This chapter is dedicated to @Ericka Louise Luzana Cañon

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Her afternoon classes went by faster than usual.

Hindi na namalayan ni Nemesis na ilang minuto na lang bago ang kanilang dismissal. Habang kinokopya niya ang sinusulat na assignment ng kanilang history professor, hindi niya maiwasang isipin ang "bonding time" nila mamaya.

She already texted her parents during lunch time and, miraculously, they were happy she was finally getting out of her comfort zone. May tiwala naman daw sila basta kasama si Naythan. She wanted to laugh at that. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang i-correct na si Naythan pa nga madalas ang pasimuno sa mga kalokohan.

She finished her notes and glanced at the clock again.

"Three minutes."

'Okay, I have to admit... I'm a bit excited about all this,' she thought. Taga-Eastwokd siya, pero ni minsan, hindi pa siya nakakarating sa tanyag na Eastwood Lake. Isa pa, inuusig rin siya ng kanyang kuryosidad kung paano kinukuha ang sinasabing "mutya ng tubig" ni Rio.

Nakapagbibigay ba talaga ng kapangyarihan ang mga mutya?

Nemesis caught herself smiling.

Imbes na mawirduhan, lalo lang siyang ginanahang maghanap ng sagot. It was another mystery she's excited to find the puzzles pieces to.

Kaya nang nai-dismiss na sila ni Professor Tanco---one of the oldest member of the ECU faculty, but also one of the smartest students of his era---agad na kinuha ni Nemesis ang kanyang backpack, at sinimulang gisingin si Naythan.

Humihilik pa ito habang natatabunan na ng history book ang kanyang ulo.

'Ugh. Himala na lang talaga at wala ka pang singko sa history!'

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman na niya ang presensiya ni Damien sa kanyang tabi. As annoying as it seems, pareho sila ng kurso at sakto pa ang schedule nilang tatlo. Sinadya niya ito noon para mas madaling mabantayan (o masuhulan) si Nemesis.

"He's been sleeping the entire time?" Damien furrowed his eyebrows, as if he couldn't believe it.

Nagkibit naman ng balikat si Nemesis, "He's always like this during Prof Tanco's history classes. Hindi ko alam kung naaantok lang ba siya sa bagal magsalita ni propesor o dahil nabo-boring lang talaga siya sa history."

The billionaire nodded.

"Well, you better wake him up, Silverio. Parating na 'yong escort natin."

"Escort?"

"Yup. Sorren will pick us up any minute now. I'll meet you in the lobby."

Tumalim ang mga mata niya kay Damien na nauna nang maglakad papalabas ng classroom. Nakapamulsa pa ito habang sumisipol.

Did he just boss her around?!

'Damn rich kid!'

Kung bakit hindi pa rin nito binabago ang kanyang schedule, wala na siyang balak alamin pa. It's none of her concern, anyway.

"Naythan, gising na!"

Humihilik pa rin ito.

"Naythan, umaga na!"

Parang wala pa rin itong naririnig. How can someone even sleep in class like this? She really couldn't relate. Kahit anong antok niya, hindi pa nasusubukang matulog ni Nemesis sa kanyang mga klase. Pwera na lang siguro kung wala ang professor nila at wala ring discussion.

Taking in a deep breath, she inched closer to her sleeping bestie's ear and yelled...

"NAYTHAN, MAY ALIEN INVASION SA LABAS! IKAW DAW ANG GAGAWING PEACE OFFERING NG PLANET EARTH!"

Nang marinig ni Naythan ang mga salitang 'yon, agad siyang nagmulat ng mga mata at natatarantang nag-duck, cover, and hold habang sumisigaw ng, "AYOKO AYOKO AYOKO! Walang WiFi sa Mars! Hindi niyo ako mahuhuli nang buhay!"

Maya-maya pa, tuluyan nang nagising ang diwa ni Naythan at nakita si Nemesis na nakangisi lang sa kanya. Inilibot niya ang kanyang mga mata sa bakanteng classroom.

He pouted like a kid. "Hey! No fair! Wala talagang alien invasion, 'no?!"

