Chapter 38: You Do Not Observe

We all went to the gym. Ano nga pala ang dahilan kung bakit may ganito? Ah. Cooler wants to talk to me but Gray wouldn't allow it so Ryu got this crazy idea. It's fine with me to talk to Cooler, like I said, I don't hate him.

But when it comes to that devil, it's another story. The idea of having this match is not really bad. I don't know kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ko at nakisakay ako sa kakitiran ng utak ni Ryu. Well, it's a good way to kill time.

While on our way to the gym, we saw our classmate Marcus along the way kaya pinakiusapan namin siyang maging referee sa laro which he gladly accepted. Nang makarating kami sa gym ay nag-warm up muna sila.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Khael at nagtanong tungkol sa kalaban nila. "Sino ba "yang mga balot na yan Special A?"

"Balot?"

His lips pointed to Cooler and Ryu. Meh, he called them Balut. "They're the not so good buddies of Gray. Ah basta. The one who shoot a lot is Cooler while the one who cannot shoot is Ryu," wika ko at tinapunan sila ng tingin. Cooler own the basket. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang laro ay marami na ang tumambay sa gym upang manuod sa kanila. Oh yeah, they're eye catchers, no wonder.

"Buddies? I don't know them. I'm Silvan's best buddy so I'm supposed to know them too," he said. Mukhang nagseselos ang bestfriend. "I don't like them."

"Why?" I asked him. What's this, a 'hate at first sight?'

"They're a threat to our handsomeness, pero medyo malayo pa rin naman sila," wika niya at pinigilan ko ang sariling batukan ito. Seriously Khael?! Akala ko ba balot sila?

"Masyado ka talagang mahangin," sabi ko. "By the way, paano ka nakapasok dito sa Bridle? Hindi basta-basta nagpapapasok ang Bridle."

"Oh, that? I climbed on the walls," he said. "How about those two? They're not on their uniform so I supposed that they're not from Bridle too, are they?"

I rolled my eyes. Dalawang bagay lang iyan. It's either they fooled the guards or they threatened them. "I don't know how but I hope that it's through the most legal means. What are you doing here anyway?" Surely he didn't feel like Gray needed help so he rushed his few hours' drive towards here.

"I came to save Silvan," he said and I gave him my deadliest glare so he raised his arms in surrender and answered me. "Fine, don't look at me that way Special A. Pumunta ako rito para imbitahin ka sa paparating na Athena School Festival."

Hindi na ako nakasagot pa dahil tinawag na ni Gray si Khael. He's now on his jeans and rubber shoes instead of his slacks and black shoes. Just like Cooler, Khael shoot the ball easily samantalang kahit isang shoot ay wala si Gray. Ni hindi nga halos umaabot sa ring ang inihahagis niyang bola.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagsimula na ang laro. Cooler got the ball on the jump ball at agad na nilaro iyon. He scored their first shot. Bumawi naman si Khael. He got the ball from Ryu who was dribbling it and shoot it from the three-point line. Sapul!

Nagsimula nang dumami ang mga estudyanteng nanunuod. Some girls were shouting and cheering for them.

"Go Athena guy!" a girl shouted. She was a Grade 10 student kaya marahil nakilala na nito si Khael during the camp. Pati mga junior high ay nagawi na rito!

"WHOOO! The one in gray jeans! Marry me please?" another one shouted and she was referring to Cooler.

"Graaaaay! Ikaw pa rin sa akin kahit hindi ka pa nakaka-shoot!"

"Kyaaaaaaaah! Please court me Mr. Handsome instead of Marion."

Iba-iba ang sigaw ng mga estudyante. Uh, seriously? The game was good. Khael and Cooler are equally good. Tila walang magpapatalo. On the other hand, Ryu and Gray equally suck. Both of them didn't score even once. But looking at them, they have something good in them. Mabilis makaagaw ng bola si Gray na agad niyang pinapasa kay Khael. Ryu was good at defense too at magaling itong magblock sa mga tira.

They called for time out dahil pinagpapawisan sila. Napasigaw ang lahat nang hubarin ni Cooler ang T-shirt nitong puno ng pawis. My goodness! Every girl student started screaming! What the fudge! Hindi ko mapigilang sundan ng tingin si Cooler but someone suddenly blocked my view and when I looked up, it was Gray. He stood in a way that he blocked Cooler from my sight. Tsk! Killjoy!

