Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 1

Chapter 1- She's Awake

I slowly opened my eyes. Nag-adjust pa ang aking mga mata dahil sa sobrang silaw ng liwanag na sumalubong sa akin. Ginalaw ko pa ang aking mga daliri para malaman kung ayos lang ba ako.

"Tawagin mo ang doctor! Bilis!" rinig kong sigaw ng isang boses. Nang maka-adjust na ang aking mga mata, naging malinaw na sa akin ang lahat.

Isang babae ang umiiyak sa aking harapan habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ko. Pumasok naman ang isang lalaki kasama ang isang lalaking doctor. Sa likod naman ng doctor ay may dalawang nurses, isang lalaki at isang babae.

Tinignan ko ang name ng doctor. Nakasulat doon ang pangalang Kyle Evans. Namangha naman ako. He is very handsome and he seems so kind.

"Blink your eyes if you can see us," sabi niya. I blinked my eyes. Nakita ko namang nakahinga ng maluwag ang lalaki at babae. I felt like I longed for them at matagal ko na silang kilala but the thing is hindi ko sila kilala.

"Can you open your mouth?" mahinahong sabi ng doctor. I tried to open my mouth wide and closed them when the doctor instructed me to do so. Dalawang beses ko itong binuksan and I felt relieved that I can do it.

"Can you talk?" tanong ulit ng doctor. Sinubukan kong buksan ulit ang mga bibig ko and uttered a word.

"W-Who a-am I?" I asked them. Iyan ang unang tanong na pumasok sa isip ko. Kanina ko pa gustong malaman kung bakit wala akong maalala. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa ko sa hospital at kung sino ang dalawang taong andito ngayon.

All of them gasped and the woman beside me burst into tears. Hinagod naman ng lalaki ang kanyang likuran. Nararamdaman kong humihigpit ang hawak niya sa akin.

"C-Can you recognize us, baby?" tanong ng babae. Kumunot naman ang noo ko at dahan-dahang umiling. Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa mga kamay ko at mas lalong lumakas ang iyak niya.

Baby? Does that mean that I am their daughter? Pero bakit ganun, they look like they are only in their 20's. Sobrang bata nilang tignan at di mo aakalaing anak nila ang isang katulad ko. But I'm not sure about how I look.

"May naaalala ka ba before mangyari ang insidente?" tanong ng doctor. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko and I expected that something would pop out of my mind but there's none. I tried to remember everything but to no avail.

"Don't force yourself Samantha," sabi ng doctor. Samantha? So my name is Samantha?

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko dahil sobrang naguguluhan ako. I am Samantha, and the couple beside me are my parents. But how come I can't remember them? I can't even remember myself.

"Masyadong naalog ang utak niya. We have to check if her amnesia is temporary or not but please don't force her to remember now. Maybe kapag okay na ang condition niya."

"We'll run a CT scan on her, we will observe her here for 3 days and after that, you can go home if her condition is already good," sabi ng doctor. Tumango naman ang babae at lalaki.

"Thanks Kyle," sabi ng lalaki. Ngumiti naman ang doctor. So meaning close silang tatlo? And judging by how the doctor called me Samantha, it seems like kilala ko na siya and he knows me too.

Lumabas naman ang doctor kasama ang mga nurses. Medyo kumakalma na ang babae ngunit hindi niya pa rin binibitawan ang kamay ko.

"My baby, I-I am your mom, Gianna," sabi ng mom ko raw. It feels strange to call her mom but at the same time, it feels familiar. The warm and comfortable feeling I have when she held my hand is very familiar and I kinda miss it.

"It's me, Brent. Your dad," sabi naman ng lalaki. Hindi ko alam pero naiiyak ako dahil parang nasasaktan sila. I feel the pain they had at parang ayokong umiyak sila.

I don't doubt them. I feel like they are indeed my parents and there's no need to confirm whether we are related or not because I can feel it.

"W-What happened?" tanong ko. Nagkatinginan naman silang dalawa at parang nag-uusap sila sa kanilang mga isip. What was that? Are they supernatural or aliens?

"Let's talk about that later, baby. You should rest first," sabi ni mom. Siguro dapat sanayin ko na ang sarili kong tawagin silang mom and dad.

Sakto namang may pumasok sa room. Nagulat naman ako kasi bigla-bigla nalang silang pumapasok.

"Still having the habit of not knocking?" di-makapaniwalang tanong ni dad. Inilapag naman ng babae ang paperbag sa table at umupo sa couch kasama ang lalaki.

Napanganga naman ako. If the doctor who came awhile ago is handsome, this one is too handsome that it feels surreal. Ang babae naman ay mas maganda pa sa isang Barbie doll. I know I'm exaggerating but that's how I can describe them believe me or not.

"Don't forget that you always barge into our house and steal foods in the refrigerator," mataray na sabi ng babae. Kahit nagtataray siya feeling ko idol na idol ko siya. The couple is so familiar to me.

"I'm not stealing! You can ask Manang Fely," sagot naman ni dad. The girl rolled her eyes at nanatili namang walang expression ang lalaki. Napalunok ako ng laway. Bakit parang masyado akong nai-intimidate sa kaniya?

