TRINITY

I saw that scorpion. It means, she's really here around the corner. It could be one of the students... Or worst... One of my friends. That thought of it makes me weak at the same time I want to get my hands bloody.

My vision became blurry not because of tears. Unti-unti nang nanlambot ang katawan ko and everything went black. The last thing I heard was Huzein calling my name.

Unti-unti kong minulat ang paningin ko at sumalubong sa akin ang langit. Uh, nasa langit na ba ako? Alam ko hindi ako pwede sa langit dahil wala akong heaven pass. I mean, naka VIP na ako sa impyerno with matching bahay pa, why bother to go in heaven?

"Thank God..." Bulong ng katabi ko. Unti-unti akong bumangon at nakita si Lucien na nakatingin sa akin.

"Where am I?" I asked. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at nagpagpag ng suot. I'm wearing a black sweater, ang nakakagulat ay mahaba ang buhok ko. What the hell?

"Where in—" hindi na natapos ni Lucien ang sasabihin niya nang may sumigaw sa paligid. Then someone chuckled. "Shit, Trinity you need to run."

Naguguluhan akong tumingin sa kaniya. "What? Why? Running is only for cowards."

He rolled his eyes. "Just obey me, you need to run—" he didn't finished his sentence when we heard a loud bang.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Tarantang tanong ko at kinuha ang braso ni Lucien para hilain ito palabas ng gubat ngunit hindi ito gumalaw. How the heck I'm hear inside the forest?! "Lucien Feirro Hart! We need to run away—" natigilan ako nang marahan itong umiling.

"I'm scared, I can't be with you—" again, we heard another loud bang.

"What?! Why?!" Inis kong sabi at kinaladkad siya ngunit binawi niya ang kaniyang braso. "What the motherfucking fuck?!"

Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin at hinalikan ang noo ko. He caressed my cheeks while looking deeply into my eyes. His eyes looks... Lonely, pain and suffer. "Be safe, always..."

"What're you trying to say—"

"Shh," he hushed. "In count of three, you need to run... Alone."

Naguguluhan man ay bahagya akong tumango. I don't want to leave him alone here lalo na nang makarinig kami ng mga putok ng baril. Are we hiding?

"One..." He started. He's still looking into my eyes like he's hypnotizing me.

"I don't want to..." I whispered. My tears starts to fall.

"Two..." He continued counting, ignoring what I've said.

"Let's run together... I can't leave you here..." I whispered once again. Natigilan ito dahil sa sinabi ko. His lips form a small smile.

"Three..." Bulong niya. "Trinity, run..."

"NO, I WON'T!" Sigaw ko at bahagya siyang tinulak. "I WON'T LEAVE YOU HERE! IF YOU WILL DIE TODAY, MAS GUGUSTUHIN KO PANG MAMATAY KASAMA KA!"

"How sweet..." Someone whispered. Luminga-linga ako ngunit wala akong makitang posibleng lugar kung saan nanggaling. That voice... I think I heard ir before.

"TRINITY, RUN!"

"NO!"

"I SAID RUN!"

Unti-unti na akong tumakbo dahil halata na sa mukha niya ang galit. Tumingala ako sa langit nang maramdaman ang mga patak ng ulan sa katawan ko. The sky was dark and cloudy.

Nagulat ako nang makakita ng patay na ibon sa daanan ko. I scream out of my lungs and then continue running.

"TRINITY!"

Napabalikwas ako sa hinihigaan ko. Gulat akong tumingin sa kanila. It's Huzein, Kace, Alliana, Lilith and Lucifer. Looking at me worried, ngayon ko lang napansin na nasa loob kami ng clinic ngayon.

"You fainted," Huzein said. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Here, drink this water. Pawisan ka. Looks like you're having a nightmare." Sabi niya at saka inabot ang isang basong may laman ng tubig. Inabutan din niya ako ng panyo at saka pinunasan din.

Agad kong kinapa ang buhok ko at it's short now. So, hindi na ako nananaginip? But, what was that?

"I'm curious," Lucien said. Unti-unti siyang humakbang at umupo sa tabi ng kama. "Why are you shouting my name?"