Nagulat ako nang muling magkagulo ang mga estudyante. When I looked at on what they're screaming for, it was Khael who was taking his shirt off. What the hell is he doing? And why on earth he's got some abs too?!

"What are you doing?!" I asked him. Ginagaya ba niya si Cooler o sadyang papansin lang talaga siya?

"My shirt said he want to be ripped off so I did," wika niya and I rolled my eyes. Papansin nga! Inihagis niya ang T-shirt sa may bleachers at nag-inat. Suddently I've become interested with abs. Dahil hinarang ni Gray mula sa paningin ko si Cooler, my eyes resorted to the nearest sight which is Khael. Kunwari naman ay nag-inat si Gray and when he stretched his arms sideward ay natamaan nito ang tiyan ni Khael.

"Awww!" he hissed at ngumuso kay Gray. "What was that for?!" Hinawakan niya ang natamaang tiyan. It must really hurt dahil hindi niya napaghandaan iyon.

Patuloy naman sa pag-iinat si Gray. "My hands are sweaty and it slipped off nang mag-inat ako."

Inirapan lamang siya ni Khael. "Admit it Silvan that you're jealous over my abs." Khael said.

"Dream on Alonzo, compared to mine, 'yang pinagyayabang mo ay bilbil. Purely baby fats Mikmik!" he said and emphasized the words baby fats and Mikmik. He called Khael with his cute nickname.

Nairita ang mukha ni Khael. "Really Ae-Ae? Bilbil?"

Ae-Ae? Who's Ae-Ae? Isang masamang tingin naman ang iginanti ni Gray sa kanya dahil sa pagtawag nito sa kanya ng Ae-Ae. Hinubad ni Gray ang sando niya ang I was like oh my god of cheesecakes! Why are they stripping?!

Nagsigawan na din ang mga babae sa paligid at maingay na maingay ang gym. "Waaaaaaahh! Graaaaaaaaaaay! Take off your jeans too!" someone shouted. Anong akala nila sa laro? Strip show? Porn show?! Behave children!

"Kyaaaaah! Khael Alonzo of Athena High! Make me your slave!"

"OMG! Guy in gray jeans! Please take me with you!"

"Ryuuuuuu! Take your shirt off too!"

Why are they shouting over the abs?! Pwede namang manuod ng tahimik gaya ng ginagawa ko. Pasimpleng sulyap lang naman eh.

Before the game resumes ay hinubad na nga ni Ryu ang kanyang T-shirt at iniwan ang sando samantalang umingay naman lalo ang paligid begging him to take off his sando but he didn't. Uh, now they're drawing too much attention.

The game's still close. Kapag nakaka-score si Cooler ay nakakascore din si Khael. Kahit hindi nakaka-shoot sina Ryu at Gray, they made the game interesting too dahil sa depensa nila.

Nagulat na lang ang lahat nang napatigil si Khael sa paghabol kay Cooler. Humihingal ito na tumigil ito at pinanuod si Cooler na i-shoot ang bola. Uh, what's wrong with Khael?

Umayos siya ng tayo at nag-abang ulit sa bola. He got it and scored. Nang tatlong minuto na lang ang natitira ay nakalalamang na sina Khael ng tatlong puntos. Cooler made a comeback and made a 1-point advantage on the last 10 seconds of the game. He was about to shoot nang bigla na lamang natumba si Khael. He immediately threw away the ball at tinulungan itong tumayo. Napasugod na rin ako doon at maging si Gray. Ryu just walked slowly as if nothing happened.

"Hey, Mikhael Timothy Alonzo, are you okay?" Cooler asked him. He didn't answer him, sa halip ay ipinikit lang nito ang mata.

When I touched his neck, he was burning hot. May sakit pala ito, why did he play such strenuous game? Nabinat tuloy ito ngayon.

"Hoy Khael!" I called out his name but he remained closing his eyes. "Hoy! Isa! Susuntukin talaga kita! Dalawa!" I'm becoming hysterical.

He slowly opened his eyes. He smiled when he saw me. "I'd love to, Special A but I guess that's the least thing I need for now. I guess I need a doctor." He said at tuluyan na itong nawalan ng malay.

***

Nang dinala siya ni Gray sa infirmary ay nag-usap naman kami Cooler. I shouldn't have agreed on Ryu's crazy idea, hindi sana hinimatay si Khael. Looks like he's already sick ngunit naglaro pa rin ito. Dinala ko si Cooler sa mini-park na nasa likod ng gym.

