Chapter 18: The Preparation
AVA's POINT OF VIEW
FOR THE past two weeks, we were just practicing ourselves for the upcoming Ranking Ceremony. Everybody's busy. If they’re not in the training grounds, they’re on the cafeteria — to have some food in their own tummies so that they will have energies for the trainings, or in their own dorms to have some rest. Some are excited but most of the students in the last sections were afraid and nervous.
They were afraid that they might not be able to move on their places. Natatakot sila na baka hindi na sila makaangat. Na baka mananatili lang sila sa last section buong taon. They are nervous for their opponents. Kinakabahan sila sa magiging kalaban nila gayong hindi pa naman sinasabi ng akademya kung ano ang pwedeng makalaban namin. Kung ito ba ay kapwa nila estudyante or just illusions. But if it is illusions, they are also scared that maybe they'll never be able to get out of that trance. Kung ito naman ay estudyante lang, natatakot din silang magkasakitan. Not unless they have hatred for each other.
Ako, hindi ko inintindi ang magiging kalaban ko. I was just focused on my trainings of my ability and magic. And because of that focus, I had discovered a lot of things.
I had discovered that this healing ability is not really an ability. It is part of my magic. I am a plant manipulator. I already read books to train myself dahil nahihiya akong lumapit kay Jack, my trainor. Pero kakaunti lang ang nabasa ko. Ang iba pa roon ay mga kwento ng mga ninuno na nagkaroon ng ganitong kapangyarihan.
And base on what I’ve read, super kaunti lang nila. Like, ten. Sa panahon ko naman ay wala pang nakasulat sa libro. The book was just like a yearbook, kada taon ay may taong isusulat doon kung sino ang may ganyan na kapangyarihan. For the past 20 years, ako palang ang nasa kasalukuyan na may kapangyarihan ng halaman.
I also discovered my second magic. I’m an air wielder and manipulator. It was so, so weird! Because everyone here in the academy only possessed one magic and ability. I red all the books that can help me train myself of this magic. Marami-rami rin akong nabasa dahil may nakahanay na patungkol sa kapangyarihan ng hangin doon sa Library.
So, I listed all of it. I am an air wielder and plant manipulator. My ability is mind ability. I also study and follow all the knowledge I knew in that book. And it comes out that I can manipulate the minds of whoever I wanted.
I even try it! I feel so sorry for James because he's the one I used. I manipulated him to say 'I like you' to Sofia. Hanggang ngayon ay nagkakagulo parin ang dalawa dahil doon. James, who keeps on denying, and Sofia will always tease him.
Alam kong gusto nila ang isa't isa kaya ako na ang nag-isip ng way. But it only got worsened! I really shouldn't interfere with other's business. Lalong tinatago ni James Bradley ang kaniyang nararamdaman para kay Sofia! He's so torpe! Naiinis talaga ako sa mga ganiyang klase ng tao.
James only admires me because he knows that I like his best buddy na hindi naman ako pinapansin at hindi ko rin nilalapitan dahil sa nangyari two weeks ago. I can't believe na may tinatago pa pala akong hiya sa katawan. Jeez...
I feel so happy now that I discovered my magic and ability. But my friends only knew about my magic was the air. I don't want them to know about the plant magic at mas lalo na sa pagbabasa ng isipan. I only told them that my ability was to heal mild and serious wounds.
Nandito ako ngayon sa loob ng dorm. Hindi pwedeng sa training grounds ako magt-training about sa ability ko dahil baka may makaalam at ipagsasabi pa sa iba. I am currently training myself on how to move things using my mind.
I set an apple above the plastic table. I just need to move the apple to the right, left, up, down and vice versa. I concentrated and stare at the apple before I move my eyes to the right. I continuously doing that until I mastered it. Gagawin ko pa ulit sana nang marinig kong may nagdoor-bell.
I opened it and saw all my squad are here. They are bringing foods and their own pillows and blankets. We will be having a sleepover here at my dorm because yesterday, we were at the SUPREMUS Mansion — I mean, ako lang pala ang pumunta pa ro’n dahil lahat sila ay nandoon nagdo-dorm. Pati ang kambal ni Jane ay himala na nadala nila dito!
"Wui! Ang sexy natin ngayon, ah?" nangingiting saad ni James. But it's obvious na galing pa silang asaran ni Sofia.
I was just wearing my fern green sports bra and leggings na hanggangs tuhod ang taas. Every training I had, this is my outfit.
"Nagt-training ka, Mau?" Zoe asked. Tumango ako. "Ng ano?"
Like I always say when they were asking me, "Enhancing my magic." Because that’s my safe answer.
"Why don't you let us in?" Napalingon kaming lahat sa nagsalita. He is annoyed already, I can say.
