Atalanta Jinelle Diaz

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang marinig ang nakabibinging tunog ng aking alarm. My hand extended to reach for it and pressed the off button. Kinusot-kusot ko pa ang aking mga mata at napahikab. Huminga ako nang malalim bago sinipat ang oras.

"Twelve thirty AM," mahina kong sambit at nagsimula nang mag-ayos ng sarili. I was careful not to touch the part of my head that was injured. I could still feel a stinging pain, but it felt better than how it pained a while ago.

Habang nanghihilamos ay hindi ko mapigilang isipin ang nangyaring insidente kanina. How did a grenade manage to get in the school grounds? Mahigpit ang seguridad ng university at hindi basta-basta makalulusot ang mga estudyanteng may dalang armas dahil na rin sa luggage scanner na nakapuwesto sa entrance ng apat na gates ng campus.

So, how did that happened?

A while ago when I was on the verge of passing out after being thrown away by the explosion, I felt an unfamiliar and a couple of strong auras that lingered in the third floor. Never have I ever felt such kind of presence before. It screamed danger.

Napailing ako. I hoped that I was just hallucinating. Hindi biro ang nangyari kanina. Sana nga'y aksidente lang ang lahat.

Nang matapos magsipilyo, nagbihis na ako ng isang black tank top na pinaresan ng leggings. As much as I desired to fix my hair in a clean bun or ponytail, I resorted to have it hanging on my shoulders because of my wound.

Nang maisuot ko na ang aking mga sapatos ay napahikab ulit ako. Damn, I slept later than usual. Wala sana sa plano ko ngayon ang um-attend ng training, pero dahil gusto kong hamunin ang sariling kakayahan ay pinilit kong bumangon kahit na halos tatlong oras lang ang aking tulog.

I smirked. I'm always up for the challenge. A single wound in the head was nothing compared to the blood and sweat I've earned in the couple of years in training.

Lumabas na ako ng aking silid at dahan-dahang bumaba ng hagdan. Bumungad sa akin ang payapa at madilim na sala. The moonlight seeking through the crystal windows was the only radiance that gave light and created silhouettes in the serene manor. Lumabas na ako ng bahay at nagtungo sa basement.

The moment I stepped foot on the cellar's floor, a couple of flying blades greeted my arrival. I ducked my head to avoid two of it and picked up a lone metal bar on the ground. Buong puwersang iwinagayway ko iyon upang pigilan ang paparating pang mga talim.

"Shoot!"

Wala sa oras akong napaiwas nang mamataan ang pagbulusok ng isang sibat. A ringing sound resonated in my position as the spear collided with the steel walls of the basement.

"That was close."

I scoffed upon hearing Tito Ricky's statement.

"You're certain that I could die by that spear," I whined. "Ano na lang ang mangyari kung hindi ko iyon naiwasan?" Seriously, he never go easy on me. He couldn't even consider my already wounded state!

He chortled. "I won't be initiation something that'll be out of your control." Nagkibit-balikat ito at hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin. "Anyway, I thought you wouldn't come. Quite a surprise that you paid a visit in the cellar. You know that you can skip this training, right?"

Hinila ko ang spear mula sa pader at nilapitan si tito. "You're here, tito, which means you expected my presence. Ayos na po ako. Malayo naman ito sa bituka." Humalukipkip ako at sumandal sa mesang gawa sa bakal habang tinitingnan itong inaayos ang iba't ibang sandatang nakakalat sa mesa.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Tala," he reminded and sighed.

I smiled. Tito really had that soft spot for me. Even when he wasn't my biological father, I could truly feel the love of a father from him in the past eighteen years-silang dalawa ni Tita Chelsea.

We were engulfed in a brief silence, until my eyes laid on one of the projectile laying freely on the table. Napansin ni tito ang pagtitig ko sa grenade kaya pinulot niya ito. "Let me guess, this grenade is bothering you. A penny for your thoughts?"

For a moment, I hesitated. Pero napagdesisyunan ko pa ring sabihin kay tito ang aking hinala.

"About the incident this morning, I don't think it was pure accident, nor a human negligence." I noticed how he halted on his position. It urged me to continue. "Seeing a hand grenade unpinned with its pull ring snagged in the middle of the building's hallway already made the situation bizarre. And before it could've detonated, I was able to sense strong presences just around the area. Strange because normal people don't possess such intriguing characteristics. Ngayon ko lang ito naramdaman sa ibang tao, other than you and Tita Chelsea."