"Oo nga, Trinity?" Singit ni Alliana. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang kaniyang binti na may benda na ngayon. "Paano na ang manok ko kung iba ang sinisigaw mo na pangalan?"

I rolled my eyes and she giggled. Bumaling ako kay Lucifer and I pulled him for a tight hug. Lahat ay napasinghan dahil sa ginawa ko. Ibinaon ko ang mukha ko sa kaniyang dibdib.

"Pareng Huzein, paano ba 'yan? Mukhang may nanalo na." Kace said.

"Tad'yakan kita d'yan, Kace. Gusto mo?" Huzein replied.

I started to cry. Maya-maya ay nakaramdam ako na may humahagod sa likod ko and it was Lucien. He then chuckled and whispered, "crybaby..."

"Promise... Promise me you won't leave me..." I whispered. Tama lang na marinig niya.

"I promise," He said.

"Promise me that you won't sacrifice yourself just to save me..."

Narinig kong tumikhim ito. "I'm scared, I could bream the promise. If sacrificing myself can save you, I will do it without hesitation."

I wiped my tears and hug him tighter. He chuckled and hug me back. "Now, this is comforting..."

Natuon ang atensyon namin kay Lilith nang tumikhim ito. "Enough of that drama, what's your dream all about? Why are you shouting his name? And why are you acting like that even though you don't have a thing with Lucifer?"

Doon ko lang agad na binitawan si Lucien at umayos ng pagkakaupo. Nakita kong nagpalitan ng masamang tingin sina Lilith at Lucien, seriously?

Kinwento ko sa kanila ang napaginipan ko. Their faces... Looks like may naisip sila maliban sa ginawa ni Lucien sa dream na 'yon.

"Hala? Pati ba naman sa panaginip si Lucifer pa din? Paano na talaga ang manok ko?" Alliana commented. Nakita kong siniko ito ni Kace but she doesn't care.

"Your hair in your dream caught mg attention," Lilith said. Kumuha ito ng lollipop sa kaniyang bulsa at binuksan ito. "Bakit mahaba ang buhok mo doon? Is that a hint or something?"

"Same reaction, Lilith," Huzein agreed. "If I can remember, mahaba ang buhok mo noong grade ten hanggang grade eleven. So, which one?"

"At bakit si Lucifer napaginipan mo at hindi si Huzein—ano ba, Kace?! Kanina ka pa ah?!" Galit na sigaw ni Alliana kay Kace. Nakita kong hinihimas ni Alliana ang kaniyang braso, mukhang kinurot ito ni Kace.

"Parang ka kasing gago," nakangising sabi ni Kace.

"It's grade ten, I'm pretty sure," sabi ko. Nakita kong nagkatinginan sina Huzein at Lilith na para bang nag-uusap gamit ang kanilang mata. Uh, bakit hindi ako informed na close na pala sila? I mean, ganito na ba ako kahuli sa balita o wala na bang oras para sabihin? Is that too hard to say?

Napatingin kami sa pintuan nang bumukas ito at iniluwal ang isang lalaking hinahabol ng hininga. May dala-dala itong sulat, isang itim na envelope.

"President," tawag niya dito. Agad namang lumapit si Kace sa kaniya. "Nakita... Nakita ko sa desk ko... It's creepy."

Agad na lumapit si Lilith sa kanila at hinablot ang envelope. Agad niya itong binuksan at binasa. Lumapit din sa sa pwesto ko at ipinakita din kina Lucien at Huzein. Napatayo din si Alliana kahit na may benda ang binti nito.

It says,

Peter chose Tinkerbell
Romeo and Juliet didn't die
Snow white wasn't poisoned because of a apple

"What the heck?" I muttered. Saka ko lang napagtanto ang nangyari kanina, ang katawan na nahulog mula sa rooftop at tumama sa harapan ko. May dalawa pa kaming hindi nahahanap.

"Ano meron dito? Mahilig pala magbasa si Scorpion? Book lover ba siya?" Alliana commented. I agree with her, is she a book lover or something? Tambay ba siya sa libr—

"Shit." I cussed. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin. "Lucifer, let's go to the library. Lilith and Huzein, gather information or interview the previous victims. Kace, bantayan mo si Alliana."

