CHAPTER 5

GREEN LEMON

"SERIOUSLY? You're a part of the Clandestine?" Scarlet asked in shock. Napatakip siya ng kaniyang bibig dahil sa nalaman.

Nakakagulat ba talagang malaman na kabilang si Celeste sa klaseng iyon?

Celeste immediately nodded. Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanila na kabilang din ako o hindi. . . Bawal iyong malaman ng kung sinuman, pero sinabi pa rin ni Celeste na kabilang siya roon.

Though I already had a suspicion that she was a part of the class . . .

Bakit kasi hindi ko maalala na kabilang siya? What's really happening?

A question for Celeste was immediately formed inside my mind. "Celeste, if you are part of that class, then you know who your classmates are, right? Can you tell us who they are?" I asked seriously.

The four turned their gazes to me and back to Celeste because of my question. It caught their full attention.

"Oo nga, para naman aware kami," Scarlet playfully said.

Celeste sighed. "That's also the question that bothers me; I can't remember who they are. As if my memories of them were suddenly erased from my mind. Everything's blurry, and I even don't know why," she said as she took a deep breath.

I could relate to her. But good thing, I knew someone in the Clandestine now. But I just couldn't understand why she told us that she was a part of it. I wasn't sure about the consequences of what she did or why it was forbidden to tell others.

"If telling others about Class Clandestine and its members are forbidden, then why did you tell us? What will happen to you now?" I asked in confusion.

I needed to know the consequences so I could prepare in case I was ready to tell them that I was also a part of the Clandestine.

"It is forbidden because it will be easier for someone to defeat you," Virgo answered instead of Celeste. "If you belong to Clandestine, it only means that you're one of the strongest and powerful students here in the Royal Academy. But if you break or violate the only rule, secrecy, you will be vulnerable to other creatures who know it. And when they beat you, they will get all of your powers, and you will die," he added, which made me nervous.

"The purpose of this academy is to choose the proper inheritor of the Utopia's throne. We are all here because of that, to win the throne without knowing the greatest secret of the academy . . . So we will do everything just to win and survive. Just like this dawn, a man tried to enter Genesis Forest even though it was dangerous because he saw someone entered there . . .

". . . The High Council confirmed that the man saw a member of Clandestine. He followed the member to find out the member's identity and the other class members. Still, he was not lucky enough to know because Genesis Forest is a dangerous place, especially in the middle of the night, when at that time, the Clandestine was gathering." Our attention was focused on Harmony, who told us those things.

"If you successfully entered the forest, it only means that you're part of the class or you've beaten those dangerous animals and evil protectors living in there. If you fail, the High Council would immediately know it. When that happens, the High Council will decide if they will save you or not because the council is only the one who has the power over the forest. If they decided to save you, meaning you've found out something interesting to them . . . And by the way, Genesis Forest is the training ground for the Clandestine." I was stunned by what Harmony said. He impressed me with his knowledge about Clandestine.

The twins applauded him. We were all speechless with what we had learned from him. Virgo just playfully teased Harmony.

"You must be part of the class, too . . ." We turned our gazes to Celeste who said it.

We waited for Harmony's answer. He just nodded in agreement with what Celeste said.

Kaya pala ang dami niyang alam kasi kabilang din siya Clandestine? Parang ako lang yata ang hindi nakakaalam niyon. . .

"Yeah. But I also did not expect it because I am just a Music God," Harmony added.

Woah! That's why his name is Harmony! Wait, is he good at singing? I guess so . . . My ideal man.

Out of nowhere ay pakiramdam ko ay biglang uminit ang mga pisngi ko dahil sa kilig. Pero agad ko ring ibinalik ang seryosong ekspresyon ng mukha ko upang 'di sila magtaka.

"So, why did you tell us that you are a member, even though you know what the consequences will be?" Celeste asked curiously.

Well, I agree with Celeste. Why did they tell us those things?

"Because I trust you, and that's it. Isn't that also the reason why you told us that you're a part of Clandestine?" Harmony asked Celeste back, and she nodded.

"Yes, because they are my friends. And after all, we don't keep secrets from each other!" she said and that made me feel guilty.

They were also my friends, but I didn't want to disobey Hearlet. Paano kung tama lahat ng mga sinabi niya?

Kaya sorry sa inyo, guys. Kahit kaibigan ko kayo, I still need to stick with my plans. I'm really sorry.

I was not here for the crown or the throne but came here to make myself stronger and ready for my natural enemies when the day would come that I could finally face them.

