demi herself. Mautak.

The woman in front of me rolled her eyes. She even mouthed Carwell's statement. Napakibit balikat na lamang ako.

"You two, come with me," tawag sa amin ng mayabang na head council. I let out an exasperated sigh at sinigurado kong maririnig iyon ni Carwell. Lumingon siya sa gawi ko at muli akong sinamaan ng tingin. Isa-isa niyang tinignan ang lahat ng estudyante sa cafeteria. "Go back to your businesses, everyone!"

"THIS is not right, headmaster!" Demi bolted upright from her seat. "Bakit ako lang? May kasalanan din naman ang babaeng 'to!"

Inangat ko ang aking kilay nang itinuro niya ako. She glared at me but I just rolled my eyes. Ano bang pakialam ko sa detention na 'yan?

Boris and Carwell glanced at me. Nanatili lamang na walang ekpresyon ang mukha ko. Kung mayro'n man, iyon ay pagkabagot.

"Ms Belacour will have her own punishment," Boris replied. "And you don't have to know."

Mas lalong sumama ang timpla ng mukha ni Demi. "That's absurd! Favoritism ba 'to? Mas malala ang punishment ko kaysa sa kanya kaya ayaw niyong sabihin?" She glanced at me. Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata habang magkasalubong ang kilay.

I did not move. My face was blank and unreadable. Wala ako sa mood para sumabat sa usapan nila. I felt something or someone poked my shoulder. Walang emosyon akong lumingon rito at itinaas ang kilay.

"We need to talk after this," bulong ng mayabang na head council. "At huwag kang magtangkang tumakas."

I stared at him for a second then went back on staring at Demi's awful face. Kung ano man ang gustong sabihin ng lalaking 'to, wala akong pakialam. Hindi na rin naman siya nagreklamo. Himala.

"No, Ms Ross," Boris got up on his feet. Pinaglalaruan pa niya ang dalang pluma at ngumiti kay Demi. "Believe me, Ara's punishment is incomparable to yours."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I crossed my legs and stared at Boris blankly. "Pwede bang wala ng madaming satsat? Nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras."

"See?" Boris grinned. "She's already excited." Mahina siyang natawa sa sarili niyang pahayag. Napairap si Demi sa sinabi nito. "Go back to your dorm. Ipapatawag ulit kita mamaya, when we settle things out," dagdag pa niya.

Muling umirap si Demi at padabog na lumabas ng opisina. She even gave me a glare before slamming the door close. Inikot-ikot ko ang aking daliri sa kaunting buhok na tumatakip sa kanang pisnge ko habang nakatitig kay Boris.

"So, what now?" I asked. My voice was full of boredom. Hindi na ako nag-abalang itago ito.

Boris smiled at me. It was the usual mysterious smile. Paniguradong may naisip na namang kalokohan ang lalaking 'to. "You can go now, too," he said. Gumuhit sa mukha ko ang pagkalito, pero kumindat lamang siya. "Ipapatawag kita ulit kapag nakapagdesisyon na ako sa magiging parusa mo."

I instantly rolled my eyes. Pinatawag pa kami sa opisina niya pero wala naman palang saysay. I sighed loudly and picked up my shoulder bag. "Well, then," I stated while standing up.

Mukhang hindi na nagulat si Boris sa inasta ko. Lumabas na ako ng opisina ng walang paalam pero hindi pa man ako nakakalayo ay may brasong humila sa akin. It was familiar. His heavy grasp on my arm and his slightly rough and warm palm brushing against my skin. Ano bang kailangan ng lalaking 'to? Instead of complaining, nanatili ja lamang akong tahimik at hinayaan siyang hilain ako sa kung saan.

We stopped as we reached the back of the main building of the academy. Matatas at malalabong ang mga puno rito, halatang inaalagaan, but the minus side is that I can spot garbage at some corner.

Ito ba ang punishment ko? Cleaning? Geez. This is not a punishment at all.

"Let's talk." I faced Carwell. His face was unreadable, but his eyes shows that he's uncomfortable.

I lifted both of my eyebrows. "What?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it, then open again. Napakamot siya sa batok at mahinang umiling na parang nakikipagtalo sa kanyang sarili. Napasukan na 'ata ng kulangot ang utak ng lalaking 'to.

"Are we just gonna stare at each other? May sasabihin ka 'diba? Spill it," I said in annoyance. Napaismid siya sa itinuran ko pero wala akong pakialam. "So, ano?"

