Quartet Abilities: Cold Revenge

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Upbringing

"To your left!" Napadaing ako at muntik nang matumba nang hindi ko nagawang maisangga ang braso ko sa sakong tumama sa aking katawan.

"Quianna!" Umalingaw-ngaw sa paligid ang isang sigaw kaya mas lalo akong nawala sa konsentrasyon.

I muttered a cursed.

I have no idea where the next sack is gonna come from. Crap, I'm starting to panic.

Bago ko pa maikalma ang sarili, tuluyan na akong napahiyaw at natumba nang tumama sa'kin ang malakas na pwersa ng sumunod na sako. Napasalampak ako sa malamig na semento ng sahig ng wala sa oras.

Dinama ko ang kirot ng braso ko na napuruhan sa pagtama ng sako.

Sa likod ng telang nakapiring sa'king mga mata, naaninagan ko ang muling pagliwanag ng silid. Naging hudyat iyon para tanggalin ko ang piring sa aking mga mata.

Bumangon ako at umupo. Pinatong ko ang dalawang nakaunat kong braso sa aking tuhod habang pinaglalaruan ko ang hawak na itim na telang ipiniring sa aking mga mata.

Sandiling nanlabo ang paningin ko pero hindi rin nagtagal bago ito nag-adjust sa liwanag.

Bumungad agad sa akin ang isang magulong training room.

Ang training room na ito ang naging saksi sa ilang taon kong pag-eensayo. Dito naganap ang halos lahat ng importanteng kasanayan sa buhay ko.

Narinig ko ang tunog ng pagpatay ng makina kasabay ng pagtigil ng lahat ng aparatus sa paligid.

Natanaw ko naman sa hindi kalayuan si Grei na nakaupo sa Lat Pull-Down Bar. Naka-pangalumbaba pa siya sa bar nito na naghihigit pataas sa weight na para bang ang gaan-gaan lang nito. Nang magtama ang aming mga mata ay agad siyang tumayo.

Lumapit sa'kin ang nagpupuyos na si Albertus at pumeywang sa harap ko kaya napatingala ako sa kaniya. Dismayado siyang napahilamos gamit ang kaliwang kamay na tila ba mas napagod pa siya kesa sa'kin.

Bumuntong hininga ako at pinasada ang kamay ko sa aking ulo.

I'm not in the mood for sermon.

"What's happening to you, Quianna?" tanong niya habang lukot ang mukha.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at nanatiling nakaupo sa sahig.

"Bakit parang wala ka sa sarili mo? Ni hindi mo nagawang iwasan ang mga sakong wala pa sa kalahati ng bilis namin!" Dismayado ang kaniyang boses habang sinusundan ng tingin si Grei na abutan ako ng tubig na siya na rin ang bumukas. Tinaggap ko iyon at agad na uminom para mahimasmasan.

Binaling ulit ni Albertus ang tingin niya saakin sa lapag.

"I told you to set aside any distractions once you step beyond that line." Tukoy niya sa linya ilang hakbang mula sa malaking pinto ng malawak na silid.

"If anything, think of something that'll spark up your determination," pangaral niya, "Look at your performance today!"

Hinawakan niya ang sako sa gilid niya. It was in a perfect shape. My attacks didn't even affect it.

"The force of a single punch depends on the intensity of your passion, remember that, Quianna. And right now, you seem very distracted to even leave a scratch."

What he said hit a nereve. It felt so heavy.

Nanatili akong nakayuko. Ayaw salubungin ang kaniyang tingin.

Kalaunan nama'y inabot niya na sa'kin ang kamay niya. Pagod na mahigpit ko naman iyong tinanggap.

He pulled me up and closer to him and tapped my shoulder before giving me a smile and excused himself to Grei's direction.

Nagpamaywang ako at napahilamos ng mukha, suot pa rin ang aking sparring gloves.

Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Grei habang sumusulyap sa direksyon ko. Agad namang siyang tinanguan ni Albertus, wari'y naunawaan ang nais niyang iparating.

Naunang lumabas si Albertus na tinanguan lamang ako. Nang si Grei na ang dumaan sa harapan ko, inakbayan niya ako at ginulo ang buhok.

Bahagya akong napangiti at buong pwersa siyang tinulak papalayo. Natatawa niyang nilisan ang TR.

