33 Shadow in the Lurking

Drago's POV

"Did I hear you right? You want me to take Virdjana away so that YOU can have Ruby for yourself?" pag-uulit ka sa 'napakatalinong' plano ni Ertune.

"That's right." he smilingly responded.

"Ertune, mahal mo pa naman ang buhay mo hindi ba?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang nakalagay ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng baba na animong isang detective.

Binigyan niya lang ako ng naguguluhan ekspresiyon bago tapikin ang balikat ko ng dalawang beses.

"You know the plan." sabi ni Ertune bago nag-dive sa isang palumpong (shrub) kaya naiwan ako ng mag-isa.

Iniisip niya ba talagang sasakyan ko ang trip niya? Nag-aalok ako ng lunch hindi ng kagaguhan. Pinag-walang-bahala ko na lamang ang napag-usapan naming dalawa at nagsimula nang tahakin ang daan patungo sa cafeteria, nang makatanggap ako ng tawag. Isinuot ko ang aking Elemental Headphone at tinanggap ang tawag na mula kay Master Yoto.

[Greetings boy. How's your investigation so far?"]

"Good noon Master. There hasn't been any suspicious activity, if that's what you're asking for. As for her identity, I'm still in the process of finding out who she truly is." magalang kong tugon.

[That and her identity is interesting, but would you like to be reminded about the deadline of your narrative report?]

"Don't worry Master, I'll have it sent this evening."

[Alright. Enjoy this Chronicle Play Event.] And with that she ended the call.

Mukhang wala rin pala akong pagpipilian. Napabuntong-hininga bago pumihit sa kanan kung saan matatagpuan ang iba-ibang booths. Sasakay na rin siguro ako sa plano ni Ertune para makausap si Virdjana ng masinsinan.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay matatanaw ang mga bombilyang pabago-bago ng kulay, animong mga banderitas na tumatawid ng zigzag mula sa isang booth papunta sa isa pa.

Mayroon ring mga mabababang kawayang nakatanim sa mga paso na pinalilibutan ng mga led lights, maihahalintulad ito sa mga kumukutitap na mga bituin sa kalangitan.

Sari-sari ang disenyo, laki at hugis ng mga placard signs ng kada puwesto - may nagtitinda ng pagkain, damit, at laruan. Mayroon ring mga tanghalan kagaya ng magic shows, shadow plays at picture booth.

Sadyang abala ang mga estudyante na makabenta o hindi naman kaya ay masubukan ang kung ano mang inihanda ng kapwa nila estudyante sa araw ng Chronicle Play.

Kung hindi lang sana kami okupado ng responsibilidad namin bilang Enchanted Elite, malamang ay isa rin kami sa mga mag-aaral na tumatangkilik sa mga booth nito hanggang lumubog ang araw.

Naputol ang pag-iisip-isip ko nang maramdaman ko ang isang masamang aura na dumaan sa aking likuran. Agad kong ipinihit ang aking ulo ngunit tanging anino na lamang nito ang nasulyapan ko.

Isa na naman kaya itong SGN? Huwag mong sabihing may nakapasok na naman sa premises ng paaralan nang hindi natutuklasan ng mga Master at mga guro?

Sa tingin ko ay kailangang i-ulat ang bagay na ito sa mga Master upang agad nilang maagapan kung sakali mang tama ang hinala ko.

Nang isusuot ko na sana ang EHP ko ay bigla ko itong nabitawan dahil natabig ako ng dalawang naghahabulang estudyante. Hindi ko na ito nasalo dahil kahit ako ay muntik nang mawalan ng balanse.

"What the heck?" galit kong pagkakasabi, ngunit hindi man lang lumingon ang dalawa.

What timing to get this magical item broken. Lumuhod ako para pulutin ang basag kong EHP. Hindi ko maitatangging nanlulumo ako, dahil bukod sa may kamahalan ang presyo nito, mababawasan ang student allowance ko dahil nakasira ako ng property ng paaralan. Sa pagkatagal-tagal kong iningatan ang magical item na ito, masisira-sira lang ng ganoon-ganoon?

"Drago? Anong nangyari at nakaluhod ka sa daan?"

