Chapter 12

Maagang nagising si Lockey. Sinilip niya ang roommate na mahimbing pang natutulog. He remembered their conversation last night and he was hoping he would get close to him, but he wasn't sure if Klein would like that. He would just do his best to connect with the others and make this place his second home like what Malcolm and Simon mentioned to him.

As he prepared early, later on Klein woke up uninterestingly. He showed only a timid smile and walked straight to the bathroom as his getaway. Hindi na naman inintindi iyon ni Lockey. He would get closer to him as the days goes by, pero hindi nga siya magtatagal dito sa CAPES at kailangan niyang bumalik sa bahay nila kung hindi ay malalagot siya sa tita niya.

Habang naghahanda sa kanyang sarili ay may kumatok sa pinto. Hindi na naman hinintay na pagbuksan sila ng pinto kung hindi ay sila na mismo ang pumasok. Simon and Malcolm entered the room like they own the place.

"How was your sleep?" tanong ni Simon.

"All good naman," sagot ni Lockey. "Good thing, hindi ako nahirapan masyado makatulog. Minsan kasi kapag wala ako sa sariling bahay, hindi kasi agada ko makatulog."

"Ah, may pinainom kasi kami sa 'yo kagabi hindi mo lang alam," ani Malcolm.

"Huh?" natangang usal ni Lockey. "Totoo ba?"

Natawa ang dalawa. "Loko! Hindi!" ani Simon. "Naniniwala ka riyan kay Malcolm? Di bale, sabay-sabay na tayo mag-breakfast."

"Narinig naming kanina na pinaghahanda kayo ng maaga para sa training?" tanong ni Malcolm.

Napakibit balikat naman ito at saka naningkit ang mata. "Ahm... hindi ko nabalitaan 'yan, basta ang alam ko lang ay ngayon naming gagawin ang training o kung ano man ang gagawin naming. I don't have any abilities to show and participate with whatever they can do. Parang ako nga lang ang normal dito, e."

Tumaas ang kilay ng dalawa sa binanggit nito.

"Sa tingin mo ba abnormal kami?" takang tanong ni Simon. "Siguro... ganyan nga talaga ang tingin ng mga taga-Summit City sa mga taong katulad natin. Lagi na lang may panghuhusga kaya 'wag na 'wag kang gagaya sa kanila. Ang mag katulad natin ay hindi isang abominasyon. Mas higit pa tayo ro'n. We exist not because we'll live to be the evil of their story. Hindi naman tayo gano'n, e. Gano'n ka ba?"

Umiling si Lockey. "Hindi..."

Pinatong ni Malcolm ang kamay nito sa balikat ng matanda. "Kaya hindi ka normal lang. You might not know what you are capable right now, pero baka mamaya malaman mo na kung ano talagang kakayahan ang meron ka."

"Tingnan natin..." aniya. "Alis na ba tayo?"

"Pwede naman na. Nasaan na si Klein? Nauna na ba?"

Umiling ito. "Hindi. Nasa banyo pa siya. Kakapasok lang niya. Ewan ko kung gusto niya makasabay tayo kaya siguro mauna na lang tayo."

The three of them left the room and headed downstairs where they went straight ahead to the dining hall and meet everyone there. Nakita niya sina Sana at Nadiya ro'n na niyaya siya na makatabi ang mga ito, pero hindi siya natuloy dahil hinatak siya nina Malcolm at Simon na maupo sa table nila.

"Ayaw niyo bang makasama at makilala ko 'yong mga taong makakasama ko sa training?" takang tanong ni Lockey.

"Gusto namin," sagot ni Simon. "Magkakaroon ka naman ng maraming oras na makakasama mo sila. Maraming pagkakataon na sila ang makakasama mo sa breakfast, lunch, at pati na rin sa dinner. You will have to be with them twenty-four-seven. Nagsisimula pa lang kayo—I mean, hindi pa nga talaga kayo nagsisimula kaya sulitin mo na ang mga araw na nagagawa mo pa ang mga bagay na dapat mong gawin."

"Oh... okay. Pero sa Monday, kailangan ko nang bumalik sa bahay, ha? 'Yon 'yong napag-usapan natin."

"Ah, mukhang masarap ang breakfast ngayon," pag-iiba ni Malcolm ng usapan.

"Tara nga, silipin natin kung anong meron," sabi ni Simon saka hinatak ang kaibigan patayo ng lamesa.

