ALPHAS OF REMORSE SERIES #1: The Blue-eyed Alpha

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11

Tracy

I stared at the white farmhouse in front of us while a rush of nostalgia trailed all over my body. Tila may mga alaalang gustong bumalik sa aking isipan. My mind rejects the memories but my body seems familiar with the white-painted house.

Levi was brought to Crescent City while Hank took me home to Astrid. Ang sabi ni Hank ay baka manatili si Levi sa Crescent ng isang linggo dahil kakailanganin siyang bantayan ni Luna Yngrid. 

Looks like the bite he'd given to Rouge had drained his strength. Nawalan siya ng malay kanina habang nasa byahe kami kaya sinalubong kami ng isa sa mga delta. Iyon ang sasakyang ginamit nina Baron para dalhin sa Crescent Pack si Levi.

"This is where you and your family used to live," basag ni Hank sa katahimikan. Ngumisi rin siya sa akin kasabay ng paghugot niya ng susi sa kanyang bulsa. "Huwag kang mag-alala. Inalagaang mabuti ni Alpha ang bahay n'yo."

Nalukot ang aking noo. "Inalagaan?"

"He maintained it. Two years ago, the roof was torn apart after a large branch of tree fell on it. Inayos niya at sinigurong wala nang mga punong pwedeng makasira ulit."

I looked at him. "You mean he hired people to fix the roof?"

Umiling si Hank. "Hindi, Trace. He fixed it himself. Of course, Baron and I helped along with some deltas but . . ." He sighed as he stared at the house. "He did most of the work because he knew you love this place so much." Ngumisi siya sa akin. "Ayos, 'no? All-around. Negosyante, alpha, pwede pang maging karpintero. Taga-abot nga lang ako ng pako."

My heart swelled. Levi picked up a hammer and fixed the roof himself? Parang ang hirap paniwalaan ngunit may bahagi ng aking pusong nararamdamang nagsasabi si Hank ng totoo.

I inhaled a sharp breath. "Dito ba ako titira?"

Tumango siya. "Oo. Bilin ni Alpha ay dito ka kasi kung doon ka sa mansyon, baka 'di 'yon makapagpigil--" Huminto siya sa pagsasalita at tila nahihiyang nagkamot ng batok. "Mas okay na ring dito ka hanggang sa gabi ng union."

"I uhm, I like it here. Can we see the inside?"

"Oo naman." He threw the keys in the air and caught it. "Tara."

We walked towards the front door. Hank unlocked it for me then let me go in first.

"By the way, baka kailangan din kitang dalhin sa Crescent. Your presence will help Alpha recover faster," ani Hank habang pinapasadahan ko ng tingin ang loob ng bahay.

I had a hard time focusing on what he was saying. Nananaba ang aking puso at nagsisitindigan ang aking mga balahibo. I felt like my system had never felt the sense of home until I set foot in this house. Parang gusto kong maiyak kahit na hindi ko pa naaalala ang lahat ng mga nangyari sa tahanang ito. 

I picked up the picture frame that has a photo of my family. I was still small when it was taken. Matamis ang ngiti ng aking mga magulang habang pasan ako ni Papa sa kanyang balikat. The background shows the same house. My parents looked so happy. Tila ba masayang-masaya sila noong dito pa kami nakatira sa Astrid.

 "Do you know my parents?" I asked.

Sinilip ni Hank ang larawang hawak ko. "Oo naman. Magaling mag-bake ng cookies Mama mo. Minsan kapag wala si Daddy at wala kaming hapunan, pumupunta kami rito. Your parents would share meals with us. Treat us like family despite us being lycans." He smirked. "Your mom was really cool. She can shoot arrows with blindfolds on."

Well, I didn't know that? Ang alam ko lang ay bahagi sila ng UCH at dati kaming tumira sa Astrid. I didn't know they welcomed Lycans in our home back then. Hindi ko rin maisip dahil palaging sinasabi ni Daddy na huwag na huwag akong tatapak sa inner district.

I sighed as I put back the picture frame in the shelf. "I wish I've seen mom do that. All I remember is a regular mom who cooks and cleans every single day of her life. while my dad hates your kind."

