Unveiling the Past

"You don't belong here."

I could feel something burn in my hand.

A soulmate mark.

A voice came inside my mind. Tinalasan ko nang tingin ang lalaking nagsabi nito.

Halos lahat ay nakatingin sa 'kin dahil out of them all—ako lang ang nag-iisang babae rito.

Yes. You've heard it right. I was a transferee at kakalipat ko pa lamang. I didn't expect such a scene to welcome me. But...

"Well, dito ako nilagay. Magagawa ko?" Hamon ko.

I've met this boy not long ago. At naging aware na siya na ako ang soulmate niya. Pero...

"Who even are you?" Singhal niya.

Nakasuot ako nang helmet that time. Which means na hindi pa niya alam na ako ang soulmate niya.

Napairap ako sa mukha nila. Halos kulang nalang patayin na nila 'ko eh.

"Aiyanna Valemzualez." Sagot ko.

"Leave."

"Umalis ka na hanggat pwede pa."

"Hindi ka pwede rito!"

Sigawan nang lahat.

I scoffed at them at patuloy na pumasok. Placing my bag at one of the empty chairs and sat. It was on the first row and near the window which is opposite the door.

Hindi na rin katagalan nang makaupo ako at may pumasok na guro.

His eyes widen when he saw me. A woman. "Are you the transferee?"

I nod.

His eyes scrutinized me. From head, towards my chest, and down below.

Someone cursed.

Sunggaban ko na ba 'yan?

Tanong nang boses sa utak ko.

It was Yara. A split personality of mine.

"Introduce yourself."

Tumayo ako at hinarap ang mga lalaking ngayon ay nakatingin na samin ng guro.

"Aiyanna Lavelle." tango ko at umupo.

Sinabi lang naman na introduce yourself 'di ba? Okay naman na sigurong pikilala ko sarili ko. Hindi rin namang sinabi na 'lay your history' eh.

Mabuti na lamang at hindi na ito pinursue nang guro. "I'm Warick. History teacher."

Kumuha siya nang chalk at nagsimula na nang pag-aaral.

Yara... ang boring...

I inwardly pout and whined.

Meanwhile, tinawanan lang ako ni Yara.

Tiisin mo iyan. Matutulog na ako.

"Yanna?"

Inayos ko ang postura ko't lumingon sa nagsalita.

"I'm Vince. Bakit ka pala napunta rito?" Kyuryosong tanong niya.

Nagkibit-balikat ako, "Records."

Napatango siya at naintindihan agad ang sinabi ko.

Everyone in this section was known bilang suki nang guidance office. At kabilang ako rito.

"Well, did you beat someone up? How many times? Paano ka napupunta sa guidance office? Bakit ka ba nakikipag-away?"

Medyo na offend ako sa huling sinabi. Pero mukhang curious na curious talaga siya.

"This is not a time for useless discussion Vince Carter." Striktong putol ni Sir Warick.

Vince mouth turn into straightline because of this. His eyes glared at the teacher as he lean back his seat. "Edi sana hindi ka na rin nagdi-discuss, sir."

Aww...

Hindi ko mapigilang mamangha sa sinabi niya.

But Warick seems to be used to it already. "I've already explained the topic. Ise-send ko nalang mamaya sa gc ang assignments niyo."

Huh? That's all? Ang bilis naman...?

Tumango sakin si Sir, "Well then miss Lavelle, just go to me if ever you have a problem."

Mukhang susunggaban na nang isa si Sir nang papaalis siya. But unfortunately, someone held the boy down. He cursed under his breathe and sat back down. Malapit sila sa pintuan kaya naman muntikan na niyang masugatan si Sir.

Ba't nga ba kasi pinigilan?

"Well, sorry about that." Vince smiled apologetically at me.

Bakit ba siya ang nagso-sorry kung hindi naman siya ang may kasalan?

Narinig ko ang malakas na pag-urong nang mga upuan sa likod. Soon enough, the preparator stood in front of me. His eyes glaring down. "Why don't you leave now? You don't even belong in here."

I crossed my arms, "Bakit hindi ka muna kumalma, Mad Dog?"

The air still at this. Nanlaki ang mga mata nila dahil sa sinabi ko. Totoo naman. Mukha siyang aso. Fierce at tahol ng tahol.

Hindi ako makapaniwala that fate made us the soulmate of each other.

