CHAPTER 28

GREEN LEMON

Narito na kami ngayon sa istadyum kung saan gaganapin ang Potrabilities Training. Madaling araw pa lang ngunit halos puno na ang buong istadyum dahil ayaw ng iba na mawalan ng upuan.

Limitado lang kasi ang maaaring manood sa laban. Malaki ito ngunit kaunti lamang ang espasyo para sa mga manonood dahil sa malawak na entablado sa gitnang bahagi kung saan magaganap ang labanan.

Hindi naman sa kinulang sila sa budget sa paggawa ng lugar na ito dahil ang buong istadyum ay gawa sa pinaghalong pink champagne and blue diamonds, which is we are aware that these types of diamonds were very expensive and extremely rare to find in the world of mortals.

Sadyang nililimitahan lamang nila ang maaaring pumasok dito dahil siguro sa tindi ng magiging laban, at ayaw nila na may maraming masaktan kung sakali man na hindi naging maayos ang bakbakan.

Kaya kapag nahuli ka nang dating ay paniguradong 'di ka na makakapasok pa. At iyan ang pinakapangunahing rason kung bakit maaga rin kaming pumunta rito nina Celeste. Gusto nilang umupo sa may pinakamaayos na view upang mapanood nang mabuti ang labanan, at hindi dahil nasasabik silang makita akong nakikipag-palitan ng kapangyarihan kay Jasmine.

Para sa akin, wala namang masyadong espesyal sa lugar. It is just a typical stadium; the chairs were surrounding the wide stage in a high row; an open-air with a shape of an oval, so that the sky is visible, which is gradually getting brighter because the sun started to rise.

Ang pinagkaiba lang nito sa ibang istadyum na napuntahan at nakita ko na sa mundo ng mga mortal ay gawa ito sa diyamante. Well, nothing is new. I'm no longer too surprised because I used to see it every day. Almost all the things and buildings here at the Royal Academy are made of different types of diamonds. Even the Royal Palace, where I dwelled for almost a week.

Bilang na lang sa mga daliri ko ang mga bagay na gawa sa bakal o kahoy rito. Kung hindi ko lang siguro alam na mundo ito ng mga Gods and Goddesses, I would really think it was a world of diamonds. Kulang na lang kasi ay maging dyamante na rin ang lupa, mga puno o halaman, and at mga hayop dito.

"Green . . . malapit na ang laban mo. Sigurado ka bang handa ka na?"

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang malalim nang marinig ko ang tanong ni Scarlet. Am I really ready?

I took a deep breath as I looked at her with a wide smile that I just forced. "Well, I need to be honest with you . . . I'm ready but I'm a little bit nervous about the outcome of the battle later. But I don't have a choice, right? It is already my time to do the training, so I need to face it, whether I'll lose or win," I honestly said.

She tapped my shoulder, and slowly caressed it to make me calm, I guess?

Kasama ko sila rito sa harapan na nakaupo dahil ito raw ang perfect view para sa kanila. Nag-usap-usap din kasi kami kagabi. They want to seat here in front to observe. Ideya iyon ni Celeste at hindi ko maitatanggi na maganda iyong ideya niyang iyon dahil sa paraan na iyon ay malalaman kung anu-ano ang mga kapangyarihan ng mga maglalaban-laban na paghahandaan mo kung sakaling makakalaban mo sila sa susunod na mga araw.

Masusukat mo ang kakayahan nila, at kung hanggang saan lamang ito. Maaari ding malaman kung ano ang kahinaan at kalakasan nila, kaya tunay ngang hindi lang isang laro para kay Celeste ang lahat ng nangyayari dito sa Royal Academy. Hangad din niyang makuha ang trono, at sa nakikita kong determinasyon niya, hindi imposibleng makuha niya ito. At kapag nangyari iyon, sigurado akong magiging patas siya sa lahat dahil isa naman siyang mabuti at may pusong nilalang.

"Don't worry, I have plans . . . " My attention was immediately caught by Celeste upon saying those words.

I looked at her, curiously, as well as the twins.

