chapter 8

Grace Joy was in an unknown place, a place where she's familiar with but doesn't know what and where is it. She was standing tall on a grass land. The moon was full and bright and its light made her see the place clearly throughout the dark. Behind her are trees and behind them hills that surrounds the entire plain. The most interesting thing in that place is a lake glimmered by the moon light. She was facing it. Her feet was just a few meters away from the water. 

She slowly moved forward towards it while captivated by the lake's water. But she halted when she suddenly realized that that lake was where she got drowned. Suddenly, the background's changed and her surroundings turned into underwater. It's like she got teleported into the lake's center. Then, just like the first time, before she realized she's got powers. Her feet united like they were stitched up together to form another body structure. Her body lost its garments just when she got teleported. Her breast rapidly grew a 'bra' of scales. Her abdomen part grew some scales except to her navel area. Then, her feet turned into fish-like scales. 

She swam up through the water to surface. After she brought her head above the water with her eyes closed, she opened them slowly. She got frightened because in front of her was a burning wolf looking down on her. It was growling though. And it was standing on the lake water which is like an air. It didn't drown nor it's feet soaked. Meanwhile, it snarled which made Grace Joy startle and yell.

She got up on her bed, catching her breath. 

"Panaginip lang pala...ulit." She realized. She got her pillow then she put it on her face as she lay down. A few seconds later, she took it away from her face.

"Ano bang nangyayari sa akin?" She whinned. She was tying to decipher what she still remember.

                                                    ****

The next morning...

Ana was at their backyard. She was under a tall ipil-ipil tree while sitting down among one of its large roots that sticking out from the ground.  She was admiring how cute the husky was.  She was watching him rolling over the ground, running to the rose bushes, and chasing some butterflies. It was already four days since her big sister found him and sheltered him in their home. Yet, they weren't able to find his master.

Meanwhile, she brought out her cellphone from her pocket. She pressed the camera app, focused its lens to the puppy then she started videoing it while running around like playing patentero by himself.

"Ayan pupppy. Tingin dito. Dito oh!" she called. "Sige na oh. Smile!"

But the dog did't care. He was just enjoying chasing the butterflies. 

Meanwhile,  she immediately stood up and she faced the wall behind the ipil-ipil. By the way, their house has concrete walls around it that separates it from the outside.  She thought she heard a groaning sound behind it. 

Ana got startled when the puppy suddenly barked. It scared her. She rolled her eyes then she turned around to see the dog. The dog was still barking, while he was facing  the wall. Ana sighed then she faced the wall again. She began to suspect that someone was behind the wall. She was getting a strange feeling.

Later, she decided to use her power to push the rock beside the ipil-ipil tree towards the wall. Right after she transported the rock, she slowly stepped on it. The puppy was watching her scan the outside. No one was in there. Ana began to wonder.

"Ano kaya 'yon?" 

The dog suddenly whined faintly. She stepped down the rock while thinking if what she heard came from a dog passing by.  Unless she was watching a horror movie. By her surprise, they were shaking. She looked at the wall again with a confused expression on her face.

"Anong nangyayari sa akin?"she asked herself then.

                                          ****

Ana went inside the house. As she enter through the door, she was already in the living room. She was wiping off her slippers with the doormat placed on the doorway. She suddenly stopped when she suddenly noticed something in the living room . She turned her head to look at the sofa that was facing the t.v. Someone was sitting there. She was looking at the hair at the back of his head. She realized that he was a boy. She wondered if he was her father since he's the only male in the house. But her father was still working abroad and he wasn't granted to go home yet. She narrowed her eyes. Meanwhile, she slowly and silently approach the stranger who was sitting on the sofa. The sensation of nervousness and fear were getting stronger as she gets closer and closer. She never knew that the stranger can feel her presence. Not only presence but also her scent. The sensation he felt gets stronger and stronger as she gets closer and closer..

Ana was close enough to the back rest. Slowly, she stretched out her hand in order to reach his head. Closer and closer, but the boy's hand suddenly grabbed her hand just when it has reached the tip of his hair. Ana gasped since she got frightened. Because of that, the  sensation she felt had gotten worse. She can feel her tummy aching. The boy then stood up while he was still holding her hand. He turned around to face her.

By her surprise, she saw a cute-faced boy with a dimple at his right cheek when he smiled. Ana felt very strange though but she couldn't believe that there was a stranger in the house. He was also surprised that the sensation he was feeling was coming from an innocent looking girl. He smiled at her before he removed his hand from hers. She smiled back.

Suddenly, her big sister came. She was from upstairs.

"O. Ana!" She called. "Andito ka pala?" She joked. The two turned their heads.

"Hindi. Sa tingin mo nasa school 'yung kalulwa ko tapos nandito 'yung katawan." She said back.

The stranger laughed. Her sister then realized that Ana and her visitor was facing each other.

"So...Magkakilala kayo?" she asked.

Ana and him looked at each other.

"Hindi." Ana answered with her nose creased as she faced her sister.

"Hindi po." The cute guy chuckled faintly while he shook his head.

