Third Person

Everyone was shocked and confused by the sudden appearance of a blazing fire.

The alarm wailed across the corners of the campus, bringing warning and agitation to the staffs and students.

Those who've witnessed the disaster informed that the fire began in the school's Chemistry Laboratory because of a mere accident. Apparently, what triggered it more was the various, flammable chemicals in the lab, and now the fire was already burning half of the Engineering Department's Building.

Students and teachers were gathered before the building, and one of it was a short-haired girl with a worried expression.

Constantly roaming her sight, she was silently hoping that two of her friends in the Engineering Department had already got out of the building. Yet, when she saw Nik with the other students who just exited from the building's entrance, she released a sigh of relief and immediately approached the guy.

"Nik!" tawag nito sa lalakeng palinga-linga rin sa paligid.

"Nasaan si Tala?" she added when the guy was finally beside her. Hindi naman matigil ang paggalaw ng ulo ng lalake na parang may hinahanap kaya nagsimulang magtaka ang babae.

"Eunika, Nik!"

Sabay silang napalingon sa mga bagong dating. Ethan and Steele were both catching their breath as if they had just ran a marathon.

"Where's Tala?" salubong ni Ethan at tinapunan ng tingin ang nakababatang kapatid na ngayo'y maaaninag ang pag-aalala sa mukha.

Steele, on the other hand, approached a girl who was standing from afar. Sinundan nila ng tingin ang lalake na sinimulang kalabitin ang babaeng nakatalikod. When the girl turned to their direction, Eunika immediately recognized her as Tala's blockmate.

"Nagkataon bang nakita mo si Tala nang pababa na kayo?" tanong ng lalake rito, pero nagkibit-balikat lang ang babae.

"We were in a hurry when we got out from the room. Ang naaalala ko lang ay siya itong huli sa 'ming lahat na nakalabas," she softly replied.

Steele was about to bid his "thank you" when everyone was alarmed by a sudden explosion coming from the Engineering Building's third floor. Tumalsik ang iilang semento ng gusali kaya wala sa oras na napatakbo papalayo ang iilang estudyante.

The fire crawled even faster than its usual pace and everyone was worried sick!

The teachers and staffs were already on the move to call for the fire station, but it seemed that there were also reported cases of fire and arson in the town, which only meant that the firemen couldn't rush any sooner.

"Shit!" Nik cursed under his breath and swiftly ran back inside the heated building. Maraming mga guro ang pumigil sa lalake, pero hindi ito nagpaawat at tuluyan na ngang nakapasok sa loob.

Ethan was also on the move to follow his brother, but Steele was fast to stop him.

"Damn it, Steele. Bitawan mo ako," he growled and resisted from his friend's grip.

With teary eyes, Eunika stared at the building. "Save her." She gripped her skirt tightly and contained herself from following Nik.

Meanwhile, the guy who had the strength to find his friend in the middle of a flaming structure was now having a hard time catching his breath due to the thick smoke. Umuubo ito habang sinusubukang akyatin ang ikatlong palapag ng gusali. Wala itong pakialam kung nagkandapasa-pasa na ang kaniyang mga tuhod at braso dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagkasasalampak sa sahig.

Ang tanging nasa kaniyang isipan ay ang mahanap si Tala at mailigtas ito.

'Ako iyong ka-building niya pero hindi ko man lang ito nagawang maprotektahan. Kung may nangyaring masama sa kaniya'y hinding-hindi ko mapatatawad ang sarili ko,' anito sa kaniyang isipan.

Everything was a mess when he reached the third floor. Nakita nito ang parteng gumuho dahil sa pagsabog kaya mabilis itong umiwas sa parteng iyon.

Mas binilisan nito ang paghahanap sa kaibigan nang maramdaman ang pagbigat ng kaniyang dibdib at ang pag-init ng kaniyang kalamnan. He knew that he wouldn't last a minute or two if he continued inhaling toxic smoke.

"Tala!" His voice echoed through every corners of the floor. He still managed to check every room even when he was clutching his chest from time to time.

Akmang liliko ito papunta sa west wing upang ipagpatuloy ang paghahanap nang mahagilap ng kaniyang mga mata ang bulto ng isang taong nakaupo sa sahig sa labas ng isang silid.

His eyes widened when he familiarized the silhouette. Instantly, he rushed towards the girl's side.

"Tala! Tala, ayos ka lang? Ha? Shit! Dumudugo 'yong ulo mo!" wala sa oras itong napasigaw nang masilayan ang paglandas ng dugo mula sa mamuti-muting buhok ng babae—na ngayo'y nabahiran na ng dugo—patungo sa pisnge nito.

Lalo lang itong nataranta nang mapansin ang unti-unting pagpikit ng mga mata ng babae.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Tala, no! Hold on!"

Just as his voice faded, Tala lost her consciousness. Paulit-ulit na napamura ang lalake at sinimulan na lamang itong buhatin pababa ng gusali.

