Groups' Reunion

Andrea's PoV

The sight of the stars are prettier here than the view back in my room. Nakakagaan sa pakiramdam ang hangin. I laid my back against the cold and subtle texture of the roof as I let out a deep sigh. Tinaas ko ang kanan kong kamay, forming it into a fist and I followed it with my gaze.

I had just escaped from that room where they were confining me, tinuturing nila akong kriminal—naiinis ako. Habang hinahanap ko ang tinatawag nilang 'Headmistress' which was supposed to be my mother, I stumbled upon that Headquarters. I closed my eyes remembering what I heard.

"Andrea is labelled as a threat to the island." I heard my mother saying habang mabilis akong nagtago sa likuran ng pintuan to hear it clearly. They're talking about me. "The Council, along with the other Saints, decided that the next time she's unable to control her mark," there was that brief pause. "We'll kill her."

"And you agreed to it? Ikaw na sarili niyang—"

"I don't have time to play the role of the Mother, Keila. I've got a country to rule, and people to protect."

My eyes grew wide. My fists were clenching so hard at baka masira ko lang ang pintuang ito. I calmed myself down nang may marinig akong mga tunog ng mga taong papunta dito. I immediately ran to the corner and hid behind the wall.

I opened my eyes then, sabay din ang pagbukas ng kamao ko. So they're going to kill me huh? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari. Mas marami pa ang nalalaman nila tungkol sa sarili ko kaysa sa akin. Why don't they explain it to me? Confining me would do no good. Ayaw kong tinuturing nila na parang ako pa ang may kasalanan.

Right. Sa nangyari kay Keila, ako nga ang may kasalanan. I regret that more than anything else. Wala akong ideya kung ano ha talaga ang ginawa ko....at that moment...I felt huge power surging through my veins. I felt powerful. But then I lost sight of everything around me. Kasalanan ba ang maging malakas? Mabuti bang maging mahina? I need to become stronger in able to achieve my dream, to surpass my sister and my mother. I desire power, at kahit sa nag-iisang hiling kong yun, may pumipigil pa sa akin? This world is so unfair.

I sat up clenching my fists again.

I let out a bitter smile remembering what that woman said.

"I don't have time to play the role of a Mother, Keila. I've got a country to rule and people to protect."

Don't have time huh? Kailan ka ba nagkaroon ng oras para gumanap bilang isang ina? For once, never did I feel a mother's love. I chuckled at myself.

"For your mother, ang mga taong nasasakupan niya ay parang pamilya niya na. Kaya, gagawin niya ang lahat para sa pamilyang iyon." I could remember the smile on my father's face as he said those words to me with a bright face.

Back then, I replied to my father with my happiest smile, knowing I admired my mother more than I did. I worked harder than I did before to get her acknowledgement. I was proud and would happily brag to all the rest that the person ruling the North, one of the Four Saints, is my mother.

Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit nagbago ang lahat ng iyon. I failed to get my mother's acknowledgement, at siguro kahit anong gawin ko hindi niya yun napapansin. I never even saw her smile at me like she did when facing her people. Sila na hindi niya kadugo, sila na hindi niya totong pamilya, would exchange her own daughter, her own family—for them.

Bakit? Bakit niya gagawin yun? It wouldn't hurt to treat me equally as them. Pero habang lumalaki ako, nagigising din ako sa katotohanan na kahit buhay ko pa man ang magiging kapalit, my mother will never hesitate to exchange my life for the well-being of her people.

I never understood why she cares about them so much. So I started devoting myself too, for her people. And soon, I became like her—someone who cares and protect her people. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na pinipilit ko lang maging ganoon, hoping na maiintindihan ko din kung bakit mas mahalaga pa ang ibang tao kaysa sa ako na anak niya. But in every battles, I don't care about my enemy's condition, nor do I care about people around me. Siguro lumalabas na ang totoong anyo ko.

Teka, totoo anyo? Am I admitting to myself that I am a bad person?

"Bakit? Hindi ba totoo?" My eyes grew wide.

Diyan na naman siya. That voice.

Hindi ko alam kung minumulto ako, but it all started when I woke up few weeks ago, and I barely remember what happened then. Whenever I'm thinking to myself, palaging sumusulpot ang boses na ito, speaking to me inside my head. I kept ignoring the voice, but after a week of tormenting me from that pain, I started talking to it.

"Hindi totoo." I replied back at her question.

"Hmm talaga? You said it yourself. In a battle, you loose sight of those around you—you care little about the people you said you only forced yourself to care!"

"Shut it!" Sigaw ko at hindi ko na namalayang bumaon na pala ang kamao ko sa pader sa tabi ko.