As they've left him alone, Aurea found her way to their table and meet Lockey there. Kakaibang ngiti naman ang bumalot sa mukha ng binate.

"Are you sitting with them?" she asked referring to Malcolm and Simon. Tumango naman si Lockey bilang sagot sa kanya. "Okay... can I sit with you, guys?"

Mabilis namang pumayag si Lockey na paupuin si Aurea sa tabi niya. Nilapag naman ni Aurea ang dala niyang tray. Napansin naman ni Lockey kung anong mga pagkain ang nasa tray nito, napansin din ni Aurea ang tingin ni Lockey ro'n kaya bahagya itong natawa.

"You know what, I really don't eat what they serve on the menu," she said.

Napakunot naman ng noo si Lockey. "Huh? Why? You hate them?"

She shook her head. "No, I just requested what I could eat. I'm a vegetarian and I only eat plant-based meals and you can request that from our kitchen staff if you prefer though."

"Oh... that's okay. I eat whatever I want."

She smiled. "Good for you."

Saglit lang din naman ay bumalik na sina Simon at Malcolm at tiningnan nila si Aurea. They squinted their eyes looking at her. Tinaasan naman sila ng kilay ng dalaga.

"Ano na naman, boys? Bawal bang maki-join?" she questioned.

Umiling ang dalawa.

"Hindi naman," sagot ni Simon saka ito tumabi kay Lockey.

"You were always away during lunch," Malcolm added. "You and your veggies."

Lockey laughed a little at it kaya napatingin si Aurea sa kanya. Hindi naman niya iyon pinansin, thought it was cute.

"Anyway, you'll have to bear with me every time," Aurea said.

A moment later, their food was served and it was the most epic breakfast Lockey had. It almost looks like the food that's been served in the five-star hotels. Kita ng tatlo iyong reaksyon ni Lockey.

"Ano? Babalik ka pa ba sa inyo? Everything you need, you got it all here," ani Simon.

Bahagyang bumagsak ang balikat ni Lockey at napaisip ito. "Hindi ko alam... 'di ba, ang sabi ko naman sa inyo na hindi ako pwedeng magtagal dito. I would only go here for the weekend, hindi ko pwedeng iwanan si Tita Amora sa bahay naming kahit na sinabi niyong hindi niya aakalain na parang hindi naman ako umalis."

"Hindi 'yon mag-aalala," sabi ni Malcolm. "Pero anong matutunan mo kung tuwing weekends ka lang pupunta rito? You have to be here every day."

"I still have a life outside of the building, Malcolm," Lockey answered. "You guy, this is your home, but my home was in the Summit City."

"It is really indeed your home," Aurea said then took a bite of her salad. "Your home would be your safe space, but this building, in where you are right now could help you and nurture your being. We didn't show up and corrupt everything that you believe in. But being here will help you get the answer you were looking for. Tandaan mo, as Malcolm has mentioned, you wanna know about what happened to your father and this is the place to do it... at saka, we have ways to help you and your tita."

"Aurea for president," komento ni Simon sabay palakpak kaya napatingin sa kanilang ang ilan sa kalappit na table.

"Baliw," ani Aurea.

"I agree with her, Lockey," Malcolm said.

While they were eating, may pamilyar na lalaking pumasok sa dining hall. Napatingin si Lockey sa direksyon na iyon at nagulat ito nang makilala na si Sir Gregory iyon. Kilala si Sir Gregory sa Academy dahil bukod sa pagiging guro nito sa kung saan nag-aaral si Lockey ay siya rin siyang mentor sa CAPES.

Mistulang may hinahanap naman si Sir Gregory at nang tumama ang panigin nito sa direksyon kung nasaan sina Lockey ay tumungo siya ro'n.

"Hi Lockey," pagbati ni Sir Gregory nang makalapit ito sa kanila.

"Hi Sir!" pagbati naman nilang apat.

"How's everyone?" he asked.

"Everything is good, sir," sagot ni Aurea. "A new batch of trainees will be having their training I believe starting today."

"And you're one of them, Lockey. Am I right?" Sir Gregory asked.

Lockey nodded. Nahihiya pa ito nang bahagya. Hindi siya sanay na makita si Sir Gregory rito na para bang wala lang. Na hindi siya ang guro nito sa kanyang highschool.

"That's why I'm here," Sir Gregory said. "I need to talk to you and we can do that after your breakfast. You can meet me in the office. They know it. Pasama ka na lang sa kanila."

"Ah, sige po, sir. Thank you po," tipid na sagot ni Lockey.

