CHAPTER 4

GREEN LEMON

ALAS SEIS pa lang ng umaga pero narito na kami apat at naglalakad sa malawak na pasilyo ng dormitoryo papunta sa training hall.

Today was the start of our training and I haven't slept well yet, so I felt like I was floating. I couldn't think clearly. Hindi ko na kasi nagawang matulog pang muli pagkatapos kong makabalik sa silid namin nina Starlet mula sa Genesis Forest.

It was still clear in my mind why I went there. I was looking where the voice was coming from. But unexpectedly, I became a part of the Class Clandestine.

But why were the faces of my classmates blurred in my memory? Why couldn't I remember the nine I was within that class? And the biggest question in my mind was how did I become part of that class?

Those questions were bothering me. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about the class. At kung bakit hindi maaaring malaman ng kung sinuman na kabilang ako o kami sa klaseng 'yon?

Argh! Fvck those questions!

Pinilit kong iwaglit ang lahat ng nga iniisip ko. This was the first day of our training, so I needed to focus.

Marami kaming kasabayang maglakad na mga babae rito sa hallway pero napansin kong lumalayo sila kapag nakikita si Celeste, at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Was it because of the color and design of her uniform?

Sa amin kasing apat ay siya lang ang naiiba ang kulay. Kung may mga kulay pula sa aming mga suot, siya naman ay kulay asul. Maging ako ay nagtataka rin kung bakit iba ang kulay ng uniporme niya gayong sa iisang akademya lang naman kami nag-aaral.

May nakita rin akong kulay berde, pero karamihan talaga ay kulay pula. Si Celeste pa lang ang nakita kong may kulay asul sa unipormeng suot.

I was about to ask her about it, but Scarlet was the one who spoke first as if she had something urgent to say. Maybe, I would just ask Celeste, later.

"Didn't you know that someone was caught entering Genesis Forest this dawn? Hindi ko pa natatanong kung bakit, pero ang sabi-sabi kanina ay . . . may nakita raw siyang mga pumasok d'on kaya sinundan niya," kuwento ni Scarlet, ang pinakamadaldal sa kanilang dalawa ni Starlet.

"Ang kuwento pa nila'y nagpupumilit daw na lumabas ng akademya ang lalaking iyon kanina, pero hindi na puwede dahil wala nang nakaaalam kung saan matatagpuan ang gate," malungkot na turan naman ni Starlet. Mas malumanay siyang magsalita kumpara kay Scarlet. that was a good thing, I could easily identify who was Star from Scar.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng lungkot dahil sa naging kapalaran ng lalaking iyon. Gustuhin man sana niyang umalis ay hindi na maaari.

Napatanong din ako sa isipan ko kung sino iyong lalaking iyon at kung ano naman ang dahilan niya nang pagpunta r'on? Saka sino-sino ang mga nakita niyang pumasok sa Genesis Forest na nagtulak sa kaniya para sumunod? Were they also part of the Class Clandestine? Were they among us?

Sa pagkakaalam ko'y hindi puwedeng malaman ng iba kung sino-sino ang mga kabilang d'on. But why was it forbidden to know? Kaya ba sinundan ng lalaki ang mga pumasok d'on dahil gusto niyang alamin kung sino-sino kami?

"Alam niyo ba kung nas'an siya ngayon?" Celeste asked curiously. The twins just shook their heads in response.

Celeste sighed, "Thanks . . ." She looked around, then turned her gaze to us again. "I have something to tell you, guys," she said. "Away from the others," she added.

Nang makalabas kami ng dormitory ay agad na may sumalubong sa aming dalawang lalaki. Namumukhaan ko sila, sila iyong nakita ko n'ong pabalik ako sa dorm kaninang madalin araw, but I didn't know their names.

They were both wearing long-sleeved polo with blue lining on its edges and buttonholes. It was the same design as Celeste's uniform. Their slacks are also blue, and they were wearing shining pairs of black shoes.

"Kuya Virgo?" masayang sambit ni Scarlet. She immediately approached the man she called Virgo and hugged him tightly, so did Starlet.

