LALA POV

So here comes! Exam na namin ngayon. Nakapag-review naman ako so I'm no worry about that. Hindi ako kakapante dahil baka may questions na hindi ko nireview or wala sa book.

Pumasok na ako sa isang Protector's room sa second floor dito aa SF Center at dito ko nabungad ang dalawang sidesweepers, three armchairs ang nandoon at nasa harapan pa ang teacher's table. Three seat apart between Eunice and Engralinda, bakante ang isang upuan kaya dito na ako daling umupo roon.

"Hi Everyone..." greetings ko sa kanila.

"Oh! Ellainah, naka-review ka ba?" Tanong ni Eunice sa akin kaya tumungo ako bilang sagot kong Oo.

"Ano kaya ang i-tetest natin?" Tanong ni Engralinda sa aming dalawa.

"I think... It is about combine elements lang naman ito." I said with smile on my face pero medyo kabado lang. "I hope madali lang ang exam at walang questions na wala sa book na nireview natin."

"I hope so," Eunice said and smiled at us.

"Hindi naman kailangan na maging perfect sa exam." Engralinda said. "Basta ang alam ko lang, makapasa ka lang sa exam. Remember na ang pasing score rito ay twenty five so galingan nalang nating tatlo."

Tumungo nalang ako sa sinabi ni Engralinda at sabay lingon kay Eunice na may ngiti.

Akala mo chill lang ako? Kabado din ako. Unlike Entrance Exam and Periodical Test, ibang usapan na kasi pag ganitong Test like isang araw turo and then exam na. Siguro one-learn one-exam ata sila so that's fine.

Mamaya-maya ay dumating na ang mag-babantay sa aming examination at pumunta sa harapan namin sa may Teacher's Table. Ang tao na iyon ay walang iba kundi si Inay (Erika).

Dito kaming nagsitayuang tatli and we says "Good Morning, Madam."

Instead na Inay, Madam nalang muna ang tinawag ko sa kanya since she is our supervisor-in-charge.

"Good morning too, sitdown girl." Linya ni Inay kaya napaupo kami sa aming mga armchair.

Maging si Inay ay umupo nalang rin siya sa kanyang upuan at dito na siya nagsalita.

"So, this is your examination as your senior rookie." She said na may halong ngisi. "Like I said a day ago, Aron and Rona are excepted since they have combine elements kaya wala sila dito ngayon."

"Okay!", inayos ni Inay ang kanyang sleeves sa kanyang Chairman's coat na suot even she isn't a Chairman now. Baka lang trip niya siguro. "So this is your exam. These are the rules: No erasures ahead, all of the answers are in uppercase letters, no use grasp vision, no cheating and no blank answers."

"Understood?"

"Yes, Madam." Tugon naming tatlo nila Engralinda at Eunice.

"Okay!", may nilapag ng tatlong papel sa table si Inay at sabing "This is one to thirdy items and all about elements only."

"Wala pong questions na wala sa book?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Meron but related parin sa topic natin noong nakaraan." She answered. "Don't worry, madali lang ang exam kung nag-review talaga kayo."

"Opo!" Tugon ko nalang sa kanya.

"Okay, Chen." Tinawag ni Inay si Eunice at tinuro niya ang papel para kunin niya iyon.

Kaagad na tumayo si Eunice, kumuha ng isang at bumalik sa kinauupuan niya.

"Del Romeo."

Kaagad na tumayo, kumuha ng exam sheet at bumalik sa kinauupuan ko. Hindi ko pa sinasagutan ang exam dahil walang laman o sulat ng papel na ito.

"Korekotova."

Pumunta si Engra doon para kunin din ang exam at bumalik sa kinauupuan niya. "Bakit po walang laman-"

"Now! May thirty minutes para magsagot kayo ng exam ko kaya starts... now!", she suddenly clap kaya nagkaroon bigla ng sulat sa papel namin. Ito ang sasagutan naming exam.

Tahimik lang kami but I'm shock sa ginawa niya, she's so very awesome.

Okay! Sagutan ko na ang exam.

Hindi na kaming nagpapansinan muna nila Eunice at Engralinda kaya't naka-focus na ako sa examination namin. Unang-una ay Nagsulat ako ng name ko at ang unit ko para sa akin ang owners ng exam sheet na sinulatan ko.

Name: Del Romeo, Ellainah F.
Unit: 16th Protector

After that, dito na ako nagbasa at sagutan ang exam.

"Test One: Identification. Write the correct answer in the blank before the item number." Basa ko sa isipan ko.

"Number one: These are the elements which combine from one main element to another but different main element."

Alam na alam ko ng sagot dito sa number one, kaagad kong sinulat ang COMBINATION ELEMENTS as my answer.

