LOOKING FORWARD

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Different hues, iba't ibang kulay ang bumungad sa aking paningin. From red to violet to blue to yellow, my eyes squint trying to see more of these things that have different colors. Only to realized that these are different kinds of plants; of blooming daffodils, tulips and other kinds of flowers that I cannot recognize.

Am I in a garden? Well, obviously pero anong ginagawa ko dito?

Shallow tapping sounds reach my ears, making me stumble upon my own feet trying to catch who owns those shoes that are happily hopping. The sounds became more audible.

"Lucien!"

I raise a brow at the mention of my name by a boy's voice. I look around at nakita ko ang may-ari ng mga yabag ng paa, isa itong batang lalaki na hanggang balikat ko lang siguro. Masaya itong tumakbo patungo sa kinaroroonan ko.

He picks up a daffodil and with a big grin, he offered it to me.

"Let's meet here againꟷ"

Bago ko pa man marinig ang sinasabi nito ay naramdaman ko ang pagtama ng aking likod sa isang matigas na bagay. I groan at the sudden pain.

"Cerys," a man's voice calls my name, worried.

I breathe out another groan before I get up from an embarrassing slump in the car's floor. Nahulog lang naman ako sa sofa bed kung saan ako natutulog.

"Are you okay?" I can sense the mock in Lennon's words when I turned to face him. Where's the worry in his voice earlier?

"Yeah, I am," I roll my eyes to wash away my embarrassment. This is not the first time that I fell off bed while sleeping.

"Be careful," he singsongs while eyes roaming around a coffee table.

Hindi ko ito pinansin, bagkus ay umupo na ako sa sofa bed at ipinikit ang mga mata for one last time before forcing myself to wake up from my sleepy state. I tilt my head and I feel my brows crease.

"What are you doing?"

"I think I dreamed something important," tugon ko sa tanong ni Lennon.

"You always forget your dreams," he deadpans and I can only feel my eyes rotate so hard again.

Napatingin naman ako sa hawak nito nang lumapit siya sa akin. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee stirs my still-sleepy body; the scent is strong yet alluring. I grin as a slice of bread is being partnered with it upon seeing the tray Lennon is holding.

"Here," he offers before putting the tray of coffee and bread on the side table nearest to the sofa where I am sitting on. "We're near the Central," he adds.

Kinuha ko ang pagkain at saka kumagat dito bago sumulyap sa bintana ng sasakyan. Sunod-sunod na puno lamang ang makikita sa labas. They are lined up like soldiers, parting to give us way to the Central. Ilang oras din pala akong natulog dahil mukhang malapit na nga kaming makapasok sa teritoryo ng Central.

Nabaling naman ang atensyon ko nang may isang mahinang tunog ang bumasag sa katahimikan sa loob ng sasakyan. I look around and I find my phone with its screen lighting up and the ring did not stop.

Isang maliit na ngiti ang kumurba sa aking mga labi nang mabasa ko kung sino ang tumatawag. I thought she forgot.

"Mom?" I greet instead of hello.

"Cerys, sweetie!" Her voice is still as energetic as ever. "I'm so sorry I couldn't go to your high school graduation, love."

Even though she won't be able to see it, I still put up a smile in assurance that it's fine. "It's okay, Mom. I know you are busy at Horologium."

"I'm really sorry, something came up. It was really a bad timing. Don't worry, I'm gonna visit you at Proficient School some time. I promise!" she sounds so enthusiastic. How many promises, Mom?

"Okay, I'm looking forward," I chuckle in response. I don't know if I should look forward but knowing that Horologium is just a few kilometers away from the school, maybe... just maybe, she means it; another promise.

Sunod-sunod itong nagtanong kung kumakain ba ako ng maayos o di kaya naman ay wala akong nakalimutan especially my weapons pati na ang mga customized clothes ko for training at kung ano-ano pa. Hindi ko naiwasang mapangiti. At least she still sounds like a mom.

Ilang sandali lang ay ibinaba na niya ang telepono dahil mukhang may ginagawa na naman silang napaka-importante. I can't blame her, I can't blame my mom. After all, she works in Horologiumꟷ the Fornax Palace. She's an excellent Neos, one of the best. I don't actually know who is better: Dad or Mom but I have always looked up to my mother.