Ang kaninang pagod na kaniyang naramdaman ay biglang naglaho. He didn't even mind the girl's façade wearing off due to adrenaline. He just noticed it when he was already taking the last step of the stair in the first floor.

With a ragged breath and wounded body, he stormed out of the building in a rush.

Horror immediately filled Eunika's face as she saw Nik walking out of the building and coughing out hard with Tala on his arms. Wala pang limang segundo ay nakalapit na ang babae sa kanila.

"Tala," she worriedly called to the friend who was still unconscious. Naramdaman niya ang paglapit ng ibang mga kasamahan sa kanila. Nagtanguan ang tatlong lalake bago nila tinulungan si Nik na dalhin si Tala sa campus clinic.

"Sa gate na lang. I already called Tito Rick. He's on his way." Nanguna sa paglalakad si Eunika na tinabihan ni Steele. Nakabuntot naman sa kanila ang magkapatid na nagtulungan upang buhatin si Tala.

While walking in the middle of the serene corridors of the library, Ethan sensed something strange and peculiar, which made him felt goose bumps. Wala sa oras itong napahinto sa paglalakad nang matanaw mula sa hindi kalayuan ang dalawang bulto ng tao.

The library's ground was quite distant from the other school buildings. It was located at the corner of the campus with a tiny gate situated behind it that led towards an abandoned lot.

Kadalasan ay tahimik talaga ang dakong bahagi ng librarya kaya minsan lang na tumatambay roon ang mga estudyante. But because the five of them are heading towards the school's back exit, they have to pass by the library before arriving at the south gate.

"Ano 'yon?" takang tanong ni Nik sa kapatid at lumingon din sa direksiyon kung saan ito nakatingin.

"May problema?" usisa ni Eunika na ngayo'y huminto na rin sa paglalakad kasama si Steele.

Ethan was bewildered because the moment his friends noticed him halted, the silhouettes were also gone. The strange presence that he felt had also faded away. Kumunot ang kaniyang noo dulot ng nasaksihan.

"Nothing," he replied instead and averted his eyes. "Let's go."

Nagkibit-balikat ang kaniyang mga kasamahan bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Mas binilisan ng mga ito ang kanilang usad nang matanaw sa harapan ang nakabukas na tarangkahan ng paaralan.

Outside the school premise was a familiar vehicle waiting for them.

When they were meters away, the car window opened, revealing their Tito Ricky who shot a worried glance at the girl who was carried by Ethan and Nik.

"Tito," Eunika greeted as she rode on the passenger seat. Sa second seat naman nila inilagay si Tala na nakahiga at nakapatong ang ulo sa mga hita ni Ethan, while Steele and Nik rode on the seat behind Ethan's before the vehicle moved.

"What happened?" asked Ricky who was still in his business suit. Clearly, he had to excuse himself from a business meeting after hearing Eunika's news over the phone.

"Hindi po namin alam kung paano nagsimula ang sunog. The Chemistry Lab was built with extinguishable materials and it wouldn't easily trigger a fire. Nakapagtataka ang mga nangyari kanina," Eunika replied with a frown.

Hindi umimik ang iba nang sabihin iyon ng babae. Everyone was drowned, trying to understand and analyze the said incident that happened.

Napalibutan ng katahimikan ang loob ng sasakyanan. Nabasag lamang iyon nang magsalita muli ang kanilang Tito Ricky.

"May sinabi na ba ang head ng paaralan?"

Tumango ang babae. "Pansamantala raw na isususpinde and klase. Two weeks, maybe. Mag-iimbestiga pa sila sa nangyaring insidente at ipaaayos na rin ang nasirang buildings."

Bahagyang tumango ang lalake bilang tugon. Nang makarating sa mansiyon ay kaagad na inilabas ni Ethan ang wala pa ring malay na kaibigan.

"I'll take her to her room," he informed Ricky who bid him his "thanks". Naunang pumasok ang lalake habang karga si Tala at nakasunod naman sa kaniya ang iba. When they got in the manor, a man and three women wearing troubled expressions welcomed their arrival.

Tinanguan ni Ethan ang mga ito bago dinala ang dilag sa ikalawang palapag.

"Mom."

"Papa."

"Hi, ma."

Sabay na binati nina Eunika, Steele at Nik ang kanilang mga magulang at tinungo ang mga ito.

"Chels," tawag ni Ricky sa asawa na tinapunan siya ng nag-aalalang tingin.

"I'll accompany Ethan," paalam ni Chelsea at umakyat na rin sa itaas.

"Kids, may nakahandang pagkain sa garden. Magmeryende muna kayo," ani Alfonse—ang ama ni Steele at sinenyasan silang pumunta sa bakuran ng bahay.

Nagkatinginan naman ang tatlo, nagtatanong ang mga mata kung ba't bigla na lamang nagtipon-tipon ang kanilang mga magulang. Maraming katanungan ang naglalaro sa kanilang isipan, pero walang imik na sumunod na rin ang mga ito sa sinabi ng ama ni Steele.

