✔The Knight's Madness

VIGINTI SEX

"Is this seat taken?"

He took her silence as a yes. 

Hindi na lumingon si Kleo nang tumabi sa kanya ang binata, nakatuon lang ang atensyon niya sa stage kung saan kasalukuyang nanghaharana ng audience ang isang lalaki. On her left, she can feel Raff shift uncomfortably in his seat as he glimpsed at the other man.

Maya-maya pa, bumulong na ito sa kanya. "Hey, umm... Sinong nag-invite sa kanya rito? I thought he already left the campus?"

Kleo didn't even bother turning to Raff. Nahagip ng mga mata niya si Marquessa Legazpi na nakatanaw mula sa backstage. She looked nervous, which baffled her. Bakit naman kakabahan si Kesa? Kleo already heard her play the violin and she has to admit that she's very good at it. Luckily, Kesa chose a course that she's good at. Hindi tulad ni Kleo na walang kaalam-alam sa pagdo-drawing at palaging napapagalitan dahil off-topic at morbid ang mga pinipinta niya.

'Minsan talaga ang hirap intindihin ng mga tao.'

"Kleo?"

Nang maramdaman niyang nakaabang pa rin sa isasagot niya si Raff, napabuntong-hininga na lang siya.

"Professor Everick likes music, too."

Mukha pa ring hindi kumbinsido si Raff. 'Geez. Sinong mag-aabala pang pumunta rito dahil lang mahilig siya sa music? Eh 'di sana nag-Spotify na lang siya,' he thought. Suspicion rose in his chest, but Raff chose to not think about it. Ayaw niyang masira ang gabi nila ni Kleo, kaya bumalik na lang siya sa pagkakasandal.

Relax, Raff. Relax.

'Chance ko na 'to!'

Dahil nakatingin pa rin sa stage ang dalaga, pasimple siyang nag-inat.

Wala naman sigurong masama, 'di ba?

Raff was about to slung an arm over Kleo's chair (like what guys do in those cheesy movie dates) when he felt a pair of eyes digging holes into his skull. Nang isinawalang-bahala niya ito, napapitlag na lang si Raff nang bumaon ang isang combat knife sa likod ng upuan ni Kleo, malapit sa kung saan niya dapat ipapatong ang braso niya.

'W-What the fuck?!'

He stared wide-eyed at "Professor" Everick who gave him a stern look. Kinuha nito ang combat knife at walang-emosyong ipinaliwanag, "May langaw kasi. I was just trying to kill it... Marami talagang peste ngayon. I hate pests."

Raff paled.

'Gago! Muntik nang naputol ang braso ko!'

Kinuha ulit ng Neverwood ang patalim at ibinalik ito sa loob ng kanyang trench coat. Mabuti na lang at mukhang hindi ito napansin ni Kleo...o baka naman wala talaga itong pakialam? Anyway, in that moment, Raff knew that he couldn't make any moves with Kleopatra without a bastard cutting off his limbs.

Meanwhile, Kesa walked onto the stage in her black and white dress.

The spotlight almost blinded her and she clearly caught the eyes of everyone in the auditorium. Bumalik na naman sa mga alaala niya ang mga bangungot---the blinding lights, the eyes watching her, the blood on her hands. Huminga nang malalim si Kesa.

She can't give into fear now, not with all her friends supporting her.

Not when Kleo is asking her a favor.

Maya-maya pa, nahanap niya sa karagatan ng mga tao ang kanyang bagong bestfriend. Kleopatra's bangs hid her eyes while she sat between Everick and Raffaelo. Tulad ng inaasahan niya, nakasuot na naman ito ng sweater. Kesa made a mental note to force her into a dress one if these days.