"Aye aye aye, captain." Sabi ni Huzein ngunit si Lilith ay nakatingin pa din sa akin.

"We need to double our time. Hahatiin natin sa dalawa o tatlong grupo para mabilis tayo. Wala tayong magagawa kung magkakasama lang tayo." Sabi ko. Bahagya naman siyang tumango-tango. 

"Uh..." Sabi ng lalake na nasa pintuan. "Pres, kailangan ka ng buong grade twelve sa field. Nag-uumpisa na silang mag-rally at ang buong council ay nahihirapan na."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kace at bahagya akong tumango. Akmang kikilos na kami nang bumukas muli ang pintuan at dalawang babae ang pumasok. Gaya din ng isang lalake, may hawak itong itim na envelope.

"Trinity!" The other girl said. Agad siyang lumapit at ibinigay sa akin ang envelope. Dali-dali ko itong binuksan.

It says,

Magic Starts With You

"Ano na naman ito?" Bulong ko. Binalingan ko ang dalawang babaeng kakarating lang ang ang isang lalake. "Pwede naman sigurong magtanong, 'diba? Paano niyo nalaman at sinong nagsabing sa amin kayo hihingi ng tulong?"

"Sinabihan ko sila," Kace said.

"Okay, akala ko kasi may connections din sila kay Scorpion at ginagago tayo..." Bulong ko. "But anyway, change of mind. Lilith and Huzein, go to auditorium. Lucifer and I will go to Library. Kace will go to the field to manage those motherfukers and Alliana will stay here for recovery."

Lahat naman sila ay nagtanguan. Mabilis na lumabas ang dalawang babae at isang lalake sa clinic. Sumunod ay si Kace, Huzein at Lilith. Kaming tatlo nalang ni Lucifer at Alliana ang natira.

Tumayo na si Lucifer at lumabas na. Agad din akong tumayo pero makailang hakbang lang au huminto muli ako.

"It doesn't make sense..." I whispered. Tama lang na marinig ni Alliana. "If I'm the Scorpion's target, hindi niya ako pwedeng patayin because she will hurt me emotionally. Pero ikaw? What's with you? Bakit hindi ka niya tinuluyan?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "I still don't know who the hell you are, Alliana."

I found myself walking beside Lucien. Papunta kami ngayon sa library. Hawak-hawak niya ang itim na envelope na ibinigay ng lalake kanina.

"I don't get it, paanong nasa library ang isa? How did you get it? Dahil ba sa Peter chose Tinkerbell that's from the story of Peter Pan? And the other one is Romeo and Juliet? The last one is Snow White and the seven dwarfs?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong. Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang sobrang daldal niya kapag kami lang dalawa.

"Oo, pero hindi ako sure. Let's just see," sabi ko. Muli kaming tumahimik nang magsalita muli siya.

"Bakit ka pala nagpahuli kanina? Three minutes bago ka sumunod sa'kin. May nangyari na naman ba sa inyo ni Alliana?" Tanong niya.

"Hmm... Siguro?" Sabi ko. He look at me with bored eyes and rolled it. "You're so playful today, ah? Look at those eyes, they are glooming. I can't feel the shivers when you're next to me. Tell me, who tamed the devil inside you?" I added. He stopped and look at me with a blank face.

"The one who tamed me is also a devil," he answered at nagpatuloy muli sa paglalakad nang hindi ako nililingon. Seriously?

"Uh, I'm interested to know who is she. I mean... Is that a she or a he? You're still a mystery for me, maybe you love bromance right?" Sabi ko at sumunod sa kaniya.

"It doesn't mean you love bromance, you're also one of them," he confidently said.

"So you love bromance?" I asked. Clarifying some things.

"Did I said that? As I can remember, I did not mention that I'm into bromance," he fired back.

"Base on your statement, I guess? You're defending some pips out there that's into bromance but not one of them."

"I'm just stating the fact, Trinity Morgan."

"I'm also stating the fact here, Lucien Feirro Hart."