Ana looked at him after he replied. She was wondering what kind of feeling she's getting from him.

"Ah... okay," then she went towards them. 

"Ana. Si Cainnick." Kate introduced. "Cainnick, si Ana. My little sister."  She then introduced Ana.

"Nice to meet you," they smiled to each other and they shook hands.

Then, they heard the puppy barking as it enter the living room. 

"Black. Ikaw ba 'yan?" the boy got excited as he watched him approaches.He stooped down while both of his hands stretched forth. 

He then hugged him and he carried him on his chest. The puppy was happy to see his master. It was licking Cainnick's cheek while Cainnick was trying to avoid its tongue. He put the dog down. The dog ran away from him.

"Ikaw ang may-ari sa kanya?" Ana was surprised.

"Uhhm..." Cainnick cleared his throat. "Oo. Ako nga." He smiled.

"Ang cute niya 'no?" she spoke once again.

"Oo nga eh."  He crossed his arms on his chest.

"So... siya pala si Black?"

"Oo Black nga pangalan niya."

"Kasing cute niya nga 'yung amo niya eh," her sister said.

"Ate!" She growled.

Cainninck laughed at what she'd said. 

"Salamat po?" he blushed.

Ana cleared her throat.

"So...kukunin mo na ba siya ngayon?" 

"Umm...actually kukunin ko sana siya ngayon pero naki-usap kasi si Ate Kate na dito muna siya hanggang hapon."

"Ate naman. Nakakahiya sa bisita oh!" she complained to her. 

"Pasalamat ka nga may natitira pa tayong oras para makasama si Black." She talked back.

Cainnick agreed by nodding. 

" Besides... papasok pa ako ng school ngayon. Bawal ang magdala ng mga alaga doon sa school na iyon."

"Oh. Kita mo?" Kate told Ana. 

Ana rolled her eyes. After he saw what Ana did he laughed for a few second.

"Bakit?" Ana wondered.

"Wala. Ang cute mo lang kasing umirap," he replied.

Ana suddenly blushed.

"Umm...Sige po mauna na ako may klase pa ako ng nine." 

"Ganun ba? O sige sige." Kate replied.

"Sige po," he smiled at her. Then, he turned his head to Ana.

"Bye!" he slightly waved his hand at her. 

Ana smiled back. "Sige ingat ka," she told him.

 After that ,he turned around and headed towards the door.

                                       ****

At school...

Grace Joy was standing in a line for an audition. Everyone were readying their talents. Some were with guitars, some with wind instruments, while others hold nothing but they were vocalizing. Grace Joy sighed to lessen her nervousness. 

"Number forty-one, forty two, forty-three, forty-four and forty-five!" the announcer called.

"Pasok na po kayo," she instructed. Then, the five auditionees went in the room. Grace Joy was now the first in line holding the number plate forty-six. Her heart beat faster as she moved forward in front of the room's door. 

While looking through the open door, she can see that the inside was spacious. It has a few seats. She can see judges sitting while facing a small platform where the auditionees stood. Behind them were a few audiences. Upon seeing those people, she got more nervous. Behind the stage was a huge window. It was covered by a transparent curtain so she can't see the outside clearly but light. 

"Relax ka lang Grace Joy. Relax lang," she was trying to calm herself.

"Ito 'yung club na gusto mo. Okay lang 'yan. Marunong ka namang kumanta, di 'ba? Kung kaya't walang problema 'yan." She was raising up her confidence.

She was shaking her hands to warm her up. Then, someone at the back tapped her shoulder. She got startled as she turned around to know who did that.  

"Excuse me," a girl suddenly said.

"Ano 'yun?" Grace Joy asked. 

"Tapos na ba 'yung number fifty?" she asked.

"Ay! Hindi pa. Next pa ang number forty-six hanggang fifty." Grace Joy answered. The girl rolled her eyes and sighed in relief.

"Hay salamat! Umabot pa ako." She said . "So ikaw garud 'yung number forty-six?"

"Ako nga," she replied.

"Ibig sabihin ako iyung susunod sa iyo? Number forty-seven ako eh." She told her. "Hay! Salamat naabutan ko pa." 

Grace Joy smiled. 

Then, the announcer came out along with the five who were called. 

"Forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight,forty-nine and fifty!" She called. The five raised their hands.

"Pasok na po tayo,"the girl said.

And so, before she entered, she took a deep breath and then she smiled.

                               ****

"Hindi talaga ako makapaniwalang ipinapagawa to sa iyo ni Sir Matthew." Gilhameer said. He was sitting down on the last row of the gym seat holding a cup of hot coffee while he was watching Cainnick on the lower row sweeping off the dust and some litters. 

"Nakaka-inis! Buwisit!" He whined. " Ano bang ginawa ko sa kaniyang masama tol?"

"Umm...besides sa pagbasag mo sa vase? Wala naman." Gilhameer replied.

"Sobra na 'tong parusa ko. Para lang sa isang vase? Sincere naman iyong paghingi ko ng pasensya. Tsaka babayaran ko naman siya ah."