"Ano bang gusto mong pag-usapan natin?"

Naupo siya at matamang tiningnan ako. "I know I haven't apologized to you for everything."

"You don't have to. You once saved my life and you also have been the reason of my danger. Let's call it even," wika ko sa kanya. I know that I caused my own danger since I am the one who put my ass on it, but I just need someone to blame. Yes, I'm acting like a self-centered bitch for doing so but I really have to. I'd be losing my mind if I don't blame him.

"Do you hate me?" he asked sincerely and I shook my head.

"I don't hate you Cooler. I just hate your mafia," wika ko sa kanya. Why does he have to be part of it? Bakit hindi na lang normal na tao si Cooler? Bakit siya si Zeus? Andaming bakit.

"I also want to apologize about Ryu telling you the mafia's interest in you in becoming one of our reapers. I have already opposed to such idea as well as Gray," wika niya. Ibig sabihin ay seryoso nga ang sinabi ni Ryu about me being a prospect reaper?

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm too young to become one. Oh, not that I agree on it."

"The mafia reapers are young. They believe that reapers must start at a young age for more experience," wika niya. "Artemis started at the age of 12." What? 12? She's been killing people since she's 12? Unbelievable!

"Iyan lang ba ang ipinunta mo dito?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tumayo siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "I came here as Cooler Vander, and not Zeus. I seriously want to be friends with you Amber," he said sincerely. I felt something touched my heart. Am I carried away with his sincerity? For the first time ay muli kong nakita si Cooler sa kanya. The Cooler that I used to know. The Cooler who suck in deducing. The Cooler who's stupid enough to jump in front of me and almost got killed in the process.

I looked at him seriously. "I'm not closing doors Cooler but I guess it's not the perfect time for that. Everything is still fresh."

He smiled at me at binitawan ang kamay ko. "I know that Amber. I'm happy to hear such response. Maghihintay ako kung handa ka na." Napasulyap siya sa suot niyang relo. "We have to go."

Pagbalik ko sa infirmary ay nakahiga sa kama si Khael at nasa gilid naman si Gray. When he saw me ay lumawak ang ngiti nito.

"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?" tanong ko sa kanya. He's wearing a clean dry shirt na malamang ay pinahiram ni Gray sa kanya.

"Better especially now that you are here," he said. Ugh, nagkasakit na at lahat ngunit nambobola pa rin. That's Khael.

"I'm leaving," seryosong wika ko at umaktong aalis but he stopped me.

"Joke lang Special A! I'm feeling better, napainom na rin ako ng nurse ng gamot. It's just over fatigue," wika niya. Pinukpok ko ng kamao ko ang ulo niya. It's not that hard ngunit exaggerated ang reaksyon nito.

"Araaay! Aray! Ano ba, para saan naman iyon?" he asked habang inilalayo ang ulo mula sa akin.

"That's for not telling us na may sakit ka pala," wika ko sa kanya. Umandar kasi ang kayabangan nito kanina. He volunteered himself to represent Gray tapos may sakit naman pala ito. So stupid of him!

"It's all been done. I was absent for two days kaya naisipan ko na lang pumunta rito upang maimbita kayo. I'm sick of lying in my room all day," sagot niya. Hinawakan niya ang leeg. "Anyway, I'm better now so I'll be back at Athena tonight."

Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Let me check your temperature." Inilapit ko ang noo ko sa noo niya gaya ng ginawa dati sa akin ni Gray. They said it was the most effective way of checking one's temperature. I was about to put my forehead on Khael's forehead nang bigla na lamang may kamay na pumigil sa noo ko.

"Let me do it," Gray said at hinila ako palayo sa tabi ni Khael and he stood there instead. Unti-unti niyang ibinaba ang kanyang mukha.

Wait, it's too awkward to see them is such position!

Bago pa man tuluyang bumaba ang mukha nito ay dumapo na ang palad ni Khael sa mukha niya at inilayo iyon. "Stop it Silvan! Or else I'm gonna kill you!" he said at tiningnan ako. "Si Special A dapat 'yon eh!"

Umaayos naman ng tayo si Gray. "I'm not checking your temperature. I'm checking the redness of your eye. Ang bakla mong mag-isip Alonzo."

"Awww! Careful!" he said nang pasalampak na hinawakan ni Gray ang noo niya.