"Alright, good. Nice to see everyone again, see you around," pagpapaalam naman nito.

"He is the smartest person I know," Aurea commented as Sir Gregory left, blushing.

"Ay, bawal 'yan, Aurea," pananaway ni Malcolm.

Napasimangot naman si Aurea sa sinabi ni Malcolm. "Ano na naman?"

"Namumula ka," pagtukoy pa ni Simon.

Umirap naman ito. "Don't you think of anything else, guys. Mindset ba? I was just admiring him dahil since I came into CAPES and he became my mentor, I admire his teaching and all. I wouldn't be the person who I am today kung hindi dahil sa kanya. 'Wag madumi ang utak, please? Saka who wouldn't deny na he's good looking din, duh?"

Natawa ang tatlo sa sinabi nito.

"Pero ano naman kayang sasabihin sa 'yo?" tanong ni Simon. "May ideya ka ba?"

Napakibit balikat at iling ng ulo si Lockey. "I literally have no idea. Kung ano man 'yon, sana hind bad news."

"Mukhang hindi naman," ani Aurea. "If that would be a bad thing, he already pulled you out of the table and talk to you. We don't wait when bad things happened, we immediately act on it. Kaya 'wag kang mag-alala, maybe he has something good to tell you."

"Agree ulit ako," ani Malcolm. "Kapag nagsimula na ang bagong eleksyon for the Youth Leaders, ikaw ang iboboto ko, Aury."

She smirked. "I wouldn't get it," she said. "He always had the power to that..."

Napunta ang tingin ni Aurea sa isang lalaking mga anim na table ang layo sa kanila. Her face immediately turned into full bitterness and she just put her attention back to her meal.

"If you guys don't mind me to ask about it, sino siya?" tanong ni Lockey.

"He is Aurea's nemesis," Malcolm said.

"Shut up, Malcolm," Aurea said, rolling her eyes.

"He's the Youth Leader," Simon answered. "He's turning 19 in a few months so I don't know why they still elected him. But that's Arthur... mighty as Arthur, but his scents are dangerous..."

Napakunot ng noo si Lockey sa sinabi ni Simon. "Paanong? Hindi ko gets?"

"Let's just not talk about him," Aurea said, trying to end the conversation about him. "Let's just go with our day not minding he exists, alright?"

Tumango na lamang sila, pero may kasamang ngiti kina Malcolm at Simon.

Hindi naman maiwasan ni Lockey na mapatingin do'n kay Arthur at suriin ito. He does look so normal. He got blond hair, a chiseled jaw, and blue eyes, and seemingly stood out among everyone here. Lockey guessed that could be the reason why they elected him as a Youth Leader because of how he looks.

Arthur then came to the table where Klein, Nadiya, and the other new trainees who are eating their breakfast. Arthur doesn't look so bad in Lockey's eyes, he seems good. And when he turned to look for Lockey and his eyes landed in their direction, Lockey immediately brought his eyes down to his meal and started eating once again.

Lumapit si Arthur sa table nila.

"Look who got here," bungad ni Arthur. "Lachlan, right?" tanong nito.

Tumango naman si Lockey. "Yes... but Lockey would be fine," sagot nito.

"Sure, nice to meet you, Lockey." Nakipagkamayan naman ito. "Why don't you join the others? Was Aurea keeping you socializing with them?" Ngisi pa nitong tanong.

Tumaas ang tingin ni Aurea na may kasamang pagtaas ng kilay. "Mind your own business, Arthur."

"I am," he answered. "I am trying to get to know our new member, that's what I do, right?"

She rolled her eyes and quickly finished her meal. Tumayo na naman ito.

"Oh, alis ka na agad?" tanong ni Arthur.

"Yup," she said. "And Lockey would be coming with us. Pinapatawag siya ni Sir Gregory, so excuse us, Arthur."

"Alright," he smirked. "Go ahead."

Nagmadaling kumain ang tatlo saka tumayo sa kinauupan at sinundan si Aurea palabas ng dining hall. Nahabol din naman ng tatlo ito at hindi nila ito inaasar dahil sa bukod sa kitang-kita sa mukha na asar ito ay hindi na nila dinagdagan pa.

"Okay... saan na tayo?" tanong ni Lockey.

"Sa office ni Sir Gregory," sagot ni Simon.

There are a lot of things Lockey should know, but what else does he have to encounter and experience while he's at CAPES? That's something he was looking forward to... or not.