"Hindi ako tanga para hindi mapansing ayaw nila tayong makinig sa kanilang usapan," nakasimangot na wika ni Nik nang marating nila ang hardin.

"Pasimuno na naman no'n si papa," dagdag ni Steele bago nilantakan ang nakahandang Cassava Cake sa kanilang harapan.

Eunika sat on the garden chair across the guys before overlapping her legs. With a stern expression, she said, "Whatever it is that they're about to discuss, I'm sure that it had something to do with Tala's case."

A minute after the kids left the manor, Chelsea stormed down the stairs with a ragged breath.

"Ethan's tending Tala's wounds. He won't come down any sooner especially with the girl's condition," she stated before taking the seat beside her husband.

"Kailan ba natin ipapaalam sa kanila?" tanong ni Eriana, ang ina ni Eunika. "They already passed the legal age. I think they should know."

Tumango si Alfonse. "Oras na rin siguro para malaman nila ang mga kakayahan nila't kung sino talaga sila."

"Then we also have to consider their safety." Ricky leaned against the cushion of the sofa. Sighing, he added, "Hindi magiging madali ang buhay nila sa Atlantica. It's been what . . . eighteen years since the last time we stepped foot in that place."

"Pero nariyan naman si Tala para gabayan sila," Salem, the mother of Nik and Ethan, butted in. "You've been training her for ten years, Rick. Sapat naman na siguro ang panahong iyon para maturuan din niya ang kaniyang mga kaibigan."

Chelsea nodded. "But it's still our obligation as parents and guardians to train them."

Tumango ang lahat sa isinaad ng babae. Namayani naman ang katahimikan nang mga sandaling iyon, pero binasag din ni Salem pagkaraan ng ilang segundo.

"I know that all of you felt it, too." She gritted her teeth. "They can't be here, right?"

For the second time, they were enclosed in silence. Everyone was confused with what had just dawned upon them. They purposely left their own world to get rid of the danger that could bring harm to them and their children's lives.

They meant to leave and not return, unless required.

"It's been eighteen years," Chelsea broke the silence. She pursed her lips to contain the tears that began brimming in her eyes. "Hindi ko inaakalang makararating sila rito sa mundo ng mga tao. Natunton na nila tayo."

"But what do they want from us?" Eriana asked, abruptly standing. "Umalis na nga tayo, 'di ba? We laid low and distant ourselves from Atlantica. Ano pa ba ang hinahanap nila?"

"Ria, calm down," ani Salem at pinaupo ulit ang kaibigan.

Umiling si Ricky. "We don't know if it's them. We couldn't be so sure, pero hindi rin mahirap na sila nga. They hurt our Tala and that is enough reason for us to stay alert. Hindi na tayo magiging ligtas sa mundong 'to."

"It's a warning," sang-ayon ni Alfonse at isa-isang tinapunan ng tingin ang mga kasamahan. "The only way to protect all of them is to tell them the truth."

"Salem," tawag ni Ricky sa babae. "Does Ethan know?"

Malungkot na ngumiti ang ginang at umiling. "Hindi ko pa kayang sabihin. Baka kamuhian niya lang ako. I-I need more time." She bit her lip before withdrawing her gaze from the man. She wasn't the biological mother of the guy and the latter didn't know about it. She just needed the perfect timing to tell him the truth and accept whatever it was that Ethan might do.

Nagpatuloy ang mga ito sa pagpupulong. Naging mas masinsinan ang pag-uusap at pagpaplano sa kung ano mang posibleng mangyari sa mga susunod na araw.

Meanwhile, in an abandoned lot behind a school, three people in black cloaks were concealing their presences behind a huge Acacia Tree.

Moments later, a large, floating black hole appeared before them.

"Nasaan ang babae?" tanong ng nag-iisang babae sa grupo at mariing tinitigan ang dalawan kasamahan na lalake.

"Pasensiya na, pero napuruhan lang namin siya. Sayang lang at hindi namin ito nakuha. May dumating na lalake para ilabas ito sa lugar kaya—"

Isang malutong na sampal ang nagpatigil sa lalake sa pagsasalita.

"Mga hangal!" asik ng babae at ikinuyom ang mga kamao. "Kay simple ng ipinagagawa ko pero palpak pa rin? Mga walang silbi kahit kailan!"

Marahas itong tumalikod upang ikalma ang sarili. Nagpakawala ito ng isang malalim na hininga bago muling nagsalita. "Tara. Kailangan ko pang isawalat sa heneral ang kapalpakang inyong ginawa."

Nauna itong pumasok sa itim na butas. Nakayuko namang sumunod sa kaniya ang dalawang kasamahan.

Nang tuluyang makapasok aynaglaho na lamang ang mga ito, kasali na ang itim na butas, sa gitna ngkawalan.

HagaraSibs, 2020