Behind Those Glasses

Chapter 5

Nandito ako ngayon sa cafeteria. Naghahanap ako ng mauupuan, or should I say, hinahanap ko si Zach. Wherever he is, alam kong hindi ako mahihirapan.

Damn those twins! Pagkatapos nito, makakatikim talaga sila sa akin. I was looking around and Alas! I found him at the corner eating alone.

Should I do this?

No, I shouldn't.

Should I?

Come to think of it, wala namang masama kung ako yung unang lalapit sa kanya. Sadyang mapride lang talaga ako.

I took a deep breath and walked towards his direction. I feel really uncomfortable right now. Hindi ako ang tipo na tao na unang um-approach. As much as possible I avoid people. Parang allergic sa tao. Ganun.

"Hi." I greet him with my priceless smile. He didn't reply and that makes me go nuts. I tried to compose myself and I did. I don't smile kaya swerte siya kasi nginitian ko siya, pero binawalewala niya lang yun.

Sabagay, who would want to receive a smile from a nerd? They hate my existence.

"May I sit here with you?" He didn't answer but he shrugged his shoulders. Okay, that's better than earlier, I guess. At least he responded. It made me feel less invisible.

Nag-alinlangan akong umupo pero bahala na. Nilagay ko ang food ko sa table pero bago pa ako makaupo ay nakarinig na ako ng magkasunod-sunod na putok ng baril.

"Kyyaaaaahhhh!!"

"Waaaaa!!!"

Napadapa ako at hinila si Zach padapa sa ilalim ng mesa. Tumingala ako at may nakita akong lalaking may dalang baril na nakatutok sa akin. At ang tarantado sa bukana pa ng cafeteria. Dali-dali siyang lumabas. I need to follow him.

"CR muna ako." I excused myself and walk outside. Yeah, I know it was a lame excuse. Who would still think of going to the toilet after that gunshot?

I tried to act as if I was scared.

"Ano yun?"

"Was that a gun?"

"I almost died!"

"Goodness Gracious!"

I'm keeping myself invisible like I always am. I finally got out of the crowd and I ran to get the gunman.

He's 14 meters away from me. I can catch up with him. I ran and ran. I got my knife and prepare my aim. I'm 5 meters away from him and I struck him on the knee.

"Ah!"he fell and grab his knee. Pagkakita niya sa akin, dali-dali siyang gumapang papalayo sa akin.

"Wag mo akong patayin." Pagmamakaawa niya.

I didn't talk, instead, mas lumapit pa ako sakanya saka siya sinuntok sa panga. I can punch him since no one's around.

"Urgh!"

I didn't show any emotions. Nakita kong pumutok ang gilid ng kanyang labi. What bothers me is, its not blood.

"What are you?"I ask emotionless. He smirked that annoys me. I kick him in the stomach but he didn't react. He just smiled, no, he grinned.

"I-I-I.... system malfunction" Napakunot ang noo ko.

System malfunction?

He's already steaming and I bet his getting hot. Literally hot, like a hot pot. Though he's still smiling.

"Are you some kind of a..."

"This device will self-destruct in 3"

Self-destruct? Which means..

"2"

I ran and hid behind the tree.

"1"

Pagkatapos nung countdown ay sumunod ang isang pagsabog.

"... A robotic phsyco" I whispered.

After the explosion, lumabas ako sa pinagtataguan ko and I found out na wala ng bakas ng robot. Pinagpag ko ang skirt ko. Who would bring a robotic phsyco to kill me?

"How was your day?" Tanong ni Sky.

Tiningnan niyo. Parang mga magulang lang?

"It's not as normal as it was before." Sabi ko as I wear my gear sa tenga ko. Andito kami sa basement ng bahay kung saan ang gun area. Nasa harap namin ang aim.

"I heard that there was a gunman at your school." Sabi ni Ace sa tabi ko. Bale, pinaggitnaan nila ako.

"Yup! And it wasn't a man" I said.

"Was it a gay?" A laugh slightly at Ace' joke.

"No it wasn't. A robotic phsyco"I put the bullet in the gun and aim. I then pulled the trigger.

"Bull's eye!" ani Sky.

I smiled. I still got it.

"A robotic phsyco? How did you know? Don't tell me you—"

"Yes I did, and no one saw me. Better?"

They care about my hidden identity as much as I do. Kaya nag-alala sila sa akin. Well, guess what? I can handle myself.

"Ah, I thought so."

Tinaas ko ulit yung baril at nagsimulang magpaputok. Hindi naman ako nabigo kasi natamaan din naman yung bullseye.

"Was it after you?" Ace asked. I looked at her.

"It was aiming at my direction." I said.

Muli kung binalik yung atensyon ko sa harap at nagpaputok ulit. Muling nagsalita si Ace

"Was there someone with you? Anyone?" Napaisip ako bigla. Binaba ko ang baril.

"Yes, there was. Si Zach." I lifted my arms again.

"What if it wasn't after you?"

I put the gun down.

"Five bull's eye in the row!" Sky exclaimed and offered me a high five but I just rolled my eyes. Hindi na nasanay?

"What do you mean by that Ace?"

Sometimes Ace can be so mysterious. You may not believe this but she's kinda know almost everything. With an Einstein head, I bet she pretty knows a lot of things.

"It's a 50/50 chance that it wants you, or it could be Zach." Kinuha ko ang bow and arrow at humarap sa target. I'm 10 meters away.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo Ace?"

I close my right eye and focus on the target. I breathe deeply and release the arrow. And it hit the bullseye

"Woah!" Sky exclaimed.

"Look, alam mo bang sinusundan ko Zach?" Sabi niya kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"You're stalking him?"

"What? Of course not!" She yelled and I raise my eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Okay fine! I'm stalking him! Pero hindi naman yun pansariling kagustuhan lang noh! I stalk him for safety reasons!"

"Okay sinabi mo e." I shrug my shoulders.

"Pero I admit, while stalking him, I found him hot!" Pinaypay pa niya ang kamay niya sa mukha. I rolled my eyes on her.

"Stop being a flirt Ace!"

"I'm not. Well, hindi ka ba nasanay sa akin?"

"Well I am, but you're too annoying." She smiled.

"I love seeing you being annoyed"

"Back to the topic Ace"

"Fine! May nakita akong something sa ininuman ni Zach"

"That's gross! At first, you're look like a die hard fan of Zach. Getting samples of the fluid that he drank? So cheap!"

"You can call me names that you want but that is not my point. I found something that is so unusual in his saliva and—"

"Saliva? Now that's creepy. First the drink then the saliva? What are you up to?"

"Shut up!" She crossed her arms and glared at me.

"Fine, continue." I said.

"No more disturbances?"

"Yeah!"

"So I got a sample from his saliva and got my microscope and boom! I found out that he just intake a drug. I'm in to studying it yet."

"And what do you think it is?"

"I think its the Elixir. It can confuse a person or even hypnotize the person"

Hypnotize a person??

"Hypnotize a person? So that could mean..."

"Yes, he's been hypnotize"