11 Chapter Ten: First Quest

Chapter Ten: First Quest

Typically, when it's first day of class, it is when professors or instructors tells you the basic thing about their subject. It is when you have to introduce yourself, to be familiar with the subject, to learn the basic thing but in our case? It's not.

"Group yourself into five." Professor Kwon commanded, it bewildered us but we manage to follow it despite of confusion. Magkasama kami ni Minki sa iisang grupo at may tatlo pang dumagdag sa amin which is dalawang babae at isang lalaki.

Professor Kwon told us to sit with our teams so he can discuss his first quest to us. He did not prefer the word 'activity' so he called every activity we have as a 'quest'. "Look for your team leader." He instructed us at tumingin naman ako sa apat na kasama ko, kasama na roon si Minki.

"So sino leader natin?" tanong ko ng magkaharap harap na kami. Tumingin naman ako sa dalawang babae na nasa harap ko, ang isa ay nakasalamin at naka braid ang buhok at ang isa naman ay nakatingin lang samin habang may nginunguyang bubble gum. Hindi ba sya sinaway kanina ni Professor Kwon?

"What's our standards in assigning a leader?" the girl with braided ask.

"I think someone who are dedicated to accomplish the quest? Someone who can lead and guide the team. Someone who think the members first before the others." I answer.

"Then It's better to be..."

"I think this guy should be our leader." Pinutol ng babaeng ngumunguya ng bubble gum ang balak sabihin ng lalaking nasa tabi ko, which is the second guy within the group exclude Minki.

The girl pointed at Minki. "You should be our leader." Pumupungay pa niyang sabi at halata sa kanya na nagpapa 'cute' ito sa harap ni Minki. "Me? I never wanted to." Minki answered as he propped his chin on his hand.

"I think she is better to be our leader." He added at tinuro ako habang nasa ganung posisyon parin sya. Tumingin kaagad ako sa kanya at nag taas ng kilay. "Ako? Bakit ako?" turo ko pa sa sarili ko.

"Yes why her? Pwede naman na ikaw nalang, hindi ba?" she ran her hand through her hair as she looked at Minki.

"Because I wanted too and besides.." He looked down his eyes on my side for he is taller compare to me even though we are both sitting. "...She seems smarter and dedicated than me, a girl can be a leader too."

"I know that, but you know? Para mas exciting 'yung magiging quest natin. It is better that the person who leads has the presence of being a leader."

"Doesn't she have one?" turo pa niya sakin at ramdam ko sa tono niya ang pagka bored nito. "A woman can lead and they have their own ways to precide us, aren't you a woman? Do you not consider yourself as a capable to lead? Are you stereotyping your own gender?" Minki down eye to her. His answer sounded dangerous.

Mukang nagulat ang babae sa harap ko at nanatiling nakatingin ito kay Minki habang nakaawang ang bibig niya. "Stop fighting, ako nalang kasi ang dapat maging..."

"I want Selene to lead us." Nagulat ako ng tawagin niya ang pangalan ko sabay taas ng isang kamay niya sa ere. "Uhm? I think ako rin?" sunod ng babaeng naka braid at nag taas narin ng kamay.

I saw the girl in front of me and looked dissapointed as she rolled her eyes and heave a sighed. "Okay." She answered in defeat at tinaas na rin niya ang kamay niya.

"Hindi talaga ako ang gusto niyong maging leader?"

I eyed Minki. "Wait bakit ako?" naguguluhang tanong sa kanya dahil kanina pa niya iniinsist na ako ang maging leader. Dahan dahan syang lumingon sa akin. "Nothing, I just think that you are capable to lead." Simpleng sagot niya sakin at tumingin ako sa tatlong kagrupo ko pa na nasa harap ko.

"So it's settle then! Ikaw na ang leader namin. You are Selene right?" masayang declaration ng babaeng naka braid at sabay turo pa sakin. "Ahm... Yes?" Hindi parin nag si-sink sa akin na ako ang leader nila rito.

I was a leader way back then when I am still studying in a normal school with a normal classmate and task but being a leader in this kind of world? I really doubt it.