Napahinto ito at sinalubong ang paningin ko. We locked in a staring contest for awhile. Good thing walang estudyanteng pakalat-kalat sa hallway, hindi kami maasar. We remained in that position when suddenly I playfully smiled and winked at him. Agad itong umiwas at mabilis na naglakad.

I sighed while my smile is still there, on my lips. I remembered back then, when our eyes met and then he winked at me. I panicked of course! Suddenly, Huzein's words echoed in my mind.

"You like him, do you?" He asked. My eyes widen.

"WHAT THE FUCK? WHO ARE YOU TO DICTATE MY FEELINGS?" I exclaimed.

"That... That stare. Iba ka tumingin sa kaniya kaysa sa ibang tao. You're lips unconsciously smiled when he's near you. You're interested in him. You like him. You want him to know more."

Mahina akong umiling at sinundan siya sa paglalakad. No, it can't be. I never like someone and I never will. I accepted my fate that romance is not for me.

Pagdating namin sa library ay agad kaming naghiwalay para maghanap ng itim na bag gaya ng pinaglalagyan ng ibang biktima. I'm on right side and he's on left side. I can remember this well, dito ang dalawang naunang biktima nilagay. I didn't know that scorpion is into library things.

Library things...

"Did you find something?" Lucien asked. Marahan akong umiling at muling binalikan ang mga ilalim ng bookshelves. Puro alikabok lang ang nakuha ko, hindi tao.

"Ikaw ba?" I asked. Umiling din ito. Agad kaming naalerto nang bumukas ang pintuan. Hinatak ni Lucien ang braso ko at inupo sa sahig. Mabuti at napapalibutan kami ng bookshelves at nasa bandang dulo kami. Kung pupunta ka sa dulo, talagang mapapansin mo kami.

"Girl, any thoughts about the killings?" A woman asked.

"Not gonna lie, I enjoyed it so much. I'm not a psychopath or something but... They deserve to die. All thanks to that person behind the mask, sis." Another woman replied.

"I wonder when will Trinity be the next victim? I'm telling you, siya agad iboboto ko without hesitation!" Sabi ng isa. Nakita ko ang pagyukom ng kamao ni Lucien dahil dito. Narinig pa namin ang mahinang tawa nito at may kinuhang libro sa bookshelf at agad na umalis.

Habol ang hininga ko nang pakawalan ni Lucien ang braso ko. Sinigurado muna naming nakalayo na sila bago kami mag-ingay muli.

"Motherfuckers!" I shouted. Ito lang ang naisip kong paraan para matanggal lahat ng stress ko.

"They new..." Lucien whispered. Tama lang na marinig ko ito. "And they're acting dumb in front of Kace or one of us. They're... Clowning us."

"Shit." Bulong ko at gulat na tumingin sa kaniya. "Lilith's theory, the clown..." Bulong ko din. Her theory was right, small evidence will do and will get that scorpion out of here. I can't wait to kill her with my bare hands.

"We have no time, let's go to English faculty." Lucien said. Akmang kikilos ito nang marinig niya ang pagtunog ng tiyan ko.

"Uh, did we ate lunch? Maybe I was passed out awhile ago dahil wala tayong kain," I said with no emotions. I want to laugh because this is embarrassing!

He sighed. "We'll do this quick."

Patakbo kaming umalis at pumuntang English faculty. I didn't get that it's in English faculty. I mean, every story that Scorpion's letter mentioned was about English and they are wrong. False is... Faculty? Seriously? Wala na bang maibigay na clues itong si Scorpion?

Habang tumatakbo kami ay napalingon ako sa kanang hallway, doon ang clinic. Surprisingly, nakabukas ang pintuan ngunit hindi ko ito iniwang nakabukas. Did someone entered or someone went out?

"Hey, I thought you are hungry? Let's go there to get the victim," sabi ni Lucien at hinawakan ang braso ko. Muli kaming tumakbo ngunit hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang nakita. Anong ginagawa ni Alliana? She's giving me this suspicious actions.

Nang makarating kami sa English faculty, agad itong sinipa ni Lucien ang pintuan at nagbukas. May nakita kaming tatlong librong nakahilera— Peter Pan, Snow White and the seven dwarfs and Romeo and Juliet. Agad naman kaming naghalughog ni Lucien sa buong lugar.

