Attacks and Confrontations II

Andrea's POV

"Wala pa ba? Kanina pa kami nandito ah!" Naiinip kong wika kay Reina. Hindi kasi namin deretsong macontact sina Cassie, something's interfering. Mas lumalaki lang ang disturbance na ito sa signal. May nangyayari ba sa kabila?

Halos mag i-isang oras na kami dito naghihintay ng balita sa mga nangyayari sa kabila, but Reina kept on saying 'everything will be fine' and seriously naiinis na talaga ako.

Ngayon ay may sampung blacks na nakabantay sa itaas ng pader na ito. And fortunately, we managed to take out two blacks earlier ay nagpanggap na kami ang mag shi-shift. Luckily hindi naman sila nagtanong ng kung ano-ano pa or else I'll continue with the plan regardless what's happening to the other side.

Pero sa kasulukuyan naming sitwasyon, nakatayo lang ako dito habang nagmamasid sa may madilim na gunat sa ilalim namin. With the darkness, I would hardly notice na may naghihintay na sa likuran ng mga punong iyan. I must say that they are hiding very well.

"Reina, wala ka bang alam sa mga nangyayari kina Cassie? Paano kung—"

"Ah Sandra. Huwag ka nga g mag-isip ng ganoon. That ghost is with Cassie." Ghost huh? I used to call her that too. Even now and then.

"Right. Miss Keila may seem really twisted, pero alam kong hindi niya papabayaan si Cassie kahit anong mangyari." Sandra finally agreed beside me.

And that's what I'm worried about. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila yan pero mas mag-aalala lang sila. They seem to put too much trust on Keila despite the fact that they've only met once in that main event, at ayaw ko mang aminin pero kahit ako din, pinagkakatiwalaan ko ang babaeng yun. But what worries me is the way she thinks.

Hindi siya magdadalawang-isip iwan ang isa pang middle-schooler na yun kung pabigat lang siya sa plano niya. She'll think it's for the best. Once that girl says something, kahit ayaw niya mang gawin, basta sinabi niya na, gagawin niya talaga ang lahat para lang magawa yun. That's one of the very few things we both have in common.

"Pero kanina pa ang dalawang yun, imposible namang—"

"May pumasok." Napatingin agad ako sa direksyon ni Sandra na nakatingn lang sa ilalim ng pader.

This wall is about eighteen meters tall, we can now tell because we're here, at naalala ko na mararamdaman ni Sandra ang mga galaw ng tao sa paligid niya sa loob ng 20-meter range. And did she just say someone just went inside? Unknowingly?

"Palayo siya ng palayo. Nawala na siya sa range ko." Sandra said sighing.

"Imposible namang black yun dahil dapat titigil muna siya bago siya makapasok ng gate. Intruder?"

"May iba pa bang aatake sa lugar na ito? Pero it's possible that one's one of us."

Sometimes, people amaze me on how they are able to think so complicated stuffs. I could never think of such sophisticated things. Although ngayong sinabi na nila ito, mukhang may punto ang sinabi ni Sandra na baka nga isa sa kakampi namin ang pumasok. Pero bakit naman?

"Guys!" Muntik na akong mawalan ng balanse sa biglaang pagsigaw ni Cassie sa kabilang linya. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at lumabas ng malalim na hininga. That damn middle-schooler surprised the hell out of me!

"Cassie! May problema ba?" Alalang tanong ni Sandra. Pati ako ay nagtaka din. Mukhang pagod na pagod siya, plus she's panting too much. Ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa kabila? At nasaan si Keila?

"M-maayos lang ang kalagayan ko. P-pero si ate..." nagulat ako sa mga narinig naming salita mula sa bracelet na ito. Keila is in trouble? Or is she seriously hurt?

"What happened?" Sandra once again asked.

"May nalaman kaming isang bagay—basta n-naabutan kami ng isang black—"

"You engaged in a fight?!" This time, ako na ang nagsalita. Paano kung may dumating na mga reinforcements at hindi matuloy 'tong plano? But now that I think of it, I prefer the plan to fail instead of having a battle in here kung saan madadamay ang mga inosenteng tao.

"H-hindi namin maiiwasan yun..." she's scared for some reason. Mahahalata ko sa boses niya. "Pinaalis niya ako para ipagpatuloy ang plano." As expected of her. Dhail sa hindi nalalamang rason, gustong gusto niya talaga matuloy ang plano at labanang ito. It's almost the first time she volunteered herself to go through this battle.

"What about their line of communication?"

"I-I somehow managed to destroy it pero kailangan nating magmadali. Baka malaman nila."

"Sandra, we're going next."