"P-Plans? W-What do you mean?" Starlet asked in confusion.

Ngumisi si Celeste. "Malalaman n'yo rin iyan mamaya. But for now, let us just chill, okay? And Green, I got you . . . I'm at your back, so don't feel nervous," she said. By the tone of her voice, she is trying to convince me to trust her. But how could I trust her if I don't know her plans?

Pero sa totoo lang talaga ay hindi ko maitatanggi na kinakabahan ako sa magiging laban ko kay Jasmine mamaya kahit na halos kabisado ko na ang kaya niyang gawin. Malakas at makapangyarihan siya. Mas maalam siya sa mahika kaysa sa akin, at paniguradong matagal na niyang napaghandaan ang labanang ito kahit hindi pa man hindi pa nagbubukas ang Royal Academy. Kaya kahit gaano pa kalakas at karami ang kakayahan na nadiskobre ko ay maaaring hindi pa rin ito magiging sapat upang talunin siya.

Tumango-tango ako kay Celeste bilang pagsang-ayon sa plano niya kahit na nag-aalinlangan pa ako. Alam ko naman na hindi niya ako ipapahamak sa kung ano'ng binabalak niyang gawin.

Hanggang sa naagaw ang atensyon naming lahat nang pumasok ang grupo ni Leaves kasama ang kambal ni Yazenth na si Finn.

Nagsimulang magbulong-bulongan ang ilang mga estudyanteng malapit sa amin. Gayunpaman ay malinaw sa pandinig ko ang kanilang pinagbubulong-bulongan. They were whispering about me and Jasmine. They were saying that even the battle wasn't started yet, I lose already because Jasmine was in Leaves and Finn's side, who were close or related to the current King and other Neonians.

Yes, I heard all of those clearly because they were not really whispering, they really wanted it for me to hear. Well, upon hearing it, there's this feeling of excitement that began to burn inside of me. My competitive side is surfacing now.

Ang pagmamaliit na iyan ang isa sa nagiging dahilan that keeps me moving. It is a form of attraction that pushes me to strive and overcome any circumstances. Kaya huwag silang magsalita ng tapos because they or you never hold what was destined to happen. Lahat ng bagay o pangyayari ay kayang mabago kahit pa man nakita na nila itong nakatakdang mangyari sa pamamagitan ng sinasabi nilang propesiya.

I just smiled, and kept unbothered. Hindi ko naman hawak ang mga utak at dila nila. After all, sino ba naman ako sa kanila, right? I was grown or raised up in the world of mortals, which they considered as useless creatures.

Ngunit nabigla ako nang biglang tumayo si Scarlet at hinarap ang mga iyon. Alam kong narinig din niya ang mga sinabi nila. At hindi ko inaasahan ang mga salitang lumabas sa bunganga niya.

"Gusto n'yo bang managinip ng gising? Mag-ingat kayo sa mga sinasabi n'yo, ha? Narito si Celeste! O baka naman gusto n'yong kumain ng kidlat para 'di kayo nag-uumagahan ng mapait st mababaho n'yong mga laway? Isusumbong ko kayo kay Yazenth o Harmony para tuluyan na kayong 'di maalala ng mga mahal n'yo sa buhay!" malakas na sigaw at pagbabanta ni Scarlet sa lahat ng nasa paligid namin. Maging sina Leaves, at ang kasamahan niya ay napatingin din sa gawi namin sa lakas ng sigaw niya.

"Scarlet!" saway ko sa kaniya. Patago ko pang hinablot ang laylayan ng uniporme niya upang paupuin siya ulit dahil naagaw na niya ang atensyon ng lahat. Kahit kailan at saan talaga ay ang hilig niyang gumawa ng eksena.

"What do you think you are doing? Just let them, okay? Stay unbothered. Dinamay mo pa ang pangalan ng mga lalaking wala naman dito,"I almost whispered to her so that others would not hear it.

"S-Sorry. I just couldn't help it," she apologised.

Napailing ako sa sinabi niya.It seems to me that she is apologizing not because she feels sorry about what she did, but because she will keep doing it since she is already in the habit of doing it-making a scene.