Nang maiwan akong mag-isa, pakiramdam ko binagsakan ako ng mundo. Bumigat ang dibdib ko. Pakiramdam ko sinasaksak ang puso ko ng pauli-ulit.

Namuo ang luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata at bumilis ang malalalim kong paghinga.

I was so f*****g dissatisfied and disappointed with myself...

I licked my lower lip at kiniling ang aking ulo pataas para pigilang pumatak ang nagbabadyang mga luha.

The Chief always said that I'm too hard on myself and I put too much pressure on what I do.

Pero ano bang dapat kong gawin? Hindi ba dapat lang na magpursige ako? Dapat lang na paghirapan ko 'to. Because being mediocre and strong is not strong enough unless I surpass my own limits.

But sometimes, it kinda feel so tiring having this kind of mentality...

Araw nalamang ang hinihintay namin bago magsimula ang unang phase ng misiyon namin, pero parang may mali.

Okay naman ang lahat. Walang mali sa plano namin.

Pakiramdam ko lang na sa'kin ang mali.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago sinumulang tanggalin ang suot kong sparring gloves at basta na lamang iyong hinagis sa lamesang puno ng fighting gear.

Bumuga ako ng hangin before I started skipping salitan sa kaliwa at kanang paa, paabante at paatras.

Pinagdikit ko ang kamao ko bago nagpakawala ng isang malakas na sigaw at sumuntok ng malakas.

"Harder!"

Sumigaw ako muli at sunod-sunod na nagpakawala ng suntok. I closed my eyes and recalled my training.

"Come on, Quianna!"

Patuloy ang pagsigaw ni chief sa tabi ko habang si Grei ay nangaasar at nakasandal sa poste ng pinagsasabitan ng mga punching bag.

Umalingaw-ngaw ang sigaw ko sa buong lugar at ang tunog ng bawat pagtama ng kamao ko sa matigas ng punching bag.

Inatras ko ang kanang paa ko at inipon ang aking lakas sa aking kamo bago ito hinayaang magpawala ng malakas na suntok.

What the! Pakiramdam ko nag-slowmotion ang lahat nang biglang hawakan at hablutin ni Chief ang punching bag, dahilan para walang sumalo sa aking kamao at mawalan ako ng balanse.

"Oh!" natatawang hiyaw ni Grei.

I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the impact as I was inching away from the ground. But it never came.

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Grei.

Isa-isa kong minulat ang mata ko at agad na napasimangot nang matanto ang posisyon namin.

Nakatayo sa gilid namin si Chief habang yapos ang punching bag, nangi-ngisi.

Nginiwian ko siya.

Habang si Grei naman ay nakatayo sa likod ko habang higit ang likurang kuwelyo ng aking damit. At ang isang kamay niya naman ay nakasuporta sa may tiyan ko para hindi ako masubsob.

Narinig ko ang paghalakhak ni Chief sa gilid namin kaya mas lalo akong napasimangot.

Ginamit ko ang kanang binti ko upang bahagyang sumipa pauna at buong pwersang sumipa palikod at tamaan ang pagitan ng kaniyang mga hita.

Sumabay si Chief sa pagdaing niya na parang nasaktan din siya sa ginawa ko.

I regained my balance before wrapping my right leg around his, causing him to lose his balance at sabay kaming bumagsak.

Sinakto kong ibasak ang braso ko sa leeg niya.

He gagged, "You're choking me!" he struggled to say, but a smirk is still painted on his lips. And it ticked me off.

Bago ko pa masaktan ng sobra si Grei, inawat na ako ni Chief.

Natatawa niya akong nilayo kay Grei at lumuhod para mapantayan ang tangkad ko. He looked at me while flashing his usual smile as if he finds everything amusing.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Hindi ko alam kung si Grei ba ang anak niya o ano.

Ginulo niya ang buhok ko habang nagpapaawa naman si Grei kay Chief habang pilit na sumisingit sa amin.

Naiirita kong tinulak papalayo ang muka niya.

"Why did you do that?" Inosente kong tanong, tinutukoy ang ginawa niyang paghablot sa punching bag bago ko pa ito masuntok.

"Because, Quianna, you were too focused." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sagot niya

"But you said that I need to focus my mind," naguguluhan kong wika. Natawa naman si Chief, at biglang sumabay si Grei na parang nauunawaan niya ang sinabi niya at tanging ako lang ang hindi.