I was trying to pinpoint what exactly happened in there, especially when I was the sole student who was caught and involved in that occurrence.

"They're here."

Mabilis na bumalik ang aking tingin sa kaniya nang magsalita ito. Napakurap-kurap na lang ako nang masilayan ang pagtiim ng kaniyang bagang. Hindi rin nakatakas sa akin ang pagkuyom ng kaniyang kamao na agad din namang kumalma nang ito'y magpakawala ng isang malalim na hininga.

He motioned me to take the monobloc chair on one side. I pulled the chair before him and sat, patiently waiting for what he was about to say.

"I've already told you about your history, right?"

Tumango ako. Ten years ago, on the day after my eighth birthday, Tito Ricky exposed a metamorphic truth to my younger self-the truth that abruptly changed the normal cycle of my life.

Normal. Tipid akong ngumiti. I never even considered myself one, and the unique physiques I acquired where enough proof that I was certainly not an ordinary person.

Tito Ricky once said that we were Atlantians, powerful creatures who wield and summon the element water. And these blue eyes of mine were a natural characteristic of an Atlantian.

"I haven't had told you yet the reason why we migrated in the mortal world, kung bakit tayo nandito imbes na manirahan sa ating mundo. But now, I think it's time for you to know."

Mariin kong tinitigan si tito. Kaunti lang ang aking nalalaman sa mundong aming pinanggalingan. I only know its name, Atlantica. Pero tiyak na magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ko kailanman naisip ang dahilan kung bakit kami nanatili rito sa mundo ng mga tao. What urged our family to transmigrate here?

"Atlantica is a prosperous world, ruled by the powerful Bluestone Family. Their bloodline reigned Atlantica for more than five hundred years and within those years, we could clearly discern how our world thrived and flourished," he began narrating.

"But, seventeen years ago, a disaster dawned upon Atlantica. A huge army of rebellion annihilated almost all Atlantians. Hindi nakapaghanda ang kaharian kaya marami ang nadamay, napuruhan, at namatay," his face gloomed and a downcast smile formed in his lips. "I was one of those who fought alongside the army of Atlantica. I couldn't deny that I had this close attachment to the royal family, but because I almost lost Chelsea amidst that heinous war, I decided to be selfish for once, bringing the both of you here in the mortal world."

Bahagya akong tumango upang intindihan ang kaniyang mga salita.

"Having you here in this world made me think that you were safe, that I could take you away from the peril of the enemies lurking in Atlantica. Yet after yesterday's incident, I don't think we can last here any longer."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Why? Do you think the enemies in Atlantica's war years ago were the same people who was responsible for the arson in school?"

"Your conclusion confirmed my suspicion."

Lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi nito. How can he be so sure?

Huminga ito nang malalim bago sinalubong ang aking tingin. "Tala, you may not know this, but our senses are much more sensitive compared to ordinary humans. We have the tendency to be aware of someone's presence even when they're still a couple of meters away from us, especially if that someone is of our kind. We know an Atlantian when we see and feel one. What you felt yesterday isn't only mere hallucination. It is your instinct and your body's way of warning you for nearby danger."

My head tilted in astonishment. I didn't know that I possessed such skill!

"S-So you're saying, tito, na hindi iyon aksidente? It was purposely done to attack me?" Are they kidding me? Why would the enemy put their interest on me? "O baka nagkataon lang na iba ang kanilang target at nadamay lang ako." My words faded at the end.

A part of me was considering tito's notion. Pero hindi ko magawang paniwalaan ang isang bagay na hindi ko maintindihan.

Tito sighed for the nth time. I've never seen him this perturbed before. He was always the composed and oriented type. The occurrence may have been taking a toll on him and his decisions.

"We still don't know, Tala. Pero hindi rin mahirap na iyon ang nangyari, na ikaw talaga ang puntirya nila," he stated and leaned on the table. "I wanted to protect you, all of you. And in doing so, we need you, kids, to be aware of the truth. Help us tell Eunika and the boys about their true identity. It's time for them to know."

Doon na ako tuluyang natigilan sa nais nitong mangyari. My eyes blinked away the tears that began brimming in it.