The mad dog aggressively held my chin. "What did you say?"

The memory of a whip passed through my head.

"What?" Nanlasik ang mga mata ko. "Are you going to beat me? Go on."

Parehas kaming nakatitig lang sa isa't isa.

Competition ba 'to? Hmmp! Hindi mo 'ko dito matatalo.

"Wait—kalma!" sigaw nang isa. He was the one that almost beat the teacher. "Xander, babae siya!"

So what? Hindi naman ako informed na hindi pala dapat sinasaktan ang mga babae.

Xander shot him a glare.

Hinawakan ko ang kamao niya't tinanggal ito sa mukha ko.

Halos nakataas na lahat nang balahibo ko.

Mukha namang nagulat siya na kaya kong tanggalin kamay niya sa 'kin. But in the end, he just gave me a glare and sat back down to his seat.

"That's Elijah."

I froze. An unpleasant feeling came up at me hearing the name.

"May teacher pa bang darating?"

Vince seems confused but still shook his head. Hindi ko na siya inantay na magtanong at dali-daling umalis nang classroom.

So now, here I was. Standing at the rooftop. The winds brought along my hair as I took a deep breathe.

The feeling of throwing up disappearing slowly.

It's suffocating to hear that damn curse name.

But I have no choice.

Sumandal ako sa bench.

This place or university rather ang nag-iisang lugar na pwede kong puntahan. I could transfer to another school all I want pero kumpara sa iba at least hindi ako mapapaalis nang unibersidad na ito dahil lang sa gulo.

Because this place wouldn't care as long as it doesn't involve killing inside the university, and you must take care of the mess you've made. Siyempre, kailangan mo ring mapanatili ang grades mo kung gusto mong mag-stay dito.

I was planning to use this place as my cover, to take a rest. I just didn't expect to... meet my soulmate.

Bibigyan mo siya nang chance?

Tanong ni Yara.

Tumango ako dito at napatanong, "Hindi ba't natutulog ka?"

Paano ako makakatulog kung may sasaktan ka?

Napahimas ako sa pisngi dahil dito. Even though malakas din ako at kaya ko siyang tapatan. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang makaramdam nang sakit dahil sa higpit nang kapit niya kanina.

But compared to what I've been through... "It's just scratch."

Napatahimik si Yara.

"Nababaliw ka na ba at kinakausap mo na yang sarili mo?"

Napalingon ako sa bagong dating. It was Xander. "Kinausap ko na advisor natin. Hindi ka na raw maaaring ilipat."

I nod. Already expecting that much.

"Hello."

Napakunot ako nang makita si Elijah.

He really didn't do anything bad. We didn't even knew each other. But the name Elijah reminded me of someone.

He awkwardly smile at me at binalikan ko ito ng tango.

Kalma, walang kwenta kung dadami ang kaaway mo.

"Let's play a game." Hamon ni Xander.

I thought he's a mad dog that just barks? Kaya din pala i-reign in yung beast niya.

"What game? At isa pa..." I narrow my eyes at them, "Ano namang makukuha ko rito?"

Xander shrugged his shoulder at me. "Be grateful that I'm a considerate person. Magpapalitan lang tayo nang tanong. Question and Answer kumbaga."

"Oh? Talaga ba? Naging invincible ata yang pagiging considerate mo dahil 'di ko man lang maramdaman."

Xander rolled his eyes and sat beside me.

He took out a dice and explained, "Whatever number that comes out from this will amount to how many questions would be asked."

"How many rounds?"

He tilted his head, "One." After saying so, he flicked the dice and it immediately flew before landing down the floor.

One.

"What a pity." He said.

Yet the next words that came out his mouth immediately gave me chills.

"Are you my soulmate?"

I glance back at Xander. Hindi ko in-expect na tatanungin niya 'ko nito. Straightforward at that.

He acts like he's just talking about the weather. Calm.

"Is that a confirmation?" He asked when he heard only silence.

"...Kung oo?"

"I'll take that as my confirmation then." His eyes narrowed at me.

"At kung hindi?"

"We're playing a game. You need to give me a definite answer."

I could feel my heart violently thumping against my chest.

Shit. First day ko palang pero ito na agad hinarap ko! Grabe namang welcome surprise toh!

Maaari kang magsinungaling.

But he would know sooner or later.

Then tell him.

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