Iniangat ko ang ulo ko para makita kung sino ang nagsabi ng pangalan ko. With his no lens eyeglasses, complete uniform and a pile of paper covering his face, I failed to recognize him by voice.

Tumayo na ako at nag-pagpag ng uniporme, "uhh sino ka?"

"Si JP ito." pagpapakilala niya, bago ibinaba ng konti ang patong-patong na papeles para maaninag ko ang mukha niya.

(A few minutes later)

"Ano? Nakaramdam ka ng parehong presence noong sumugod sa paaralan natin kanina?!" nagulantang na pagkakasabi ni JP.

Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig niya at sinenyasan na huwag niyang taasan ang kaniyang boses.

"Ano? Nakaramdam ka ng parehong presence noong sumugod sa paaralan natin kanina?" pag-uulit ni JP sa pabulong na tono.

Tumango ako bago bumalik sa pagluluksa dahil sa nasira kong EHP. Ikinuwento ko rin sa kaniya nang i-rereport ko na sana ang naramdaman ko sa Masters ay saka naman ako nabangga ng mga pasaway na estudyante.

"I'm actually heading to the Faculty office, so I can make the report for you." JP stated with a grin.

That's convenient. Dahil kung ganoon ay maipagpapatuloy ko na ang paghahanap kay Virdjana. I gave JP a tap on the shoulder before starting to walk away.

"Thanks Jordan! I gotta run now, you know, Enchanted Elite work!" pagpapaalam ko.

"No prob!" pahabol pa nito.

Virdjana's POV

I decided to just spent the break time I have with Ruby since all my drowsiness already disappeared. Anyone would be wide awake if they have someone cheerfully blaring on their ears like Ruby. She was clinging to my arms, making sure that I won't run away from her, and since I had enough of her wails, I just let her be.

"The food in stalls are delicious." I told no one.

"Woah, first time hearing you admitting something like that." Ruby remarked.

It was not exactly noteworthy Ruby, don't get too excited towards small things - I thought to myself. Wait a minute, I'm feeling a familiar aura, reddish-orange, a calm blaze from behind us. Could it be Drago?

"Hey Virdjana, narinig mo ba iyong sinabi ko? Sabi ko bili tayo ng maskara para kunyare mysterious tayo..." sabi ni Ruby habang yinuyugyog ang katauhan ko.

I gave her a smirk, which made her raise an eyebrow, "alright then."

(Insert fun electric guitar montage)

I was the one who pulled her immediately to the mask booth, in which she bought a tiger mask and I bought a traditional white cat mask - the one with red paint as whiskers.

I wore my hair into a low ponytail using a ribbon I took from a wedding booth curtain, when we passed by. The exact moment we decided to wear the masks, was the moment Drago passed in front of us while looking around.

Nang makadaan na si Drago ay hinatak ko naman si Ruby patungo sa isang shooting booth, mabuti na lang at hindi na siya nagtapon ng kahit anong tanong at sumakay na lamang sa trip ko.

Masyado akong seryoso sa sharp-shooting game na ito kaya nakuha ko ang grand prize na isang malaking elephant stuff toy. Hindi ko nga mapigilang tumawa ng mahina nang makita kong nahihirapan si Ruby na buhatin ang higanteng elephant plushie.

"Wait, did you just laugh?" tanong nito sa akin.

"No. Let's go to the next booth." I said sternly before pulling her again to the next stall.

Ngayon naman, nakita ko si Drago na nagkakamot ng ulo sa kaliwa namin, malamang ay nakakaramdam din ang lalakeng ito na nasa paligid lamang ako.

"Virdj-"

"Shush, let's go to the karaoke booth." I whispered-shouted to Ruby before going to our 7th stall of the day.

(Fun Electric guitar montage end)

We were the only pair in the karaoke booth that was carrying this large elephant plushie, with masks on and creative art paint on the backs of our hands - mine was an image of a white vulture, and Ruby has pink and black hearts on hers.

Surely, we look like we could easily attract attention, but there are also many others with plushies, others with balloons and some even carried trays of food. We were pretty much blending in with the crowd.