"We are not here to quarrel, we just want to know Samantha's condition," sabi ng babae. Tinignan niya ako ngunit hindi siya ngumiti. "Base from how you look at us, I know you can't recognize me. I'm Tita Blanche Alberts, your very own guardian devil."

Nginitian niya ako so I smiled at her. I felt like matagal ko nang alam na guardian devil ko siya and her aura seems so familiar. Tinignan naman ako ng lalaki pero hindi siya ngumiti o mag-react man lamang. He has that poker face at di mo alam kung maiinis ka o matatakot.

"I'm not really good at introductions but I'll try," sabi niya. Ipinakita niya sa akin ang business card niya. It says there that his name is Renzo Alberts. "That's good enough, isn't it?"

Tumango nalang ako. I also felt like sanay na ako sa presence niyang nakaka-intimidate. I even felt like I am close to the two of them.

"Where's your son? Akala ko dadaan siya dito," kunot-noong tanong ni mom. Tita Blanche pouted and Tito Renzo shrugged her shoulders.

"He said he preferred reading books, he's sure that Samantha is fine," nakasimangot na sagot ni Tita Blanche. They had a son? I wonder kung ano ang itsura niya. Seeing Tita Blanche and Tito Renzo I'm sure their son is handsome.

May kumatok sa pinto kaya napalingon kaming lima. Nang bumukas ito, bumungad sa amin ang isa na namang couple and a handsome creature behind. Napanganga ulit ako. Wow! He sure is handsome! Parang magkamukha sila ni Tito Renzo.

"Sabi ko nga lemon juice ang dalhin eh!" pagmamaktol ng babae at pinalo sa balikat ang lalaki. Napa-aray naman ang lalaki.

"Hindi naman ikaw ang iinom eh! Ang inaanak mo ang iinom!" sagot naman ng lalaki. The girl pouted.

"Tsk. I shouldn't have come with the two of you, I felt like the 3rd wheel," sabi ng lalaki. Parehong-pareho sila ng ugali ni Tito Renzo! Siguro magkapatid sila!

"Samantha! Ayos ka lang ba?" alalang tanong ng babae at hinawakan ang kamay ko. I smiled awkwardly.

"Omo! Can't you recognize us?" tanong ng babae. Napaiwas naman ng tingin si mom and dad and I felt like mom is fighting back her tears.

"Hindi mo na ba ako naaalala Samantha dear? I am your Fairy Godmother Tita Jahara Fortalejo and this man beside me is my hubby and your Tito Ivan Fortalejo," sabi naman ni Tita Jahara. Tumango naman ako.

"I'm your Tito Grey Alberts," tipid na sabi ng lalaking parang si Tito Renzo. Alberts? So tama ang hinala ko, magkapatid nga sila ni Tito Renzo.

"We have an unexpected reunion here, and Grey here doesn't even have a girlfriend," pang-aasar ni Tita Blanche. Tito Grey rolled his eyes.

"Why would I add a burden to my life? You guys are already enough," sagot naman ni Tito Grey. The couples glared at him.

"Kami? Pabigat? And why?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Tita Jahara. Tito Grey just tsk-ed.

"Why should I answer such question? The answer is pretty obvious," sagot naman ni Tito Grey. Napailing nalang ang iba. Napatingin naman ako kay Tito Ivan na parang may tine-text sa phone niya. Sino kaya ang ka-text niya?

"By the way, what are you going to do now Gianna and Brent?" tanong ni Tito Renzo. Mom sighed and dad seems frustrated.

"We'll going to transfer her to another school, masyado na siyang maraming napagdaanan," sagot ni mom as if I am not existing. Kumunot naman ang aking noo.

"What happened to me back then?" I asked. Hindi naman sumagot si mom at umiwas naman ng tingin si dad.

"You don't need to know, baby. You should forget about it," sagot ni dad. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"I'm getting curious dad, just please tell me what happened and I'll transfer," sabi ko. Umiling naman si dad.

"Not now baby, your condition is not yet fine," sagot ni dad. I looked at mom and dad suspiciously at umiling.

"Then I'm not transferring," sagot ko. Aangal pa sana si mom at dad pero nagpatuloy ako.

"The more you say no, the more I want to know," sabi ko. There must be something big going on at related sa nangyari sa akin. I am curious about what happened to me back then because they act suspiciously. Napabuntong-hininga naman si mom.

"Wow, mukhang mana sa katigasan ng ulo mo Brent!" sigaw ni Tito Ivan at makikipag-high five sana kay dad but dad glared at him. Nag-peace sign naman si Tito Ivan.

"Are you sure about it, baby? I don't want you to regret in the end," alalang sabi ni mom. Umiling ako. I am determined to know what really happened to me.

"I am sure mom, I don't want to run away and leave everything unsolved," puno ng determinasyon kong sagot. Tita Blanche smiled at me.

"Manang-mana ka talaga sa akin," sabi ni Tita Blanche. I looked at Tita unbelievably. Really? Na-curious tuloy ako kung ano ang itsura ko.