Pero ang saya sa kanilang mga mukha nila ay unti-unting nawala nang kumalas sila sa pagkakayakap kay Virgo. Nagkatitigan silang tatlo sa 'di ko malamang dahilan.

Were they friends? But they called Virgo, Kuya . . . Were they siblings?

Pero bakit mukhang makaka-edad lang sila-o kami? Parang 18 or 19 years old lang, saka hindi naman nila kamukha si Virgo. Virgo's eyes were cool gray, while the twins had sky blue. Malayong-malayo ang hitsura nilang dalawa kay Virgo.

Though, I couldn't deny that Virgo was handsome. He was tall, and he had a clean and neat look. His facial and physical features were so appealing but were not attractive enough for me to like him. He was not my type - but I couldn't argue that he was really handsome as hell. He could be a model in the mortal world if he wanted to, just like the hazel green-eyed guy behind him.

"We're old enough to decide what we want to do, kuya!" Scarlet started the conversation. As usual, mas madaldal siya kaysa kay Starlet, mas may confidence siya kumpara sa kakambal niya.

"Yeah, I know . . . but how about mom if something bad happens to the both of you? We already know the consequences of entering Royal Academy," Virgo reminded the twin in his very soft voice. I could sense the sadness in his voice, and I could relate to him.

"Don't worry -" Virgo immediately cut Scarlet off.

"Paanong hindi ako mag-aalala, Scar, hindi rin ako sigurado kung makakalabas pa ako rito ng buhay. Alam natin na mas may kapangyarihan akong lumaban kumpara sa inyo, kaya paanong hindi ako mag-aalala para sa inyong dalawa?" His soft and calm tone turned serious. Para na siyang tatay na pinapagalitan ang mga anak niya ngayon.

"Kahit sabihin mo pa 'yan ngayon, hindi na kami makakalabas pa, kuya," Starlet reasoned out. She actually had a point.

Virgo sighed. It was evident on his face that he was really disappointed, but he could do nothing about it.

I admired how he cared about his younger siblings. He was obviously worried about them, and it was normal for older brothers to feel that way. And so, I couldn't blame him either.

"O-Okay, stop it already. Baka kung saan na humantong 'yan," pag-aawat ng lalaking kasama ni Virgo.

The guy had a charming smile - and his smile was very contagious. His facial features were appealing, too. He had a pair of thin, pinkish, and kissable lips, and he had a dimple on his left cheek, which made him more handsome in my eyes. His set of hazel green eyes, long eyelashes, and thick eyebrows perfectly complemented light blond hair and aristocrat nose. He looked like an Irish, actually.

I could see how cute he was now in broad daylight, unlike earlier when I saw them outside.

I wouldn't be surprised if many girls would go crazy about him, just like Virgo.

"B-By the way, guys. I-I'm Harmony, nice seeing you, again . . . and Green, h-hello." He smiled widely at me, and I couldn't help but smile, too.

"It's n-nice meeting you, again, Harmony," nabubulol kong sagot.

"Again?" sabay-sabay na tanong ng kambal at Celeste. Nakataas ang mga kilay nilang nakatingin sa akin. Napahagikgik naman si Virgo, kaya matalim ko siyang tinitigan.

"Nagkita na kayo? Kailan?" Scarlet asked in confusion. Hindi talaga siya tatahimik kapag hindi nasasagot ang mga tanong niya.

"A-Ah . . . k-kaninang madaling araw k-kasi . . . ano kasi . . . " Biglang kong naisip si Celeste. "S-Si Celeste kasi, hinahanap ko kaninang madaling araw kasi nagising ako dahil sa masamang panaginip at nakitang wala siya sa kama niya. Kaya lumabas ako't hinanap siya, and I saw these boys here outside, wandering around at that time, " I lied, and I had no choice but to do it.

I didn't want to lie to them, but I couldn't tell the truth, either, because it was forbidden. I really had no choice. I just really needed to be careful.

We all turned our gazes to Celeste. We were all waiting for her to say something - on where she went early this morning.

She took a deep breath. "Pwedeng 'wag dito?" she shrugged and started to walk away from us. We just followed her.