I also noticed that Celeste rested deeply maybe because of disappointment as well.

"Scar, alam mo ba kung ano'ng ginawa mo? You just caught Leaves and her slaves' attention. They were now heading here," Starlet said, her voice was a little bit shaky.

Maging siya ay pinipigilan niya ang kaniyang boses na lakasan ito. At tama nga ang sinabi niya, Leaves and her two slaves were coming here now. Mabuti na lang ay hindi na pa sumama si Finn sa kanila dahil magaspang din ang dila niyon. Labis na ang tatlo, at ayaw ko nang dagdagan pa ito.

"A-Again, I'm s-sincerely sorry . . . " She gritted her teeth as she forced a smile before covering it with her two hands.

Wala na rin namang magagawa ang sorry niya dahil ilang metro na lang ang layo nina Leaves sa amin. Mukhang mapapaaga yata ang bakbakan namin ni Jasmine dahil dito kay Scarlet. But as what I always say, I'm ready.

"G-Green, and Celeste . . . I'm really-really sorry for what I've caused," she said again before she hid behind me.

"I heard my cousin's name here. What is your business again?" Leaves asked stupendously as they finally got close to us. Nakahalukipkip siya habang nakataas ang kaliwa niyang kilay, gano'n din sina Jasmine at Gemini.

Sa halip na sumagot kami hinayaan na lang namin ito na parang walang narinig, not because we're scared or whatsoever, huh? I just don't really want to fight now. I'm reserving my energy for later. I'm sure that's also Celeste's reason why she's still remain silent.

"Oh, common . . . Don't say na patay na patay kayo kay Yazenth? Kasi kahit wala siya rito ay siya pa rin ang topic n'yo. Celeste, what happened to you, my dear old friend na minsan nang naglaway kay Yazenth? Don't tell me you are still in love with him even though he slapped you already with his words back then because he doesn't like you, and you won't be together?" she said, trying to sound concerned, but it was full of insults.

I hissed in disbelief. And I saw how Celeste clenched her fist. So I immediately think of something so as not to lead to fight over this matter. Masyado rin kasing pinapairal ni Celeste ang kaniyang galit minsan. Ang dali niyang mainis. Hindi na nasanay kina Leaves. Kaloka rin siya.

"Leaves . . . " sabat ko, at sinalubong ang titig niya. "Wala ka na bang ibang maipagmamayabang sa dalawang boring mong mga alagad? Hindi naman halata na sawang-sawa na sila sa pagmumukha mo kasi palagi ka na lang naghahanap nang pagpapapansinan mo. O kaya naman ay sadyang ipinaglihi ka lang talaga sa ampalaya kaya sobrang bitter at inggitera mo?" Ngumisi ako at saka nanghahamon siyang tinitigan.

I could clearly see the irritation and displeasure surfacing on her facial expression. I think I just hit the right nerves.

"A-Ako na," Jasmine insisted herself to answer me, and she looked confident upon insisting herself, ha? Well, we'll see how far that confidence will take her.

"I think, what you should be doing right now is to pray for you to win our battle later. Mas maganda iyong gawin kaysa naman magsayang ka ng laway ngayon dito, right?" she added, trying to sounds concerned as well.

I sarcastically laughed. "I think that's a good idea," pagsang-ayon ko, but just to insult her. And she is fired up. It seems like I really got into her nerves, just as what I want to happen.

"Jasmine, enough. Mamaya mo na lang ibuhos ang galit mo sa kaniya. Just make sure you will win over her, ha? Pero okay rin naman kung hindi dahil gusto ko rin siyang makalaban-"

"Iyon ay kung maaabutan ka pa niya," sabat ni Jasmine.

"I don't think so. Dalawa lang naman ang sagot diyan, eh. It's either I already finished the Potrabilities Training or she loses in your battle," she said full of assurance before walking away from us, which was immediately followed by Jasmine and Gemini while their hands were still folding at their chest.

Nakahinga naman ko nang maluwag nang makalayo sila sa amin. I didn't expect what happened. Did I really do that to them? Where did I get the courage?