Verse of the Day.
"Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:20‬

Chapter 25
It's Just Me
[ Ava Maureen ]

"THE NEXT match is by our transferee, Megami Maureen Shimizuo. She has an average level of strength. An air manipulator and wielder. She has the ability of healing."

I stood from my seat and smiled to everyone.

But, a good news, hindi nalagay sa monitor ang totoong kapangyarihan ko! And I know who helped me. It's the woman in my dreams and she's really a big help. Kung nagkataon na ina ko talaga siya, magkakasundo kami dahil sa ugali na meron siya. Though I don't really know her real attitude. But still, I'm thankful to her for being here when I need help.

The emcee cleared his throat first before he continued. "Her opponent voluntarily wants her and she is the one of the Lady Witches here in the academy, Bea Desiree Stone! Bea is a witch and her ability is to summon different kind of gems. Let's welcome, the last match in this last night of Blue Moon Ceremony!"

Tumayo mula sa red bench ang babaeng sobrang nakaiinis ang mukha dahil sa makapal na make-up at parang manok sa pulang buhok niya't iba't ibang anik-anik sa katawan. Kumaway siya sa mga tao na parang beauty queen pero nagmumukha lamang siyang clown'g nagpapa-impress.

We headed at the platform from our respective benches. When our eyes met, she rolled hers heavenwards and snickered. Hindi ko naman siya pinansin at tumitig lamang sa mga kuko kong may puting kulay.

"Hey, bitch! I just wanna tell ya to be careful because I will crash you down," she said before summoning different kinds of gems and played it on her hands.

Iwinasiwas ko ang aking kamay at nagpalabas ng isang upuan para sa reyna gamit ang hangin. I sat down on the throne I made and gave her an annoying smirk. I snapped my fingers causing her to have a hard breathing. She keeps on gasping for air but I still didn't stop.

"You know, I can kill you the easiest way but since killing is prohibited, I will just torture you instead."

Since she's out of breath, she can't grasp the gems she summoned earlier. I counted three seconds until I stopped. This annoying bitch! her mind said. I bet she's talking to herself.

Pinalabas ko ang espada na gawa sa hangin. It has sharp edges and it's invisible to an unelemental person. Kaya alam kong hindi niya napansin na nagpalabas na pala ako ng isang sandata maliban na lamang kung pinagmamasdan niya talaga ang aking mga kilos.

Pero dahil tanga siya, alam kong hindi niya iyon napansin. Bakit pa ba ako nagsasayang ng oras sa babaeng ito?

Advantage when you're an air user, you can make the things invisible like the air we breathe. It took me for awhile before I mastered this technique since it's quite difficult. Pinawala ko ang upuan at lumapit sa kaniya. She still grasping for air but I'm too impatient to wait for her recovery, so I kicked her in her gut.

Ang lakas ng loob na hamunin ako ng laban, wala naman palang panama sa 'kin. Hindi naman malakas ang pagkasipa ko kaya napaatras lamang siya. She raised her head and glared at me. She chant some spell hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang na may papalapit na mga daggers mula sa likurang bahagi ko. I immediately made a barrier and gave her an upper cut.

Her nose bleeds because of that. Huminga siya ng malalim bago nag-summon ulit ng mga gems at ipinalibot sa 'kin. The gems went straight to my neck and choked me. Napaubo ako dahil sa pagkabigla. She chanted a spell again and swoosh her hands down until I felt an air that keeps on kicking me.

Nag-summon na naman siya ng mga gems at inihagis sa 'kin. I dodged it all even though the gems are still on my neck. I tried to stand up and I did it successfully. I summoned multiple daggers and spears, and immediately threw it on her. Because she didn't noticed it, it all strikes at her. Kaunti lang ang hindi napatama dahil may manipis na barrier na nakapalibot sa kaniya.

Kahit nahihirapan na, bumigkas pa rin siya ng salamangka at nagtaka ako nang bigla siyang tumayo na parang hindi niya na ramdam ang sakit. Did she just chanted a spell that can feel you numb? Maybe, yes.

Pumunta siya sa 'kin at kitang-kita ko ang galit sa mga mata niya. Dinamba niya ako kaya natumba kami pareho. She kneed the left side of my stomach, causing me to cough. Itinulak ko siya at sinapak sa mukha. That was my signature punch for her; a half force punch. Natumba siya pero hindi pa rin ito nawawalan ng malay.

Huminga ako ng malalim at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. I connected with my soul and called my mystical beast. This is the last technique I learned and the super difficult one. I already felt the strength and the feeling of someone is trying to get out of my body.

Until a dragon appeared on our sight. Air dragon as I called it. It has a translucent body with light blue outlines. Matalim ang mga mata nito na nakatingin kay Bea habang pinapagaspas ang malalaking pakpak.

Alam ko naman na matatalo ko nalang siya sa isang atake pero gusto kong makita ito ng scorer. I want to score big so that I can join in the Rank SUPREMUS. And also, that was I noticed in every elemantal users. As they summon their mystical creatures and even they didn't win, their scores got higher.