"21 Guns. Who's song is this? Please take the microphone." announced the facilitator of the Karaoke Booth.

"Mine! My turn!" Ruby exclaimed, shoving the giant elephant stuff toy to me, before running to the center.

I listened to her sing and surely she was tone deaf. My god, my expectations went plummeting to the core of the planet. I made a mental note to not assume that Sound Enchants are actually good at singing.

"Wahhh, thank you Kadaski. Mabuti na lang at tinulungan mo kaming matapos agad yung pag-set-up ng fireworks display para mamaya. I owe you two for coming with me to this booth and accepting this date." this familiar super girly voice caught my attention, and as I thought, it was Lizbeth's.

"I got free time, sayang naman kung maglilibot-libot lang ako." saad ni Kadaski bago ngumiti at tumabi sa blonde na babaeng ito.

Who would have guessed that this man could actually genuinely smile like that? Mabuti na lang at naka-maskara ako at binago ko ang ayos ng aking buhok, hindi nila halatang andito ako.

'Just ignore them, just ignore them.'

"I know this voice, it's Ruby's. Kahit kailan talaga ang kapal ng mukha niya." komento ni Lizbeth saka tumawa tungo kay Ruby na masiglang kumakanta sa harapan.

"Hayaan mo na, pagbigyan at event." nakangising pahayag ni Kadaski.

"Pagsasabihan ko talaga siya mamaya." sabi pa ni Lizbeth.

Sa wakas ay natapos nang kantahin ni Ruby ang 21 Guns.

"T-thank you for the performance Senior. W-wag ka nang umulit." saad nang kawawa at nabinging facilitator pagkatapos umawit si Ruby.

"Andito ka pala Ruby." sabi ni Lizbeth.

Nanatili namang tahimik si Kadaski na animong ayaw makisawsaw sa dalawa.

"Kadaski, Lizbeth, this is rare. I thought both of you dislikes the crowd. What caused the change?" asked Ruby as if she was some kind of interviewer, she also removed her mask in the process, showing that she was smirking.

"Not in the mood for this." stated Lizbeth before rolling her eyes.

Despite Lizbeth's daily sassiness and attitude, she does know how to back off and not add fuel to the fire, even though there's no fire yet.

[This bitch.] was what I heard when I read Ruby's mind.

Kinuha ko na iyong senyas para pigilan nang bumuga ng apoy si Ruby (figuratively speaking), tumayo na ako at ibinigay sa kaniya iyong giant elephant plushie. 'We are leaving.' I told the pinknetted telepathically with the help of the power from my guardian relic.

Mukhang nagulat si Ruby nang marinig niya ang boses ko sa kaniyang isipan kaya napatitig lang ito sa akin. Nang bubuksan pa sana nito ang kaniyang bibig, ay hinatak ko na siya palayo sa dalawa naming kaklase.

"Sino iyon?" narinig ko pang tanong ni Lizbeth kay Kadaski.

Nang makalayo na kami ay agad akong binatuhan ni Ruby ng tanong, at ang ilan dito ay hindi ko talaga inaasahan.

"Bakit may pahatak-hatak kang nalalaman Virdjana? Ayaw mo lang ba talagang magsimula ako ng away o hindi mo nagustuhang magkasama si Kadaski at Lizbeth?" nakangisi nitong sabi.

I shook my head out of confusion, "wait, where did you get the idea? That was so random."

Ruby placed the large elephant plushie on a nearby bench, "wala ka talagang feelings para sa kaniya?" pangungulit pa nito.

"None, and I'm pretty sure there's no benefit of having him around." I stated coldly, removing the cat mask and throwing it on a nearby garbage bin, "I'm returning to my post with Ertune, see you later." then I started parting ways with her.

Kadaski's POV

Pagsasabihan ko na sana sina Ruby at Lizbeth na tumigil ngunit nauna na siyang hatakin paalis ng nakamaskarang babae na nakaupo sa tabi ko. Gangmate siguro iyon ni Ruby na kasama niyang mag-hang-out.

Ngunit teka, hindi ba at si Phantom ang pinilit nitong ilibot sa mga booths? I guess she was left with no choice but to deal with that pink-haired and it's fortunate that both of us can't really stand those kind of situations, that could be the reason why she had to step in.