My eyebrows sank as her voice of laughter faded through the back of my mind—as if she's mocking me. This is what I said. She's tormenting me from the pain. Pain of reality. Of saying the facts that I myself could never admit honestly.

"Hoy! Nahanap niyo na ba siya?" I heard a Knight from below.

Darn it. Nalaman na ba nilang nawawala ako? But I never left any traces na nawala na ako. Because this time, dumaan ako sa isang glass window na para bang trapdoor, sa ceiling mismo.

"A report came in na nasa Academy siya. Sir Thomas had already sent Knights." Wait, they aren't talking about me. Tss, it's Keila.

Pinagbabawalan din ba siyang lumabas ng facility? But for what reason? Ever since that girl came to the Academy, my mother and eveyone else have been caught up with complicated matters.

All these time I envied that girl. She always gets everyone's attention in a most surprising way. Nung unang beses ko siyang nakita, we fought together at that entrance exam. I took the number one spot na sa kaniya dapat mapupunta. Most people care about ranks, pero parang wala lang sa kaniya ito. Palagi siyang sinasabihan ng mga masasamang bagay na wala sa kaalaman niya, but I think somewhere deep inside, she's aware of it. Pero wala lang talaga siyang pakealam.

Akala ko nung una, may pagkapareho kaming dalawa. I thought she's the type of a person who never cares about everyone else just for the sake of her goals, whatever they might be. Pero matagal ko na siyang nakasama, at narealise ko na mali ang iniisip ko. Because unlike me, she's a kind person at heart.

That's not the only thing I envy about her. Malakas siya, matalino, at palagi siyang nakakaisip ng paraan para lamg matalo ang kahit sino mang kalaban niya. Lahat ng tao siguro nakakaalam na mas malakas ako sa kaniya. But when I stand beside her, I feel so powerless. Siya lang palagi. I'm supposed to be someones who shines brighter than her, and she's supposed to be someone who's in a dark side. We're complete opposites. But why don't I think of things as that anymore?

Then there's Iyana. I can't help but to compare her to me. We always fight. She always matches my strength even though I try my hardest to surpass hers. But she only makes sure na kapareho kami ng lakas sa bawat laban namin, and always ends up in a draw. Plus, wala akong alam kung ano ba talaga ang ability niya. Ayaw ba niyang lumamang? Why are they both like that? Kahit anong training ko, l feel like I could never catch up to those two with the way I am. Each single day, they are evolving, getting stronger. And as I watch them be like that, I feel inferior. That's why I said they are my rivals. But they don't treat me as one.

I don't like it. I hate feeling this way.

"Anong ginagawa mo? Sleeping on the roof like this..." I gradually opened my eyes, feeling the sunlight against my fair skin.

When my visions cleared up, I saw Iyana standing up right next to me. I sat up and realised na nakatulog pala ako dito kagabi. I blinked. Ano ba ngaba ang ginagawa ni Iyana dito? She always visits me ever since I woke up, of course, just to annoy me. Nakakatuwang isipin na nandito sa tabi ko ang taong kagabi ko lang iniisip. Although I forgot most of those thoughts.

"Magkakasakit ka sa ginagawa mo." She yawned. Again. "Huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi ako nandito para inisin ka. Headmistress called on for all the five groups to gather. Kaya bilisan mo na at maghanda." I frowned.

"At ano naman ang gagawin ko? It's not that I'm part of a group."

"The level of your IQ and strength really are oceans apart." I heard her mumbled.

"Gusto mo bang masuntok kita?" I asked preparing to land a fist.

"Ha! Huwag kang magalit. Short-tempered as usual. Starting today, you're a part of Sleberian Cross." Napatayo ako sa gulat dahil sa sinabi niya.

"W-what?"

"The Council decided it. The only way for you to control that weird power is to gain experience. Plus, I think you're strong enough to even defeat the rank tenth." Right. Because the next time I'm umable to control that mark, I will be killed. But I'm not even sure myself if the mark will still appear.

Gustong-gusto ko makapasok sa SC, it was a goal of mine ever since I stepped into the Academy. I wanted to, pero hindi sa ganitong paraan. She said I might be even stronger than rank tenth. But aren't they just deciding that because of that powerful mark stuck with me? That's not my own power! At ang masaklap pa dun, ay alam nila yun. Hell.

Several minutes later, I found myself sitting on a couch, sa tabi ko si Iyana na kanina pa bumubukas at pumipikit ang mga mata niya. Pagod na naman siya. Ano ngaba ang ginawa nito kagabi at parang hindi na naman nakatulog ng maayos?

