eto na po chapter4. warning lang... bitin daw ulit xa.

Chapter 4 – Almiana

            It was a cold morning… Z was freezing yet he was sweating from what he had dreamed about. All he can think of was Danah. Who was she? He got up and washed his face still uncertain of what he just saw.

            Saturday, one of Z’s favorite days for the simple reason of having no classes. He walked out of his room and looked for something to eat but the dining table was cleared. He opened he refrigerator to find some left-overs from last night’s dinner.

            “Do you have plans for today?” asked Anya. Anya is Z’s older sister who sleeps late and wakes up early. She’s a graduating student in his school who is always preoccupied with the computer. Z was proud of her sister for the fact that she survives with only 2 to 4 hours of sleep everyday.

            “No… I’m just staying home… My plan is to… sleep all day” said Z in between each bite on a left-over croissant from ages past. “And you?” but as Z expected, he didn’t get any reply. Z sluggishly returned to his room but before he reached his bed…

            “Z!!! Can I borrow your cellphone? I need to call dad.” shouted Anya. Z was excited after hearing this. He ravaged his school bag looking for his phone. He found it. His face was filled with relief and at the same time he wondered.

            “5 missed calls… Hmmm… Nah… It couldn’t be.” Z read his new messages and saved his group mate’s number from yesterday’s class. He then left his cell phone in his sister’s hands. Z, finally reaching his bed found himself zero percent sleepy. It was 9 AM and he already slept for about 10 hours. No wonder he couldn’t sleep. He had to do something else.

            “Are you using the phone sis?” 4… 3… 2… 1… “Sis, are you using the phone? Are you using the net?” 3… 2… 1… Z went out of his room and walked to his sister. “Anya!!!!” said Z loudly but not shouting “Are you using the phone?”

            “Huh? What? Yes… I mean no. I’m not connected.” said Anya without even realizing that Z was already dialing a number. Z called his group mates one by one. Yet all four of them were not at home. Why would they be, the day is great and there’s no classes. Z called his bestfriend from school but her landline was busy. Z dialed a random number.

            “You have reached the psychic hotline. Good evening Jonathan. We know that it’s you.” Z, feeling very much annoyed, decided just to watch TV.

He opened their 3 inch non-colored TV just to find cartoons, old movies and comedy shows which he didn’t like at all. But still he watched TV. Then suddenly…

            “Haaaaahhh!!!!!” he yawned. He was so delighted that he ran back to his room and jumped into bed. He closed his eyes and after a few minutes opened them again. Still 0% sleepy. It was just a yawn of boredom. It was 3 PM. Having no methods left, Z stood on his bed and got a dusty book from the shelf. He blew on it revealing the title after tons and tons of dust. “A History of the Ancient World” said Z in the most indescribable voice anyone could describe.

            4 PM… “When Arsaces I overthrew the Seleucid governor of Parthia and made himself king in 247 B.C., he set into motion a number of events that would literally change the world, providing he could keep Antiochus III from reclaiming his lost territories, territories conquered in the days of Alexander the Great.”

            5 PM… “Suharto established what he called the Orde Baru (New Order). He purged the parliament of communists, eliminated labour organizations and increased press censorship. He also cancelled diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China and re-established those with western countries and the United Nations. Haaaaah!!!” Z yawned. “I think I’ll eat dinner first. Then if I’m not yet sleepy, I’ll read just one more.”

            Dinner was still cooking. Z went outside to help his sister cook dinner. It was the best smelling chicken adobo Z has ever smelled. Z ate for more than 1 hour. It was already 7:00 when they finished cleaning the table. Z waited for a few minutes before he went back to his room.

            “You want to wait up for dad or are you already going to sleep?” asked Anya after washing the dishes. Z was already in his room when he answered.

            “I’m going to sleep now.” Z was already very sleepy. He lied down in his bed, prayed and closed his eyes. “Almiana…”

            “Z… Stand up.” said Anya.

            “What? Sister, I’m really, really sleepy. What?” said Z as he stood up. He found himself in a middle of a big room. The floor was cold and was filled with symbols unknown to Z. His mind was amazed by what he saw. He was standing in the middle of what seemed like a ceremonial room. In front of him was a chair with a statue of a pouncing lion on each side. Further front was a table. A long table made of marble where three people sat on black glass chairs. It was the head council of Almiana.

            “Good morning Z. It’s nice to see you again.” said the rightmost whose name was Lero. He was wearing a dark blue cloak with scarlet linings. He was holding an hourglass and his face was so calm. He was known as ‘the time keeper’

            “You must be wondering why you were summoned here again” said the lady in the middle named Vice Jer. She wore a black silk cloak with a golden seal which resembles knowledge. From the looks on her face, she seems to hate every fabric of Z’s existence. She was ‘the smart one’

            “But before we start, you must fetch someone first. I believed you dreamed of her just last night.” said the leftmost one named Blace. He was so relaxed that he didn’t even bother looking at Z when he speaks. He wore a red imposing shirt and denim pants. He was the coolest of the three. Z referred to him as ‘the cool guy’ but he was known as ‘the dominator’.

            “This is just an easy task that we want you to accomplish first. Do you remember her name?” said Blace looking at Z only know, checking if he’ll get the answer right.

            “Danah” Z said. He blinked for a second then he was in front of the hut. Only now does Z’s adventure starts.