[Photo credits to the owner]

Chapter 06
History
[Ava Maureen]

"RIVENDELLE CITY is the oldest and the first place made by the immortals, our gods and goddesses. Let's just say . . . they are the ones who leads the people on ancient time; they ruled the Ancient People, including our ancestors, of course. But the gods and goddesses decided to choose a couple that suits to be a Queen and King of this realm. They choose the rightful ruler by setting a game for all of the couples." Nahinto sa pagsasalita si Sir nang may nagtaas ng kamay. "Yes, Miss Abella?" nakataas kilay niyang tanong.

"What kind na paligsahan po?" asked by the girl who has a violet lipstick on her lips. Umasim ang mukha ko sa kulay ng kaniyang labi. That's so eww, she don't have taste for lipsticks. Bakit violet? It doesn't really suits her. Mas bagay pa nga sa kaniya ang black.

Hindi siya pinansin ni Sir at nagpatuloy na lamang. I think he doesn't want to be disturbed when discussing. "The challenge or the game was to fight. No teaming up with the other couples, just their mates. They are also restricted to kill. When the battle ended, the winner was immediately announced. The first King and Queen in our realm. King Heroidé Amores and Queen Jhonavel Destro, and they got married since they were not married when they joined the game. The power or magic they possessed considered as the strongest in that time. Fire and Earth elements were the ones that are running through their veins." He stops for a while. "They were also the greatest grandparents of the Amores twins that are now the Top 1 and 2 in the Rank SUPREMUS."

"The previous King and Queen named all the places that was still unnamed. Since the Rivendelle City is the place named by the gods and goddesses, the late rulers are the ones who named the other places that was developed in this realm. The cities we have in this realm are: Rivendelle City, Hero City, and Willson City."

"Rivendelle City is where the people living that have been grown with magic and abilities. Nandito rin nakalugar ang iba't ibang pamilihan at pasyalan. This city is the center city of all and at the same time, the oldest. The oldest one but every year, this place is renovated but the culture never happened to be gone."

"Ang Hero City naman ay kung nasaan nakatira ang mga sundalo at ang mga mamamayan na naglilingkod sa buong mundo ng mahika. They were also trained to be a knight in the kingdom and in every high valued places. Ang mga nakatira din dito ay handang ibuwis ang buhay alang-alang sa mundo natin. That's why it is called Hero City."

"Lastly, Willson City, it is where witches and wizards lived. Ang mga nakatira sa east at south part ng lugar ay ang mga witches at wizards na may mabubuting puso at intensyon sa lipunan. Sa west at north part naman ay ang parte kung saan sinakop na ng mga masasamang nilalang na siyang naghahasik ng lagim sa mundo natin kamakailan lang. Any questions and clarifications?"

Sir Villamor pointed the girl who is now raising her hands, the girl earlier. "Yes?"

"Isasali niyo po ba sa discussions niyo ang nangyari sa mundo, labing-anim na taon na ang nakalilipas?" Nakataas pa rin ang kilay ni Sir kaya nagpatuloy siya. "No'ng nasali na ang mga tao sa labanan ng mga im—," hindi pa niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil agad na siyang sinapawan ni Sir.

"Yeah, so stop the story telling. Mukhang ikaw na ang nagdi-discuss, and I don't want someone will steal my spot," pasungit na aniya.

"So, ita-tackle niyo po?" she asked with a hint of excitement.

"Oo nga!" nakakunot-noong pasiring ni Sir Ed. Halatang naiinis na siya sa babae.

Nanonood lang din kami ng mga kaklase ko sa kanila. This girl is really attentive. But I think I will not like her personality. Sana hindi magkasalubong ang landas namin. I don't want to blubber my story just for her questions.

"Kailan po?" Napalingon ako sa propesor namin nang tanungin 'yon ni Ms. Abella. It peaks my interest. I wonder what happened these past years?

