Alas-dos na ng madaling araw pero dilat na dilat pa rin ang mga mata ko.

Hindi ako makatulog dahil sa sobrang sikat ng araw sa labas. Kahit pa nakasara ang mga bintana at kurtina ko, may kaunting sinag ng araw pa rin na nakakapasok sa loob ng kwarto. Pero hindi lang iyon ang rason kung bakit hindi ako makatulog.

Sa totoo lang, gusto ko na talagang magising sa masamang panaginip na ito.

Napabuntong-hininga ako sabay labas sa aming dorm. Naglakad muna ako sa park baka sakaling dalawin ako ng antok kapag napagod ako sa paglalakad. Siguro naman walang curfew dito kahit na lumabas ako ng dorm.

As I wandered around the grounds, I caught someone sitting under the tree with his back resting on the trunk. Teka, si Seth pa rin ba 'yon? Hindi man lang siya umalis sa kinauupuan niya simula kanina?

This time, nilapitan ko na siya. Besides, kailangan ko siyang pasalamatan sa pagsalba niya ulit kanina sa akin mula sa bola ng apoy.

I silently made my way on the other side of the trunk. Nakapikit ang mga mata nito. Dito ba siya natutulog?

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" Seth suddenly spoke, surprising me.

So, hindi pala siya tulog? I groaned at that thought. "Pwede bang makiupo dito?" I asked.

"No," he answered with a straight face. I already expected that though.

I turned around to face him. His eyes were still closed. "Hindi kita aabalahin."

"Just go find somewhere else," he continued to say.

"Gusto ko dito," I insisted.

Seth finally opened his eyes. I wasn't prepared for that. He was now looking at me. For the first time, I saw his honey-colored eyes up close. They were as warm as the rays of the summer sun. Sparkling, radiant, and yellow. Mas gwapo pa siya sa malapitan. He was always standing tall, kaya hindi ko matitigan ang mukha niya dati.

I was still in trance, not until he spoke again.

"Sige, ako nalang ang aalis." Seth stood up, but, before he could even go ninja like he always did, I grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Ano?"

"Gusto ko lang mag-thank you sa ginawa mo kanina."

"I didn't-"

I held my palm up his face. "Oh, huwag mong sabihing hindi mo ako niligtas at ginagawa mo lang kung ano ang tama. Alam ko. Pero, gusto ko pa ring mag-thank you."

"Are you done?" His face didn't change. It showed no emotion at all. It pained me a bit. I didn't even know why.

"Ganito ka ba talaga?" I asked him instead.

"What?"

"Ganyan. Intimidating. Cold. Mysterious," I pointed out.

Seth paused, still looking at me. "Don't act like you know me."

"Hindi nga kita kilala. Pero, sigurado akong may rason kung bakit ka ganyan. Kung may problema ka, sabihin mo. Hindi lang naman ikaw ang may problema sa mundo."

Seth suddenly dropped his gaze at me. "Hindi ka ba titigil?"

I paused, thinking of what to say next, when suddenly our watches beeped in sync, a voice speaking over, "Code X! Code X! Levels Krypton to Magna, please gather around the Oasis. All other levels, please stay inside the dorms. Now!" It was a command.

I bit my lip anxiously, looking at Seth. "Ano'ng nangyayari?"

Seth sighed, not answering me. "Just go back inside the dorm." That was what he said before speeding away. But, instead of following his order, I tried searching for the place they called Oasis.

****

Apparently, the Oasis was a huge space, enclosed with transparent walls, which served as their training grounds. Parang nasa isang malawak na gymnasium kami ngayon.

I managed to find it after following the direction of the students running at that time. I presumed they were the ones being called after that Code X announcement.

I discreetly made my way inside, avoiding the guards at the main entrance, who were double checking the students entering the grounds. Muntik pa akong mahuli ng isang guard, pero nakapasok ulit ako.

May mga grupo ng estudyante na nakapila na sa loob. Just then, a huge screen appeared in front of us. It was just suspended in the air, not hung in a wall or anything, like a hologram.