"Grabe naman 'yong hate? Hindi naman siguro galit si Tito Theo. He was just terrified that his daughter will carry a huge responsibility. Hindi basta-basta ang pagiging Luna, Tracy at alam ni Tito Theo 'yon."

"So he had an idea that I'm gonna be Luna someday, huh?"

"He knew, because he was there when Levi accidentally gave you his mark."

Napakurap ako. "His . . . mark?"

Napatingin siya sa aking peklat. My eyes slightly widened as I lifted my hand to touch my scar. I don't remember how I got this. I don't remember my childhood in Astrid. May kinalaman ba ang markang sinasabi ni Hank sa pagkawala ng alaala ko?

Napasipol siya. "Right. I wasn't supposed to tell you stuff like that because you're supposed to remember them on your own. Sorry."

Tumango na lamang ako. "Uhm, bago tayo nakalayo kanina sa ospital, nakita ko sina Papa at Tina na naghahanda. Para saan ang mga baril?"

Sandaling nag-isip si Hank. Para bang naninimbang kung sasabihin ba sa akin ang katotohanan o hindi ngunit bago pa man niya ako nasagot ay nakarinig na kami ng ingay sa hindi kalayuan. Tila may komosyong nagaganap.

Hank's eyes turned golden yellow. He stormed outside and went towards a couple of men fighting with their claws out. Napatakbo rin ako palabas kaya nasaksihan ko kung paanong halos magpatayan ang dalawang lalake. 

Nasira na nila iyong sasakyan kung saan ihinagis ng isang lalake ang kaaway niya ngunit bumangon lang iyong isa pang lalake mula sa nayuping hood ng sasakyan na parang wala lang.

I got scared for Hank when I saw him walking straight towards the commotion. The guys looked pretty uncontrollable. Sumunod ako kay Hank at hinawakan siya sa braso noong akmang lalapitan na niya ang mga ito ngunit umiling siya na tila sinasabing pakawalan ko ang kanyang braso.

Ayaw ko man ay wala na akong nagawa. Hank then continued walking, and in just a matter of seconds, the guys were already on the ground groaning in pain.

Napalunok ako. How did Hank do that? 

"Beta . . ." tawag noong isang lalake. 

Maya-maya ay umihip ang hangin. My scar was exposed as I tucked my hair behind my ear. 

Napansin kong natigilan ang dalawang lalake. Their eyes opened and looked at my direction. Hindi lamang sila. Maging iyong ilang taong nakapaligid ay nabaling ang tingin sa akin. There was a hint of surprise in their now golden yellow eyes as they slowly went on their knees. 

Napaawang ang aking mga labi. What the hell is going on?

Everyone bowed their heads in submission before one of them said the word that made me understood why everyone is on their knees for me. 

"Luna . . ."

My heart pounced as I watched everyone keep their head low to show respect towards me. A part of me didn't like what I'm seeing. I am getting overwhelmed so instead of answering them, I rushed back to the house while my heart bangs loudly inside my chest.

"Tracy!" tawag ni Hank ngunit hindi ko na pinansin. Dali-dali akong pumasok ng bahay at isinara ang pinto.

Nanginginig ang aking mga palad dala ng naghahalong emosyon sa aking dibdib. I don't think I'm ready to accept this. I don't think I really am willing to be their Luna. 

Namuo ang aking mga luha. Isinara ko ang mga mata ko kasabay ng paghugot ko ng matalim na hininga. Kung panaginip ito ay gusto ko nang magising.

I heard someone's footsteps. Maya-maya ay narinig ko ang tinig ni Hank mula sa labas ng pinto. "Tracy?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat before I slowly opened the door for him. Nagtama ang aming mga mata at nakita niya ang pagbagsak ng aking mga luha.

His expression softened. Tila naaawa sa akin. Hindi niya naman ako masisisi. Parang kahapon lang ay normal ang buhay ko sa labas ng inner district. My day goes by without anyone submitting to me. 

"It's gonna be okay, Tracy. You'll get used to it," he said in a gentle voice.

I pursed my lips as my tears fell heavily down my cheeks. 

I don't think I ever will, because this isn't the life I pictured out for myself. Not even in my wildest dreams . . .