"Finally! Freedom at last!" sigaw ni Stell pagkatapak na pagkatapak niya sa labas ng mall.
They had decided to stroll around the mall and just enjoy the day instead of doing something vigorous.
"Paulo, how long can we stay outside by the way?" tanong ni Josh.
"We can stroll around until 7pm since 7:30pm ang curfew sa university," sagot naman ni Paulo. Napatango lang si Josh.
Maya-maya pa ay biglang napasinghap si Stell. Bigla nyang naalala na may kailangan pala silang gawin ngayon. Napahawak siya sa noo nya dahil muntik na naman siyang pumalpak.
"I almost forgot guys. Kailangan pala nating pumunta sa arcade kasi may mission tayong gagawin sabi ni Tatang Robin," sabi ni Stell.
"What? Mission sa arcade?" tanong ni Josh.
"What do you mean? Arcade is just for kids, Stell. Stop fooling around," iritableng sabi ni Justin.
"I don't think Stell is fooling around, Justin. I just got a message from Tatang Robin," sabi ni Ken at ipinakita ang phone nya.
Tahimik na binasa nila ito. Kanya-kanyang ekspresyon ng mukha ang makikita sa lima. Si Paulo ay nakakunot lang ang noo at napatingin sa apat. Napagtanto nyang hindi madali ang missions nila ngayon.
ALAB Elites Day 15 Mission at SB Mall Arcade
1. Beat the highest score in Dance Dance Revolution.
2. Win the longest breathing competition at SB Cafe.
3. Do a 10-minute public mimicry performance.
4. Do busking and earn 2,000 pesos.
5. Get a score of 100 in a karaoke machine.
The members can chose any member/s to participate each mission. One's success is the success of all. This mission must be recorded as proofs and should be done before going back to the university (7:30pm school curfew time). Failure to do any of the mission can lead to a punishment that will be decided by Prof. Rabedee, the ALAB University's guidance councilor.
Professor Rabedee is the ALAB University's guidance councilor. However, every student, even the ALAB Elites themselves, would never wish to be brought to his office. He has the most terrifying counseling strategies that every student that goes to his office had to take a break for at least a week to recover themselves.
"If the punishment is to decided by Prof. Rabedee, I don't think we could afford to fail these missions," Paulo said.
"Since 10am na we have to start right away. Would it be faster kung gagawin natin individually ang tasks?" tanong ni Josh.
"If that's the case, I'll take the Dance Dance Revolution mission," sabi ni Ken.
"Doon ako sa mimicry," sabi naman ni Stell.
"Since I'm a rapper, I think I can do the longest breathing contest. Kayo?" tanong ni Josh kina Justin at Sejun.
"The karaoke and busking seem difficult kaya kailangan gawin nating lahat yun. For the meantime, magpeprepare kami ni Justin para sa busking performance habang tinatapos nyo yung missions nyo," sabi ni Paulo.
"This is my chance to scrutinize Justin. If my hunch is correct, then I have to ask the same question to Justin just like what I ask to Kuya Josue," Paulo thought.
"Okay lang ba sayo yun Justin?" tanong ni Josh.
Walang reaksyon na tumango si Justin na siyang ipinagtaka ni Paulo. Hanggang ngayon, di pa rin sya sanay sa inaasal ni Justin ngayon.
"Well, ano pang hinihintay natin? We should hurry up at baka mahaba yung pila," sabi ni Stell.
As soon as the three elites left, Paulo turned to Justin's direction. But Justin didn't utter a word.
"Are you really the Justin that I used to know? Why do you seemed too unfamiliar to me?" Paulo asked in his mind while staring at Justin.
"My brother forgot who Sejun is, but are you also the same, Justin?" Paulo asked again, as of he is performing telepathy to Justin.
"Are we just going to stare each other here, Paulo?" Justin asked coldly that snapped Paulo.
"R-right. Balik muna tayo sa school para kumuha ng instruments," sabi ni Paulo.
Sa kabilang banda ay makikita ang nakakunot na noo ni Ken dahil sa magkasintahang nasa Dance Dance Revolution pa rin. Mag-iisang oras na nyang tinitiis ang pag-PDA nila habang sumasayaw. Pero alam ni Ken sa sarili nya na konting-konti nalang ang pasensya nya, lalo pa't naaalibadbaran din siya sa pagsasayaw ng dalawa nang wala sa ayos.
"Excuse me." hindi na napagilan ni Ken na magsalita.
