"WHERE is she?" nagpa-panic na tanong ni Zale kasama ang ibang Arcanes.

"She's inside. Stable na ang lagay niya since mabilis siyang nadala rito. The healer said she can go home by tomorrow," paliwanag ni Shaye na nasa tabi ko.

We're at the Forthmore's central hospital, the home of most healers. Milka has been asleep for hours but she's all good. Sa loob ng ilang oras ay hindi ako pumasok sa silid para bantayan siya. Nanatili lang akong nakadungaw sa vertical glass na nasa pinto.

"Is she your friend, ate?" Atya asked. She's been beside me since we arrived, holding my hand apologetically.

Tumango ako. Napayuko siya.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No."

Her face lit up.

"But I don't like how you acted earlier. That's not how you should treat someone who hasn't done anything wrong to you."

She nodded and offered me a guilty smile. "I'm sorry, ate. I won't do it again... I just don't like her."

"That might change when you get to know her," wika ko at ginulo ang buhok niya.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa loob ng silid. Nandoon silang lahat sa loob maliban sa amin ni Shaye at Atya, at kay Genesis na hindi ko mahagilap ngayon. I could sense their worries, especially Zale who's now sitting on the corner of the bed that Carwell used to sit on.

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. Nasa gilid na lang ito. Kanina pa siya tahimik at hindi umaalis sa tabi ni Milka. But now that Zale's here, he stepped back.

"Are you okay, Ara?"

Kinunutan ko ng noo si Shaye. "Of course. Bakit hindi?"

"Ang sama mo makatingin sa kanila," aniya.

"Kailan ba ako naging mabait tumingin?" Napairap ako. "Mauuna na ako. I have to prepare for the duel. Pakisabi na lang sa kanila."

"Sama ako, ate."

"Wait—" Hindi ko na pinakinggan si Shaye at kinaladkad na si Atya palabas.

Nagtungo kami sa daungan ng mga kabayo at hindi nagtagal ay dumating na kami sa akademya. Dumiretso na kami sa dormitoryo pero napahinto ako nang may naunang bumukas ng pintuan sa 'kin.

"Oh, Genesis," sambit ko sa pangalan nito pero nilagpasan niya lang ako.

Mabilis kong hinila ang braso niya.

"Nagmamadali ako, Ara," aniya at binawi ang braso mula sa 'kin.

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. "What are you up to? Ba't palagi kang wala?"

"None of your business."

My eyebrows erected at his remark. "Excuse me?"

Kailan pa natutong sumagot ng ganyan sa 'kin ang lalaking 'to? Where's the womanizer Genesis I met months ago?

"Mauuna na ako. Good luck on your duel," he said. He left without looking back and I just stood there utterly confused on what just happened.

"BRACE yourselves, folks! Our supreme student accepted the challenge of our newbie. On stage, we have Mr. Sin Demetrio!"

Umulan ng sigawan at palakpakan sa loob ng arena nang kumaway si Sin sa mga tao. Suot niya pa rin ang mabait niyang ngiti kaya kahit wala pang napapatunayan, kuhang kuha na niya ang loob ng mga estudyante at guro, lalo na ang mga babae.

Napailing na lamang ako at humakbang papasok sa barrier.

"And now she enters the stage, our first Supreme Student!"

Kung gaano ka nakakabingi ang ingay nang isigaw ng emcee ang pangalan ni Sin, gano'n din katahimik ang mga ito nang ako na ang pumasok. But unlike the first time where boos buzzed on the arena, it's pure worry and fright now.

"And the match begins!"

The emcee's final words cued Sin to immediately move. He smashed his whip towards me. It was wrapped, spiralled with thorns and poison. I quickly dodged it before it could touch my face.

Muli siyang nagpakawala ng atake. His whip danced in the air while fixing his hand on my direction. Soon enough, sunod sunod na niluwa ng lupa ang mga ugat na kontrolado niya. I hopped around like a fucking frog, trying to dodge his little roots.

It took me off guard. Sinamantala niya ang pagkakataong ito para muli akong hampasin. I took a backflip and pointed my fingers on his direction. Natigil ang latigo niya nang kontrolin ko ito. I spun around and took his whip with me, saka ito marahas na pinakawalan. The impact sent him backwards. Nabitawan niya ito.

Mabilis siyang nakabawi. He took a full grasp of his weapon but sorry to say, it's still under my control. Napamura siya nang hindi niya ito mahila.

Sukatin natin ang lakas mo, Demetrio. Bakit espesyal kang pinasundo ni Boris sa isla?