Shut up! You're so annoying!

Pinindot ni chief ang ilong ko kaya napapikit ako kasabay no'n.

"I'm not finished yet." Napasimangot ako, "I did say to focus your mind, but I never told you to focus it here." He held my hand and raised it equaled to my face as his fingers intertwined with mine.

"Focus your mind on what you're fighting for, not on how much you want to hurt them."

Napatango ako habang pinipigilan ang sariling ngumiti. He was always cryptic, he has his own way with words. But he always manage to say the right words that I needed to hear. And I admire hime so much for that

"You need to analize, strategize, ang be critical." Tumayo siya at pinihit akong muli paharap sa punching bag at inilalayan ang posisyon ng katawan ko.

"Never go for a strong attack with a weak defense."

Sinumulan kong sumuntok habang nasa tabi ko parin siya at inaalalayan ako.

"And what you did to Grei was wrong." Hindi ko siya sinagot at umirap sa hangin. Pinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagsuntok.

Bumulong-bulong naman si Grei sa likod namin kaya nagpakawala ako ng sunod-sunod na padabog na suntok sa inis ko sa boses niya. Humalakhak ng mahina si Chief.

"Quianna, winning in a battle will no longer matter once you lose..." Mahinahon niyang saad bago ko naramdaman ang marahang pagpulupot ng braso niya sa leeg ko. Naguguluhan ko naman siyang tiningala sa likod while he looked down at me with a soft smile, for I genuinely did not understand what he said. But I felt the need to follow what he told me anyway. Kaya wala sa sarili akong napatango.

He was always saying things I never understood. I never heard the advice I wanted to hear. All I got are mixed up words with hidden messages. But, it was never his fault.

It's not his fault that I can't understand him.

I'm just too weak.

My minds is weak.

That's why I need more time to get stronger. But unforunately, I din't have any.

Every second I spend is borrowed.

I screamed as I let out a force filled punch.

Hinihingal akong napaupo habang tumatagaktak ang aking pawis mula sa aking noo pababa. Pinunasan ko iyon gamit ang aking mga palad. I remembered my training with chief 9 years ago. Mapait akong napangiti.

The time I'm spending will result to a debt that I will soon have to pay with a huge price.

Tinitigan ko ang kanina lamang ay isang punching bag, ngayon ay isa na lamang walang kwentang bagay na walang pag gagamitan.

Patuloy ang pagtagas ng buhangin mula sa butas doon.

EVENING came. We were all seated at the long table in our dining hall, eating our dinner quitely.

The mighty Chief, Damian Vlad was sitting at the head of the table with his ever so sophisticated wife, Thera Vlad in his left, eating with elegance.

Dito na rin napag desisyonang kumain ng hapunan ni Grei. Siya ang nakaupo sa kanan ng Chief at ako naman sa tabi niya.

Napatigil kami sa pagkain at nabaling ang atensyon kay Chief sa pagtunog ng kaniyang kubyertos nang ibaba niya ito.

"So, Quianna, I've heard from Albertus," seryoso niyang panimula, "He said you were very distracted while training. Is there something bothering you?"

Bumuntong hininga ako at binaba ang kubyertos. I wanted to say there is, but I'm not really sure if there really is something to worry about.

"Wala naman po." Sumimsim ako ng tubig bago bahagyang tinulak ang aking plato, nawawalan na ng ganang kumain.

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay ramdam ko ang maririing tingin ni Chief saakin, and I let out a breathy chuckle.

Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang tingin at binigyan siya ng tipid na ngiti. And slowly a smile crept in his stoic face. A fatherly smile.

And just like that, the mood was lifted.

"I really am okay, dad," I assured him again.

IT was a cold Monday morning, and I was doing my morning jog around the town.

I was already in the west part where the forest is when I suddenly heard my heart beat trough my chest. Parang yumanig ang buong pagkatao ko sa pagpintig nito.

Dahil dito'y kinapos ako ng hininga at naghihinang napaupo sa lupa.

Anong nangyayari.

Ang kaninang malamig na atmospera ay lalong lumala at nagsimula nang mamuo ang hamog.

I tried to shout but my mouth only parted as my voice was drowned somewhere.