"Bakit ka tuma-tango-tango ng mag-isa diyan ha?" tanong sa akin ni Lizbeth nang nakataas ang isang kilay.

"Ha? I wasn't." I responded then cleared my throat.

Nag-iwas tingin na lamang ako. Sa hindi kalayuan ay naaninag ko ang pagmumukha ng gangster na si Ertune. Isa na namang pagmumukha na nakasisira ng araw ko.

"Kakanta ka ba at pumunta ka dito?" baling ko kay Lizbeth.

"Oh, not really. This friendly date of ours is just meant to kill time." Lizbeth answered while twirling a strand of her hair.

"If that's the case, I'd like to return to my job now. Bye." and with that I left the seat and headed back to the direction of the Arcacia Auditorium where the Chronicle Play was being held.

"Uhh sure, whatever, I wish I just invited Drago." mumbled Lizbeth, and that was the last words I heard from her before I left the Karaoke venue.

On my way back to the post, I saw Phantom coming from another direction, although technically we were both heading back to the outpost tower. When I got closer, I confirmed that she was the girl with Ruby, with that low ponytail and how she walks. How did I get her walk memorized in the first place?

Nonetheless, I took the initiative to start a conversation with Phantom regarding her roaming and observation while exploring the booths. It would be disappointing if she was not even alert, and had her guard down just because she was having her free time. I smirked to myself, let's see how she'd react if I bombard her with intimidating questions.

"Phantom. Come over here, I have something to ask you." I shouted, about five meters away from where she's standing.

The moment I blinked my eyes, she was now standing so close to me, with no regards of personal space, "you better not try starting an argument with me Nueva."

I was astounded for a few seconds, but I refused to take a step back. Nonetheless, this proximity is making me very uncomfortable. It would be worrying if I my breath stink.

"Did you just call me by my surname? Thought you're suppose to be calling me by my first name by now?" I retorted, furrowing my eyebrows in the process.

"If those are your questions, my answer are yes and no." Phantom responded coldly before beginning to turn away from me.

"Obviously it's not those! As an Enchanted Elite who's been in this position for three years now, I came to ask for progress and wanted to know if you noticed any suspicious things around the venues." I stated, annoyance was evident on my face. Why is this woman so hard to talk to? I know that we started impressions very poorly, but heck can't she just be not rude to me for a few minutes?

She went silent for a while then she muttered, "Aura Sensos."

I felt a pulse of wave that passed by me, and it travelled backwards after 15-20 seconds. What was that spell? The moment I returned my gaze to this woman, she already had her arms raised in the air, as if to attack me. Did she distract me so that she could show me how much she can't stand my presence?

I jumped away from her. I lit both palms ablaze, in which I earned an equally surprised expression from this Eumythymn, weird.

I positioned my body into an attack stance, and Phantom also does the same except she did not even dare create any wind related magic or spout a spell in that particular unfamiliar language like the last combat activity at the gymnasium. Phantom placed her arm down and was silently gazing at me at this moment.

I waited for her to attack, but she simply showed me that I was not her enemy by signaling me to look behind, her eyes doing this small movements that is urging me turn my head around. Should I believe her?

Nang lumingon ako ay doon ko lang napagtantong may ilang estudyante na pala ang nanonood sa aming dalawa. Nagbubulungan at nagtutulakan na para bang may artista sa harapan nila. Mula sa gitna, ay humawi papunta sa harapan ang isa sa mga intimidating na taong nakapag-bibigay sa akin ng masamang pakiramdam lalo na kapag galit ito.

"Are both of you done fooling around?" questioned Master Shin.

On instinct, I immediately made the fires disappeared and quickly bowed to Master Shin with respect.

A few seconds later, a shadow moved and stood beside me, and it was Phantom's. She also did the same thing and bowed. After that, Master Shin told the students to return to their businesses and Master had invited us to go to the Faculty Office.

To my surprise, all Enchanted Elites were there. Master Shien, the Librarian and twin of Master Shin, the recruiter, was also present with a serious expression on her face.

"The Chronicle Book was stolen." Shien announced.