"Next meeting dahil naiinis na ako sayo. You still haven't change, Ms. Abella. Dapat nasa mas mataas na section ka na ngayon sa loob ng tatlong taon," he stated. "Also, we don't have enough time to discuss another topic." Lumabas agad siya pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon.

Hindi man lang nagpaalam? Sungit talaga ng kalbong 'yon. Gwapo sana si sir, 'yong tipong para siyang sundalo dahil sa masungit na mukha niya at kalbo pa.

"Bakit kaya ngayon lang pumasok si Sir Ed? Hindi ba 2 weeks nang nagsimula ang klase?"
"I don't know. But I think, he's the one who accompanied the SUPREMUS for doing dangerous missions."
"Siguro?"

Tumayo na ako at tumungo sa cafeteria ng academy. Wala naman akong dala na kahit anong gamit dahil inaalam ko pa ang ibang dapat dadalhin sa susunod na papasok ako sa klase. It's already Lunch Break. Gutom na rin ako at mukhang inaantok na.

Before I could even open the double glass doors towards the cafeteria, someone bumped me. "Itai! O shiri!" naiiyak na saad ko. Ouch! My butt! Napaupo ako sa sahig sa sobrang lakas ng impact. It looks like it was intentional. Itinaas ko ang ulo ko para makita kung sino ang bumangga sa 'kin.

Nag-init kaagad ang ulo ko sa nakita at awtomatikong napatayo. There are two bitches in front of me. Blonde haired girl who has different, colorful hairclips. 'Yong isa ay napupuno na ng alahas ang buong katawan niya na kung saan pwedeng malagyan ng mga ito. Mapula rin ang buhok niya. Ang mukha nilang dalawa ay nagmukha nang katawa-tawa dahil sa kapal ng makeup. Wala ba talagang fashion ang mga estudyante rito?

"What kind of language is that? Are you some sort of an alien?" the blonde-haired girl scoffed.

Naiinis na tiningnan ko siya at inirapan. Gusto ko siyang sabihan na 'What kind of fashion is that? Are you some sort of a clown?'. But I tried my very best to not voice it out. Ayaw ko ng away dahil unang araw ko pa lamang ngayon.

"Anata no kao wa eiriandesu!" I scowl. Your face is the alien one! Grabe, ang sakit talaga ng balakang ko! Napahawak ako rito at pilit iniinda ang sakit. This is nothing from the bruises and abrasions that I got from the training of my father.

"What? Stop talking alien words!" red-haired girl screamed in my face. Nagtawanan silang dalawa.

Kaunti nalang talaga at magkakatagpo na ang mga kilay ko sa inis. "Why did you bumped me?" I calmly asked while pointing the girl who has lots of accessories in her body. Kulang nalang magtayo siya ng jewelry shop sa sarili niyang katawan.

"Why would I tell yah?" maarteng tanong niya pabalik.

"Because I said so," The air keeps on whispering that there's someone behind my back and that someone will going to hurt me.

I stepped myself to the right. Umilag ako sa nagtangkang saktan ako kagaya ng binubulong sa 'kin ng hangin. Tumingin ako sa likuran pero wala namang tao. Nakataas ang kilay na inilibot ko ang aking paningin. I didn't notice that we're on the center of attention right now. Dahil siguro nakaharang kami sa daan patungo sa cafeteria.

Tinaasan lang nila ako ng kilay. "Bakit? Sino ka ba sa paningin mo?" she spat. She rolled her eyes out and laughed, obviously mocking me. "Nevermind! Tara na nga, Bea," the blonde-haired girl said.

"Right. Let's go, Honey," red-haired girl answered. Lumingon muna sila sa 'kin. "But to answer your question with a pleasure, I bumped you because it's our way to welcome a new student!" sabi nito at parang ang saya-saya pa niya.

Lumakad na sila patungo sa 'kin para banggain na naman siguro ako. At the same time, bumulong na naman ang hangin na gumilid ako kaya ginawa ko. And I didn't expect what happened next!