Nakasandal din sa may tabi ng pintuan ang isang babae na nakapang fourth-year na uniporme dahil sa kulay blue na necktie niya. Sahara Matson was her name if I remembered correctly. Then there was Thane standing beside the Headmistress' seat, although wala pa dito ang ina ko. Kami palang ang nandito, at ewan ko ba kung kailan dadating ang iba.

Upon thinking those thoughts, bumukas ang pintuan and it revealed a second year girl with a red necktie but white uniform. Naka-ponytail ang buhok niya at may dala-dala siyang maliit na bag na nakalagay sa beywang niya. Nagulat yata siya nang makita ako, then she glared. I frowned. Ano na naman ba ang ginawa ko? Did I do something to her too?

"Eh? Nandito pala ang anak ni Headmistress." She wondered with a smirk. "Hopefully you won't almost-kill someone off this time." Tumayo ako dahil sa sinabi niya as I glared at her.

Lumalabas na ang ugat sa kamay ko due to how tight I'm clenching my fists. Sino ba ang babaeng 'to? I hate her already. She's only giving me plastic smiles to anger me more. I was about to land a fist nang magsalita si Iyana.

"Huwag mo yang ituloy Andrea, you won't stand a chance." And here I thought she was sleeping. But I won't stand a chance huh? I have been overly underestimated. I glared back at the girl in front of me. She may be a second year, pero wala akong balak respetohin siya. "At tigilan mo rin yan Vlein, you're only making her condition worse."

"Fine, fine." She went beside Thane and they started whispering to each other. So she's that Vlein Black huh? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip ng babaeng yan, but I feel like I won't get along with her.

When I sat down, bumukas ulit ang pinto. Lima silang pumasok, lahat sila babae. They are all third years. Tapos ay may isa pa palang babae sa likuran nila, a fourth year. I remember her, Yazmina Mel, the leader of Yurosian. So this is the infamous group of gangsters.

"Hmm, parang may nangyari dito ah." Yazminea said with a playful tone.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ang mga kasamahan niya as they settle at the corner. Malawak ang office na ito, they can settle everhwere they wang. And so, the long silence began. Walang ni isa ang nag-uusap sa amin. Or so I thought. The only thing that keeps the room noisy was Yazmina's group. Geez. Ang ingay nila. I could see Sahara sighing and Thane covering his ears.

The next group finally arrived. It was the Reapers. Lima silang lahat, led by Professor Grim's little brother, Hanzel Grim. He was with three girls and another boy. Balita ko may halos twenty members ang grupo niya. While Yazmina's group had thirty. Hanzel is only a third-year, so to be able to lead a group amazes people. Unlike Professor Grim, Hanzel is a very quiet boy. Magsasalita lang siya kung kinakailangan, and he rarely shows any expressions. Alam ko dahil kung may mga meetings sa Academy, siya din ang representative.

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa at umupo sa kabilang couch with the rest of his subordinates surrounding him. I heard a rumour na umalis daw ang halos lahat ng fourth years sa grupo nang malaman na isang third year ang mamumuno sa kanila, that's why his group got reduced to twenty. Well if it was me, magagalit din naman ako, but not enough reason to leave.

"And the master has arrived!" Naagaw ang atensyon ng lahat papunta sa isang fourth year na lalake. "Mike Thompson, at your service!" May kasama siyang dalawang lalake. He winked at me and my whole bidy shivered. Problema niya?!

But Mike Thompson huh? I admit may itsura siya, ibig kong sabihin ay, well he's above average when it comes to handsomeness. He's the leader of Blacksage army. They're only the fourth group, but they had an overall members of fifty, pero balita ko graduate na ang iba sa kanila.

"Oh just shut up and hurry inside. You're blocking my way." Sabi ng isang boses sa likuran nila.

If I'm not wrong, siya ang student council president. He's popular, walang hindi nakakilala sa kaniya. But everyone just calls him President kaya hindi ko alam ang pangalan niya. Everyone then went inside and settled in their places. Pero kung kanina maingay na nga ang kwartong ito, mas umingau pa dahil sa pagbabangayan ni Yazmina Mel at Mike Thompson. Ah, kung hindi ako nagkakamali ganoon din silang dalawa nung sinubukan nila akong e-recruit.

And then there was Hana Treywon, the Canceller, she got that nickname dahil sa ability niya. She can cancel any abilities or magic, and she's fast as well as good in combat. Before, I lost easily against her. Hindi yun dahil sa hindi ko magamit ang full ability ko, I'm just that weak compared to her. And now I'm supposed to be the a ranked student, and I haven't even defeated any of them.