"Hindi niya gusto ng madalian. Gusto niyang may pinapahirapan siya tol," Gilhameer said and then he took a sip.

Cainnick sighed. He looked at his friend who was slurping. 

"Gusto mo?" He asked.

"Basta mali pa rin itong ginagawa niya. Mag-isa ko lang na naglilinis dito? Buti pa sana kung isang mas maliit na room ang ipapalinis niya sa akin tanggap ko. Pero ganitong kalawak?"

"Tol. Maniwala ka sa akin. Hindi lang ikaw ang unang nakaranas ng paglilinis dito. Iyung kaklase kong isa. Nakita niyang nagcheat sa exam - ayon... agad siyang pinalinis dito." Gilhameer told him.

"At least siya nagcheat. Ako...alam mo naman 'di ba? Isa akong napakabait na Igorot na hindi sinasadyang mabangga siya doon sa corridor."

"That's the part of the world." Then, he put down his cup and stood up. He picked up the broom which was laying beside him. He went down to the row lower than where Cainnick was.

"Tsk." Cainnick slowly shook his head. He was so upset and disappointed. 

Gilhameer went close to him. 

"Ganito na lang..." Gilhameer was thinking. "Nakalimutan mong ikuwento sa akin kung paano mo nahanap 'yung aso mo." 

"Ay oo nga." Cainnick's negative aura suddenly lessen after Gilhameer reminded him about that.  He was thinking that he will forget what he was cleaning for somehow if he will tell out the story to his friend. 

He was about to say a word but he suddenly paused when he sensed a very familiar feeling.

"Ano ba 'yan?" Gilhameer reacted just when he felt that feeling again.

"Siya 'yung naramdaman natin noong nakaraan , 'di ba?" Cainnick asked. The two turned their heads around to where the door is. They weren't surprised to see him at all.  He was just about to enter the gym. He entered with a very serous face and his eyes were threatening

The two put down their brooms while they are still looking at him. They slowly walked down toward the court. The stranger also moved slowly to them. 

"Anong kailangan mo sa amin?" Cainnick asked while he was getting near him.

"Kayo? Bakit kayo nandito?" He asked.

Cainnick and Gilhameer both looked at each other. Both their foreheads creased while wondering what's up with him. A second later, they faced him again.

"Teka nga lang..." Gilhameer spoke. "Kilala ka ba namin?"

The stranger chuckled faintly.

"Alam ko kung anong pakay ninyo dito... Adan." 

The two looked at each other once more. They were getting more confused.

"Adan?" Cainnick asked. 

"Nagkakamali ka tol. Hindi ako si Adan." Gilhameer replied.

"Oh? Talaga lang ha?" He smirked.

"Alam kong ikaw 'yan. Nagpalit ka nanaman ng balat mo." He told Gilhameer. Because of that, Gilhameer was getting more puzzled.

"Teka lang." Cainnick spoke. " Isa lamang ito malaking hindi pagkaka-intindihan."

                                     ****

Sherdel just entered the huge library. 

"Hello babe?" he immediately hold his phone near his ear.

"Oh. Nasaan ka na?"  Alexa responded on the other line.

"Nandito ako sa librarian's desk." Sherdel answered.

"Sige sige. Just stay in there,okay. Paalis na rin ako." 

"O sige. Bilisan mo, okay?" 

"Okay. Just wait me there."  Alexa cut off their conversation.

He hung up his phone. He took a deep breath and then he ballooned his cheeks. He felt frustrated. It felt like he was being bossed around by Alexa. He remained standing in front of the librarian's desk. He held his head down. He remained standing for a couple of minutes more but she wasn't there yet. And so, the impatient Sherdel moved forward and walked along the spaces between the shelves. 

He finally got into the  spaces beyond those rows of shelves. He began to search her on one table to another. He had already cleared five tables. Yet, she wasn't there. He searched further. But instead, he found Grace Joy. He found her at a table. She was asleep. Her hands were crossed together on the table and it's where she lay head.  Beside her head was an open book. 

He stopped by just after he saw her. He got a chair from an unoccupied table and he slowly and quietly placed it on the other side of the table across her. He quietly sat down to avoid waking her up. Then, he crossed his arms on his chest and bit his lips. He stared at her for a moment before he noticed what was she reading. At the left page, he saw an image of a mermaid sitting on a rock. Above her is a huge moon as she stares at it. Below her are raging waves. He then looked at the other page at the right - it's the description of the mermaid.

Sherdel creased his forehead, wondering if she's fascinated with mythical stuffs. He laughed faintly. 

"What a nerd."He smirked.

He slammed his hands on the table as he stood up. Grace Joy woke up after. She was shocked to death just when she heard the sound Sherdel had caused. It was so unexpected for her. She was more shocked when she saw that Sherdel in front of her and he was leaving. 

"Hayst!" Grace Joy whined. He left her puzzled. Grace Joy was wondering if he was watching her sleep the whole time. Moreover, she was wondering if he was sitting across her?

She again felt the guilt since what she did to his big brother. Which they will never know how he collapsed.