Next Number!

"Among all of them, this one is the easiest combination element to form."

Napaisip nalang ako, what is the easiest combination element? I think it's either Ice or Boiling Water.

Ice has Wind and Water while fire and water lang ang meron sa boiling water.

Boiling water is the easiest because they said that the best to form a boiling ball is combine a fireball and a water- WAIT A MINUTE?!

I suddenly write my answer on item number two which is BOILING WATER. I knew it so proceed.

"Number three: Besides Cosmos and Lightning, this is the weakest of Sand and it can convert the it into a Mug."

Ano kaya sagot ko dito?

Kahinahan ng Sand na gayang gawin i-convert sa Mug... Wait! Parang alam ko na siguro ang sagot ko dito.

I write WATER as my answer for item number three. Now, Proceed!

"Number four: The most rear element that the result of two of the strongest main elements will combine."

Eto ang hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko dito. Two of the strongest so it is Cosmos and Lightning, but ano ang magiging result kung ipagsasama ang mga ito para magkaroon ng isang element? Hindi ito Crystal dahil eart and nature ang ipagsasama doon, hindi rin Light dahil Nature plus Lightning iyon.

Ano kaya ito? Ayokong maiwanang blanko ang sagot ko dito.

Ohmaygad! Number four palang ako ay hindi ko na kayang sagutin ito.

Wait? It is an explosion? Nevermind. Sasagot ko dito ay explosion. I write EXPLOSION as my answer in Number four, ang hirap ng tanong but I hope it is correct.

"Number Five: Storm is one of the most powerful combined elements that combine lightning and _______?"

Storm Manipulation, part siya ng lighning. Para magkaroon ng Storm, ano kaya element ang ipanghahalo dito?

I have two choices, the water and the wind.

Kung magkakaroon ng ulan eh diba magkakaroon ng kulob at kidlat. So I think it is Water. I write WATER once again as my answer for item number five and I Proceed to the next question.

"Number Six: The simplest principle of a subject of study."

Easy! I write ELEMENT so I proceed to the next Number.

"Number Seven: A type of elements that fire, water, wind and earth belong to this group."

Another basic question. I write MAIN ELEMENTS so I proceed.

"Number Eight: If fire and cosmos combine, it become _______?"

Again! Hard Question. Okey na sana, kaso sumunod ng question ay mahirap at hindi ko pamilyar kung anong combine elements ito.

Okay! So Lightning plus Cosmos is Explosion, this one would be.... hindi ko na alam ang sagot Hulaan ko pero sa pagkakabasa ko sa libro, may isang elements na isa din daw rear which is the Infrared ray Hulaan ko nalang kaya I write INFRARED as my answer in item Number Eight.

"Number Nine: A main element that plants and other biological matters belong to this group."

Since this is the first lesson sa buhay ko as a Special Force and the easiest main element to learn so I know this answer.

I write NATURE as my answer in number nine and I proceed to the last question.

"Number Ten: Dark matter and anti-matter belong to this main element and it is available for the Protectors."

Basic! I write Cosmos as my answer to the last question.

Proceed to the next Test Number, Ellainah.

"Test Two: Enumeration. Write an answer in UPPERCASE letter, Wrong Spelling and Missing one is wrong."

Pag kulang ay mali na kaagad, kailangan ko talaga ang utak ko kung may maalala ako sa nireview ko kagabi.

"Number one to four: give at least four combined elements that combine with water."

Okay! I write Ice, Boiling water, Wood and mug in an Uppercase letter as I follow the instructions. Kala ninyo kinalimutang ko na? No way!

"Number five and six: Two main elements that combine into an asteroid."

Ohmaygad! Isa pa itong id*ot. Mag-iisip na naman ako panigurado. I think about this question. Asteroid is nasa labas ng ating planets, the first main element in my mind is the cosmos.

If asteroid is a cosmos, ano kayang main element para maghalo dito? Impossible if it's water because water is liquid, it is impossible if it's wind because wind is gas. I need-

Wait!

I suddenly write COSMOS and EARTH in this enumeration question. Earth or Land is a solid matter kaya naisip ko iyon bigla. Salamat nalang sa utak ko.

"Number seven and eight: Two main elements that combine into nitrogen."

Okay! Madali nalang ito siguro kaya I write FIRE AND WIND as my answer in this enumeration question kaya nag-proceed na ako sa last Number.

"Number nine and ten: Two Main elements that combine into Ultraviolet."

What?! M-may Ultraviolet pala dito?!

It's a very difficult answer but never mind! I answer this depends on my mind.

