EVERLASTING

Chapter 3: Yuji Cromwell Manalo

YUJI'S POV

Nalula ako nang marating ko ang paaralan na aking papasukan sa laki nito at sa kung anumang mahika ang bumabalot dito. Hindi ko maintindihan but this place is quite familiar to me, the scent of danger and comfort. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nais na iparating sa akin ng mga bulong ng hangin. Dati ay pinangarap ko nang puntahan ang lugar kung saan hindi ako outcast at hindi masyadong napapansin. It is good to think that I am not in people's eyes and mouths all the time, I read lots of books about this place and my father told me stories about this university and how he met my mother which I never saw in my entire life. We went to this place because I will be 19 in a couple of weeks and I need supervision by the likes of us to our real and appropriate place.

My mother Celine Cromwell works in the government and hasn't returned after she gave birth to me. I've always been imagining her face as my father often told me that I looked exactly like her. My father is deeply inlove that he agreed to my mother's decisions of leaving us. I never hated her, in fact I understand that she is just protecting us from harm and for people that has been chasing her for her head bounty.

I read the books and this is how it works when you're a high profile noble, other families will have the right to chase for someone's head for bounty and became powerful that you could meet the king. Cromwells are good at hunting but I will not do that.

Hindi ko kailanman pinangarap na maging isang noble o maging anak ng isang makapangyarihang babae. Malaki ang galit ng ibang tao sa kanila at baka ako pa ay pagtulungan. Nais ko lang ng katahimikan sa aking pagtanda.

"So this is Celine's daughter?", ani ng headmaster nang makapasok kami sa kanyang opisina. It was huge and tidy, he looks dignified as well, of course he is.

Dale Hemmingsworth, another high profile noble but almost untouchable. He had several warnings from the higher ups but none of them can even command him. I don't know how enormous the Hemmingsworth's are pero sigurado akong hindi sila madaling kalabanin. According to the books, he is 213 years old with 10 sons and 5 daughters. He had lived so long at normal lamang ito sa lugar na kinaroroonan ko. Some of us could live forever. An everlasting life that a lot of people would ask for and one of the greatest desires that a human could wish to their god.

" I am Ricky Manalo from Darus, this is Celine Cromwell and my daughter", my father bowed his head a bit at ginawa ko rin ito.

"She seemed like she has come of age, tell me about your abilities.", he grinned and looked at me.

"Dipa po ako nineteen, kaya wala pa po akong abilities", I simply answered and his brows raised to what I just said.

Pogi sana si Sir Dale kaso marami nang anak pass!

"It's surprising because I could hear people's mind but not your daughter HAHAHAHA!", I would say that even his laugh is handsome. He looks like the character in a book with beautiful and exceptional face features. Mula mata hanggang jawline, pasadong pasado gumanap as rich daddy na billionaire.

"I know nothing about that Headmaster Dale as I too can't see her future and I have the ability to foresee near futures", my papa said.

"Strange..Okay by the way. I am accepting your daughter as she is one of us and she's a Cromwell. So this is your schedule, Goodluck on your stay here and see you anywhere", Headmaster Dale handed me a booklet where my schedule is set to. Father and I went outside to find my classroom and room but I told him that I will be fine on my own and I can handle myself.

We recently moved to Darus, this is where my mother's house is at. My father will be leading that place in behalf of my mom. Now that I am here, I won't be able to see him for a while and I hope that he will be fine and people there would not cause him a headache.

I went to the room where I will be staying and saw a girl my age there, she looks like an emo girl that I always see on pinterest. There is an exaggeration on her makeup but she looks beautiful. She looked like she was aboutto go out but was astound by my sudden entrance. I smiled at her and she just replied a sly smile.

"You're the Cromwell are you not?",she asked.

"I am", I am shy to talk to her because this is my first time talking and communicating to people my age here. I wanted to be friends with cool people but they often told me that I was intimidating where in fact I just want some friends. Sa buong buhay ko ay naging iba ang pakikitungo ng mga tao sa akin sa kakaibang kulay ng aking pilikmata at ng aking kilay kung kaya't kinulayan ko nalang ang aking buhok upang hindi pa ito mapuna at kahit papaano ay nagiging normal ako tignan.