"Huh? Paano si ate?" They sure are naive.

"Pwede pa naman akong bumalik para matulungan siya—" I interrupted her.

"Don't. Problema na ni Keila yun. If she said she can handle it she will handle it."

"Wala ka bang pakealam sa kaibigan mo?! You're a team right?!" I suddenly glared at her at tsaka naman siya napaatras. Tsk. Kaibigan huh?

"I trust her." May kasandaliang katahimikan pagtapos kung sabihin yun.

"Argh ako ang naiinis sa inyo. She will be fine." Hindi ko alam kung bakit sigurado si Reina sa sinabi niya. But what she said seemed to have calmed her team. Anyway, hanggang kailan na siya nakikinig?

"Ituloy natin ang plano regardless what happens."

"Even—"

"Yes Cassie. Even if someone dies." And Keila is not an exception. Plano niya 'to and she of all people knew the risks before going through all of these.

"Cassie itutuloy natin 'to. Go back in the tower. We're securing it." Reina said.

"Susunod kami sa inyo pagtapos namin dito." Wika ni Sandra.

"Just hurry up." And with that, the line ended.

Napatingin kami ni Sandra sa isa't isa at tumango. I tightened my hood aboge my head para hindi ako mamukhaan. Sunod ay nilibot ko ang paningin ko. Sampu lang kami dito, pur roles are to watch over the village and scan the surrounding areas. And there's the telephone.

Now that we're closer to it, hindi ito isang normal na telepono. It's different from the way we imagined. On the top of a small table, may isang box dito na puno ng mga letra at numero. I saw one black typing something earlier at may lumalabas na transparent screen mula dito and they just communicate facing that screen.

"Hindi ko inaasahang may ganoong klaseng teknolohiya ang mga blacks. I was told they were old-fashioned, pero mali yata yun." Sandra mentioned. "There's also another technology I noticed. Ang bawat blacks ay may bilog na maliit na parang crystal na nakakabit sa kwintas nila." Sinundan ko ang tingin niya sa isang black malayo sa amin.

Pero nakikita ko din ang itim na parang garter na nakapalibot sa leeg niyanat may maliit na crystal na bilog dito. Hindi ko alam kumg ano yan pero mukhang delikado.

"Kayong dalawa lumapit kayo dito." That black we're looking at said. Tumango ako ulit at sinunod namin ang sinabi niya.

"This is our to attack once we're closer." Bulong niya sa tenga ko. Ang black kasing tumawag sa amin ang nagbabantay malapit sa maliit na mesa.

"I noticed some movements down there. Bumaba kayo at tignan kung ano ito." Tsk. Sino sa tingin mo ang inuutusan mo?

"Baka kalaban." Sandra said while summoning her weapon. Hindi na nagulat ang lalaki sa ginawa ni Sandra, expecting her to actually direct it to the enemy. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya pero tinignan niya ako and back to the table and my eyes widened. I get it!

Sandra lifted her hammer up, as if she's preparing, which she is. Pinatong ko ang kamay ko sa mesa and in one moment, it crumbled down the ground.

"What the—anong ginagawa mo?!" Sigaw sa amin ng black which attracted too much attention.

Nang nahulog ang parang telepono, I immediately stepped on it para mabasag nadin ito. Before the black could do anything, binaba ko ang ulo ko at timing namang pinaikot ni Sandra ang weapon niya finally hitting the man at nahulog siya sa ilalim. Marami tumakbo sa direksyon namin and there's still five more blacks below.

"I'll take care of the ones below." Tumango siya habang ako ay tumalon paibaba.

I summoned two daggers to slide down the big wall. Nang makababa ako, I wasn't expecting a sword to be quickly thrust against me at nahuli ako sa pag-ilag nito, resulting a small cut on my arm. I cussed silently as I blocked all their swords above me.

I slid my leg below them and some fell while some jumped over it. I immediately summoned  ten daggers at isa-isa ng mga nito sinaksak ang mga blacks, and in the end, they all fell on the ground. I made my weapons disappear at tumayo na ng maayos. Above, I saw Sandra waving at me with her big hammer. I smiled. She has a lot of potential for a middle-schooler.

"Reina, contact Thane immediately." Sabi ko sa bracelet after scrolling down her name. Hindi kasi linked ang bracelet kong ito sa bracelet ni Thane, only Reina and Keila have his.

"You only took ten minutes. Ako na ang bahala sa pag contact kina Thane." Since Thane and the student council President manages the studens there along with the other leaders.

"That blue crytalized orb, the lacrima... destroy them." Hindi ko inaasahan ang boses ni Keila. She's unusually tired. Pero mukhang maayos lang siya, does that mean she managed to handle her opponent?

