Verse of the Day.
"Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:2‬

Chapter 26
Body Heat
[ Ava Maureen ]

I WOKE up because of the hot feeling all over my body. Nahihilo rin ako dahil sa dami nang nainom ko kagabi. When I felt my stomach churned, I immediately went to the bathroom to vomit. Halos bumaliktad na ang sikmura ko sa kasusuka. Pero kahit gan'to, hinding hindi ako tatanggi sa alak, 'no!

Yesterday night, we are celebrating because of the scores we've got. Kasama na roon ang buong SUPREMUS. Masaya silang kasama at hindi boring. Ella, the witch, invented the alcohol we drank using her chants and potions. And we partied all night at their dorm. So, this is what I've got for partying all night.

Pagkatapos kong sumuka ay hindi ko na nakayanan ang init ng buong katawan ko kaya deretso hubad ako papunta sa shower. Even though I'm already in the cold water from the shower, the heat of my body was still steaming hot through it.

Nang makabihis ay nilakasan ko ang aircon ng kwarto ko at humarap pa rito. I can't feel the coldness of the aircon but instead, my body was like going through the fire!

Oh, my goddess! Ano ba ang nangyayari sa 'kin?! I can't stand this kind of heat!

I checked the time on the wall clock and it's now 9 in the morning! Ang tagal ko namang nagising! Pero sabagay, hatinggabi na akong natulog or should I say, nakatulog dahil sa kalasingan. I am planning to go to my friends but before that, I cleaned my dorm. It's a general cleanup, actually.

Matagal-tagal na kasi akong nakapaglinis sa dorm ko. I am lazy when it comes to this kind of stuff.

I changed my clothes again into a black one-sleeve cropped fitted top and black with white grids fitted skirt. I paired it with 2-inches heeled sandals. Maganda 'pag ganito ang suot ko ngayon dahil sobrang init talaga ng katawan ko.

What if... masunog ang suot ko habang papunta sa mansion dorm nila?

Napakagat ako ng labi at natawa sa sariling naisip. Crazy Ava.

* • * • *

"Hello, people!" bati ko sa kanila habang nagpapaypay sa malaking itim na pamaypay na dala-dala ko. Umupo kaagad ako sa sofa sa kanilang sala.

They are all here while doing their own businesses. Harrison, my darling, was just sleeping while leaning on the sofa with his signature hoodie. Jane, on the other hand, was sketching something on her favorite sketch pad while Kendreck is caressing her hair. Sofia and James are flirting with each other. Andrea is doing her nails and Ella is doing her gothic makeup on her face. Jenelyn and Oscar were reading books. And lastly, Zoe is nowhere to be found, as always.

Napalingon silang lahat sa 'kin at binati rin ako nang may ngiti.

I smiled back and ask, "Where is Zoe?" Nagpatuloy pa rin ako sa pagpaypay sa 'king sarili dahil para na akong napapaso sa sobrang init.

"Sabi niya i-visit daw niya ang dad niya and ibabalita ang naging score niya sa ceremony," si Andrea ang sumagot. Nagtatakang napatingin siya sa pamaypay ko at sa suot ko. "Where are you going? At bakit ang big ng pamaypay mo?"

"This is the reason why I went here." Napairap ako sa sarili at ipinagkrus ang dalawang binti ko. "I am hot! Literally!"

"Huh?" Jane immediately went near and touched me. Agad namula ang kamay niya, marahil sa init. "What the?! Ang init mo, Mau! May lagnat ka ba?"

"No! I'm totally fine, well, except for this fcking body heat." I roamed around my eyes and caught the sight of the air conditioner. I stood up and put the aircon to the highest level and after that, I face my body with it. "I'll just borrow your aircon, Supremus."

Napalingon kaming lahat nang biglang tumayo at sumigaw si Harrison. "What the fck?! Ang lamig! Who the hell adjusted the AC?!"

Awtomatiko silang napalingon sa 'kin nang may alanganing tingin kaya napakurap-kurap ako.

"It's so hot, darling! I can't bear it anymore!" reklamo ko sa kanya. Hindi muna ako makipaglandian dahil baka mapaso pa siya sa sobrang init ko.

Habang nakaharap ako sa aircon ay nagpapaypay pa rin ako sa sarili.

"Aren't you aroused?"

My eyes got widen because of what he said. Seriously?! I composed myself again and think. Is this what he want? He's just finding ways to get to my flirty side. "Darling, I'll get arouse if you'll let me," I said and winked.

"Shut up, flirt," umiirap na saad niya.

What? He asked me and I just answered. Ugh, hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan kahit kailan. This guy is getting into my precious nerves.

"U-Uhm, baka n-nakakalimutan mo n-na nandito pa kami, Mau?" Napalingon kaagad ako kay James na nanginginig na. Actually, silang lahat talaga. Gumawa naman kaagad ng fire-heated barrier si Jane.

Woah. Gaano ba kalakas ang AC na 'to at ganiyan na sila kung makapanginig?

"What if magbabad ka kaya sa tubig na may ice na gawa ko at ni pretty Sofia?" Andrea suggested and everyone agreed.

"Okay, sounds good..."

* • * • *

"Ahhh..." I moaned.

