NIOA 7

7.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko ng maramdaman kung nanikip ito. Hell! What happened? I close my eyes while forcing myself to calm down. Pilit kung hindi ipinahalata ang paninikip ng dibdib ko.

Shit!

"I'm not gonne tell the rest of their love story. It's for you to find out. Work hard and find how their story ended and what happened to their daughter."

Minulat ko ang mata ko ng matapos magsalita si Ms. Maisie. Tumigil na rin ang paninikip ng aking dibdib. Hindi ko alam kung anong dahilan ng paninikip nito. It's just that, nahirapan na lang akong huminga bigla.

"She died..." napalingon ako kay Grella ng magsalita siya. Everyone looked at her maliban doon sa lalaking may pulang mata.

I was straing at her at napansin kung kumuyom ang kamay niya. "The heiress died 21 years ago and that's because of him! That's because of that asshole named Maxi-"

"Grella, shut your mouth!" Ms. Maisie shouted. Napayuko si Grella pero kitang kita ko ang panginginig ng sarado niyang mga kamay. She's angry. Nararamdaman ko yun.

Muli akong tumingin sa harap ng magsalita si Ms. Maisie. "You know that it's forbidden to say his name! So don't you dare!" sigaw ulit nito. Masama ang tingin nito kay Grella at nakakuyom din ang kaniyang kamao.

"I-I'm sorry."

Unti unting nahimasmasan si Ms. Maisie at kumalma siya. She turned back to her old self. Parang bigla na lang nawala yung nagagalit na Ms. Maisie kanina. Parang walang sigawan na nangyari.

This people are weird.

"Please, be careful of your words next time. Maswerte ka dahil ako ang nakarinig sayo. I don't know what will happen to you pag ang Headmistress ang nakarinig sayo." kalmado na ang boses nito at hindi na rin nakakuyom ang kaniyang kamay.

I looked at Grella. Nakayuko parin ito pero nakita ko itong tumango. "I will. I'm sorry." sagot nito.

"Okay, that's all for today. Training tayo bukas and I'm not the one handling you. Please, behave and control yourself. Ayaw kong maulit ang nangyari sa training niyo last time. I don't want to be call by the Headmistress this time." madiing sabi ni Ms. Maisie. May mga tumango samantalang may mga napangisi naman.

"Especially you, Mr. Kingsley." I followed where Ms. Maisie was looking.

And Mr. Red Eyes meet my sight. Nakapikit ito at mukhang wala man lang pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid niya. I doubt that he even listen to what Ms. Maisie was saying. Mukhang natutulog pa ata siya.

"Mr. Dwight Kingsley!" he slowly opened his eyes. Unti unti kung nakita ang pula niyang mga mata. They are so vibrant. Parang nag aapoy yung mata niya.

I'm still staring at him ng bigla siyang tumingin sakin. Nanlalaki ang matang umiwas ako ng tingin.

Ramdam ko parin ang tingin niya kaya pilit kung tinatanggal ang emosyon saking mukha. I don't want him to see me like this.

"Tsk!" he said.

Naramdaman ko siyang tumayo at naglakad palabas ng room. Doon ko lang siya tinignan ulit. Dang it! Bat ko ba kasi siya tinitignan? Why the hell am I staring at him?!

Nagsilabasan naman na rin sila. I got up and was about to go out too when I heard Ms. Maisie 's voice called my name. "Aleah." nilingon ko siya and she was looking at me.

Naglakad ako papalapit sa kaniya. "Yes?" I asked, emotionless. "Can I talk to you? I have something to ask." sagot naman niya. I nod. "What is it?"

"In private. Can we talk in private?" nilibot ko naman ang paningin ko. Grella, Leicel, Friza and the others are staring at us. I sighed. "Okay. Where?"

She smiled. "In my office. Follow me." tumango ako tsaka siya sinundan.