Lumapit na sa amin si Professor Kwon after the disscussion of each team, they gave us a list of paper. Nagtaka ako sa mga nakasulat dito dahil parang ingredients ang mga ito, the only distinctive is this is not a formula to any dish or anything.

Saan ka makakakita na kailangan ng vulture hair? Ng flower of croxial? One drop resin of Bland Tree? Ano ba tong mga ingredients na to? Parang recipe ng isang mangkukulam na nakikita ko sa mga fairytale movies.

"I will only give you 2 days to collect all the items listed on your paper and if happen that you did not complete this quest? You better not show yourself in fron of me, I don't buy any excuses to any matter. That is all, class dismiss." Dire-diretsong paalam sa amin ni professor Kwon at lumabas na ng classroom.

Ni hindi nga umabot sa 30 minutes ang klase niya at wala man lang syang na ituro o na discuss man lang kung para saan ang subject nya na to? And the fact that we really have to gather this ingredients by ourselves? Without instruction or lead to where we are going to take down this things?

"Wait is he serious about getting all of this without any details kung saan natin hahagilapin ito?" she think the same way as I did.

"Alam niyo ba kung saan kukunin to?" Tanong ng babaeng naka braid, nagkatinginan lang kaming apat at umiling sa kanya bilang sagot.

Nagkaroon ng commotion sa buong classroom ng umalis na si Prof. Kwon. "In that case, we really have to find this thing in our own way." Saad ng babaeng naka braid, hindi ko parin pala alam ang name niya.

"Ano palang name niyo?" tanong ko sa kanilang tatlo dahil ang awkward naman na magiging kagrupo ko sila sa charm potion subjet without knowing who they are. "Oo nga pala kanina pa tayo nag uusap pero hindi pa natin kilala isa't isa maliban sayo, Lisa name ko." Turo sakin ng babaeng naka braid.

"Ikaw anong name mo?" tanong pa ng isang babae habang nakatingin kay Minki. Minki eyes went down and slowly look at her. He made a bored look. "Minki Yoon." Tipid niyang sagot dito.

"Wow what a cute name, I'm Samantha by the way." She offered her hand in front of Minki but he just looked at it without making a move. Medyo sumplado rin pala si Minki.

It seems that Minki has no intention to accept it so the samantha girl withdraw her hand. "I am Jake, Jake Balerio." Yung isang lalaki ang tumanggap sa kamay ni Samantha 'girl at sya ang nakipag kamay dito pero mabilis niya din ito naialis.

"So kailan na nga tayo mag sisimula sa paghahanap ng mga 'to dahil sabi ni Sir. Kwon eh 2 days lang ang time limit natin."

"Leader, what time do you prefer?" nagulat ako ng tumingin sa akin si Minki at gumaya na rin ang iba. Nakaramdam ako ng pressure dahil dito.

"Ahm.. i think kung 2 days lang ang palugit natin and kasama na sa days na 'yon ang araw na 'to, maybe we could start after our class." Hindi ko siguradong sagot sa kanila.

Tumango tango naman si Minki na mukang sang ayon pati na rin si Lisa. "But don't we have different schedules?" tanong ni Samantha sa akin.

"I know that's why gagawin natin sya after we finish all the schedules we had for this day. Hindi naman siguro aabot ng gabi ang mga klase natin hindi ba?"

"Ako till 1:00 p.m. lang class ko, so free na ko for the rest."

"Three classes lang ako ngayon second subject ko na to, baka mga 1:00 p.m din pwede na ako, Ikaw?" tukoy ni Jake kay Samantha.

"Whatever just call me." Tamad nitong sagot. Lumingon naman ako kay Minki para sya naman ang tanungin. "Ikaw anong time ka pwede?" tanong ko rito.

"Anytime." Tipid na sagot niya sakin at nakakita naman ako ng ngiti roon. Tumingin ako sa kanilang apat at nag decide ng best time para masimulan na namin ang quest namin.

"Ok, so most of us seems free after lunch, and base on my schedule ay may other subjects pa ako na matatapos till 3, so i think 3 is the best time for us?" tanong ko sa kanila at sumang ayon nalang sila sa decision ko since I think that is free time for us.