"You're fine. Tumayo ka na diyan at umuwi," Gray said at hinila patayo si Khael. Bumaling siya sa akin. "Umuwi ka na sa dorm mo Amber. Ako na ang maghahatid sa lalaking ito sa kanyang dakilang driver. May pag-uusapan din kasi kami."

Nagpaalam naman agad ako sa knila. Bago ako umuwi ay dumaan muna ako sa classroom namin upang kunin ang bag ko. When I arrived there, I saw another familiar black envelope.

Oh, not again please! Muntik ng mapahamak si Marion at Jeremy kanina tapos ngayon ay isang panibagong sulat na naman? I picked the envelope with my pale and shivering hands. Gaya ng inaasahan ay isa na naman iyong encoded na sulat.

When the clock stops at three,

It stirs the anger in me.

See me at:

E-FH

W-SL

S-FP

N-Boundary

-X

P.S

You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.

What's this? Ano na naman ba ang ibig sabihin nito? I should be careful this time dahil minsan nang muntik na mapahamak si Jeremy at Marion dahil sa kapabayaan ko. I wasn't able to see through the first notice kung kaya kailangan kong maging maingat ngayon. Tiningnan ko ulit ang papel. The X has arrowheads on its four edges. Ano naman ang ibig sabihin niyon?

For the second time ay gumamit na naman si X ng mga salita ni Sherlock Holmes! How dare him! Dinudumihan niya ang mga magagandang salita sa pamamagitan ng masamang intensyon niya! I can't let it pass this time! Niligpit ko na ang sulat at inilagay iyon sa bag ko bago umalis ng classroom. Pagdating ko sa dorm ay pilit kong inalala kung saang libro ba makikita ang linyang ginamit ni X sa kanyang sulat.

My mind is not functioning well. I can still remember that such statement was made by Sherlock Holmes but I cannot remember which case or novel it is. I decided to scan every novel and book I have. I found it in my book, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes specifically in the story A Scandal in Bohemia. Ngunit ano naman ang koneksyon niyon sa pinadala ni X?

"Amber, let's have our dinner," tawag ni Andi sa akin. When I glanced into my wristwatch, it's already 7 PM. Oh, it took me time to think about that warning?! Ni hindi pa nga ako nakakapagbihis ng suot kong PE uniform.

"I'll just have to change first at susunod na din ako sa cafeteria," sagot ko sa kanya at pumasok sa banyo upang makapaglinis ng katawan. Pagkatapos niyon ay nagbihis na ako and keep my phone on my short's pocket at bumaba upang magtungo sa cafeteria.

While on my way there, I saw Bridle's large clock which was right in front of the Admin Building. It was an old design katulad sa Big Ben ng England though it wasn't as grand as it. The clock reminded me of the notice from X ngunit iwinaglit ko muna iyon sa isipan ko.

Nang makarating ako sa cafeteria ay agad akong naupo sa mesa nina Andi at Therese.

"Hey, look at my new watch. It's a gift from my Dad nang makarating siya mula sa Spain," Therese said at pinakita sa amin ang relo niya. It was a compass watch.

"Wow! Ang ganda naman Res! I love vintage things like that. Tingnan mo Amber oh," Andi said and motioned Therese's wrist on my direction.

"Yup, it's so nice," wika ko at pinasadahan iyon ng tingin. Muli akong napatingin doon and I remembered the letter! Compass! It's the clue!

E means East, and FH means Function House. Yes, the function house is in the east side. On the West is separate Science Lab. May isa pang Science Lab sa 3rd floor ng isang school building but there is also an old Science Laboratory on the west side of Bridle at malapit iyon sa boys' dorm. On the South is the Admin building with the flag pole in front kaya marahil ay iyon ang ibig sabihin niya. On the north side is the high walls of Bridle High.

It all coincides with what was written on the letter. Where would be the place that X said for me to meet him among the four directions? I remembered the X with the arrowheads.

Could it be that it's where the arrows met? When I pictured out what was in between, the four directions intersect in the woods! Sa may mga madilim na kakahoyan!

Agad akong tumayo sa mesa. "Mauna na ako sa inyo may pupuntahan pa kasi ako," wika ko. Naglapag ako ng pera sa mesa. "Please pay for my food for me. Thanks!"

I immediately dashed outside. When I passed at the admin building, muli ko na namang sinulyapan ang malaking orasan.

Crap! Why was it stopped at exactly 3?! Now it really coincides with the letter! But I was wondering how did it stopped at 3? Damn! It's kind of dim there dahil iilan lamang ang mga poste ng ilaw na naroon. I saw a guy in his black cap and jacket. Could it be that he's X?! When he saw me ay humakbang siya palayo kaya hinabol ko siya.