"You're my roomate from now on, will you be okay with that?", saad nya habang seryosong nakatingin sa akin.

I sensed worry from her low voice at nararamdaman kong may pinaghuhugutan ito. I took on a deep sigh because I've been smelling emotions lately and I believe it's just normal. I already told my Dad about it and told me that it is because I am about to come of age.

I nodded and smiled at her while putting my backpack down and wandered my eyes around. Unlike the Headmaster's office, this is two-times smaller. It is enough for two people with two beds. I has a walk-in closet and a bathroom. Para itong kwarto nila Wednesday and Enid sa Wednesday Addams. I went near the window and saw the best view that I could've imagined. I just realized that I'm like at a top of a tower like Cinderella's, malawak ang lugar na ito na napapalibutan ng kakahoyan at iba't-ibang sport's fields, sa unahang bahagi ay makikitaang tower ng entrance ng paaralan. Malaki ito kumpara sa mga matataas na puno na nakapalibot sa fence ng paaralan.

Umalingawngaw ang sirena sa buong campus na nangangahulugang kailangan nang pumasok sa mga silid aralan. Tinignan ko ang aking booklet and went to my English class hastily. Diko na natanong ang pangalan ng babaeng emo sapagkat nawala rin sya nang biglaan without a word.

Naglakad takbo na ako habang binabagtas ang lumang pasilyo hanggang sa makita ko ang section kung saan ako papasok. There are already students there at may teacher na rin sa harap. I felt all flushed when the whole section looked at me from the doorstep, they looked like they are anticipating my grand entrance. Charot

Dahan-dahan akong pumasok at ngumit sa kanila. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ng ibang estudyante nang ginawa ko iyon. That was embarrassing!

Paano kung mukha akong tanga? What if ayaw nila sa akin? Did I do it wrong? Tagal ko na nagpractice sa smile ko eh but I don't think it works that way here.

" Hi, I'm Yuji Cromwell Manalo.", diko na tinapos kase naramdaman ko ang mga bulong sa akin nga hangin. This is overwhelming and bitter. I feel like throwing up, makes me wanna leave the room immediately. Hindi ko gaanong pinahalata at sinunod na lamang ang turo ng guro sa akin na maupo sa likurang bahagi ng silid.

The Whispers are following me till I reach my chair. I felt a bit fine when I finally sat down. It has been a while since I felt this. This feeling of disgust and fear. I was six when I felt this way and I'm sure bad will happen afterwards. I never told anyone about it but it is like my dark impulse or delusions. The feeling was faint but it's too clear today that it made me want to go bersek.

Nabasa ko ang tungkol dito sa isang libro. Maybe this is just my emotion that dragged me to imagine different things or even hear. Nobles with this kind of illness often lead them to go insane. Ayoko mabaliw that's why I will do my best to contain my delusions to the lowest.

"Yuji Manalo is grew in Davao and studied at MAPUA, an academy of humans. Be good to her and show her around after class Mr. Dan Selvestre as the class president", said the teacher.

"Of course po", sagot naman ng isang lalaki na naka eyeglasses sa harapan. Mukha syang matangkad dahil sa malapad nyang likod. He seemed like the smart kid na class president type na conyo sa room nyo. The kind to scold you when you do something na magpapahamak sayo in the future. Malalang imagination na nakuha mula sa mga babasahin na Contemporary novels na isinulat ng humans.

The class went on at nakinig na lamang ako. I can feel the slight glances that these students are giving me. Nginingitian ko nalang sila when our eyes meet para hindi awkwaed at di nila sabihin na mean ako. New school new personality lang kumbaga. I need to keep my cool and go with the flow para maka gain ng new friends.

They look much more dignified than the human classmates that I had, most of them looks intimidating and powerful. I could say that this will be hard, they seem to hate me because I almost can't breathe because of the atmosphere that sorrounds us. It is very unwelcoming.

"Who do you think hates you?", the girl in front of me asked while leaning towards my direction. I just realized that it was the emo girl na kasama ko sa room. Dito lang din pala punta nya di nya ako hinintay. Nagkibit balikat lang ako at itinuon ang pansin sa guro na nagtuturo sa harap.

To be Continued....