One Month Gap

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang maalala ko ang mga nangyari. A dream? Everything around me was white. There was a tray full of fruits beside my bed, at nakaandar pa ang ilaw sa ceiling. The breeze went inside, swaying the curtains away. May pumapasok ding mga dahon dahil sa hangin. Ang tahimik.

A bandage is rolled surrounding my head na umabot din sa kaliwa kong mata. My right arm is already healed up, ganoon din ang paa ko but somehow I can't move them as much as before. It wasn't a dream at all. Why do I feel like something has changed? My hair was clipped to the side kaya pala parang may nagbago, dahil narin sa nakapalibot na bandage.

I lifted my feet off the the bed and onto the cold floor. As expected, my left leg was falling behind when I tried to stand up. Pinataas ko din ang kanan kong kamay but I immediately shut it downward. It hurts like hell kung pinapataas ko.

I faced the mirror and held unto the wall para hindi ako matumba. I gulped. My heart started pounding again. My long white gown made it look like I'm wearing a formal dress, pero hindi ito ang rason kung bakit ako kinakabahan. Dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang bandage sa ulo ko gamit ang kaliwa kong kamay, since I can't lift the other one.

Nang matangal na ito, the bandage slowly fell to the ground, it didn't make much of a sound, pero nagulat ako at napahawak sa kaliwa kong mata. It used to have the colour of the skies, it represents the waters, I used to see the waves whenever I look at it. But now, I could see nothing at all. My sights at my left eye remains blurry. Wala ako halos makita dito. The colour of the pupil changed, naging kulay silver, or is it white?

I could hear footsteps closing in. Tinakpan ko ulit ang kaliwa kong mata ng bandage wrapping it around my head again. Just as then, the door opened, revealing Vlein Black. She seemed surprise for a moment but she regained herself after few moments.

"I'm relieved to see you awake." I thought she's going to say; you're awake, which was obvious.

"Where is she?" Derecho kong tanong. I don't want to idle around the moment I woke up. At alam kong alam niya kung sino ang ibig kong sabihin.

"Why? Going to take revenge? She nearly killed you, so it's understandable." Galit ako. Of course I am, sino ba naman ang hindi? Hindi ako isang santo kung saan walang pakiramdam. I'm angry but...it doesn't mean I'm going to take revenge. I'm the kind of person who just see things through. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nito na pinapatawad ko ka siya sa ginawa niya. There's no way I will. But if given a chance, I'd like to beat Andrea.

"I'm just asking." I walked back to my bed slowly and sat. While she only stood there, leaning against the wall. I wonder ilang araw na ba akong tulog. And I'm hungry.

"Sa kabilang parte siya ng facility. She just woke up a week ago at hanggang ngayon hindi parin siya pinpayagang lumabas until she's...better." She blinked.

I noticed her thinking before actually saying it, the term 'better'. But anyway, akala ko sa hospital ako but I'm glad they brought me in the facility rather than the hospital. There's too many people there. Pero ngayong naalala ko na ang lahat, what exactly happened after I passed out?

"Is she stable? Ano ba talaga ang nangyari?"

"For someone who just woke up, you sure ask a lot of questions. Bakit 'di mo tignan para sa sarili mo?" She stood up and let out a sly smile. "I'm just here to check your condition, not to answer all of your questions. Pero kung maayos na ang kalagayan mo, mas mabuting kumain ka muna. I'll have Thane deliver your lunch." Then she went out of the room na wala ng sinabi. I sighed. I'm too anxious to just sit around and wait.

Few minutes later, napagdesisyunan kong maligo. I checked the wardrobe, and thankfully it has a set of uniform in here. After I took my bath, I wrapped another bandage around my left eye, at pumailalim narin ang buhok ko. An hour later, I found myself wondering in the halls.

Wala ni isang tao ang makikita dito. Akala ko may mga knights na nagbabantay, pero wala. Malaki ang facility na ito na may laboratory, training area, rooms, clinics, ag iba pa. Kaya mahirap makalabas sa lugar na ito lalo na kung hindi mo pa kabisado ang lugar. In my case, minsan na akong pumunta dito, but I still don't know the areas too well. Kaya wala akong ideya kung nasaan ako ngayon.