"About the other day," he paused. Umiwas siya ng tingin at muling umiling.

Pinagloloko niya ba ako?

The silence broke when two students passed by. Mukhang galing sila sa likurang bahagi ng kabilang building na siyang konektado rin sa building kung nasaan kami. Muli akong tumingin kay Carwell but his eyes were fixed on the two students.

"I've always wondered what's inside it," said the student with green badge. "You know, the restricted chamber?"

His companion rolled her eyes. "Huwag ka ngang bobo, Keith. Obviously, may tinatago ang akademya. Duh." She flipped her hair afterwards.

Mabilis akong napalingon kay Carwell, and it turns 9ut taht he was staring at me, too. There was a long and steady eye contact before he decided to speak.

"About the other day. I just want to thank you — though I shouldn't be thanking, really — for saving my ass off," he said. Namumula pa ang tuktok ng tainga niya at halatang pinipilit niyang salubungin ang titig ko pero paulit-ulit siyang nabibigo.

I paced forth. "Anong mayro'n sa restricted chamber na sinasabi ng mga Jewel na 'yun?" Isiningkit ko ang mga mata.

"It's nothing," he replied. "Important documents and student profiles." Muli siyang tumitig sa mga mata ko. "School stuff."

School stuff, huh?

Hindi mo kayang paglaruan ang isa ring manglalaro, Carwell.

"Alright." I smiled. It was fake, of course. Natigilan siya at kumunot ang noo pero kaagad din niyang ipinilig ang ulo.

Aalis ja sana ako pero muli niya akong hinawakan. "Sandali." Lumingon ako sa kanya. He glanced sideways. "You did not answer yet."

I chortled. "Ano bang dapat kong i-sagot? I can't say that you're welcome because you're not. Don't get your hopes too high." Umirap ako.

He gasped, staring unbelievably at me. "Could you at least be grateful that I'm being nice to you?"

"It was your choice to thank me. Ano bang pakialam ko?" I snorted.

"You're unbelievable," naiiling niyang sambit.

"Alright." Umayos ako ng tayo at pinasiklop ang dalawang palad. "Thank you so damn much for thanking me, Mr Carwell. You don't have to but you truly touched my fucking soul," I muttered using my soft and sarcastic voice.

Napaismid siya at tinignan ako na parang ngayon niya lamang ako nakasalubong sa buong buhay niya. Matapos ay sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at bigla na lamang umalis nang walang kahit isang salita.

Kita mo 'to. Binigay na nga ang gusto, ayaw pang tanggapin.

Napakibit balikat na lamang ako at humakbang na rin paalis. I found myself walking towards the opposite wing of our class building.

Restricted chamber.

I need to fucking find you.

All the students are shooting me with their weird stares. Of course, why would they not? Maling direksyon ang tinatahak ko. Lumiko ako sa mas makitid na hallway but I immediately drew back as I saw Demi bullying another student. Napailing na lamang ako. Hindi man lang siya natinag.

I transformed on my shadow form and fleed past through them. Hindi naman nila ako napansin dahil patuloy lamang sila sa kanilang ginagawa.

Ilang minuto lamang ang lumipas at tanaw ko na ang dulo ng makitid na corridor. Napangisi ako nang makakita ng limang pinto na iba-iba ang sukat. Tahimik akong naglakad papunta sa pinakamaliit na pinto at marahan iyang binuksan. Napaatras ako nang bigla itong nag-creek. It was a good thing na walang ibang taong dumadaan dito. Lumingon-lingon pa ako sa aking likuran bago tuluyang pumasok.

It was just my instinct, at mukhang mali nga ako. Bumungad sa akin ang malamig at lumang library. It's a circular room full of fucking books na punong puno ng alikabok. Kinalimutan na ba 'to ng academy?

I roamed around. Tanging yapak ko lang ang maririnig. Matataas ang mga shelves at puno iyon ng mga makakapal na libro na parang matagal nang hindi ginagamit. Wala namang kakaiba dito.

Tahimik akong napamura at lumabas na lang. Umatras ako at tinitigan ang mga pintuan. Dumako ang paningin ko sa pinakamalaking pinto.

Could it be—no, it can't be.

If you hide important things in the most attractive door, ikaw na ang pinakabobong tao sa buong mundo. It should be that little door with dusty things.

Natigilan ako at napalingon sa pinakamaliit na pinto.

Or it could be, the restricted chamber is not exactly a wide chamber, but a hidden compartment.