Shit!

Hindi ako makagalaw. Ang tanging nagagawa ko lamang ay ang hawakan ng mahigpit ang aking dibdib.

Ano bang nagyayari saakin?

I started seeing darkness trying to overpower my vision. I tried to fight it but it was really hard now that I feel like some force was pulling me down out of my conscience. Hanggang sa tuluyan na ngang magdilim paningin ko at mawalan ng malay.

"Hurry."

I groaned when I heard voices surrounding me. Pipikit-pikit ang aking mga mata habang patuloy ang kaguluhan sa aking paligid.

Where am I?

My eyes spuinted when a blinding light appeared before me. Nang mawal 'yon, sandaling nabalot ng dilim ang aking paningin at tsaka ko lamang nakita ang aking paligid.

I was in a huge chamber. There were a lot of people around me, looking at me with fear in their eyes.

"Could this be the enemy's?" An old woman in bright pink asked.

"It can't be. If this was theirs, they would've sealed something powerful as this with a much stronger spell." I didn't even know who said that.

"But if this was really theirs, the holder must be with them." A man with a shaky voice said, his voice dripping with fear.

Nagsimulang umingay ang mga tao sa buong kamara sa tinuran ng lalaki. Natahimik lamang sila nang bumukas ang malaking pinto. Natigilan silang lahat at humati pa sila sa gitna para mag bigay daan sa pumasok. At alam ko na agad na respetadong tao ang pumasok. 

Nang tuluyan silang mahawi sa gitna, pakiramdam ko umakyat ang kaba sa sistema ko. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang isang pamilyar na babae ang puno ng atoridad ang pumasok. Kumulo ang dugo ko dahil lang nakita ko siya.

My heart started beating erratic as I smirked in annoyance.

Umalingaw-ngaw ang tunog ng takong niya as she made her way to me. She eyed me with her cold penetrating eyes.

"I'm sure we all know we are facing a huge threat." Bumukas muli ang pinto. At mula sa likod ng babae, nakita ko ang apat na taong pumasok. Apat na estudyanteng naka-uniporme.

"But there is no need to fear." I glared at the woman in front of me, who was now smirking. "We hold something far stronger than this."

I gritted my teeth as I stared at the four students while they stood side-by-side, their head held up high and their staff close to their heart with pride as a salute.

"We have our students."

Damn Quarter Abilities...

"SHE needs to rest for a few days. Her body seemed overworked. This is the first time I've ever seen Quianna's magic so drained." Unti-unti kong minulat ang aking mga mata. Bumungad sa 'kin ang puting silid. "I'll come back later to check up on her again."

Nagtagpuan ng mata ko at ang mga mata ni Grei na puno ng pag-aalala.

"Doc!" pagtawag niya. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang panibagong doctor.

"Miss Quianna, you're awake."

I rolled my eyes before slowly getting up from the bed. "I'm actually pretty dead," I answered coldly.

"Oh, uh...sure." The doctor stammered and I once again rolled my eyes. "So your physical results showed some signs of injuries, so I was wondering maybe if you engaged with somethhing that might've caused this?"

"Yes, Doc." Si Grei na ang sumagot. "Everyday, actually." Seryoso talaga si Grei na sagutin ang mga tanong ng Aeysodd na ito.

Kumunot ang noo ng doctor. "What do you mean eeveryday-- sorry, everyday." Nakita kong ngumso si Grei, nagpipigil ng tawa nang pumiyok ang doctor.

"She--"

"It's okay, Doc Ivan, I can take it from here." Napatingin kami sa pinto nang pumasok doon ang doctor na halos kalalabas lamang.

Ngumuso namin si Grei sa ginawang pagputol sa kaniyang pagsasalita.

"Doc Revi," Gulat na turan ng Aeysodd. "You told me to fill in for your patients for today."

"I actually asked you to cover for me so I can handle this patient."

Nanlaki ang mata ng Aeysodd bago natatangong nagmadaling umalis. God, what a whimp.

Well, I guess he was a bit understandable. Doctor Revi was a bit buff.

Sa laki ng katawan niya, no one could even guess that he's a doctor.

"I thought you weren't going to wake up any time soon, Quianna." Nakangiti siya lumapit sa gilid ng aking kama. "You're pretty much drained right now."

