Soulstone Academy

Chapter Fifteen: Threat

Have I ever told anyone how I hate math?

Sobrang ayaw ko sa kaniya. Mas pipiliin ko pang magbasa ng libro na lang kaysa intindihin ang subject. I mean why should I care about x and y, right? Hindi naman siguro ako magca-calculate ng slope while punching someone.

So here I am, staring and justifying the zero I got in a 30 points quiz.

I would just like to raise the fact that there are only six problems, pero dahil five points ang bawat number at ayaw ni Dong i-check ang given, wala akong score. Hindi naman kasi ako nagsolve.

"Tempest!" my beautiful name travelled the walls again. "Last time, tinulugan mo ang subject ko. Ngayon naman sa weekly quiz natin, zero ka?! Do you even want to learn?!"

"Hindi."

My honest answer almost caused his bald head to erupt. Lumaki ang butas ng ilong niya bago siya sumigaw ng pagkalakas-lakas.

"LABAS!"

I raised both my hands, admitting my defeat. "Okay."

Narinig ko pa ang pagreklamo niya na ako na daw ang pinakapasaway niyang estudyante at wala pang tao na nakakapainit ng ulo niya maliban sa'kin. Beatrix shot me a smirk at that, as if naman mao-offend ako. Hindi ba siya informed na I bring out the worst in people, not their best?

For the second time that week, I found myself sitting in the hallways while the Mathematics class went on. At least, I could boast that I didn't sleep na ngayon. Ano naman ang gagawin ko kung sadyang bobo lang talaga ako sa Math?

Isang notebook muli ang inilahad sa'kin. I didn't have to look up to see that it was sun boy, giving his notes like they were nothing to him. I wonder if he's subtly showing me how intelligent he is that he doesn't need notes anymore.

Itinaas ko ang tingin sa kaniya. He blinked, pushing the notebook closer to my face.

"Hoy," mataray kong tawag. "Special student ka ba at parang may free pass ka lang? Ba't nakalabas ka agad?"

"I had a perfect score so I could leave early." nilapit niya ulit sa'kin ang notebook kaya wala akong choice kun'di kunin 'yon.

"Ano bang nasa loob nito? Bakit puro shapes?" nagtatakang tanong ko nang buksan iyon.

What the fuck are these arrows? At bakit may mga numerical equation na nakalagay sa tabi nila? Ano bang topic namin sa Mathematics ngayon?

"You didn't read the previous notes I gave you?"

Iniwas ko ang tingin. "Naging busy ako nitong mga araw..." sa pagpapainit ng ulo ng mga tao dito.

He stared at me for a long while. "Hmm." he hummed, nodding. "Study that. It will be the topic for our next quiz."

I watched as Helios left to sit away from me. Talagang tinantya niya pa ang distansya naming dalawa bago umupo. Naging interesado ako nang isuot niya ang kaniyang salamin, opening a book and starting to read it.

Unconsciously, I found myself walking towards him. He stiffened, his hand pausing on a page, when I sat on his right. Mas nakakapaso ang init na mayro'n siya ngayon, na halos manghina ako nang makatabi siya. He probably noticed how my eyes went unfocused at the sudden dizziness in my head, because he tried to inch away. Hinawakan ko ang braso niya pata pigilan siya sa pag-alis, at napakunot ang noo ko nang biglang mawala ang init no'n.

Helios, however, looked uncomfortable at our close proximity. "You can't sit that close, Raven. You can't stand the heat, right? I'm sorry, I don't know what happened, but I am certain I have my soulstone under control. I don't know how you can still feel the heatㅡ"