Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Mikhael's Account: A Mad Dog's Heart

Bear with the special POVS. Magiging mahaba sila :3 Thank you for 15k Reads!

-mikhael's account-

I'm not sure when my ability first surfaced. I can only remember the time when I first found out about it.

Nasa likuran ako ng eskwelahan. Nakikipagbugbugan.

My fist came into contact with his bloody face. His head hits the wall and he falls on the pavement, along the other boys who were dumb enough to bully Ana. Putok ang labi ng isa at may black-eye ang kasama niya. Bugbog-sarado silang lahat.

I scoffed, "Tch. Walang kuwenta."

I cracked my knuckles and clicked my neck. Tanginang mga lalaki 'to. Ang tapang-tapang sa babaeng walang laban, pero 'di naman makatayo ng maayos sa'kin. Nag-iisa nga lang ako at tumawag pa siya ng back-up.

"Kel?!"

Napabaling ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. I muttered a curse under my breath when she stared at the injured boys on my feet. Alam kong patay na ako sa pinsan ko nang maglakad siya sa'kin na puno ng galit.

"Nakipagbugbugan ka na naman!" saway niya. "Mapapa-guidance ka na naman nito at mapapagalitan ni Tito! Nag-iisip ka pa ba!"

I rolled my eyes. "Okay lang. Dapat lang 'yan sa mga gago."

"Kel, I don't mind their insults. It's normal. People like us-" Iniwas niya ang tingin. "We're always treated like a monster. It's part of our life⁠-"

"I'll be damned if I won't punch anyone who insults you, Ana. Normal man 'yan o hindi, ayoko pa ring pinagsasalitaan ka ng masama."

Anastasia huffed and rolled her eyes. "Oo na. Ikaw na ang pinaka-caring na pinsan sa buong mundo, 'yan ba gusto mo? Hay nako talaga, Kel. Kailan ka kaya makakahanap ng katapat mo?"

Hindi ko na siya pinansin. Ana's concern are always on trivial matters. Dahil sa lagi akong sabak sa bugbugan, inaakala niya nang mabubuhay ako mag-isa. Ang bata pa nga namin.

"Anyway, pupunta tayo sa nurse's office. Hindi ba masakit 'yan?" Sabay turo niya sa kamay ko at sa mukha na natsambahan ng suntok kanina.

Napangiwi ako do'n. Going to the nurse always brings trouble. Dahil lagi nilang tinatanong kung saan galing ang natamo kong pasa, at malalaman ulit nila na nakipag-away ako, kaya naman guidance ulit ang kahihinatnan ko. Still, I couldn't possibly say no to Ana's threatening eyes. My cousin may be a forest fairy, but she can become a beast.

I flexed my fingers and was slightly surprised when I could actually feel strength rather than the pain. Ilang beses na 'tong nangyari. Kapag nagkakasugat ako ay parang mas lumalakas ako. Even though I should be weakened because of my bruises.

Hahatakin na sana ako ni Ana palayo nang maramdaman ko ang pagtayo ng isang lalaki. Gagong 'to, may lakas pa pala para tumayo. Pusta ko buong manok ni Papa na hahampasin niya ako sa likod. Tangina, ano ba akala niya sa'kin, 'di nanonood ng action movies?

Quickly, before he can try to attack, I turned around to deliver a punch. Naiwasan niya ito at tumama ang kamay ko sa pader. It would be enough for him to attack me, if only he wasn't filled with fear.

Dahil sirang-sira ang pader kung saan tumama ang kamay ko.

After that, my family had me checked. Doon namin nalaman na mayroon din akong ability. The power to get stronger at every drop of blood. So I named it Bloodhound.

My temper got worse after that, dahil maliban sa pagkukutya kay Ana, isa na rin ako sa napagtripan nila. After all, there was an even better excuse if things get bad. Mikhael is an ability-user who gets stronger at every injury, so he went berserk and severely wounded me.