Napaatras ang babaeng puno ng clip ang buhok dahil parang may sumipa sa kaniya mula sa likod ko. "Aw! That hurts, Ella! Bakit ako ang sinipa mo?!" red-haired girl ranted while massaging her bleeding nose.

Huh? Ella?

Lumingon ako sa kinakausap niya. Lumitaw roon ang babae na maganda at gothic ang style ng fashion. So, she's the one who tried to hurt me? An invisibility, huh. "Oops! Sorry, Honey! Nakailag kasi si new girl," Ella said. She turned her gaze at me. "Your instincts was incredible. You felt me even though I already used my ability," she whispered that the only one can hear her was me.

"It's okay! Let's go na nga dahil I'm hungry na rin naman. Let's don't waste our time with that alien." Alien? Psh! Sila dapat ang tinatawag na alien, o 'di kaya ay clown, dahil sa mga kagamitan sa buong katawan nila. They are obsessed with those things.

Mabuti pa 'yong Ella, I think I am going to like her guts.

Dali-dali akong pumasok sa loob nang hindi na pinapansin ang lahat dahil nagugutom na talaga ako. I ordered a plate of carbonara, tacos, 5 rolls of sushi, a slice of macha cake, an extra-large fries, and my favorite vegetable smoothie. I only ordered a little rice to lessen my hunger.

I thought the food here will be a little different from where I came from. But it's not. It's looks like they adopted the food here from there. Pero meron naman siguro silang pagkain na rito lang kinakain, right?

I pick the table at the center and wait for my order. Inilibot ko ang paningin sa buong cafeteria.

The floor is ivory, the wall is colored by gold while the ceiling is covered with glass. The intricate, gold chandelier that is on the ceiling got my attention. Hindi ito sinindihan dahil pasok naman ang liwanang ng araw mula sa salamin sa itaas. Napapalibutan ng kung ano-anong ginto at lilang palamuti ang chandelier. It is a good combination of colors.

Ang mga lamesa ay ginto rin samantalang lila naman ang mga upuan. The gold tables were covered with glasses at the top. Below the glass were the painting of the vines crawling in every corner of it. Napakaganda ng skwelahan nila pero ang sasama ng ugali ng ibang estudyante.

Nanatili akong nakayuko habang pinagmamasdan ng tahimik ang disenyo ng lamesa habang naghihintay sa pagkain na in-order ko. Sometimes, I used my fingertips to trace the painted vines on the table. Naramdaman kong may umupo sa harapan ko kaya tiningnan ko kung sino ito.

It was James Bradley, the guy I've met yesterday.

"Hi, Maureen! Kamusta ang klase niyo?" he greeted and asked.

"Hi," hindi ko natapos ang dapat na sasabihin ko dahil dumating na ang in-order ko. I thanked the waiter and continued speaking, "Well, it's not bad. I just learned the history of this kingdom."

"Talaga? Mabuti 'yon." Umayos siya ng upo. "By the way, gusto mo ba ng short entry about sa pinagmulan ng mga kapangyarihan natin?" nangingiting saad niya habang tinitingnan ang mga pagkain ko.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin na mukhang naramdaman niya naman kaya nag-angat siya ng tingin sa 'kin. "Don't eye my food like that. If that information of yours would exchange my food, then no, thanks." I smiled.

Saglit pa siyang natulala sa harapan ko. "Hindi, 'no! Tapos na kaya akong kumain." Bumalik ang kaninang excitement sa mukha niya at nagsimula na siyang magkwento tungkol sa kapangyarihan at kung saan ito nagmula. "The power or magic inside our body was coming from a life energy in our core part of the body." Tumikhim siya at napapakunot-noong napatingin sa'kin.

"Tsk! Mage-english ako sa pagpapaliwanag, ah? Baka kasi hindi mo maintindihan," sarkastikong pahayag niya. Magsasalita na sana ako kaso hindi niya ako pinayagan.