Seconds later, the screen turned on, revealing the table of Professor O in his office, but his back was still turned opposite our direction.

"I've called you all here because I've just received news that the Government is currently attacking the Cosmos. I need you all to be prepared. We'll be sending you out according to your levels. Wait for the signal before going out." After that order, the screen turned black again, then disappeared.

Everyone went out in their respective groups. I was lost in the sea of people going out the grounds. They were formed into groups, which I assumed to be their levels.

But, clearly I didn't belong to any of them. I got petrifying stares from students, who noticed my presence inside the Oasis. Mali yata na pumasok pa ako dito. Ano ba ang nakain ko?

I turned around to look for the exit. When I did, I accidentally bumped into someone. "Sorry," I quickly mumbled, not bothering to look at the person anymore.

"Maxine?"

When I heard my name, I looked up and saw a familiar figure. It was the silent one from Level Magna. "Lance? Hi, ikaw pala!" I greeted casually.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito? You're not supposed to be here," Lance told me.

Oo, alam ko.

I bit my lip. "Uh... eh..." Before I could continue, he suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me to the corner where his group was waiting.

"Lance, san ka ba nag-" Xenon stopped talking, when he saw me. The others turned to me as well with stunned faces.

"Maxine!" Luther exclaimed, but his face registered concern. "Hindi ka pwede dito."

"Sabi nga ni Lance," I answered.

"So, bakit ka pa nandito?" Toby asked with raised brows.

Kristoff clapped his hands to catch our attention. "Guys, wala na tayong oras. Let's go hustle!"

Luther stopped him. "Paano si Maxine?"

Kristoff gripped my hand. "Kumapit ka lang sa akin."

With no further questions, I nodded as I followed them out. In a split second, nag-transform na si Kristoff bilang dragon kaya sumakay na ako kasama si Luther. Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa dragon habang papalabas na ito sa academy. Pumasok kami sa isang madilim na alley na karugtong ng main gate ng academy.

My eyes had to adjust with the sudden change, since I was already used to having light all the time. Sobrang dilim pala dito sa labas ng academy.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta, Luther?" I asked him behind me as I kept my grip on the dragon's back.

"Sa Cosmos."

"Saan 'yon?"

Luther paused, thinking before answering again. "Sa Cosmos nakatira ang mga tao dito na walang spectra, at hawak sila ng Governals. Kailangan natin silang iligtas."

"Governals?"

"Governals ang bumubuo ng gobyerno dito. When the Governals decide to do something, they just do. Wala silang pakialam kung may masaktang inosenteng tao. The people there are helpless. That is why the Academy was created in the first place."

After that, I remained silent. Just hearing it made my insides quiver. Paano nangyari ang lahat ng ito? Alam ko namang hindi perpekto ang gobyerno dati pa. Pero paano humantong sa ganito?

I just couldn't seem to understand. The thought of the Government controlling the people was so cruel. I knew about monarchy, totalitarian and the likes. Our country practiced democracy. And now, hearing Luther say that the Cosmos was controlled completely, mukhang wala na talagang pag-asa ang gobyerno na ito.

Few minutes later, we reached a huge hole above us, the dragon making its way up and out of it. Laking gulat ko nang makita ko ang buong paligid. Madilim pa rin. Maraming mga gusali at sasakyan sa daan. Parang sa siyudad lang. Pero this time, the buildings and vehicles were tripped over the streets.

I could hear people screaming and loud bombings and gunshots were everywhere. It was deafening and terrifying that I wanted to run and hide because I knew I was helpless. And I couldn't afford to die young... not until I find out everything.

"Maxine, huwag kang aalis sa tabi ni Kristoff. Dito ka lang, okay?" Luther warned me.

I just nodded as I watched him jump and fall on the ground. The dragon started spitting out giant balls of fire, attacking the choppers and tanks hovering above and below us.

Masyadong mabilis ang paggalaw ng dragon. Pinilit kong higpitan ang hawak dito. Pero, sa sobrang bilis, hindi ko na nakayanan pang kumapit at bigla kong nabitawan ang dragon.

Next thing I knew, I was falling...