04 — CHAPTER 4

The next day.

"You can use this card anytime, Celare," and Sarreth gave me a black card with my name on it. "Sam put all the things you need in that backpack. Don't worry, there's a locker inside so the next day, you won't have to bring anything." Sarreth added that I could not understand.

Ah, we are now on our way to meet that mysterious goddess of mine and yes, Sam gave me a backpack. It’s just not a normal backpack because of a lot of stuff inside. Of course, I could feel the weight of the backpack Sam had given me. The backpack is black with no design. Only the silver zipper holder is the unique color that I liked.

And locker? The fuck is locker, anyway?

I stared at the black card I was holding.

What is this card for? Why do I have a name here?

"What am I going to do with this card, Sarreth?" I'm referring to the black card she gave me.

Sarreth laughed a little at my question which surprised me.

What's so funny? Is it normal to laugh when asked about this thin thing?

"You will need that thing the most. Always keep the card in your wallet." Okay, Sarreth was talking about what last night's small leather box shaped that I can fold two times.

Seriously, she's talking about the money box then I don't have any money that Sarreth gave me but this black card with my name on the front.

God damned, may phone naman ako kaya mag-se-search na lang ako pag dumating ako sa lugar kung saan ko makikita ang mysterious goddess of mine.

"Okay, so, when can I have my own fucking car, little shit?" I bluntly asked Sarreth.

Oh, to be freeloading who does have this kind of attitude, what a thick skinned behavior.

Celare just laugh a little.

"No need to worry about that matter, Celare. Leave everything to me and focus on what you desire but just keep in mind you shall not disobey or break human's law. Understood?" And hell with this boomerang reminder.

"Yeah, yeah. I know that already. You already said that countless times that I ended up memorizing your god damn lines." Napapairap sa hangin na reklamo ko pero tumawa lang si Sarreth kasabay nun ay ang pag hinto ng sasakyan ni Sarreth sa malaking nagtataasang gate na nakabukas.

"We already arrived." Saad ni Sarreth kaya nagtataka akong sinulyapan sa glass ang mga taong padami nang padami.

Lahat sila ay may backpack kagaya ng binigay sa akin ni Sam.

What is this place?

"Where are we?" I said suddenly but Sarreth just shrugged.

"You can meet your mysterious goddess in this place. Here." And Sarreth gave me another paper, a piece of paper.

"What is this? Do I need to write down every single fucking thing my mysterious goddess would say?" I wondered.

Once again, Sarreth laughed again but this time, it was followed by a shake as if she couldn't believe me.

"That is the exact address of your mysterious goddess, spoiled brat Celare. Nasa backpack mo ang ID mo kung hanapin nila sa 'yo kaya bumaba ka na at lumayas sa sasakyan ko." Sarreth was pushing me away so my face went bad.

"Why are you in a hurry? Are you chasing something, huh?" I asked curiously as I removed my seatbelt.

Sarreth smiled at me. "I have a lot, a lot of paperwork to sign." Sarreth's answer to me seemed bad and she leaned back a little. "Because of your arrival, I haven't been with the company for over a month. It's a good thing I can't get a headache sermons on mother earth because of you. Tsh." Sarreth added that's why I laughed.

"Well, yeah. Soon, I will visit your fam." I said Sarreth just asked.

"Get down," Sarreth said.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine." And I got out of Sarreth's car and locked the door of her car.

Bago pa man magsimulang umalis ang sasakyan ni Sarreth, binaba ni Sarreth ang tainted mirror ng sasakyan niya para magsalita ng kung ano.

"By the way, use your phone if you're not familiar with the things you encounter." Pahabol nito sa akin na inilingan ko lang.

"Yeah, thanks." Sabi ko na lang tsaka tuluyang mawala sa paningin ko ang sasakyan ni Sarreth.

Even before Sarreth’s car started to leave, Sarreth lowered the tainted mirror of her car to say what.

"By the way, use your phone if you're not familiar with the things you encounter." Sarreth said to me in a quick moment.

"Yeah, thanks." I just said that Sarreth's car would disappear from my sight.

I took a deep breath.

Holding the hem of my backpack, I turned around and faced the big gate where people like me who also had a bag or backpack enter.

Out of curiosity, I tried to read what was written at the upper of the large open gate after I lifted my gaze.

And yeah, hindi talaga ako nilulubayan ng curiosity ngayon.

After kong basahin ang nasa taas, my forehead furrowed.

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY OF MAGBANUA CITY was written here.

Wait—

University?

I think I heard that word before.

I took my phone out of my pocket and immediately went straight to the app Sarreth called meriam-webster to find the true meaning of the word ‘University’ and fuck!

plural uni·ver·si·tie

1: an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees; specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates

Nakuyom ko ang kamao ko ng wala sa oras.

What the hell I'm doing in front of a fucking school?!

Agad kong hinanap ang numiro ni Sarreth at masama ang loob na tinawagan ito.

"What? I just left, Celare. What's wrong?" Bungad sa akin ni Sarreth sa kabilang linya.

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko sa inis. "You're asking me what is fuckin wrong, you little shit?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko, dama ang gigil sa boses ko na biglang tinawanan ni Sarreth.