Ngunit hindi ito narinig ng dalawa dahil sa lakas ng musika.
"How long do I have to tolerate this? No, I can't tolerate this anymore!" naiinis na sabi ni Ken sa isip nya.
"Excuse me po. Pwede po bang kami naman po ang gumamit? Marami pa po kasing naghihintay sa pila," mahinahong sabi ni Ken ngunit may kalakasan na.
Napatigil sa pagsasayaw ang dalawa at iritableng tiningnan si Ken.
"Hindi ka ba marunong maghintay? Nakikita mo naman na gusto naming talunin ang highest score namin oh!" sabi ng lalaki.
Napangisi lang si Ken sa asta ng lalaki kaya mas lalong tumindi ang tensyon sa dalawa.
"Kayo pala ang highest score ha?" sabi ni Ken sa isip nya.
"Sige, let's make a deal. If I beat your highest score, aalis na kayo dito at hahayaang maglaro ang iba pang tao dito," Ken said.
Malakas na tawa lang ang ginanti ng dalawa. Alam nilang hindi matatalo ni Ken ang highest score dahil hindi sya pamilyar sa technique ng magkansintahan.
"Fine, pero kapag hindi mo natalo ang highest score, ikaw ang sasagot ng lahat ng nagastos namin dito," sabi ng lalaki.
"Deal. Ikaw na ang pumili ng kanta," maikling sabi ni Ken.
Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng lalaki dahil sa sinabi ni Ken. Hindi siya nagdalawang-isip na piliin ang isa sa pinakamahirap na kanta sa DDR Extreme, ang Paranoia Survivor Max.
Napasinghap ang mga manunuod sa piniling kanta ng lalaki. Pero nanatiling walang expression si Ken at nagstretching nang bahagya at saka tumungtong sa platform. Mas lalo pang lumawak ang ngiti nya nang malamang may nagvivideo sa kanila kaya hindi na siya mahihirapan sa mission nya.
"Be careful what you wish for," Ken whispered with a smirk.
Sa hindi kalayuan ay maririnig ang boses ni Stellvester na nanghihikayat ng manunuod sa performance nya. Dahil wala namang nakalagay kung anong klase mimicry ang pinapagawa ay naisip nalang ni Stell na mag-vocal mimicry bilang alam nya sa sarili nyang malawak ang vocal range ng boses nya.
Stell tried to compose himself and set aside his nervousness. This is the first time na magpeperform sya ng public mimicry nang mag-isa kaya hindi maitatanggi ang kabang nararamdaman nya.
"It's okay, Stell. You only have 10 minutes to do it anyway," sabi ni Stell sa sarili.
"Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat! Ako po pala si Stell at ngayon po ay magpeperform po ako ng vocal mimicry for 10 minutes!" malakas na sabi ni Stell na agad na nakakuha ng atensyon ng madla, lalo na ng mga dalaga.
Hindi maitatanggi ang angking kakisigan ni Stell na nagpadali ng mission nya. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Stell nang makitang dumadami na ang nakapaligid sa kanya.
"Salamat po sa pagbigay ng atensyon nyo sa akin. Sampung minuto lang po ang hihingiin ko sa oras nyo. Sana masiyahan kayo sa gagawin ko!" masiglang sabi ni Stell at tsaka lumingon sa babaeng nakakulay yellow na dress at may bag na strawberry.
"Hi Ate! Ano pong pangalan mo?" magiliw na tanong ni Stell sa babae.
"Jean po, Kuya Stell!" kinikilig na sambit ni Jean.
Habang nakangiti ay lumingon si Stell sa kasamang babae ni Jean na nakakulay purple na t-shirt at jeans.
"A-ako po si Rose," agad na sagot ng babae kahit hindi pa sya tinatanong ni Stell.
"Pwede ba kayong sumali sa performance ko?" malambing na tanong ni Stell na agad na nagpatango sa dalawang dilag.
"Ayan! Palakpakan po natin sina Jean at Rose!" malakas na sabi ni Stell at inakay ang dalawa sa gitna.
"Simple lang naman ang gagawin natin. Kakantahin nyo lang ang chorus twinkle, twinkle, little star nang sabay. After non, pipiringan kita Jean at kami naman ni Rose, kakanta din tapos huhulaan mo Jean kung lang kung sino sa aming dalawa si Rose. Okay ba yun?" nakangiting sabi ni Stell.