"Wait!" Tumakbo ako at hinabol ang lalaki ngunit may natapakan ako. Naramdan ko na lang ang sarili kong umangat nang patiwarik! Everything in my pocket fell maliban sa cellphone ko na nahawakan ko. The rope that caught my leg was attached to a nearby tree na may poste ng ilaw. I can just cling into the nearby branches na nasa paligid ko. I tried to swing my body to reach the nearest branch but I stop when I noticed something.

Isang ahas?!

Shit! Isang malaking ahas! I wanted to freak out but I controlled myself not to! I tried reaching on the other near branch but gaya ng una ay may ahas din doon! What the hell! The snakes must have been set up together with the trap! I want to curse myself for falling into such trap! Nagpapadala na naman ako sa mga bagay na ganito without thinking! Walang sino man ang makakakita sa akin since no one would pass this way and the guards will have their inspection by 10:30 at naghintay pa ako sa oras na iyon, malamang ay nakagat na ako ng ahas.

Hindi ko napigilan ang mapaiyak. Ang tanga-tanga ko! I wiped away the tears on my forehead since I was hung upside down and I realized I still have my last card! Ang aking cellphone! I immediately dialed Gray's number at narinig ko ang pagtunog mula sa kabilang linya.

Pagkatapos ng ilang ring ay narinig ko na ang boses nito. "Yes?" he asked. Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita dahil nauna ang mga hikbi ko. "Amber? What happened?"

"G-gray," I sobbed. Shit, I can't stop crying! I need to tell him that I need his help ngunit puro hikbi lang ang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

"Amber, stay calm okay? Nasaan ka?" wika niya. I tried to calm myself like he instructed ngunit hindi pa rin nawawala ang hikbi ko.

"G-gray tulungan mo ako..."

"Nasaan ka Amber?"

"I-I'm in the w-woods. U-up in a—" patuloy pa rin ang paghikbi ko and my words become incomprehensible. Nabitawan ko ang cellphone ko at nahulog iyon and all my hopes of being saved disappeared. I bit my lower lip as I continued to cry.

Kapag nasa bingit ka ng kamatayan ay maiisip mo talaga kung paano ang naging buhay mo. I could say that I made my life meaningful kumpara noong isa akong nerd na hindi nag-eexist. Atleast even for a short period of time I have been visible to everyone. I felt the snake made its way towards the nearest branch.

"Ambeeeeeer!"

Naririnig ko ang boses ni Gray Gusto kong sumagot but I can't. Mukhang may humaharang sa lalamunan ko at walang lumalabas na boses doon. I heard a familiar sound. It was my ringtone! Gray was calling my phone and they saw it on the ground just below me.

Pinulot niya iyon and he looked up. "Amber! Hold on!" wika niya nang makita ako. He said something to Marwin and I don't know what it was. Nanghihina na rin ako dahil sa pag-akyat ng dugo ko sa ulo dahil sa pagkatiwarik. I don't know how long I was hanging there and the next thing I knew was someone cut the rope at nahulog ako. I was expecting to land on the hard ground but I felt someone catch me.

When I opened my eyes, it was Gray. "S-snakes," mahinang wika ko. Humakbang siya habang buhat-buhat ako.

"They're taken care by the guards," wika niya. "Ano'ng nangyari Amber?"

"W-when the clock stops at three, it stirs the anger in me," mahina kong wika. I was stating the letter of X.

"What?" naguguluhan niyang tanong.

"It was a warning na hindi ko na naman pinansin."

"Just tell me what happened! What were you doing there?!" galit ang boses nito and I cannot see his face directly dahil madilim. Nang makarating kami sa harap ng admin building ay tinuro ko ang malaking orasan.

"Look at the clock. It stops at 3," mahina kong wika. I am still gaining back my strength.

Napatigl siya at tinitigan din ang orasan. "What are you saying? Look at the numbers and its hands. It's swaying. It must probably a cloth printed with the same pattern on the clock and placed there," wika niya matapos pagmasdan ang orasan.

I also stared at it and he was right. It was swaying. When the wind blew harder, the cloth swayed more and I catch a glimpse of the original clock.

"I see. I didn't observe, I just merely watched. Now I see the distinction," wika ko and I want to punch myself hard. I'm so STUPID.