Silver's POV 
"What's the matter with me?" 
That's like the third time I've asked myself that question. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring sagot. 
Paano ba naman kasi, my conscience had been consistently bugging me. I know my words have probably hurt her. 
I mean, I've gaslighted her. That's awful to feel. 
But the thing here is that, why am I affected? 
I'm the scariest thing this Academy has. Lahat ng estudyante, takot sa'kin. Maging mga professors and staff dito nasusumbatan ko eh. 
I'm not that type of person who gives a damn about what other people think or feel. Sa totoo lang, naranasan ko na ring pumatay gamit ang mga salita ko but did I feel guilty? 
No. 
Ngayon lang! 
Sa babaeng 'yon lang. 
So, to ease this guilt that's been tripping me for what feels like ages, I called the hospital canteen to give her food. 
I hope she likes sinigang. Parehas naman silang maasim. 
"Make sure she'll eat the food or else..." banta ko sa nurse na inutusan ko. 
It's 12:45 and I'm already in the mini gym. I'm expecting her to come early but my expectations did not include Clint smiling beside her. 
Nakatalikod siya sa'kin kaya hindi ko nakikita reaksiyon niya. But Clint, I can see his side profile. He's even chuckling. Siguro may sinabing nakakatawa 'yong babae. 
Maharot. 
I shouldn't have felt guilty from all those words I've told her. Muli, nabuo ang inis ko sa kanya. I know I won't be able to control my mouth from showering her with insults. 
I loathe how her eyes intently watched Clint. Hindi naman 'yong kapwa niya Pebble ang pinapanood niya eh. 
Si Clint. 
I badly wanna poke her eyes right now. She must consider herself lucky because I chose not to do that. Kailangan lang niyang ayusin mamaya. 
I'm impressed how she's doing fine on the first few minutes of the activity. Madali lang naman kasi talaga eh. Stupid lang 'yong Pebble ni Clint kaya natalo sila kaagad. 
Besides, I've trained this Pebble well. Kung hindi siya magiging alerto ay baka siya ang maibato ko. 
"Go Zeighna!" That jerk shouted from the benches. 
Itong maharot namang ito, na-distract! 
Argh! I hate her for that! 
We argued for the next 30 seconds. I just can't help it! Sobrang naiinis ako sa kanya that I just can't stop talking. 
We're eliminated. 
Sobrang nakakahiya. 
I've never been eliminated from something this easy before! My previous Pebbles, regardless how weak they are, I'm obliging them to be tough and win. 
Pero ito... Puro kahihiyan binibigay sa'kin! 
We decided to part ways. I sat alone in one of the benches. 
Well, I wasn't supposed to be alone. Maraming nakaupo rito bago ako dumating pero nang tignan ko sila nang masama ay dali-dali silang umalis lahat. 
I don't wanna look at her. I don't even wanna think about her. 
I'm just here, sitting down massaging my jaw. One of the medics came close to hand me an ice pack. 
"Are you insulting me?" I asked with my teeth gritting. 
"N-No, sir. I was just - "
"Get out of my f*cking face." 
She almost ran while distancing herself from me. 
"Silver..." 
I heard the devil speaking from behind. Para siyang demonyong kabute na sumusulpot bigla kahit hindi mo naman hiniling. 
I felt how he sat beside me. He didn't just invade my personal space, he also touched me! 
He patted my shoulder like we're some kind of comrades. 
"Stop being so hard on Zeighna," his "concerned" voice annoyed my ears. 
"Stop touching me." 
Tinapik ko ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa balikat ko. His mere presence already feels like bad luck. Papaano pa kaya kapag hinawakan na niya ako? 
"Stop being a pussy now, Silver," he insisted his idea. "She's still new here. At least let her adjust to the - "
"Can you stop meddling with other people's lives?" I turned to him so he can have a perfect view of my annoyance. 
"I don't," he casually replied. "But what I can do is to treat my Pebbles right."
"How? Tucking them to bed right after you've f*cked them?" I sarcastically asked. 
"Woah! Woah!" He raised his hands, gesturing me to calm down. "You're getting below the belt."
I gave a sarcastic chuckle. Siya pa ang may ganang magsabi niyan? Really? After what he did.
"Well, I've already warned you. Baka magsisi ka kapag ako ang gumalaw." His voice was filled by much warning. 
I didn't talk back. I just want him to sense my silence as a sign to walk away. Gladly, he started walking away. 
It turns out, he's not so stupid after all. 
After a few seconds, I turned to look where he went. 
He's now besides the furrowed-brow Pebble. 
I was watching them intently until Clint wrapped his arm around her. Inaasahan ko namang susungitan niya si Clint pero to my surprise, she didn't move! 
It was like she wasn't bothered that Clint's holding her like that.
Tinanggal ko na ang paningin ko sa kanilang dalawa. 
Disgusting. 
"Napakaharot talaga," I whispered to the air. 
"The first stage is done!" Ms. Annison announced. "Go back to your circle, Gems and Pebbles!"
Bumalik nga kami sa bilog. I did bother myself with searching for that Pebble. If she wants to have a fruitful activity, siya ang lumapit sa'kin. 
"Following your same order, we'll go to the next activity. The first activity, your Pebble is your teammate. For the second one, your Pebble is your enemy."
"Shit," I cursed under my breath. 
The ground grumbled so we stepped backwards, making ample distance so the boxing ring can rise. 
"There's no other rules in this activity. Just don't kill your partner, that's all. You can do boxing, mix martial arts, use swords, knives, but no guns." 
Tinignan ko si Zeighna. Napalunok siya nang wala sa oras. 
That's right. Gulp that lump. Talagang lulumpuhin kita. 
"First team, go inside the box."