Bago siya pumasok, she smiled at me at tumabi kay Sahara and started chatting. She smiled at me. Why would she do that? Dapat nga ay magalit pa siya. Pero may posibilidad din na fake yung ngiting yun, and I hate it.

"Hana, bakit ngayon ka lang?" Narinig kong tanong ni Sahara, and I think everyone's listening.

"May ginawa lang ako. But anyway," she looked at Iyana. "It's unusual of you to recommend someone." Napatingin din ako kay Iyana. What are they talking about?

"Andrea can match me in any battle." What? So ako ang pinag-uusapan nila. But she recommended me? Anong nangyayari dito?

"What do you mean Iyana?" Seryoso kong tanong. She only sighed.

"This is why I hate explanations. They're so troublesome."

"Then I'll explain for you." Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Hana. "She's the one who suggested to the Council about you joining the ranks. She said you can match her in every battles."

"Pero hindi ko pa nga nakikita ang ability niya."

"Iyana is forbidden to use her ability." Ano ba talaga ang ability niya? "So she can only summon. Pero wala pang ni isang tao ang nakakatalo sa kaniya, and yet she claims you can match her in a serious battle. So you should feel hono—"

"And yet I don't." I could feel the silence in the room nang sinabi ko yun.

I shouldn't interrupt a third-year when she's talking, but I don't care anymore. I know everyone here knows what happened to me, and I know most here doubts me joining the ranks. Simply because they don't trust me. I don't have Keila's ability, but I know the way they look at me.

"Stop talking about things that's already happened." Said a voice when the door opened.

She has a long red hair, emerald eyes, and long eyelashes. Siya ang sinasabing pinakamaganda sa buong Academy and the supposed leader of the elite group, White Brigade. Freya Leet. Balita ko ilang ulit na raw siya inimbita sumali sa Sleberian Cross nang first year siya. But she refused to join. Hindi ko alam kung anonang rason, but she made her oen group and when she was second year, her group had risen as one of the five groups.

Hindi lang yan ang nalalaman ko sa kaniya. Even her background is a big mystery. All people knows is that she has a sister, Genova Leet, kaklase ko siya. Other than that remains a mystery. She joined the Academy when she was first year, and she was known as a prodigy. Hindi dahil sa kagandahan niya sumikat siya, pero dahil ito sa lakas niya na hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa alam kung ano.

People say she can match the strongest student in the Academy, the ranked first, the leader of the Sleberian Cross. Pero walang nakakaalam kung totoo ngaba yun. Due to curiousity, I asked Iyana once a favour to investigate about her. Yun yung mga panahaon na nasa isang misyon si Keila. Sabi ni Iyana sa akin, base sa mga nakaman niya, ni isang beses ay hindi niya pa pinapakita ang ability niya, neither has she summoned a weapon. She beat all her enemies with combat. Siguro nga ay malakas talaga siya, that would explain why she was able to form a group when she was just a first year.

"It's unusual for you to be late, Freya." Tanong ni Hanzel. He mostly never talks, that would mean he acknowledges Freya Leet. Or they're just close.

"May ginagawa lang si Miss Freya kaya nahuli siya." Sabi ng isang babae na kasamahan niya. They are five in total. They went to the back at umupos sa isa oang couch.

"Now we just have to wait for Headmistress—ah, the ghost is not here yet." Thane said sighing. Ghost?

"I hope you're not talking about me, you pest." That voice came from the kitchen part.

At tama nga ang hinala ko, it was Keila. Sumandal siya sa may pader which was dividing the kitchen part from here. May dala siyang tasa and base on the aroma, it's jasmine tea. Almost everyone's gazes landed on Keila. Why is she here? Is she part of a group? At hanggang kailan pa ba siya nandito?

"So you're here. Just like a ghost, saying hi in a most unexpected ways." Thane said.

"And just like a pest, annoying in a most unexpected ways."

"Ghosts don't usually drink teas, you know."

"Pests don't usually talk, you know." What's with these two?

"Why don't you try and find out how a pest bite?"

"And why don't you just shut up and leave a ghost alone?"

"Tss. Itigil niyo na yang dalawa." Vlein warned them. "Papunta na dito si Headmistress."

And then there were footsteps, the footsteps gradually became louder and louder, enough for everyone to hear. Napatayo ang lahat the moment the Headmistress came in, except sa akin. Why? Because doing so is a sign of respect, and I may have been admiring my mother, but I choose not to respect her. In fact, I hate the one they all respect so much.

Napaupo ang lahat nang umupo narin siya sa upuan niya, sa unahan naming lahat. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kaming lahat nandito, pero sigurado akong importante to.

"Well then, let's start the meeting."