And darn, not to mention I'm hungry. Perhaps I should have waited in that room for Thane. Pero wala din naman akong gagawin dun, at hindi ko kakayaning maghintay ng ganoon katagal. I'm an impatient person. But most of all, I want to see her.

I turned right to the corner, and I admit na naliligaw na ako. The halls all look exactly the same, at may mga signs nga sa itaas sa bawat parte ng mga halls, but I can't read Greek. Napatigil ako at napatingin sa may transparent na bintana sa kanan ko. Outside was a garden, may maliit na pond dito, then a bridge above it. Around were different kinds of flowers. Then leaves continue to fall down, ang ibang kahoy ay halos wala nang natitirang dahon.

"Alam mo bang kanina pa ako naghahanap sayo?" I smiled hearing him getting annoyed. Hindi na ako tumingin sa likod para malaman kung sino ito. Narinig ko siyang napa-buntonghininga at lumapit sa tabi ko.

"O ayan, pagkain mo." Sabi niya sabay lagay sa kamay ko ang isang paperbag na mainit. May laman sigurong pagkain. Binuksan ko ang paperbag and found a newly-made burger in it, tapos may isang can pa ng vanilla tea, my favourite other than jasmine.

"You could have brought me a steak." Reklamo ko.

"Bakit ayaw mo?" Then he tried to grab th burger from my grip pero nilayo ko sa kaniya.

"Sinabi ko bang ayaw ko?" He frowned. I could sense his annoyance.

I leaned against the window at kumain, ganoon din ang ginawa niya at kumain since may dala din siyang burger. I guess ayaw niyang tignan akong kumain mag-isa. Wala nang nag-salita sa amin sa loob ng ilang minuto. We just stood there silently, eating while feeling the warm winds behind us. Thane's different today. Wala akong alam kung ilang araw ako tulog, pero alam kung may nangyayari. I could sense his feelings, enough to decipher his thoughts, or at least his general thoughts.

"Thane," tawag ko sa kaniya at napatingin naman siya sa akin. "Ilang araw na akong tulog?" I asked before drinking my vanilla tea.

"A month." Halos mabuga ko ang iniinom ko sa sinabi niya. A month?! "Almost a month. It's already autumn." That explains the falling leaves. Pero isang buwan...bakit parang ang dami ng nangyari sa isang buwan na tulog ako?

"What exactly happened?"

"Nung nawalan ka ng malay, pinigilan namin ni Thomas si Andrea." He scoffed. "She's too strong na umabot sa punto na si Headmistress mismo ang pumigil sa kaniya from destroying everything. Well generally, the Headmistress already sealed the cursed mark kaya maayos na ang lahat." I see...so even Thane, the rank three and Thomas, the highest ranked Knight, couldn't handle Andrea.

"Wait, cursed mark?"

"It is a curse that grants the person power. Pero hindi lahat kayang dalhin ang markang ito and end up dying the moment the mark is shown."

"Andrea's—"

"Maayos ang kalagayan niya. She avoided death thanks to the Headmistress." There's still a lot of things na hindi ko maintindihan.

But somehow, hindi ko kayang tanungin siya ng mga bagay. He's breathing is not normal at all, I could hear his heart pounding faster than normal due to fatigue, may mga itim na namumuo sa ilalim ng mga nata niya. He's too tired. Other than Andrea's case, sigurado akong may iba pang nangyari sa isang buwan na wala akong ginawa at natulog lang.

I only let out a sigh at inubos na ang huling inom ng vanilla tea ko. Nagugutom parin ako, but that's enough for now. Pansin ko dina ng mga pagbabago sa katawan ko, I became thinner than I usually am, mas tumaas din ako, I coudl tell from the way I stand beside Thane. Then may humaba ang buhok ko, I know dahil hanggang tuhod lang 'to, but it already went passed by it.

"I'm going back to the Academy—"

"Hindi ka pa pwedeng bumalik dun." I frowned at seryosong napatingin sa kaniya, not that he could see it.

"At bakit naman?"

"Because I said so."