Napangiwi ako nang matalisod. Nag-aalalang tumingin sa akin si Lucien at tumingin sa sahig. Pinagmamasdan ko lang siya, nagulat ako nang lumuhod ito. I frost for a moment and then I heard him chuckled.

"Natalisod mo 'yung victim, Trinity." He said. Unti-unti kong ibinaba ang tingin at nakita ang isang itim na bag na kasing laki ng tao. Finally, makakakain na din ako.

Binuksan namin ito at nakita ang isang lalakeng walang malay. Agad namin itong inalis sa pagkakalagay sa bag. Si Lucien na ang nagbuhat ng katawan nito. Dinala namin siya sa clinic, naabutan naming nakasara na ang pintuan at tulog si Alliana. Kanina pa ba 'to tulog? Then sino ang nagbukas ng pintuan?

Ako na ang nagpresintang pumunta sa cafeteria at bumili ng pagkain. Nakakapagtaka dahil hindi kami nauubusan ng pagkain, how? Paano niya din pinaalis ang mga teachers at ibang grade level na nandito?

Pagbalik ko ay dumating na din sina Lilith at Huzein na may dalang isang lalakeng wala ding malay. Ginising ni Huzein si Alliana at inayang kumain.

"We find him in auditorium, exactly where Tiffany is seating before she got... You know, I don't want to mention it." Sabi ni Huzein habang nakatingin sa lalake.

"Magic Starts With You is the title of the stage play of grade ten section two where Trinity is the leading lady and Huzein as the leading man." Lithuania added.

"Uh, the most embarrassing moment of my life..." Bulong ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagkakain.

"Actually, dahil doon nakilala ko si Huzein. Singit lang," sabi ni Alliana. I can't... Look at her straight to her eyes, I think she's lying. "Paano kasi... No hard feelings, ah? Baka sapakin ako ni Trinity." She said and laughed. All of us is looking at her without reaction.

She cleared her throat and spoke. "Ang gwapo ni Huzein doon. I don't like him but he's handsome as hell guys, you can't believe it." Sabi niya at ngumuya. "Swerte ni Trinity dahil—"

"There's nothing to be lucky of," I cut her off. Napilitan lang ako dahil wala si Tiffany at nasa photoshoot siya that time.

"Alam mo ba, Trinity? Doon nagsimula lolo at lola ko," she said and flashed a playful smile.

I raised my eyebrows. "But we're not your grandparents."

"Hmm... Pwede din naman? Lola Trinity? Sounds good?" She said and laughed. I rolled my eyes and continued my business.

It's passed four o'clock in the afternoon when the two guys woke up. Nagulat pa ito nang makita ako, I sense the fear. Ano bang nakakatakot sa akin? Uh, well. They describe me as a devil.

We get back to Alliana's dorm at nagpahinga.  Nanindig ang balahibo ko nang madaanan ang building two kung saan... Hinulog ang bangkay sa harapan ko. Shit.

"Trinity niyo, lutang." Sabi ni Alliana. Ngayon ko lang napansin na kasama na namin si Kace. Kumaway pa ito sa akin ngunit hindi ko ito pinansin.

"Baka sabog," dugtong ni Kace at nagtawanan ang dalawa. I rolled my eyes and refused not to speak.

Four days passed and we live peacefully. May iba pa ngang nag-j-jogging na sa field tuwing umaga. Parang bumalik na sa normal ang lahat. Minsan ay may madadaanan kaming umiiyak dahil sa mga namatay. Everything went smoothly. I wished this day won't last.

"I'll go to the restroom," paalam ko kay Huzein. Nasa cafeteria kami ngayon at kumakain ng lunch.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, mukhang tinatawag ako ng kalikasan. Napahinto ako sa pintuan ng restroom nang makita si Lithuania. But my eyes landed on the thing she's hiding from behind...

Our eyes met. She look shocked at pilit na itinago ang isang bagay sa likod niya but I manage to see it without holding it. That thing is familiar to me.

"You..." Bulong ko.

Nag-umpisa nang manginig ang kaniyang katawan. I composed myself and gulped.

"Lithuania, what're you hiding? A cloak?"