Without hesitation, I lunged towards him and took no second to kick his jaw. Nagising siya sa ginawa ko at napaluwa ng dugo. Matalim niya akong tinitigan bago binato ng maliliit na buto.

Mabilis ko itong iniwasan pero sa sobrang dami ay hindi ko napansing natamaan na ang beywang ko. It stung my waist as if bitten by a deadly snake. But I shrugged it off. This is nothing.

Kinuha ko ang dalawang dagger sa boots ko. I dashed towards him, slashing his arms nonstop. Wala siyang ibang ginawa kung 'di umiwas at umiwas until exhaustion seemed to caught up with him. He groaned in pain when one of my daggers hit his cheek.

"Hindi bagay. Pantayin natin." Hindi pa man siya nakaka-react ay muli kong tinamaan ang kabilang pisngi niya. I smirked. "Better."

"Halimaw ka pala," naiinis na aniya.
Sarkastiko akong natawa. "Oh, no one told you?"

"Pero hindi mo rin ako kilala."

Pinahid niya ang dugo sa pisngi niya at nakangising humakbang paatras. What is he up to?

Regardless, I positioned myself for another blow yet I felt my stomach churn. Nagsimulang manlamig ang mga kamay ko and my skin started changing its color. Maging ang ugat sa kamay ko ay mistulang nagsilabasan.

I looked down on my waist. Shit. Shit.

It's covered in dirty green, like rotten food clouded with mold. My ears started ringing and I could feel myself floating. I couldn't feel my feet. Ang labo ng paningin ko.

"Enjoy, supreme student," he said.

Nag-init ang tainga ko habang nakatitig sa ngisi niya. Burahin natin 'yan.

I closed my eyes and felt my body flow with the air. Pagmulat ko ay naguguluhang mukha ni Sin ang bumungad sa 'kin. Lumayo ako ng kaunti sa kaniya at kinontrol ang latigo sa gilid. Napasigaw siya nang binalot ko ito sa kaniya.

"Show yourself! Where are you?!" sigaw niya at palinga linga sa paligid.

Lumutang ako patungo sa kaniya. "I'm here."

I bit my lip and carefully took the seed on my waist, and planted it on his abdomen. Muling umalingawngaw ang sigaw niya. He tried to escape his whip but perhaps the seed affected him already. Nanghihina siyang napayuko.

"How does it feel to taste your own medicine?" inosente kong tanong at bumalik sa dating anyo sa harap niya.

I'm yellow, yeah, except my veins which are almost popping like purple little vines on my skin. Nabubulok na rin tingnan ang beywang ko but I wore a victorious smile when the emcee started counting.

"Three... Two..."

And Sin shut his eyes.

"One. The supreme student won!"

Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa paligid. Dumako ang tingin ko sa pwesto ng mga Arcanes. Lahat sila ay nag-aalalang nakatingin kay Sin, maliban kay Carwell at Atya. They were looking at me. Atya with her unusual blank stare and Carwell staring at my waist in confusion.

Napaiwas ako nang tingin nang bahagyang umikot ang paligid. Muling nagsalita ang emcee pero hindi ko ito masyadong maintindihan. Nabibingi ako.

"—and let's see the monitor for the result — oh wow, unbelievable!"

Mariin kong pinikit ang mata at hinilot ang sintido.

"Our supreme student secured her spot. No one's taking it but what a surprise! We have another supreme student!"

Napamulat ako. Wait, what?

"Sin Demetrio!"

"WHAT is this, uncle?"

"It's for you to find out. Makakatulong 'yan sa pagtuklas mo."

"I already know who she is. Hindi ko na 'to kailangan."

"No. Trust me. Matalino si Ara. Huwag mong maliitin ang kagaya niya."

"Alam ko. I know her more than any of you. Alam ko ang bawat kilos at plano niya. Kilala ko siya higit pa sa inaakala mo, uncle."

"Hindi tayo nakakasiguro, Genesis."

Napamulat ako. I stared blankly at the white ceiling in front of me. Alam ko na ang lugar na 'to, sa amoy at ambiance pa lang. I'm at the infirmary.

I sighed as I tried to recall the conversation in my head. Genesis and Boris. Why are they talking about me?

Panaginip lang 'yun, Ara! Yes, yes.

But what if it's not? What if that dream has something to do with the reason why Genesis changed?

Napailing ko. No. I'm just overthinking things.

Babangon sana ako nang mapansin ang taong nakayuko sa bed ko. He's leaning on my hand, deeply asleep. I traced every corner of his face with my eyes. From his perfect jawline, lips, thick eyebrows to his pointed nose.

Magandang lalaki ka sana, Carwell. Kung hindi ka lang mayabang.