"I'm also part of the Clandestine," Virgo said, and it got our attention.

Wait, seriously? The three of them are my classmates?

"They're my sisters," he was pointing at the twins. "And it's fine for me to tell you that I belong to the class, too. I trust all of you," he continued.

"Kuya, totoo ba iyan?" masayang tanong ni Starlet. Nakikita kong proud sila sa kapatid nila.

"Now, the three of us will protect you," Virgo said as the twins hugged him. They were close to each other.

I felt sorry for them because I could not tell them that I was a part of the class, too. But I would protect the twins or any of them.

"Woah! The weak children of the Neonians are here, isn't it amazing?" said a woman's voice that caught our attention. We all turned to where the voice came from.

May kasama siyang isang babae, at parehas na nakataas ang mga kilay sa amin. Ang babaeng nagsalita ay kaparehas ng suot na uniform si Celeste, habang ang sa kasama naman niya'y kulay luntian.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit magkakaiba ang kulay ng uniporme namin. Hindi kaya dahil ito sa pamilyang mayr'on sila? That the rich should wear blue, the middle class should wear green, and red for the poor?

But wait. . . Virgo, Scarlet, and Starlet were siblings, yet Virgo's uniform was different from the twins.

Why is that?

"And look, Jasmine, they have three legacy companions; a weak newcomer, and Virgo's siblings, together with another man. Is this a reunion of weak students of Royal Academy? Why don't you call your other weak colleagues? You're too selfish," the girl in blue uniform said provocatively.

Hindi pa rin talaga mawawala ang mga may attitude na schoolmate. Kahit saang school ako pumunta, may mga kontrabida pa rin talaga. But this was quite different because the villains in this school had powers, unlike before na umaabot lang ang awayan sa sabunutan o sampalan. . . Dito mukhang dadaanin sa palakasan ng kapangyarihan.

"Leaves, ano ba talagang problema mo? Do you really think papatulan ka namin?" Harmony said in a serious tone.

His charming and light aura was now gone, but still I couldn't help but to be amazed again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagkakaganito ako, kahit sa simpleng pagsasalita lang niya'y para bang nababaliw ako.

"Then I'll do everything para patulan n'yo ako," she carried on and shrugged. She also laughed like what she said was funny.

"Green, Scar, and Star, mauna na kayo sa training ground," Celeste whispered to us.

Scar immediately grabbed my right wrist and pulled me away from them. But before we could even getaway, a dark smoke appeared on our way.

"Layo!" sigaw ni Scarlet, kaya dali-dali kaming tumakbo palayo sa usok.

"What's happening?" I asked nervously as we got away from the smoke.

Starlet sighed. "That's a poisonous smoke. It can cause you to have a fatal disease or even choke you to death when you smell it," she replied.

"She's the Death Goddess. She can kill you instantly, so be mindful. Avoid her as much as possible if you do not want to be erased from this universe," said Scarlet, and it made me even more nervous.

The woman named Leaves had a dangerous power.

Marami na akong napanood na mga movie before about magics, powers, and Gods and Goddesses, at nakita ko kung gaano kalakas ang mga kapangyarihan nila. Pero ang lahat ng iyon ay mga fiction lamang. Everytime na pinanunood ko ang mga iyon noon ay nag-eenjoy ako, pero ngayon ay mukhang hindi na.

"Mukhang walang alam at hindi ako kilala ng isang kasama n'yo?" Naningkit ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi ni Leaves, pero tama naman siya dahil wala nga akong alam tungkol sa kaniya.

"Sa akin ka galit, 'di ba? Bakit hindi ako ang harapin mo? Hinahamon kita, Leaves!" rinig kong sigaw ni Celeste.

Tumawa naman si Leaves nang marinig iyon. "Okay, tinatanggap ko, your wish is my command!"

Ilang saglit pa ay nakita ko na lang na tumilapon si Celeste sa isang puno na natumba sa sobrang lakas ng pagkatilapon niya. Napatakip ako ng bibig sa pagkagulat at halos manigas ang buong katawan ko sa nasaksihan.

"Leaves!" rinig kong sigaw ni Virgo, pero si Harmony ang dali-daling tumakbo papunta kay Celeste.

May lumabas na kulay violet na kapangyarihan mula sa mga kamay ni Virgo.

"OMG!" bulalas ni Scarlet sa takot.

Nakakatakot silang mag-away-away.