"I'm fine, doc," I said, "Now tell me what happened."

"You fainted while jogging, around 6:30 am this morning," he answered.

"Right, so it was true," I whispered. I looked at Grei who was watching me intently. "Call mom and dad immedietly."

Saglit na tumunganga pa sa 'kin si Grei puno pa rin ng pag-aalala ang kaniyang mga mata. I felt my face heating. But I immediately covered it up with a scowl.

I motioned him to hurrry up.

Bumuntong hininga muna siya at ginulo ang buhok ko bago tumalima at lumabas ng silid.

Naiwan na kaming dalawa nin Doc Revi sa loob na nakatingin sa nilabasang pinto ni Grei, Tiningnan ko siya ng may nakataas na kilay at nginitian niya lamang ako ako.

"I can see you and Grei are still getting along well," panimula niya habang hinihigit palapit sa kama ko ang stool at umupo siya roon.

I scoffed with a sarcastic smirk, "And I can see you're still doing your job pretty well."

Napairap nalang ako nang tumawa siya ng klase ng tawa na nakakapag pabaliw sa mga nurse sa hospital na 'to.

"You're really quite an amusing girl, Quianna," he said, shaking his head.

"Whatever, kuya." Ngumisi siya.

Pero agad akong napa ayos nang bigla siyang sumeryoso.

"What happened?" He asked. Gone was the smug and lean-back doctor. He was now serious and my protective older brother.

I was contemplating on whether I should tell him now or wait for Grei to come back with our parents. I think it's best to discuss this matter with our parents.

I sighed before sitting up properly and rested my back on the wall.

I ended up telling him everything. Starting with what happened last week in the forest. I almost froze the whole forest with my magic when I was trying to freeze the lake. I lost control of ability. It was as if my ability was in charge of my body for a few seconds when it happened. Despite keeping the release to a minimun, it spread ironically like wilfire in the forest.

This certainly wasn't the first time I lost control of my magic. However, this time I was niether exhausted or bruised or whatever. Beacause besides those instances, I've always been full control of it. Out of anyone, I should be the last person to experience this. That's why it frustrated me so much.

It was not just that. My magic is oveflowing. As though it's already been activated on its own and it's just waiting for a trigger before it release a strong force of magic. It was in its peak that it became too much for my body to handle and it drained lots of my strength. I have been losing focus on training because of it too, so it's becoming more nad more of a burden.

I already had an idea on what might've caused this, and what happened today was the confirmation that I needed. 

Kalagitnaan ng pagkukuwento ko ay dumating si Grei kasama ang magulang namin. Nang matapos kong ikuwento sa kanila ang buong pangyayari, nabalot ng katahimikan ang silid.

Binasag ito ni Grei nang tanungin niya ako, "So what really caused your ability to be this way?"

Sinalubong ko ang tingin nila gamit ang malalamig kong mga mata, "My staff," I said. My voice cold enough to start a blizzard, "They took away my staff from the mountain... the seal broke."

Kinuyom ko ang aking mga kamay habang nalilisik ang mga mata.

"Calm down, Quianna." I snapped out of my trance, "You're triggering your magic." Sa sinabi ni chief, saka ko lamang napansin na lumalamig na nga ang paligid 

Napayuko ako at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kaliwang braso ko na nginginig. 

I gritted my teeth when I remembered the look in their faces. They were so confident that it annoyed my. 

I swear to God, I am going to crush them to the ground and they will never be able to hold their head up again.

"Calm down, love." I felt mom gently touched my finger. "Tell us everything so we can help you." It suddenly felt light.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkalma ng sitema ko sa haplos niya.

Okay. Calm down, Quianna. They're not worth being aggravated about. Huminga ako ng malalim at kinalma ang aking sarili.

"Who exactly took you staff, dear?" Mom asked. And they weren't ready for what I said.

"Quarted Abilities..."

I felt the tension rise in the room at the metion of that name.

"What made you so sure?" Grei asked darkly with a scowl.

"I was there," I said, "My staff showed my where it was this morning. It took me to where it is... It took me inside."

It was this morning when I entered that f*****g school for the first time. It was no good. My right arm started to shake again.

No f*****g good.

-

I'm sorry about the grammatical ang typos present in this chapter. I hope you understand. Thank you!

Happy reading, devs!

Scarlettear_