Pagkatapak ko pa lang sa tubig na may yelo na gawa nila Andrea at Sofia ay umusok agad ito na parang naglalaban ang maginaw sa mainit. And it's just so good to feel this! Kaunti nalang ang init na nararamdaman ko dahil sa nakarerelax na pakiramdam nitong tubig na may yelo.

I was wearing a white two-piece swimsuit—na hiniram ko pa kay Sofia pero sabi niya akin nalang daw at hindi pa naman niya ito nagagamit dahil ayaw niya itong gamitin—and their reactions to my body was just so priceless. The girls keeps on praising me while the boys keeps staring on it. And it's not my fault anymore!

Sa likod ng dorm nila sila gumawa ng pool na puno ng ice.

And even though it's so relaxing on my body, I got worried for the reason na baka lalagnatin ako kapag nawala na ang init sa katawan ko. I don't really know why this is happening. Tinanong ko na rin ang boses na naririnig ko pero walang sagot mula sa kaniya.

T

his feeling is so weird to the point na parang mababaliw na ako kaiisip ng dahilan kung bakit ganito ang pakiramdam ko.

What is happening to me? Is the half of my soul was living in hell? I'm sure I don't have fever. We even tried—before we got to the backyard—to put a thermometer on my armpit but it just exploded. Mabuti nalang at hindi kami natamaan.

I'm not aroused, too. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng tawag ng (I don't know how it calls) basta! I don't feel sexually aroused and instead, I feel like I just faced the pit of fire or the place of hell where Lucifer resides.

"Are you now okay, Maureen?" narinig kong tanong ni Sofia mula sa likod. Sofia and Jane were the only ones here because the boys can't bare to stare long at my body without getting hard.

Well, that was just my hunch and I'm sorry if I'm full of confidence within my body.

This is just me, Maureen.

"I felt a little bit better now. But what if I'll get sick when this body heat will be gone and the reason is this cold pool?" I asked, a little problematic. Nagulat nalang ako nang lumusong sila pababa sa malamig na tubig nang hindi nagf-flinch sa lamig. "What are you girls doing?"

"Don't worry about us. Ipapainit ko na lang din ang katawan ko para hindi ginawin. And about Sofia, kaya niyang i-control ang pressure ng tubig depende sa gusto niya," Jane answered.

"Tungkol naman do'n sa una mong tanong, hindi madaling magkasakit ang isang elemantal user. Kung magkakasakit ka man, you can heal yourself using that healing ability, right?" Sofia said and I was in awe when she said elemantal user can't get sick easily.

Kaya pala kahit anong mga trending na sakit noon sa mga bata or teens like me, ay hindi ako natatablan o nahahawaan. My mother was always ready for all the ill that will be inflected on me but it was just useless. Ang mga gamot na inihahanda niya ay walang gamit kaya ipinamimigay niya na lang sa mga nangangailangan. They thought na malakas ang resistensya ko at hindi madaling mahawaan or magkasakit pero, ito pala ang rason; elemantal users won't easily get sick.

Tumango nalang ako at hindi na nagsalita. Pinagmasdan ko ang kanilang suot. Naka-swimsuit rin sila kagaya ko. Sofia was wearing two-piece blue swimwear while Jane wears red one-piece swimwear. We were like having a girls bonding. Sayang lang at wala si Zoe.

Speaking of, "By the way, where is Zoe's hometown?" I asked in genuine curiosity.

Napaisip naman kaagad sila bago sumagot. "Wala naman siyang nabanggit sa 'min dahil hindi rin naman 'yon pala-kwento sa buhay niya," Sofia answered while shrugging. "At tsaka, last year palang siya nagtansfer dito sa academy, 'yong time na napasok siya sa SUPREMUS."

Sumingit naman si Jane. "Based on the files I read about her, she lived in Crenelaé Town—the town where James' parents leads. Hindi rin kasi ako papayag na may makapasok sa Rank SUPREMUS if hindi ko alam ang important details about them."

"Really?" tanging naisaad ko.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na hindi ko pa pala kilala nang lubusan ang mga kaibigan ko. Pero wala rin naman akong oras na kilalanin sila dahil sa sobrang busy noon para sa Ranking Ceremony. And now that it's finished, I'll let my self to get bond with them.

"Nga pala, bukas magt-transfer ka na rito sa dorm bilang isang member ng Rank SUPREMUS. And the day after tomorrow is the ball that the most students got crazy of," Sofia suddenly said.

My brows furrowed at what she said. Magsasalita na sana ako pero naunahan ako ni Jane, "The infamous Rivendellian Ball."

"James said that there will be a mission 2 days after the Ceremony. 'Di ba the day after tomorrow na 'yon? So, bakit tayo sasali?" tanong ko. Kita ko ang paglaki ng mga mata nila. I rolled my eyes because of their reaction.

"Hindi pa rin talaga ako sanay na nagtatagalog ka nang hindi galit o naiinis," natatawang ani Sofia. "Sa tanong mo, na-move ang mission na 'yan dahil pasasalihin talaga tayo ng mga Prime Council or Minister or I shall say, mga magulang namin. It will be moved the day after the ball."

Oh, so we're going to shop some new clothes and accessories for the ball? Sounds exciting! And I also miss shopping so a goodluck for my purse!

@eggarru