Nagpapalitan pa kami ng numbers ng mga ka group ko sa Charm potion for contact purposes, we also decided to meet at the green house that was beside the gym, I don't know kung saan banda 'yon but I have Minki to lead the way.

Nagpaalam na kami sa isa't isa hanggang sa sabay kaming lumabas ng classroom ni Minki. We still have 1 hour and less than 3o minutes to spend. Minki is my Classmate so basically, we have the same schedule at this time till our next subject.

"Wanna roam around?" he ask at tumango nalang ako dahil wala rin naman akong maisip na pwedeng gawin namin.

Tahimik ko lang na sinusundan si Minki paikot ng napakalawak na campus na 'to. Pansin ko rin ang tingin ng marami sa amin and for sure, it was because of him. Dinala kami ng mga paa namin sa malawak na bermuda grass ng school. The quadrangle has a 3 division for school sports. One is for the volleyball field, second is for the badminton and third is for the basketball. I saw some students are already playing on this field.

"What time is your next subject?" he asked making me looked at him, he was just beside me and his hand was behind his back. I looked to my phone for a second and answered him. "11:00 pa and sa southeast building sya." Sagot ko sa kanya at tumango naman sya.

"Can I see the list?" he asked again, I confusedly looked at him when I realize what he was talking about kaya kinuha ko sa pocket ng bag ko ang papel at binigay sa kanya. Kinuha naman niya ito kasabay ng biglang pagtunog ng phone ko kaya dinukot ko ito sa bulsa ng skirt ko.

I open it and a name flash on the screen, I immediately answer the call.

"Hello?"

~Selene!~

Nailayo ko saglit sa tenga ko ang phone ko bago ito binalik ulit. Masyado naman atang hyper ang boses niya sa pagsagot ng phone. "Ahm.. Bakit?" I asked.

~Wala ka nang class? Si Minki ba kasama mo? Tsaka bat' andaming babae sa likod niyo?~

I don't have an idea on what she is telling me but I turn my back and look. I saw a group of girls who was smiling ang giggling at someone, I trace their eyes and met the one who they are eyeing with. It was none other than Minki, whose eyes are still lock on the paper that I gave.

"Where are you? How did you know that I am with Minki?" I asked Shara on the other line as I wander around and look for her.

~Kasama ko sina Dexter and Rance dito sa Rooftop observatory! Tingin ka sa taas sa kanan mo banda, yung building na kulay maroon, andon kami sa taas, kakaway ako!~

Sinunod ko sya at inilingon ko ang ulo ko sa kanang bahagi kung saan ako nakatayo at may malaking Building nga na kulay maroon dito, I raised my head at the overtop of the building, there I saw Shara waving at me while the phone was on the other side of her ear.

~Wala ba kayong klase? Akyat kayo, may papakita ako.~

She said as I looked at her from the top, I nodded thinking that she saw my action. I hunged the phone kasabay ng pagtapos ni Minki basahin ang nasa papel.

"Daan daw tayo sa Rooftop observatory, nandun' daw yung iba." Aya ko sa kanya at tinuro ang lugar na tinutukoy ko, wala naman syang angal na sumunod sa akin hanggang sa makarating kami sa taas which is sa 15th floor pa ng building na to.

I promptly open the door of the rooftop observatory and saw them there. Tatlo nga lang silang andito base sa banggit sa akin ni Shara.

"Bakit kayo nandito?" I asked them and I saw Shara beside the big binoculars that was permanently mounted on a stalk at katabi niya sa gilid niya si Dexter na nakasandal sa railings ng rooftop. Agad silang nag angat ng tingin sa amin ni Minki.

"Wala lang, nakita ko lang parang ang ganda rito tsaka nakita rin namin na papunta rito si Rance kaya sinundan lang namin siya ni Dexter." She answered as she walked through me, she held my hand as soon as she reaches mine.

"Halika may papakita ako sayo." Aya niya na sinundan ko nalang, nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko ang nakahigang katawan ni Rance sa isang bench na gawa sa kahoy. May maliit na shed ang rooftop na to' kaya hindi sya nasisinagan ng araw dahilan para hindi sya gaanong mainitan.