"Can I borrow a mirror, mom?" tanong ko. Kinuha naman ni mom ang purse niya at inilabas ang isang blue na mirror. Agad ko iyong kinuha at tinignan ang itsura ko.

I stared and examined my face. So this is how I look, parang magkamukha kami ni dad. I have a straight long hair and a pale skin. Maputla rin ang mga labi ko and overall my face is not that bad but I can't say I'm pretty.

"Where's your son, sis?" tanong ni Tita Blanche kay Tita Jahara. Tinignan naman ni Tito Ivan ang relo nito.

"May basketball practice sila, parating na rin 'yon dito, school is only a walking distance from this hospital," Tito Ivan answered instead of Tita Jahara. Na-curious tuloy ako, ano rin kaya ang itsura ng anak ni Tita Jahara at Tito Ivan?

Ilang saglit pa ay may kumatok sa pintuan. Pumasok naman ang isang matangkad na lalaki. Itim ang buhok nito at maputi rin ang kanyang balat. I can conclude that he is a basketball player dahil sa suot niyang jersey at may hawak rin siyang bola.

"Hindi na ako nagbihis at dumiretso na dito," sabi niya sa kina Tita Jahara at nagmano. Parang inunahan lang niyang magtanong sina Tita Jahara. Pagkatapos niyang magmano sa lahat, tinignan niya naman ako.

"Hey Samantha, I heard about what happened to you so you must have forgotten me," sabi niya. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Siya siguro ang anak ni Tita Jahara at Tito Ivan? Sabi kasi ni Tita Jahara may basketball practice ang anak niya and this guy is a basketball player. Sinuri ko naman ito.

"You are the son of Tita Jahara and Tito Ivan. You are a basketball player and a liar," sabi ko. Kumunot naman ang noo ng lahat. Parang naa-awkward ako kasi parang lahat sila ay nag-aabang sa sasabihin ko.

"Why do you think I'm a liar?" tanong ng lalaki. I smirked at him.

"Sinabi mo kanina na dumiretso ka dito at hindi ka nagbihis, but the truth is umuwi ka sa bahay niyo at nagpahinga. Kanina pa ka andun at wala ka sanang balak na pumunta rito but your dad keeps on annoying you kaya agad kang nagbihis ng isa pang jersey na meron ka at pumunta rito sa hospital," I explained. Tito Renzo's bored face ay biglang naging interesado.

"Why do you say so?" tanong ni Tito Renzo. Bigla tuloy akong na-pressure dahil sa kanya. Baka mali pala ako.

"Sabi ni Tito Ivan kanina the school is only a walking distance from this hospital. You should have been sweating o di kaya ay nag-aamoy pawis," I said. Ngumiti naman ang lalaki.

"I wiped my sweat using a towel," sagot niya. Another smirk came out from my face.

"Really? Then where's your towel? Ang bitbit mo lang ay ang bola mo and I find it really weird kasi wala kang dalang sports bag," sabi ko.

"How can you say na umuwi ako sa bahay namin?" tanong niya ulit. Sinenyasan ko siyang lumapit kaya lumapit naman siya. Pinayuko ko siya para maabot ko ang ulo niya.

"So you like furry kinds of stuff, huh? I assume you have a teddy bear in your house," nakangising sabi ko at ipinakita ang fur na nakuha ko mula sa buhok niya. Base from its texture I can say that this fur came from a teddy bear.

"You can't deny it anymore because I have a solid evidence," sabi ko at inilapag sa table ang balahibong hawak ko. Pero why would he lie about such thing? Pwede namang sabihin niya sa dad niya na ayaw niya talagang pumunta. May bagay na nagpipigil sa kanyang suwayin ang dad niya.

"Ayaw mong sabihin sa dad mo na ayaw mong pumunta dito maybe because he blackmailed you and you want to show him that you are obeying him," pagpapatuloy ko. That could be a reason, right? Sumimangot naman siya.

"Fine! Dad kasi eh! Kinuha niya ang credit card ko!" pagmamaktol niya. Napangiti naman ako. So I'm right, nagsinungaling talaga siya.

"I told you I'll give this to you kapag naging masunurin ka na!" sabi ni Tito Ivan. I chuckled at the boy's reaction. Tito Ivan glanced at me, "If not because of Samantha, hindi ka mabubuking!"

"That's my girl!" sabi ni dad at nakipag-apir sa akin. Nginitian naman ako ni mom. Pumunta naman sa akin ang lalaki and smiled.

"You're really good at revealing the truth behind my lies, huh? By the way, I'm Joules Fortalejo and I'm so sad that you forgot a good guy like me," sabi niya. I chuckled. 

"Sabay na tayong pumunta sa school, okay?" tanong niya. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit schoolmates kami kasi close naman ang parents namin. Siguro close kaming dalawa ni Joules. I can feel it.

"Ano nga pala ang pangalan ng school natin?" tanong ko. He smiled at me saka sumagot.

"Davidson Academy."

(end of chapter)