I turned to my right at nakita si Headmistress with her usual long purple cloak na umabot na lupa, with few embroideries in it. Her hair has gotten longer that she tied it up into a ponytail. Lumapit siya sa amin sabay kuha ng salamin niya sa mata. Nang kinuha niya ito, katulad ni Thane, may mga kaonting itim din sa ilalim ng nga mata niya, pero hindi naman halata. I noticed her looked at Thane at tumango naman ang isa.

Ramdam ko ang hawak ni Thane sa balikat ko and in few seconds, nandito na kami sa isang office. Malaki ang buong kwarto, it even has a small living room at the side. May mini kitchen din sa kabilang parte. I saw Headmistress sat on her usual swivel chair seat, at pinatong ang dala niyang mga folders sa tranparent glass table sa unahan niya. Thane didn't even touch her, kaya paano siya nakapunta dito—ah, I remember the last time she appeared in front of me.

Headmistress touched something sa transparent glass na lamesa niya at bigla nalang tumaas ang mga kurtina sa likuran niya. I thought it was a window, pero isang glass wall ito. I could see the sun floating high from here, nang lumapit ako, I suddenly felt nauseous. I could see the buildings from up here, mataas ang lugar na ito. Clouds were even seen below.

Napaupo si Thane sa may couch as I stood there, my gaze landed on Headmistress na tumitingin din sa akin.

"This is the Headquarters. It's located just above the facility." I expected her to say that but it was Thane who did so.

"I suppose you have questions regarding what happened, but I should tell you first what happened to Andrea." May binigay siya sa aking isang puting folder, tinanggap ko naman ito at binuksan.

It shows here the records of Andrea's physical level, mental state, at kung ano-ano pa, during the time she's been taken over by the mark. May picture din dito ng markang nakalagay sa ilalim ng kaliwang mata ni Andrea noon. I could still remember what happened like it was just yesterday. It is called a cursed mark. May mga kaso na nito noong unang panahon, pero ngayon lang daw ito lumaki. Base on the research, it is associated with an organization.

Andrea's strength multiplies when she's wearing the mark, it also enhances all her abilities and usual skills, but during that, her mental state is also blank. It means na parang ang marka niya lang ang kumokontrol sa kaniya, without her actually knowing it. I don't know how exactly they did this research, but it's not perfect.

"She...she will seek us...she will seek power... she will seek her!!!"

Naalala ko ang sigaw ng isang lalaki, just before he disappeared because of Iyana's portal. Is it that organization na nakalagay sa folder na'to? And who's this her?

"Anong oraganization ito?" I asked looking at Headmistress.

"This oraganization already appeared from our neighboring countries, kaya hindi mahirap makuha ang mga impormasyon na kailangan." She crossed her arms at sumandal sa upuan niya. Already appeared? "Exodus. Yun ang pangalan ng organization. You might not know, but Exodus first appeared seven years ago, sa Tristain Plains, a peaceful island near the Eastern Coast."

"The peaceful island got destroyed in an instant sa loob lamang ng dalawang araw, dahil sa pagsugod ng mga Exodus. I don't know how many numbers they have, but all the people in it ay may cursed marks." Thane continued. "Remember that guy with reflection ability? He's still alive, but barely. Thomas made him spill everything. He said there are several types of marks. The marks those attackers have are the normal ones. Ayon sa sinabi niya, ang mga marka nila ay mga unang lebel lamang, in other words, ang mga pinakamhinang marka."

Mahina? They almost trampled the whole Arena and they're supposed to be the weakest?! Ibig sabihin may mas malalakas pang mga marka.

"What about Andrea's mark?"

"That's the problem. Before we could get more information, the guy killed himself." Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Thane. Killed himself? Why would he do that? Probably ayaw niyang kunan siya ng iba pang mahahalagang impormasyon. But Exodus huh? Exodus means, in books I've read, the end, pero ano ang pakay nila at bakit sila umatake?

"Ano ba ang rason kung bakit may cursed mark si Andrea?" Tanong ko.

"We don't know. But only a number of people has it, and all of them either die or go to Exodus themselves. Isa din ito sa rason kung bakit hindi pa pwedeng makalabas si Andrea, Knights are stationed in front of her room." She can't even go to school huh?

"Andrea is labelled as a threat to the island." Headmistress suddenly said. "The Council, along with the other Saints, decided that the next time she's unable to control her mark," she blinked and looked at me seriously. "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, Ke'ala. I've got a country to rule, and people to protect." Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya. I can't sense their emotions. Blocking magic. This woman...