"Okay, eto na... ang mga Diyos at Diyosa ang siyang nagtalaga ng mga kapangyarihan natin. They gifted our ancestors with these gifts. Well, that's what the experts said. The life energy can cast a magic, power, or ability in our body. Ito rin ang nagsisilbing buhay sa ating katawan. Minsan ang kapangyarihan natin ay namamana sa ating mga ancestors, minsan nama'y hindi. Ang iba ay pinapaboran ng mga diyos at diyosa kaya hindi pantay-pantay ang lakas ng ating kapangyarihan."

"Kung sakaling mawawala ang life force o energy sa ating katawan, agad na mamamatay ang nagmamay-ari nito. The life energy is running through our veins, together with the blood on it. The more blood we'll loss, the more life energy will get out. At kung mayroon man'g magtatangkang nakawin ang life energy sa iyong katawan, hindi iyon imposible. They can steal it but in order to do it, they need to sacrifice some of their loved ones."

Tumikhim si James. "Well, kung sakim ka talaga sa kapangyarihan, hindi mo na maiisip pa ang mga nagmamahal sayo na maari silang maging sakripisiyo sa gusto mo."

Tumatango-tango ako bilang pagsang-ayon at nginitian siya ng sobrang tamis. Lumapit ako sa kaniya ng kaunti. Malalaki ang mga mata kong inunat ang kaniyang tainga kaya napadaing siya sa sakit. "How dare you insult me that I can't understand you! Hmp!" I rolled my eyes at him. "'Yon lang ba ang kailangan mo at pumunta ka pa rito?" tanong ko.

As if naman interesado ako sa mga bagay na tungkol sa kapangyarihan! E, wala nga ako no'n! Baka naligaw nga lang ako rito!

Hinimas-himas niya ang tainga niyang sinaktan ko't sinimangutan ako. "Yayayain sana kitang sumama sa piyesta mamaya sa bayan! Kung hindi mo gusto, e 'di h'wag! Ang sakit ng tainga ko, tangina!" reklamo pa niya.

Lumiwanag ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. "Really?! I'll come! Who's with us?" I said with a glee.

"Mga kaibigan ko. Siguraduhin mong nando'n ka dahil maghihintay kami! Alis na 'ko!" Hindi na niya ako pinasalita pa at agad nang umalis.

I sighed. Marami kaya siyang kaibigan? I hope we'll be friends with his friends as well. I still have 45 minutes before the next class will start so I stayed a little late in the cafeteria. Tinatamad pa akong lumabas.

"Hi!" bati ng hindi pamilyar na boses.

"Hello?" hindi siguradong sagot ko. Hindi kasi ako sanay na may maga-approach sa 'kin!

"Oh, come on! Huwag ka nang mahiya, I can be your friend. My name is Zoe Madelyn Wainright, the Top 8 in Rank SUPREMUS!" I can see that she's happy introducing herself.

"Megami Maureen Shimizuo, new student here in your school," I introduced and smiled. "Are you sure you want to be friends with me? Besides, you're on the Rank SUPREMUS. We're not on the same shoes, though I'm still beautiful."

"Don't worry about the ranking system... Hindi naman talaga importante 'yon." Ngumiti siya and for a second, I saw guilt in her eyes. Napakurap ako ng ilang beses sa nakita. Baka guni-guni ko lang 'yon...

"Ohh . . . by the way, would you mind if I'll bring you to the city tonight?"

"Hindi, hindi! Sa katunayan, iimbitahan na sana kita pero naunahan mo ako. So pa'no, friends na tayo, a! I gotta go! See yah!" paalam niya. Hindi na ako nagsalita at nakangiting pinagmasdan siyang masayang naglalakad. She's smaller than me but her body built is perfect for her.

So, a fiesta, huh? I wonder how will it work...

@eggarru

***

DESSY's NOTE:
Do not forget to vote and comment in every chapter you liked!