Hindi ko namalayang gumuhit ang tipid na ngiti sa mga labi ko pero agad itong napawi nang bigla siyang nagmulat. Our eyes met. For a second, hindi ako nakaimik. Walang nagsalita. We were just staring at each other hanggang siya na mismo ang umiwas ng tingin.

Umayos siya ng upo. "Good thing you're awake. Everyone's resting now. Napagod sila kakabantay sa 'yo kaya wala na akong choice."

"Sinabi ko bang mag-explain ka?"

"Just so you won't get the wrong idea," he said. "Hindi kita type."

"Mas lalong hindi kita type. Sana 'di na lang ako nagising kung pagmumukha mo naman pala ang bubungad sa 'kin. Lumayas ka na rito," wika ko at tumalikod sa kaniya but the pain in my waist hindered my movement.

Putang ina. Nalason nga pala ako ng mga buto na 'yun.

"Where's Sin?" tanong ko.

"On the tower. He moved the other day. Pinadagdagan na rin ng kwarto ang dorm para may room sila Milka."

"She's back?"

Carwell nodded. "Genesis escorted her back. Are you both on bad terms?"

"Milka?"

"Genesis."

Pati pala siya, nahahalata niya na.

"No. Why?"

Saglit siyang natahimik at tinignan ako. "Nothing. It's just that, he didn't even glance at you while you lay here for four days."

Four days. Ang laki ng oras na nasayang ko. The training, plus my wedding's fastly approaching. Putang ina.

"How's Sin doing?" I asked.

Tumayo siya at lumipat sa couch. Humiga siya rito. Nilagay pa ang kaliwang paa sa sandalan. Wala ba siyang balak bumalik sa dorm?

"He woke up two days after the duel. Hindi gano'n kalala ang epekto sa kaniya dahil sa kaniya galing ang lason." Bahagyang sumama ang timpla ng mukha niya. "He's enjoying the attention everyone's feeding him."

"I have a feeling that you don't like him." He scoffed but didn't say anything. "I guess we have something in common now."

"You don't like pretty much everyone, except maybe my cousin," he plainly said.

I rolled my eyes. "He's different though. There's something off about that guy."

"He's an airhead."

"Like you."

Napamulat siya at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "I'm trying to talk to you decently tapos idadamay mo ako."

I just shrugged. "Bakit ka ba kasi nakikipag-usap sa 'kin? Umalis ka na. Iniisturbo mo ang pahinga ko."

"Ayoko do'n. Puro Sin ang bukambibig nila. Nakakarindi," inis niyang sabi. Tahimik akong natawa. Para siyang batang nagra-rant.

"I want to be alone."

"Go, do your thing."

Inis kong binato sa kaniya ang extra unan sa gilid ko. Kinuha niya lang ito at inipit sa magkabilang tuhod.

"How can I be alone if you're here?"

He looked at me with lazy eyes. "Let's just be alone together. Kunwari na lang wala ako rito."

"Ginagago mo ba ako?" naiinis na tanong ko pero hindi na siya sumagot.
"Hoy!"

"Ingay mo, Ara."

Napairap ako. "Himala ah, tinawag mo 'kong Ara."

"What? Sabi ko, 'ang ingay mo, Belacour'." Saka niya ako pinukol ng nandidiring tingin. "We're not that close to get on the first-name basis."

Napaismid na lamang ako sa trip ng lalaking 'to. Maingat akong tumagilid at ginawang unan ang kaliwang kamay ko. I really have to make a move as soon as possible. Ang bilis tumakbo ng oras at wala pa akong nagagawa.

I closed my eyes and let drowsiness creep into me again. But it was interrupted when Carwell spoke.

"You should start with the wedding preparations by now."

"Wala akong balak," nakapikit kong sagot.

"You're planning to ditch the king?" Bakas sa boses niya na hindi na siya nabigla.

"What choice do I have?"

"He's gonna kill you. Hindi ka niya titigilan hangga't 'di mo tinutupad ang pangako mo."

Napangisi ako. "You sound worried."

As if naman matatakot ako sa hari na 'yun. Pag-untugin ko pa sila ni Zuri e.

"I'm not. Kapal mo," he said in a defensive voice. "But really, I got your back."

Natigilan ako sa narinig. Unti-unting napawi ang ngisi ko at napalitan ng tipid na ngiti. I carefully moved around to face him. Nagtama ang paningin namin.

"Why are you suddenly being nice to me?" I asked, almost a whisper, just enough for him to hear.

"I hate you but I don't want you to end up like my mom." He shrugged before the corner of his lips lifted into a smile.

Damn. I hate this.

You're confusing me, Carwell.