Ultraviolet is part of the light, I guess. Kung maghahalo ang lightning at saka ng isa pang combine element eh baka Ultraviolet ang lalabas.

Pero nevermind! I wrote the answer LIGHTNING AND FIRE, I chose the word fire on the other hand because both of these are light.

Proceed to the next Test.

"Test Three: Give only one combined element that they have. Write the answer in a UPPERCASE letter."

Okay! I get it.

"Number one: Akihiro Landez."

Okay! Number one palang ay mahirap na ang sagot. I don't know about he's combination elements.

Lala, future father-in-law mo hindi mo alam kung ano combine element. Naku! Paano pa kaya kung ang Grandparents pa niya?

But magbabase nalang ako sa Family Members niya, since si Aron have Magnet and Ate Richane have Ice. It s either Ice or Magnet ang sagot ko dito.

Impossible kung kay Ate Richane, Itay has Lightning, Wind and Earth while Richane has Wind, Water, Fire and Nature. Imposible kay Richane dahil walang Water si Itay so invalid na.

Okay! Aron is Lil' Akihiro Landez. I write MAGNET as my answer in the first question. Madali lang din pala ito kaya Proceed.

"Number Two: Timberline Banal."

Sweet like a pancake! I write CRYSTAL as my answer in this question. Nabasa ko kasi kung ano ang kapangyarihan sa google at ano ang strenght and weakness ng Crystal na meron siya.

Okay! Proceed to number three.

"Number Three: Ellenardo Buenacarpio."

In this question, may naalala lang ako sa sinabi ni Inay tungkol kay First Chairman. She said during war on rebel na may isa daw nitrogen user kagaya niya at yan daw yung assistant ni Jonuzh before. Mayroong similarities ang dalawa but mas better ang kay First Chairman. He invented the Nitrogen Explosion, Nitrogen Bomb and other Nitrogen attacks, supplementary and defence. Dahil sinabi ni Inay iyon before this exam, I wrote NITROGEN as my answer in number three and proceeded to the next question.

"Number Four: Carolayne Montefalco."

Okay! Miss Carolayne is epic version ni Lucille, sila ay may iisang combine element. Miss Carolayne invented the Sand Mist, Sand Shell, Sand wave and one of the most lethal move in history which is Untra Sandstorm na ito ang dahilan ng pagkasira sa Obando, Bulacan noon Second Atheist's Host at ang kadahilanan ng pagkamatay niya.

But I choose Miss Carolayne over Lucille. Nasaan na ang hayop na Lucille na yun? Mapatay ko lang soon.

I write SAND as my answer in number four and proceed to the last question.

"Number Five: Richane Landez."

Since alam ko na ito, I write ICE as my answer. Napanood ko naman ang nangyari during fight against Aron kaya I never forget about it.

Mayroon pang isang Test number at eto ang Essay.

"Test Four: Write an essay form on how to perform Boiling Sphere in an easy way."

May essay pa pala! Okay I write something about my answer in this. Kung ano lumabas sa utak ko, it would be my final answer. I suddenly turned back the paper and put my ballpen on the table of the armchair. Nagsasagot parin ang dalawang kasama ko kaya I bow my head, may ilang minuto pang natitira I will wait that.

****

"BAKIT AKO TWENTY-FOUR OVER THIRDY?!"

Oo! Hindi ako nakapasa sa exam, Oh My god nalang ako.

Eunice got Twenty six dahil number 9-10 sa enumeration lang ang mali niya at three points lang ang essay, si Engralinda naman ang highest which is Twenty-nine pero number 4 sa Identification lang an mali niya.

Bakit naman ako twenty four? Mali ang number four and Five sa Identification, mali din ang 9-10 sa enumeration at sa essay ko ay 3 points lang.

In number five, Storm is one of the most powerful combined elements that combine of lightning and WIND at hindi water. Number four sa Identification and numbers nine and ten sa enumeration. LIGHTNING AND COSMS[9-10] combine and it becomes ULTRAVIOLET[4].

Ayoko lang sabihin pa kung bakit ako gaano ka tanga. Hindi na siguro maibabalik ang dating Ellainah when it comes to academic purposes.

"Ellainah, ikaw ang bumagsak sa exam sa ating tatlo." Eunice said para i-cheer up niya ako. "May panahon ka ata siguro diyan baka siguro hindi pa ngayon."

"Alam mo Ellainah, lack of preparation ka lang kaya ikaw ay bumagsak." Sabi naman ni Engralinda at tama siya na lack of preparation lang ito. "Twenty four out of thirdy ka naman at saka mas mabuti na one push nalang ang grade kaysa sa zero."

"Tama si Engralinda, Ellainah." Saad ni Eunice. "Baka lang talaga nagkulang ka sa preparasyon kaya hindi ka nakabasa."