"Tingin ka rito." Utos nya sakin kaya sumilip nalang ako sa malaking Binoculars na nasa tabi ko, sya ang nag guide ng direction ng binoculars at lumitaw ang isang basurahan. Okay? What am I looking at? "Nakikita mo? Ang gwapo no?"

Ramdam ko ang kilig niya dahil katabi ko lang sya pero nag kumunot agad ang noo ko na sinagot sya. "Gwapo yung basurahan?" takang tanong ko sa kanya. "Oo-wait what?" hinila niya sakin ang binoculars at sya naman ang sumilip rito.

"No hindi yan sorry, mali ako ng turo. Ito ang ibig kong sabihin." At muli niya akong pinatingin rito, nakakita naman ako ng grupo ng mg students na nagkukumpulan sa isang gazebo na nakatayo sa school ground. "So anong meron?" takang tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nakikita mo yung guy na may binie at red brown yung hair?" I nodded. "He was the same class with ours and.."

"Crush niya." Naputol ang sasabihin niya ng biglang magsalita si Dexter kaya napalingon agad ako sa kanya at lumapit naman si Shara rito para hampasin ito. "I was about to say that!" she whine. Pero tinawanan lang sya ni Dexter na mas lalong kinainis niya.

"I saw you looking at that guy in our class specially when he introduce himself, so I knew that he was your type. Mga mala 'benie' pala ang type mo ah." Natatawang asar pa ni Dexter sa kanya kaya napailing nalang ako rito at binalik kay Shara ang binoculars.

"Do you know these things?" lumapit nalang bigla sa kanya si Minki hawak hawak ang papel kaya lumapit na rin ako sa kanilang dalawa. "What is this?" Dexter asked as he scan the paper that Minki holds.

"It's our first quest in Charm Potion, we have to gather that in just 2 days." Minki phrase as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Really? Mayron na kayo agad nito?" Dexter ask, he looked on Minki and I, we nodd in sync.

"Maybe you could help us." I smiled at Dexter as he is still scanning the paper.

Bigla nalang nanlaki ang mata niya ng binabasa nito ang list. "Vulture hair? Wait hindi ba sa Vulture mo nakuha yung chess mo Rance?" He shifted his gaze to the lying Rance at the corner.

"Talaga? Pano mo nalaman?"

"I saw his paper earlier sa Caster class namin. One of the question there is 'how did you got your chess piece and the name of your team', maybe that is one of the requirements of our prof ealier to remember us and I saw that he wrote the word 'Vulture'." Dexter stated and I immediately run to Rance side which is the bench at the corner where he was sleeping.

"Then you might help us to get one hair from the vulture since you fought one." An enthusiastic tone came to me as I talked to him.

Tinignan ko lang sya habang magkasalop ang dalawang palad ko sa harap ko. Wishing that he would agree. He suddenly open his eyes at bigla nalang sya nag angat ng tingin sa akin, his blue eyes are still emotionless and cold, that is the first time that I saw his intimidating eyes. I felt shiver just by looking at it.

He suddenly stand and didn't even budge to look at me or anyone here. Bigla nalang syang tumayo at tuloy tuloy lang sa paglalakad kaya hinabol ko sya at hinawakan sa laylayan ng long sleeve niyang uniform.

He slowly turned his head back and looked at me straight in the eyes kaya napabitaw kaagad ako. "Ahm.. I just think na baka matulungan mo kami, we only have 2 days to do this and we will loss in time if we don't have any guide to gather all the ingredients that we needed." Napayuko ako ng sabihin ko iyon, I don't know but I don't like the way he look.

"Isn't it your problem and not mine?" for the first time-no, the second time. I heard him speak.

"I know but I think as a team, maybe you could help us?" I am trying myself to convince him the way that I can. If possible maaaring mapadali nalang sa amin ang ibang kailangan namin at isa pa, if we ran out of time and could not complete this quest, it could affect our academics.

