"John Paulo, this is really a rare incident, you know? This is the first time I saw how you lost your composure," sabi ng infirmary nurse habang binebendahan ang kamao ni Paulo.
Ngiti lang ang itinugon ni Paulo. Nababalot pa rin ang isip niya ng mga bagay na nasaksihan nya kanina.
"Ayan, okay na. Huwag mo nang uulitin ito ah? Alam mo namang kamay ang pinakamahalagang parte ng katawan sa isang musician diba?" nakangiting sabi ng nurse.
"Salamat po," maikling sabi ni Paulo.
"Oh ito, inumin mo. Para mas mabilis gumaling yan at hindi mamaga masyado," sabi ng nurse at binigay ang maliit na container na may lamang likido.
Walang pag-aalinlangang ininom ni Paulo ang gamot...
...na isang malaking pagkakamali.
Maya-maya pa ay napahawak ni Paulo sa kanyang sentido dahil sa matinding hilo. Hindi nya maunawaan kung bakit bigla nyang naramdaman ito.
"The medicine... it's not for my wound!" singhal ni Paulo sa sarili.
"N-nurse...anong g-gamot yung---" hindi na maituloy ni Paulo ang tanong nang makitang may pumasok na mga lalaking naka-suit. Ito yung mga lalaking nakita nya kanina.
"Hindi!" sigaw ni Paulo sa isipan nya. Hindi sya makapagsalita dahil sa matinding antok na lumalamon sa kanya.
Bago pa man siya mawalan ng malay ay narinig pa nya ang mga katagang...
"Curiousity kills the cat, Mr. Top One."
Sa kabilang banda, pinapasok na sina Josh, Ken, at Stell sa science laboratory. Bagamat wala pa ang dalawa ay itinuloy nila ang meeting.
"I heard that John Paulo was in the clinic at the moment, while Justin is still talking with his father. But I think they can make it before we end this meeting," sabi ni President Hood.
"Dahil kayo ay batch ng Elite Five na nakatagal ng four consecutive years, you won't be merely called as the Elite Five anymore. Your ranks have gone higher, which is truly rare for an ALAB University student to achieve." dugtong ni Prof. Hong.
Excitement is evident in Elite Five's eyes.
"You will now be called as the ALAB Elites as of this moment. You are the second batch of the ALAB Elites so be proud, gentlemen," nakangiting sabi ni Prof. Hong.
Bago pa man sya magpatuloy ay bumukas ang pinto ng silid at iniluwa ang dalawang pigura ng mga bagong ALAB Elites.
"Finally, you're here. The top one and top two students shouldn't miss such announcements like this," sabi ni Prof. Hong.
Walang kibong umupo ang dalawa. Gustuhin man ng tatlo na magtanong sa kanila eh ipinagpaliban muna nila ito.
"As I was saying, you are now promoted to ALAB Elites and will have more extra privilege than before, including the access to the restricted building," sabi ni Prof. Hong na ikinagulat nila.
"Prof. Hong, are you sure? Can we really go to that restricted building?" Josh asked in surprise.
"Yes. However, along with the additional privileges, you will also get tougher and stricter training than before. It is an exclusive, intense training for ALAB Elites that has been developed back then. This is one of the secrets of ALAB University that only the five of you will be able to know," Prof. Hong emphasized.
Mixed emotions are felt by the gentlemen: surprised, excitement, and nervous. However, all of them are truly ready for this evolution.
"Everyday, you will have a medical checkup after your training to monitor your overall health condition. You will also need to be assessed and tested individually every week to monitor your improvements," President Hood said.
"Eh di Tatang, magbabago po yung curriculum namin? As in lahat po?" tanong ni Stell.
"Yes. Kaya umayos na kayo this time. Dahil sa intensed training, you will also follow strict schedule and diet for two weeks. After every two weeks on Sunday, you will be allowed to go out of the university as your day off. That is your only rest day," Seryosong saad ni President Hood na agad na nagpasimangot sa mukha ni Stell.
"The rest of the training will be elaborated sa as you undergo through it. I just only wish that you would comply with the protocols, ALAB Elites. You are not just Elite Five anymore. Are we clear on that?" tanong ni President Hood sa lima.
"Yes Tatang," sagot naman nila.
"Good, the intense training will start tomorrow at 7am. Don't be late," paalala pa ni President Hood.
Pagkatapos ng meeting ay binigyan sila ng oras para lumabas bago magsimula ang intensed training bukas. Kaya naman, naisipan ng lima na kumain sa cafeteria ng regular classes. Buti nalang at alas singko palang ng hapon at nasa klase ang mga estudyante kaya sila lang ang kumakain doon.
"Justin, how's your talk with your father?" tanong ng pinaka-Kuya sa lima na si Josh.
"Ayos lang. Same old, he just scolded me as usual for not getting the too spot. I'm used to it, Josh," sabi ni Justin.
"Did I ask him too much? Mukhang ayaw nyang maglabas ng sama ng loob. Hindi gaya ng dati. Mukhang mas malala ang nangyari ngayon," sabi ni Josh sa isip nya.
"How about you Paulo? Ang tagal mo sa clinic ah? Was your injury that bad?" tanong ulit nya.
"May tatlong students pa kasi na inasikaso bago ako. Kaya natagalan," sagot ni Paulo kay Josh.
Napatango nalang si Josh dahil alam nyang wala syang mapapala sa dalawa.
"What do you think about the intense training?" seryosong tanong ni Ken.
Kanya-kanyang napatingin sa kawalan ang apat.
"I'm quite nervous, pero excited din. For sure mas madedevelop ang skills natin dun," sabi ni Justin.
"I don't know about that Justin. Simula nung pumunta tayo kay Prof. Hong kaninang umaga sa office nya at nabanggit nya yung reward, iba na ang kutob ko," sagot naman ni Paulo.
"What do you mean?" tanong ni Justin kay Paulo.
"Intense training during our last year? Isn't it strange? The training system in ALAB University is supposed to get lighter as your year level increases because seniors need to focus on real-time and on-stage performance. Why do we, the ALAB Elites, have to do otherwise?" mahabang paliwanag ni Paulo.
"You have a point Paulo. Pero hindi ba sinabi nila na exclusive training yun? Ibig sabihin, iba talaga yung sistema kesa sa regular policies ng university," sagot naman ni Stell.
"Whatever the intense training may have, I am born ready for it!" Josh confidently said.
"I'm more interesting in knowing how it works though," Ken said.
"We are the ALAB Elites, Paulo. We are supposed to bring pride to ALAB University, thus we must work hard to achieve this school's vision. Isn't it better that we can hone our skills better than the past batches of Elite Five?" Justin retaliated on Paulo's sentiments.
"Just wait and see...you will eventually know what I'm talking about," misteryosong sabi ni Paulo.
Two and a half hours ago...
"Sir, do I really have to do it to John Paulo?" the nurse anxiously asked while on the phone.
"He saw everything, Nurse Choi. I won't let my plan go to waste just because of the kid!" the man said.
The nurse was lost with as she gripped the container with a liquid on it. It is a formula that can make you forgot everything 40 minutes before you drink the medicine.
And she had to make Paulo intake it. They want Paulo to forget everything he saw about Justin and the restricted building.
"You know the consequences of disobeying me, Nurse Choi," the guy said and ended the call.
Nurse Choi immediately composed herself and mutter to herself.
"I'm sorry, John Paulo..."
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