This was the main reason why I trained so hard-why I wanted to pour all my efforts in the last ten years of training. I admitted at first that I was only doing this to protect them. But as years passed, I eventually loved the feeling of fighting for the people I cared about. I felt the need to do this, not only for them, but most especially for myself.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "When should I tell them?"

Tito Ricky tossed me one of the swords on the table. Mabilis naman akong tumayo upang saluhin ito. "The soonest time possible. Don't worry, their parents are there to back you up. You only need to introduce them who we really are, and the rest, kami na'ng bahala."

I puffed out air to contain my emotions. Just imagining how they'd react to my words made me feel nervous. The truth was hidden to them for years. I should ready myself for whatever reaction they'd pour upon hearing our reality.

"Now, enough with that subject. Let's not waste your time and effort in attending training," ani tito na nagpatango sa 'kin.

We had the usual warm-up before we got into action. I stood on one side of the basement and faced him. Holding my sword before my chest, I channelled my element into it. Mabilis na nabalutan ang espada ng malinaw at kumikinang na tubig. Tito did the same with his weapon-a long spear.

Atlantians can summon and produce water from their bodies, but only through a certain medium na ang kanilang katawan mismo ang pipili.

I bit my lip as I felt guilty by that fact. Five years ago, I learned that my identity remained vague to me even when I already knew where I came from. Dumagdag lang iyon nang malaman ko ang katotohanang hindi maaaring mailalabas ng isang Atlantian ang kaniyang kapangyarihan kung wala itong medium.

Our mediums-may it be a kind of weapon or even just a single stick-could make us more powerful as it was the only way for us to release our element.

But how was I able to release water without the use of any medium? How was I able to properly manipulate it, thinking that I was bearing an ability that was the exact opposite of Tito Ricky's description?

What do I even call myself?

I once approached him about this thing, hoping that he could enlighten my bewilderment.

"Tito, may nangyari po bang mayro'ng isang Atlantian na nakakayang magpalabas ng tubig kahit na walang medium?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo nito nang mga panahong 'yon at nagtataka akong binalingan. "Well, based on history, it was rare to find someone as potent as that. Wala pang nangyaring gano'n sa kasaysayan ng Atlantica," he managed to answer while mixing the pasta with the sauce. "Why'd you ask?"

"N-Nothing. Thanks, Tito Ricky."

Unfortunately, that assertion only fuelled my confusion. Magmula no'n ay hindi ko na sinubukang sabihin sa kanila ang isa kong kakayahan. I didn't want them to think of me as someone different. Mas mabuting itago ito sa aking sarili. Besides, I could always pretend. I could summon my sword anytime and anywhere and battle with it, and I could also use my skill to produce water without the aid of my sword.

I can actually do both. And instead of thinking about it negatively, I took the situation as something more convenient to me, an advantage for myself.

Napailing ako. Iwinaksi ko ang mga iniisip at nag-focus sa training.

Marami pa ang itinuro niya sa akin no'ng madaling araw na 'yon. He again challenged my combat skills even when I already defeated him once in a one-on-one fist battle. Because Atlantians depend solely on their medium to release their element, they must first learn to fight without it. At least if instances happen that their weapon was destroyed, they could still manage to fight hand on hand.

The last thing that we did was the weapon training. He then tested my weapon handling skills.

Sa katunayan ay palagi niya itong ginagawa. He always does this, and in every training session we had, he'll teach me at least one weapon to use. Ngayon ay tinuturuan niya akong gumamit ng whip. It wasn't easy as it required strength and control to properly regulate the intensity of my every move and attack in order to hit the target. Ikinumpara kong gamitin ang chain at elastic whip. Bahagya akong nahirapan sa nauna dahil may kabigatan ito at mahirap kontrolin ang direksiyon kung saan mo ito nais ipatatama.

When the clock struck four, tito adjourned the training. Pagod akong pumasok muli sa bahay at pasimpleng hinawakan ang aking sugat nang maramdaman ang patuloy na pagkirot nito.

Usually, I'd proceed to the bathroom to test my other skill-the skill to release water through my bare hands. But due to my current situation, I advanced to my bed and laid instantly without minding the sweat in my body.

Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at nakaramdam ng ginhawa nang unti-unting humupa ang kirot sa aking ulo.

HagaraSibs, 2020