"Why are you so mad? I'm just asking you, you know? What's wrong? Should I go back to fetch you? Hindi ka ba nagustuhan ng mysterious goddess mo?" Sunod-sunod na tanong sa akin ni Sarreth.

Seriously?!

"The fuck, Sarreth!" Bulalas ko, literal na malakas ang boses ko kaya nagtinginan pa ang ibang tao sa paligid ko. "What the actual fuck I'm doing in front of a fucking school?!" Galit na sigaw ko.

Sa lagay na 'to, lahat ng dugo sa buong katawan ko ay bigla na lamang umakyat sa utak ko. Ang gigil at galit ko ay hindi ko na kayang pigilan.

Pero si Sarreth ay nanatilinv kalmado ang boses nito. Naririnig ko pa nga ang pagpipigil nito ng tawa sa akin sa kabilang linya na mas lalong nagpapalala sa galit na nararamdaman ko.

"Hey, calm down," pagpapakalma sa akin ni Sarreth. "Akala ko ba gusto mong makita ang mysterious goddess mo?" Sunod nitong tanong sa akin kaya ang galit ko ay napalitan ng pagtataka.

"Ano naman ang kinalaman ng mysterious goddess ko sa school na 'to, little fucking shit? I already rejected your offer, aren't I? I'm not going to fucking study again. Period." Sa sinabi kong 'to, tuluyang natahimik ang kabilang linya.

Lumipas pa ang dalawang minuto tsaka ko marinig ang boses ni Sarreth na wala pa rin namang pinagbago, natural na kalmado pa rin.

"Yes, you will study again, Brat and that is because you wanted to meet your mysterious goddess." Si Sarreth ito.

This a mess.

"What do you mean?" Takang tanong ko.

"What I mean is your mysterious goddess was still studying and if you wanted to see her, then meet her every day, study again for her sake. Do you understand my point, Brat?" Sagot sa akin ni Sarreth na agad kong nakuha ang kahulugan.

So, that beauty was still studying, huh? She's still young. Ah, thinking of her scent makes my throat hurts. I wanted to taste her blood but scaring her would be look not so good.

"Do you understand me, Celare?" Muling tanong sa akin ni Sarreth tsaka ako tinamaan ng hiya sa akto ko kanina.

"Yeah, I do but who says I will endure that boring class? I will not going to sacrifice myself for her. After meeting her later, I need you to drop me out of this fuckin school, Sarreth, you understand?" Kunot noong sabi ko habang nakatungo sa paanan ko.

Nasa labas pa rin ako, sa mismong kinatatayuan ko kung saan iniwan ako ni Sarreth kanina.

Rinig ko ang mapang-asar na tawa ni Sarreth sa kabilang linya bago ito magsalita. "Yes, yes. I will. Tawagan mo ako kung tapos na ang klase mo. Mag uusap tayo sa bahay kung desidido kang mag drop out, okay?"

"I already decided. You can drop me out right now." Sagot ko, nababanas.

"Ah, okay, then. Enjoy your first day with you mysterious goddess!" Masiglang sabi sa akin ni Sarreth na kinatawa ko ng wala sa oras.

"Shut the fuck up. Hang the fucking phone up." Utos ko.

"Huh? Puwede namang ikaw ang p—" Pinutol ko ang sasabihin ni Sarreth sa banas na nararamdaman ko sa mundo ng mga mortal.

"The fuck, I don't know, okay? I don't know how to fucking hang up that's why do it by yourself." Sabi ko kaya tinawanan ako ni Sarreth ng sobrang lakas.

This little shit. Is this something laughable? Minsan talaga ay hindi ko mahulaan ang trip ni Sarreth sa buhay niya.

"Oh, okay, okay. No need to be so angry over hanging up the call. See you later, bye!" At sa wakas, nawala na rin ang tawag.

Sa pagkawala ng tawag, nagpakawala ako ng buntong hininga at napailing bago ako maglakad papasok sa loob ng school.

This is crazy, sisiguraduhin kong pagkatapos kong makita ang mysterious goddess ko ay deretso akong uuwi para sabihan si Sarreth na mag drop na ako.

Pag pasok ko sa entrance ng school, agad nilang hinanap ang identification card ko. Natawa pa ako ng hilaw dahil hindi ko alam ang sinasabi ng guard sa akin pero nung tignan ko ang sa kabilang hanay, ang mga boys ay nilabas nila ang may tali na nilalagay sa leeg.

Oh, a necklace?

Doon ko napagtanto na nilagay 'yon ni Sam sa bag ko kaya kinuha ko pa ito sa loob tsaka ako tuluyang nakapasok.

This is nuts. Napapahiya ako ng konti sa kawalan ko ng alam tungkol sa bagay-bagay sa mundo ng mga mortal.

And yes, pagkatapos kong pumasok, bumungad sa akin ang naglalakihang building. Sobrang dami nito at nung binilang ko ito ay tig apat na palapag ito. Maraming nagtatangkarang puno sa loob ng university kaya hindi mainit. May hall way din naman kung sakaling hindi sapat ang puno.

Sobrang payapa sa loob ng school na animong walang panganib na darating.

Sa gitna ng paglilibot ko sa paningin ko, bumalik ako sa reyalidad pagkatapos kong maramdaman ang kamay ng babae sa balikat ko, tinatawag ako nito.

"Miss, can I ask you something?"

Oh?

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