"Opo, Kuya Stell!" sagot ng dalawa.
Mas lalong napukaw ang atensyon ng madla dahil sa mechanics ng performance ni Stell. Akala kasi nila ay gagayahin lang ni Stell ang tunog ng mga bagay o hayop, ngunit boses ng tao pala ang gagayahin nya.
Kung iisipin ay imposibleng magaya ni Stell ang boses ni Rose dahil bukod sa mahirap gayahin ang boses ng isang tao, sabay pang kakanta si Rose at Jean na mas lalong magpapahirap para kay Stell na gayahin ang boses ni Rose.
"Ready na ba kayo?" tanong ni Stell sa audience na sinagot naman nila ng malakas na oo.
"3, 2, 1, sing!" masiglang sabi ni Stell, hudyat para kumanta na ang dalawang babae.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are? Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky.~
Sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari ay pati ang mga audience ay nakisabay sa pagkanta nina Rose at Jean, kaya mas lalong humirap ang sitwasyon.
Pero hindi kinakitaan ng anumang kaba o takot si Stell. Bagkus ay nag-eenjoy pa sya dahil maraming uri ng boses ang narerehistro sa isipan nya.
"Yehey!" pagpupugay ni Stell matapos nilang kumanta.
Habang pinipiringan si Jean ni Stell ay syang dating naman ni Josh mula sa SB Cafe. Ngunit hindi muna sya nagpakita kay Stell para hindi ito mawala sa pokus.
"I have to tell you something really urgent Stell, so please finish your mission as soon as possible," Josh thought in his mind while staring at Stell who is currently singing.
A few minutes ago, Josh had already won the longest breathing competition at SB Cafe. However, what caught his attention is the cashier woman at the cafe. With Josh's excellent memory, he immediately remembered that the lady is Prof. Hong's assistant.
His eyes was fixed at the lady cashier until the lady met his eyes. Although Josh was quite surprised, he didn't remove his stare at the lady.
He badly wanted to know her name as she seems mysterious. Thus, he didn't hesitate to go to her and initiate the conversation.
"Excuse me, you're Prof. Hong's assistant, right?" Josh asked right away that made the lady taken aback. She could only responded with a nod.
"Great! I'm Josh of Elite Five, by the way. Your name is?" Josh asked.
"A'tin. My name is A'tin of F Class," the lady said that made Josh's smile vanish.
"As you are now renowned as the ALAB Elites you must also be aware of that you have to be cautious at all times, not only for your safety but also for your reputation. That's why from this day onward, ALAB Elites should not talk to F class students. These students are at the lowest class so you must not get even the tiniest influence from them," Prof. Hong said.
Josh distanced himself from A'tin as he knows very well that he can't break the rules.
"I know you should not be talking to me because I'm from F Class. However, I am Prof. Hong's assistant, so rest assured that I will not do any harm to you, Mr. Santos," A'tin coldly said.
"But you are well-aware that I can't break the rules, right? So I'm sorry but I have to refrain talking to you," Josh said and turned his back away.
"You are in danger," A'tin said that made Josh halt.
With confused look, Josh turned around to face A'tin and said, "What do you mean? I am in danger?"
A'tin nodded and said, "Yes, along with the other ALAB Elites."
"In fact, the one who is mostly at risk...is Justin and Paulo," A'tin added.
Josh gripped A'tin's shoulders in annoyance and glared at her eyes.
"Hindi mo ko maloloko. We are the ALAB University's treasure. They won't let us be in danger, especially Justin who is the chairman's son." Josh said with anger.
A'tin burst in laughter while staring at Josh's anxious expression.
"I really pity you. You are way too innocent, Elites. Too innocent," A'tin said and harshly removed Josh's grip on her shoulders.
"Do you think that the ALAB University will simply give you all the benefits you are currently savoring without having something in return? You, yourself, should know how ruthless the school is," A'tin said.
"How dare you fool me? You are nothing but a mere F Class student," Josh retaliated and left the cafe.
However, at the back of his mind, he couldn't just ignore what the F Class student said to him. As an ALAB Elite, they are trained to be prepared and cautious at all times.
"But why would Tatang Robin give us a mission at SB Cafe if he knew that A'tin works there?" Josh thought.
"If I found out that you are merely stirring trouble to the Elites, I'll come back and deal with you myself." Josh firmly thought.
Author's Note:
Who is A'tin? Do you think she is on the good or bad side?