The Sacred Rule of Love - (PUBLISHED 2019)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

            “Come in! Welcome sa bahay namin!” sinabi ni Prof. V sa amin ni Alex at pinapasok niya kami. First time ko nun na makarating sa bahay niya. As much as I love Professor V, hindi naman kami ganun ka-close para naman bumisita ako sa bahay niya. Kung hindi pa niya siguro ako naimbitahan (technically, si Alex ang invited), I don’t think I’d be here. Sabihin pa ng mga tao na teacher’s pet ako. “Upo kayo…” he said while gesturing doon sa upuan sa living room nila.

            Cute naman yung bahay niya. It was painted white na may cream lining sa taas malapit sa roof. Yung curtains ng bahay niya eh nagma-match din na cream. Marami siyang pictures doon ng mga naging klase niya. He also has a lot of pictures with his wife. Yung wife niya na hindi ko pa name-meet.

            I was looking at the pictures kaya sinabi ko na lang bigla, “Ang cute ng bahay mo, Professor V. It feels homey.” When I looked back kay Alex at kay Professor V, parehas silang nakatingin sa akin as if they did not expect me to say that, “I can’t lie with Alex being there. His house feels homey…” I directed at Alex, “Not like mine.”

            Nakita ko na bothered naman si Alex sa narinig niya sa akin. Si Professor V naman, he tried to make it lighter than what it’s supposed to be, “You have a very lovely home too, Zoe.”

            Naupo naman ako at sumama ako sa kanila. Alex clamped his hands together while he was leaning forward. Nakatingin lang siya kay Professor V with so much interest, “Y-your wife…” narinig ko na sinabi ni Alex.

            Professor V did not say anything. Si Alex naman sobrang seryoso kaya siniko ko siya, “Chill ka lang naman, Alex. You’ll meet her.” Tinignan ko si Professor V, “Nasaan po ba ang asawa mo?” tanong ko naman sa kanya.

            “Nasa kusina, nagluluto…” nakangiting sagot niya.

            Hindi ko alam kung anong problema ni Alex dahil kakaupo pa lang niya, nag-seryoso naman kaagad. It’s supposed to be a fun night. He needs to relax and forget about everything.

            “Have you met him?” tanong naman ni Alex kay Professor V randomly. I raised an eyebrow dahil hindi ko alam kung sinong tinatanong niya. If only I can read Alex’s mind, everything will be easier.

            “Sino?” tanong naman ni Professor V sa kanya.

            “The ghost that’s been following her…” he jerked his head towards me.

            Ah. Si Wally. Si Wally na pinagbawalan ako ni Alex na tulungan. Si Wally na tinulungan ko pa rin despite Alex’s warnings. Si Wally na nagalit sa akin dahil nag-fail yung pagtulong ko sa kanya. Si Wally na ngayon eh, gusto akong patayin.

            That ghost.

            Umiling si Professor V, “No. I have not.” Tinignan ako ni Professor V, “What about the ghost?”

            So kanina lang nag mo-monologue ako sa utak ko, might as well share it with my Professor. Na may serial killer ako na paranormal. My life should really end up in books.

            There was that awkward silence sa aming lahat after kong sinabi yun. Hindi rin nakapagsalita kaagad si Professor V. I don’t know what to say, really. Usually si Professor V ang mala-Dumbledore ng buhay ko. Pero ngayon, he has nothing to say and that’s really odd.

            Alex too, was acting really weird at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Sana lang hindi nila ako ginaganun.

            “Bakit ka niya kailangan uli, Zoe?” tinanong ako ni Professor V, “Bakit kailangan niya ng tulong mo?”