Chapter 11 : Underground

| Underground | IF I would have the lamp of Aladdin right now, I will wish the genie that he'll banish that Linus for the rest of his time. Or maybe just turn him into an orange pulp and I'll pop it until it shrinks. I never think that things get worse when I met that guy. First, he rolled his eyes at me. He arrogantly talked to me, and he winked at me the other day, that I almost had insomnia, because the scene keeps on replaying inside my head. Oh, how I wish that the ground will swallow me during Mrs. Ether's class. That reaction paper is a curse, and having Linus is unfortunate. He was absent! The submission for that paper was today, and he got the guts to get absent? I know, I must be patient and be considerate because I don't know what happened to him or what he does, why he's absent. He may be sick or what, but the hell, he could have informed me. How would he inform you? Said the corner of my mind. Yeah! Damn! But still, I must find out and ask him why he's absent. Chanter University is huge but I got his name and it's a big help. I started to walk towards the boy's dormitory at the left of our dorm. But there's no Linus in there. Clenched fist, gritted teeth, heavy stomps of my feet, and an invisible smoke coming from my nose, I walk through dorm by dorm, still trying and hoping to find that guy. To my dismay, he's not in one of them. I stopped at the dorm where Nena resides and asked someone if she sees Nena. "She went to watch at the Underground," she replied. A line furrowed on my forehead and uttered, "Underground?" "Yeah, where underground fights will be held," she replied and she looks on her wristwatch, "It's almost six o'clock, the main event will start in a minute," she added. I don't know why, but I ask where I can find this Underground. "At the end of that street," she replied and pointed the street near the Chanter University west wing. "When you see the building named Palace, just turn left and you'll see it. "Thanks," I replied and walk towards that street. it's quite far, but what else I can do? I don't have an auto. I'm finding Linus but ended up going where Nena's at. I'm almost near when my eyes twinkled with surprise as they caught the enormous view of the building named The Palace. Goodness, gracious. The modern structure of the building is like those tall scrappers in the city. Thick walls, glossy windows—it's like a condominium. Really? A well-built building inside the C.U? Oh, how fortunate those people who live there. They must be the heir or heiress of those powerful men who are into business, politics, etcetera. I shake my head as I'm wondering where that Underground could be. I started to turn left but I didn't see any other building except for that huge The Place. My eyes darted on the ground floor of that building but can see what's in there. Maybe cars? I continued to walk until I saw the Underground, literally underground because you need to walk downstairs. I take a grip on the cold and stainless railing as I walk step by step. The eerie surrounding sent chills to my body. Why is the area empty? Then suddenly, the voice of the girl in Nena's dorm echoed inside my head, Underground fight. Main event. Does the school permit that kind of sport? It's dangerous. Dim hallway welcomed my gaze. My vision started to adjust. I shivered. It's scary in here. But it's not the ambiance that scares me the most, but it's the howling voices that came from somewhere. I gulped and started to walk, following those voices. there's no other way of getting in there so, I just follow it until an opening welcomes me, blinded by the lights that came from the inside. Inside, are people clapping, shouting names, but what caught me that made me gasp was the rink inside an iron cage. The announcer asks the people if they're ready for the main event. So there is where the rest of C.U students spend their time? I'm about to walk forward when there's a two-body-builder, well it's how I describe them because of their physique. they're like bouncers in a club. "State your business—" "Becca?" a voice called my name at the crowd. I lift my head as she repeats my name. And there I saw Nena walking down from the bleacher. "What are you doing here? She asked as she approaches me, a little bit loud, because of the unbeatable music and those screams. She started to talk to the two men, stating that I'm her friend. Thus, they let me enter. Nena grabbed my hand and pulled me, and walked back to her seat. As we sat down, she started to throw successive questions. "How did you know and find this place? Don't you have work? Why are you here?" "I'm looking for that Linus," I replied, in an instant. Her eyes widened and she screamed. "Gosh, you're in the right place!" she exclaimed. "What?" "Look," she said, and she turned her eyes at the center, where a guy is entering the—"Linus?" "Correct. But he's L when he's inside this place. If you ask, I just found it this afternoon from my Uncle Flavio. That's why I came here," she said in a flirtatious manner. "Damn that Linus!" I exclaimed. I don't care If someone hears me. My rage is intolerable by now. Confusion flustered on Nena's face. "Oh… is this about your reaction paper?" I just nodded. "Don't worry, it's just a reaction paper, it's not that it's some sort of a test or what." "You don't get it. Everything matters to me when it comes to my education." "Okay. Relax. Breathe," she said as she caressed my back. "You don't have work?" she then asked. "I skipped it." "Does Reina know?" "No. she's not at home yet. That's why I decided to find that guy who happened to have his fight inside that rink," I replied as I fixed my raging eyes on him. Nena tapped my shoulder. "Let's just watch him fight for now, alright? Tell him your problem when he's done with this fight," she said, trying to calm me down. "It's the main event, anyway. I crossed my arm. "I don't care," I uttered. She just laughed and shook her head. What else I can do? Seems I'm going to wait for him to finish the fight. How I wish that he'll lose it!