Inutusan ko ang dragon na bugahan ng sleeping air gas ang kalaban kaya sinunod naman nito. Bea immediately fell into a deep slumber. Namutla kaagad ito at parang patay na naglupasay ang kaniyang katawan sa platform.

I can hear the gasp of the people around so I composed myself, stand properly, and give a triumphant smile to the spectators, leaders and professors, royalties, and prime ministers. The healers offered to heal me but I refused and gave them a reason that I can heal myself. Nag-alala naman kaagad sila dahil baka maubos daw nang tuluyan ang stamina ko. I just laughed at them at iniwan sila roon.

Honestly, parang hindi ako lumaban, p'wera nalang sa masakit na tagiliran ko. Ang sharp naman kasi ng elbow ng witch na 'yon! But atleast, I won. Ava never loses and never will.

The monitor lighted until it shows my score. It is 88.9 points. Halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa aking nakita. I never expected my score will be this so high! It is even higher than the twins! Hindi ko naman ginamit nang maigi ang magic ko, ah?

Oh, my goddess... I can't believe this. Does someone sabotaged my score?!

Tulala akong pumunta sa green benches at naririnig ko pa rin ang sigawan ng mga estudyante, and it's because of the two reason I know: masaya sila dahil natapos na ang ceremony at makakapasyal na ulit sila sa kani-kanilang pamilya or they're just cheering for my victory. Well, I don't care and whatever.

I came back to my senses when someone pinched my lovely cheeks. "Oh, jeez! How dare you pinch my cheeks, idiot!" I yelled.

He just laughed. Ang saya niya ata ngayon, a? Oh! Nahalikan niya pala si Sofia kanina! I bet he is celebrating with his inner self right now while Sofia is raging in annoyance. Alam ko naman na alam na ni Sofia ang nararamdaman ni James for her kaya inaasar-asar niya ito at hindi ito sineseryoso. Sofia can feel emotions and I know na hindi siya makikialam pa sa mga nararamdaman niya.

"Ang laki ng points mo, ah! E 'di ikaw na ang top 1 sa Rank SUPREMUS? I'm so proud of you, Mau... keep it up!" he said, smiling. I smiled back and hugged him. Nabigla naman siya pero yumakap din naman pabalik.

From the back of James, I can see on my peripheral vision the face of the girl. Her eyes glistened jealousy. Oh gosh, Sofia. Why are you even hiding your feelings for him when the fact that you're mutual?

I heard her thoughts saying, may pahalik-halik pang nalalaman pero yumayakap ng iba! Such a jerk!Natawa ako sa naisip niya.

Bumitaw na ako sa yakap dahil baka may makita pa akong umiyak dito. "You know what, James, pursue her and don't just kissed her. That's so gayish," I whispered and rolled my eyes.

Halatang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko but he remained his composure. "Tsh, h'wag ka ngang makialam. Maganda ka lang at malakas pero hindi kita ate o ina," pagsusungit na aniya.

Tinawanan ko lang siya at hindi pinansin. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at hinanap siya. Saan na naman ba 'yon nagsusuot?

Nagpaalam ako kay James and he congratulated me once again. My friends came into my sight and they congratulated me. Masaya raw sila dahil dahil madali ko lang silang nalagpasan kahit nakapagdududa. Sino namang hindi magdududa sa score? Bago lang ako rito at mabilis kong nalampasan ang dito na nag-aral simula pa lang.

But, instead of feeling jealous, they supported me. I'm so lucky to have friends like them.

And now, I was staring at the man who caught my attention and claimed that I will court him after this ceremony. Hindi niya ako ico-congratulate? Ang damot naman ng salita nito.

Nauna nang pumunta sa dorm ng SUPREMUS ang mga kaibigan ko. Pupunta na sana ako sa loob ng dorm nila—which is magiging dorm ko na rin soon—nang makita ko siya na hindi sumunod sa mga kaibigan namin.

Naghihintay pa rin ako na magsalita siya kaya napanguso nalang ako nang umabot ang tatlong minuto at hindi pa rin ito nagsasalita. Akala ko talaga hindi na siya magsasalita at papasok na sana ako sa loob nang may lumabas na salita galing sa bibig niya na labis kong ikinagulat.

"Congrats. You did well."

My heart beats rapidly and it almost went out from my chest. I inhaled a large breath and exhaled it desperately. Hindi ko ipinahalata na kinilig ako sa boses niya na hindi ko masyadong naririnig.

Instead, I said, "Well, what do you expect from a gorgeous lady like me? Of course, I'll stand out. It's just me, Maureen. And by the way, thank you."

I smiled for the last time and broke the words I said on the dinner we had with my friends last 2 nights ago. I gave him, the guy I liked the most, a peck on the lips and started running towards the dorm.

Sorry, my dear friends! I can't just help but to get tempted by those kissable lips.

@eggarru