"Keila what exactly happened? At ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" Tanong ko. She just interrupted us out of nowhere.

"Ah ano ngaba, nakikita niyo ba ang mga maliliit orbs sa leeg nila? Don't underestate those. It's the source of their energy." Huh? Wala talaga akong maintindihan. And it's a guy's voice.

"Sino ka ba? At bakit ikaw ang sumasagot?"

"Sa kasamaang palad ay mukhang hindi muna makakarinig ang kaibigan niyo ngayon."

"Kamusta siya ngayon?" Tanong ni Reina.

"Kung magkikita din naman kayo malalaman niyo din.

"And about those orbs, yun siguro ang nakita namin kaninang supplies nila. If it's a lacrima...hindi maganda 'to." Si Cassie ang nagsabi num sa kabilang linya. Bakit parang may mas alam pa ang middle schoolers na 'to sa akin?! And lacrima?

"So they're using lacrimas to enhance their energy. Are they expecting us?" I could hear Sandra's sigh mula dito.

"Hindi ko alam ang lacrimas na yan. But I don't think they are expecting an attack from us. Lalo nang may mga inosenteng tao silang nasasakupan."

Now that I think of it, mukhang nakikita ko na ang punto ni Keila kung bakit kailangan naming umatake kahit may mga taong madadamay. Simply because this is the best time to do so lalo nang mahina ang security nila and they were so sure no attacks will happen.

"Considering the situation, maybe their lack of awareness is the reason why they're moving their supplies so carelessly around." Wika ni Reina. "At kung ang laman ng mga supplies na yun ay lacrimas, may pinaplano silang malaki at delikado 'to. So it's best to eliminate this threat. We have to hurry up. I'll tell the rest about this information." I heard the link being cut off from Reina's part.

These damn middle schoolders are smart. I could see why Keila is so persuasive about them. Ah naiinis akong mas marami pa ang alam nila sa bagay na 'to.

"Then we'll meet shortly." Sabi nung lalaki at nawala nadin ang link nila. At ano ang ibig niyang sabihin na hindi muna makakarinig si Keila ngayon?

The rest also cut the link off and we're back in business. The next order of the plan is starting. Papasok ang first group unnotice and try to attack as stealthily as possible. If that doesn't work out, then they will defend—

Wait, lacrima?

Saan mo ngaba nabasa ang tungkol sa bagay na yan? Damn. Of course! Lacrimas are magical orbs that stores energy. They are often use by alchemists to gather up energy from the surroudings and mix it up with their own magical elements to make another one that is released through the lacrima itself.

At kung sinasabi nilang ginagamit ito ng mga blacks na yun, does that mean they sre storing energy so they could release their abilities or magic two times the effect of their normal ones. At kung magsto-store sila ng energy sa lacrima ay hindi madali maubos ang mga enerhiya nila resulting the first wave of the plan to be useless! Especially their role is to waste the enemy's energy while the second group finsihes everything swiftly, and the third group blocking their reinforcement.

"Reina—" The moment I contacted her, she interrupted me.

"Yeah, right. Ngayon mo lang ba nakuha ang lahat Miss Andrea?" She said sarcastically which made me want to punch her at the moment.

"We already know the plan will not go well kaya bago pa nangyari ang lahat ng ito ay binago na ni Ate ang plano. Sa una palang, alam niya na ang mga posibleng mangyari and she managed to think of a new plan so fast." Si Cassie ang sumagot. Magkasama na siguro sila ngayon sa tower.

I expected much from Keila. But why do I feel frustrated about that fact?

"Ah we finally reached through Thane." Reina said.

"I'm listening." And that's Thane. I could hear the President mumbling 'hurry up'.

"I already told you about those lacrimas." Habang nagsasalita si Cassie ay nalaman ko nalang na tumalon pala si Sandra mula sa itaas with her hammer aiding her down.

"You left your post." She only shrugged.

"Malamig kaya sa itaas. At isa pa, nasigurado ko na ang lahat doon." She wwnt beside me and we continued listening.

"As I said, the first plan was useless. So Keila decided to alter it a bit. Unang-una, sisirain ni Andrea ang pader, she said it's impossible for you not to break something." Tss. That's hardly a compliment. "Of course, that would divert the enemy's attention to the front gates barely leaving anything in their rear. At diyan ang vanguards papasok."

"So mauuna ang vanguards?"

"Exactly kuya Thane. Papasok sila sa daan kung saan dadaanan ng reinforcements nila. By the looks of it, ilang minuto na ang nakalipas simula nang nasira na namin ng communication nila. So they can't possibly contact their reinforcements, and currently ate Keila is making sure of that."