Clint smilingly went inside the ring while assisting his stupid Pebble. He even helped her with putting on her boxing gloves. 
"Stupid," I commented. 
Para silang naglalaro sa loob ng ring. They're talking and laughing as Clint throws playful punches on the Pebble. 
"We want some action - "
Natigilan si Ms. Annison nang biglang sinuntok ni Clint sa mukha ang Pebble niya. The weak Pebble droppes on the floor unconscious. 
That's staged! Ang hina kaya no'n! 
Kapag si Zeighna sinapak ko ng gano'n baka makiliti pa siya eh. 
"Diamond wins!" Ms. Annison declared. "Next!" 
Umakyat ako ng ring mag-isa. Hinayaan ko ang Pebble na umakyat. Malaki na siya. Kaya na niya sarili niya.
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked while she's putting on boxing gloves. 
"Hindi po ba obvious?" pabalang niyang sagot na siyang inikainit na naman ng ulo ko. 
"Stupid. We're not gonna do boxing," I firmly said. "This is freestyle. Walang shield, walang weapon. Just you and me, trying to kill each other."
Ilang beses na rin naman na kaming nagpatayan dati. This isn't new to me. 
"Remember, Diamonds, don't kill your Pebbles!" Ms. Annison reminded like she heard what I said. 
"I won't promise anything," I said as I show an evil smirk. 
Naghahanda pa lang ang Pebble ay sinugod ko na siya. 
I threw a punch and it hit her straight on the lip. Putok ang nguso niya. 
While she's preoccupied with her lip blood, I squatted to wipe her off the ground using my legs. 
And there, she dropped. 
"Boring..." I said before turning my back on her. 
"Diamond wins!" Ms. Annison announced. 
That was easy. Hindi man lang ako pinawisan. 
I was about to exit from the ring but I was taken aback from Ms. Annison's announcement. 
"Oh, looks like there's part two! I'm taking the declaration back!" 
What the - 
Pagkalingon ko, Zeighna is already there, pulling me by my collar. Her strength is strong enough to through me against the opposite side of the ring. 
Everyone gasped. 
"That's the spirit! Get him, Zeighna!" The stupid Clint cheered. 
She was fast to position herself over me but I'm faster to predict that cliche position. I grabbed her by her arms and threw her upward. 
Nakatayo kaming pareho at siya ang unang sumusugod. I easily dodged her punch but I failed to sense her kicking my back. 
Napakalakas niya! 
Napatumba ako pero bumangon ako kaagad.
Now, it's my time to attack. 
I ran to her but she moved to her right. As expected. Kaya, binilisan ko pa ang takbo para sa rubbery side ng ring. Ibinato ako ng side ng ring papunta sa kanya kaya nagtumba kaming dalawa. 
Now, I'm on top of her. 
Nagpupumiglas siya pero agad kong sinakal ang leeg niya. 
Move all you want, that'll just waste your remaining oxygen. 
She stopped moving. I thought she's gonna give up but it turned out, she's just gathering strength to kick me away from her. 
After that, things got more intense. Maraming suntok ang sumapol. Parehong labi namin ay pumutok. 
Now, I know she's getting tired. 
Masiyadong malakas ang mg pwersa niya. She doesn't know how to control her strength that's why she got tired easily. 
Madali ko na lang siyang matatalo ngayon. 
With her fist clenched, ready to punch, she ran fast towards me. Nang malapit na siya ay saka niya pinakawalan ang suntok niya. 
I remained unfazed. 
Sinalo ko ang suntok niya gamit ang kamay ko. My hand didn't even moved. Now, I have all the confidence to win.
 Pagod na si Zeighna. Ang mukha niya hindi na halos makita dahil sa dugo at pawis. 
She needs to rest and I need to win. 
"You're tired now. Baka gusto mong humiga muna?" I asked. 
Kasabay no'n ang paghila ko sa kamay niya. That resulted her to tumble behind my back, falling unto the ring floor. 
I heard her groaning in pain. This is her end. 
Mabagal akong lumapit sa hinihingal na babae. She's moving her head left and right but her body is too tired to cooperate. 
I held my fist high, aiming for the last punch that'll put her to sleep when suddenly...
"CLINT!"
With all her remaining strength, she shouted for the devil's name. 
"What the hell?!" 
I was so offended. Bakit niya naman tatawagin si Clint?!
Not even a second passed by when Clint came flying with his foot coming in first. Hindi ko siya agad nakita kaya tumama sa mukha ko ang paa niya. 
Kami ngayon ang naglaban. 
I know he's not gonna use his power. Hindi pwede. Malalaman ng mga authorities. 
Kaya, he fought with his own human body. Kahit pagod ako ay papatulan ko siya pero ... 
"STOP!" Ms. Annison's voice thundered across the whole room. "Get off the ring! Next!" 
Tumigil si Clint mula sa kanyang fighting position. 
Dumiretso naman ako sa bugbog saradong Pebble. 
"Don't take it personally. Activity lang 'to. Marami pang darating na ganito soon. You have to get used to this," I said as I lend her my hand. 
Kahit galit na galit ako sa ginawa niyang pagsigaw ng pangalan ni Clint, I still decided to help her. 
Pero ang bwisit na babae, tinignan lang ang kamay ko. She didn't do anything! She didn't even speak! 
"Zeighna..." 
Sumulpot na naman si kupal. 
"Do you need my help?" he gently asked. 
Disgusting. 
"Yes, please..." 
WHAT THE HELL?!
With that, Clint scooped Zeighna into his arms and he carried her towards where the medics are. Her head rested on his chest as she closed her eyes. 
She mumbled something that I've managed to read from her lips. 
"Salamat sa tulong, Clint." 
That's it. 
I stomped my way out of the mini-gym. Ayoko na rito. 
Ayaw ko silang makita!