Nemesis shrugged.

"At least you're awake."

*

When the reached the lobby, naroon na rin pala sina Caelum at Rionach. Nang makita siya ng psychic, agad siya nitong nilapitan at masayang kumapit sa kanyang braso.

"Finally! Akala namin na-kidnap na kayo ng kung anong halimaw. Teka, ikaw ba 'yong sumigaw kanina, Nemo?"

Her large cat earrings dangled, distracting her for a second. Shit. Did the entire building hear her? Kaya ba parang pinagti-tsismisan siya ng mga nadaanan nilang estudyante kanina?

Nakakahiya!

"Uhh.. Yeah. Kinailangan ko kasing gisingin si Naythan."

Rionach's eyes sparkled. "Ooh! Sana tinawag mo na lang ako! I have a spell that can wake him up---and it can even keep him awake for three weeks straight! Gusto ko rin kasi munang mai-testing sa tao bago namin ibenta online."

Sinulyapan ni Nemesis si Naythan na mukhang nagtatampo pa rin sa kanya.

Maybe she can use it to blackmail him so that he can stay awake during their classes?

She laughed, "Salamat, Rio. I'll keep that in mind."

When they finally reached the university parking lot, agad nilang natanaw ang black limousine ni Damien. Sa labas nito, naghihintay sa kanila ang isang lalaking nakasuot ng puting suit. He greeted them politely, and even opened the door for them.

Damien introduced him, "This is Sorren, my butler. Dahil naka-day off ang driver namin, he'll be escorting us to the lake."

Sorren bowed to them and smiled brightly. Base sa hitsura nito, mukhang nasa late twenties o early thirties pa lang siya. He was far younger than those butlers she had always read about in the books and seen on TV.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you." The sincerity in his voice made them feel at ease.

'Siya pala 'yong laging kausap ni Damien sa telepono?' Nemesis thought and stole a glance at the devil.

Hindi naman siya nito pinansin at nauna nang pumasok sa limo.

Nang makita naman ito ng butler, marahan itong napailing. "Ako na pong humihingi ng pasensya sa ugali minsan ni Damien. He could be a spoiled brat and a bit bossy sometimes, but, rest assured, he's a good man."

Nemesis wanted to roll her eyes. "'Sometimes'? Parang mas moody pa nga kaysa sa babae, eh---"

"I can hear you two."

Damien suddenly popped his head out of the limo's door to glare at them. Pumasok na rin sa loob ang iba pa nilang kasama.

Sorren sighed and turned to her wearily. "Okay, maybe not 'sometimes'. Kaya sana habaan niyo na lang po ang pasensya niyo, Ms. Silverio. He'll come around...hopefully."

Tumango na lang si Nemesis.

"Hopefully," she repeated.

Nang sumakay na rin siya sa loob ng limo, doon lang napagtanto ni Nemesis ang isang maliit na detalye. 'Paano naman nalaman ni Sorren ang pangalan ko?'

Weird.

She made a mental note to ask him once they've reached their destination.

Ilang sandali pa, nasa kalsada na sila at masayang nagkukwentuhan sina Naythan at Rionach. Damien joined their conversation from time to time, pero halatang naiinis na rin ito sa kanilang ingay. Nang sumulyap naman si Nemesis sa labas, napansin niyang pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga dumadaan.

"Mukhang kailangan na nating masanay na ganito ang escort natin...as eye-catchy as it is." She spoke absent-mindedly.

Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, nakita niyang tumango si Caelum na mukhang naiilang na rin sa sitwasyon.

"On a brighter side, at least it saves us the time and money, right?"

"Yeah."

Malayo rin kasi kung magku-commute sila. Kung tama ang pagkakaalala ni Nemesis, ilang kilometro rin ang layo ng lawa na 'yon mula sa ECU. It's located at the western part of Eastwood, just beyond the forest. Tiyak na maraming mangingisda roon ngayon. Plus, ito ang unang bonding nilang magkakasama---bilang ang Eastwood Paranormal Investigators Club.

Sana naman walang mangyaring masama...

But her guts were telling her otherwise.

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