I didn't even notice I was clenching my fists until now, nang buksan ko ito ay pumupula ang mga kamay ko dahil sa higpit. Iyana and I have been with Andrea for a long time that we already a few things. Andrea hated her family, I don't exactly know why though. She's been training every single day para lumakas, just to be acknowledged by her own mother, even if she doesn't want to admit it. At ito ngayon ang sarili niyang ina, ni wala manlang pakealam sa anak niya. Or probably she cared for her, but choose not to get her emotions mix up with her job. I just don't know.

I could never forgive Andrea for what she did to me, but it doesn't mean na wala narin akong pakealam sa kaniya. She said the three of us were rivals, pero marami na ang ginawa naming tatlo that wouldn't serve as 'rivals'. So hearing her mother say that is too unjust.

"Pero—" she cut me off again.

"I don't want you to get involve with this Ke'ala." But I'm already involved. Sa tingin niya ba matapos ang ginawa ng anak niya sa akin hindi prin ako pasok sa gulong 'to?

May sasabihin pa sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan, it revealed a familiar man, kasama ang dalawa niyang kasamahan. It was Roy Harlington, Edmon Krail, and Deil Montreo. The three wizards.

"Ah, did I interrupt something?" Tanong ni Harlinton.

"Hmm it can't be helped. Thane, take Ke'ala outside." Utos ni Headmistress at tumayo na si Thane.

"Hindi mo ba sa kaniya sasabihin? Balita ko ba—"

"My decission is none of your business, Roy." Headmistress said glaring at him. Teka, ano ba ang dapat kong malaman? I looked back at her hoping she couos make me understand but she only sighed.

"With her current situation, wala din naman siyang magagawa." What?

"Ano naman ang ibig mong sabihin—" again, I was interrupted.

"Your body isn't fully recovered. Why do you think Andrea's famous for her destructive ability? Hindi normal ang ability niya. When she breaks something, it gets destroyed in an instant. Headmistress did everything she could to fix your body, kaya huwag mong sayangin ang ginawa niya." Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Thane. Tss. Right, I'm grateful for this woman. Although I don't want to admit it.

"Plus your left eye," napatingin ako kay Headmistress when she said that. "You might never be able to see normally again." She didn't have to say it. Alam ko na the moment I saw its condition, my left vision was completely detsroyed.

Thane beckoned me to follow him which I did at binukan niya ang double doors.

"Hays. You sure keep interesting people. The clan got away—" and before I could even hear it, nasa labas na kami ng office. The door slammed shut behind us.

I stopped walking.

Clan? Come to think of it, pinapahanap ni Headmistress si Roy Harlington, she said it's for my own good. I still don't understand that part well. Pero bago pa man mangyari ang gulo ukol sa kaso ni Andrea, Headmistress was already busy. May gulo ng nangyari bago pa man nangyari ang gulong ito. Is it something to do with the Black Clan?

My eyes widened and started looking around immediately. Something's not right. I might not be able to sense any emotions, pero nasanay na ako kung may nagmamasid sa akin. That kind of feeling that someone's been observing you.. I sighed. Sa tagal ng tulog ko, siguro nagkamali-mali na ang mga senses ko.

Anyway, remembering what happened back in the office, bakit ayaw nilang sabihin sa akin ang totoong nangyaari sa loob ng isang buwan na tulog ako? I glanced at Thane who was intently looking at me.

"You're thinking again. Iyana told me you always do so, pero nagmumukha ka talagang statue na multo." I frowned. This guy really is annoying.

"Ah shut up. Kung wala kang mabuting sasabihin tumahimik ka." He smirked.

"Aha hindi mo ba namiss ang boses ko? Parang ialang taon na rin simula nung huli tayong nag-usap." He acted like he really was hurt na hinawakan niya pa ang dibdib niya. Dahil sa inis ko, nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad and deliberately stepped on his toe nang dumaan ako sa harapan niya. Napatalon-talon siya sa sakit.

"When I was sleeping, I thought it was heaven not being able to see you nor hear your voice."

"Heh. You've gotten pretty good with words. Saan ka natuto?"