When I was young, she still used to take care of me and tell me her stories; her journey as a Neos. The meeting of different kinds of creatures such as vampires, elves, wizards, etcetera and how she slays demons and evil creatures. My image of a Neos is apparently her. Ironic how I'm being so aloof of my mother now but she still stands as my idol.

Finding a way to distract my attention in my thoughts of how I misses my mom, tumingin na lang muli ako sa bintana. My eyes widen, mouth agapes upon seeing the changing of scenery.

Central.

As the car runs nearer to a new sight, I couldn't help but to be amaze. Several glass buildings are scattered all over the place, there are shining house-like structures everywhere, and around these structures are bodies of water and beautiful green landscapes.

This is a modern city but its environment is clean and green. An environmental-friendly futuristic city? That's cool. There are only a few buildings but they are skyscraping, the tips are hidden among the clouds. The city lights are still on even though it's already midday. There is no single person seen strolling around this place. If there are, they are riding cars.

Ang Central ay ang kabisera ng Fornax but as ironic as it sounds, it is not heavily populated. Only Neoses and pro-holders can go to this place with the exception of training grounds such as Fornax Proficient School. It is the working ground of Fornax; lawmaking or administering are all done here by the most exclusive professionals. It is forbidden to enter this place without a valid reason. Sa pagkakaalala ko ay nakapunta na ako dito noong bata ako ngunit sobrang tagal na kaya nakalimutan ko na kung gaano kadisiplina ang lugar na 'to.

This place is where the Fornax Proficient School is located.

Seryoso akong tumingin sa paligid. Ilang sandali na lamang ay makakarating na kami sa paaralan kung saan ilang taon na naman akong mamamalagi at pagkatapos noon ay magiging Neos na ako.

Just the thought of it makes my stomach churn in excitement.

Lumiko ang aming sasakyan sa kanan nang nasa intersection na kami. Napatingin ako sa isang mahabang gusali. Hindi tulad ng iba na pataasan ang mga bubong, ang isang 'to ay mukhang nakikipaglaban sa pahabaan. Sobrang haba nito, siguro ay nasa 500 m ang width.

Bago pa man ako mabagot sa kahabaan ng gusali, nakuha ng attensyon ko ang iba't ibang klase ng flags na nakahilera sa harap ng gusali. Different flags that I don't really recognize but they are probably flags of other countries. The school never discloses anything about the outside world, it's just the kinds that we are familiar of. It is kind of frustrating how clueless we are of the world we're living in aside from Fornax ngunit wala naman kaming magagawa. I just need to become a Neos to know those things, tch.

Dalawang watawat lang ang aking namukhaan: ang watawat ng Fornax at watawat ng mahabang building na kanina pa namin dinadaanan.

"The Central Library of Fornax Nation," I read the letters embroidered in a gold and white fabric besides a similar colored flag of Fornax.

"Woah, so this is the national library," napatingin ako kay Malcolm nang bigla itong magsalita. Lumapit ito sa bintana upang pagmasdan din ang gusali. Ngayon ko lang siya napansin simula nang magising ako.

"I wonder if there are even people who go there. Aren't they too busy on their missions?" Malcolm wonders.

"Nah, there are probably comers since this place is where books of strategies and books about the outside world are located," Lennon replies back.

"Well, obviously," I scoff. "It is the national library. All recorded data are stored there."

Ah, I would like to step there someday. Tahimik kong pagkomento.

Bumaling na muli ang tingin ko sa daan nang sa wakas ay nalampasan na namin ang malawak na gusali ng pambansang aklatan. Sumagi na naman sa isipan ko ang entrance exam. Lihim akong ngumiti nang maalala ko ito. If there are only a few people who can stay there then I am anticipating a thrilling entrance exam. It is only held once a year and I heard that thousands of people come to enroll regardless of social ranking since the school is tuition-free. But still, I wonder how the other ranks will do although it is probably a majority of Evgenises and Metrions and maybe Chamils. I don't think Foches want to study in such a stressing school and with the lack of power they have. But I don't want to judge. It would be nice if I encounter one, I would like to see how they truly areꟷ whether weak or strong. Moreover, I want to see if someone is actually more powerful than me.

Humigop muli ako sa kape, appreciating the chills that run down my spine. Inalis ko muna ang tingin ko sa bintana dahil pinag-iisipan ko na kung ano ang aking gagawin mamayang entrance exam. I don't know what waits for us, sigurado lang ako na hindi ito magiging madali.

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