"You know what?" I looked at his cold blue eyes. "I don't really care." Madiin niyang sabi sa bawat salitang binibitawan niya.

"Selene, you don't have to ask him. We don't even need his help, we could figure this out on our own." Rinig kong tawag sa akin ni Minki at tuluyang nang lumabas ng rooftop si Rance, leaving us all behind.

If I don't do this? Magiging ok lang ba lahat? Mahahanap ba namin lahat ang mga kailangan namin? I was appointed as a leader and yet I can't make our work less burden.

I have to do my best at least just this once.

"Selene! Aish!"

"Hoy Selene san ka pupunta?"

Sinundan ko pababa si Rance dahil mukang hindi sya dumaan sa elevator dahil nakita kong naka awang ang pinto ng exit area at hindi pa sya nakakalayo ng maabutan ko sya sa 9th floor, napaka bilis naman ng lalaking to maglakad. I stopped as I put my hand above my knee and gasped for air.

"Rance!" I shouted his name trying to catch his attention but he did not budge and continue to walked downstairs. I don't know kung naririnig niya ba ako sa lakas ng sigaw ko o nagbibingi-bingihan lang sya.

I am still looking for an air, tumakbo ka ba naman from 15th floor to 9th floor? I have no choice, tinanggal ko ang sapatos na suot ko at pumwesto sa railings ng hagdan at sinilip siya pababa, ipinuwesto ko ang kamay ko at sinugurado kong tatama ito sa kanya.

Hindi naman ako nagkamali dahil nakita ko kaagad ang blue cold eyes niyang nag angat ng tingin sa akin ng matamaan ko sya sa balikat niya, napangiwi agad ako pero bumaba rin papunta sa kanya.

I saw his pair of cold, dark, mad blue eyes deathly staring at me. "What the hell did you did?!" I jolted.

"Sorry, hindi ka kasi lumilingon."

"Tss. Are you not going to leave me alone?!"

"Please... Just this once then after titigilan na kita, you can do whatever until your heart content. Just this once, we just need one hair of the vulture and nothing else."

Bigla nalang sya tumalikod. I guess he's really not gonna help us. "Later. 4 p.m at the Academy's gate." Nabuhayan agad ko ng marinig ko ang mga sinabi niya.

Did he really approve my request? "Omg! Thank you!" I shouted in glee at akmang hahawakan ang kamay niya para magpasalamat pero nag iwas kaagad ito at nagtuloy na sa pagbaba na parang walang nangyari.

Kinuha ko nalang ang sapatos na binato ko sa kanya at sinigawan sya ng 'sorry' mula sa baba, I don't know if he hears it or not but the good thing is that he said yes!

I immediately ran upstairs at nakita ko nalang si Minki at Dexter na magkausap sa Bench habang si Shara naman ay nasa binoculars parin.

"Oh Selene."

Napatayo agad si Dexter ng makita ako at ganun din ang ginawa ni Minki habang nakataas ang isang kilay nito.

"He agreed, We will just meet him at the Academy's entrance at 4." Lumapit na ako sa kanila.

Minki cross his arms over his chess. "I told you to not do that, didn't I?"

"It's okay, the good thing here is hindi na tayo mahihirapan hanapin ang vulture at mas mapapadali nalang tayo rito then the rest will be easy." Sagot ko rito.

Minki rolled his eyes on me and scoffed. "You're impossible." He commented but it didn't bother me.

"Omg, bakit ang cute niya." We all turned our heads to the only one who is squeezing at this moment, mukang hindi ata napansin ni Shara ang prinsensya ko.

"Now I know why Minki asked you to become their leader." I heard Dexter said kaya napataas ang kilay ko sa kanya. "He told me." He pointed out Minki so I just smiled at them.

It doesn't matter if I am the leader or not, as long as we finish this as soon as possible. But why do I have this feeling that I have to be prepared too? Like something might happen? Do I have to bring weapon? Specially that it might be dangerous and it's a vulture or maybe I don't even have any single ability as of now?

Masyado na akong nasasanay ata sa mundong kinagagalawan ko thinking that I am reasoning the weapon as my defense, as if I am assassinating someone.