"You don't have to know."

Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga pinagsasabi niya at nagpatukoy na sa paglalakad. I have things I need to settle down, dumagdag pa ang Exodus at ngayon naman may posibilidad na gugulo na naman ang Black Clan. Hays. This is so messed up.

Habang naglalakad, napansin ko na kahit ang daming mga rooms ay wala ni isang Knight ang nakabantay dito. The halls are quiet, at hindi ko parin alam kung may ano sa lugar na ito. Thane said it himself, Headquarters ni Headmistress ang luhar na ito, and just below this building is the facility. But it's too quiet, even back below the facility, kaonti lang ang mga Knights na nakabantay dun.

"What are you looking around?" Tanong ni Thane nang makapasok na kami sa elevator, located just at te end of the hall.

"Isn't this the Headquarters, pero bakit—"

"Magic, abilities, and any sort of energy manifestation don't work above here." That woman had Blocking Magic surrounding this whole place. "Isa pa, hindi madali makapunta sa itaas ng HQ. This place is basically as high as Hargeon Tower," that tower back from the second round ng main event. "What's more is that, only the Headmistress can use her abilities around here. Anyone who would do so," napatingin siya sa akin. "Heh hindi mo na kailangan malaman. It's not that you'll actually infiltrate the building." I'm just curious.

"What about the facility—" he pointed his finger upwards closing his eyes. My eyebrows sank deeper.

"There are protective barriers surrounding the whole facility, anyone without permission to enter will get captured immediately. At isa pa—"

"Pwede ba tapusin mo muna ang sasabihin ko?!" Naiinis na ako, kanina pa 'tong lalaking 'to.

"Hahaha!" Tawa lang siya ng tawa and I shook my head in dismay. I almost forgot the reason why I hated this guy in the first place.

After five minutes, bumukas nadin ang automatic doors at lumabas kami. We were back at an emtpy hall, at pare-pareho talaga ang mga daanan which makes me dizzy thinking what area is this.

"Turn right at the left at the end of this hall, at dumerecho ka tapos ay lumiko ka sa kanan. You'll see your room." Tumalikod na siya at dumerecho pakaliwa. "As for me, I have some business to attend to. Keila, don't leave the facility."

I hate the fact that they're locking me up in here at hindi manlang nula sasabihin kung bakit. I'm fine already. Again, I let out a sigh at sinunod ang sinabi ni Thane. I turned left nang makita ko ang dead end at dumerecho. Since I was looking down, hindi ko na napansin na may nabanga pala ako. My butt landed on the ground nang dahil sa lakas ng pagkabangga ko.

"Ah look where the hell you're going, will you?!"

"Hindi naman ka naman din mababanga kung tumitingin ka sa dinadaanan mo!"

I opened my eyes and when I did, nagulat ako makita siya na nakaupo din sa sahig. Like me, mukhang gulat din siya. Silence took over us. This is awkward. Ano naman ang ginagawa niya dito? Isn't she supposed to be staying in her room—

"Hanapin niyo siya! Nakatakas na naman!" Narinig kong sigaw ng isang Knight.

She quickly stood up at tumakbo palayo. After few seconds, tumayo nadin ako. I watched her disappear from my view.

"Ikaw! Ah—Miss Willar." Sabi ng isa sa dalawang Knights na tumakbo sa akin. They bowed their heads a little. Since when did they even consider me as someone higher than them? If they think about it, studyante lamang ako—ah, I'm supposed to be an Elite apprentice. Not many knows that one, pero alam nila ito dito sa facility.

"Nakatakas si—"

"I know. Ako na ang hahanap sa kaniya."

"P-pero...." he trailed off.

"Ako na ang bahala. Go back to your stations."

I turned myself around papunta sa direksyon kung nasaan siya tumakbo kanina. I felt the two Knights returned back. I'm not used to acting like someone higher, but it's the only way to make sure I could talk to her. It has only been a month since that happened, but I felt something deeper affected the both of us. With that one month gap, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari.

I turned right to the corner at ramdam ko ang presenya niya malapit sa akin. When I turned to my left, I saw her leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She seems to be alright. Nawala na ang mga kaonting gasgas niya sa katawan, and her emotions are stable at the moment.

"Andrea."