"Ellainah Del Romeo?" May isang Offender na nagtawag sa akin.

"Ahhh... T-that's my name. Bakit?"

"Tawag ka ng ika-apat ng chairman sa Scout Agent Room sa Fourth Floor." Sabi ng Offender.

Ano kaya meron bakit ako pinatawag ni Inay? Baka paparusahan na niya ako kaagad-agad. Kinakabahan na ako at baka bumaba na ang unit ko, huwag naman sana. Wala na siguro akong nagagawa pa kundi sundi ko at pumunta sa kanya.

"Si-sige po." Tugon ko tapos tumingin kila Eunice para sabihin "Punta lang ako kay Inay."

"Kausapin mo si Madam Chairman para maliwanagan niya kung bakit ka bagsak." Engralinda said. "Maintindihan ka niya sana."

"Si-sige... Salamat ah."

"You're welcome." Engralinda and Eunice said together.

Dito na ako umalis papuntang Scout Agent Room na nasa Fourth Floor daw.

Kaagad na bumaba ako ng hagdan at dito ko kaagad nabungad ang Scout Agent Room sa harapan ko. Dito daw kasi si Inay ngayon. Kaagad na binuksan ko ang pinto pero sumilip muna ako at dito ko nakita na si inay lang ang tao, nakaupo sa table hababg hinihintay niya ako.

"Ellainah, pasok." Sabi niya kaya pumasok na talaga ako at sinarado ko ang pinto para walang makarinig sa pag-uusapan namin.

Kaagad akong lumapit sa kanya. "I-inay... I'm sorry for didn't get a passing score in this exam earlier."

"Ellainah, that's fine." She said while she was smiling. "Failing in exam doesn't mean you're weak and you're not qualified as a Protector."

"O-okay po ba sa inyo iyon kahit ako po yun-"

"It is not your fault, Ellainah." She interrupt my words. "You've lack of preparation but you did your best, you have one correct drought to get the passing score. Sayang lang na isang tama nalang pero that's ok dahil nagawa mo parin ang lahatvat sinukat mo ang kaalaman mo kung ano ka talaga."

"Inay, sorry kasi pinahiya ko kayo." Pakumbabang sabi ko. "I'm confident that mapapasa ko ang exam since I'm a Proector and a top student before but it isn't."

"Lala, that's okay. Move on ka nalang diyan at next week ay proceed na tayo dahil activity na ang gagawin ninyong tatlo." Inay said.

"Next Week po?"

"You need some rest for a while Lala." Bilin nalang ni Imay sa akin.

"O-kay po."

"Pero may iiba sa iyo at kila Eunice at Engralinda." She said kaya napataas nalang ang kilay ko. "Since hindi mo napasa ang exam, may dadagdag kang Combine Element at isang move na maari mong matutunan."

"A-anu-ano ang mga iyon, Inay?" I ask Inay about it kaya nadala na naman ang pagtataka ko sa sinabi niya.

"Since you are a fire user, you need also to learn about nitrogen." Sabi pa niya kaya nagulat nalang ako kaagad.

"B-bakit po Nitrogen?!" Pagkagulat kong sabi.

"Nitrogen is the second easiest to learn if you are a fire user, but not all of the combined elements." Ani Inay. "Since you have Fire and also a wind, tuturuan kita about sa Nitrogen but after the activity about Boiling water."

"So ibig po sabihin ay-"

"You would have Boiling water and nitrogen as your combine elements." Saad niya kaya na-interrupt niya ang sinabi ko. "By the way, hindi lang rin naman about combination elements at cosmos ang maari mong matutunan."

"Ano po ang ibig mo po sabihin?" Tanong ko.

"Tuturuan kita ng Hereditary Replica." Sabi niya kaya nagulat nalang rin ako na bakit how to have a clobe pa ang ituturo niya sa akin.

"Siguro ay baka gagawin mo ito against Lucille, kaya tuturuan nalang kita ng mga pinagsasabi ko sa iyo para paghandaan mo siya pagdating ng araw." She said.

"Ahhhh... Understood, Inay." I said. "Para kalabanin ko si Estrovana soon dahil maaring handang-handa na ako how to beat her again." I confident said again.

"Basta ipaghanda mo na ang sarili mo, Ellainah." Linya niya at sabay nag-laho nalang bigla sa lugar na kinaroroonan namin.

Nagulat nalang ako bigla sa paglaho ni Inay at mag-isa nalang ako sa loob ng malamig na Scout Agent Room.

Bagsak man ako this exam pero hindi porket na bagsak ako ay surrender na kaagad. Still Protector parin ako until I die.

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STUNN3R