"Oh... sorry. Come in, come in." I gestured my hands on them, letting them in. "Sorry, my dorm was spacious because I am just the only one living here. But now that we are all 6 here, I think we can't have space anymore later when we're already lying down. My bad,” I said as they sat on the couch and the others are on the floor. Hindi sumasama sa amin ang boyfriend ni Jane and I don't know why. Maybe he was busy or he is training his sister.
"Ganito, ako ang hihiga sa couch. Zoe, Sofia, at Jane ay sa lapag. Ikaw at si Jack ay sa kam—," Before he could even finish his sentence, I cut him off.
"James! You wanted a half force punch, don't you?" I threatened.
Agad naman siyang namutla sa sinabi ko at napalunok kaya ngumisi ako. "H-Hey, h’wag kang ngumisi ng ganyan, hindi ko 'yan nagustuhan. Okay, ganito nalang—,"
"'Wag na! Ako nalang—," Sofia butted in but he just cut it off, too.
"Ako na—!"
"Eh, hindi ba gusto mo ako?" Natahimik si James. Gusto kong matawa sa kanilang dalawa pero pinipigilan ko. Nakatanaw lang din sa kanila ang iba. "Okay, so ganito tayo, Me, Zoe, and Maureen will take the bed. Jack and Jane at the floor and James takes the couch. So, any objections?"
"Wait, why Jane and Jack together at the flo—," I objected but she cut my word.
"Mau... they are twins. Nakalimutan mo na?" sabi niya habang nakataas ang kilay.
OMG! So embarrassing, Ava! Bakit ko ba nakalimutan 'yon?
"Err... hehe, sorry. Uhm, okay! So, just let me change my clothes and let's have dinner, afterwards,” nahihiyang tugon ko. "James, bago ako makalabas ng CR, make sure na nakahanda na ang lahat, okay?"
And because of the embarrassment I felt, nakapagsalita ako ng tagalog sa harapan nila! Omg, again... I saw how their eyes got wider and even Jack! Before I got to hear their shrieks, I immediately go to the bathroom, bringing my clothes to wear.
Nagshower ako saglit at nagbihis. I just wore my lime green sweater and charcoal black half of my legs length skirt. Nagsuot rin ako ng below the knee white sock dahil hindi ako sanay na matulog ng walang medyas. Tinanggal ko ang pagkapony-tail ng buhok ko and turn my light brown hair na hanggang dibdib ang haba into a messy bun. This is always my night routine kapag nagt-training.
Lumabas na ako at nakalatag na lahat ng kakainin namin. They even decorated it. I took my phone on the bedside table and take a picture of the food displayed. Nagclick ang phone kaya napaligon silang lahat sa'kin. James and Sofia stops fighting like a cat. Zoe and Jane were checking my walk-in closet. Jack, on the other hand, was staring at my guitar who happened na nasa gilid ng door patungong closet.
James was about to talk but Jane was fast to do it. "Mau! Is this seriously yours?" she asked while pointing out the clothes na nakatupi at nakahang ng maayos.
I consciously nodded. Nagtataka akong napatingin sa kaniya. "Yeah, what's wrong?"
Lumapit ako. I scanned my eyes to the pile of green clothes at the center. Different shades of green. Sa gilid naman ay puro black na bottoms. Skirt, shorts, leggings, pants, and pedals. The opposite side was white. Bottoms lang din at may iba na pang ibabaw. Sa baba ay mga pile of different styles of shoes. Sa ibang bahagi naman ng closet ay mga different colors of dresses and gowns na nakahang, dalawang palapag siya. Then each side of those are drawers. Doon inilagay ang mga socks at under garments. May nakaiba rin na closet and that was all denim. Dress, skirt, or jumpers.
Sa gitna naman ng bahagi ng kwartong ito ay ang vanity table with mirror and chair. May mga drawers din sa table na ang laman ay mga girly accessories na sobrang pabor sa'kin. So what's wrong about my closet?
"Are... are you obsessed with colors of green and black? And if yes, bakit may pink na paint sa room mo?" Zoe asked.
"I love green and black, yes. And about the pink paint in ny dorm, they are the one who decide this and it's okay with me. Actually, pink is my fourth favorite color,” nakangiting akong sumagot.
"And your third is white?" I nod. "Ohh.."
Lumabas na kami sa kwartong 'yon at umupo na sa lapag. We started eating and at the same time, talking. Sana makasali na ako sa Rank SUPREMUS so that I'll be able to go to their missions, too. Ano kaya ang pakiramdam? Next week is the Blue Moon and I am excited when it comes.
"Ang cute ni Mau no’ng nagsalita siya ng tagalog nang hindi nagagalit!" Tumawa silang lahat ng malakas. Well, except of the KJ, Jack. It's a miracle for myself that I didn't call him darling.
I'm glad that I met people like this. I hope no one will deceive us. No one will gonna be a traitor here. No one will fool me, again. No one will be a user. I hope this friendship will last until my last breath.
OMG, I talk like I am going to die na.
@Diligentoryx