"Then Andrea will be outnumbered." Of course. Tama si President. Sisirain ko ang pader making the enemy come running at me, and even if Sandra will help, kualang parin kami.

"May pinapasabi pala siya sayo. 'That's your payment'. Although hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya but in the end, I let out a smirk.

That's my payment huh? Hindi pa ba 'payment' ang ginawa niyang pagsipa sa akin sa tiyan? I seriously felt like vomitting that time. And now that she mentioned it, she's making me feel that same remorseful sensation of guilt all over again. Kaya wala akong magagawa. Although kung ako pang talagang mag-isa, suicide yata ang pinapagawa niya sa akin.

"Fine. I'll do it. Alone or not."

"Huh? Pero..." Sandra was trying to oppose again. I sighed.

"Then it's settled. Continuing with the plan, sinabi din niyang ang unang grupo ay papsok sa front gates while Miss Andrea is diverting their attention to her."

"Kung papasok din naman ang unang grupo, bakit hindi nalang nila tulungan si Andrea at sabay papasok?" Tanong ni Thane. True.

"Dahil may pinaplano silang malaki. Her exact words are, 'We can't waste valuable time  fighting with pawns. We take the officials directly, then checkmate the King.' Naiintindihan niyo ba yun?" For some reason, I heard Thane sighed as well as the President.

So Keila is leaving me with pawns?! Bakit hindi ko nakuha agad yun? I should have expected it from that girl. Is she underestimating my capabilities?! I sighed.

"I should have expected that. I was stupid not to do so." Thane added.

"The third group will go to the C, D, and F areas. Hindi niya naman sinabi kung bakit. Tapos and second group ay kakalat sa iba pang areas to destroy all their supplies. Wala dapat kayong maiwan ni isang storage or supply."

"Then there comes the first group making its way inside. May sisiguraduhin daw muna siya bago niya ito sabihin mung ano ang dapat nilang gawin. The plan stopped there at hindi niya na ito natapos dahil inatake kami. But that should be enough to buy her time para malaman kung ano man ang gusto niyang malaman."

Cassie was barely breathing fine sa mahabang explanations niyang iyon. Although wala akong mitindihan sa planong iyon, alam ko ang magiging trabaho ko.

"We'll move accordingly. We'll set out in ten minutes." President said then they all cut the link off.

Napatingin ako kay Sandra na mukhang may-iniisip. She lifted up her hammer tapos ay nawala ito.

"Wala ba kayong balak sabihan ang iba tungkol sa katotohanang may mga tao pa dito?"

"Alam na nila. They aren't that stupid. Lahat na sumali sa labang ito ay isa sa pinakamalakas na limang grupo."

"Kung alam nila yun, bakit? Wala ba silang pakealam—"

"Naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman mo. Honestly, I don't get why myself. Kung iisipin mo ang sasama na nating mga tao, just disregard people like that." I sighed. "Pero pinagkakatiwalaan nila siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, but that girl always thinks a hundred more possiblities in every thoughts."

"Your team consists of you, the Headmistress' daughter," tsk. "...Miss Iyana, isa sa Sleberian Cross at isa sa pamilyang Klein, and her...is she a noble? For people to trust her despite everything, what exactly did she do?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit namin 'to pinag-uusapan ngayon. Bakit ngaba? Kung tutuusin ay walang nakakaalam kung sino at ano talaga siya. Ni isang impormasyon tungkol sa buhay niya ay walang nakakaalam. Napunta lang siya sa Academy na paramg bula, gained attention, is trusted by my mother, at hindi din naman siya mayaman.

She always complains how she's low on points. Minsan ay kami pa ang tumutulong sa kaniya gumawa ng mga assignments and projects niya dahil wala siyang alam sa mga bagay na yun. Matalino nga siya, pero pagdating sa Academics sinisigurado niya lang na makakapasa lang siya but never intended to actually get to the top. She hates studying more than anything else.

She hates attention despite being on the spotlight all the time. She acts so independent but the truth is, she always have to rely on others for everything. That's just the way she is.

Kaya bakit?

"I think everyone's just too curious about her. Lahat ng taong makikilala niya ay hindi maiwasang isipin kung sino ba talaga siya. Probably we all just want to break that tough and strong facade of hers at malamang normal lang din siyang tao." Which no one has ever done. Gustong-gusto ko talaga mawasak yang appearance niya that seems to fake. I want to know, who she really is. Not as a rival, but as a person close to her.

"You sound...envious." I smiled and placed my hand on her head, slowly rubbing it.

"I am."